Advanced Origami of Joint Transnational Calls – NEURON and JPND

PD Dr. Marlies DorlöchterPT-DLR

14/05/2013

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Origami_ball.jpg/220px-Origami_ball.jpg

European programme level collaboration for the benefit of brain research

ERA-NET scheme (FP6, 2002):„…cooperation and coordination of … activities carried out at national or

regional level in the Member States and Associated States through the networking … at national or regional level, and the mutual opening of national and regional research programmes.“

Joint Programming (Council decision, 2008):„…structured and strategic process whereby Member States agree … on

common visions and Strategic Research Agendas (SRA) to address major societal challenges. …Member States commit to Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs) where they implement together joint Strategic Research Agendas.“

European programme level collaboration for the benefit of brain research

Network of European funding for Neuroscience researchEU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research

NEURON JPNDStart and first steps

2003Specific Support Action, FP6

2009 EU Council Decision, Joint Programming pilot

Thematic scope disease-related neuroscience

neurodegenerative diseases

Partners/countries 21/16 27

Aims Develop and maintain a transnational cooperation and research funding framework

Align and build upon national research programmes to increase impact and effectiveness of research efforts

Challenges: past – present - future

Acquiring a critical mass of partners willing to network

Gaining knowledge on diversity of national programmes

Building trust and understanding

Overcoming fragmentation

Thinking big

Critical mass of relevant partners

Traditional work situationBefore ERA-NET scheme

researchers - programme officers

After ERA-NET schemeresearchers - programme officers

Information lacking on „who does what“ in Europe

Idea of cooperation spread in ministries and funding agencies

Critical mass of relevant partners

Already existing bilateral collaboration between ministries in the area of disease-related neurosciences built basis for NEURON

NEURON, 2003 – 20044 funding organisations4 countries

Critical mass of relevant partners

Already existing bilateral collaboration between ministries in the area of disease-related neurosciences built basis for NEURON

NEURON, 2003 – 20044 funding organisations4 countries

NEURON, 2007 – 201118 funding organisations13 countries

Critical mass of relevant partners

Already existing bilateral collaboration between ministries in the area of disease-related neurosciences built basis for NEURON

NEURON, 2003 – 20044 funding organisations4 countries

NEURON, 2007 – 201118 funding organisations13 countries

NEURON II, 2012 – 201521 funding organisations

16 countries

Knowledge on diversity of European programmes

Principles of funding

0102030405060708090

100

FWF

FNR

S

FWO

IWT

GA

CR

ETF

ISF FI

CSO

-MO

H

INSE

RM

HEA

AK

A

MN

iSW

MR

C

DFG

BB

SRC

AN

CS-

MEC

T

SRC

FNR

MO

H

MEC

CN

RS

Fors

k

GIF

AN

R

ZonM

w

Her

tie VW

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ISC

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ent (

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top-downbottom-up

6

17

17

19

29

24

14

14

12

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Principle of subsidiarity

Overcoming research deficiencies

Strengthening national innovation

Improving research structures

Scientific excellence

yesno

21

21

25

29

12

12

8

5

4

28

Psychiatric diseases

Other neurological diseases

Cognitive and behaviouralneuroscience

Basic neuroscience

Neurodegenerative diseases

yesno

Main focus

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AK

AFW

FVW

FNR

SFW

OIW

TG

AC

RIS

FK

NA

WB

BSR

CA

NR

CN

RS

MN

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MEC

MR

CG

IFFo

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SRC

HR

BA

NC

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ECT

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clinical researchbasic research

Funding activities in the area of disease-related neurosciecence from 33 private and public organisations in 20 European countries

R. Girgenrath, M. Dorlöchter, 2008

‚top down‘ vs. ‚bottom up‘

‚clinical‘ vs. ‚basic‘ research Funding ‚priorities‘

Neurodeg. Dis.

Priority selection

Scientific excellence

Research structures

National innovation

National deficiencies

Subsidiarity principle

Basic neurosci.

Behav. Neurosci.

