WP1 - Intra European NCP cooperation

Objective:

At the moment, there is no intensive cooperation between the NCPs of the Environment, inclusive Climate Change theme. In each Member State, Associated State and Candidate State, the NCP work is implemented differently. One of the reasons is that the organisations which are registered as official NCPs include a variety of organisations, such as Ministries, Governmental Agencies, Project Management Organisations, Consultancy firms, Universities and even Single Individuals. The resources available to perform the NCP work at these organisations are different, ranging from the provision of several hours per month by an academic who is NCP for a number of themes, to a civil servant who has a number of other non-FP7 activities, to a NCP who has a fulltime responsibility for the Environment, inclusive Climate Change theme.


The objective of this work package is to improve the quality and professionalism of services delivered by the Environment NCPs.


The European Commission has provided a set of “Guiding principles for setting up systems of National Contact Points (NCP systems) for the Seventh EU Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (FP7)”. These guidelines should be the basis for creating a better format for intra-European NCP cooperation.



Among the NCPs there is a wide range of expertise. Some have been active for a number of Framework Programmes, whilst others are new in their role as NCP, and this is not only an issue for the New Member States but also for the other countries. NCPs often change careers. Furthermore, there is no specific training available for NCPs, either to undertake their specific thematic NCP responsibilities, or with regard to wider FP7 issues, e.g. IPR, legal issues, which are also of interest to all NCPs



As a consequence the objectives of this Work Package are split into three tasks, as follows:


  • Task 1.1: Benchmarking of NCP Services

  • Task 1.2: Helping new and not yet-experienced NCPs

  • Task 1.3: Continuing Professional Development




Deliverables (brief description) and month of delivery:


  • D 1.1: Benchmarking of Environment NCP services, including identification of “best practice” and recommendations for training of less-experienced NCPs and Continuing Professional Development of all Environment NCPs.

  • D 1.2: Evaluation reports of 4 Training courses.

  • D 1.3: Summary activity report of twinning exchanges.

  • D 1.4: Evaluation report of Continuing Professional Development info-day.