BILAT projects
This term was coined under the EU's 7th Framework Programme for Research an Development (FP7). The European Union has agreed scientific cooperation treaties with a number of different partner countries. Funding was available for so-called BILAT projects (Bilateral S&T Cooperation Partnerships) to support and substantiate these treaties and to strengthen the cooperations.
Clusters
The term ‘cluster’ describes networked companies and institutions set up in a region, which offer competitive advantages for all parties involved. Clusters are characterised by a focus on innovation and research.
COST
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a research initiative between 35 European countries, which has existed since 1971. In addition to the 28 EU member states, it includes: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey and the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. Israel is a cooperating member. Scientists can submit suggestions for COST campaigns based on the “bottom-up principle”. The results of successful COST campaigns include the GSM standard for mobile phone, biological pest control in agriculture using nematodes, the low-floor bus and the meteorological institute “European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast“ in Reading, UK.
ERA-Nets
This term was coined under the EU's 7th Framework Programme for Research an Development (FP7). The aim of the ERA-Nets was to improve the cooperation and coordination of research activities performed in the EU member states and associated countries on a national and regional level. This was based on networking funding activities, mutual disclosure and on developing and implementing joint calls for proposals and programmes. International ERA-Nets implemented this in relation to cooperations with a specific partner country or partner region outside Europe.
EURAXESS
EURAXESS is a pan-European initiative providing information and advisory services to researchers and their employers. The initiative is supported by 260 partner institutions in 40 countries and supports the mobility and career development of researchers.
EUREKA
EUREKA is an intergovernmental initiative for pan-European research and development funding and coordination with a focus on international cooperation in innovation. EUREKA is not an EU research program, but rather an intergovernmental organisation, of which the EU is a member.
European Research Area (ERA)
The joint European Research Area (ERA) was agreed in a contract signed in Lisbon in 2009. Its aims are to bundle, improve and harmonise the framework conditions for research and innovation without sacrificing the diversity of the different scientific systems. The following principles apply:
- More effective national research systems,
- Optimal cooperation across countries, and corresponding competition,
- Open labour market for researchers,
- Equal treatment of both sexes in research,
- Optimal exchange and transfer as well as access to / of scientific findings,
- Internationalisation of the European Research Area.
European Framework Programmes (FP)
The European Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programmes or abbreviated FP (usually FP1-FP7, while FP8 was called 'Horizon 2020' and the current FP9 is better known as 'Horizon Europe'), are funding programmes created by the European Union to support and foster international research cooperation within the European Research Area (ERA) and beyond. The specific objectives and actions vary between funding periods. In FP6 (2002–2006) and FP7 (2007-2013) the focus was on technological research, while Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) and Horizon Europe (2021-2027) place a stronger emphasis on innovation.
Funding announcement
It is a requirement for public funding announcements to be publicised, and these are announced in the Federal Gazette or on the website of the Project Management Agency (federal level). EU programmes are announced in the EU Gazette.
Research and development (R&D)
This includes measures which directly contribute to scientific or technological progress by answering open questions in this area. R&D relates to creative work performed with the purpose of extending the knowledge base, such as in relation to people, culture and society, and to enable use of this knowledge base to design new applications. R&D covers the following three areas: Basic research, applied research and experimental research.
GOVET
GOVET is the the name of the headquarters for international professional education cooperation at the Federal Institute for Vocational Training (BIBB). It runs alongside the bilateral vocational training cooperations of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and its purpose is to act as a first point of call for queries relating to dual vocational training in Germany and abroad. On the other hand, this office is used as a “round table” for international vocational training cooperation. It organises regular meetings between the federal ministries responsible, the chamber organisations (DIHK and ZDH), the social partners (BDA and DGB) and the BIBB as well as representatives of the federal states. Its aim is to ensure a regular exchange of information and coherence between German actors in international vocational training cooperation.
Horizon 2020
'Horizon 2020' was the name of the 8th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014 - 2020). For the first time, it brought together several previously separate research and innovation funding programmes of the European Commission. The previous 7 framework programmes were simply called FP1 to FP7. The current 9th EU Framework Programme is called 'Horizon Europe'.
Horizon Europe
'Horizon Europe' is the current 9th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027). It has a budget of about 95.5 billion euros. The programme focuses on continuity with its predecessor 'Horizon 2020' and incorporates many proven programme lines and rules. New features include the implementation of a 'strategic planning process' and so called 'missions'. More on the Horizon Europe website.
INCO-Nets
This term was coined under the EU's 7th Framework Programme for Research an Development (FP7). INCO-Nets supported the bi-regional dialogue between Europe and defined partner regions in order to strengthen the internationalisation of the European Research Area. Their aims included identifying and prioritising the research areas of cooperations, which were in the countries’ mutual interest and to the benefit of both. INCO-Nets create balanced partnerships between two regions and involve a number of different stakeholders from science, industry, governments and the public.
Project Management Agency
Ministries, such as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, commission so-called project management agencies with the technical and administrative management of research projects. Project management agencies advise applicants and support projects until they are completed.
Manging about 12,000 scientific projects anually as well as research funds totalling approximately 2.3 billion euros, DLR Projektträger is one of the largest project management agencies in Germany.
SFIC
The “Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology Cooperation” (SFIC) is an EU platform for international research cooperation. It is made up of high-ranking representatives of the member states and the European Commission who aim to identify joint priorities in international cooperation, develop coherent approaches for internationalisation and define research priorities around regions and topics.
Science & Technology Cooperation (STC)
Bilateral “Science & Technology Cooperation Agreements” are found everywhere as part of international research cooperation. However, what does this weighty term actually imply? STC agreements are vehicles for exploring scientific issues in bilateral projects between Germany and partner countries. This work is frequently coordinated by a steering committee comprising representatives of the ministries involved. The term “Science&Technology Cooperation” was coined in agreement with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the International Bureau: It serves to differentiate this type of partnership from the term used by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Association for International Cooperation (formerly GTZ, now GIZ), that use the term “technical cooperation” or “technical aid”.
