Bridging Minds, Building Futures - MCAA Central European Meeting

DAY 1

8:30-9:30 Registration and welcome coffee

9:30-10:00:Opening (MCAA representatives, Institutional representatives)

 

Day 1- Session 1 - Research Funding and the Widening Participation Agenda

 

Abstract

This session delves into the critical aspect of research funding in Widening countries. "Widening countries" in the context of Horizon Europe regulation refers to 15 EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hyngary, Latvia, Luthuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) that are lagging in their R&I performance compared to the EU average. Widening countries play a vital role in the European research landscape, yet they face unique challenges in securing the necessary resources to fully realize their innovation potential. This session aims to explore these challenges, highlight successful strategies, and discuss pathways towards a more equitable and impactful research funding ecosystem across Europe.

During the session, we will look at the key problems in research within Widening countries: underinvestment in R&D, limited access to funding, lack of infrastructure, fewer career opportunities, weaker participation in international networks, less experience with proposal writing, focus on Institutional Capacity Building vs. supporting top researchers, trust in Peer-Review, research culture and attitudes towards funding schemes, bureaucratic culture and institutional trust.

Following this, the discussion will address success stories from participating countries in Horizon Europe - Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence sub-program. Initiatives like the "Widening participation and spreading excellence" actions within Horizon Europe are aiming to address these disparities by fostering collaborations, upgrading research infrastructure, and supporting talent in these countries.  The session will also serve as the public introduction of the Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence sub-program, a program specifically designed to support widening countries.

 

The session is divided into two parts:

10:00-11:30: Bridging the Funding Gap: Cultural Perspectives and Success Strategies in Widening Countries 

11:30-12:00: Coffee and networking

12:00-13:30: Addressing Challenges and Unlocking Potential in Research Funding in Widening Countries

 

Moderators: Roxana Radu (MCAA Romania Chapter) / Andrada Lazea Stoyanova (MCAA Romania Chapter)

 

 Speakers:

1.       Tomasz Poprawka – Poland - Director at the Polish Science Contact Agency (PolSCA)

-          The mission of PolSCA - promote, facilitate and foster participation of the Polish R&D community in European projects and initiatives and in particular to reinforce Polands position in the EU framework programs.

 

2.       Dr. Szidónia  Rusu - Hungary - Project Manager SkiLink Foundation and President at the Association of Hungarian PhD Students and Young Researchers of Romania (RODOSZ).

-          How to integrate the cultural perspective into Research Funding Schemes in Widening Countries? (focus on Hungary and Romania):

a.       Research culture and attitudes towards funding schemes? (how proactive are the researchers in applying for international grants?, is there a strong grant/proposal writing culture?

b.       Do researchers tend to pursue international fundings or do they prefer safer, local sources?

c.       Bureaucratic culture and institutional trust (mistrust in institutions and funding agencies, corruption, rigid or flexible rules, informal practices etc.).

d.       Social prestige of research in academia (societal status of being a researcher in Romania, Hungary, do funding systems reflect and reinforce this societal valuation, researchers are respected public figures or not? ).

 

3.       Dr. Maria Gorna - Poland - Leader of the Structural Biology Group, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw.

-          Success stories – European collaborative research projects (Weave, JPI AMR).

 

4.       Dr. Ana Maria Bokan - Croatia - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (UNIZAG-FSB) at the University of Zagreb. 

-          Success stories – WIDERA program  - project leader for the INITIATE project. 

 

5.       Dr. Pancho Dachkinov - Bulgaria - Assistant Professor at the Institute of Robotics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 

-          European Innovation Council (EIC) - funding scheme, programmes for remote evaluators.

-          Shared experience from an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship applicant.

-          Blue Book traineeship at the European Commission – benefits for early stage researchers.

 

6.       Widening Officer - Poland - waiting for an answer

-          Horizon Europe work program:  Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area – instruments.

 

 

 

13:30-14:30: Lunch and networking

 

Session 2 - Science Diplomacy and Policy in Central and Eastern Europe

1st Segment — 14:30–15:30: Building Foundations in Science Diplomacy: European and CEE Perspectives for Researchers. 

