KOSOVO NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
2010-2015
Foresight
Exerciseby
Dukagjin
PUPOVCI
1.
Why Foresight?
1.1. National Context
Almost a
decade after the end of the war, neither a research nor an active innovation
policy can be traced in Kosovo. This is not surprising. Especially as regards
the vast field (and demands) of research, Kosovo is too poor, to enter this
field. By now, the interventions of the Government were mostly focused on higher
education, first of all on teaching related aspects (under the spotlights of the
Bologna process) and also concentrated on some structural, administrative and
management issues, refraining, however, from interventions in the field of
scientific research.The Law on Scientific Research Activity
stipulates that the National Scientific Research Program should aim - among
other things - to work upon identified research priorities, to establish
provisions for infrastructural investments, to enhance participation in
international scientific research projects and to elaborate a systematic
education program for researchers.
The Law also states that up to 0.7% shall
be allocated from the budget of Kosovo for the purpose of fulfilling the
necessary conditions for scientific research and for providing the means to
undertake scientific research. Although this quota is far below European
average, it is high above the achieved reality (which is 0.1%).
The major task of the National Research
Council, a 15-member advisory body recently appointed by the Kosovo Parliament
is to prepare a National Research and Technology Program for the period
2010-2015 which should be approved by the Parliament.
Kosovo is not in the position, not in the
next 10 years, to establish a fully fledged system of research. Therefore, a
focus on certain starting points is essential and should be taken with great
care. Right from the beginning a strong interaction with social and economic
objectives should be sought and ensured. Firstly, research should contribute to
economic growth and well-being before it becomes a beneficiary of economic
growth and social well-being. Development of a realistic program would request
close coordination with other stakeholders, notably the ministries responsible
for economic and social affairs and the NGO scene as well as the Chambers of
Commerce.
Another significant issue is an active
opening towards European activities. This should not be confined to the issue of
technology transfer, despite its immanent potential importance for radical
economic jumps. Examples of other Western Balkan countries have shown how
important the participation in the European Framework Program for RTD is for the
transfer of modern scientific methods and knowledge in order to create
connectivity points for further state-driven excellence developments. From that
perspective it is important to set up national research and development
priorities in line with the trends in the Western Balkans Region.
1.2. Expected benefits of Foresight
Being the first planning exercise for the
development of research and technology in the post-war Kosovo, the National
Research and Technology Program (NRTP) should be a result of an active dialogue
among all relevant stakeholders, including research institutions, government,
businesses, civil society and beneficiaries of activities concerned. Given the
fact that Kosovo has been quite passive with regard to participation in regional
and international R&D cooperation schemes, and it has not set its national
development priorities yet, the process has to be remain to alternative futures
and come up with few scenarios
Given the circumstances described above a
Foresight exercise is deemed suitable to address those challenges in an
organized and participatory way. A well-planned and well-managed process should
lead to the development of the National Research and Technology Program, and
further to introducing foresighting culture in the R&D Sector.
1.3. Objectives and Outcomes of the
Foresight
The specific objective of this Foresight
exercise is to set medium term national priorities in the field of R&D and
define strategies to address them in the period 2010-2015.
This exercise will take place on national
level and affect the future development of the R&D Sector in Kosovo.
The exercise itself is both product
oriented and process oriented. The main product is the National Research and
Technology Program 2010-2015 which is going to be submitted to the Parliament of
Kosovo for final approval. The Program will contain all relevant elements like
visions, scenarios, action to be undertaken, and so on. Once approved, the
Program will serve as basis for state funding of R&D.
On the other hand, the process itself is
equally important, because it introduces participatory practices in planning for
R&D. Participation in such process also contributes to developing capacity of
relevant stakeholders for forward planning, promotes the culture of dialogue in
the society and lays ground for regular review of monitoring of implementation.
2.
