The Effects of Foreign Scientists in Support of EU Structural Funds Framework and Triple Helix Model in South Eastern European Countries

Abstract

Many projects, conducted at multiple levels and sought solutions to the socio-economic and socio-cultural issues of the society, take place within the framework of the European Union Structural Funds; such as, European regional development fund (ERDF), European social fund (ESF), Cohesion fund (CF), European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD) and European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF). The purpose of this study is to examine the EU structural funds, triple helix (i.e. government-university-industry collaboration), potential financial assistance and research grants that many foreign scientists working in research institutions require as a necessity to conduct research projects. Thus, it is quite crucial to make an optimal use of these financial instruments by taking into account eligibility criteria, thematic areas and determinants expressed in project calls of the European Commission. At this point, collaborative actions and productive activities in a network of stakeholders that consists of a large set of actors interacting within the scale of innovation system and ranging from government institutions and democratic mass organisations to universities and research institutions can be particularly effective for solving remaining social matters by taking into account multilevel governance perspective and civilian / humanitarian approach. Furthermore, dealing with societal problems also means tackling with social inequality, discrimination, extremist / exaggerated populism and nationalism, unbalanced distribution of wealth and so forth. There is a huge gap between civic participation and migrant inclusiveness in South Eastern European Countries (SEECs). This investigation claimed that foreign scientists play a catalyst role as impartial observers within universities, civil society organisations, voluntary philanthropic institutions and epistemic networks. In particular, cultural richness, neutrality, naivety and varying mentalities of foreign scientists enforce their affiliated research institutions in terms of multiculturalism, multiethnicity and cosmopolitanism. It can be asserted that the scientific contributions of foreign scientists strengthen significantly the triple helix model by means of using EU structural funds in SEECs. Essentially, the strategic importance of internationalisation and regionalisation were emphasised due to the existence of a competitive ecosystem in the acquisition of EU structural funds. Globalisation and internationalisation of education and research standards are quite crucial for the development of research and education system. Global standardisation and accreditation ensure an opportunity to maintain a higher level of quality for education and research. The EU motto (i.e. united in diversity) is very much appropriate for shaping the mission and vision of universities and research centres in SEECs. However, there are many obstacles towards this social and institutional change. For instance, scientific disputes and quarrels should not turn into an ideological positioning or political partisanship. In this context, proliferation and support of foreign scientists within SEECs may facilitate to attain the objectives of universities and research institutions and gaining global standardisation and accreditation through collaborating with key stakeholders. Moreover, well-educated foreign scientists who were graduated from remarkable Western universities are not threats for SEECs; conversely, they ought to be seen as a great opportunity for acquisition of various research grants and financial instruments and in fact they can directly contribute to the development of a specific area. Insularity, ethnocentrism, citizenship-based identity, high level civic-orientation, societal exclusiveness, unethical attitudes, and disconformity in common moral values are likely to have negative influences on components of triple helix model and the synergy and allegiance of foreign scientists to their affiliated research institutions. Likewise, the diversification and optimal academic engagement in universities can be boost by involving foreign scientists in various joint research actions, learning and experimental processes, voluntary or participatory activities and scientific events. The originality of this study is that this investigation highlights to what extent foreign scientists affect the management of financial instruments and research grants that are used in SEECs. A particular attention was drawn to the common interests of government bodies, universities and corporations. This study implies that government bodies, universities and corporations in SEECs ought to collaborate with foreign scientists who have a full expertise and capability of conducting investigations in frame of EU structural funds framework. In this study, case study research, document analysis and normative approach were applied methodologically.