Research News
The colleagues from the Helmholtz office in Brussels (left to right): Dr Vladimir Maly, Dr Gerrit Bornemann, Christine Keller, Dr Susan Kentner (Head), Katja Hirzmann, Dr Angela Richter, Dr Karin Lohmann. Photo: Helmholtz Office Brussels
Helmholtz International
On this special page, we report news from the Helmholtz offices in Brussels, Moscow and Beijing several times a year. Specific focus is on cooperation and partnership ventures of the Helmholtz Association in Russia, China and the EU as well as on select international research policy news.
News from the Helmholtz Office Brussels
Since 2006, Dr Vladimir Maly is responsible for the Research Field Key Technologies at the Helmholtz Association's Brussels office. Previously, he worked for 17 years as a scientist and later as a project manager in the nuclear field at the Research Centre Jülich. He then was in charge of various EU Research Programmes.
Dr Maly, why does the Helmholtz Association need a EU office?
The EU office supports Helmholtz scientists in obtaining access to European research funding. Since 2007, Helmholtz work groups collected funds totalling 273 million Euro. We inform the centres and institutes as regards European Research Programmes and advise them in placing their application. In addition, we influence the configuration of European research funding: We conduct discussions with decision makers in EU institutions, compose statements and initiate a research policy dialogue.
Can you name an example where this intervention has had a direct effect – or is this commitment lost in the course of the EU's lengthy decision-making processes?
The EU is a huge complex in which a large number of decision makers and stakeholder representatives have to reach an agreement. For instance, in 2008, the Commission passed a Code of Conduct for Responsible Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies Research which would have considerably limited the framework conditions for research. The Helmholtz Association and other scientific organisations then entered into a dialogue with the Commission and the German Representation to the EU. Subsequently, the Council indeed called upon the Commission to modify the Code of Conduct.
How would you describe a typical working day?
First, I follow the developments in research funding. I prepare this information and then pass it on to the institutes. Furthermore, I read the relevant EU documents and discuss them with colleagues or with fellow staff members at the centres. Continuously there are changed drafts, guidelines or reports by the Commission, which are of importance for us. In case we deem it necessary to influence decision-making processes, we join forces with other scientific organisations and work on a joint strategy. We compose statements, discuss with other stakeholder representatives and arrange meetings with discussion partners from the Commission or the Parliament.
What do you like about your work?
The fact that it is so diversified. I have to understand complex professional contexts within a short time and in supervising research applications have to quickly feel my way into very diverse projects. At the same time I deal with the structuring of research. A large number of protagonists participate in the EU's decision-making processes, who all have different notions and interests. Keeping the overview and finding compromises is not easy. I feel very lucky in helping our scientists in the realisation of their projects.
Thank you very much for this interview!
Recorded by Sophia Sabrow
News from the Moscow Office:
Strategy "Innovative Russia – 2020"
On order of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the Russian Ministry for Economic Development published a draft programme for the development of Russia leading up to the year 2020. With this project, the ministry presents a detailed innovation plan. The strategic goal is to modernise the Russian economy on the basis of innovations and new technologies.
In order to create a positive climate for innovation and to strengthen Russia's scientific potential, the institutions from basic research, applied research, universities and enterprises have to cooperate more effectively. The intensification of research at universities has begun already and contributes towards strengthening the competition with the 400 institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences. According to the draft strategy, new competence centres in prioritised scientific-technical fields such as aircraft construction, new materials, information technologies, biotechnologies and optical technologies will be added to the Russian scientific landscape. These centres will be established based on the model of the Russian Scientific Centre "Kurchatov Institute". As regards university education and the promotion of young academics, learning programmes are being launched to convey the basics of innovative entrepreneurship.
Likewise, the bilateral and multilateral cooperation with foreign countries is to be further developed, for example by creating attractive conditions for foreign visiting scientists.
A Government Commission for Cutting-edge Technologies and Innovations will assume the leadership in implementing the programme. Various departments, such as the Russian Ministry for Economic Development, the Ministry for Science and Education and the Ministry for Industry and Commerce, are involved in the undertaking. Research departments are being established in other ministries.
4th Call for Tender in the "Helmholtz-Russia Joint Research Groups" Programme
Applications for the fourth call for tender in the "Helmholtz-Russia Joint Research Groups (HRJRG)" Programme are accepted until 31 May 2011. The Helmholtz Association maintains this programme together with the Russian partner organisation Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR). Altogether six projects can receive funding. All six research fields within the Helmholtz Association are being addressed. One of the programme's aims is the promotion of particularly qualified young scientists from both countries.
Information: www.helmholtz.de/hrjrg-ausschreibung-russisch
Email Helmholtz Office Moscow: moscow(at)helmholtz.de
News from the Beijing Office:
Jülich Researchers Can Use Neutron Source in China
Soon, scientists from the Research Centre Jülich will be able to use a strong neutron source in China for their experiments. In Fang Shan near Beijing, experts from the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) have installed two single-crystal diffractometers and a neutron triple-axis spectrometer in order to investigate dynamics and magnetism in solid bodies. Together with the Chinese research reactor CARR, these instruments are to go into operation in June. With a capacity of 60 MW, the reactor of the China Institute of Atomic Energy is one of the most modern research neutron sources of the world. Up until 2017, Jülich can use 30 percent of beam time. "The successful cooperation with the CIAE can be a first step towards cooperation with other excellent scientific institutes in China", hopes Prof. Dr Sebastian Schmidt, board member at the Research Centre.
www.helmholtz.de/juelich-neutronenquelle-china
China Intends to Attract more Scientists from Abroad
The Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS is intensifying its endeavours to attract top-level researchers from all over the world. Over the course of the next years, hundreds of foreign scientists are to be given the possibility of occupying leading positions within the Chinese research landscape. This will include slackening of restrictions and the improvement of working conditions.
