ARTI Report

8/6/2019 ARTI Report

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REPORT

FOR

DRAFT-RESOLUTION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL

AGENCY OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

The purpose of this project-resolution is to create a legal framework which establishes theNational Agency of Research and Technology (AKKT), as a public institution with the

status of juridical subject, depending on the Council of Ministers.

The creation of AKKT is framed within the research and technological development

reforms undertaken by the government. This reform is one of governments priorities and

its main aim is to build a modern system of science, to strengthen the research and

technological development and their cooperation with higher education.

In the following section, will be laid some arguments upon the necessity of establishing

AKKT, as well as the experiences of other countries in the field of policy, promotion andmanagement of research and development (R&D) and some explanations on the mission,

duties and organization of AKKT.

1. The necessity of Creating the Agency

The need to create the institution is linked with the following arguments:

a) Albania is rapidly increased investment in science and technology and thisrequires a faster, more efficient and more professional management of funds.Until 2005, Albania was the European country with largest backwardness in the

field of investment for the future, when it comes to investing for innovation,

research and technology development. In the latter, new technologies, especially

IT, biotechnology, renewable energy, bio-energy, nanotechnology, etc, are part of

daily agenda (EU VII Framework Program for Research and Development). In

our case the investment on real Albanian sciences is a priority. Experience has

shown that countries with priority investment on research and innovation have the

highest rates of economic and social development. Any delay in promotion and

investment in this field becomes threatening and prohibitive for the overall

development, economic and social development of the country.

b) Albania can benefit more EU funding programs, particularly by FP7, bi-andmultilateral cooperation.

Research and technology development require large and fast investments, which

considering their volume, can not be covered by the government budget only. A

very important founding source for some priority areas, are EU programs and


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projects. The lack of functional structures and efficient sectors has become so

important that we have insufficient access to many EU programs that offer varies

opportunities and financial and institutional support.

c) Research, development, technology and innovation belongs not only toMASH, but also to many other ministries as Min. Economy, Min.

Agriculture, Min. Public Works, Min. Environment, Min. Health and Min.

Tourism.

So we are dealing with an inter-ministerial challenging, which requires the

coordination of an inter-structure under the direct supervision of Prime Minister.

In this research survey, technology and innovation should be issues for which the

Prime Minister is always well informed.

d) MES can not afford research and development management, because on theone hand, it has no institutional coordination access for the other ministries and onthe other hand, it will have to face a great rating in managing daily work. MASH

is up to science-related policy. The 10 years experience has proved the MASHs

inability to cope with the management of research. The significant growth of

sciences fund in the past 3 years was associated with empathic non execution of

projects, which confirms the inability of the MASH structures to efficiently

administrate this fund. For the year 2009 the Fund for Science reaches about 6

million USD, nearly 2 times higher compared to the one of this year. This

unfulfilled fund has a high cost for the countrys development of research and

innovation.

e) It should be increasing the private sectors participation in financial supportof research and development, which is inexistent until now. This is not only

due to the fact that the Albanian business has been in the first steps of its

development, but also because until now, it did not exist any institutional structure

where the business can participate in the decision and feel the obligation of

contribution to research, development and technology. We should find effective

ways to increase private sector contribution to research and technology.

f) It should be increased the science communitys participation in the decision-making of R&D funds;

The practice of all countries shows that in research, development and technology

promotion, the major part of decision-making advice, assessment and monitoring

comes directly from the representative of scientist community. This practice has

been quite unusual so far for Albania and many decisions are often taken by

administrators. Only the structure of the Agency, positively the participation on


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the majority of the Agency leading Council, enables a real participation of the

academic community.

g) A real space must support the funding / financing of Albanian scientists whohave ideas.

A current problem is that the heads of faculties and universities or research

centers do not create any real space for scientist to present scientific ideas and

concepts, but in many cases they are an obstacle for them. The Agency, having as

main principle the support of any scientific project evaluated by independent

experts for its scientific values, makes it possible for every Albanian who presents

an idea with scientific value, to realize its legitimate right to try / investigate

her/his idea with full freedom to academic research that is protected by the

Constitution and the legal framework.

2. Models of policymaking structures for research, development and technology

In many countries, the research, development and technology policymaking isconcentrated in one ministry or a similar structure similarly to a state committee. Such a

practice is implemented in our country for the first mandate 1992 / 96 as the Science

Committee and then only for a year 1996/1997, as Minister of Higher Education andScientific Research.

