Experiences of organic actors in EU Research & Innovation projects

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Gavin Parsons
6 years ago
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European Union s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological

1 Experiences of organic actors in EU Research & Innovation projects Annegret Schmitt JKI, Institute for Biological Control This project has received funding from the European Union s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no

2 CO-FREE: Innovative strategies for copper-free low input and organic farming systems Start / duration of project: Coordinator: Deputy-coordinator: Number of partner: January 2012 / 54 months JKI Darmstadt / Braunschweig Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland 20: companies, field stations, research institutes Number countries: 10 Budget: 3 Mio Euro

3 Overview of partner in CO-FREE

4 Partner selection - Select partner based on their experience and specialization for the Tasks in your project - Do not include friends as first criteria, but choose the most relevant partners in the field - At the same time it is important to get along well with the partners

5 Aims of CO-FREE Alternative compounds / BCAs Decision support systems Varieties / Breeding goals Cropping systems Consumer acceptance Development of strategies for copper-free production Socioeconomic and ecological impact Partners required: Researchers, field trial partners, product providers

6 CO-FREE consortium Benef.Number Beneficiary name 1 (coordinator) Julius Kühn-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Kulturpflanzen Benef Benef. Country Acronym Type JKI Res Germany 2 Forschungsinstitut für Biologischen Landbau Stiftung FiBL Res Switzerland 3 Fondazione Edmund Mach FEM Res Italy 4 Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek DLO Res The Netherlands 5 Benaki Phytopathological Institute BPI Res Greece Research institutions and field trial partners 6 Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique INRA Res France 7 Instytut Ochrony Roslin Panstowowy Instytut Badawczy IPP Res Poland 8 Institut Technique de l'agriculture Biologique ITAB Res France 9 Centro di Sperimentazione Agraria e Forestale Laimburg Azenda LAI Res Italy 10 Louis Bolk Instituut LBI Res The Netherlands 11 Universität Kassel UKA Res Germany 12 Progressive Farming Trust Ltd T/A The Organic Research ORC SME Great Britain Centre 13 AkiNao UPVD AKI SME France 14 Agro-Levures et Dérivés SAS ALD SME France 15 Bio Fruit Advies BV BIFA SME The Netherlands 16 Ceradis BV CER SME The Netherlands 17 FytoFend SA FYTO SME Belgium 18 BioAtlantis Ltd BioAt SME Ireland 19 Trifolio-M GmbH TRIF SME Germany 20 E-nema Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie und Biologischen und Biologischen Pflanzenschutz mbh ENE SME German Industrial partners (Small and Medium Enterprises (SME))

7 How to find partners - Former own collaborations on the topic concerned - Build on former results and choose the partners from the respective projects

8 Substitution / reduction of copper in plant protection Research approaches on that topic in former years Results from national and international projects, e.g. Bio Impuls: Organic potato breeding Photo: S. Doltsinis, NAGREF Slide2.jpg EU-funded project: Innovative strategies for copper-free low input and organic farming systems

9 How to find partners - Former own collaborations on the topic concerned - To build on former results and chose the partners from the respective projects - National contact points - EC-platform (

10 How to find partner

11 Balance of partners - Select partners based on their experience and specialization for the Tasks in your project - Choose an adequate number of partners to cover the work in the different Work Packages/Tasks - Select as many as necessary to fulfil your tasks (at least 3 partners from 3 different countries) - Not too many partners overall (ca. 20 as maximum) - Third parties are possible - Distribution between countries - Choose an appropriate distribution over Europe - Include the most relevant European areas for your topic (e.g. for field trials cover the most important climatic/pedo-climatic zones) - Consider associated countries as partners if appropriate

12 Writing the proposal - Content - - Start early thinking about your proposal! - Read call well and make sure you cover all aspects - Think project well through - Even if you have a 2-stage proposal, have the complete picture in your mind when writing the first stage proposal - Look for webinars of the national contact points that identify the important aspects of proposal writing

13 Writing the proposal - Content -

14 Writing the proposal - Administrative aspects - - Start early to collect the necessary data of all partners (Partner Identification Code (PIC), address, bank details etc.) - Make sure all partners have a PIC - Generate the project in the Participant Portal

15 Writing the proposal - Financial aspects - - Respect the max. EC contribution given in the call - Make sure that budgets of each partner are justified by their contribution to the Work Packages/Tasks - Check that money is adequately distributed between partners - E.g. SMEs might get less than scientific partners, because they also gain much more through the project by getting many results.

16 Unrealistic expectations from an EU project - EC money is easy money - Submission of a proposal does not guarantee funding - The heavy work load as coordinator ends once the project is running - Coordinator has the responsibility towards the EC until approval of the final report - Keep track of the project and the partner s contributions throughout the project - E.g. check carefully all scientific and financial reports of partners before submission, to avoid denial of costs

17 Realistic expectations from an EU project - Duties - As coordinator: a lot of work and overall responsibility during writing, project negotiations and during project time Some examples: - Especially when SMEs are involved, beware of Intellectual Property Rights, confidentiality aspects etc. (during meetings, in project reports, in day to day exchange) - Unexpected changes in the consortium - A partner may leave the consortium during the project - A partner may disappear (no contribution to Tasks, no reporting, no contact possible) My experience: all problems can be solved; keep open and prompt exchange with the scientific officer

18 Realistic expectations from an EU project - Benefits - - International collaborations - Face to face and in depth exchange with colleagues - Foundation of future collaborations - Substantial vertical and horizontal research possible - Achievement of a goal much easier and more likely than on your own - Joint publications - Improved visibility of your work in the scientific community - During meetings, getting to know first-hand the facilities of others (research institutions, field trials, companies etc.) - Knowledge as basis for collaboration -

19 Realistic expectations from an EU project - Benefits -... Intercultural exchange

20 Thank you for your attention! CO-FREE consortium at the start-up meeting in Darmstadt, January

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