II EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN ITALY AND SLOVAKIA FOR THE YEARS 2009-2011 Within the framework of the Scientific and Technological Agreement between the Italian Republic and the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, which was signed in Rome on November 30, 1990, the 2nd Session of the Italian-Slovak Joint Committee was held in Bratislava on 28 April, 2009 to examine the present state and further development of scientific and technological cooperation between the two Countries and define the new Programme for the years 2009-2011. The institutions in charge of the co-ordination and the realisation of the present Programme are: for the Italian side: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation. for the Slovak side: Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic, Science and Technology Division. The Italian delegation was led by H.E. Brunella Borzi Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Slovak Republic. The Slovak delegation was led by Mrs. Andrea Danková Director of Department, Science and Technology Division, Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic. The members of the two delegations are listed in Annex 1. The following agenda was adopted: 1. present state of scientific and technological cooperation; 2. new Programme of cooperation; 3. planning of future meetings. 1. Present state of scientific and technological cooperation The two Parties acknowledged the growing importance of science and technology for the economical, social and cultural development of the two Countries.
The two Parties, considering the good relationships between the two Countries, have stressed the need to develop and further strengthen the cooperation in the fields of science and technology. The two Parties also agreed to pay serious attention to extending the co-operation in international and European multilateral research and development programs, and more specifically the European Union Framework Programs, as well as other initiatives. 2. New Programme of cooperation In the period March 3 - May 5, 2008, a joint call for proposal was launched to collect bilateral research projects in the following priority areas: Basic sciences ICT Energy Resources Agriculture Environment Life Sciences New Technologies and Innovative Materials Geology and Earth Science A total number of 45 projects for the exchange of researchers was received, 14 of them did not pass the formal control. After an extensive evaluation of the projects proposals considered eligible by both Parties, 10 projects were selected to be granted financial support for the exchange of researchers. The list of the selected projects is given in Annex 2. The general administrative and financial provisions for the implementation of the Programme are given in Annex 3. In addition to the bilateral projects listed in Annex 2, the Italian Party will consider granting a financial contribution to significant bilateral research projects. A preliminary list of such projects is given in Annex 4. These financial contributions are intended to partly cover the research activities of the projects. Financial support will be granted to the Italian partners of the joint projects upon evaluation of the applications to be submitted according to indications that will be given by the Italian Party. 3. Planning of future meetings The two Parties have agreed that the next session of the Joint Committee will be held in Rome, at a date to be agreed upon through diplomatic channels. The present Programme for the years 2009-2011 is valid from the date of its signature and will remain valid until the signature of the next one, but no longer than one year after its expiration. Any amendment to the text of this Programme has to be authorised by the competent Ministries in both countries and has to be carried out through diplomatic channels. All initiatives foreseen in this Programme shall be carried out within the limits of the budgets and according to the rules prevailing in each Country.
