National Research Programme II

 

1. The mission and purpose of NRP II in the system of support of research and development from public funds in the Czech Republic

According to Section 5 (1) (b) of Act No. 130/2002 Coll. on support of research and development as amended the National Research Programme is a set of programmes being approved by the Government that implements a substantial part of the National Research and Development Policy of the Czech Republic and contains the definition of specific support targets for the period of 4 to 6 years for the targeted funding of implementation of research priorities of the Czech Republic. 

The National Research Programme II (NPV II) is an instrument implementing the National Research and Development Policy of the Czech Republic for 2004 – 2008.

The mission of NRP II is to assist the Czech Republic to reach the economic development and improvement of the quality of life of its inhabitants and level of human resources and to maintain at least its economic position in selected sectors.

The purpose of NRP II is to implement in the period from 2006 to 2011 the priorities of the National Research and Development Policy of the Czech Republic for 2006 to 2008 (NR&DP) through a set of 4 thematic programmes and 3 cross-sectional programmes with the overall expenditures of at least CZK 9,196 mil throughout the whole period of NRP II, of this CZK 7,335 from the State Budget. The way of implementing NR&DP by NRP II through the thematic and cross-sectional programmes is referred to in Tables I and II.

Table I - Thematic priorities of the national policy and thematic programmes of NRP II implementing them

Table II – System priorities of the national policy and cross-sectional programmes of NRP II implementing them

 

2.      Basic structure of the programme

 

           NRP II consists of 7 programmes in total, i.e. 4 thematic and 3 cross-sectional programmes. The basic structure of NRP II is referred to in Tables III and IV and hierarchically represented in Figure I.

Table III -  Thematic Programmes of NRP II 

 

Provider	Thematic programme	Interest index[1]	Thematic areas[2] (sub-programmes)
MTI	Permanent prosperity (TP1)	0,60	T1-1-1 Increase reliability of el.nets and high voltage switching stations T1-1-2 Hydrogen and fuel elements usage as energy resources T1-1-3 New nuclear technologies to produce electricity, high-potential heat and hydrogen T1-1-4 Lowering the energetical demand at buildings operations T1-1-5 Renewable energy resources T1-2-1 New technologies and materials for air protection   T1-2-2 Technologies to protect mountains and mineral env. T1-3-1 New materials with new use attributes technical systems      T1-3-2 New materials application in machinery construction             T1-3-3 Mechatronical systems and robotics T1-3-4 New structures of production machinery T1-3-5 New semiconductor sensors and nanoparts T1-3-6 Increase of production lifetime and reliability of machinery products and facilities with high technical parameters T1-3-7 New methods of nanodiagnostics T1-4-1 Alternative resources in transport development                      T1-4-2 Improvement and quality raise of transport infrastructure T1-4-3 Means of transport and systems for public and individual transport     T1-5-1 Chemical optimalization and development of new engineering and pharmaceutical technologies T1-5-2 Chemicals safety T1-5-3 Nanomaterials and processes T1-5-4 Development of new chemical substances to be included in products of other branches T1-5-6 Organical syntheses for products with high added value tax T1-5-7 Catalysts for environmental protection, energetics, and low-waste chemical technologies
MEYS	Healthy And Quality Life (TP2)	0,61	T2-1-1 Healthy and safe goods T2-2-2 Systems and methods to assess the health safety of healthy nourishment food raws, goods and feed T2-1-4 Non-traditional usage of agricultural production T2-2-1 Development of new diagnostics based on molecular  biology methods T2-2-2 New medicaments based on mol. genetics and biotechnologies T2-2-3 Nanomaterials to be applied in biology and medicine T2-2-4 Biomaterials for transplanation medicine T2-2-5 Genomics, proteomics and pathofyziology of kardiovascular diseases T2-2-6 Genomics and proteomics of cell differenciation at onkological diseases T2-3-1 Limitation to surface waters pollution T2-3-2 Env. bioremediation through microorganisms T2-3-3 Waste reproduction and recycling T2-3-4 Biodiversity T2-3-5 Environment and health
	Information Technologies for Knowledgeable society (TP3)	0,58	T3-1-1 Knowledge management and informatics, mainly to support illness prevention and treatment                T3-1-2 Open and mobile systems for internet and industrial applications T3-1-3 Information security and kryptology T3-1-4 Information infrastructure, e-learning and virtual working place T3-1-5 Language barriers elimination through information technologies
	Social and Economical Development of the Czech society    (TP4)	-	T4-1-1 Ageing Czech society T4-1-2 Modernisation of Czech public politics and administration in the EU context T4-1-3 Migration problems and their influence on the Czech society T4-1-4 Modernisation of public services T4-1-5 Institutional frame of socially-economical stratification processes T4-1-6 Interests of the Czech state and society in European integration processes

