ResPotNet: The NCP Network for the Research Potential Programme ResPotNet is a 4-year project that aims to support research institutes and industrial communities in the EU's convergence and outermost regions, to fully utilise their research potential, to strengthen their capacities and to increase participation in the Framework Programmes. The network offers the means to collaborate and establish a system of mutual learning for better services, tailored to the needs of researchers. It consists of 16 partners from: Greece (coordinator), Poland, Romania, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, Malta, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Turkey, Israel, Serbia and Croatia. The ResPotNet website (http://www.respotnet.eu) launched earlier this year by the NCP network, has been developed to facilitate the work of the NCPs, improve communication within the Network and help potential participants better navigate their way to submitting a successful proposal. A Partner Search facility will be available in the coming weeks. ResPotNet is reaching out to the research community by ensuring that the Network receives the maximum exposure. The project was first presented at the Euroscience Open Forum Conference (Barcelona, July 2008) and the Open Days “European Week of Regions and Cities (Brussels, October 2008). ResPotNet plans to be present at the next ESOF Conference in 2010 in Turin as well as national and international conferences held in Europe! We look forward to seeing you there! On the 24th October, the European Commission published 2 calls under the Research Potential Programme in Capacities: The first call for proposals, Unlocking and developing the Research Potential of research entities established in the EU’s Convergence & Outermost regions has a budget of €30M and the specific aim of encouraging the research community in the convergence and outmost regions to reinforce their S&T potential. It enables the highest quality and the most promising research entities that are active in the FP7, to become more integrated in the European Research Area (ERA), through: • Trans-national two-way secondments of research staff; • Recruitment of incoming experienced researchers; • Acquisition and development of research equipment; • Organisation of workshops and conferences for knowledge transfer; • Dissemination activities; • Evaluation facilities by international independent experts. All research themes of FP7 are covered and since the Funding scheme for this activity is "Coordination and Support Actions", the EC financial contribution is up to 100% of the eligible costs. The EC is also encouraging strong synergies with the Community regional policy (Structural and Cohesion funds) and/or the Competitiveness and Innovation programme. The second call, International Cooperation (€8M) offers the unique opportunity for the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC) to develop partnerships through twinning activities with existing or emerging centres of excellence. These centres must be established in the EU’s convergence and outermost regions and the Member States and/or the Associated Countries. This cooperation should give rise to the fostering of strengthened scientific relationships, increased networking and the development of human potential in S&T. Exchanging of know-how and experience between the countries concerned, is a priority as is the upgrading of the S&T research capacities in the highest quality and/or promising research entities in the MPC. Improvements should be aimed at adjusting Mediterranean Partner RTD research entities' policies, boosting their scientific and technological research potential, and developing links between their scientific communities and those of Member States.More information: http://www.respotnet.eu Countries Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom
