Bringing researchers under the ERA umbrella
The Central European Initiative (CEI) is an intergovernmental forum with 18 Member States from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, whose primarily goal is to support “regional cooperation for European integration”. Thanks to the EC grant, which allowed for the implementation of the EU-funded project 'CEI research fellowship programme' (CERES)(opens in new window), the CEI reinforced its existing fellowship scheme, both in terms of quantity and quality of its offerings, by increasing the number of fellowship years and improving employment conditions for fellows. CERES' main goal was to support the transnational mobility of researchers by enabling sound contributions to the scientific development of fellows' countries of origin, and the CEI area in general. The project launched four annual calls that were advertised through the CEI networks of experts, at CEI-sponsored events and meetings, and at host institutions. The objective was to award 12-month fellowships to experienced researchers from CEI countries for research carried out at one of the 5 CEI partner institutions based in Trieste (Italy), one of the most advanced scientific hubs in Europe. Research covered a broad range of highly relevant scientific research areas such as genetics, physics, biotechnology, neuroscience and nanoscience. Dissemination activities were instrumental in spreading word to non-EU CEI countries like Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine. As a result, more than half of all applications originated from such countries. This helped promote transnational researcher mobility from non-EU states and allowed third countries to enter the European Research Area (ERA). The calls resulted in the selection of 30 CERES fellows, 14 of whom found permanent positions. The majority also said that their social security situation improved because of the project. A feedback survey showed the fellows' appreciation for a programme that offered exceptional scientific supervision by the host institution towards their career development. CERES facilitated capacity building, knowledge transfer and experience sharing that should strengthen economic and social advancement of non-EU CEI members.