Information and database (WP-1)

* A first version of the database of funding programmes was shown at at the management meeting on 1 June. It will be tested and updated by the partners in the coming weeks and then opened to the public. * A small workshop for extending the database of programmes to project level was held in Paris, 30 and 31 June
Organised by SPO, Belgium, with support from IFB, France A restricted group of partners has started working with UniCRIS, the consultant, on a pilot database of projects. This group includes NERC (UK), SPO (Belgium), and IFB (as a coordinator of the French agencies). NWO (Netherlands), VR (Sweden), MEW (Hungary) and FWF (Austria) will join in a second stage, and then the rest of the consortium members.

Mutual training and staff exchange scheme (WP-3)

A workshop on mutual training and sharing of experience was held on 31st May – pm - & 1st June – am-, in Paris, coupled with the management meeting.
Organised by MEDD, with support from IFB (France) Some funding organisations presented specific aspects of their programme management methods (consultation, evaluation, online review tools, monitoring procedures, etc.). Discussion groups were then formed to allow the other participants to react and to speak about their own methods. This workshop was also designed to prepare the staff exchange programme (directed at programme managers and administrative staff). All the partners had been asked to state their preferences for potential dates, as well as points of interest in their research management procedures that they could share with other partners. It was decided that each partner would set up a short “visitor’s programme” to propose to others and that these exchanges would be linked to the workpackages according to the areas and issues they cover. The exchanges are to take place between December 2006 and May 2007.

Management, communication and information dissemination (WP-5)

The annual management team meeting was held on 1 & 2 June, to make a general assessment of project progress, discuss and plan future activities in all areas of the project and prepare for the first periodic report to the Commission (December 2006).
Linkage with other ERA-Nets and other programmes Johanna Inkinen, from the Academy of Finland, was invited to the workshop on mutual training on 1st June to present the experience of ERA-Net Bonus regarding staff exchanges. Their insight and advice will be of much value for designing the BiodivERsA exchange scheme.