FRENZ to increase New Zealand participation in FP7
A platform aimed at helping researchers from Europe and New Zealand to work more closely together during the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) has been launched by the European Commission and the New Zealand Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. Known as FRENZ (Facilitate research cooperation between Europe and New Zealand), the platform will facilitate collaboration through personal contact, communication of information, and information events, FRENZ Director Carole Glynn explained to CORDIS News. A lack of awareness in both Europe and New Zealand, as well as the huge distance between the two have, in the past, acted as a barrier to research collaboration. Recent activities have paid dividends however, New Zealand increasing its participation in the EU's research framework programmes (FPs) from three in FP5 to at least 11 in FP6 as well as three Marie Curie actions. And FRENZ is set to increase participation still further. The aim is to 'ensure that New Zealand researchers are fully aware of the opportunities in FP7, and that they have the support that they require,' said Ms Glynn. The personal contact will include a helpdesk, dealing with queries on any aspect of participation in EU projects on a one-to-one basis, as well as briefing visits to universities and research institutes. The briefings will provide both basic, practical information, and more strategic information. 'We will be helping them develop a strategic approach. They need to understand the value of participating, what they can gain,' says Ms Glynn. The communication aspect of FRENZ will involve targeted, discipline-themed e-mails, for example on policy news, new calls for proposals and the results of previous calls. A website will also seek to help New Zealand researchers to understand why EU programme is important for third countries, as well as for Europe. Information events will be organised to coincide with important events, such as the launch of a new call, and will bring together New Zealand's experts in specific fields. 'We want to move away from one-to-one contacts and towards a New Zealand approach,' says Ms Glynn. Ms Glynn is from the UK, and worked previously at the United Kingdom Research Office in Brussels. She believes that coming from a European background is helpful as it helps her to understand the motivation of European researchers for getting involved. Her task now is to 'match motivations', she says. Melae Langbein is the New Zealand EU Science Counsellor. She has been focusing on raising awareness and providing support in Europe, and welcomes the launch of FRENZ, which will meet the demand coming from New Zealand. Interest from New Zealand in scientific cooperation has been so great that she has found it difficult to meet. New Zealand's objective is to increase cooperation in areas of mutual benefit, and in particular in food, agriculture, biotechnology, health, information and communications technologies (ICT), the environment, social sciences and mobility. 'New Zealand contributes a small proportion of scientific output, but has excellence in niche areas. We aim to contribute to the excellence that Europe needs, 'says Ms Langbein.