Sofia rev22

Conference on Regional Cooperation with the Participation of Ministers of Science & Research from South Eastern Europe 28-30 September, 2002, Sofia, Bulgaria: 

Conference on Regional Cooperation with the Participation of Ministers of Science & Research from South Eastern Europe 28-30 September, 2002, Sofia, Bulgaria Activities of ROSTE-UNESCO Scientific Collaboration in SEE Prof. Pierre Lasserre PhD, Dr Sc Director of UNESCO-ROSTE Palazzo Zorzi 30122 Venice, Italy p.lasserre@unesco.org www.unesco.org/venice R O S T E

Why UNESCO?: 

Why UNESCO? UNESCO- the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – was born in 1945. This UN specialized Organization works to break down the diverse barriers to the spread of knowledge, while fostering dialogue between cultures in its 188 Member States (as of June 2002). Through a new decentralization policy, more than 600 staff members work in UNESCO’s 56 field offices around the world, with 6 Regional Bureau.

The « S » of UNESCO: 

UNESCO-ICSU World Conference on Science Budapest, Hungary, 26 June-1 July 1999: « One of the greatest challenges facing the world community, in the next century will be attainment of sustainable development, calling for balanced interrelated policies aimed at economic growth, poverty reduction, human well-being, social equity, and protection of the Earth’s resources and life-support systems » Declaration on Science and the Use of Scientific Knowledge, WCS, Budapest 1999 The « S » of UNESCO R O S T E R O S T E R O S T E

New Challenges in Science : 

New Challenges in Science For a growing array of issues that are global in nature, science and engineering are key to dealing with them effectively. These issues include: climate change, genetically modified organisms, energy conservation and utilization, infectious diseases, disaster prevention and management, sustainable development, intellectual property rights, and open exchange of scientific information.

the missions of the UNESCO-ROSTE Venice: 

the missions of the UNESCO-ROSTE Venice - Promote and facilitate activities on science, and culture in Europe with particular focus on CEEC and SEE. - Bring partners (multilateral and bilateral, public and private) in a working relationship. - Facilitate the application of knowledge and the mobilization of multidisciplinary skills in: - Capacity building activities - Policy-making assistance - Advanced training in science and culture - Communication and information

UNESCO-ROSTE Venice: 

UNESCO and its Regional Office for Europe in Venice is entering a new phase of expanded plans to: facilitate Pan-European scientific cooperation, encourage the involvement of young scientists, reinforce cooperations, at national and regional levels: Ministries of Education and Research, Academies of Science & Academic Networks, e.g. Academia Europaea, EUROSCIENCE, ALLEA, ICSU, European Commission, NATO, Council of Europe, and many international centres (CERN, Geneva, ICTP Trieste) etc., and the National Delegations of UNESCO in each country … and UNESCO-ROSTE Venice

UNESCO-ROSTE Venice: 

Initiate a process in favor of the scientific cooperation in South East Europe UNESCO-ROSTE Venice

Science in South East Europe……….The Venice Process: 

Science in South East Europe ……….The Venice Process R O S T E Three recent events: International Conference of Experts on the « Reconstruction of Scientific Cooperation in South-East Europe » (ROSTE, Venice, 24-27 March 2001) Round Table of Ministers of Science on « Rebuilding Scientific Cooperation in Southeastern Europe » (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 24 October 2001) High Level Conference on « Strengthening Cooperation in South East Europe » (UNESCO HQs, Paris, 4-5 April 2002)

Science in South-East Europe……….The Venice Process: 

Science in South-East Europe ……….The Venice Process R O S T E 1. The International Conference of Experts on the « Reconstruction of Scientific Cooperation in South-East Europe » (ROSTE, Venice, 24-27 March 2001) Five priority scientific fields of interest identified: - Life Sciences: biogenetics, biotechnologies Environmental sciences: water & ecosystems, climate change Material sciences Communication and information technology

Science in South-East Europe……….The Venice Process: 

Science in South-East Europe ……….The Venice Process The approach: Undertake systematic effort to reduce the brain drain, to avoid shortages of competence and skills. - Improve communication and data handling infrastructures. - Improve joint work in muldisciplinary problem-oriented projects. - Encourage the co-funding of projects and programmes at regional level. - Raise awareness of politicians and decision-makers of the importance of science as motor for economy and social stability. R O S T E

Science in South-East Europe……….The Venice Process: 

Science in South-East Europe ……….The Venice Process R O S T E Round Table of Ministers of Science in SEE on « Rebuilding Scientific Cooperation in Southeastern Europe » (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 24 October 2001) Final Communiqué with specific measures & collaborative research: Life Sciences, Sustainable agriculture Environmental sciences: water and ecosystems, biodiversity, biosphere reserves, climate change Material sciences Social and human sciences

Science in South East Europe……….The Venice Process: 

Science in South East Europe ……….The Venice Process R O S T E Round Table of Ministers of Science in SEE, 24 October 2001. Recognized measures to be enacted with a view to: Mobilizing resources for equipment and grants for scientists Promoting exchange of young scientists, visiting professors Electronic networking among research institutes & universitie - Networking of research infrastructures

Science in South-East Europe……….The Venice Process: 

Science in South-East Europe ……….The Venice Process R O S T E High Level Conference of Ministers on « Strengthening Cooperation in South East Europe » (UNESCO, Paris, 4-5 April 2002) Decision 12: « Special attention shall be given to implementing the Commitments contained in the Final Communiqué adopted by the Round Table of Ministers of Science of 24 October 2001, in particular to the organization of a Donor Conference under the responsibility of UNESCO and its Venice Office ROSTE.

