HERMAN POTOČNIK-NOORDUNG AWARD for donations within the framework of RTD collaboration with Western Balkan Countries

The research systems of the Western Balkan countries (WBC) vary significantly in terms of human resources, legislation and so on. However, they share one common problem; there are limited means for modernisation of scientific infrastructure in most Western Balkan countries, due to the poor financial situation of the science and research institutions. Examples of research infrastructures in need of aid are research facilities, scientific equipment, laboratories, libraries, computerisation, and Internet services. In addition, private funding from the enterprise sector is consistently low and unlikely to increase substantially in the coming years.
Therefore, it is clear that the science and research institutions in the Western Balkan region are still are in urgent need of international support with regard to research infrastructure development. If this support were to improve, the Western Balkan countries would have more opportunities to become involved in EU or international research projects. However, to date, international donors have only displayed occasional interest in investing in the modernisation of research facilities, laboratories etc.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Slovenia and the SEE-ERA.NET project partners have joined forces to organise an award for donations of scientific equipment within the area of Research Technology and Development (RTD) collaboration in the WBC. In this way, they are bringing the problem of infrastructural needs to the attention of the public and relevant stakeholders, such as science policy-makers and potential investors.
In the last months of 2007, the SEE-ERA.NET project partners, Ministries of Science and Research from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia gathered information to put together a list of the most urgent infrastructure needs in the WBC. Potential donors, such as research and technology organisations, universities, philanthropic organisations and development assistance organisations from EU and other developed European countries are being approached and invited to provide their contributions.
Donations are expected to be either in the form of second hand scientific equipment or the financial means to purchase or develop the required infrastructure in the Western Balkan countries, with a value expected to be €20,000 or above. The current Slovenian presidency of the European Union will host an event in Ljubljana to distribute the donations and to honour the generous benefactors. A special award, the Herman Potočnik-Noordung Award for donations within the framework of RTD collaboration with Western Balkan countries, will be bequeathed to outstanding projects selected by an international committee.