The work performed to address each specific objective included:
1. Support to Policy Dialogue
a. Active contribution to the works of the ‘EaP Panel on R&I’, feeding the Panel with the project’s outputs (studies, reports, etc.).
b. Implementation of two events dedicated to the Association of four EaP countries to H2020, namely:
• A Conference on ‘Sharing experiences from the Association to H2020’ (Chisinau, May 2017), allowing policy makers and other stakeholders to share their experiences on challenges and barriers they face in taking full benefit from the Association.
• A training for H2020 Programme Committee (PC) members from the associated EaP countries (Kiev, March 2018), allowing the transfer of knowledge from experienced EU Member States PC members to the newly nominated representatives from the EaP countries.
c. Organization of fact-finding missions in all the EaP countries, to obtain information on recent developments and on challenges at national level and in the cooperation with EU.
d. Preparation of the comprehensive document with STI policy recommendations ‘EU-EaP beyond 2020’ based on the aforementioned fact-finding missions and to all other project studies and activities. (Document available at:
https://www.eap-plus.eu/object/document/311(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre))
e. Organization of the Conference ‘EU-EaP STI cooperation: Beyond 2020’ (Brussels, 11 June 2019) that provided the opportunity to policy makers and other stakeholders from EU, EaP countries and the European Commission to discuss the challenges from the Association to H2020, important EU initiatives, as well as the recommendations prepared by the EaP PLUS project.
2. Interactions between researchers
a. Implementation of a competitive Grant scheme, to provide financial support to researchers from EaP countries to attend Brokerage Events or proposal preparation meetings in EU.
b. Organization of five (5) ‘Scientific Diaspora Workshops’ in EaP countries since the scientific diasporas in EU Member States constitute a valuable ‘bridge’ for the integration of EaP researchers in H2020 proposals.
c. Organization of ten (10) Information Days, of six (6) training seminars for NCPs in the EaP countries and of (17) Webinars on H2020 and on RDI issues to contribute to an enhanced participation in H2020.
3. Promoting innovation
a. The project devoted a particular attention to the development of Clusters in the EaP countries through a comprehensive set of activities that included:
- A review of the state of development of clusters in EaP countries;
- The implementation of a competitive grant scheme to provide funds to EaP clusters for the initiation of their collaboration with EU clusters;
- The development of recommendations in order to further stimulate the development of clusters in EaP and their cooperation with EU.
b. The project also promoted the concept of European Technology Platforms (ETPs) in the EaP countries, organized a training for Technology Managers and also prepared a co-patenting analysis between EU and EaP countries.
4. Improving framework conditions for the EU-EaP STI cooperation
a. Implementation of a review of Policies & Programmes in EU and in the EaP countries, with recommendations on the synergies that could be developed.
b. Organization of two high-level seminars for EaP policy makers to train them on contemporary STI concepts.
c. Implementation of a S&T cooperation Barometer through a survey to identify the attitude towards the EU-EaP STI cooperation and its trends.
d. Last but not least, the already mentioned recommendations (‘EU-EaP beyond 2020’), will also significantly contribute to the improvement of the framework conditions for the EU-EaP STI cooperation.
In parallel, the communication, dissemination and outreach activities included an active use of several channels and means (website, a newsletter facebook, twitter, ResearchGate and Youtube).
