Presentation by Giorgio Rosso Cicogna
Special Advisor to CEI Secretary General
CEI-PRAISE Framework Programme to Promote
Research, Technology Transfer and Innovation through Excellence in Science
Western Balkan Steering Platform on Science and Technology
Trieste, 24 September 2014
Regional Cooperation for European Integration - A Bridge between Macroregions
CEI-PRAISE Framework Programme: Contents
1) Background
2) Objectives
3) Players and partnership
4) CEI Science and Technology Network
5) Scientific projects
6) Activities for each project
7) Variable geometry of funding and pilot activities
8) Governance
9) Conclusion
Regional Cooperation for European Integration - A Bridge between Macroregions
1) Background of CEI-PRAISE Framework Programme
At last year CEI Ministerial Meeting for Science and Technology the Secretariat described
the concepts for three regional programmes with the same objectives of CEI-PRAISE.
The Ministers and/or their Delegates, with a large consensus, endorsed objectives and
envisaged measures, but recommended to merge them into one comprehensive
Framework Programme which would cover all the 18 CEI Member Countries of the CEI.
They also mandated the Secretariat to establish a strong cooperation with the EC in order
to ensure the most effective synergy with EU Strategies in this field, with similar ongoing regional initiatives as well as with other efforts by CEI Member Countries.
The Secretariat has now finalized such Framework Programme, CEI-PRAISE to Promote
Research, Technology Transfer and Innovation in all CEI Member Countries, through
centres of excellence and advanced research groups expressing the best potential of
their communities.
Regional Cooperation for European Integration - A Bridge between Macroregions
2) Objectives of CEI-PRAISE Framework Programme
CEI-PRAISE is built upon linking to other initiatives in the European dimension: it will
complement on-going efforts, also through regional strategies, with specific purposes:
• to increase and develop the stock of science and technology human capital through a
cooperation targeted at excellence in research and smart specialization strategies;
• to implement actions also according to guidelines endorsed by other regional
initiatives;
• to offer short/medium term opportunities to involve scientific communities in state of
the art research, to facilitate their early participation to Horizon 2020;
• pilot activities will already pursue the objective of creating a regional clusters of
laboratories or advanced research groups for each scientific project within CEI-PRAISE.
Regional Cooperation for European Integration - A Bridge between Macroregions
3) Players and Partnership within CEI-PRAISE
• CEI-PRAISE is based on recognized strengths of the institutions belonging to the CEI
Science and Technology Network, which are either international by statute, or Italian
by statute and international by vocation. All of them have decades of experience in
international cooperation in the fields of physics, mathematics, geophysics, chemistry,
biology, biotechnology, molecular medicine and other related fields/disciplines.
• The CEI Network represents a unique interdisciplinary hub whose most
advanced/state of the art infrastructures are traditionally open for collaboration with
outside scientists.
• CERIC Consortium based at Elettra Sincrotrone, established according to a new EU
legislation, has already nine signatories among CEI Member Countries.
• More ERIC Consortia in other fields could be established in the future…
• CEI-PRAISE partnership as on 19 September 2014:
 63 confirmed partners to CEI-PRAISE in all CEI Member Countries
 11 more potential partners (manifestation of interest)
 Over 200 additional qualified contacts with experience in FP7 in all CEI Member Countries
Regional Cooperation for European Integration - A Bridge between Macroregions
4) Institutions of the CEI S&T Network: their participation to FP7
Institution
Full name
Elettra Sincrotrone
Trieste
Elettra Sincrotrone Radiation Lab and
Fermi Free Electron Laser
International Centre for Theoretical
Physics Abdus Salam
International Centre for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology
International School for Advanced
Studies
National Institute of Oceanography
and Applied Geophysics
Consortium Area Science Park
ICTP
ICGEB
SISSA
OGS
AREA
TOTAL*
UNITS
UNIUD
IOM-CNR**
GRAND TOTAL
University of Trieste
University of Udine
Institute for Materials Manufacturing
FP7 projects
submitted
FP7 projects
funded
109
20
18%
(18.35%)
66
15
23%
(22.73%)
49
9
18%
(18.37%)
197
47
24%
(23.86%)
80
29
36%
(36.25%)
33
534
356
198
30
7
127
36
38
5 (+12)
21%
24%
10%
19%
17%
1,118
206
18%
Success rate
(21.21%)
(23.78%)
(10.11%)
(19.19%)
(16.67%)
(18.43%)
* Total does not include Universities of Trieste and Udine which joined CEI S&T Network in 2014.
**IOM-CNR was established and incorporated by the National Research Council only in 2010 and these figures refers only to the subsequent years: in fact IOM is
implementing 12 more projects which were “inherited” by the previous set up of TASK laboratory.
The cooperation in the Framework of CEI-PRAISE, in view of the experience of the CEI S&T
Network is meant to facilitate the participation of CEI-PRAISE partners to H2020 projects.
