Presentation of the final report of the Horizon 2020 Policy Support Facility was held on June 14, 2018. Policy Support Facility  implies elaboration of recommendations by independent, high-ranking international experts in order to strengthen Georgia's Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) system. Visits have been implemented during  October, 2017 – May, 2018  on the basis of the request of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia to the European Commission. Two missions have been successfully implemented within the framework of the Policy Support Facility-Specific support to Georgia ( December 2017  and  February 2018).  During the visits, international experts held meeting with different stakeholders including the State and Private sector, representatives of industry and academia from various institutions/organizations. The thematic meetings within the framework of the visits included the following issues: Support in identification of promising research fields; Measures for narrowing the gap between research and industry/business; Proposal for the performance-based funding of research entities.   It is noteworthy that  Cristina Russo,  Director of International Cooperation, Directorate General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, paid an official visit to Georgia during the final, dissemination mission. She welcomed the audience with the keynote speech and highlighted the importance of STI system development and Policy Support Facility. General note from the panel in the report: Georgia is a leader in facilitating business activities, but a laggard in facilitating research and innovation activities. For the benefit of the Georgian STI System, the panel strongly advises ‘ Strengthen 4C for Georgia:  Coordination, concentration, collaboration, coherence . Presentation was followed by open discussion and the audience had opportunity to ask the questions. Final report of the Policy Support Facility - Specific Support to Georgia is published on the official website of the European Commission:  https://rio.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/policy-support-facility/specific-support-georgia Presentation of June 14 can be accessed via the   link.

SRNSFG disseminates information about the EaP PLUS Newsletter summer edition. For detailed information, please find the attached newsletter.

The Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia with support of EaP PLUS Project is organizing Information Day regarding EU Framework programme for research and Innovation “Horizon2020”. The event will be held on November, 21, 2017 from 09:30 to 17:30 at the hotel Coutryard by Marriot in Tbilisi. Main aim of the Information Day is to raise awareness regarding “Horizon 2020” and the programme calls. H2020 new work programme for 2018-2020 and thematic calls in accordance with various sections of the framework programme will be reviewed on the event along with legal and financial issues, international collaboration opportunities for Georgian scientists (including Grants for networking), and project proposal evaluation issues. It is worth mentioning that special attention will be paid to the SPIRE (Sustainable Process Industry) calls under the new work programme and EaP countries’ (including Georgia) participation in them. Thus, the event will have special importance for the scientists in the field of Energy. Besides, presentations will be given by the international experts and H2020 National Contact Points (NCPs) during the event. The information day will be held as part of the EaP PLUS Project funded by the EU Framework programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020”. Working language of the event is English. The agenda of the Information Day will be published in the nearest future. .images1{ float: left; margin: 3px; padding: 3px; padding: 10px 5px; margin: 20px 10px; } .news-detail-img { display:none; } .dropdown1 { border-radius:10px; cursor: pointer; position: relative; background-color: #6BBE92; width: 400px; height: 70px; border: 0; padding: 10px 5px; margin: 20px 10px; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; float:left; } .dropdown-content1 { border-radius:10px; display: none; position: absolute; background-color: #a6d8bd; min-width: 400px; box-shadow: 0px 8px 16px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); padding: 12px 16px; z-index: 1; width: 302px; border: 0; padding: 10px 0; margin: 5px 0; text-align: center; font-weight: bold; } .dropdown1:hover .dropdown-content1 { display: block; } Agenda of Horizon 2020 Information Day - 21/11/2017 Useful links and material Presentations Ádám Dávid Grants for Networking Preparation of proposal Guidelines for applicants Dr. Béla Kardon Widening the Participation in European R&I Cooperation Legal and financial issues of Horizon 2020 Natia Gabitasvvili 19.11.2017_H2020 Presentation Natia Gabitashvili Teymuras Kurzchalia International collaboration opportunities for Georgian scienists Natalia Shatirishvili H2020 New Work Programme Energy Marita Arabidze Mrs. M.Arabidze Jaroslaw PIEKARSKI SPIRE projects: experience, case studies, opportunities Maia Okujava The social challenge “Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing” Givi Kochoradze NCP Experience for H2020 Information Day Vladimer Elisashvili Sustainable Food Security "Horizon 2020" Work Programme for 2018-2020 New Work Programme for the EU Framework programme for Research and Innovation “ Horizon 2020 ” has been published for 2018-2020 years. 1) Excellent Science European Research Council; Future and Emerging Technologies ; Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions ; Research infrastructures, including e-Infrastructures . 2) Industrial Leadership Space ; Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology ; Information and Communication Technologies . 3) Societal Challenges Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing ; Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy ; Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy ; Smart, Green and Integrated Transport ; Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials ; Europe in a changing world - Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies ; Secure societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens. Other Work Programmes under “Horizon 2020” Access to risk finance; Innovation in SMEs; Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation; Science with and for Society. SPIRE-Calls for 2018 Other Information Days of "Horizon 2020" organized by SRNSFG 27/09/2017 The European Research Council Info day at Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia 05/09/2017 The European Research Council Information Day 30/06/2017 BSH International conference “EU Black Sea Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation – towards a jointly agreed STI programme’’ 21/04/2017 ERC supporting excellent researchers all over Europe – Eastern Partnership Countries Regional  Event in Tbilisi 09/11/2016 Horizon 2020 Conference 01/06/2016 Horizon 2020 Association Workshop 05/05/2016 EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation ‘Horizon2020’ Information Day and Seminar for NCPs 19/06/2015 Horizon 2020 Calls Information Day 16/06/2016 Horizon 2020 Information Day 25/09/2015 The EU Framework programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020” Information Day Information Days organized by the other partner organizations Black Sea Horizon Info Days and Webinars 1 st Basic information webinars, General overview of H2020; Potential opportunities of STI cooperation with European partners. June, 22, 2015 MSCA, individual fellowship provides generous funding, private sector and gain experience abroad. July, 7, 2015 Climate action, environment resources efficiency and new materials, it will be focused on social challenge. December, 15, 2015. “Research infrastructures in H2020’’ save the date: December, 16, 2015 ‘ ’Smart green and integrated transport’’ in H2020’’ December, 12, 2015 5Open calls and cross-cutting issues, April 25, 2016 Legal and financial issues of H2020, June 28, 2016 ERC Grants and transnational access to research infrastructures in H2020 November 15, 2016 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions &Euraxess: Pursue your research career with MSCA and receive full support from Euraxess when moving abroad. March 1-3, 2017 Widening participation – opportunities for black sea countries March 20, 2017 Legal and financial aspects of H2020, November, 17, 2017   EaP PLUS Information days and Webinars H2020 Work Programme for 2018-2020 and European Research Area Instruments The event will be held  on November 17 , 2017 Bioeconomy week through the web streaming, Info day:   November, 11, 2017 Space International Information day & Brokerage Event , Warsaw, December, 13-14 , 2017 The third EaP PLUS RDI Webinar, December 1, 2017 H2020 info day at the National Technical University of Ukraine on April 7, 2017 MSCA actions campaign and Information Day in Armenia on   March, 3, 2017 Info day: H2020 – Opportunities for the participation in MSCA – Curie actions, March, 3, 2017                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

The Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia disseminates information regarding EaP Plus Project under EU Framework programme for research and Innovation “Horizon 2020”. The EaP PLUS Team announces the 2nd round of the Call for Grants for networking in Brokerage Events or Preparatory Meetings. This grant for networking financially supports the participation of local researchers from Eastern Partnership countries in Brokerage Events related to Horizon2020 and Preparatory Meetings for the development of H2020 project proposals. The 2nd round of the scheme will give special priority to applications concerning SPIRE calls which are explicitly encouraging participation from EaP countries. For SPIRE calls see Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020     Guidelines for Applicants Guidelines for application Application form for brokerage event Application form for preparatory meeting Letter of intent for preparatory meeting Follow up report for brokerage event Follow up report for preparatory meeting   Final deadline for submissions:  31 May 2018.    ( candidates can apply for one event scheduled  between November 2017 and 31 August 2018 )  - The application form needs to be sent minimum one month before the selected event. Applications are submitted to the to the  Local Partner  by e-mail. Local Coordinators at the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation: Mariam Keburia: keburia@rustaveli.org.ge Tamta Shkubuliani: tshkubuliani@rustaveli.org.ge Giorgi Tsotsoria:  tsotsoria@rustaveli.org.ge For  general enquiries  you can also contact: Ms Margit Dávid Junior International Expert Regional Centre for Information and Scientific Development, RCISD E-mail:  margit.david@rcisd.eu

SRNSF disseminates information on international call ‘EU-Eastern Partnership Twinning Teams’.   This is the third and last call for proposals for 'twinning' in the framework of the the   IncoNet EaP   (International Cooperation Network for Eastern Partnership Countries) project. This targeted call opened on 1 September 2016 and closes on 30 September 2016.   Due to the new developments in the EaP region (signature of Association Agreements to Horizon 2020 of Georgia/ April 2016 and Armenia/ May 2016) and taking into consideration the success of the first two calls, a new round of twinning among projects has now been launched. The intention is to boost the participation of newly associated countries in Horizon 2020 consortia.   At the same time, the call is open to the other Eastern Partnership countries as well (apart from Armenia and Georgia, these are: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine). The new twinning projects will receive  financial support for the organisation of preparatory meetings of research   teams wishing to apply for Horizon 2020 funding .   Successful twinning projects will address open or forthcoming calls in the 2016-2017 Work Programmes for   Energy, Climate Change  and  Health .   The grants will be paid in lump sums of 2,000 Euro for each twinning project. Publication:  1 September 2016 Deadline for proposals: 30 September 2016 Duration of projects: 15 October until 30 November 2016 Payment of lump sums: November 2016   Please see IncoNet EaP  website for further details of   the call.

Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF) together with 18 organizations from EU and Eastern Partnership Countries has been involved in implementation of the project “STI International Cooperation Network for Eastern Partnership Countries” (IncoNet EaP), which was funded under the EU 7-th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) . The project aims to support the advancement of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy dialogue between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, with an explicit focus on the Societal Challenges that have been identified to be of mutual interest for the two regions, namely Climate Change, Energy and Health.   The project started on 1 February 2015 and it will run until 31 August 2018. The total budget of the project: 2 999 955 Euros.   The budgeted allocated to Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation: 103 041 Euros. Website:  http://www.inco-eap.net/ Project Partner Organizations:  http://www.inco-eap.net/en/392.php

In 2010-2013, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF) participated in the project “S&T International Cooperation Network for Central Asian and South Caucasus Countries” (IncoNet CA/SC) funded under the EU 7-th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) . The project focused on the strengthening and deepening of the S&T cooperation with the Central Asian and South Caucasus countries, as well as with Moldova. The main aims of the IncoNet CA/SC project were: enhancing the policy dialogue with the target countries for the identification of research priorities of mutual interest; development of synergies with other Community policies and instrument for a stronger support to S&T related activities; organization of Info Days and of other activities aiming at an increased participation of researchers from CA and SC in FP7; capacity building and support to the FP7 contact points in the target regions; mapping of key research institutes and analyses/studies on cooperation patterns, S&T Indicators, innovation policies, etc. The total budget allocated by the European Commission for the implementation of the project equaled 1, 6 mnl Euros, out of which 47 000 Euros has been allocated to Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF). Website:  http://www.inco-ca.net/en/119.php Project Partner Organizations:  http://www.increast.eu/en/952.php

Since beginning of 2015 Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation together with 18 organizations from EU and Black Sear Region has been involved in implementation of the project “BLACK SEA HORIZON” (BSH), which was funded under the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020). The main objectives of the BLACK SEA HORIZON is to support the EU’s external relations with the target region by significantly contributing to ongoing bi-regional and regional STI policy dialogues, and by increasing the knowledge base about the EU’s external environment. Besides, it aims to stimulate bi-regional STI cooperation and to strengthen the EU’s economic competitiveness and contribute to the establishment of supportive framework conditions by facilitating the pooling of resources and by identifying challenging thematic areas for mutual STI cooperation.   The project was kicked off in Bucharest, Romania in March 2015 and it will run until January 2018. The total budget of the project: 1,499,503.75 Euros.   The budgeted allocated to Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation: 22.431,25 Euros. Website:  https://blacksea-horizon.eu/ Project Partner Organizations:  https://blacksea-horizon.eu/project/partners

In 2010-2014, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF) participated in the project project entitled “Towards integrated European marine research strategy and programmes” (SEAS-ERA) funded under the EU 7-th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) . Taking into account the previous initiatives (AMPERA, Marin ERA, etc.) the project intented to constitute a stable and durable structure for coordination and integration of national and regional marine and maritime research programmes with the major goal of providing a clear reply to the need for development and implementing common research strategies and programmes related to the European see basins. To this end SEAS-ERA has brought together, through several mechanisms, the four European sea basins working within two different levels: regional and pan European; this work structure enabled to harmonize common  priorities and needs in marine and maritime  research while respecting diversities between regions. The total budget allocated by the European Commission for the implementation of the project equaled  2 mnl Euros, out of which 17 000 Euros has been allocated to Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF).   Website:  http://www.seas-era.eu/np4/homepage.html Project Partner Organizations:  http://www.seas-era.eu/np4/3/

In 2009-2012, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF) participated in the project “Networking on Science and Technology in the Black Sea Region” (BS-ERA.NET). The objective of the BS-ERA.NET project was to develop and strengthen the coordination of public research programmes conducted at national and regional level, which targeted a group of countries from the extended Black Sea region. The project has provided a framework to networking and mutually opening the national and regional research programmes, leading to concrete cooperation in the frame of a Black Sea Research Programme (BSRP). The total budget allocated by the European Commission for the implementation of the project equaled 2, 2 mnl Euros, out of which 63 000 Euros has been allocated to Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF).   In 2011, the “Black Pilot Join Call” (PJC) was organized in the framework of the project. The objective of the Pilot Joint Call was to promote collaborative research on ‘ Climate and Environment’ and ‘Energy ’, taking a proactive and innovative approach to developing solutions for a sustainable development.   Within PJC, 66 projects were submitted and 11 projects were selected for funding, out of which 4 projects with participation of the Georgian research groups.   Website:  http://www.bs-era.net/main/index.php?we=9bfdbe988abcff430168e60524a69c11&wchk=c1960ad06e70dbaee80ab8641db51532 Project Partner Organizations:   http://www.bs-era.net/main/index.php?we=2e66c9efb9a79f9e3b7a91bc652978e1&wchk=74acc10171f10669b5d38308a6207a4d