The FP7 Training Workshop
This 1-day workshop is designed to increase the know-how of research managers in the Western Balkan Countries in terms of FP7 preparation and participation. The training targets research managers and researchers from the region and is designed around the topic of ICT and Transport/Logistics. The inter-active, training will cover topics such as the preparation of research proposals, building consortia, research project management (covering the entire project cycle management), and funding opportunities. It addresses researchers as well as members of the academic and business community particularly –but not exclusively- from the Western Balkan countries. It intends to provide the necessary guidance and information through in-depth training sessions combined with examples. At the end of the workshop, participants will be expected to:

• Have acquired a solid overview of the FP7 Transport Call published in July 2011 and of how to read through the objectives and respond to them in a precise manner.
• Have understood the groundwork and networking required for preparing a proposal for a FP7 Call.
• Have gained useful insight on how to successfully implement a project once granted and how to manage it according to the administrative and financial requirements of the European Commission.

Professor George A. GIANNOPOULOS (/Dr. Georgia AIFADOPOULOU), Director of the Hellenic Institute for Transport, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, will present  the FP7 Transport Call and provide insight on the various parameters of the Work Programme.

The draft agenda can be found ready for download below: as it is currently being formulated, the final version will be announced in due time. 

The Brokerage Event
With regard the WBC-INCO.NET’s objective to enhance the participation of researchers from the WBC in European projects the third Brokerage Event organised within the project’s Work Package 5 “Facilitating Networking and Increase Participation in FP7” will be held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 12  October 2011. Covering the topic Transport the event aims at establishing contacts between parties from the EU and the WBC interested in developing joint European projects via submitting proposals to the FP7 Call on Transport (http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation?callIdentifier=FP7-TPT-2012-RTD-1) published on 20 July 2011. The event (in English language) offers the opportunity to researchers and stakeholders (academia, industry, research institutions, SMEs) from the EU and the WBC appointed in the field of Transport to meet both potential project coordinators and potential project partners in a networking environment. In particular the event’s opening session will include a thorough presentation on the FP7 Call , whereas the rest of the day the attendees will take the leading role by presenting their own project ideas ( see Presentation Template attached below), while encouraged to establish small “thematic” groups (up to 5 people) with the view to act as possible consortia for the Call.

Dr. Katerina TZITZINOU, NCP for FP7 Transport, from PRAXI/HELP-FORWARD Network,will present the FP7 Transport Call

The 4th European Conference on ICT for Transport Logistics (ECITL 2011)
Both WBC-INCO.NET events (training workshop and brokerage event) are recognised as “satellite“ activities of the 4th European Conference on ICT for Transport Logistics (ECITL http://www.ecitl.eu)  organized by the University of Applied Sciences Vorarlberg GmbH (FHV) and supported by several independent EU funded projects dealing with different issues in transport logistics. As satellite events, the training and brokerage events will offer a platform for accessing new partners from the South East European region, particularly from the Western Balkan countries. They will highlight the scientific and technological potential that exists in these countries and they will set the ground for interaction with various stakeholders of the public and private sector. ECITL will take place on 13 and 14 October 2011.

Registration
There is no fee for the training workshop and the brokerage event but both require registration in advance. At the moment registration is open for the Brokerage Event ready for downloading. The completed forms will need to be e-mailed according to the instructions on each form.

SPECIAL OFFER: Participants coming from the Western Balkan Countries* who are  interested in attending also the ECITL 2011 Conference on 13 & 14 October 2011 are entitled to a reduced fee of €150 (instead of the full fee of €300). On the registration forms of the training workshop and/or the brokerage event (once they are available) please make sure you tick the option ECITL Conference  Registration – reduced fee.

*Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244), Montenegro,The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,  and Serbia

Contacts:
FP7 Training Workshop contact: Ms. Christina MIARITI (SEERC): cmiariti@seerc.org 
Brokerage Event contact: Ms. Kelly VAVASI (GSRT): kvavasi@gsrt.gr, Evi Afentaki (GSRT): pafe@gsrt.gr