Final Report Summary - BS-RESPOT (Research Potential of the Black Sea countries)
The Black Sea region constitutes the eastern border of the European Union (EU) and provides the bridge to the Caspian Sea and Central Asia, regions rich in natural resources that are of particular importance for the EU. Within the Black Sea region, the organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) is a political organisation established 20 ago and including 12 countries around Black Sea and in the Balkan Peninsula. Among the activities and goals of BSEC, Science and technology (S&T) has always been considered as a key priority and discussions at the level of the working group for cooperation in S&T aimed at the strengthening of this cooperation.
In this context, the BS-RESPOT project had been set up and implemented in order to provide sound scientific evidence that would support the aforementioned discussions and policy setting not only at the level of the BSEC but also in the EU.
More precisely, the main aim of the BS-RESPOT project had been to identify the most promising field for cooperation in S&T among the BSEC countries and between BSEC and EU. In addition, particular attention had been given to the role and potential of the National Academies of Sciences, and on the role and character a Black Sea Innovation Center could have.
To achieve its goals the project was divided in three phases: the first one involved the mapping and evaluation of the Research and technological development (RTD) landscape in every country. This phase covered approximately the first half of the initial two-year duration of the project and provided the scientific evidence basis for the second phase. The second phase was dedicated to the interpretation of the available data and the formulation of proposals for the specific objectives of the project and for an enhanced cooperation in RTD. Finally, a third phase, which had been added as a follow-up activity, had been based on the results of BS-RESPOT and aimed at the identification of research topics of mutual EU - BSEC interest that could be considered as Specific International Cooperation Activities in three Thematic Priorities of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).
Despite the small delays and difficulties encountered during the first year, the work during the second year progressed well and all the initially foreseen tasks were concluded by spring 2006, as scheduled in the contract. Then, an amendment to the contract was proposed by the consortium and accepted by the Commission to extend the duration of the project in order to include the aforementioned third phase that included additional tasks as follow-up / implementation activities of the results of the project. This phase had also been implemented successfully by the end of December 2006, as foreseen in the amended contract.
The BS-RESPOT project constituted the only in-depth evaluation of the research potential of the twelve countries of the BSEC organisation and could be considered as a cornerstone for an enhanced cooperation among the countries but also between BSEC and EU.
In this context, the BS-RESPOT project had been set up and implemented in order to provide sound scientific evidence that would support the aforementioned discussions and policy setting not only at the level of the BSEC but also in the EU.
More precisely, the main aim of the BS-RESPOT project had been to identify the most promising field for cooperation in S&T among the BSEC countries and between BSEC and EU. In addition, particular attention had been given to the role and potential of the National Academies of Sciences, and on the role and character a Black Sea Innovation Center could have.
To achieve its goals the project was divided in three phases: the first one involved the mapping and evaluation of the Research and technological development (RTD) landscape in every country. This phase covered approximately the first half of the initial two-year duration of the project and provided the scientific evidence basis for the second phase. The second phase was dedicated to the interpretation of the available data and the formulation of proposals for the specific objectives of the project and for an enhanced cooperation in RTD. Finally, a third phase, which had been added as a follow-up activity, had been based on the results of BS-RESPOT and aimed at the identification of research topics of mutual EU - BSEC interest that could be considered as Specific International Cooperation Activities in three Thematic Priorities of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).
Despite the small delays and difficulties encountered during the first year, the work during the second year progressed well and all the initially foreseen tasks were concluded by spring 2006, as scheduled in the contract. Then, an amendment to the contract was proposed by the consortium and accepted by the Commission to extend the duration of the project in order to include the aforementioned third phase that included additional tasks as follow-up / implementation activities of the results of the project. This phase had also been implemented successfully by the end of December 2006, as foreseen in the amended contract.
The BS-RESPOT project constituted the only in-depth evaluation of the research potential of the twelve countries of the BSEC organisation and could be considered as a cornerstone for an enhanced cooperation among the countries but also between BSEC and EU.