FFGEIP The Austrian Contact Point for International Cooperation in Research and Technology

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• FFG/EIP -The Austrian Contact Point for
  International Cooperation in Research and
  Technology
• Marcus Bidmon Ralf König
• Austrian Research Promotion Agency
  (FFG)Division for Euroepan and International
  Programmes (EIP)

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Starting conditions in Austria 93

• Economic structure strongly based on SMEs
• reluctant attitude regarding cooperation
• keep your innovative ideas for yourself!
• almost no information/understanding on FP
• serious prejudices against European FP
• bureaucratic, intransparent, heavy paper work
• universities sceptic against FP
• FP managed by civil servants not scientists
• national funding organisations reservations
• A new competitor? Concerns that national funding
  might be reduced

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93 Strategic decision to set up BIT

• support from all Austrian ST policy actors
• one Contact Point for all target groups
• one Contact Point for all multi-lateral RTD
  programmes, actions and initiatives
• EU RTD Framework Programme
• EUREKA, INTAS, (COST)
• organisational structure according toEU RTD
  programmes
• co-ordination between centre and the regions
• 1993 10 employees
• 2005 60 employees (40 experts)

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BIT - Supporting organisations (till 08.04)

• An association under Austrian law
• The main funding member organisations
• Ministry for Education, Science and Culture
  (BMBWK)
• Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology
  (BMVIT)
• Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour (BMWA)
• Economic Chamber Austria (WKO)
• 3 other Federal Ministries
• Other members, e.g.
• several Austrian provinces (Bundeslaender)
• Austrian Chamber of Labour, Federation of
  Austrian Industries
• Austrian Science Foundation, Austrian Academy of
  Sciences,Austrian Rectors Conference
• Association of Austrian Technology Centres
• A high level inter-organisational network
  supporting Austrias participation in EU Int RTD

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04 Strategic decision to set up FFG - Austrian
Research Promotion Agency

• FFG is a merger of 4 Austrianresearch promotion
  organisations
• ASA - Austrian Space Agency
• BIT - Bureau for International Research and
  Technology Cooperation
• FFF - Industrial Research Promotion Fund
• TIG - Technologie Impulse Gesellschaft

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Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
Board 15 members 5 ministries 3 WKO, IV, AK
2 industry 5 employees represent. 3
advisory members 2 RFTE,, 1 FWF, 1 ÖGB
Limited company Staff 160 Budget 360 M EUR
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DirectorDeputy Director
FFG/EIP Internal structure
Advisory Board
Life Sciences
Information andCommunication Technologies
Industrial Technologies,Transport, Aerospace,
SMEs
Environment and Energy
Socio-economic Research Science and Society
International Cooperation
Innvation, Technology TransferInnovation Relay
Cenrtre Austria
Mobility of ResearchersResearch Infrastructures
Austrian EUREKA Secretariat
Horizontal services (legal advice, monitoring,
etc.)
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FFG/EIP - Objectives

• to support the implementation of the EU RTD
  Framework Programme and other international RTD
  actions and initiatives in Austria
• to enhance the Austrian participation inEU and
  international RTD activities
• to support the co-ordination of national and
  international research and technology activities
  and policies

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FFG/EIP is acting as ...

• Hosting Austrian National Contact Point for all
  specific EU RTD programmes
• the Austrian "one-stop-shop" for all EU and
  international RTD programmes, etc.
• a partner in international networks for
  collaborative RTD and TT e.g. NCPs, IRCs,
  EUREKA, OPETs, EICs,
• a partner in and co-ordinator of EU projects
  supporting the BIT objectives strategies
• the gateway to RTD partners from Austria

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Operational objectives of FFG/EIP

• An interfacial structure ...
• supporting free, user-friendly, transparent and
  equal access to international RTD cooperation
• safeguarding communication with all parts of the
  RTD community, the national policy actors, the EC
  services and other NCPs
• ensuring complementarity and synergies between
  national and international RTD actions and
  initiatives
• utilizing the opportunities of FFG

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FFG/BIT - an interfacial organisation

• Target groups
• industry, incl. SME
• HE institutions
• non-univ. research
• others

• Sponsors
• BMVIT
• BMWA
• Coordinated with
• BMBWK etc.

EuropeanCommission
FFG/EIP
3rd Countries
Austria

• Partners 2
• national delegates
• programme manag.
• Regional authorities
• clusters
• others

• Partners 1
• NCPs, IRCs
• other contact points
• intermediaries
• agencies, assoc.
• others

EU MS, CC, AC
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FFG/BIT strategies Networking at home

• cooperation and division of labour with AT
  delegates in Programme Committees
• collaboration with strategic partners
• regional centres for EU RTD programmes
• institutional intermediaries (universities, etc.)
• economic chambers and other sector actors
• looking for synergies between different
  programmes and initiatives
• EUREKA, (COST)
• e.g. clusters, competence centres, national
  regional programmes

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FFG/BIT strategies Networking abroad

• with the European Commission services
• with strategic partners for EU RTD -
  intermediaries and policy makers
• NCPs, IRCs, other intermediaries
• universities, research organisations, etc.
• ministries, foundations for SMEs,industrial
  associations, scientific societies, etc.
• EUREKA NPCs
• other multiplicators scientific andsectoral
  associations, university networks, industrial
  clusters, etc.

