Full title: JSO Ukraine - Joint Support Office for Enhancing Ukraine’s Integration in EU Research Area
European Commission, EuropeAid
The objective of the project is to support Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area (ERA). More specifically, the project is structured into 4 components, each of which corresponds to a specific purpose, as follows:
- Component A: Raise public awareness in Ukraine on Community R&D activities and technological areas and in particular on the 7th Framework Program (FP7)
- Component B: Increase the opportunities of the Ukrainian research and business communities for integration into the European networks that support innovation and commercialisation of R&D output and optimise the existing EU instruments for international mobility to/from Ukraine
- Component C: Assist the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science (MES) in the association of the country to the FP7 and support it in the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology (and its successor agreement) between the EC and Ukraine
- Component D: Encourage the participation of the Ukrainian R&D institutions and SMEs in the EU programmes in the field of innovation and technology transfer and support the MES in preparing the ground for the future accession of Ukraine to the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP).
Most of the assistance will be channelled through the Joint Support Office (JSO) in Ukraine. Project activities include training of the JSO staff to prepare them to deliver partner and information services to clients and to fulfil promotional activities (information days, seminars, conferences, newsletters). The project also includes study visits of Ukrainian researchers to EU members states (including Greece).
Expected results:
Under Component A:
- JSO experts trained to act as trainers in workshops and equipped with the capacity and expertise to provide support to Ukrainian researchers to prepare proposals on R&D and innovation support EC programmes
- Website and database developed and fully functional
- Quarterly electronic bulletin developed and distributed
- Information days organised
- Public awareness on FP7 and its specific programmes
- Consortia for research programmes built and successful partnerships established
- FP7 proposals with Ukrainian participation developed and submitted due to enhanced support by the JSO
- Regional participation in FP7 enhanced
- Capacity building workshops delivered
- Target groups trained
- Participation of Ukrainian industry and research community in FP7 increased.
Under Component B:
- Knowledge on the “People and Capacities” specific programmes of FP7 and on mobility opportunities increased
- Contacts with the European R&D and innovation support networks established.
Under Component C:
- Progress in the preparation process for Ukraine’s association to FP7 as a full member
- Support to the MES within the scope of work of the Joint Community-Ukraine Committee.
Under Component D:
- Comprehensive overview of the existing EU programmes in the field of innovation and technology transfer and of the conditions for Ukrainian SME involvement
- Comprehensive overview of needs, actions and requirements for Ukraine’s accession to the CIP
- Opportunities and procedures for Ukraine’s integration into the CIP explored
Relevant events organized and final results delivered to the Ukrainian R&D stakeholders.