Ref.
2024/EI/11824
Job offer type
Experts
Type of contract
Service contract
Deadline date
2024/09/15 23:59
Duration of the assignment
Beaded expertise
Contract
Freelancer
Duration
04 mois
Technical expert to support the structuring of the France-Ukraine University House (M/W)
Departement Economie Durable et Inclusive - EDIN > Pôle Entreprenariat et Innovation
Published on : 2024/09/02
CONTINENTAL EUROPE
FRANCE
Mission description
Expertise France, a French public agency for technical expertise, has been selected to implement the EU4InnovationEast project, a regional initiative focused on strengthening innovation ecosystems in five countries of the EU Eastern Partnership: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. This 54-month project, funded by the European Union with a budget of 20 million euros, will also receive an additional specific funding of 2 million euros from the French government, earmarked for Ukraine.
This French co-financing will allow for the amplification of support actions for the Ukrainian innovation ecosystem and the strengthening of cooperation between France and Ukraine in the field of innovation and startup creation, building on existing partnerships.
In parallel, and following the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, an initiative to structure Franco-Ukrainian university relations was developed by a team from the University of Toulouse. Named the “Maison Universitaire France-Ukraine (MAIFRAINE),” this bilateral cooperation structure, under the dual supervision of the French and Ukrainian governments, aims to consolidate, strengthen, and expand the numerous existing university ties between France and Ukraine and encourage the creation of thematic exchange networks to increase innovation potential.
Given the alignment between the objectives of the Maison Universitaire France-Ukraine and those of the EU4InnovationEast project, it has been proposed that this project supports dedicated assistance for the structuring of MAIFRAINE.
In this context, Expertise France seeks to engage the assistance of an expert to implement this support.
1. TERMS OF THE MISSION
This document constitutes the terms of reference for a technical assistance mission within the framework of the development of the regional EU4Innovation EAST project, funded by the European Union and the French government, and aimed at supporting innovative ecosystems.
Project or context description
2.1 Mission Objectives
The objective of the mission is to provide technical support for the structuring of the Maison Universitaire France-Ukraine (MAIFRAINE). This technical support will include:
- Gathering information on scientific and academic partnerships between France and Ukraine;
- Developing a report summarizing these collaborations, detailing their nature, prioritizing them, identifying possible synergies, and evaluating their innovation potential;
- Based on this report, developing an organizational proposal for MAIFRAINE that includes:
- A logic of intervention for MAIFRAINE,
- An administrative and financial structure, the related organizational responsibility matrix, and a draft statute;
- Suggestions for funding sources—in France and Ukraine—in line with the intervention logic.
A comparison with similar existing initiatives (e.g., the Maison Universitaire Franco-Mexicaine, Maison Universitaire Franco-Japonaise) will support the developed argument.
- Suggestions for partnerships or exchanges of best practices regarding the structuring of the innovation offer from academic partners to the private sector, potentially inspired by French initiatives in this area (e.g., Carnot institutes, university innovation hubs).
To carry out the mission, the expert may draw on resources in France and Ukraine, including academic partners and research institutions in both countries, and particularly the University of Toulouse, which originated the project, as well as embassies (notably the cultural cooperation and action service of the French Embassy in Ukraine), Campus France, etc.
A visit to Ukraine to meet with various Ukrainian academic actors (including the University of Chernihiv) may be considered, depending on the country's security conditions.
2.2 Expected Deliverables
- A detailed report in English, including in its annexes the various sources of information used, the list of people met, a schedule of meetings, and all the proposals listed in section 2.1;
- An executive summary report containing the operational proposals for the structuring of MAIFRAINE, in both French and English;
- A debriefing meeting on the mission, along with a presentation of the results in English.
Required profile
The expert must demonstrate a very good knowledge of the organization of the academic sphere in France and Ukraine, along with a mastery of international cooperation mechanisms, both in higher education and research.
More specifically, the following skills are expected:
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Interpersonal skills and the ability to establish a dialogue with high-level interlocutors;
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Ability to detect sources, collect information, and synthesize it;
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Excellent writing and summarizing skills;
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Ability to work in a team and remotely, and to report;
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Ability to prioritize partnerships based on their importance and scope, across various scientific fields;
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Knowledge of the challenges of innovation and transfer, particularly the tools implemented to improve the interface between the academic world and the private sector;
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Excellent command of French and English; proficiency in Russian and/or Ukrainian is a major asset.
Experience:
- At least 7 years of experience in the field of international academic cooperation;
- Experience in the relevant geographical area is a significant advantage.
Additional information
The mission will last 4 months, starting from end of September or begining of October 2024.
Selection criteria for applications
The selection process for candidates will be based on the following criteria :
- Candidate’s skills linked with the expert mission
- Candidate’s experiences linked with the expert mission
- Assessment of the candidate's skills in the sought-after domain
- Candidate’s understanding of the mission’s role in the cooperation project
Deadline for application : 2024/09/15 23:59
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.