Limitations for cooperation between Dutch univestities and post-communist intitutions in the field of research

Joep Bresser

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The low participation of some new member states in the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research & Innovation display an internal R&I divide within Europe, which impacts EU’s competitiveness on the world stage. To address this challenge the European Commission introduced some measures in the newest Framework Programme. This study aims to analyse to what extent one of the introduced measures called Twinning addresses the limitations to institutional cooperation between new member states and the old member states. It does so by a case study on institutional cooperation via the Twinning instrument between Dutch universities and post-communist institutions. The findings suggest Twinning addresses some of the barriers such as network access, but also finds multiple barriers persist due to institutional contexts.

Abstract:

The low participation of some new member states in the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research & Innovation display an internal R&I divide within Europe, which impacts EU’s competitiveness on the world stage. To address this challenge the European Commission introduced some measures in the newest Framework Programme. This study aims to analyse to what extent one of the introduced measures called Twinning addresses the limitations to institutional cooperation between new member states and the old member states. It does so by a case study on institutional cooperation via the Twinning instrument between Dutch universities and post-communist institutions. The findings suggest Twinning addresses some of the barriers such as network access, but also finds multiple barriers persist due to institutional contexts.

Keywords

widening participation, horizon 2020, innovation gap, Twinning, post-communist states, research, innovation, historical institutionalism

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 21. 10. 2019

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 5. 7. 2019
• Supervisor: Dr. Jasper Sluijs
• Reader: prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
International Territorial Studies / European Governance