The main purpose of the Conference is to share experience of two ASEAN and EU regions on methods to prepare project proposals of scientific research and technology development in order to participate competitively and successfully in the FP7. Through the Conference, ASEAN scientists have had opportunities to understand more about FP7, ways of writing research proposals to participate in this program, experiences of European and ASEAN countries in promoting the scientific communities to participate in FP7.
Making a speech in the Conference, Minister Hoang Van Phong has confirmed that over the past time S&T cooperation between ASEAN countries and EU has always been developed. Only in 2008, ASEAN scientists participated in 138 research projects. EU’s prioritized research fields are those to which ASEAN countries have paid attention as energy, climate change, health, environment, and other technology applications. Through this good cooperation, scientists in the two regions have worked together, research results shared and replicated, therefore served better for social benefits. The more important thing is through the project co-implementation, S&T communities of the two regions have closely linked, which is the stable premise for ASEAN’s more active and efficient participation in the FP7.
On his part, Ambassador, the Head of EC mission in Vietnam, Mr. Sean Doyle has highly appreciated the efficient cooperation between S&T communities of ASEAN and EU countries in EU’s Framework Programs. Mr. Sean Doyle has considered ASEAN in general and Vietnam in particular is one of EU’s leading partners in research projects under the Framework programs.
The 7th S&T Framework Program of EU (FP7) for the period from 2007 – 2013, is one of the European’s biggest research programs so far with the total budget in near EURO 54 billion, in which about EURO 32 billion is allocated for common research cooperation projects in the 10 prioritized fields. The Program has encouraged the participation of S&T communities of developing countries, including those of Vietnam and other ASEAN countries. In the FPs, Vietnam is the third beneficiaries in Asia with 42 multi-lateral projects with the total value of EURO 26 million. Topics in which Vietnam’s S&T has successfully participated in EU’s FPs is raising aquaculture products and planting forests; disease prevention; sciences and life, genes and biological technology for agriculture; nano technology; quality and food safety; sustainable development; research supporting policies. Only in the FP6 50 Vietnamese scientists have participated with 141 partners from 18 EU member countries with the total budget Vietnam’s S&T has benefited of about EURO 3 million.