Guidelines for online filling:

Scope and structure of the questionnaire.

The objective of this questionnaire is to provide a systematic overview of the programmes and to map the research capacity involved with Mediterranean agriculture in each  partner country of ARIMNET consortium.

This mapping exercise will help to identify common points, differences, overlaps and future opportunities for collaboration and research coordination among partners and networking among research communities of ARIMNET countries, thus strengthening the development of Mediterranean agriculture.

The sections A-B of the questionnaire can be filled in for each research programme dealing with  Mediterranean agriculture by each organization having, mainly or exclusively, a funding/ delegation of funding/managing role.

The section C has to be filled in by institutions carrying out agricultural research on Mediterranean topics and managing facilities and/or training schemes which may be available for common cooperation activities within the scope of ARIMNet.

NOT under the scope of the questionnaire

The activities carried out by or in support to the extension services in agriculture are not under the scope of this questionnaire.

To whom the questionnaire is addressed to

To the main funding/managing organizations and other relevant organizations performing agri-med research in partner countries.

The country focal point (person in charge of collecting information in his own country) will create accounts for interested institutions to allow access to the different sections A, B and C.

Interested organizations  can fill the questionnaire in online at the website address: http://www.arimnet.net/index.php?p=admin/data_base/index  

You will be asked to introduce your login and your password

 If someone is not able to fill the questionnaire in online, please contact the country focal point

Deadline: 15 October 2009

Please note: Information provided will only be used for the purpose of ARIMNet and will only be available to ARIMNet partners and the European Commission.

Definitions:

Research programme: grouping of research projects and/or activities with a common funding and steering mechanism. The projects in any given programme may be grouped on the basis of: type of research (e.g. Applied, Basic, etc…); scientific discipline (e.g. Crop production, Farming Systems, Natural resources management, animal husbandry etc…); authoritative boundary (e.g. national, regional).

A “programme” may be defined as a set of coordinated actions, aiming at implementing a strategy, in addressing a specific or general issue or at reaching a specific goal.

A set of coordinated actions can be represented by:

-          the terms of reference of a call and the call itself

-          a part of the mission of a research institution

-          the networking action on technology platforms

-          the creation or the running of large national research and/or experimental facilities,

-          a fellowship scheme

-          other

This set of coordinated actions can be defined on a thematic basis (e.g. plant breeding or biotechnology) or in response to a societal issue (e.g. food safety or climate change).

It could be managed through a research operator (research performing organization as are many of the partners of ARIMNet) or through a funding agency.

Each programme/research activity must be described according to AGROVOC, using the AGRIS/CARIS Classification Scheme and following the link provided inside the questionnaire.

In particular:

National programme: programme that is designed/co-designed and run/co-run (decided, evaluated, funded[1] and monitored) at national level to address global or specific issues concerning Mediterranean Agriculture on a thematic or geographic basis and/or that provides large scale facilities or action schemes to support and enhance the performance of Agricultural Research.

Programmes that are run at national level, that means designed, decided, evaluated, funded and monitored at national scale and/or by central authority.

Regional programme: the term ‘region’ should be understood as an area inside a country. Regional programmes in the sense of international cooperation programmes, designed, decided and funded through an agreement of countries could enter in our scope as far as they could be considered as “owned” by the partners of ARIMNet.

Research project: a funded unit within or outside a research programme which has defined goals, objectives and timeframe, in general carried out by some (at least 2-3) research groups.

Competitive/non-competitive procurement mechanisms.

-  Competitive: process in which several research providers present proposals on a given theme to compete for funds. These proposals are evaluated and selected, for example on the basis of scientific quality and cost.

-  Non-competitive: there is no competition for the funds to carry out the research, either because the research provider uses its own funds or because the funder decides to work with preferred research providers (in some cases this mechanism is a “direct assignment” and applied when very specific and urgent questions must be solved; i.e. natural events, animal or plant diseases etc).

-    Ad hoc call: a call that is launched once for dedicated purposes and specific themes.

Non-permanent staff: staff with a contract of employment that comes to an end due to “fixed-term reason“ or when a specified task has been completed.

Evaluators: specialists who estimate officially the value or quality of the research programme/proposal.

Financial year: year in which the funding is allocated even if it does not coincide with the start of the project.

Extramural funds: funds to cope with expenditures for R&D performed abroad and spent outside of the organization.

Mediterranean Agricultural Research: topics dealt within the scope of ARIMNet will include those focusing on Mediterranean agricultural production systems and products, with particular attention given to Mediterranean agro-ecological  resources (soil, water and genetic and natural resources management), Mediterranean food products quality and safety, agricultural and rural economics items, particularly those focusing on Mediterranean problems such as specific societal structures, demands and needs, including diet.