Final Report Summary - BIO-NET (A network of national contact points providing cutting-edge NCP services to the knowledge based bio-economy research community)
Executive Summary:
BIO-NET
The BIO-NET project provided cutting-edge services to the knowledge based bio economy (KBBE) research community. Its aim was to reinforce the network of all European organisations that are active as national contact points (NCPs) in food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology, theme two of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The project ran from 1 September 2008 until 31 August 2012.
BIO-NET consortium
As a result of the large number of organisations involved, BIO-NET was set up as an open network. Great care was taken to ensure that all officially appointed NCPs would benefit from the network, its facilities and activities. Forty one NCP organisations were part of the BIO-NET consortium. The core consortium consisted of 23 NCP organisations. In addition to this all officially appointed European NCP organisations could participate in the network activities. Until now, 19 other NCP organisations were involved in the project in addition to the 23 beneficiaries. In total the BIO-NET consortium had members from 35 countries.
Results
Network building
The main objective was to reinforce the network of European KBBE NCPs. This put a special emphasis on the eight consortium meetings that took place in four years. A lot of attention was paid to interactive work forms, so that the NCPs would really get to know each other. This method also enhanced the involvement of NCPs in the network activities and built lasting relationships.
The network was further enhanced by over 40 staff-exchange visits. NCPs could pick their ideal partner from a table of skills, experience and best practices and match these with their own learning needs.
Training NCPs
Based on an assessment of the training needs of NCPs, the project saw six high quality interactive NCP training sessions, covering all topics NCPs need to master in their daily work. In support to the work packages where training sessions for clients were developed, over 30 NCPs followed a 'train-the-trainer' workshop. Finally a series of smaller issues were covered in 13 short online trainings. An e-learning tool was developed to give new NCPs access to the basic knowledge.
Training of clients
With a series of 22 dedicated training sessions for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and (young) researchers, an attempt was made to lower the barriers for newcomers to FP7. The programme of the training sessions was based on a survey of SME and researcher's training needs.
The sessions were organised in regions such as Spain, Croatia, Poland, Romania and Latvia, where local NCPs do not always have the resources to provide training sessions.
In total almost 500 SMEs and more than 450 researchers were trained.
Consortium Building:
To facilitate the incorporation of (new) organisations in FP7 and to help consortia to find adequate partners for projects, a KBBE-specific partner search tool was developed. With each new call the database was updated. On average 350 to 400 profiles were available for each call. To further stimulate European collaboration, a series of four brokerage events were held. One event was a virtual online brokerage, others were jointly organised with the BioCircle project and with enterprise Europe network.
Dissemination
Apart from the usual communication tools, such as a website, folders and posters, BIO-NET created five success story videos, encouraging newcomers to participate in FP7. Other success stories are available in downloadable pdf format.
Project Context and Objectives:
The aim of this coordination and support action is to reinforce the network of NCPs for the FP7 under theme two 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology'.
The leading concept of the coordination and support action is based on three types of joint activities designed to enhance the bio NCP network:
1. Activities to improve the services of bio NCPs through training and common tools. These activities are aimed at all European bio NCPs, ensuring that less experienced bio NCPs rapidly acquire the know-how accumulated in the network and the same time preserving this knowledge for all NCPs to share. Benchmarking the bio NCPs activities through an extensive strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats (SWOT) analysis of NCP practices. Capacity building and assisting less experienced NCPs through a series of six training sessions. Setting up a knowledge management system to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience within the bio NCP network, based on the 'Wikipedia' concept. Setting up a library for common training material to be used at national information days and training events.
2. Activities to improve the cohesion of the bio NCP network through network activities. These activities, too, are aimed at all European bio NCPs, focussing on the identification and sharing of best practices and improvement of trans-national contacts. Organise twinning sessions and staff exchanges to share experience and best practices. Development and promotion of a common communication tool to enhance the sharing of experience and solve common problems.
3. Activities to simplify access to FP7 calls through joint trans-national activities. These activities are aimed at researchers, industry and SMEs. Through joint trans-national activities the bio NCP network will lower entry barriers for newcomers, and raise the average quality of submitted proposals. Within each group of activities the consortium has set a number of general objectives to be achieved within the four-year life span of the project. These general objectives will be linked to specific objectives, milestones and deliverables within the work packages. Ten joint cross-border regional workshops, aimed specifically at SMEs, lowering the barriers for participation. Twelve joint cross-border regional workshops, aimed specifically at researchers, lowering the barriers for participation. Improving the partner search services by implementing a single European partner search system to be used by all bio NCPs. Stimulation of international research cooperation through a series of four annual European brokerage events. Joint communication material aimed at researchers, industry and SMEs, including a website, leaflets, poster, success stories on video and partner search catalogues.