 

Table IV – Cross-section programmes of NRP II

 

Provider	Cross-section programme	Thematic areas (sub-programme)
MEYS	Human resources (PP1)	P1-1 Research to improve basic, secondary and tertiary education and general human resource development P1-2 Research encouragement at universities P1-3 Improve attractively of the research profession and its gender-related support P1-4 Research popularisation P1-5 Migration support
	International co-operation (PP2)	Research for the state administration acc. to §3, par.1a) Act No.130/2002 Coll., about support to research and development, as amended, directed to fulfilment of the tasks assigned by the government to the central state administration for research and development for providing international co-operation in this area.
	Support for preparation and realisation of national politics including technical assistance  (PP4)	Research for the state administration acc. to §3, par.1a) Act No.130/2002 Coll., about support to research and development, as amended, directed to fulfilment of the tasks assigned by the government to the central state administration for research and development and to realisation of current, as well as preparation of the new politics of research, and further to fulfil central administrative office tasks specified in competence act and §33 Act No.130/2002 Coll., about support to research and development, as amended. The only user in this case is the state.[3]

 

NRP II will be co-ordinated by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MEYS) through the NRPII Council that is governed by the statute and rules of procedure approved by the Government Decision No. 417 of 28^th April, 2003. The proposal of a new composition of the new NRPII Council (since 2006) will take into account the nominations of individual concerned ministries for representation of the professional community representatives in this body.

 

 

Scheme I – Structure of National Research Programme II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For thematic programmes with anticipated co-participation of private business entities (particularly TP1 to TP3) the index of the user sphere’s interest in co-financing this programmes of NRP II was determined (the interest index is mentioned with corresponding programmes of NRPII in Table III).

The publicizing of these thematic and cross-sectional programmes of NRP II does not mean any cancellation of the thematically oriented departmental programmes which will continue in the future within the meaning of Section 4 (1) (c) of Act on support of research and development. 

 

3. The objectives of thematic and cross-sectional programmes of NRP II

 

3.1. The objectives of the thematic programme “Sustained Prosperity” (TP1)

 

1.      To prepare new materials and provide new procedures for utilisation of renewable and untraditional sources of energy, including the hydrogen energy.

2.      To increase the reliability of the electrical energy transmission systems.

3.      To work out new procedures for nuclear power technologies.

4.      To reduce the energy demands of the operation of buildings.

5.      To create new non-conventional machine structures and constructions.

6.      To create new materials with new useful properties, including nanomaterials and new methods of material diagnostics.

7.      To prepare new semiconductor components for diagnostics and control.

8.      To increase the utilisation of the transport security system.

9.      To introduce new procedures for selected sectors of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

10.  To develop new materials, new additions to products of other sectors, new polymers and catalysts.

 

3.2 The objectives of the thematic programme “Healthy and High-quality Life (TP2)

 

1.      To provide new procedures of processing, distribution, control and unique identification of healthy and unexceptionable food products and finding of their new sources.

2.      To create new systems of production organisms improvement.

3.      To develop new diagnostic procedures, including nanotechnological methods, for quick, precise and patient-friendly determination of the patient’s condition and monitoring of the treatment progress.