Neurol. diseases

Psych. diseases

Trust and Understanding

„….promote trust-building among programme managers in similarscientific and technological areas“ (ERA-NET scheme, EC Commission)

2007, Berlin, NEURON kickoff

meeting

2012, Malaga, NEURON meeting

Trust and mutual understanding („trust and fun“) are listed as important success factors in ERA-NET evaluation report. Soft skills do matter…

Overcoming fragmentation: Joint activities - e.g. transnational calls for proposals

Scientific basis: Developing a common research agenda in close connection to science community

ScientificAdvisory

Board

Mapping

Workshops

Online Consultations

Joint activities – calls for proposals

Administrative basis: Consenting on procedures and developing a best practice model

EligibilityPersonnel

TravelConsumables

EquipmentOverhead Animals

Ad hoc panel plus

remote

Study section

External (Peer) Review

Remote Ad hoc panel

Study section plus remote

One-stage proposal selection

Two-stage proposal selection

Grant recipients

Universities

University hospitals

Industry

Non-university research institute

Individual researchers

Cross- boarder funding

Financial model

‚Mixed pot‘

‚Real common

pot‘

‚Virtual common

pot‘

Legal framework

Implementation of thematically focussed joint calls for proposals:

Number of proposals and involved research groups

NEURON: JPND:- Neurodegeneration, 2008, 10.3 M € - Biomarker harmonisation, 2011, 13.6 M €- Method development I, 2009, 9.8 M € - Risk factors, 2012, 19 M € committed- Mental Disorders I, 2010, 9.4 M € - Health care systems, 2012, 9.8 M € committed- Stroke, 2011, 9.7 M €- Method development II, 2012, 10.5 M €- Mental Disorders II, 2013, 11.1 M € committed

Benefits and added value, PIs quoted:

- flexible instrument

- little beaurocracy

- fast decision process

- high quality evaluation

- complex results only possible with interdisciplinary and transnational research

Joint activities – calls for proposals

0100200300400500600700800

Neuro

deg.

Methods

Mental

dis.

Stroke

Methods

Mental

dis.

proposals

research groups

Funded: 10-12 projects per call

Action Groups to determine transnational research needs and opportunities in specific scientific areas (Longitudinal Cohort Studies, Animal and Cell Models, Assisted Living Technologies)

Joint activities – others

Annual young scientist award for excellent paper in neuroscience

Action Groups to promote engagement, commitment and partnerships (e.g. industry, user and public involvement, EC)

Dialogue with large international collaborations and societies (e.g. “Ambient Assisted Living, AAL”, “Roadmap to Mental Health, ROAMER”, “European Brain Council, EBC”, “Federation of Neuroscience Societies, FENS”)

Thinking big – the future

Big questions strategic and political challenges

Is programme-level collaboration sustainable?

Most ERA-NETs without EC funding shrink (financial, legal hurdles), basic funding necessary through fees or EC contribution

How ‘reliable’ are national strategies?

Changes in national strategies (e.g. after elections) affect commitment

Does the financial crisis affect collaboration?

In kind contributions and financial commitment to joint calls and other joint activities decrease with national budget cuts

Thinking big – the future

Big goals

Continuing collaboration at programme level

Maintain high added value through networking

Strengthenig research into brain functioning and diseases

Raise awareness of extremely high burden of disease, societal challenge

Developing national programmes

Increase coordinated investment: national and EC

Aligning programmes: national and EC

Create and maintain good balance between uniformity and diversity

Acting globally

Include partners beyond EU (Canada, USA, China already participating or contacted)

Thank you for your attention!

Visit the JPND website:http://www.jpnd.euhttp://www.neurodegenerationresearch.eu

Image references wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Origami_ball.jpg/220px-origami_ball.jpg http://goorigami.com/images/modular-origami/Origami%2520Star-00400.jpg http://images2.fitforfun.de/ www.freiepresse.de www.faz.net/polopoly_fs/1.1248912!/image/2192589095.jpg_gen

Visit the NEURON website:http://www.neuron-eranet.eu/