Cast in a better mould
32
KAINOTOMIA ∂ƒ∂À¡∞ ∫∞π ∆∂á√§√°π∞
innovation, research & technology
B
enchmarking national research policies was the topic of
the Greek Presidency’s first event in the field of research
and technology, organized jointly by the Ministry of
Development (General Secretariat for Research and
Technology, National Documentation Centre) and the
European Commission (DG Research), on 17-18 January
2003, in Athens.
Benchmarking is about learning by comparing: it can help
improve national research policies by making them more
consistent with each other through a process of comparison,
exchange and mutual learning. In this way, it contributes to the
development of the EU as a dynamic knowledge based
economy.
The Athens Conference took place on the occasion of the
completion of the first cycle of benchmarking national
research policies and the beginning of the second.
Representatives of the European Commission and the
European Parliament, policy makers and academics came
from across Europe to discuss the results from the first cycle
and design the next.
As mentioned in the Declaration, raising investment in research,
increasing human resources for research and connecting science
with society are the strategic themes by which benchmarking can
become a useful instrument for mutual learning and exchange of
knowledge between the European countries.
Benchmarking might be usefully applied in a range of topics,
including policies for increasing public and private R&D
investment, industry-science relations, mobility of researchers
and scientific careers, dynamics of R&D clusters, government
initiatives for public understanding of science, science
centres/museums.
It should be mentioned that the analysis and the interpretation
of the benchmarking results rely on the national governments.
By evaluating the statistical data and the indicators, and after
taking into consideration the particularities of the country,
each government will have the opportunity to improve its
policies on research and technology.
During the event, Mr. A. Mitsos, Director General for Research
of the European Commission, underlined that "investment in
research is a precondition for development, rather than a
concession". In his interview, given to our magazine, Mr Mitsos
referred to the public sector’s responsibility to create an
attractive environment for private investment, the role of
benchmarking in the European Research Area as well as the
high level of Greek research community.
Mr G. Medrano, Head of Unit "Public Awareness of Science;
young people and science", of the Commission’s DG Research,
stressed during his interview the need for a more efficient
communication between scientists and the public, the necessity
of specialised training for journalists and the role of education in
the development of scientific culture among young people.
Finally, Mr D. Deniozos, Greek General Secretary for Research
and Technology, focused on the contribution of benchmarking to
the undertaking of political initiatives and the documentation of
political choices in national and regional level.
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G
reek metal foundries showed unprecedented
interest in an IRC-mediated brokerage event
introducing a German process for casting metal
components. Uptake by a Greek industrial research centre
will make the technology available to individual foundries,
allowing them to test the process with the benefit of advice
and training.
The 'lost foam' process is a means of preparing mouldings to
be used for casting metal components, which overcomes
problems of traditional methods regarding lighter-weight or
thin-walled components, complicated metal structures or the
use of an organic resin, which can cause serious problems to
the workers, the environment and the quality of the cast part.
In Germany the “lost foam" process had been promoted by
EPS Machines / Lost Foam Systems of Niedernhausen. The
Greek industrial technology centre Mirtec SA realised that
EPS might have the answer to the many problems
experienced with the older methods by Greek foundries.
The two local IRCs – Hellenic IRC in Athens, Greece and IRC
Hesse Rhineland Palatinate in Germany – arranged a
brokerage event in Volos in 2001, which resulted in a
commercial agreement: EPS Machines provided a complete
casting plant using the “lost foam” process, which Mirtec
can use for its own market. EPS also gave training to Mirtec
employees, assisting in the building of the plant and
helping them to resolve problems in the first few months of
operation.
An overview of the Conference for benchmarking national
research policies (Athens, 17-18/01/2003)