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5) Interdisciplinary spectrum of projects in the framework of CEI-PRAISE
Projects
Lead partner
Co-lead partner
1) Synchrotron radiation and free electron lasers to develop
innovative materials, including new technologies on the
conservation of cultural heritage
Elettra Sincrotrone Radiation Lab and
Fermi Free Electron Laser
IOM-CNR
2) Molecular and structural biology tools including
microscopic and 3-D analysis
3) Environment protection modelling and climate change
4) Condensed matter physics, advanced materials and
photonics
5) Biotechnologies for food and energy
6) Regenerative medicine, with specific reference to
cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders
7) Cognitive neuroscience
8) Computational and theoretical biology
9) Applied mathematics
10) Secure energy
11) Nanotechnology and nanomedicine
12) Advanced biofuels and sustainable technologies for
integrated Biorefineries
13) Smart and sustainable land
14) Innovation in personalized health care
15) Promotion of technology transfer and innovation
International Centre for Theoretical
Physics Abdus Salam
International Centre for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology
OGS
SISSA
SISSA
International School for Advanced
Studies
National Institute of Oceanography
and Applied Geophysics
University of Trieste
ICGEB and UNIUD
University of Udine
Consortium Area Science Park
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6) Activities for each of the 15 scientific CEI-PRAISE Projects
Activities to be carried out for each of 15 projects implemented in the framework of CEIPRAISE Programme: these are traditional activities for international cooperation in
Science and Technology, but nonetheless they are all necessary in order to develop the
stock of existing human capital, also according to the guidance endorsed by other
regional initiatives, and in line with specific actions by the EC within Horizon 2020:
 fellowships for graduate and post-graduate (doctoral) promising young talents in
laboratories of the CEI S&T Network, of JRC in other countries;
 grants to group leaders or other promising scientists to remain in (or return to) their home
laboratories, in order to implement a specific research project in the framework of CEIPRAISE;
 grants for the organization of high level scientific events or aimed at supporting scientific
travel to the such events, as well as to other occasions of scientific exchanges;
 support to the consistent purchase of consumables, software, literature to encourage the
return from diaspora;
 support to e-learning, e-conferencing, e-tutoring, scientific podcasting, e-laboratory, etc.
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7) Variable Geometry of CEI-PRAISE Funding and pilot activities
• Various funding instruments, mostly –but not only- from EU sources, must be
efficiently combined in view of the implementation of a unity of objectives, taking
into account CEI own consolidated experience in project management of EU funded
activities;
• Various funding instruments of the EC may be utilized through a variable geometry,
according to the respective eligibility of CEI Member Countries, the latter depending
on their status vis-à-vis the EU: i.e. Horizon 2020, EU Structural Funds, IPA II
(Instrument for Pre-accession), ENI (European Neighbourhood), others;
• Overall cost for seven years (same duration of H2020) estimated in Euro 45 million:
only an order of magnitude referred to the full potential of PRAISE, which has been
drafted with a modular flexibility in order to be implemented also with limited
resources;
• Examples of on-going fundraising to support pilot activities:




CERES BIS fellowships managed by CEI within Marie Skłodowska-Curie Programme;
Twinning of Centres in CEI Member Countries with institutions of CEI S&T Network and JRC;
Cooperation Agreement promoted with DG Enlarg and RDI to be implemented with JRC;
Structural Funds (in cooperation with FVG Regional Government).
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8) Governance
• Project Committee coordinated by a Project Leader belonging to the lead
institution(s) of the CEI S&T Network, with the participation of centers/groups
involved in CEI Member Countries will define and coordinate the scientific activities of
each project, meeting at least twice a year (distance conferencing as often as
necessary): in other words, scientific management is delegated to a large extent to
participating scientists.
• Advisory Committee will support the overall implementation of CEI-PRAISE
Programme: meeting once a year, chaired by CEI Secretary General or his/her
Delegate:
 CEI National Focal Points for Science and Technology;
 representatives of CEI Science and Technology Network;
 a few independent experts nominated by CEI upon proposals from the scientific community.
• Executive Committee, with a maximum of 7 members nominated for two years from
the Advisory Committee ensuring the support to the actual management;
• CEI Secretariat is responsible for overall management, fundraising and reporting.
Regional Cooperation for European Integration - A Bridge between Macroregions
9) Conclusion
CEI-PRAISE is a Framework Programme with a long term perspective, which will be
managed by scientists to upgrade the performance of the CEI scientific communities and
their participation to Horizon 2020. The CEI Secretariat and the CEI Science and
Technology Network are ready to start its implementation, in partnership with sixty
partners in all CEI Member Countries. But for us your convinced support is essential to
start on the right track, specifically in terms of fundraising: we have already started the
promotion of CEI-PRAISE with the European Commission.
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION
Giorgio Rosso Cicogna
Special Advisor to CEI Secretary General
Email: asg@cei.int
Website: http://www.cei.int/
CEI-PRAISE Programme: PRAISE@cei.int
Regional Cooperation for European Integration - A Bridge between Macroregions