This is found not only in big sized countries but also in relatively small countries and a

greater priority is given to research, development and technology as a true locomotive of

developing a country. But there are some other countries with the policy distributed in

several ministries while their coordination is carried out directly under the Prime Ministerdirection. This is the model we are currently following. The research, development and

technology policies are drawn by several ministries, such as MASH, METE, MBUK,

MPWTT, MMPAU, MH, MTKRS and finalized by the Council of Ministers in the form of

decisions and laws. Currently there is a lack of a coordinating structure for the Prime

Minister or the Council of Ministers. Consequently the effects are still segmented.Usually, the role of the coordinating structure is executed by policies committees,

directed by the Prime Minister, where some ministers and experts from the academic

community, are part of it. The establishment of the Higher Education and Council of

Science was a right step in the right direction and it may support in the proper way thepolicy-making in the field of higher education and science. But with its final shape as an

advisory body for higher education and science, it can not play an inter-ministerialcoordinating role and can not take decisions in research, development and technology.

3. Models of management structures and management research, development and

technology.


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Foundations are the management and administrative structure of research, development

and technology almost in all countries and in very few cases the National Agenciesexecute this role. Foundations are generally models of independent agencies which

depend on the executive. They implement the policies of developing science and

technology and therefore, manage the budget (as grant) destined for research,

technological development. In addition to this grant, foundations absorb funds from othersources, such as international programs (in this case FP7 has a special importance) and

the private sector. In the project there is proposed the Agency mode, as an autonomous

public agency, depending on the Council of Ministers. The agency manages thestate budget funds, international programs and the private sector funds that are destined

for research, development and technology.

Mission of the Agency

The mission of the Agency is the promotion of scientific research and technological

development (hereinafter: research and development -R&D) in the country, theimplementation of government policies and R&D strategy, as well as the nationwide

activities coordination.

Duties of the Agency

In order to realize the mission defined in Article 2, the Agency performs the following

main tasks:

a) Promotes the development of R&D;b) Coordinates and monitors the R&D activities in the country;

c) Offers technical support for all institutions in the investment field and R&D;

d) Promotes the establishment of R&D structures in all levels

e) Promotes cooperation with the private sector in field of R&D;f) Promotes, supports technically, coordinates and monitors the bi-and multilateral

cooperation with the EU, specific countries and foreign organizations in the field of

R&D;g) Cooperates with ministries and other institutions to prepare the strategy of R&D;

h) To cooperate with executive and legislative institutions as well as other institutions to

improve and complete the necessary legal framework and legislation for the R&D;i) Maintains the R&D in the main areas of the Albanian economy and society;

j) Implement the governmental policy to support with priority the more qualified

scientists and research groups on successful teaching in R&ZH;

k) Implements the governmental policy on encouraging the participation of students andyoung scientists in the R&D;

l) Implements policies for the brain gain and the increase of Albanian intellectual

Diaspora engagement, in education, R&D and comprehensive development of the

country;m) Develop and constantly enriches the database, analysis and documentation system of

R&D;


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The participation of financial bodies in decision-making is realized through their

representatives on the Steering Board of the Agency, which is the decision-making

Agency. The board consists of:

- 4 representatives of the academic scientific community;- 4 representatives of the executive;

- The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry;

The main functions of the Board are as follows:

a) Defines the overall objectives of the activities of the Agency;b) Proposes the budget to the nomenclative body and ratifies the revenues of the Agency;

c) Approves the allocation of funds for various fields of science, programs and

cooperation agreements for R&D;

d) Assesses the activities of the Agency;

e) Approves the report of the activities of the Agency that should be send to the Councilof Ministers;

f) Proposes to the Prime Minister the appointment and dismissal of the Director of theAgency;

g) Selects the directors of departments of the Agency;

h) Adopts the committees of the fields of science in accordance to the proposals provided

in paragraph 8, 9, 10 and 11 of this decision.The everyday leading of the Agency, will be realized by Executive Director, who is

proposed by the Agency Board and appointed by the Prime Minister. The Director is

supported by the Administration of the Agency, that consisting of 15 well-qualifiedofficers who at least hold an MA degree as well as excellent knowledge of English and

another Western language.

The director prepares an annual report, which after being approved by the Board of the

Agency, is sent to the Council of Ministers. The Agency has separate budget. All thelegal acts or legislation, are proposed to the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister.

The Agency may be established its structure within a year and start its full operation in

early 2009. This will be a very important political signal that the government gives forthe realization of political objectives in research, development and technology.

PRIME MINISTER

SALI BERISHA

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