Coordination of the Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation

Scope: The Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation originated in the Commission Communication on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation adopted in 2021. It was strongly supported by EU Member States through specific Council Conclusions and the so-called “Marseille Declaration” in 2022 and endorsed during an international Ministerial conference in February 2024 (“Brussels Statement”). The first phase of the Multilateral Dialogue (2021-2024) consisted of two high-level meetings, a series of thematic workshops co-organised with partners[[Past workshops tackled the following topics: academic freedom, ethics and research integrity, gender equality and inclusiveness, open science, research excellence, knowledge valorisation, research security, encouraging equitable research and innovation partnerships with low- and middle-income countries]], and the Ministerial conference.

The aim of the Dialogue is to identify principles and values which should underpin international cooperation in research and innovation between countries around the world. A guiding principle of the Dialogue is to identify commonalities, discuss differences, and learn from each other’s experiences.

There is a desire by the European Commission as well as affiliate countries and partner organisations to ensure that the Dialogue becomes a genuinely global exercise rather than being perceived as dominated by one regional perspectiveAn important issue for further discussions in the Multilateral Dialogue would be to explore distinctions between research (the research process) and innovation (the innovation process) in terms of ‘cooperation’ and ‘competition’. The EC also wants the Dialogue to become more pragmatic by examining the types of normative frameworks and guiding principles to help shape global standards and expectations for both international and multilateral collaborations.

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:

Scientific and administrative coordination of the Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation. This includes:

1. 1. Establish the Secretariat of the Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation and develop related Terms of Reference (e.g. roles and responsibilities, workplan, budget, staffing, communications).
   2. Constitute a Steering Team involving the European Commission, UNESCO, OECD, and other international partners, and develop related Terms of Reference (e.g. roles and responsibilities, membership, decision-making).
   3. Develop a 3-year roadmap and action plan for the Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation, to be agreed with the partners involved in the Multilateral Dialogue, with emphasis on broadening global participation in the Dialogue and on targeting thematic areas and questions which have not yet been tackled by the Dialogue so far.
   4. Identify key actors, institutions, platforms, and processes that facilitate the proposed interactions, in consultation with current and prospective partners, including the planning of co-designed thematic and regional workshops, organised and (partially) funded by volunteering nations or stakeholders and technically supported by a contractor identified by the Commission.
   5. Execute and monitor the agreed roadmap and action plan and develop a draft Framework on Principles and Values for International Cooperation in Research and Innovation, possibly leading up to a Ministerial Meeting and Declaration, to be convened by the European Commission and possibly other international partners.
   6. Communicate about the Multilateral Dialogue, in close coordination with the members of the Steering Team.
   7. Overall, ensure good cooperation and coordination among all partners involved, including with the contractor identified by the European Commission for providing technical support.

The Commission considers that a duration of 36 months for this action would be appropriate.

Procedure: The evaluation committee will be fully composed by representatives of EU institutions.

This grant will be awarded without a call for proposals according to Article 198(e) of the Financial Regulation 2024/2509[[European Commission: Directorate-General for Budget, Financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast), Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2761/686790]] and Article 24(3)(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation to the legal entity identified below.

The general conditions, including admissibility conditions, eligibility conditions, award criteria, evaluation and award procedure, legal and financial set-up for grants, financial and operational capacity and exclusion, and procedure are set out in Annexes A to G of the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme.