Centers of Compentence Programme Linking Science to Industry Dr. Michael Stampfer - Technologie Impulse Gesellschaft, Vienna michael.stampfer@tig.or.at www.kplus.at
The Austrian Innovation System: Characteristics Expenditures for R&D (slightly) below OECD and EU average: ~1,8% of GDP Ratio public / private expenditures 45% / 55% Few companies major international players Universities dependent on General University Funds (GUF) Univ. Depts. and Research Institutes small and diversified Cooperations usually bilateral Government: emphasis on direct spendings (FFF, FWF, ITF, other) and on Funding of Institutions
Government Strategies Increase expenditures for R&D: 2,5% of GDP by 2005 Use of public funding to trigger private expenditures Improve cooperation between industry and academia Improve cooperation between enterprises Create critical masses Strengthen (regional) strengths Use Strategic Potential of European Research Area and Framework Programmes
Central aims of the K plus Programme Improve long-term cooperation between science and industry Stimulate precompetitive research and multi-firm cooperations Improve transfer of know-how Focus and create critical masses Use public funding to trigger additional private expenditures Define new areas of research through bottom-up approaches Ensure internationally competitive quality of K plus-centers through a strict selection process and periodic evaluation Create examples of best practice in research management
Core issues of the K plus Programme Cooperative definition of and cooperative work along research programmes Building up of competence, excellence and human capital in research areas of future significance Ensuring quality during selection (procedures, criteria) and operation (management and evaluation) - this means inter alia: Evaluators from abroad Subsidiarity in contracting, cooperation and management responsibilities: K plus Centers have incorporated structures -> long-term, high level cooperation between public and private research
Characteristics of K plus (1) Annual budget per center 2,5-4 Mio. EURO 30-50 researchers plus management + technicians 5-35 participating companies (minimum requirement: 5) Minimum of 40% funding from industry (EU competition framework) - partly including Non Austrian firms Funding period: 4 + 3 years (evaluation in the 4th year) Quarterly financial reporting, annual progress reports Subsidiarity on IPR regulations as long as knowledge is shared and publications free Self sustaining after 7 years is one preferred option
Characteristics of K plus (2) Periodic calls: Pilot scheme 1998 First call: December 1998, approval January 2000 Current call: December 2000, approval January 2002 Selection process: International reviewers only 3 scientists for short proposal, 6 scientists for full proposal Separate financial and economic review Visiting committee Independent jury of experts
Principles of Funding Federal Money (TIG) 25 % Länder, Cities, Universities, Other Public Sources 35 % 40 % Private Public funding incl. universities max. 60% Private funding min. 40% (EU-requirements) Cash or in-kind contributions Government no shareholder
Selection Procedure Two-stage competition International peer review Regular calls for tenders First stage Second stage scientific + econ. evaluation based on short proposal scientific + econ. evaluation based on full proposal Visiting Committees Jury
K plus Centers Advanced Computer Vision (Start: 2000) Applied Electrochemistry (Start: 2000) Biomolecular Therapeutics (Start: 2000) Carinthian Tech Research (Sensor-Actuator Systems) (Start: 1999) Forschungszentrum Telekommunikation Wien (Start: 1999) Knowledge Management Center (Start: 2000) Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen (Light Metals) (Start: 1999) Linz Center for Mechatronics (Start: 2000) Materials Center Leoben (Start: 1999) Software Competence Center Hagenberg (Start: 1999) Virtual Reality and Visualisation (Start: 2000) Wood Chemicals and Composites Comp.Center Austria (Start: 2000)
K plus Centers (current selection round) 16 Applications, 9 chosen for full proposal, 8 in Evaluation A number of Centers will be funded (Decision: Jan 2002) Age-Related Diseases and Technologies Applied Biocatalysis Center Austrian Bioenergy Center Center for Telemedicine Centre of Natural Hazard Management Competence Center of Industrial Tribology Polymer Competence Center The Virtual Vehicle
K plus Centers and European Research Area Scientific ex ante evaluation only by (six) foreign peers Mid term evaluations include foreign peers Most K plus Centers have International Advisory Boards Centers open for Human Resource exchange (programmes), international staff Best Practice Exchange with Sweden, Australia, U.S. Programme Management involved in ERA developments: Platforms for future European Networks Programme open for foreign scientific and industrial partners (see next slide)... Guarantees high quality and allows international openness and visibility
K plus and international participation Foreign firms can take fully part in the funded Center Programme 25% of Industrial share max. for Non Austria-based firms possible Criteria: Usefulness for Center (and strategic perspective: e.g. multi firm projects, specialised knowledge) and for Austria Funding goes to Center, also all firm contributions - foreign industrial partners have equal rights Out of currently 170 industrial partners in 12 Centers, about 10% are foreign (examples from BMT, LKR, LCM...) Foreign research partners can be core partners or loosely cooperating partners depends on coherence of scientific proposers, special knowledge,... PhD s, exchange of personnel, etc. (examples from CTR, LKR)
Non Resident Participation: Some Examples from Austrian Funding Schemes FFF - Industrial Research Promotion Fund (projects and one-to-one cooperations): implementation, exploitation and dissemination in Austria; subcontracts abroad possible FWF - Austrian Science Fund (basic research; projects): reciprocity agreements with foreign partner institutions. International evaluators. CDG - Christian Doppler Society (small science-industry cooperative labs): Labs abroad possible, if co-financed by companies with Austrian legal entity. International evaluators. Research contracts - international calls (e.g. evaluations) Competence Centers: 25% non-resident industrial participation possible; International evaluators (see K plus)
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