4.      To increase the therapeutic efficiency and safety of drugs.

5.      To develop new procedures in genomics of serious illnesses.

6.      To create new medical materials and procedures.

7.      To reduce emission of environmentally harmful gases, improve the condition of sites   affected by environmental burdens of the past, including improvement of the watercourses cleanness

8.      To work out innovative procedures in waste management.

9.      To work out the methodology of environmental standards implementation according to OECD standards.

 

3.3 The objectives of the thematic programme “Information Technology for Knowledge-based Society (TP3)

 

1.      To develop technical infrastructure for knowledge management, particularly in health care, social security and state administration in general.

2.      To develop new information infrastructures on universities.

3.      To develop new methods of knowledge management, particularly by using the artificial intelligence methods, machine learning and information and data warehouses.

4.      To develop new mobile and open systems for internet applications and for new types of consumer solutions, both inside and outside the industrial sphere.

5.      To develop new systems of computer security, including the anti-spam protection, for the information and communication environment in the Czech Republic to attain the world class level in security.

6.      To develop new means for working of virtual teams and laboratories and methods of computer-supported learning (e-learning) with the aim to attain at least the European top class level

7.      To overcome language barriers in information and knowledge sharing within the multilingual environment of EU.

 

3.4 The objectives of the thematic programme “Social and Economical Development of the Czech Society (TP4)

 

1.      To establish the Czech national interests and create the Czech identity in the conditions of the European consolidation and economic globalisation.

2.      To reduce the potentially negative consequences of socially stratifying processes in the incidence of a discord between the economic pressure upon the growth of meritocratic principles and the capability of a social state to compensate the social disparities and encourage criteria of social justice.

3.      To activate the senior population on the market to become more involved in the social structures and analyse the possibilities to reduce effects of the Czech demographic development that will manifest itself in decline in labour forces and dynamical population aging.

 

3.5 The objectives of the cross-sectional programme “Human Resources” (CSP1)

 

1.      To work out and examine procedures and methods to increase the number of workers in science, research and development, improve their social and economic position and provide more efficient motivation to choose this career. 

2.      To enhance the procedures that can positively influence the approach of the public to science, research and development, increase the level of education of the whole population in scientific and technical knowledge.

3.      To enhance the preparatory and further education of workers in research and development on universities and other scientific work sites.

4.      To orientate the targets, contents and methods of the primary and secondary education towards the progress in scientific and technical knowledge. To find motivations supporting the attractiveness of scientific, research and technical professions for students and tertiary education graduates.

5.      To develop new processes enhancing woman’s involvement in research and development.

6.      To analyse the impacts and efficiency of individual steps on improvement of the situation in the area of human resources.

7.      To develop new instruments supporting the mobility of scientific workers within the state and institutions, as well as between the various work sites (both in the Czech Republic and internationally).

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.6 The objectives of the cross-sectional programme “International Co-operation” (CSP2)

 

This cross-sectional programme is aimed at funding the international co-operation support in research and development, including its regional aspects. It is a research for the state administration by form of public procurement according to Section 3 (1) (a3) of Act on support of research and development. Following areas were identified:

 

1.      The coordination of national and international research and development not only to avoid fragmentation of the research and development capacities of the local work sites, but also to use all available research and development sources to a maximum effect being  synergically complemented by the international research.

2.      The involvement of work sites in the international co-operation in research and development.

3.      To increase the influence of CR at formulation of international research and development programmes priorities in relation to the national social and economic needs and for active role of CR in building of ERA

4.      To monitor and analyze the involvement of CR in the international co-operation in research and development.

5.      To delegate our research workers to foreign work sites and create opportunities for involvement of foreign workers in the activity of local research and development work sites.

6.      The creation of new stimulation instruments for transferring the research results into local conditions and for growth in public and private investments into research.