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FFG/BIT strategies Capacity building Developing
the client base

• Extending and nurturing the database
• utilizing existing databases, catalogues and
  directories as well as insider knowledge of
  Economic Chambers, branch and sector
  organisations, universities, scientific societies
  and associations, etc.
• participants in information events, seminars,
  conferences, fairs and exhibitions
• target-oriented stimulation actions in specific
  programme areas - general and for SMEs
• customer relationship management INNOman

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FFG/EIPs client base
Annual growth rate 2000 persons
More than 40 of the client organisations are in
active contactwith BIT - their success rate is
significantly higher thanthat of organisations
without direct contact to FFG/EIP
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Developing a communication strategy

• A number of objectives and some challenges
• preparing information in accordance with
  expectations and demands/problems of the
  different client groups
• offering the right information at the right level
  at the right time in the right format
• ensuring the right balance between a pragmatic,
  proposal oriented approach and the development of
  a deeper insight into the principles of EU RTD
• The only thing you can offer is competence!

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FFG/EIP communication strategy

• A balanced portfolio of instruments services
• following different objectives oriented towards
  different target groups
• awareness marketing and public relations
  information RD-, TT- ( financing) brokerage
  training
• newcomers, experienced participants,
  co-ordinators
• industry, SMEs, universities, research
  establishments, others
• designed in different formats settings,using
  different communication channels
• mailings, press releases, conferences, info days,
  workshops, training sessions, experience groups,
  web services
• individual assistance and coaching for proposers
• final briefing

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FFG/EIP Core services activities

• providing information on EU int. RTD
• assistance coaching for proposers
• checking project idea vs. Programme and Call
• ensuring eligibility (formal criteria)
• checking for clarity of presentation
• advice for fulfilling all evaluation criteria
• support for finding complementary partners
• final check!
• targeted training
• organising active stimulation measures
• promoting technology transfer (IRCA)
• monitoring the Austrian participation in FP6
• NCP support for newcomer countries

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FFG/EIP Activities flanking measures 1

• Info days, road shows, brokerage days, training
• printed and electronic information
• BIT Infoservice - electronic newsletter
• information leaflets on programmes and key
  actions, on rules for participation, etc.
  success stories
• the BIT Homepage http//www.bit.ac.at
• individual assistance and coaching
• international conferences, brokerage events, etc.
• Oxford '94 IMS '94 ACTS NH '95 Innovation
  '96COPEX '97 ELEAM '98 IST '98 SME
  Technology Days '98 BIOPRACTICE 99 FP6 2001
  New Instruments 2002 eLearning Expo China
  HighTech Fair 2002 FP6 Kick Off 2002 Nanoforum
  2003 2004 IRC Annual Meeting China High Tech
  Fair 2004, eChallenges 2004 AAAS Symposia
  2002-2004

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FFG/EIP Activities flanking measures 2

• transnational collaborative projects, e.g.
• ETIs, Specific Support Phare SCI TECH (PL)
  INTERREG
• SMEs go LifeScience, IDEALIST, ADMIRE-P,
  TRISTAN-EAST, NaoMITec, PLASTeam, SMEs for Food,
  QUALITY MEAT, RURAL ETINET, ERA WESTBALKAN, ISIS,
  CERA, REGinNET, RUSERA TRICO IRCA
• enhancing collaboration by researcher mobility
• analyses, studies and evaluations, such as
• AT participation in EU BIOMED programme
• the potential for RTD cooperation in biotech in
  Vienna area
• evaluation of Multinational Technology
  Stimulation Action for SMEs
• continuous monitoring of AT participation in FP
• improving services by learning from experience

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For example BITs activities in 2003

• Almost 200 information and training events
• 50 organised alone, 50 together with partners
• 10.000 advise actions responding to requests34
  IND, 24 UNI, 21 ROR, 20 OTH
• 7.900 short information to interested partners
• 2.100 detailed advise coaching sessions for
  proposers
• BIT provides high quality information advise
• 90 of proposers get information from BIT
• gt 95 of successful proposers get info from BIT
• Customer satisfaction overall mark 1,63

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Austria in EU Framework Programmes