Organizer & Moderator: MCAA Policy WG (Theodota Lagouri (online), Monika Golinska (onsite)) 

 

Speakers from: MCAA Policy, EUSDA, CEI, ALLEA/PAN

 

Objective

This session introduces the core concepts of science diplomacy and international science–policy interfaces, with a focus on their relevance for early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs). The discussion will provide an overview of European science diplomacy frameworks, explore regional dynamics in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and open a dialogue on capacity building for researchers engaging with policy and diplomacy spaces.

 

Key Topics

• What is science diplomacy? (Science in diplomacy, diplomacy for science, science for diplomacy)
• Why it matters for researchers and institutions in today’s global context
• European-level actors and mechanisms supporting science diplomacy
• Regional dynamics in Central and Eastern Europe: challenges and opportunities
• How EMCRs can engage with science-policy interfaces and build capacity
• Interactive reflection on personal and institutional roles in science diplomacy

 

Speakers

 

1. Confirmed speaker (onsite)  — “Science Diplomacy for Researchers“

Prof. Paweł Rowiński, President of ALLEA | Polish Academy of Sciences (ALLEA/PAN)

 

2. Confirmed speaker (onsite) — “Science Diplomacy in the CEE Region: Challenges and Emerging Initiatives”

Alessandro Lombardo (CEI & EUSDA)

 

CEI: Senior Executive Officer, Head of Office - Project Management Office, Central European Initiative - Executive Secretariat (CEI-ES) and Chair of EU Science Diplomacy Alliance 

 

The Central European Initiative (CEI) is a regional intergovernmental forum of 17 Member States* in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

Its two main strategic goals focus on fostering European integration and promoting sustainable development through regional cooperation.

 

The EU Science Diplomacy Alliance (EUSDA) is a collaborative initiative launched by the Horizon 2020 science diplomacy projects S4D4C, InsSciDE and EL-CSID to sustain and grow the networks, impact and momentum consolidated by the three projects. It aims to further develop, maintain, and organise joint research projects, policy advice, capacity building and training activities on the topic of science diplomacy.

 

Confirmed speaker (online) — “European Framework for Science Diplomacy”

Jean-Christophe Mauduit, Associate Professor of Science Diplomacy at University College London, UK and EU Science Diplomacy Alliance 

 

More info on 1st Segment  here !

 

2nd Segment — 16:00–17:00:  Science and International Policy: Responding to Today's Global Challenges 

Organizer & Moderator: MCAA Bulgaria Chapter (Viktor Senderov (onsite)) 

In this session we explore how scientific expertise and institutions can shape international policy to address emerging risks, from research security to frontier technologies like AI.  A key theme will be the role of researchers in governance, in particular in relation to AI: What technical and institutional frameworks—such as controls over data, compute, and talent—are needed to ensure the safe deployment of advanced technologies? How can states and scientific communities coordinate to turn these insights into effective, multilateral policies? The session aims to attract speakers that can address such big-picture items and outline the problem areas that our common efforts ought to be concentrated on in the following years.

 

Speakers:

1. Tom David, President of the General Purpose AI Policy Lab, Paris: online
2. Michał Kubiak, AI Policy Officer at the Observatorio de Riesgos Catastroficos Globales: onsite
3. TBD

Abstract (Tom David): This talk explores the role of scientific expertise and institutions in managing frontier-AI risks. It discusses verification mechanisms that would ensure the safe deployment of advanced AI models, and how states and non-state actors can coordinate to implement them. A central notion is the control variable: who holds the levers over data, compute, and talent ultimately determines which governance strategies are feasible.

 

Abstract (Michał Kubiak): A new proposal for strengthening the EU AI Safety research ecosystem. How science diplomacy can be utilised for mitigating global risks.

 

More info on the 2nd Segment here!