Project Results:
BIO-NET, as a typical collaboration and support action, has not really generated a lot of scientific and technological (S&T) foreground. The emphasis of the project was on strengthening the network of NCPs by training them and encouraging them to cooperate in a better way. The most tangible results are therefore hidden in the improved skills of the European KBBE NCPs.
The training sessions for SMEs and newcomer researchers have been based on an inventory of their respective learning needs. This has not, however, led to new insights since the learning needs proved to be in line with knowledge generated during many similar, previous NCP projects in FP6 and FP7, in KBBE as well as in other themes.
SMEs turn out to be worried about the paperwork and about the amount of money they can expect to receive. Researchers tend to be more focussed on the scientific opportunities and worry less about money.
Potential Impact:
BIO-NET made a difference to all European KBBE NCPs. When the project ended in September 2012, the level of knowledge of NCP organisations, in particular for their individual KBBE employees had improved significantly. This is the main result of the many thorough training sessions and the numerous staff exchanges.
An indirect result of this is that KBBE NCPs throughout Europe will provide a better service to their clients. These clients, or at least a portion of them, were to undergo the BIO-NET trainings tailored to their exact needs. This means that a total number of more than 950 newcomers, SMEs and young researchers, had the opportunity to improve their chances on successful FP7 participation.
The BIO-NET partner search facility, aided by the brokerage events that are organised, has given many interested parties a platform to advertise their skills and experience, again improving their chances on successful participation.
Five attractive videos on KBBE success stories will further motivate researchers and companies across Europe to consider participation in KBBE projects.
List of Websites:
Coordinator: Mr Koos de Korte, senior advisor, Agentschap NL / Min ELI
Telephone: +31-886-025492 (direct) / +31-886-025250 (secr.)
Fax: +31-886-029023
E-mail: koos.dekorte@agentschapnl.nl
Project website: http://www.ncp-bio.net(opens in new window)
BIO-NET
The BIO-NET project provided cutting-edge services to the knowledge based bio economy (KBBE) research community. Its aim was to reinforce the network of all European organisations that are active as national contact points (NCPs) in food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology, theme two of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The project ran from 1 September 2008 until 31 August 2012.
BIO-NET consortium
As a result of the large number of organisations involved, BIO-NET was set up as an open network. Great care was taken to ensure that all officially appointed NCPs would benefit from the network, its facilities and activities. Forty one NCP organisations were part of the BIO-NET consortium. The core consortium consisted of 23 NCP organisations. In addition to this all officially appointed European NCP organisations could participate in the network activities. Until now, 19 other NCP organisations were involved in the project in addition to the 23 beneficiaries. In total the BIO-NET consortium had members from 35 countries.
Results
Network building
The main objective was to reinforce the network of European KBBE NCPs. This put a special emphasis on the eight consortium meetings that took place in four years. A lot of attention was paid to interactive work forms, so that the NCPs would really get to know each other. This method also enhanced the involvement of NCPs in the network activities and built lasting relationships.
The network was further enhanced by over 40 staff-exchange visits. NCPs could pick their ideal partner from a table of skills, experience and best practices and match these with their own learning needs.
Training NCPs
Based on an assessment of the training needs of NCPs, the project saw six high quality interactive NCP training sessions, covering all topics NCPs need to master in their daily work. In support to the work packages where training sessions for clients were developed, over 30 NCPs followed a 'train-the-trainer' workshop. Finally a series of smaller issues were covered in 13 short online trainings. An e-learning tool was developed to give new NCPs access to the basic knowledge.
Training of clients
With a series of 22 dedicated training sessions for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and (young) researchers, an attempt was made to lower the barriers for newcomers to FP7. The programme of the training sessions was based on a survey of SME and researcher's training needs.
The sessions were organised in regions such as Spain, Croatia, Poland, Romania and Latvia, where local NCPs do not always have the resources to provide training sessions.
In total almost 500 SMEs and more than 450 researchers were trained.