Annexes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are an integral part of the present document. Done in Bratislava, on 28 April 2009, in English language in two originals both being equally authentic. For the Italian Party H.E. Brunella Borzi For the Slovak Party Andrea Danková
Annex 1 Members of the two delegations Italian delegation H.E. Brunella Borzi Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Slovak Republic Marie Sol Fulci First Secretary Embassy of Italy in the Slovak Republic Dalila Céreová Department of Culture and Education Embassy of Italy in the Slovak Republic Slovak delegation Andrea Danková Director of Department, Science and Technology Division Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic Jaroslava Kováčová Soňa Ftačniková Chief State Counsellor, Science and Technology Division Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic Head of Department of Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation Slovak Research and Development Agency
Annex 2 Projects for the exchange of researchers selected within the frame of the Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Italy and Slovakia for the years 2009-2011 Priority areas Submitted projects Basic Sciences ICT Agriculture Life Sciences New Technologies and Innovative Materials BSc ICT Agro LSc NTech 3 1 1 2 3 Total 10 Project title Italian coordinator Slovak coordinator 1 BSc Commutative and non-commutative methods in Soft Computing. Prof. Antonio DI NOLA Università di Salerno Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica (DMI) via Ponte don Melillo, Fisciano (SA) adinola@unisa.it +39 089.963363 / 03 Prof. RNDr. Anatolij DVURECENSKIJ,Dr.Sc. Mathematical Institute - SAS, Štefánikova 49 Bratislava 81473 dvurecen@mat.savba.sk tel./ fax (421) (2) 5249 7316
2 BSc Effect of chemical composition on ground state properties of Yb and Ce based intermetallics. 3 BSc Molecular and immunological characterization of agents of Echinococcosis and ascariasis in Italy, Slovakia and neighbouring countries. 4 ICT Quantum estimation from incomplete data (INQUEST). Prof. Mauro GIOVANNINI Università di Genova, Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Via Dodecaneso 31, I-16146 Genova, giovam@chimica.unige.it +39 010 353 6136 / 6648 Stefano D'AMELIO University di Roma "La Sapienza" - Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome stefano.damelio@uniroma1.it +39 06 49914671 Matteo PARIS Università di Milano Via Celoria 16, I-20133 Milano matteo.paris@fisica.unimi.it +39 02 50317662 Doc.Dr. Marian REIFFERS, Institute of Experimental Physics(UEF SAV), Watsnova street 47, Košice reiffers@saske.sk +421 55 6228158 +421 55 792 2201 Viliam ŠNÁBEL Parasitological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice snabel@saske.sk +421 55 6334455 Vladimir BUZEK Slovak Academy of Sciences Institute of Physics, Dubravska cesta 9, 84511 Bratislava buzek@savba.sk +421 2 59410511
5 Agro Use of selected autochthonous yeasts with adsorption activities to improve the quality and safety of wine. Prof. Andrea CARIDI Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria DISTAFA-Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Forestali e Ambientali, Via Feo di Vito, 89124 Reggio Calabria acaridi@unirc.it +39.0965.312330 +39.0965.332642 Dr. Domenico PANGALLO, PhD Slovak Academy of Sciences Institute of Molecular Biology DrSc. Dubravska cesta 21, 84551 Bratislava domenico.pangallo@savba.sk +421 2 5930 7433 +421 2 5930 7411 6 LSc Environmental stresses: antioxidative mechanisms for food production and quality improvement. Riccardo IZZO Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Chimica e Biotecnologie Agrarie Via del Borghetto, 80 56124 Pisa ricizzo@agr.unipi.it +39 050 2216633 Peter FERUS Slovak Agricultural University of Nitra Department of Plant Physiology Tr. A. Hlinku 2 949 76 Nitra peter.ferus@uniag.sk +421 37 641 4441
7 LSc Advanced diagnostic tools for the detection of hearing impairment due to exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). 8 NTech Nanostructured mixing metal oxides for MEMS gas sensors (NANOMIXSENS). 9 NTech Advanced Scanning Probe Microscopy for Analysis of Defects in Inorganic and Organic Semiconductors and Nanostructures Arturo MOLETI Università di Roma Tor Vergata Dipartimento di Fisica, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1 00133 Roma moleti@roma2.infn.it +39-06 72594517 Dr. Simonetta CAPONE Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (I.M.M.-C.N.R.), via Monteroni, campusuniversitario, palazzina A3, 73100 Lecce simona.capone@le.imm.cnr.it +39-0832-422507 +39-0832-422500 Filippo GIANNAZZO CNR-IMM, Stradale Primosole, 50 95121 Catania giannazzo@imm.cnr.it +39 095 5968242 Tomas TRNOVEC Slovak Medical University, Limbova 12, 833 03 Bratislava tomas.trnovec@szu.sk +421 2 59369 198 Dr. Ivan HOTOVY Slovak University of Technology (FEI STU), Microelectronics Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ilkovicova 3, 812 19 Bratislava ivan.hotovy@stuba.sk +421 2 60291594 Štefan LÁNYI Institute of Physics, Slovakian Academy of Sciences Dúbravská cesta, 9, SK-845 11, Bratislava lanyi@savba.sk +421 2 59410525