Scoping
2.1. Political
supportThe National Research Council included
the development of the National Research and Technology Program 2010-2015 in its
working plan for year 2009, and the plan itself was submitted for approval to
the Government of Kosovo. Ongoing dialogue between the Council and the
Government is expected to result in the approval of the plan and release of
funding for its implementation. The exercise itself very much relies of the
funding to be provided by the Kosovo Austria Institutional Project in the field
of Higher Education, Research and Development, which is being supported by the
Government of Austria in form of a technical assistance to Higher Education and
R&D Sector in Kosovo. The Steering Committee of the Project were the Government
of Kosovo is also represented already approved the funding to support the
operation of the National Research Council in year 2009 including NRTP
2010-2015.
2.2. Focus of the activityThe main focus of the Foresight Activity
is the R & D sector which is one of the most marginalized and underdeveloped
social sectors in Kosovo. Even if there is some in-country capacity for R & D,
activities within this sector are marginal and mainly based on individual
initiatives without any longer term planning and/or targeted support from the
Government. In terms of process related outcomes the Foresight activity targets
also relevant stakeholders who will be participating in the process: Government,
R&D institutions, Academia, business sector, civil society, etc.
2.3. Time horizon
At present, Kosovo
has no plan whatsoever for the development of the R&D sector in the country
neither for integration of the country in the European Research Area. From the
planning perspective, it is necessary to have a medium term, 10-year,
projection, of the development of the sector with strategies to address
priorities in short-term, 5-year, period. Therefore, the National Research and
Technology Program 2010-2015 shall address a 10-year perspective of the
development of the sector, but focus on operationalizing the tasks for the
period 2010-2015.
2.4. Duration of the exercise
The Foresight
activity will last 11 months starting with January 1, 2009. Certain preparatory
activities will take place one month before – December 2008.
2.5. Resources
There is no
experience in Kosovo whatsoever with using Foresight for the sake planning,
neither there is planning experience in the field of R & D. Therefore, the
development of the NRTP 2010-2015 will very much rely on international
expertise. In this very case the expertise will mainly come from Austria with
financial support of the Kosovo Austria Institutional Project in the field of
Higher Education, Research and Development. KAIP and the Government of Kosovo
are in the process of making budgetary commitments to support the exercise.
2.6. Major stakeholders
The major stakeholders of this exercise are presented in the table below:
|
Stakeholder |
Interests |
Participation/Role |
|
Government of Kosovo |
·
Development of the R&D
sector and its contribution to the economic development of the country,
·
Development of human
resources in the R &D sector, and in general,
·
Preparing the country for
European Integrations.
|
The Government is
supporting the National Research Council, but will also participate
through policy makers and civil servants working in the field of R&D. |
|
Research
Institutions |
·
Development of human
resources for the R&D sector, and the research capacity in general,
·
Improving
opportunities for research,
·
Improving access to
research opportunities in the country and on international level,
·
Integration of Kosovo to
the European Research Area.
|
Research
institutions are somehow represented in the NRC, but their delegates
will also participate in the Design Team and working groups. |
|
Academic
institutions |
·
Development of research
capacity, including human resources,
·
Linking research to higher
education,
·
Integration of Kosovo the
European Higher Education Area and European Research Area to promote
cooperation with academic institutions in Europe.
|
Since Kosovo is a
small country, most of the participants in the exercise will come from
the Academia, or, somehow, be linked to Academia. |
|
Business
sector |
·
Development of in-country
research capacity, including human resources,
·
Use of research results
for the purpose of economic development,
·
Direct benefits from
applied research.
|
Capacity of the
business sector for benefiting from research is still quite limited.
However, two major business association, the Chamber of Commerce of
Kosovo and Alliance of Kosovo Business will be invited to participate in
the exercise, as well as couple of big companies that are already
involved in research projects. |
Design3.1. Description
of Activities
|
Activity 1: |
Mobilize international
expertise for developing the NRTP |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
A study trip of the
representatives of the Kosovo Research Council to Vienna will be
organized December 17-20, 2008 in order to mobilize international
expertise needed for the development of the NRTP 2010-2015 by using
Foresight. Relevant Austrian institutions and experts have been
contacted in advance by the Kosovo Austria Institutional Project (KAIP)
and will be available to work with delegation from Kosovo in fine tuning
the plan for development of the NRTP 2010-2015. It is expected that the
activity will take place in form of a one-day workshop, and the rest of
the time will be used to establish contacts with Austrian institutions
in order to benefit from their experience. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
5 man days for Austrian
experts to prepare and carry out the workshop
3 flows Kosovo-EU, 3
days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
NRC will appoint a
3-member delegation to participate in this activity
KAIP will organize the
trip, agenda and logistics in Vienna
Austrian experts will
facilitate the workshop |
|
Activity 2: |
Set up the Steering
Group for the Planning Process |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
The National Research
Council will set a 3-member Group to steer the process of the
development of the NRTP. The Group will consist of members of the
Executive Committee of the NRC and its major task will be to implement
the steps agreed in this plan and report to the NRC on the progress.
