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| Interview FWF President Kratky |
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President Kratky, as you know KEF has for a long time been lobbying for a full participation modus of research partners from developing countries in FWF-projects. In 2006/2007 we even launched a petition that has been signed by numerous eminent Austrian scientists. We are therefore pleased to hear that there is finally a possibility for financial support of partners in developing countries to participate in such projects as equal partners. Would you please tell us more about how this has come into effect? When will the first calls be published? Dr. Kratky: The possibility to financially support project partners in developing countries within the framework of FWF-funding has already existed. As part of intensified activities in the area of international research cooperation FWF now reorganizes the conditions for the cooperation with developing countries and puts them in concrete terms. The goal is to provide appropriate funding possibilities for the Austrian science community and to establish transparent conditions for partners in developing countries for cooperation. FWF has oriented itself to the approach of DFG (German Research Foundatio). The arrangement concerns those countries which are listed as “Least Developed Countries” as well as „Other Low Income Countries” in the DAC list. At the moment FWF implements the specific internal procedures, applications are planned to be possible from the beginning of 2009. What does this mean for scientists planning projects in cooperation with partners in developing countries? Will there be special conditions and guidelines different from other FWF-project funding possibilities, or will simply all programmes be open for partners in developing countries? Dr. Kratky: Aim of the measure is the facilitation of the possibility for cooperation partners in developing countries to financially compensate incurred expenses which arose within the framework of project requirements. The implementation is not carried out as a separate funding program, but within the normal program portfolio of FWF, whereas certain restrictions exist for scholarship programs due to specific cost structures. Is it compulsory for projects to address solely research, or is there also some scope for training, or knowledge dissemination? Are there any guidelines for the contents and activities of the projects specific for partners in developing countries? Dr. Kratky: The legal mandate of FWF is the funding of research which is carried out by an Austrian research institution or which emerges from this institution. Research cooperation with partners from developing countries needs to meet those prerequisites. Therefore, in developing countries only such costs can be taken over which are in principle also approvable in Austria. According to the principles of FWF, specific requirements regarding the content of the projects do not exist. What about the financial aspects of such projects, will there be limitations, respectively, how will the funds eventually be transferred to partners in developing countries? Dr. Kratky: Financial limitations are not intended a priori. In terms of the legal mandate of FWF the the Austrian principle investigator in any case has the scientific lead of the project. This factor will be considered within the decision-making process. The exact disbursement modalities are currently worked out. How are you planning to evaluate the projects? Are there any specific criteria intended that consider the situation of partners in developing countries? Will development-political considerations such as the Millennium Development Goals be taken into account? Dr. Kratky: The evaluation of projects is carried out according to normal FWF procedures; as it is custom with all international cooperation projects, the scientific relevance of international cooperation for the achievement of its project goals is part of the evaluation. Consideration of development political goals beyond that is not part of FWF’s duty. Let’s move to a more general level that will be equally interesting for our web-users and partners: You are the president of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Austria’s largest funding organisation for scientific research. What does scientific cooperation with developing countries mean to you? What relevance does it have for the Austrian scientific community? Dr. Kratky: Unfortunately, the fair integration of partners in developing countries in relevant research activities is partly still not self-evident. Each individual researcher must be held responsible for this. Within the framework of worldwide competition for the brightest minds Austrian science must see cooperation with developing countries as an investment for the future, with benefits for both sides. How do you think scientific cooperation with developing countries should be evaluated scientifically? Dr. Kratky: Research cooperation with developing countries pursues different goals and this must be considered appropriately in the evaluation. With basic research, as it is funded by FWF, the evaluation must be oriented towards prevalent international quality standards. In contrast to that research cooperation with developing countries may also serve development political aims, i.e. contribute to “capacity building” or focus on specific locally relevant topics. In this context scientific excellence is not necessarily given sole prominence, there is more emphasis on the achievement of specific goals. This has to be considered within the evaluation. However, the latter is outside the legal framework of FWF. Excellent science is often seen as a tradition and privilege of rich and Northern societies. What is your view on this? Dr. Kratky: Excellent science of course requires sufficient financial resources. Their availability is often very limited in developing countries. Nevertheless, I want to note that this is – just as well in “developed countries” – a question of setting the right priorities. Basically, investment in education and science must be seen as sustainable investments for the future, and can be an essential development- political contribution. What ethical considerations could become relevant when it comes to scientific cooperation between rich countries such as Austrian and the so called developing countries? Dr. Kratky: Basically scientists in developing countries must be respected as equal partners. This already begins during the phase of project design and continues during project implementation in terms of equal access to information as well as to publication of research results. Here comes my final question. As you probably know, KEF has been funding research partnerships with developing countries in applied research on a very small scale for more than 25 years. What tasks do you see for KEF in the future? If you had a wish, what would you request from us to enable a good cooperation between FWF and KEF? Dr. Kratky: In the past 25 years KEF acquired credit and practical experience due to its consequent development political orientation, which go far beyond its limited funding framework. That is why KEF is an important actor within the national development political discourse in the area of science and research which should be aspired to be put on a wider base. FWF is also ready to make a relevant contribution to this. President Kratky has been interviewed by Birgit Habermann.
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