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CORDIS
--- Scientific collaboration between South Africa
and the EU has been extremely successful over the
past year, the South Africa-European Union (SA-EU)
Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee
(JSTCC) has announced.
The Committee, which
met in Pretoria, South Africa, for its Annual Meeting
on 14 and 15 April to review collaboration between
the two parties, welcomed increased South African
participation in Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) projects
and the fruitful exchanges of views on policy developments
and the preparation of the Seventh Framework Programme
(FP7). Yet, stated the Committee, efforts are still
required to 'further improve and deepen cooperation'.
'The fruitful exchange
of views on science and technology policy development
[...] has highlighted the partners' respective commitments
to increasing their expenditure on research and development,
and their efforts to optimally harness knowledge and
innovation as instruments to promote economic growth
and competitiveness, as well as social development
and cohesion,' stated the Committee, calling for a
continued and regular policy dialogue for mutually
beneficial learning.
The Committee noted
the successful participation by South African research
organisations in several of the FP6 thematic priorities
as well as in the focused activity for cooperation
with developing countries (INCO). South African researchers
performed best in the FP6's thematic priorities for
biotechnology and genomics for health, food safety
and quality, global change and ecosystems, as well
as nanotechnology, materials and production. However,
there was little or no South African participation
in the thematic priority areas of aeronautics and
space and citizens and governance in the knowledge-based
society. Similarly, the FP6 Marie Curie mobility instruments
failed to attract South African researchers.
As a result, the ability
of South African researchers to enter FP6 consortia
was identified as one of the key challenges for improved
success. In this regard, the Committee highlighted
the crucial role to be played by the South African
NCPs (National Contact Points) in networking with
their European counterparts. Indeed, following the
concerted interventions by the responsible NCP, there
has been a significant improvement in South African
participation under the Information Society Technologies
(IST) priority over the past year. The JSTCC therefore
agreed that the efforts of the NCPs should be stepped
up and that their institutional interface with the
European Commission should be strengthened.
The Committee also
called on the EU to include specific reference to
international cooperation in the work programmes of
the thematic priorities since it has proven to significantly
enhance developing countries' participation.
The JSTCC welcomed
the imminent launch of the European South African
Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP)
funded under the Specific Support Action (SSA). ESASTAP
will be a dedicated platform to promote SA-EU science
and technology cooperation in the areas of aeronautics,
earth observation, surface transport and the hydrogen
economy where little collaboration currently exists.
'Renewed joint efforts
will also be undertaken to promote improved South
African uptake of the Marie Curie Mobility Instruments,
especially the International Incoming and Outgoing
Fellowship,' stated the Committee.
Both parties also
called for further efforts to promote interregional
partnership strategies. The Group on Earth Observation
(GEO) to advance the global sustainable development
agenda, which is co-chaired by the EU and South Africa,
was highlighted as a perfect example of this type
of cooperation. Further interaction between the EU
and continental and regional science and technology
programmes in Africa, like the New Partnership for
Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) is now needed.
Furthermore, a reinforced
science and technology policy dialogue between the
EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group
of States was underlined as a necessity.
There is an urgent
need 'for stepped up research capacity-building in
the ACP,' believes the Committee who welcomed 'the
efforts of the various services in the European Commission
to address this challenge, including the preparation
of the ACP science and technology capacity-building
programme.'
In order to achieve
these objectives, a SA-EU Science and Technology Action
Plan for 2005-2006, will serve as a flexible management
tool to guide joint efforts until the next JSTCC meeting
in 2006.
For further information
about the South Africa-European Union Joint Science
and Technology Cooperation Committee, please contact:
Daan du Toit
Department of Science and Technology (South Africa)
E-mail: daan.dutoit@dst.gov.za
Tel: +27 12 841 4331
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