Priorities for EU-Caribbean cooperation in Science and Technology
1 like426 views
This document summarizes the results of the EUCARINET project which mapped research priorities and capacity in the Caribbean region. Through a series of workshops, priority areas were identified in health, environment, renewable energy, ICT, and bioeconomy. Examples of excellent research from various Caribbean countries were also highlighted. However, there are still barriers to EU-Caribbean cooperation in science and technology, including limited public funding, low research capacity, disconnection between research and enterprise, and low priority placed on STI by Caribbean governments. Overcoming these challenges would allow STI to better contribute to solving societal issues.
Priorities for EU-Caribbean cooperation in Science and Technology
- 1. Priorities for EU-Caribbean cooperation Barriers and Challenges Fabio Nascimbeni MENON Network Georgetown, 26 April 2013
- 2. 1. Priorities for EU-Caribbean cooperation The EUCARINET results
- 3. • Objective: create a comprehensive map of the research areas of interest and capacity of the Caribbean • Not a standalone exercise (EULAC STI initiative, FP7) • Step 1: Information collected by each Caribbean partner: policy plans, actors involved in S&T policies, main priority areas & sub-themes, cases of excellence • Step 2: four thematic workshops organised: very successful activities, able to connect researchers within the region and with European research leaders • Input to the policy dialogue (dynamic process: from now on also Health in the picture) THE EUCARINET Priorities mapping WORK
- 4. • To give voice to Caribbean researchers. • Identifying and defining bottom-up research lines and scientific priorities is the basis for fostering the dialogue. • Research priorities are channeled to the European Commission and they could evolve in future opportunities and topics open to International Cooperation. RATIONALE OF THE MAPPING
- 5. PRIORITY SETTING WORKSHOPS • Dominican Republic, March 2011: Health, Environment and Knowledge based bio economy (KBBE) • Guadeloupe, July 2011: Renewable energy • Antigua (GT), May 2012: ICT • Brussels, October 2012: Bioeconomy • Panama, April 2013: Environment
- 6. AREAS of mutual interest and benefit Note: a Working Group on Health will be launched in 2013
- 7. excellence: EXAMPLES FROM THE ICT WORKSHOP • Climate Change: Belize Modelling • Rocket Launch Technology: French Guyana • Environment research: Martinique, Barbados • Company Registries: Anguilla • Open University: UWI • Management Systems Software: Haiti • GIS Systems: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dom. Republic
- 9. Challenges and Barriers for EU-Caribbean cooperation in STI
- 10. STI can contribute to societal challenges
- 11. BARRIERS TO EU-Caribbean cooperation IN STI 4. Disconnection between research centres and enterprises 5. Political diversity and a regional integration 6. Low knowledge of the potential for collaboration and funding mechanisms 7. Lack of appropriate research infrastructure and facilities 2. Low critical mass of research capacity 3. Private sector largely national 1. Limited public research funding and no regional STI funding mechanism 8. Low priority placed on STI by Caribbean Governments
- 12. MORE ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED • Human resources: Insufficient level of skills in in terms of fundraising, research management, and regional research articulation. • Difficult access to research results: time for open access? • Strong bilateral cooperation links with EU countries and fragmented interregional cooperation • Role of the two regional universities (UWI, UAG) • Multilinguism • French Caribbean: a bridge to Europe? • Scientific diaspora and brain drain
- 13. Thank you for your attention! Fabio Nascimbeni MENON Network