• FP4 (1994-1998)
• gt 1.900 participations in 1.450 projects
• 199 Mio EU funding
• 10.000 participations from abroad
• FP5 (1998-2002)
• 1.980 participations in 1.380 projects
• 300 Mio EU funding
• gt 12.000 participations from abroad
• FP6 (2003-2006), March 2005 )
• gt812 participations in gt554 projects
• gt 93 AT coordinators

) Data European Commission
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The situation in 2005

• A favourable environment for RTD in AT
  government strategies for 2010
• A core of some 4.-5.000 active researchers
• some 2.000 organisations actively participating
  with 50 success
• attitude very open for cooperation
• AT researchers tightly inter-connected in
  European networks
• AT RD policy strongly influenced by EU
• participating in EU FP contributed to
  professionalisation of RT in Austria

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Changes in participation fractions from FP5 to FP6
Austria is one of the three old EU member
states thatincreased its share in the
Framework Programme in FP6!
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FFG/EIP strategies for internat. cooperation

• Providing EU RT policy advice
• Building networks for information assistance
• National, regional, institutional Contact Points
  for EURTD
• training of CP experts, staff placements in BIT
• support via EU projects e.g. INCO, Phare
• Raising awareness, disseminating information
• Supporting partnering
• e.g. Austria-China Science Day
• e.g. road shows in China or Russia
• Enhancing researcher mobility
• FFG/EIP Initiative Partnership for Research
• FFG/EIP Initiative brainpower austria

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FFG/EIP Networking in EU projects
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Enhancing collaboration by stimulating researcher
mobilitySpecific FFG/EIP initiatives

• Partnership for Research
• collaboration with new member states, candidate
  countries and selected third countries
• brainpower austria
• attracting researchers from North America to
  Austria

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The FFG/EIP InitiativePartnership for Research

• Making strategic use of theMarie Curie Mobility
  Scheme ...
• identifying Austrian host organisations
• promoting Marie Curie fellows from abroad to
  Austria and vice versa
• preparing a EU RTD project as integrated part of
  the Marie Curie training
• stimulating mobility of AT researchers
• ... for preparing the ground forlong-term RTD
  co-operation

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The FFG/EIP InitiativePartnership for Research

• Partnership Catalogue
• more than 600 possible AT host organisations!
• Web page
• http//www.bit.ac.at/partnership
• next steps
• road shows
• extending contacts to selected regions and
  institutions
• deepening co-operation with strategic partner
  countries common data base

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Brain Power AustriaA programme launched by
BMVITand managed by FFG

• brain power austria
• Supports
• Austrian researchers interested and willing to
  return to their home country
• the hiring of highly competent researchers from
  other countries who seek employment in Austria
• offers a portfolio of services
• Website a specialized online jobmarkethuman
  resources marketing, e,g. US road shows
• Financial support for applicants from abroad
• News on the Austrian innovation landscape
  focusing on the development of the job market in
  RTD
• Relocation services coaching.

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Summary 1

• FFG/EIP ...
• follows a strategic approach based ona portfolio
  of selected core flanking activities
• integrates information and assistance
• works closely with the central administration
• places importance on strategic partnerships
• is monitoring the Austrian participation
• applies quality management tools
• FFG/BIT is committed to continuous learning

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Summary 2

• FFG/EIP's success is based on excellent people
  with ...
• practical experience and expertise in RDand/or
  business
• understanding innovation processes and the
  specific role of collaborative EU RTD activities
• research management and marketing knowledge,
  capabilities and skills
• business (SME!) market insight/understanding
• communication skills, the ability to moderate
  social processes and organise stimulation actions
• The challenge How to keep them on board?

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FFG/EIP - Units and Persons

• Manfred Horvat Director, Co-ordinating NCP,
  ERA-NET, NEST
• Andrea Hoeglinger Deputy Director,
  Socio-economic Research
• Astrid Hoebertz Life Sciences
• Birgit Steininger Food
• Thomas Zergoi Information Communication
  Technologies
• Gerald Kern Industrial Technologies, Materials,
  Transport
• Ingrid Bauer Energy
• Bettina Asamer Environment
• Robert Schwertner International cooperation -
  INCO, INTAS
• Kurt Butscher Innovation, INNOVATION Relay
  Centre Austria
• Marcus Bidmon SME Measures (CRAFT)
• Gerald Mueller-Niklas Training and Mobility of
  Researchers
• Philippe Loward Austrian EUREKA National
  Project Coordinator
• Claudia Dorninger Legal and Financial Matters of
  EU RTD
• Josef Saeckl Monitoring and statistics

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Your partner in Austria

• Marcus BIDMON
• Ralf KÖNIG
• Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG),
• Division for International and European
  Programmes (EIP)
• Donau City Straße 1, A-1220 Vienna, Austria
• Tel [phone], 4603 Fax 43
  (0)57755-94011
• Email marcus.bidmon_at_ffg.at, ralf.koenig_at_ffg.at
• www.ffg.at, www.bit.ac.at