The Scientific Attaché’s network
Twenty-six Experts appointed as Scientific Attaché’s work in twenty-two Italian Embassies and two permanent Representations (three Attaché’s are exceptionally appointed in Washington , all the other Embassies have just one Attaché). In November 2001, following the Ministries and Research Institutions consultation, everything has been prepared in order to give some Guide Lines for the Attaché’s activity.. Following these Guide lines the Scientific Attaché’s are called to carry out the following tasks:
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Developing the Bilateral cooperation ;negotiating and realising the Executive programs of S&T;
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Promoting the Italian S&T;
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Managing the Information Network Managing the connections with the Italian or from Italian origin researchers abroad and with foreigners researchers;
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Promoting meetings in technological and scientific fields;
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Keeping informed on the S&T of the country of accreditation Coordinating together with the Italian institutes of culture to promote manifestations of the Italian scientific culture
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Coordinating together with the trade office of the Embassies and with the ICE office to promote the Italian high tech industry;
The scientific attaché accomplish these tasks while keeping trying to privilege the priority fields in general as well as those of the Country of accreditation. He should particularly promote the priority fields. Inside the EU the scientific attaché should cooperate in order to promote the Italian presence in the European Area of Research.
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS
The bilateral agreements in scientific and technological fields , and in particular the Executives programs generated from these agreements, must take care of the priority fields. During negotiations the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must therefore insert, as a rule, with every partner Country a directory of priority fields according to the previous identified priorities .. Of course, following the partner Country and its scientific development level, the priority fields will be identified between those of excellency to be exported or between those to be strengthened.
THE FINANCINGS OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIR
The Ministry of the Foreign Affairs has several means to finance bilateral scientific and technological projects: The financing of researchers missions ( Italian abroad and strangers in Italy) in the context of research projects foreseen by the bilateral Executive Programs. The financial contribution to the projects S&T as foreseen by the bilateral Executive Programs. Such contribution are intended to those important projects, for which the simple financing of researcher’s mobility is not enough .