Members of five advisory groups are urging the EU to "radically improve" long-term planning as part of a major rethink of the way it organises research and innovation. At a seminar in the European Parliament, hosted by Science|Business, experts highlighted five key areas where there is consensus on how to overhaul R&D infrastructure.
"The world has changed. Markets are global. Science is an increasingly competitive endeavour. Innovation is becoming the most important engine of growth and jobs in an emerging knowledge-based economy. But in the European Union, many policies governing research, development and innovation need radical improvement," the groups said in a common statement.
They want EU funding programmes steered towards research focused on the "great social challenges" Europe is facing, including climate change, alternative energy, healthcare for an ageing population, security and cohesion policy.
New networks, institutions and policies for "open innovation" will also be required, along with greater efforts to encourage mobility of researchers and introduce an EU-wide patent system.
The expert panels - four of which were originally appointed by the EU executive, with the other an independent group - say governments must step up investment in higher education, research and innovation, especially in times of fiscal austerity.
Joined-up thinking needed on research
More joined-up thinking and coordination between research programmes, and between Brussels and national governments, will be needed to streamline the bureaucratic funding system, the groups said.
Finally, the consensus statement calls for open competition in European programmes in order to raise standards across the Union. "Excellence must be the watchword of EU research, development and innovation programmes. Only in this way can we compete globally," the groups said.
The research community and innovative industries have been stepping up the pressure in the wake of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso's decision to make innovation a priority in the next EU executive, and as he prepares to appoint a Chief Scientific Advisor.
Progress is already promised in several of the areas highlighted by the five expert panels – all of which have published their advice separately prior to joining forces this week.
Nonetheless, having made innovation the mot du jour in Brussels, the new EU executive can rest assured that the research community is watching developments in keen anticipation of major changes.
