Europe's strategy for international research cooperation in a changing world: implications for South-East Asia

1. EUROPE'S STRATEGY FOR INTERNATIONAL
RESEARCH COOPERATION IN A CHANGING WORLD:
IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUTH-EAST ASIA
DANIEL SPICHTINGER
This presentation by Daniel Spichtinger is
licensed under the creative commons license CC
BY-SA 4.0

2. ABOUT DANIEL SPICHTINGER
2001
“Magister” Anglistik /
Combination of Media Studies
and History, University of
Vienna
2002
Master of Arts in
Contemporary European
Studies from the University of
Bath (UK, 2002), thesis on
European Research Policy.
2004–2011
EU project consultant (grant
writing, dissemination and
management of EU research
projects)
2012–2018
Senior Project & Policy Officer
for open access to publications
and research data, European
Commission, DG Research
and Innovation
Sep. 2018
Project Manager Leveraging
Open Research Data Ludwig
Boltzmann Gesellschaft (LBG)
Open Innovation in Science
Center & LBG Grants Office
Sep. 2018
Independent Consultant on EU
Research Policy & Projects

3. DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in this
presentation are solely those of the
author and do not represent an official
position of the European Commission (or
another EU institution)

4. Content
 Collaboration EU South-East Asia in
the EU research funding programme
Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) and
related instruments - review
 Upcoming: Collaboration EU South-
East Asia in the EU research funding
programme Horizon Europe (2021-
2027) and related instruments
 “Evolution not revolution”
Source: European Commission

5. HORIZON 2020
143 projects involving
collaboration with partners
(universities, research institutes,
companies) in South-East Asian
Countries
1 project to facilitate EU-SEA
research collaboration (SEA-EU-
NET, closed)
Source: CORDIS

6. HORIZON 2020 “GOLDEN RULE”
Horizon 2020 is Open to the World.
“This means that participants from all over the
world, regardless of their place of establishment
or residence, can participate in most of the calls
of Horizon 2020.
In many cases, the EU will fund at least partly the
participation of the international partners.
In addition to this general openness, several
topics strongly encourage or require cooperation
with non-EU partners in collaborative projects,
target a certain country/region or refer to global
initiatives.”
(source: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/area/international-
cooperation)

7. FRAMEWORK: COOPERATIONWITH ASEAN
 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is an economic union
comprising 10 member states in Southeast Asia
 Scientific cooperation is part of the partnership between the two regions
since the 16th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Nuremberg, Germany in
2007
 ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Science and Technology between the
ASEAN Committee of Science and Technology (COST) and the EU
represented by the European Commission
 Europe-Southeast Asia Joint Funding Scheme (JFS) , a bi-regional
scheme
 EURAXESS ASEAN links researchers in ASEAN with Europe. Free
information and events on research funding, research careers and
collaboration opportunities: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean
Source:ASEAN,Wikipedi CC-BY-SA

8. SO FAR SO GOOD - BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

9. INTERNATIONAL R&D COOPERATION
STRATEGIC, OPEN,AND RECIPROCAL
 Last (and first) strategy on EU global R&D collaboration from 2012, update needed
 Trying to reconcile traditionally open approach to global research cooperation
with “a transformed global landscape, where geopolitical tensions are rising and
human rights and fundamental values are being challenged”.
 New strategy for International cooperation on research and innovation in
a changing world (May 2021, Communication from the Commission):
 Promote openness and values in R&I
 Pursue level playing field and reciprocity (e.g., through strategic roadmaps, e.g with China)
 Pool global efforts to tackle global challenges (e.g.All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance)
 Modulate cooperation with third countries (targeted international cooperation actions in
calls for proposals in areas of mutual interest under Horizon Europe, exploit the
opportunities for association to Horizon Europe).
 Discussion and further development as part of the Slovenian EU presidency’s
priorities, which will prepare council conclusions on the subject.
Source: European Commission

10. ASEAN IN THE NEW STRATEGY
 Digital connectivity projects with the European Neighbourhood
countries, Africa, Latin America, India and ASEAN, inter alia to
support the pooling of research and innovation efforts;
 Regional cooperation with ASEAN will be enhanced through EU
support for intra-ASEAN research and innovation cooperation
and mobility under the ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Science and
Technology.
 But: what does this mean concretely? Many cooperation actions
will continue…
Source: European Commission

11. CONCRETE ACTIONS I : SEA-EUROPE JFS
The Europe-Southeast Asia Joint Funding
Scheme implements Joint Calls for Proposals on an
annual basis:
 Funding of research & innovation projects
 Involves (some but not all) national/local funding
agencies from SEA & Europe
 Initiated by European Commission: Funding of
coordination
 Topics of the Calls: Jointly selected by the
participating funders
Source: JFS

12. TOPICS COVERED (GENERALLY)
Infectious
Diseases
Anti Microbial
Resistance
Digital Health Smart Cities Nanotechnologies
Climate Change
IntegratedWater
Resource
Management
Sustainable Food
Production
Bioeconomy

13. CURRENTLY OPEN: 7TH CALL
 15. Jun 2021 Launch of Call 7
 Topics:
 Sustainable Food Production
 Climate Change: Resilience & Adaptation
 15. Oct 2021 Deadline for proposal submission
 Nov 2021 Eligibility check (Call Sec & NCP)
 Dec 2021-Feb 2022 Proposal evaluation (2-stage procedure)
 Mar/Apr 2022 Final ranking of proposals during Scientific Council
Meeting
 Funding decision during Programme / Steering Committee Meeting
 Call Website: https://www.sea-eu-jfs.eu/calls

14. CONCRETE
ACTION II
 Dedicated calls in the thematic Horizon
Europe Work Programmes for cooperation
with South-East Asia (likely influenced by EU-
ASEAN policy discussions)
 Participation in “regular” Horizon
Europe calls
 Association to Horizon Europe? (currently
ASEAN countries listed as “third countries”)

15. CONCRETE ACTION III
 Participation in other EU funding programmes, e.g. higher education
 ERASMUS+
 SHARE (EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORTTO HIGHER EDUCATION INTHE
ASEAN REGION): https://www.share-asean.eu/:
 enhancing policy dialogue harmonization of ASEAN Higher Education,
 supporting the further development of the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework
(AQRF) and ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework (AQAF) and
 further developing a common credit transfer system and scholarship programme for intra-
ASEAN student mobility while ensuring equal opportunities for all.

16. FURTHER
INFORMATION
Some links
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean/7th-call-southeast-asia-europe-joint-
funding-scheme-jfs - Info Event
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean/horizon-europe-launch-event-
virtual-partnering-brokerage-asean-draws-600-people Info Event Horizon Europe
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean/news/field_news_and_events_categ
ories/eu-asean-relations-3373 – EU/ASEAN events in R&I
https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/strategy/strategy-2020-
2024/europe-world/international-cooperation_en EU International R&D
cooperation strategy
https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-europe-views-of-europe-2021-
8-europe-s-science-diplomacy-needs-more-carrot-less-stick/ My views on the EU’s
soft power in R&D cooperation

17. CONTACT INFO
daniel@spichtinger.net danielsp https://www.linkedin.com
/in/dspichtinger/