Final presentation of the Observatory of science and technology in Mediterranean partner countries of the European Union, within the MIRA project. Presented in Marrakech in January 2013, final Conference of MIRA

1. MEDITERRANEAN INNOVATION AND
RESEARCH ACTION.
The MIRA Project
WP2 – Observatory of UFM Countries Cooperation in S&T
Objectives, difficulties and achievements,
prospect for future actions.
Leader: IRD, France (P3)
Co-Leader: CNRS, Lebanon (P19)
FINAL CONFERENCE. 23-25 January 2013. Marrakech. Morocco

2. Targeted objectives
Objectives:
The Observatory of S&T will be geared towards understanding the
state of research and technological cooperation between the EU
and the MPC.
o Establishment of standard indicators
o Analysis of scientific production of cooperation
o Analysis of the dynamics of research systems

3. Achievements of the Work Package
Workshops
Scientific Cooperation Indicators and Impact
Measures (Bondy; March 16-17, 2009)
Observatory Workshop: Indicators of Science and
Cooperation (Beirut; June 13-14, 2011)
Research and Innovation Activities in the
MediterraneanRegion : CooperationIndicators
(Tunis, November 28-29-November 2011)

4. Achievements of the Work Package
List of indicators and follow-up of
Cairo Conference
Proposed in 2009
Discussed in various opportunities –
recommandations made in MIRA General
Assembly January 2011.
Included in White Paper
White Paper
Proposed in July 2009, finalized in Nov
2010 following recommendations

5. Achievements of the Work Package
Electronic survey on co-operation
Realized in November 21, 2010 to March 6, 2011.
First Report June 2011
General report September 2012
Article December 2012 – included in Final MIRA
book
Bibliometric indicators for each MPC
country
Realized in October 2009 (not renewed)

6. Achievements of the Work Package
Analysis of FP7 participations
Presented in 4th Management Board,
Casablanca
Coordination with similar initiatives
ILN Meeting. Madrid October 2009
Support to IMIST on bibliometrics
Support to LORDI in Lebanon (Frascati survey,
innovation survey)
Support to Innovation EMIS WP (report on policies
for the EIB)

11. Difficulties encountered
Manpower training
No local “indicators” units
No follow-up of indicators
No clear objective for the use of indicators in
policy making
Insufficient dissemination
More generally, lack of professionalization in the
handling of indicators and not enough contacts with
academics in MPCs and Europe on these topics.

12. Prospects for future actions
Further work with MED-SPRING: sustainability
and role of “observatories”; input to policy analysis
Impact measurement following guidelines of the
White Paper
Analysis of innovation surveys (Tunisia,
Morocco, Egypt, Palestinian Authority, Lebanon) and
innovation policies
Coordination on analyzing types of
cooperation