Jordan to host international conference on Mediterranean countries and EU opportunities in research and innovation

An international conference aimed at spurring synergies and complementarities among different research and innovation projects co-funded by European Commission under the FP7 (seventh framework programme 2007–13) Capacities Programme, will be held in Amman, Jordan on 22 and 23 October 2012.
 The Conference, organised in the framework of the Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action (MIRA), seeks to: 
·       Boost the principle of a renewed partnership and coordination of research and innovation actions, following the results of the “Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Research and Innovation” (Barcelona on 2-3 April 2012) and Monitoring Committee conclusions;
·       Increase awareness of EU policies and opportunities in Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs) and promote networking among attendants;·       Contribute to the definition of multi-annual strategies of  EU-MPC in science, technology and innovation;
·       Share knowledge and best practises in managing EU projects, take positive actions towards smoothing the managerial issues and promoting co-ownership and co-funding;
·       Encourage the establishment of national/regional joint centres for technology innovation in areas linked to societal challenges (health, energy, transport...), by supporting smart specialisation at national/regional levels.
 The two-day Conference will feature six sessions during which the following issues will be addressed: 
·       How to find concrete solution to existing barriers for cooperation;
·       Meaning and possible results of the new strategy of co-ownership and co-responsibility of EU initiatives;
·       Problems and opportunities for MPCs to coordinate -and eventually co-fund- EU projects;
·       Role of International Partnerships in new FP – Horizon 2020;

·       Explore fields where the common interest, including innovation outcomes and co-ownership, could result in short and medium term benefits;

·       Initiatives and strategies to ensure the necessary participation of industry and INNO labs representatives to projects co-financed by European Commission.
 Participants will include a delegation of three personalities for each MPC, representing policy makers and Institutions; Academia/Research; and Industry/SMEs/Labs. EU participants will count EC representatives, EIB representatives, coordinators of ERA-WIDE projects, coordinator and some key partners of GCC-INCONET, representatives of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), West Asia-North Africa Forum and all IP representatives of MPC, Coordinator and some key partners of MIRA and JORDANNET projects.