Consortium Building:
To facilitate the incorporation of (new) organisations in FP7 and to help consortia to find adequate partners for projects, a KBBE-specific partner search tool was developed. With each new call the database was updated. On average 350 to 400 profiles were available for each call. To further stimulate European collaboration, a series of four brokerage events were held. One event was a virtual online brokerage, others were jointly organised with the BioCircle project and with enterprise Europe network.
Dissemination
Apart from the usual communication tools, such as a website, folders and posters, BIO-NET created five success story videos, encouraging newcomers to participate in FP7. Other success stories are available in downloadable pdf format.
Project Context and Objectives:
The aim of this coordination and support action is to reinforce the network of NCPs for the FP7 under theme two 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology'.
The leading concept of the coordination and support action is based on three types of joint activities designed to enhance the bio NCP network:
1. Activities to improve the services of bio NCPs through training and common tools. These activities are aimed at all European bio NCPs, ensuring that less experienced bio NCPs rapidly acquire the know-how accumulated in the network and the same time preserving this knowledge for all NCPs to share. Benchmarking the bio NCPs activities through an extensive strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats (SWOT) analysis of NCP practices. Capacity building and assisting less experienced NCPs through a series of six training sessions. Setting up a knowledge management system to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience within the bio NCP network, based on the 'Wikipedia' concept. Setting up a library for common training material to be used at national information days and training events.
2. Activities to improve the cohesion of the bio NCP network through network activities. These activities, too, are aimed at all European bio NCPs, focussing on the identification and sharing of best practices and improvement of trans-national contacts. Organise twinning sessions and staff exchanges to share experience and best practices. Development and promotion of a common communication tool to enhance the sharing of experience and solve common problems.
3. Activities to simplify access to FP7 calls through joint trans-national activities. These activities are aimed at researchers, industry and SMEs. Through joint trans-national activities the bio NCP network will lower entry barriers for newcomers, and raise the average quality of submitted proposals. Within each group of activities the consortium has set a number of general objectives to be achieved within the four-year life span of the project. These general objectives will be linked to specific objectives, milestones and deliverables within the work packages. Ten joint cross-border regional workshops, aimed specifically at SMEs, lowering the barriers for participation. Twelve joint cross-border regional workshops, aimed specifically at researchers, lowering the barriers for participation. Improving the partner search services by implementing a single European partner search system to be used by all bio NCPs. Stimulation of international research cooperation through a series of four annual European brokerage events. Joint communication material aimed at researchers, industry and SMEs, including a website, leaflets, poster, success stories on video and partner search catalogues.
Project Results:
BIO-NET, as a typical collaboration and support action, has not really generated a lot of scientific and technological (S&T) foreground. The emphasis of the project was on strengthening the network of NCPs by training them and encouraging them to cooperate in a better way. The most tangible results are therefore hidden in the improved skills of the European KBBE NCPs.
The training sessions for SMEs and newcomer researchers have been based on an inventory of their respective learning needs. This has not, however, led to new insights since the learning needs proved to be in line with knowledge generated during many similar, previous NCP projects in FP6 and FP7, in KBBE as well as in other themes.
SMEs turn out to be worried about the paperwork and about the amount of money they can expect to receive. Researchers tend to be more focussed on the scientific opportunities and worry less about money.
Potential Impact:
BIO-NET made a difference to all European KBBE NCPs. When the project ended in September 2012, the level of knowledge of NCP organisations, in particular for their individual KBBE employees had improved significantly. This is the main result of the many thorough training sessions and the numerous staff exchanges.
An indirect result of this is that KBBE NCPs throughout Europe will provide a better service to their clients. These clients, or at least a portion of them, were to undergo the BIO-NET trainings tailored to their exact needs. This means that a total number of more than 950 newcomers, SMEs and young researchers, had the opportunity to improve their chances on successful FP7 participation.
The BIO-NET partner search facility, aided by the brokerage events that are organised, has given many interested parties a platform to advertise their skills and experience, again improving their chances on successful participation.
Five attractive videos on KBBE success stories will further motivate researchers and companies across Europe to consider participation in KBBE projects.
List of Websites:
Coordinator: Mr Koos de Korte, senior advisor, Agentschap NL / Min ELI
Telephone: +31-886-025492 (direct) / +31-886-025250 (secr.)
Fax: +31-886-029023
E-mail: koos.dekorte@agentschapnl.nl
Project website: http://www.ncp-bio.net(opens in new window)