The New Role Of The Academies Of Sciences In The Balkan Countries (nato Science Partnership Subseries: 4 (closed))

It is well known that the Academies of Sciences in Western Europe have different goals than those of Eastern Europe mainly due to their independent status. Although some of the Academies in the West supervise research activities or some institutes, their main mission is to stimulate and access scientific developments in their own countries. In particular, they have a mission to advise their governments and other central bodies on science policy and organization of research. The Academies of Central and Eastern Europe supervise numerous research institutes with a relatively large number of research scientists. Also, many of these institutes carry out basic and applied research isolated from that of universities and industry. Industry on a few occasions in the past sought solutions to its problems or the development of new products from the Institutes of the Academies of Sciences. The challenges now facing the Academies of Central and Eastern Europe include the lack of adequate financing, the loss of status of scientific work, the defection of young researchers and the difficulties of recruiting new high level research staff. A major problem is the emerging lack of candidates for doctorate studies. The organization and financing of research in institutes, universities and industries and the role that the Academies of Sciences can play is also one of the subjects to be addressed. Public funding is limited and most of the funds available are directed towards applied research. Front Matter....Pages i-xix The University Research System in Greece and Its Effect on Science Policy....Pages 1-5 The Role of the French Academy of Sciences....Pages 7-13 Academies in Transition....Pages 15-32 The National Research Centers and Their Role on the Technology Transfer and Science Policy of Greece....Pages 33-43 The Role and Place of Research Institutes in Romania....Pages 45-60 The Role of the National Academy of Sciences in the Science and Technology System of Armenia....Pages 61-68 Research and the Evaluation of Its Results in Industry....Pages 69-73 Bulgarian Academy of Sciences — Scientific Potential and Research Priorities....Pages 75-83 Realizing the Economic Benefits of Good Science....Pages 85-95 Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA)....Pages 97-105 For a New Conception and Stronger Role of the Academy of Sciences as a Productive, Competitive and Collaboration Promoting Research Center....Pages 107-112 The Survival Problems of the Academies of Sciences of the Balkan Countries: To be or not to be ?....Pages 113-128 Science and International Communication....Pages 129-137 Activities of the Canadian Academy of Science and of Recent Innovative Centres in Canada....Pages 139-146 Transition Period Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia....Pages 147-153 The Academy’s Role in Promoting Interdisciplinary Scientific Research....Pages 155-160 The Role of Academies of Sciences in Periods of Transition....Pages 161-170 Inventions as Promoters of Scientific and Technical Progress....Pages 171-182 Some Aspects of Reformation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine....Pages 183-191 Transformation of Research in the Czech Republic....Pages 193-199 A Strategy for Knowledge Diffusion....Pages 201-208 Academies from Plato to Zamolxis....Pages 209-217 The Role of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia in Co-Ordination of Fundamental Research and Scientific Networking....Pages 219-223 Science at the Edge of the Twenty First Century....Pages 225-230 Back Matter....Pages 231-237 The recent changes in the former socialist lands have found their reflection in the workings of the national Academies of Sciences. These changes are presented and discussed by internationally respected scientists, most of whom bear the heavy responsibility of administering science in their countries, within a changing social, political and economic environment - the leaders of the scientific activities in their respective countries. The views expressed are those of senior academics from the Balkan countries, as well as those of similar status from other European countries