Nechifor

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UNESCO’s Action for Strengthening Scientific Capacities in South Eastern Europe Iulia Nechifor, UNESCO

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1. General Framework DG Strategy for Enhancing Coopertaion with South Eastern European Member States Conference on Development and Security in the Adriatic and the Ionian, Ancona, May 2000 High-level Conference, Paris, April 2002- Adoption of a specific Strategy for Education, Sciences, Culture and Communication in SEE Yearly Summits with Presidents of States (Tirana, Sarajevo, Opatja; Sibiu, Romania, June 2007)

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2. UNESCO Office in Venice – BRESCE Science & Culture Co-operate in Europe with Moscow Cluster Office Since 2000, focus on SEE countries

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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS (Venice, March 2001) ROUND TABLE OF MINISTERS OF SCIENCE Paris, UNESCO Hqs, October 2001

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Thematic Working Groups (2002) Electronic connectivity between academic SEE institutions Research Infrastructures Human potential in research Thematic regional networks of research centres and laboratories

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Achievements. Selected examples a. Sharing of major research facilities in SEE: Example of the Rozhen Observatory, Bulgaria UNESCO’s support for: - Expert visits; acquisition of a modern light detector – CCD at Rozhen establishment of a Regional Astronomical Committee (SREAC) - travel grants - organization of several scientific events

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b. Human potential in research Address ‘brain drain phenomenon’ - HP funded project Donation of Grid Computing to 7 Universities (Tirana, Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Split, Skopje, Belgrade, Podgorica) Support for travel – short term visits Results: Databases of scientific diasporas Training

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Enhanced local reserach capacities integrate the SEE / EU Grid community

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40 exchange visits undertaken 2004-2005

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Gelato Federation - Linux on Itanium users for the purpose of fostering Itanium-specific research

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c. Guidelines for Science Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina Rapid response to national authorities request Expert mapping of the R&D situation Important added value: brought together decision-makers

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d. Needs assessment exercise 1. Science, Technolgy and Economic Development in SEE (October 2005) 2. Guidelines for Science & Reserach Policy in SEE (March 2006) 3. Accessing and Disseminating Scientific Information in SEE (Sept. 2006) N.4. Science Statistics and Indicators in SEE (Oct. 2006) N.5 Proceedings ‘Why Invest in Science in SEE?’

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e. Capacity-Building About 10 regional scientific events/year in basic&environmental sciences Training seminar international Project Management (Ljubljana, 2005) Science Statistics and Indicators Production (2007)

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Forthcoming Events: UNESCO (Venice and Moscow Offices) -ICSU International conference: Global Science and National Policies. The Role of the Academies (4-5 May 2007, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova) Meeting of the Parliamentarians responsible for Science from SEE (September 2007)

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Concluding Remarks: South Eastren Europe - homogenous region commun target: join the EU, access major funding programmes multiplication of mechanisms/opportunities for support of Science at SEE & pan-European level

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UNESCO-BRESCE has a major role to play in the region: Regional & International broker Clearinghouse – best practices Long tradition in support to capacity-buiding in SEE Capacity to mobilise international expertise Certain flexibility in terms of the development and implementation of activities UNESCO: preparation of the long term strategy 2008-2013 - ‘Why Invest in Science’ – new landmark ?

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Thank you!