Even though the EU's research and development programmes have contributed positively to the development of Europe’s knowledge base and have boosted Europe’s potential for innovation, the expert panel report underlines that European research is increasingly falling behind the United States and Japan, its main competitors. In addition, new emerging economies such as China, India and Brasil are starting to challenge European performers.
Therefore, the expert panel supports the Commission proposal to double European research funding in the next financial perspective (2007-2013) and highlights that this significant boost at European level needs to be accompanied by increased research spending at national level. In addition, more emphasis should be put on radical innovation and risk-taking. More industry participation, especially SMEs, and streamlined and simplified administration are also strongly encouraged.
The report identifies four major challenges for European research:
- 'Brain-gain' - attracting and rewarding the best talent;
- Business and industrial research -friendly environment;
- Mobilising resources for innovation and sustainable growth;
- Building citizens' trust in science and technology.
On trust in science, the panel states that the "Framework Programme must continue to address the issue of trust and legitimacy of science and technology in Europe and Science and Society issues must continue to be addressed in a separate programme whilst also being embedded in all other programmes."
For the future, the panel recommends that the Commission launch a consultation with the main stakeholders to improve intellectual property rights procedures within the framework programmes, and it "strongly advocates the swift implementation of the European patent with the requirement of a single language".
Further, the report states that "the tendency to expand the objectives (excellence, cohesion), thematic scope, and modalities/instruments of the Framework Programme should be resisted." It points out that the role of EU research activities is different from that of the national activities in the field and that the framework programme must demonstrate European added value. Therefore, "it would be reasonable to expect the framework programme to address the big European challenges with clear and transparent European value".