Science in South-East Europe……….The Venice Process: 

Science in South-East Europe ……….The Venice Process R O S T E Establishment of ad hoc Working groups in order to elaborate realistic regional project contributions to solve important practical problems, but also to revitalizing national S&T systems. The projects will be presented to the Donor Conference, in Spring 2003. … more on ad hoc WG

Intended Actions for SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Intended Actions for SEE ……….The Venice Process R O S T E Training and Fellowships in S&T as a Prerequisite of a knowledge-based Society Proposed Actions: - Instituting international competitive grants to encourage Scientists to return to their home countries Establishing a fund for exchange of young scientists, Visiting professors and research workers, engineers and Technicians within the region

Slide16: 

(from Science) ……….The Venice Process

The first scientific partner of some CEECs with the EU countries, the USA, Japan, and the other CEECs Source: OST 2002 Report for UNESCO-ROSTE: 

The first scientific partner of some CEECs with the EU countries, the USA, Japan, and the other CEECs Source: OST 2002 Report for UNESCO-ROSTE

Intended Actions for SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Intended Actions for SEE ……….The Venice Process R O S T E 2. Information Technologies and Computer Networks for Scientific Research and Training Proposed actions: Rapidly develop electronic networks among scientific institutes in SEE countries with appropriate connections to the main Scientific and academie institutions in EU countries and CEE Encourage and support the development of new services for the Research institutions (e.g. digitizing data, specific databases, Desk top publishing - ICARE Project

Information, Communication Academic and Research European Network ICARE: 

Information, Communication Academic and Research European Network ICARE

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process R O S T E 3. Research Infrastructures Proposed actions: Facilitate access to existing national infrastructures such as: spectrometers, lasers, biotechnological centres telescopes, marine research stations and coastal ships, Encourage active participation in the use of facilities in Europe (e.g. CERN, EMBL, Elettra, ICTP, ICGEB, Stazione Zoologica Naples, etc.)

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process R O S T E 4. Biological Sciences Proposed actions: - Biotechnology - Genomics and Evolution - Applied aspects

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process R O S T E 5. Materials Sciences Intended actions: - Build on existing expertise in chemistry and physics research Centres in the region and encourage regional institutions to develop R&D in materials sciences (including nanotechnologies). - The setting-up of one or more centres of excellence in materials sciences is considered a priority for scientific and economic development in the region

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process R O S T E 6. Environmental Sciences Proposed actions: - Emphasize the trans-boundary dimension of SEE environmental problems, regional assessment of climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem management, catchment-based and urban freshwater resources and pollution management projects. Encourage interdisciplinary programmes and observing systems on the Danube, the Black Sea, the Adriatic (e.g. Black Sea GOOS, Adriatic Global

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Intended Actions in SEE ……….The Venice Process R O S T E 7. Sustainable Development Intended actions: Promoting sustainable development at national and regional levels, placing an emphasis on renewable energy sources, water and ecosystem management, and taking into account socio-economic and environmental interactions. Harnessing the power of information technology for Sustainability.

……….The Venice Process: 

……….The Venice Process Ad hoc Working groups on Life Sciences: Molecular Biology and Genetic Network Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology Networking Marine Genomics and biodiversity

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process SEE Molecular Biology and Genetic Network Coordin. Dr D. Plaseska, FYR Macedonia Interest expressed by Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, FYR Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Yugoslavia.

……….The Venice Process: 

……….The Venice Process Working groups on Environment & Social Sc. Urban Water Management Transboundary Ground Water Utilization Management and Protection Hearthquake Hazard Mitigation Network Development of Sustainable Management and Conservation of Biological Diversity Social Science

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process SEE Molecular Biology and Genetic Network. Coordin. Dr N. Trajkovic, Yugoslavia Interest expressed by Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, R. Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Yugoslavia.

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process SEE Advanced Materials Network ADMANET Coordin. Dr N. Katsaros, Greece Participating Countries: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, F.Y.R.O. Macedonia, Romania, Yugoslavia

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process: 

Research Infrastructures in SEE ……….The Venice Process SEE Network for Earthquake Harzard Mitigation Coordin. Prof. T. Tankut, Turkey Interest expressed by Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, FYR Macedonia, Romania, Turkey.

Research Infrastructures ……….The Venice Process : 

Research Infrastructures ……….The Venice Process Large and Medium Size Infrastructures Up-grading of astronomical observatory (Rozen, Bulgaria) Up-grading of oceanographic vessel of the Institute of Oceanography of Varna, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences New Coastal Oceanography vessel for the Adriatic based in Croatia Up-grading of the two-component seismic shaking table (Skopje, Macedonia) Ion accelerator Tesla (Belgrade, Tesla) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance infrastructure in Ljubljana (Slovenia) Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Archeology Dept. Zagreb 3D Sonography in prevention of stroke and in early detection of ovarian cancer, based at School of medecine, Zagreb, Croatia

SEE Ad hoc WG on Infrastructures ……….The Venice Process : 

SEE Ad hoc WG on Infrastructures ……….The Venice Process National Projects of Infrastructures Restoration of the National Library in Sarajevo Botanical garden of Tirana Up-grading of the molecular laboratory of the Albanian Academy of Sciences In addition, laboratory equipment necessary to up-grade the capacities of the countries to collaborate in the priority domains identified by the Venice Conference of Experts.

in conclusion !: 

in conclusion ! Reinforced Pan-European cooperation, with a specific focus on South East Europe is essential. We should recognize the importance to maintain the variety and richness of scientific cultures in Europe, bringing together the best of diverse origins, but at the same time, we cannot hope to compete on an international basis as individual nations. As the intrinsic nature of science is universal, its success depends on cooperation, interaction, and exchange, often beyond national boundaries. Scientists must have free access to each other and to scientific data and information.” L’union fait la force !!!

Welcome to the UNESCO-ROSTE in Venice!: 

Welcome to the UNESCO-ROSTE in Venice!