Scientists welcome FP7 consultation

The Commission’s consultation process on the
new Research Framework Programme is now under way, and many
scientists are optimistic that their views will be heard. Others
are more sceptical.

Scientists have largely welcomed the opportunity to contribute
to the shaping of the EU’s 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7)
after the Commission launched a consultation process at the
beginning of August 2004. 

The President of the European Heads of Research Councils,
Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, has told the publication The Scientist that
a debate on the future of European science policy through a formal
consultation was the right approach. “There is no doubt that the EU
framework programmes have contributed to improving the quality of
research in Europe,” he said. However, according to him, several
areas of FP6 need improvement, such as excessive bureaucracy and
high expense for scientists participating in the
programme. 

Winnacker is also a strong advocate of creating a ‘European
Research Council’ (ERC) to fund basic research, which is widely
supported by the research community (see  EURACTIV 24 August 2004). Winnacker is optimistic: “The
European Commission is very open to our proposal for creating such
an agency,” he said. 

Other scientists, however, are still sceptical about whether the
Commission will indeed listen to their views. Rüdiger Hesse, Head
of the Max Planck Society’s Brussels office, told The Scientist
that “the European Commission has always promised improvements in
the past, but it has not delivered them”. Nonetheless, he considers
FP7 a “historical chance” for the EU to put scientific excellence
at the core of its research funding by establishing open
competition free from political influence. 

The Commission’s consultation is based on its recent
Communication on ‘Science and technology, the key to Europe’s
future’. An official proposal on FP7 is scheduled for
2005. 

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