Stakeholder Workshop
The Concept of Joint Research Initiatives
- Arguments and Challenges -

Brussels, 8 September 2009

This workshop goes back to the Report of the Expert Group on the Future of Networks of Excellence, presented end of September 2008. The members of the NoE Expert Group recommend considering so-called Joint Research Initiatives (JRIs) as a possible new scheme for future Framework Programmes. JRIs would be oriented towards long-term academic research of alliances between universities and research organisations and hence might be regarded as complementary to the industry-led JTIs, and also to the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) in the context of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT). The main features of the suggested Joint Research Initiatives can be found in the Report of the NoE Expert Group.

Final Report of the Expert Group on the Future of Networks of Excellence  912 KB

The main aim of the workshop was to open the debate on the idea of Joint Research Initiatives, to discuss the concept, and to exchange views.

Workshop Agenda  9 KB

The workshop was attended by almost 40 participants, including representatives from academia, research organisations, funding agencies, R&D liaison offices in Brussels, and Commission officials. The participants discussed the concept of Joint Research Initiatives, also vis-à-vis existing initiatives and instruments in the context of ERA and addressed questions relating to the main features of possible Joint Research Initiatives. A summary note of the main points of the discussion is available below, along with the conference presentations and a compilation of 'pen portraits' of the speakers.

Compilation of 'Pen Portraits'  87 KB

Summary of the main points  39 KB