WP5 - Mapping Indian Research Potential – Year 3 Activities

1. WP5 - Mapping Indian Research Potential – Year 3 Activities Rajashree Iyer, ITSMA, INDIA

2. Objective of WP5 Specific Objectives • To provide EU environment researchers with a good contact repository of Indian researchers • To provide the EU organizations a valuable reference report on the current trends and scenario in the Indian Environment Sector • To facilitate clear match-making between Indian and EU environment sector. • To disseminate FP7 research collaboration opportunities through events Broad Objectives • To map the Indian Environment Research organizations • To enhance EU-India research collaborations in environment sector

3. Impact of WP5 • Provide EU researchers valuable information & contacts in India • Greater collaboration between EU & India in Environment research • Positive impact on the EU-India Policy dialogues • Generate business opportunities • Exploitation of RTD results and convergence on standards

4. Tasks Overview – A Recall • Task 1 – A Short Report on Environment Sector in India • Task 2 – Organization Contact Repository Development • Task 3 - Questionnaire Development and Designing of Database • Task 4 – Data Collection • Task 5 – Design and Development of the Indian Partner Search Tool • Task 6 - Data Analysis and Report Generation • Task 7 – Partner Search Tool Maintenance and Updating • Task 8 - Awareness Raising and Dissemination Activity

5. Year 3 Activities

6. Organizing Dissemination Event in India Activity 5.4

7. Objective of the task • Raise awareness on FP7 Environment Thematic Area • More importantly, about the FIRST EVER EU-India coordinated call in Environment Thematic Area on “Water technologies: innovation and management” • Promote and encourage Indian participation in this Coordinated Call • Train the Potential participants and also Indian NCP on FP7 rules for participation (Twinning activity) • There by increase entries in the Database / Partner Search Tool

8. Event models thought of… • Combine our event with a delegation Mission from Europe • Have our session within a bigger Environment event • Brokerage event: one-on-one meeting between EU & Indian organizations • Co-organize with EBTC / TERI / BCIC / Other organizations • Model Adopted: 2 Events – 1 in the North and 1 in the South

9. Target audience • Target Audience: Aimed at 70 – 75 best in class Indian organizations • Type: • Research centers • Academic Institutes • NGOs • Other stake holders

10. Event details • Two events organized • North – New Delhi, 17 August 2011 • Hosted by TERI University • Participants: 38 • South- Bangalore, 18th August 2011 • Hosted by IISc • Participants: 56

11. Pre-event activities 1. Developing Agenda • Jointly developed by ITSMA and ANCS • Aim was not just to dissemination about Open calls and coordinated calls, but also to train the participants on how to join FP7 projects. • Hence 70% of the event content revolved around FP7 aspects • Two case studies of successful Indian participation were included • Both Delhi and Bangalore sessions had same topics for presentations and the same speakers

12. Agenda snapshot

13. Agenda snapshot

14. Pre-event activities 2. Selecting Venues • approached renowned research institutes that participated in the project survey 3. Identifying Speakers • contacted via email followed by follow-up calls and reminder emails 4. Inviting Participants and registrations • Invitation mailers sent to 600 Indian environment database • A simple registration form was developed • several telephonic and individual email follow-ups were made • Delhi event saw 35 registrations and Bangalore - 40 registrations.

15. Pre-event activities 5. Dissemination Materials • ITSMA prepared the designs for the backdrop, podium banner and badges for both events • Delegate kit items included: • 2012 Work Programme • Folder • Agenda printout • Pen and notepad

16. Backdrop and podium banner

17. Registration form & badge

18. Key observations made by Indian case study speakers • Positive points of working in EU projects • A rich experience with a platform for developed and developing country institutions to engage in healthy joint research • Opportunity to share and learn on methods and techniques being applied for similar research • Access to experts from various walks of Academia • EU projects are not driven by a political agenda and therefore provides opportunity explore all possible areas and indicate the gaps • Longer time frames of 3 -4 year projects provide stability in research and for innovative and creative outputs to develop • increases the reach to other institutes and evolving new methods

19. Key observations made by Indian case study speakers • Some of the negatives pointed out include: • Size of the component received by the Indian partners, relative to the EU partners, due to the EU centric thrust, tend to be much smaller • The frame work decided upon largely by the European partners runs the risk of constraining certain investigations. • EU procedures very lengthy – some time very difficult to understand for eligibility criteria • Submission of financial reports, release of progressive payments take a long time • Release of final payments take more than one year; in some cases more than two years • Loss in exchange rates, amount needs to be frozen in INR

20. Conclusions drawn from events • Participants showed keen interest in joining EU projects • However, they need handholding and practical trainings on proposal development and partner search • More awareness raising and promotional actions need to be organized by Indian government on Joint Calls

21. T5.6 - Ongoing and future activity • Partner search Portal Enhancement & maintenance • Database updation • The Indian Partner Search Tool can also be uploaded in the EIRC Web Portal, which is the Indian NCP coordinator (www.euroindiaresearch.org) • Could also be linked under a separate section for Indian potential partners’ database under the environment thematic area of Cordis?

22. Thank you