 

3.7 The objectives of the cross-sectional programme “Support to Preparation and Implementation of the National Policy, including the Technical Assistance” (CSP3)

 

This cross-sectional programme is aimed at financing the preparation of basic materials making for the creation of research and development concepts and their implementation and creation of suitable conditions for technical workers of the state administration and other experts for preparation of another national policy of research and development and provision of the National Research Programme II and the follow-up national programme. The needs of the state administration in the above area can be financed from this programme’s funds as well, by developing the methodologies for evaluation of research and proposals for supporting the transfer of technologies. It is a research for the state administration by form of public procurement according to Section 3 (1) (a3) of Act on support of research and development.

 

4. The programme duration and announcement of public tenders in research and development

The National Research Programme II will be announced for the period 2006-2011. In case of its delayed notification by the European Commission the first year of the programme will be postponed. The public tenders in research and development for submission of the first draft projects will be announced after completion of the notification procedure before the European Commission. The notification procedure, in which the compliance of any proposed programme with the protection of economic competition is assessed, is obligatory for the research and development programmes.

The announcement of public tenders in research and development will be governed by the act on support of research and development.

The NRP II projects will be completed by December 31, 2011 at the latest

5.  The financing of NRP II

 

The proposal of NRP II expenditures from public funds in individual years and for the whole period of the programme is given in Table V. These figures will form grounds for the preparation of the R&D state budget expenditures estimate in compliance with Section 5 of Act on support of research and development.

 Table VI illustrates the overall expected NRP II expenditures broken down by individual years and for the whole period of the programme in total. Data include also the expected non-public funds.

The distribution of public funds between the thematic and cross-sectional programmes is significantly shifted in favour of the thematic programmes. Besides the expensiveness of such research the reason is also the fact that the fulfilment of system priorities of the National Research and Development Policy of the Czech Republic for 2004-2008 can be ensured not only by cross-sectional programmes of NRP II, but also by using the contributions of the Structural Funds, particularly of the Human Resources Development Operational Programme within the European Social Fund (it meets especially the “Human resources” priority of the national policy) and the Industry and Enterprise Operational Programme (it meets especially the “Application of R&D results” priority of the national policy).[4] The fulfilment of regional aspects is satisfied by, apart from departmental programmes, relevant measures financed from the Structural Funds in view of the fact that this form of support is directed exactly to regions. The priority “Evaluation of research and development” can be implemented also by non-fiscal instruments like e.g. Government Decision No. 644 of 23^rd June 2004.

The provision of support of research and development from public funds is governed especially by Act on support of research and development, Government Regulation No. 461/2002 Coll. on targeted support of research and development from public funds and on public tenders in research and development, Act No. 40/2004 Coll. on public procurement, other regulations of the European Union as referred to in Chapter 10 and with the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also by the European Commission Regulation No 364/2004 of 25 February 2004 and other regulations relating hereto[5]. The maximum extent of support from public funds depends on the type of research and may reach

a)      up to 100 % of qualified costs of fundamental research, without the industrial research,

b)      up to 50 % of qualified costs of industrial research.

The share of targeted support in the qualified costs of industrial research may be further increased to 75 % of qualified costs of industrial research, if statutory conditions are met as given by the above regulations.

The level of the annual targeted support per one project will not exceed CZK 30 mil and will not be lower than CZK 1 mil with thematic programmes or less than CZK 200 000 with cross-sectional programmes.

Of the project solution costs only such costs may be financed that are qualified within the meaning of Act on support of research and development and its implementing regulation (Government Regulation No. 461/2002 Coll. on targeted support of research and development from public funds and on public tenders in research and development) and with SMEs also of Article 5 (5) (a) and (2) (c) of Commission Regulation No 364/2004 of 25 February 2004, while respecting the above mentioned legal norms laying down the maximum level of  qualified costs financed from public funds.

In case that NRP II will not be notified by the European Commission by the term of its planned commencement (in 2006), the funds will be ensured in compliance with point III b of the Government decision No. 272 of 9 March 2005.