 

3rd Segment — 17:30-18:30: Science Diplomacy in Action: Success Stories 

Organizer & Moderator: MCAA Bulgaria Chapter (Maya Dimitrova (onsite)) 

Science Diplomacy can be understood as research – based social technology applied to the international field. It attempts to translate advanced ideas across countries on the globe in a scientific, non-ad hoc, manner. The aim is spreading peace and safety and reducing damage and suffering in any area of the world, supported by objective scientific outcomes of fundamental and applied research.

 

Especially challenging is designing social technology for exchange of advanced ideas horizontally - from the EU to countries, which do not currently share our values, as well as vertically – supporting the peaceful transformation from autocratic to democratic social systems and technologies for influence within the society. Both aspects are of crucial significance currently for Central and East Europe countries and their neighbors.

 

Science Diplomacy can be a personal experience, too. And often the positive energy of the researchers drives the development of the society towards the aims of Science Diplomacy. Without introspecting on our role in this process, the outcomes of our efforts can be chaotic or unforeseen. The speakers in this session will share personal experiences on their involvement in science diplomacy within physics, chemistry, mathematics and agriculture.

 

Speakers: 

 

Monika Golinska (Poland) MCAA Policy WG - Department of Biostatistics and Translational Medicine,  Medical University of Lodz “Returning to Research: A Journey Off the Beaten Track”

Bela Fiser (Hungary) University of Miskolc, Hungary & University of Lodz, Poland “At the Crossroads of Science and Borders: A Researcher’s Journey in Central Europe”

Dunja Samec (Croatia) “Science Diplomacy in the Agrifood Sector - How Can We Help?”

Sureyya Akyuz (Türkiye) MCAA Career Development WG - Bahçeşehir University, Department of Mathematics, Istanbul “Fostering Global Careers: The Role of Science Diplomacy in Supporting Early-Career Researchers”

 

More info on the 2nd Segment here!

 

DAY 2

Session 3 - Brain Drain / Brain Gain in Central and Eastern Europe

 

Moderator: MCAA Austria Chapter (James Jennings)

 

10:00-11:30: Initiatives from the Central and Eastern Europe  region

10:00 - 10:20 Doctoral Training in Poland: How Legal Frameworks Shape Scientific Capacity and Support Brain Gain

Aneta Fraser and colleagues, Polish Association of PhD students

 

10:20 - 10:40 From Welcome to Goodbye: Postdocs’ journeys to, at and from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) – perspectives from a young research institute in Central Europe

Boris Cesnik (Institute of Science and Technology Austria, ISTA)

 

10:40 - 11:00 Researcher mobility in Hungary: perspectives from DOSZ

 Norbert Bencze, The Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates

 

11:00 - 11:20 Talent circulation: From policy to services

Karla Zimanova or colleague (SAIA, Slovakia)

 

11:20-11:50: Coffee and networking

 

11:50-13:00: Final talk and panel discussion

11:50 - 12:10 Turning brain drain into brain circulation: the past, the present and the future of Polonium Foundation

Kuba Orlowski, MCAA Poland Chapter & The Polonium Foundation, Poland

 

12:10 - 13:00 Panel discussion

 

Attracting, supporting, and retaining research talent remains a major challenge for universities and research institutions. Effective solutions call for strong collaboration among multiple stakeholders—including welcome centers, international offices, research support services, career development units, and HR departments, among others. In this part of the meeting, we aim to explore different strategies and share diverse experiences related to this issue.

Feedback from researchers in many countries across the region often returns similar responses including the perceived lack of institutional support, disfavouring of non-native speakers, and opacity of career progression milestones.

The session aims to invite broad opinions from research services and academics to engage in a dialogue on nurturing inclusive, competitive, and resilient scientific ecosystems in the CEE region.

The talks and discussions will take a practical approach, focusing on key questions such as:

• How do universities and research organizations successfully engage with international research talent?
• How can the region respond to the potential outflow of scientific talent from the US and other regions in with politically-driven research cuts?
• How can talent be retained in light of national budget cuts to countries within the region?

 

13:00-13:30: Closure