Horizont četvrtkom

MultiWaveS

PROJECT FP7 – Marie Curie Actions International Research Staff Exchange Scheme

Prof Vesna Crnojević-Bengin University of Novi Sad, Serbia

MultiWaveS

Multiband Electronically Reconfigurable Microwave Devices and Antennas for a New Generation of Wireless Systems Call:

FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSES

Duration:

April 1 2010 – April 1 2013 • Bottom-up approach • Third countries • Only contribution to mobility and networking costs • early stage researchers, experienced researchers

Envisaged Impacts SCIENTIFIC STRATEGIC

SOFT • Transfer of specific knowledge into Europe • Quality of research • Development of lasting collaborations • Diversity of environment • Experience of excellence • Reward for complementarity • Inter-cultural exchange

Project Timeline

Thrill Apathy Drama Get serious Hard work Success The road hasn’t been covered with roses

Obstacles & Solutions

Personnel

• Key person from one institution left at the very beginning of the project • Partners not ready to actually commit to the project

Financial

• Pre-financing delayed for 9 months (!)

Institutional

• PO changed several times • No local experience with IRSES

Consequence

• 49% or placements executed by mid-term • Mid-term payment suspended • 3 rd year performed from own funds

Solutions

• Good management: Coherent and detailed plan of mobilities • Mid-term funding received after year 3 • Last (and first) PO extremely supportive

Success

Scientific Results in a Nutshell

100 papers published: • 30 in leading journals with the impact factor, • 71 on international conferences. One book chapter (invited) in Wiley

Encyclopedia of Electrical Engineering

A book for

Cambridge University Press

‘’Advances in Multi-Band Microstrip Filters’’ Workshop held at EuMW F P 7 P r o j e c t M u l t i W a v e S Industrial contracts

Special Award by the European Commission

“Marie Curie Actions for an Innovative Europe: Excellence, mobility and skills for researchers”, December 2010, Brussels

Beyond Serbia

• USA, Great Britain, Russia, South Africa – four very different systems (wrt. work environments, procedures, costs) • High level of understanding from all institutions (willingness to learn and adapt, practical help - accommodation & visas, no overheads) • Highly positive experience for all • Strong willingness to commit to joint work again

Before & After

• • • Mature research topic Difficult to obtain funding Fragmented research • • Excellent scientific results Improved teaching • Rare lasting scientific collaboration • • Established lasting global collaborations New industry contracts • Limited experience, especially of ESRs (‘90s) • • • New working environments Inter-cultural exchange Prevention of brain-drain • • One of first FP7 projects First IRSES in Serbia • • Built internal capacity Many FP7s that followed

Institutional Challenges

• • • • Excellent science, development of lasting collaborations, soft skills… That was the easy part!

Underdeveloped administrative capacity of Serbian institutions Lack of coherent regulatory framework – Poor understanding of benefits of int. coop., esp. MCA – National legislation does not recognize placements – Money transfers and the National Bank of Serbia Across all EU projects: – Mobility allowance (e.g. in ITN) – Personnel cost rates – – Type of contract Public procurements – – Employment of new staff Difficult participation of the public sector

Current Support and Beyond

• •  Very significant support exists from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development  Interactions are still needed with the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, with all stakeholders: To establish an institutional mind set which encourages international scientific cooperation and fully recognizes its benefits and actors To recommend procedures and provide an efficient regulatory framework for all stakeholders – – Employment, procurements, placements, payments… Personnel & mobility costs, co-financing, overheads…

Conclusion

Multiple positive effects of MultiWaveS:

• On our institution(s) and individuals • On our research • On the courses we teach

Long-lasting links established due to:

• Creation of high-impact scientific results • Good project management • Mutual trust • Long-lasting collaborations created

Life after death:

• Strong willingness to work together • Industry contacts • New projects

Future work:

• Developr policies and strategies to Serbian institutions to foster their full inclusion into ERA

Horizont četvrtkom

Thank you

FP7 – Marie Curie Actions International Research Staff Exchange Scheme

Prof Vesna Crnojević-Bengin University of Novi Sad, Serbia [email protected]