 

6. Target groups, which the programme is intended for and proof of the applicant’s qualification

 

As a whole, NRP II is intended primarily for research institutions, universities, and entrepreneurial entities. The way of proving the applicant’s qualification, including the foreign entities, is laid down in Section 18 of Act on support of research and development

 

7. International relations of NRP II

NRP II promotes the international co-operation in research. The international co-operation makes possible to contribute significantly to achieving the Lisbon process targets (to become a far more competitive partner particularly towards the US and Japan with the aim to enhance the quality of life of the EU inhabitants)) and the Barcelona target (to raise the EU research and development expenditures to 3 % of GDP by 2010).

The provider will contract the rights of foreign entities, who take part in the project solution, to the research results in relation to their means invested in the project in question. In so doing, the provider acts not only in compliance with the applicable Czech legal regulations, but also with the international commitments of the Czech Republic.

In the area of international co-operation NRP II plays only a complementary role; the implementation of the national policy in this area takes place particularly within the MEYS departmental programmes of international co-operation.

 

8. Terms and conditions of public tenders in research and development

 

Terms and conditions of a public tender, its execution and evaluation are governed by Act on support of research and development and Government Resolution No. 461/2002 Coll. on targeted support of research and development from public funds and on public tenders in research and development. 

The draft project will contain, inter alia:

a)      into what thematic or cross-sectional programme the project registers itself and what thematic objectives it fulfils, including comparison of this draft project with the objectives and contents of that given thematic area,

b)      what will be the specific thematic contents by which it will contribute to the fulfilment of objectives of any thematic or cross-sectional programme.

 

9. Evaluation of NRP II

 

The basic indicators of the NRP II objectives fulfilment are given in Table VII. The main criterion for evaluation of the success of NRP II as a whole is the achievement of the NRP II purpose, i.e. “to implement in the period from 2006 to 2011 the priorities of the National Research and Development Policy of the Czech Republic for 2006 to 2008 (NR&DP) through a set of 4 thematic programmes and 3 cross-sectional programmes with the overall expenditures of at least CZK 9,196 mil throughout the whole period of NRP II, of this CZK 7,335 from the State Budget. “

 

 

 

Table VII – Indicators of the NRP II objectives fulfilment

Indicator	Fulfilment criterion	Way of proving
The number of announced thematic and cross-sectional programmes.	All thematic programmes will be announced by the end of the first year of the NRP II period and at the same time at least two cross-sectional programmes will be announced by the end of the first year of the NRP II period.	The report of the provider. VES[6]
The number of thematic or cross-sectional programmes, in which at least 70 % of their objectives were fulfilled.	At least 3 thematic programmes and at least 2 cross-sectional programmes have fulfilled their objectives based on indicators given in Table VIII.	The report of the provider on the basis of evaluation of thematic and cross-sectional programmes.
The volume of public funds spent on NRP II throughout the whole period of NRP II.	At least 90 % of the planned funds given in Table V for the whole period of NRP II will be spent.	The report of the provider. The report of the CEP[7] administrator to the provider.
The volume of funds spent on NRP II throughout the whole period of NRP II from non-public sources.	At least 90 % of the planned non-public funds for the whole period of NRP II will be spent; i.e. the difference between figures in Tables VI and V.	The report of the provider The report of the CEP administrator to the provider.

 

The basic criterion for evaluating the success of any thematic or cross-sectional programme is the scope of fulfilment of announced objectives in the period 2006-2011 with volumes of funds for the whole period of a thematic or cross-sectional programme. The objectives of thematic and cross-sectional programmes are given in Chapter 3. Table VIII describes the indicators of fulfilment of their objectives.

After completing the second year of the NRP II solution, the providers will produce a report on the preliminary state of solution of thematic and cross-sectional programmes falling under their competences and submit it to the Czech government for information.

The report will contain the evaluation of the NRP II progress, the preliminary state of  fulfilment of the objective according to criteria given in Table VII, commentary explaining the reasons of non-fulfilment, if any and proposals, if applicable, for changes in NRP II, its management or evaluation of projects.

