Bericht warnt: Bürokratie droht TIG-Forschung zu ersticken[en] 

A  report by a high-level independent panel chaired by one of the authors of the Lisbon strategy and former Portuguese Science minister, Prof. J.M.Gago, warns that bureaucracy "now threatens to kill research" in Europe.

Published on 17 January, the report evaluates the effectiveness of the European Research and Technological Development (RTD) Programme for Information Society Technologies (IST) during the past 5 years (1999-2004). It recommends cutting down red tape and doubling EU funding for research in this sector from one to two billion euros per year.

"ICT is the essential driver for progress in economic competitiveness," Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding hammered out at a press briefing on 18 January. "It is the main sector which has a chance to bring results [for the Lisbon strategy] even in the short term," she insisted.

"I intend to respond very quickly to the Panel's concerns about red tape which is a general problem of EU Research programmes, but felt most directly in IST Research."

However, she pointed out that ICT policy is "linked very strongly to regulation" and that the correct policy mix needs to be found if European companies, especially SMEs, are to reap the benefits of ICT research.

Indeed, the report found that the current ICT research instruments "have had the marked effect of excluding SMEs and the new member states". Linking regulation, academia and industry through better communication of research results also appears essential in this respect.

"I will in the very short term present what ICT research policy is needed," Reding said, adding it was "essential to take political steps".

The proposal will be part of the Commission's 'New Lisbon Strategy' due to be unveiled on 2 February, and could include the creation of a special, independent body for research.

However, the Commission will need to convince member states of the need to implement the recommendations of the Gago report, not least when it comes to budgetary matters for the next period (2007-2013) currently under discussion.

These new proposals will come as a test for the Commission when it calls on member states to take their responsibilities in implementing the new Lisbon strategy.