President and Secretary of the NRC will attend the meetings of the SG
whenever deemed necessary. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
|
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
NRC will appoint the SG
members |
|
Activity 3: |
Appoint the NRTP Design
Team |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
The NRC will inform all
relevant stakeholders in Kosovo with the plan to develop the NRTP
2010-2015 and will ask them to nominate participants in the process. The
members of the SG and the Executive Committee, including President and
Secretary will carry out a series of information and face-to-face
meetings with relevant stakeholders to ensure fair participation in the
process.
The NRTP Design Team
will have 30 members and will consist of 15 members of the NRC and 15
other members from the Government, R&D institutions, Academia, Business
Sector, and other relevant stakeholders. The main task of this Team will
be to work out the details of the NRTP and review the input from the
working groups. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
15 members from the NRC
15 members from other institutions/sectors
representing relevant stakeholders |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
National Research
Council will appoint the NRTP Design Team |
|
Activity 4: |
Initial workshop for
development of the NRTP 2010-2015 |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
A 3-day workshop will be
organized outside Prishtina or in one of the neighboring countries in
order to come up with initial thoughts on the national priorities in the
R & D sector for the period 2010-2020. The first step of the NRTP Design
Team will be to carry out a participatory SWOT analysis of the R&D
sector in Kosovo with a ten year perspective on opportunities and
threats. Strengths and weaknesses will be analyzed in more detail by
using the cause-effect relationship, thus enabling initial definition of
priorities and strategies to address them.
The
main product of the workshop will be the initial analysis of the
situation R&D sector, and initial list of priority subsectors in next 10
years. The participants shall try to reach common understanding on
further consultations with relevant stakeholders. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Austrian
experts to prepare and facilitate the workshop
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
5 days each
35 flows Kosovo-Region,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
Logistics will be
prepared by the NRC
Funding and expertise
will be provided by KAIP |
|
Activity 5: |
Consultations with stakeholders |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
Following the initial
workshop, the NRC, in cooperation with Austrian experts will decide on
further consultations with the relevant stakeholders. Delphi method will
be used for that purpose, but also a number of small working groups from
different fields of R & D sector will be established in order to
analysis the situation in the respective field and provide their
perspective to the NRTP Design Team. Each WG will be lead by one member
of the Design Team appointed by the NRC. Each WG will prepare a brief
report for the Design Team, and the same will be done following the
Delphi-based survey. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
30 man days for Austrian
experts in carrying out Delphi based survey
200 man days for working
group members
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
5 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
KAIP and Austrian
Experts will carry our Delphi-based survey
NRC will establish the
working groups and organize their working sessions |
|
Activity 6: |
Second workshop for
development of the NRTP 2010-2015 |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
The objective of the
second workshop will be to review the input from the working groups and
the Delphi-based survey, and make one step further in setting priorities
for the ten year period and defining possible strategies to address
them. The workshop will last 3-days, and, preferably take place in a
setting appropriate for this type of work. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Austrian
experts to prepare and facilitate the workshop
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
5 days each
35 flows Kosovo-Region,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
Logistics will be
prepared by the NRC
Funding and expertise
will be provided by KAIP |
|
Activity 7: |
Develop R&D field
specific strategies and scenarios |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
The NRC shall review the
report from the second workshop, and, based on priority fields,
establish a number of working groups to work on developing specific
strategies and scenarios. It may happen that the composition of working
groups will not change very much as compared to the previous working
group activity.