 

Table VIII Indicators of fulfilment of the thematic and cross-sectional programmes objectives

Indicator		Fulfilment criterion		Way of proving
The share of projects in the given thematic or cross-sectional programme that have fulfilled at least one objective of this programme		At least 70 % projects with completed solution have fulfilled at least one objective of the thematic or cross-sectional programme.		The report of the provider on the basis of evaluation of projects after their solution is completed
The share of projects in the given thematic or cross-sectional programme that have fulfilled their objectives		At least 60 % projects with completed solution have fulfilled its objectives.		The protocol of an expert advisory body on the result of the final evaluation of the project.
The share of projects in the given thematic or cross-sectional programme that have fulfilled at least the “criterion for the project fulfilment”	TP1 to TP3 – at least 20 % projects with completed solution will fulfil at least the “criterion for the result achievement“.		The copy of the patent application or registers wos.cesnet.cz; www.epo.org.
	TP4 and CSP1 – at least 40 % projects with completed solution will fulfil at least the “criterion for the result achievement”.		The publication, or title page with “acknowledgement“.
	CSP2 and CSP3 – at least 80 % projects with completed solution will fulfil at least the “criterion for the result achievement”.		The opponent’s statement.
	At least 90 % of the planned funds given in Table V to thematic or cross-sectional programme for the whole period of its duration will be spent.		The report of the provider. CEP
The volume of public funds spent on the thematic or cross-sectional programme for the whole period of its duration.	At least 90 % of the planned non-public funds to the thematic or cross-sectional programme for the whole period of its duration will be spent, i.e. the difference between  figures in Tables VI and V.		The report of the provider. CEP

 

After the end of NRP II the providers will produce a final report on the NRP II completion and its evaluation based on the criteria for evaluation of NRP II, thematic and cross-sectional programmes and evaluation of achieved results in compliance with the methodology of evaluation of research and development and its results pursuant to Government Resolution No. 644 of 23^rd June 2004 on evaluation of research and development and its results and on related methodology.

The report will be submitted to the Czech government for information. This report will be one of the ground papers not only for the preparation of other national programmes, but also for the analysis of research and development and preparation of the national research and development policy in the Czech Republic.

 

10. Legal framework of the National Research Programme II

 

Legal regulations of the European Communities:

1.      Articles 87 and 89 of Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by subsequent treaties.

2.      Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (Celex: 31999R0659).

3.      Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 of 21 April 2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty (Celex: 32004R0794).

4.      Commission Regulation (EC) No 364/2004 of  25 February 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 as regards extension of its scope to include aid for research and development (Celex: 32004R0364).

5.      Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 of 12 January 2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises, as amended (32001R0071).

6.      Information from the Commission on the Community framework for State aid for research and development, Official Journal C 045 of 17 February 1996 (Celex: 396Y0217(01), as amended by the Commission communication amending the Community framework for State aid for research and development, Official Journal C 048 of 13 February 1998 (Celex: 31998Y0213(01), as amended by the Commission communication concerning the prolongation of the Community framework for State aid for research and development (Celex: 52002XC0508/02).

 

Legal regulations of the Czech Republic:

1.      Act No. 130/2002 Coll. on support of research and development from public funds and on amendment to certain related acts (Act on support of research and development), as amended.

2.      Act No. 215/2004 Coll. on regulation of certain relations in the area of public support and on amendment to act on support of research and development.

3.      Act No. 218/2000 Coll. on budgetary rules and on amendment to certain related acts (Budgetary Rules), as amended.

4.      Act No. 40/2004 Coll. on public procurement, as amended.

5.      Act No. 320/2001 Coll. on financial control in public administration and on amendment to certain acts (Financial Control Act), as amended.

6.      Act No. 143/2001 Coll. on protection of economic competition and on amendment to certain acts (Act on protection of economic competition).

7.      Act No. 513/1991 Coll., the Commercial Code, as amended.

8.      Act No. 527/1990 Coll. on inventions and rationalisation proposals, as amended.

9.      Government Regulation No. 461/2002 Coll. on targeted support of research and development from public funds and on public tenders in research and development.

10.  Government Regulation No. 267/2002 Coll. on the information system of research and development.