Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ZAGREB180
2005-02-04 12:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

Evaluation: U.S. Speakers on Collaborative Research

Tags:  OIIP HR 
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UNCLAS ZAGREB 000180 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR IIP/G/EUR LAWRENCE SCHWARTZ, IIP/T/GIC GERRI WILLIAMS,
INFO EUR/PD INGRID LARSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP HR
SUBJECT: Evaluation: U.S. Speakers on Collaborative Research
Techniques, Zagreb, Croatia, January 9-13, 2005

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000180

SIPDIS


STATE FOR IIP/G/EUR LAWRENCE SCHWARTZ, IIP/T/GIC GERRI WILLIAMS,
INFO EUR/PD INGRID LARSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP HR
SUBJECT: Evaluation: U.S. Speakers on Collaborative Research
Techniques, Zagreb, Croatia, January 9-13, 2005


1. Name, date of program: Collaborative Research Techniques,
January 9-13, 2005.


2. Description of the Activity, including topic, venues,
audiences: Three U.S. Speakers, Dr. Dennis Glanzman and Dr. Yuan
Liu from the National Institutes of Health and Dr. Jorn Larsen-
Basse from the National Science Foundation, spent three days in
Zagreb, January 10-12, explaining to Croatian scientists and
Ministry officials the "ins and outs" of their institutions and
how to access joint research funds. The Speakers addressed over
200 scientists in Zagreb and eight other sites in Croatia,
connected via digital video conferencing. They also had
individual meetings at university faculties and institutes and
at the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, where they met
with another 50 researchers, faculty members, and government
officials.

The program was designed to assist Croatians to move to a level
playing field for international research opportunities, in the
wake of a recently signed updated Science and Technology
Cooperation Agreement between the U.S. and Croatia. The new
agreement, while eliminating a small but earmarked amount of
funds for joint projects, opens up many new U.S. research
opportunities to Croatian social and hard scientists.

This was a joint PA-Pol/Econ project.


3. Effectiveness of Speakers in communicating intended messages
to audiences:
Anticipating the concern with which Croatian scientists would see
the demise of the special set-aside fund, our counterparts at the
Ministry of Science, Education and Sport appealed to the Embassy
for assistance in explaining to Croatian scientists the
decentralized U.S. support system for academic research. The
three U.S. speakers were excellent, sharing their extensive
experience in grantsmanship and proposal preparation and review
with approximately 250 researchers throughout Croatia. All three
gave clear and concise presentations, supported by their combined
50-60 years of experience in the field. They were open and
approachable, and exhibited great interest in their Croatian
colleagues. With Ministry officials, the Speakers discussed how
support for science can assist in the economic development of the
country, while with the researchers and scientists, they
effectively conveyed the U.S. scientific culture, promoting the
values of innovation, perseverance, and occasional risk-taking.


4. Quality of IIP support: Excellent. IIP located exactly the
kind of Speakers we needed.


5. Immediate RESULTS/Impact: This Speaker program should have a
direct impact on the development of collaborative research
projects between the U.S. and Croatia, and help move the Croatian
academic community away from depending on state subsidies for
research and scientific developments, as Croatia completes its
transition from a socialist to democratic system.

FRANK


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