On 23 February 2019, the Baltic TRAM parallel session took place during the CBSS Baltic Sea Science Day 2019. It was the final public gathering of the various actors involved and interested in the project before the end of the active Baltic TRAM implementation phase.

The session commenced with a presentation by Uwe Sassenberg, Baltic TRAM Project Manager, who introduced attendants of the session to the results of three open calls. One of the most outstanding results from the implementation of the open calls for EU-based SMEs was the significant flow of enquiries submitted by the businesses based in the Western part of the Baltic Sea Region towards the analytical research facilities based in the Eastern part of the macro-region. This is a notable observation to the contrary regarding the discussions concerning the westward brain drain analysed by the Baltic Science Network.

Two experiences from the perspective of an Industrial Research Centre (IReC) were This is a notable observation to the contrary regarding the discussions concerning the Westward Brain Drain analyzed by the Baltic Science Network.presented during the session. Ott Rebane, Industrial Liaison Officer at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Physics of the University of Tartu, explained how the Estonian IReC was cooperating with ADAPTER is a network of Estonian universities, research and development organizations, providing a quick and reliable link for companies and organizations to the research and development community. One of the most important lessons of the Estonian IReC acquired during the Baltic TRAM project implementation was the considerable time and resources which need to be allocated for consultations. Companies don´t always know what measurements they need. That is where the IReC acts as a translator to address specific challenges encountered by the business into tailored measurement-specific responses.

The other IReC experience was presented from the standpoint of the University of Latvia. Justs Dimants, Director of the Science Department at the University of Latvia, gave an overview of the development of the new campus, which will help the research staff to work more closely with the business sector and reach higher Technology Readiness Levels. Sandra Strole, Lead Expert at the Science Department of the University of Latvia, confirmed that the business demand for the services is present and several enquiries submitted during the Baltic TRAM will be addressed by the University outside of the Baltic TRAM time frame and scope.

Zane Šime, Communication and Research Coordinator at the CBSS Secretariat, introduced the attendants of the session to the forthcoming study of the smart specialisation trends demonstrated by the results of the open calls. She pointed out that the thematic affiliation of the business cases allowed to explore an even broader cumulative effect of the Baltic TRAM brought to the overall implementation of such key European frameworks as the EU Maritime Security Strategy´s Action Plan and the New Skills Agenda for Europe. She invited the audience not to treat Baltic TRAM as a strictly tied project to the named EU frameworks, instead treating the project as one of the limited steps taken which help to reach the critical mass and the cumulative effect to transform several EU goals and milestones into a reality.

A need to explore in a qualitative or more longitudinal way how Baltic TRAM offered services fit in a broader R&D chain of a specific product or service development via closer examination of specific business cases was found of relevance both by Uwe Sassenberg and Zane Šime.

Nicole Elleuche, Managing and Administrative Director of the European XFEL, gave an overview of the research facility. She pointed out specific approaches how the European XFEL is interested in exploring closer collaboration ties with the business sector as well as other like-minded actors. Baltic TRAM Memorandum of Understanding for Viable Macro-regional Cooperation of Research Infrastructures After the Closure of the Baltic TRAM Project is one of such examples. Following the European XFEL´s presentation during the first CBSS Baltic Sea Science Day held in 2017 in St Petersburg, this was a much-appreciated follow-up on how the collaborative ties between Baltic TRAM and one of its key associated organisations have evolved.
The main findings of the parallel session were presented to the CBSS Baltic Sea Science Day 2019 attendants by Uwe Sassenberg.

BalticTRAM Smart Specialization Trends.pdf
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