Five projects issued from the 3rd seminar in Castellon are being prepared under ENS. From Materials (NMP), to ICT, and ENVI-RONNEMT; hence we currently cover the main thematic areas of ELIARE. ICT: the University of Castilla La-Mancha is the leading institution on the topic “Cloud computing, Internet of Services and Advanced Software”. Dr. Habid Mouss´s (UCLM) and his colleagues from UC3M are deploying great efforts to find others partners by participating on crucial networking events as Open Days in Brussels and Istanbul. Environment: the European call “Innovative resource efficient technologies, process and services proposal” counts on the participation of ITC. KBBE: the University of Minho is preparing a proposal for the FP7 call “Impact of lifestyle on well-being and diet related disease” with other Portuguese and Spanish partners. NMP: the University of Limoges is performing a proposal in close collaboration with the Technical University of Madrid, Instituto de Tecnologia Ceramica (ITC), University of Minho and ASEAN countries. Coordinated by UNILIM the draft deals with “Photocatalytic Materials for Depollution”, more specifically the removal of noxious organic compounds in air, water or soil including not fully biodegradable or toxic compounds. In addition, researchers from the Technical University of Madrid and the University of Minho are preparing a proposal for the Programme Research for SME´s.

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The annual Scientific Seminary was an extraordinary opportunity to dynamize scientific networks within Eliare Network Sudoe as proven in the first two ENS scientific seminars (Limoges 2009 and Madrid 2010). The methodology of the 3rd Eliare Network Sudoe Scientific Seminar “Forging wining proposals for FP7/CIP” was based on target workshops (WS). In fact, around 2 WS were organised for each ENS thematic. To improve seminar’s efficiency, the Scientific Network coordinators proposed a new methodology based on a previous topic detection work to be done by each partner. This methodology was agreed by all partners. The detection requires a joint work with the research community in every university so as to map the interest of researchers on topics published in the WP 2012 drafts concerning the 4 ENS thematic areas (ICT, NMP, Environment and Health). Scientific Networks coordinators -in collaboration with the partners involved- compiled and selected the most potential topics for each thematic area in order to prepare efficient and successful workshops in Castellón. To increase the dynamism of these scientific meetings, each workshop in Castellón was led by a scientific animator (coordinator if possible), A scientific expert (NCP or experienced researcher) and a project manager. Intermediate meetings between researchers were also planned to be organized before and after the 3rd Scientific Seminar so as to deepen the scientific debates and strengthen the management of the consortiums in order to build winning proposals for FP7 and CIP calls.

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ENS Partners met last November 7th, at the interregional Auvergne – Centre – Limousin Unit in Brussels. On this occasion, a working dinner allowed the participants to think about the opportunities the ENS consortium might have in influencing future calls at the European Commission. This meeting was held in the framework of the activities carried out by the working group constituted in June during the Castellon Steering Committee. Various ideas were brought to the table, including the organization of a scientific event in Brussels simultaneously with the ending seminar in order to prepare the European calls of 2013-2014 and to reinforce ENS researcher’s visibility. The dinner was also an opportunity for ENS partners to reflect on what will come next and the possibility of a new project.

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Dr. Rossignol, a scientific researcher at the University of Limoges was interviewed at the beginning of December bringing to the light the following points: Dr. Rossignol was the coordinator of the FP7 proposal on NMP submitted this October. He explained that the Eliare Network Sudoe project undoubtedly helped him to set up a new academic and professional network in the Sudoe area. Indeed, one of the strengths of the Eliare Network Sudoe project is to make it “easier to establish networks of common scientific interest necessary to build efficient consortium to answer the FP7 calls”. Another strength mentioned by Dr. Rossignol is the ability of the project to “provide valuable administrative help in writting winning proposals in the EU format”. Dr. Rossignol also told us his experience as a coordinator was exciting. This was not only thanks to the upstream scientific discussions with different partners (though this task is very time-consuming) but also in terms of coordination of the writing of the proposal itself”. The difficulties he might have met don’t scare him and when asked if he would take part in the European call for proposals again, he answered positively. He added, “this gave me confidence in submitting other proposals. Now I have a better knowledge of the official and unofficial rules necessary to submit a proposal with a reasonable chance of success”. Dr. Rossignol also thinks that universities need to create a new strategy in order to increase the participation rate of scientists in European projects calls. He pointed out that the best way to do so would be to organize regular meetings directly inside laboratories, this being a more efficient way to work with scientists. He concluded with some advice for young researchers willing to take part in European projects: “Do not take European projects on alone. Always ask for the help of skilled people aware of the tips and tricks of the trade". We (as an ENS team) are extremely satisfied about the submission of this proposal.

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