Each working group will
be lead by a member of the Design Team, and will have to organize its
work in a way to come up with realistic strategies and scenarios. The
Steering Group shall coordinate the operation of the working groups and
make sure that the reports are submitted on time. Austrian experts will
work with working group members to assist them come up with quality
proposals. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
20 man days for Austrian
experts
200 man days for working
group members
5 flows Austria-Kosovo,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
KAIP will take care of
Austrian experts
NRC will establish the
working groups and organize their working sessions |
|
Activity 8: |
Third workshop for
development of the NRTP 2010-2015 |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
A three day workshop
will be organized to review the results of the working groups from the
previous activity. Members of the Design Team along with Austrian
experts will come up with a draft list of priority issues in the field
of R&D sector, strategies to address them in a five year period and
scenarios. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Austrian
experts to prepare and facilitate the workshop
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
5 days each
35 flows Kosovo-Region,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
Logistics will be
prepared by the NRC
Funding and expertise
will be provided by KAIP |
|
Activity 9: |
Discussion paper on
national R&D priorities |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
Based on the results
from the third workshop, the NRC will set up a working group consisting
of three Kosovan and two Austrian experts to draft a discussion paper on
national R&D priorities. In fact, it is going to be a blueprint of the
NRTP 2010-2015, but the purpose of the document will be to facilitate
discussion on the future document before it is finalized. The discussion
paper will be written in English and afterwards translated to Albanian
and Serbian. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Austrian
experts
15 man days for Kosovan
experts
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
KAIP will provide
funding for Austrian experts |
|
Activity 10: |
National Conference on
R&D in Kosovo |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
A one day conference
will be organized in Prishtina in order to facilitate a wide
consultation process regarding the development of the NRTP. The
Discussion Paper will serve as basis for debate, whereas participants
will be from Kosovo, neighboring countries and EU. It is expected that
the Conference will provide valuable input to finalize the NRTP. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
5 man days for Austrian
experts
5 flows EU-Kosovo, 3
days each
10 flows Region-Kosovo,
2 days each
70 flows Kosovo-Kosovo,
one day each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
|
|
Activity 11: |
Fourth workshop for the
development of NRTP 2010-2015 |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
A 3-day workshop will be
organized in Kosovo or a neighboring country in order to review the
input from the Conference and previous discussions and make necessary
changes in the document. This time the document will be enriched by an
action plan sequencing activities to be undertaken during the five year
period. Also, a rough calculation of the budget needed for each activity
will be performed. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Austrian
experts to prepare and facilitate the workshop
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
5 days each
35 flows Kosovo-Region,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
Logistics will be
prepared by the NRC
Funding and expertise
will be provided by KAIP |
|
Activity 12: |
First draft of the
National Research and Technology Program 2010-2015 |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
The NRC will set up a
working group consisting of three Kosovan and two Austrian experts to
prepare the first draft of the NRTP 2010-2015. The draft will be
circulated to experts having participated in the process and relevant
stakeholders for any additional input. The working group will review the
input and, eventually, update the document. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Austrian
experts
15 man days for Kosovan
experts
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
KAIP will provide
funding for Austrian experts |
|
Activity 13: |
Budgeting the Program implementation |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
The NRC will organize a
two day workshop In Kosovo or a neighboring country in order to budget
the implementation of the NRTP. A detailed budget calculation will be
performed, and expectations on funding sources will be determined. There
is already such experience of participatory budgeting in Kosovo. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Kosovan
experts to prepare and facilitate the workshop
35 flows Kosovo-Region,
2 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
Logistics will be
prepared by the NRC
Funding and expertise
will be provided by KAIP |
|
Activity 14: |
Final draft of the
National Research and Technology Program 2010-2015 |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
The working group
consisting of Kosovan and Austrian experts shall develop the final draft
of the NRTP which includes all elements needed for such document. The
document will be approved by the NRC and submitted to the Parliament for
final approval. |
|
|
|
|
Inputs: |
10 man days for Austrian
experts
15 man days for Kosovan
experts
2 flows Austria-Kosovo,
3 days each |
|
|
|
|
Responsibilities: |
KAIP will provide
funding for Austrian experts |
|
