10 February 20031

“FP6Networks

ofexcellence”

Colette RenierResearch DG

10 February 20032

NoE Objectives

Strengthen Europe’s excellence on a particular research topicby integrating the critical mass of expertise needed to provide European leadership and be a world forcearound a joint programme of activities

Tackling the fragmentation of European researchwhere the main deliverable is a durable structuring and shaping of how research is carried out in Europe

Spreading excellence beyond its partners

10 February 20033

NoE The joint programme of activities (1)

A range of new or re-oriented activities:

Integrating activities

•coordinated programming of the partners’ activities•sharing of research platforms/tools/facilities•joint management of the knowledge portfolio•staff mobility and exchanges•relocation of staff, teams, equipment•reinforced electronic communication systems

10 February 20034

NoE The joint programme of activities (2)

Joint research activities: a programme of joint research to support the network’s goals

•development of new research tools and platforms for common use

•generating new knowledge to fill gaps in or to extend the collective knowledge portfolio

10 February 20035

NoE The joint programme of activities (3)

Activities to spread excellence

•training researchers and other key staff•dissemination and communication activities•networking activities to help transfer knowledge to teams external to the network•where appropriate, promoting the exploitation of the results generated within the network•where appropriate, innovation-related activities

10 February 20036

NoE The joint programme of activities (4)

Network management

•overall coordination of the joint activities•communication with the Commission, reporting•activities linked to consortium-level financing and accounting management and legal issues•coordination of the knowledge management activities, if appropriate, other innovation-related activities•promotion of gender equality•science and society issues •supporting the governing board and other network bodies

ALL ACTIVITIES WITHIN A COHERENT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

10 February 20037

NoE Measuring integration(1)

In their proposal, participants will include possible qualitative and quantitative indicators for measuring progress towards integration

10 February 20038

NoE Measuring integration(2)

Main factors to be examined

•extent of mutual specialisation and mutual complementarity•sharing /development for common use of research infrastructure, equipment, tools and platforms•regular joint execution of research projects

10 February 20039

NoE Measuring integration(3)

Main factors to be examined

•interactive working through electronic communication systems•joint management of the knowledge portfolio•joint training programme (researchers and other key staff)•coherent management framework

10 February 200310

NoE Critical mass (1)

Expertise: assembling of the critical mass needed to achieve the ambitious goals of the network

variable from topic to topiclarger networks may involve several hundreds of researchersmay be smaller provided that the necessary ambition and critical mass are achieved

10 February 200311

NoE Critical mass (2)

Partnership: in general at least six (legal minimum: 3 from 3 different countries)

Duration of Community support:typically 5 yearsmore if necessary BUT no more than 7 years

10 February 200312

NoE Financial regime (1)

Community support targeted at overcoming the barriers to a durable integration•these barriers are mainly organisational, cultural, human cannot be quantified in normal accounting terms

Has led to the concept of an incentive, taking the form of a global “fixed grant for integration”

10 February 200313

NoE Financial regime(2)

A fixed grant for integration, acting as an incentive, calculated on basis:

•of the degree of integration•of the total number of researchers•of the characteristics of the field of research•of the joint programme of activities•with a bonus for registered doctoral students

10 February 200314

NoE Financial regime(3)

The average annual grant to a network could vary with the number of researchers as follows:

50 researchers € 1 million/year 100 researchers € 2 million/year 150 researchers € 3 million/year 250 researchers € 4 million/year 500 researchers € 5 million/year 1000 researchers and above € 6 million/year

(for intermediate numbers, the grant would be calculated by linear interpolation)

A network of 200 researchers supported over 5 yearswould therefore receive a fixed grant of € 17,5 million(plus bonus for registered doctoral students)

10 February 200315

NoE Payments regime

Annual payments of the grant will be paid on the basis of results

•depending on a progressive advance towards a durable integration

•with an additional check that costs of at least the value of the grant were incurred in implementing the joint programme of activities

10 February 200316

NoE Proposal submission

Through calls for proposals, which may be preceded by expressions of interest

Simplified proposal-making, reflecting the evolutionary nature of the network:•outline of the activities for the whole period•detailed JPA for the first 18 months only

10 February 200317

NoE Reporting and payments schedule

The consortium will submit to the Commission for its approval an annual report:•outline of previous 12 months’ activities•financial documents on the costs incurred for implementing the JPA (+audit certificates)

Upon acceptance of the above, the outstanding advance will be supplemented up to 85 % of the anticipated Community contribution for following 18 months

10 February 200318

NoEGovernance and monitoring (1)

A network’s governance must ensure institutional engagement by the partner organisations

through e.g. a “governing board” of senior representatives from the partners•to oversee integration of the partners’ activities

10 February 200319

NoE Governance and monitoring (2)

Robust output monitoring by the Commission, involving external experts at all stages

•annual reviews: basis for annual payments, yellow flag/red flag system•end-of-term review: assessment of the network’s impact on strengthening and spreading excellence

Audits carried out by the Commission: financial (at least one per NoE), technological, technical, ethical

10 February 200320

Reminder Main NoE features(1)

Demonstrated need for structuring

•description of fragmentation on the topic•existence of excellent capacities in Europe in the topic

Is there a real need for a structuring intervention?

10 February 200321

Reminder Main NoE features(2)

Characteristics of the network planned:

•composition of the partnership: presence of key excellent actors•potential synergies, complementarities, specialisation among the members•quality/degree of integration planned

Is the network planned likely to tackle the fragmentation problem identified?

10 February 200322

Reminder Main NoE features(3)

Viability of the network during and beyond the period

•awareness of high decision level representatives of the participating organisations: strong commitment•security regarding network’s funding, particularly beyond the period

Will the network constitute a durable answer to the problem identified?