Lithuanian participation
in
5FP IHP programme


by Programme Coordinator in Lithuania
Ausra Jakaitiene
Ms A.Jakaitiene

As can be seen in the table, majority of proposals were in response to the calls for the IHP Programme activity "Improving the Socio-economic Knowledge Base". The most active participants in Human Potential Programme were universities, which submitted 56 % of all proposals (Diagram 1). Only 2 Lithuanian institutions are project co-ordinators.

Project type Number of submitted proposals Number of successful projects Success rate (%)
RTN - Research Training Networks   5 1 20
MCF - Marie Curie Fellowships 15 5 33.3
ARI - Enhancing Access to Research Infrastructures 5 1 20
RPA - Raising Public Awareness 6 0 0
CF - High-level Scientific Conferences 9 3 33.3
AP - Archimedes prize 0 0 0
DP - Descartes prize 0 0 0
SE - Improving the Socio-economic Knowledge Base 37 7 19
STRATA - Strategic Analysis of Specific Political Issues 4 0 0
IN - Common Base of Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators 1 0 0
AM - Accompanying Measures for the Programme 1 1 100

One project, which included a Lithuanian institution was financed within the first RTN call. Project Research Training Networks encourages the mobility and cooperation of young scientists in the area of scientific research.

Young scientists submitted 15 applications for Marie Curie Fellowship, of which 5 were financed. It can be noted that European Commission financed one application in which Lithuanian Institution is receiving experienced scientist from EU. In addition, several young scientists successfully applied and received grants from industrial enterprises, which were granted Marie Curie fellowships (Marie Curie Industry Host). One project was awarded within the IHP Programme activity "Enhancing Access to Research Infrastructures". Lithuanian scientists also received three grants from the project financed by EC under the call of this activity in 1999.

Having submitted several successful applications for European Commission calls, several High-level Scientific Conferences were organised in Lithuania.

Unfortunately during the entire duration of 5th Framework Programme, there were no applications submitted for the Archimedes prize, while four science teams together with partners from the EU unsuccessfully attempted to receive the prestigious Descartes prize. Lithuanian institutions were not successful in any of the "Development of Scientific and Technology Policies in Europe" calls.

Successful projects by type were divided as follows: 5 Accompanying Measures (AM), 3 RTD, 3 Thematic Networks (TN), 1 Research Training Networks (RTN), 1 Support for access to research infrastructures (ARI), 5 Marie Curie Fellowships (MCF) and 3 grants (GR). (Diagram 2).

The level of participation by Lithuanian institutions in 5FP Programme was impacted by the lack of familiarity among most of Lithuanian scientists with the procedures of participation in EU programmes, project preparation requirements and absence of international partners.

Successful projects were those in which Lithuanian institutions were able to use their international relationships and participated in projects as partners. (Diagram 3)

In the last calls of Human Potential Programme ten projects were accepted but the funding was refused because IHP Programme budget was already exhausted. Lithuanian institutions shall take active part in EC calls as soon as EU Framework Programme for RTD activities is announced.