Structural funds should boost regional innovation 

The European Research Advisory Board's (EURAB) report on Energising Europe’s Knowledge Triangle of Research, Education and Innovation through the Structural Funds recommends to the Commission and the member states to take a strategic approach to the use of Structural Funds Programmes to "leverage development of regional research, innovation and higher education capacity".    

The advisory board suggests a mandatory earmarking of 20% of these funds for investment in research and innovation measures and that "this condition becomes a part of the Community strategy in the implementation process of the Lisbon strategy in Europe".

Among its other recommendations (nine in total), EURAB proposes the establishment of a dedicated platform by a joint action from all Commission's directorate generales (DGs) involved in the implementation of the research-education-innovation aspects of the the Lisbon Strategy. This platform would "develop and spread best practice on the use of Structural Fund programme expenditure to stimulate the regional economic benefits of research and innovation, particularly in overcoming existing disparities across the EU". 

To read the full EURAB report, click here .