University of Applied Sciences bfi Vienna. Competence Portfolio for the participation in the Horizon 2020 Programme

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1 University of Applied Sciences bfi Vienna Competence Portfolio for the participation in the Horizon 2020 Programme Competence Centre for the Black Sea Region

2 1. General Information about UAS bfi Vienna The University of Applied Sciences bfi Vienna (UAS bfi Vienna is one of the leading Universities of Applied Sciences in Austria. It was founded in 1996 with a strong focus on business and economics and currently enrols 1,700 students in 13 study programmes (7 Bachelor and 6 Master programmes). 1 Additionally, UAS bfi Vienna has longstanding experience in implementing international projects and draws on an excellent network of partner institutions in Europe and beyond. The UAS bfi Vienna has been awarded with the ECTS and the Diploma Supplement labels by the European Commission, which is a strong testimony to the UAS bfi Vienna s comprehensive commitment to the Bologna process. The two awards also show that the UAS bfi Vienna has implemented the ECTS instruments exemplarily and prove the considerable expertise that the UAS bfi Vienna has acquired with regard to ECTS and the use of its instruments. 2. General Information about the Competence Centre Black Sea Region at UAS bfi Vienna Since 2012 the Competence Centre Black Sea Region has focused its research interests on the implications of the political and institutional environment for international enterprises active in the region. In particular, the team carries out: 1. Applied research in and about the Black Sea Region 2. Lectures about the Black Sea Region o Bachelor-level elective course on Black Sea Region o In cooperation with University of Vienna, a postgraduate course on Black Sea Region o International assignments in Turkey, Finland, Russia and Romania 3. Networking activities in the Black Sea Region The target area of the team s activities comprises: The EU-countries Bulgaria and Romania Turkey Russia (Krasnodar region), Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan The interdisciplinary team consists of political scientists and international business researcher who investigate the following research areas: How do the specific institutional and political environments impact on business activities in the region? Which role do informal networks play in the entry process? How do international companies cope with corruption and diffuse environments? The Competence Centre for the Black Sea Region highly welcomes participation in the Horizon 2020 call for proposals Europe as a Global Actor (Call identifier: H2020-INT-SOCIETY-2015) as a project partner. Specifically we are available for the two calls INT : The European Union and the Eastern Partnership INT : The European Union, Turkey and its wider neighbourhood: challenges and opportunities 1 For details on the available programmes see: 1

3 The following set of expertise makes UAS bfi Vienna a unique and valuable partner for a potential Horizon 2020 proposal. 3. Track Record and Area of Expertise 1. Theories and Approaches The Competence Centre Black Sea Region applies theories that help bridge the gap between political science and business research since our main interests relate to the questions of the impact of the political and institutional framework on international enterprises that operate in the particular country/region. Therefore we adhere to the concept of Neopatrimonialism on the one hand and combine these insights with business-oriented corruption research, political risk, market entry theories and theories that shed light on the embeddedness of enterprises in political environments. 2. Methodology So far, in our studies we have applied both qualitative and quantitative designs, depending on the research question. When applicable, we used a qualitative design with: Narrative interview technique Problem-centered technique Content analysis with Nvivo Also, we worked with quantitative designs when we aimed at hypothesis testing: (Online-) Surveys Multivariate analysis with the computer package SPSS 3. Applied research approach We strictly follow an applied research approach which is based on thorough academic and scientific knowledge. Therefore, from the very beginning of a research endeavour we consider the perspective of business organisations and try to bring in those problems they are eager to have solved. Consequently we take advantage of close connections to businesses in Austria and our target countries. 4. Network of Stakeholders The Competence Centre Black Sea Region enjoys a wide network of business and non-business organizations: In Austria and other target areas Cooperation with the Austrian Economic Chamber and Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public authorities in target countries NGOs in target countries Universities and researchers in Austria and target countries 5. Experience in field research Over the last few years we have carried out a number of field research projects in Azerbaijan Russia Ukraine 2