10 NTech Nanoparticle Layers Deposited by Laser and LB Methods: Applications in Magnetic Sensors and Spintronics Prof. Maurizio MARTINO Università del Salento, Dipartimento di Fisica, Via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce martino@le.infn.it +39 0832297495 +39 0832297467 Štefan LUBY Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava luby@savba.sk +421 2 5751 0142 +421 903 713 696
Annex 3 General administrative and financial provisions The projects for the exchange of researchers to be financed within the present Programme are exclusively those mentioned in Annex 2. For each project listed in Annex 2, two short-term stays (up to 10 days) will be financed yearly. The researchers will be entitled to the exchange only if they hold the nationality of one of the two countries signing this Executive Programme (or if they hold the nationality of another EU country - this relates just to the members of the Italian research team ) and they are listed in research team (in project proposals submitted on the Slovak side) or take part in the project (in project proposals submitted on the Italian side). The international travel expenses between the cooperating institutions shall be borne by the sending Party, while the receiving Party shall bear the expenses of lodging and boarding by means of an all inclusive cash allowance. The host party shall provide medical insurance coverage, on the basis of the rules in force in each Country, against work accidents and illnesses, excluding already existing and chronic diseases. The researchers have to submit to the host Country, within 30 days after finishing their research, a final report on the activities carried out. The report must be signed by both the Italian and the Slovak researchers involved in the joint project. At the end of each year Slovak project leader must provide a written report to the Slovak Research and Development Agency ( SRDA ). The report must include a statement of progress with the project and cost statements relating to the claimed travel and subsistence expenses for the period in question. After the project is terminated the responsible person must provide a final written report to the SRDA. STAY OF SLOVAK RESEARCHERS IN ITALY The Italian Party will finance, annually for each project listed in Annex 2, two short term stays (up to 10 days). The application for the stay must be submitted exclusively through diplomatic channels, and must reach, no less than two months prior to the beginning of the research visit, Office V Directorate General for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The application concerning the research stay shall be completed with the following documents: 1) letter of invitation by the host institution; 2) application form (2 originals) signed by the Slovak researcher, indicating personal and professional data of the applicant, title of the research project, date and length of
the visit, list of the institutes to visit. The application form is available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site: www.esteri.it, following the breadcrumb Foreign Policy > Culture > Scientific and Technological Cooperation > Executive Programmes > Researcher mobility > Foreign researcher mobility; 3) detailed work programme; 4) curriculum vitae of the researcher; 5) letter of appointment by the coordinator of the project (only in case the researcher is not the project coordinator him/herself). The above-mentioned application shall be completed with a declaration, in which the researcher commits himself/herself: - to respect the chosen period of visit; - not to receive any fees by other international organisations or bodies during his/her stay; - not to change work programme and research centre, and not leave from Italy without prior authorisation; - to submit, at the end of his/her research, a final report on the activities carried out; - to notice the insurance company INA Assitalia, Marsh S.p.a., Piazza Marconi 25, 00144 Roma, of any accident and/or illness which may have occurred in Italy, for the insurance coverage. Any cancellation by the researcher, unless due to serious and valid reasons, might prevent the hosting Party from accepting further applications for related missions. The Italian party shall provide 93,00 Euro per day for the stays (up to 10 days), as an all inclusive allowance. The above-mentioned amount shall be paid to the Slovak researchers entirely in one instalment on their arrival in Italy. Slovak researchers can receive the payments at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at the nearest Provincial