Final Report Summary - BILAT-UKR (Enhancing the bilateral S&T Partnership with Ukraine)
European Union (EU) and Ukrainian scientists cooperate in a wide variety of ways and in different fora on a bilateral basis with the EU Member States, through bilateral science and technology (S&T) cooperation programmes and at European level. The project BILAT UKR aimed to contribute to the European Commission (EC)'s objective of a fuller integration of Ukraine into the broader European Research Area (ERA). The main goal of this proposal was to provide a smooth and flexible frame to foster cooperation in S&T between the EU and one of its largest and closest Eastern neighbours: Ukraine.
While the EU-Ukraine S&T cooperation agreement was renewed on 21 December 2011, concrete initiatives to set it into force were still lacking. Yet, as stated in the EU-Ukraine action plan, 'Support for scientific and technological cooperation will also be important with a view to contributing to sustainable and equitable economic development of Ukraine, including through fuller participation in research-related activities such as the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)'.
Ukraine's association to the Framework Programme would enhance Ukrainian involvement in EU research and promote the necessary structural changes in the Ukrainian science and innovation sectors. Preparing the ground for Ukraine's association to FP7 was the major issue addressed in the frame of the BILAT UKR proposal.
The BILAT-UKR proposal was designed on joint EU-Ukraine interest and aims at mutual benefit. It rested upon other bilateral or regional initiatives: EU projects first, both Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) Specific Support Actions (SSA) such as SCOPE-EAST, NIS-NET, BRUIT, BS-RESPOT, IDEALIST of other support activities under the thematic priorities of FP6, and FP7 upcoming projects such as the EECA INCONET (targeting the East European and Central Asian countries). Bilateral initiatives between Member States and Ukraine within the framework of S&T agreements or cross border cooperation were to be built upon as well. In addition, a proactive dialogue was to be conducted with the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine (STCU) in order to develop coherent actions.
The consortium partners of BILAT-UKR have long-standing experience in international S&T cooperation and in cooperating with each other. The project was expected to draw on complement the valuable experience which the partners have gained or were gaining in several completed, ongoing or upcoming cooperation projects under FP6 or FP7.
One of the major success factors for BILAT-UKR was the strong involvement in the project of the leading Ukrainian partner, the National Information Centre for Ukraine-EU S&T Cooperation (NIP). The NIP has been co-leader of all work packages together with an EU partner, and assisted the coordinator. It ensured an efficient joint management of the individual work packages and of the overall project.
A policy workshop on new tools and mechanisms to strengthen EU-Ukranian cooperation in research, technological development and innovation, targeting policy makers, took place in Kiev on June 2011. Recommendations and schemes identified by the project were presented. They still need to be taken up at policy level.
While the EU-Ukraine S&T cooperation agreement was renewed on 21 December 2011, concrete initiatives to set it into force were still lacking. Yet, as stated in the EU-Ukraine action plan, 'Support for scientific and technological cooperation will also be important with a view to contributing to sustainable and equitable economic development of Ukraine, including through fuller participation in research-related activities such as the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)'.
Ukraine's association to the Framework Programme would enhance Ukrainian involvement in EU research and promote the necessary structural changes in the Ukrainian science and innovation sectors. Preparing the ground for Ukraine's association to FP7 was the major issue addressed in the frame of the BILAT UKR proposal.
The BILAT-UKR proposal was designed on joint EU-Ukraine interest and aims at mutual benefit. It rested upon other bilateral or regional initiatives: EU projects first, both Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) Specific Support Actions (SSA) such as SCOPE-EAST, NIS-NET, BRUIT, BS-RESPOT, IDEALIST of other support activities under the thematic priorities of FP6, and FP7 upcoming projects such as the EECA INCONET (targeting the East European and Central Asian countries). Bilateral initiatives between Member States and Ukraine within the framework of S&T agreements or cross border cooperation were to be built upon as well. In addition, a proactive dialogue was to be conducted with the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine (STCU) in order to develop coherent actions.
The consortium partners of BILAT-UKR have long-standing experience in international S&T cooperation and in cooperating with each other. The project was expected to draw on complement the valuable experience which the partners have gained or were gaining in several completed, ongoing or upcoming cooperation projects under FP6 or FP7.
One of the major success factors for BILAT-UKR was the strong involvement in the project of the leading Ukrainian partner, the National Information Centre for Ukraine-EU S&T Cooperation (NIP). The NIP has been co-leader of all work packages together with an EU partner, and assisted the coordinator. It ensured an efficient joint management of the individual work packages and of the overall project.
A policy workshop on new tools and mechanisms to strengthen EU-Ukranian cooperation in research, technological development and innovation, targeting policy makers, took place in Kiev on June 2011. Recommendations and schemes identified by the project were presented. They still need to be taken up at policy level.