4 6. Experience with EU Projects ERASMUS and TEMPUS projects Know-How of Project Management Tools Intercultural experience 7. Publications The Competence Centre for the BSR is experienced in: Single publications Editing of scientific books Editing of issues of academic journals Conference organization 4. Potential Contribution to your project: INT : The European Union and the Eastern Partnership The Competence Centre Black Sea Region can offer: Expertise on the socio-economic specifics and challenges from the perspective of the partner country A database of 35 qualitative interviews on Ukraine carried out in Ukraine, Austria and Slovakia in Contacts of business and non-business organizations which can be used for the enhancement of the scientific cooperation with EU partners and the promotion of the mobility of researches on both sides. Field study on the role of socio-economic (in) stability for business activities of Austrian (and in Austria-located German) enterprises in the Eastern Europe at national level. Conceptualizing and implementing field research in and on the countries of the Eastern Partnership INT : The European Union, Turkey and its wider neighbourhood: challenges and opportunities In-depth knowledge on political and social developments in Turkey after World War II, as well as on the integration of Turkey into international and transnational structures, particularly the European integration process Expertise on recent political and socioeconomic challenges; the role of Erdoğan and the impact of the world economic crisis on Turkey Ability to develop and apply concepts covering reciprocal effects between external measures and local constellations: what measures and strategies do external actors apply, what are the local conditions, how do local actors reply to external measures and strategies, and how do external actors cope with those reactions in turn. Cultural aspects about Turkey as a bridge between Europe, the Middle-East and the Caucasus/Central Asia; Knowledge about the history of Pan-Turkism after the fall of the Iron Curtain Ability to analyze and discuss substantiated future scenarios regarding the potential further integration of Turkey with the EU Local networks of business partners and universities to carry out field researches on the respective issues 3

5 Contacts: Dr. Johannes Leitner Competence Team Black Sea Region University of Applied Sciences bfi Vienna Wohlmutstraße Vienna Austria Tel:

6 Recent Publications: Leitner, Johannes; Meissner, Hannes; Martyna-David, Ewa (2014): The Debate about Political Risk: How Corruption, Favoritism and Institutional Ambiguity Shape Business Strategies in Ukraine. In: Contributions to Economics. Springer. Leitner, Johannes (2013): Editorial. In: Leitner, Johannes (Hsg): Regionale Integration Alternative Entwicklungspfade? Perspektiven industriepolitischer Optionen räumlichen Strukturen. Kurswechsel 3/2013. [Title: Regional integration alternative developments? Perspectives for industrial political options in regional structures] Martyna-David, Ewa (2013): Energiepolitik als regionaler Integrationsmechanismus am Beispiel der Türkei. In: Leitner, Johannes (Hsg): Regionale Integration Alternative Entwicklungspfade? Perspektiven industriepolitischer Optionen räumlichen Strukturen. Kurswechsel 3/2013. [Energy policy and its role as a regional integration mechanism in Turkey] Meissner, Hannes (2013): Nachhaltige Entwicklung durch Öl- und Gasreichtum? Aserbaidschan, Russland und der Ballast der Sowjetunion, in: Regionale Integration Alternative Entwicklungspfade? Perspektiven industriepolitischer Optionen in räumlichen Strukturen, Kurswechsel No. 3/2013, S [Sustainable development through oil and gas income? Azerbaijan, Russia and the Soviet legacy] Leitner, Johannes (2013): Doing Business in Opaque Waters. The Black Sea Region and its Business Environment, in: Wirtschaft und Management, 18, 2013, Seiten Martyna-David, Ewa (2013): Die Energiepolitik Russlands in der Schwarzmeerregion am Beispiel von South Stream, in: Wirtschaft und Management, 18, 2013, Seiten [Title: Russia s Energy Policy in the Black Sea Region: The example of South Stream] Meissner, Hannes (2013): Ressourcenumverteilung, informelle Netzwerke und Korruption Zu den Chancen und Risiken für westliche Investoren in Aserbaidschan, in: Wirtschaft und Management, 18, 2013, Seiten [Title: Ressource relocation, informal networks and corruption Opportunities and risks for Western investors in Azerbaijan] Leitner, Johannes / Martyna-David, Ewa / Meissner, Hannes (2013): Into the Dark- Political Risks in the Black Sea Region, in: Kempter, Guido / Lofner, Hans-Jürgen (eds.) (2013): Grenzenlos Kooperieren Forschung im Dialog mit Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft, Tagungsband zum 7. Forschungsforum der österreichischen Fachhochschulen. Meissner, Hannes (2013): Der Ressourcenfluch" in Aserbaidschan und Turkmenistan und die Perspektiven von Effizienz- und Transparenzinitiativen, in: Tetzlaff, Rainer / Jakobeit, Cord (eds.) (2013): Demokratie und Entwicklung Vol. 66, LIT Verlag. [Title: The resource curse in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan and the perspectives for efficiency- and transparence initiatives] Leitner, Johannes / Martyna-David, Ewa / Meissner, Hannes (2012): Black Sea Region A Blackbox for Business? Barriers for Market Entry in the Black Sea Region Evidence from Austrian Enterprises, Conference Proeceedings of the BlueBlackSea International Congress at Sakarya University, Baris Kitap, Meissner, Hannes (2012): The Role of the Oil Elite in Policy-Making in Azerbaijan, in: Heinrich, Andreas / Pleines, Heiko (eds.) (2012): Challenges of the Caspian Resource Boom: Domestic Elites and Policy-making, Palgrave Macmillan,