Draft Report of the Expert Group on International STI Cooperation to ...

1) Understanding <strong>the</strong> status quo in terms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU’s STI pr<strong>of</strong>ile and STI
internationalisation activities: this helps to define <strong>the</strong> needs as starting point for <strong>the</strong>
strategy (own competencies, gaps, needs as seen by various actors within EU)
2) Formulating targets, benchmarks to reach: this helps to define goals, to communicate
<strong>the</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> international activities and to measure achievements later on (link to
<strong>the</strong>matic priorities <strong>of</strong> H2020). The targets must follow from <strong>the</strong> overall goals <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
internationalisation strategies (in terms <strong>of</strong> societal challenges and bottlenecks to be
addressed and opportunities to be captured).
3) Understand global bottlenecks (e.g. access to markets and infrastructure, legal
obstacles to cooperation etc.) and opportunities (STI pr<strong>of</strong>iles, “hot spots” abroad in
light <strong>of</strong> rapidly changing global landscape): this helps to link <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>matic priorities
defined to concrete choices in terms <strong>of</strong> in terms <strong>of</strong> scientific and technological fields
and in terms <strong>of</strong> partner countries/regions (country follows priority) and it enables
effective negotiations with partners.
4) Monitoring development and measuring <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> international activities and
related public support on <strong>the</strong>
a. overall goals <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU STI policy strategy (in terms <strong>of</strong> STI competitiveness,
contribution to tackle grand challenges and external policy support) and
b. <strong>the</strong> stakeholders involved.
The following figure is a graphical representation <strong>of</strong> those four functions <strong>of</strong> indicators for STI
internationalisation.
For strategic development, all four functions are important. However, an indicator system for
<strong>the</strong> future development <strong>of</strong> EU strategies in STI internationalisation should focus on <strong>the</strong>
bottlenecks within <strong>the</strong> status quo analysis, on opportunity structures to capture untapped areas
for researchers and firms and, finally, <strong>the</strong> measurement <strong>of</strong> effects in order to monitor <strong>the</strong>
support given and re-adjust <strong>the</strong> strategy as needed.
The indicators we suggest in this report should focus on <strong>the</strong> usefulness for <strong>the</strong> support <strong>of</strong> EU
level policy strategy. However, in order to do so, indicators must also be able to capture
international opportunities, activities and internationalisation effects for different actor groups
and at various levels: individual scientists (cooperation, mobility, recognition), research
organisations and firms (cooperation, re-location, transfer), systems (EU level, country level).
The latter also includes indicators on policy making itself (framework conditions, support
mechanisms and funding opportunities etc.).
In consequence <strong>of</strong> this multi-function, multi actor framework, <strong>the</strong>re is a number <strong>of</strong> potential
indicators that could support <strong>the</strong> strategy process within <strong>the</strong> framework outlined is endless.
We recommend
• to limit a European system <strong>of</strong> indicators to <strong>the</strong> minimum required to define priorities,
design activities, negotiate with partners and measure success;
55