Treasury (Local Branch of the Banca d Italia). The preferred place of payment will be indicated in the Application Form. STAY OF ITALIAN RESEARCHERS IN SLOVAKIA The Slovak Party will finance, annually for each project listed in Annex 2, two short term stays (up to 10 days) according the harmonogram in project proposal. Stay expenses and accomodation during the stay in Slovakia - per diem allowances (max. 966 - Sk/day; max. 32.06 /day) - accomodation expenses maximum of 2000 -Sk/day; 66.39 /day - travel expenses in Slovakia during the stay - health insurance. JOURNEY OF ITALIAN RESEARCHERS TRAVELLING TO SLOVAKIA Italian researchers travelling to Slovakia for a research stay are required to submit an official application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Directorate for Cultural Promotion and Cooperation, Office V. The application must reach the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs no later than two months prior to the foreseen date of departure at the following address:
Ministero degli Affari Esteri DGPCC, Ufficio V, Settore Viaggi Piazzale della Farnesina 1 00194 ROMA The application shall include: - name and address of the hosting institution; - departure and return travelling dates; - title of the research project object of the mission. In the application the researcher must declare his/her commitment to: - paying any due penalty (up to the total amount of the ticket), in case he/she cancels the mission; - submitting a short report on the activities carried out, and return tickets and boarding cards, within 30 days after completing the mission. Moreover, the researcher shall attach the following documentation to the application: - an invitation letter from the foreign institution (university or research centre) that will host the researcher; - a written statement of the Italian project coordinator confirming the participation of the researcher to the project and authorising the mission (only in case the researcher is not the project coordinator him/herself), - a short curriculum of the researcher. The supplied tickets will be the most economical ones available for the trip. Any additional cost shall be borne by the researcher. Details of the above mentioned rules and the application form to be filled are available on the web site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.esteri.it, following the breadcrumb Foreign Policy > Culture > Scientific and Technological Cooperation > Executive Programmes > Researcher mobility > Italian researcher mobility. JOURNEY OF SLOVAK RESEARCHERS TRAVELLING TO ITALY The Slovak Party will finance, annually for each project listed in Annex 2, travel expenses for max. 2 travels (as listed in project proposal) to Italy (the use of any means of transport is refunded up to maximum of an economy class air ticket price).
Annex 4 Significant research projects selected within the frame of the Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Italy and Slovakia for the years 2009-2011 Priority areas Selected projects - Energy Resources - Life Sciences - New Technologies and Innovative Materials EnR LSc NTech Total 4 1 2 1 Project title Italian coordinator Slovak coordinator 1 EnR Process Intensification and energy saving by hybrid reactive separations. Giuseppe TOLA Università degli Studi di Cagliari Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica e Materiali P.zza D Armi sn, 09123Cagliari Jozef MARKOS Slovak University of Technology Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Radlinskeho 9, 81237 Bratislava tola@dicm.unica.it +39 070 675 5074 +39 070 675 5071 jozef.markos@stuba.sk +421 2 59325259 +421 2 59325250
2 LSc Molecular basis underlying the cardiovascular and neuronal protective effects of a flavonoid-rich diet. 3 LSc Evaluation and selection of fast growing trees for phytoremediation of metal polluted areas: involvement of root genes in Zn tolerance. Fabio FUSI Università degli Studi di Siena, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena fusif@unisi.it +39 0577 234438 +39 0577 234098 Luca SEBASTIANI Scuola Superiore Sant Anna di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33 56127 Pisa l.sebastiani@sssup.it +39 050 883070 +39 050 883111 Lubica LACINOVA Slovak Academy of Sciences Institute for Molecular Physiology and Genetics,, Vlarska 5, 83334 Bratislava lubica.lacinova@savba.sk +421 2 54772311 Alexander LUX Comenius University in Bratislava Faculty of Natural Sciences Mlynska dolina B2, SK 842 15 Bratislava lux@fns.uniba.sk +421 2 602 96457 4 NTech Transparent carbon nanotube conductive networks for flexible electronics and polymer solar cell technology. Davide Francesco RICCI Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova davide.ricci@iit.it, +39 01071781457 Viera SKÁKALOVÁ Danubia NanoTech s.r.o, Ilkovičova 3, 812 19 Bratislava skakalova@danubiananotech.com +421 0908616782 +421 905108793