Summit to deal with poor achievements in EU science and research investment

The Parliament and the Commission back a doubling of the EU research budget and greater synergy between FP7 priorities and the Lisbon objectives. The mediocre mid-term review results in increasing EU research investment should shake up the EU leaders at the Spring summit 2005.

The Commission presented its proposals for a fresh start for the Lisbon Strategy on 2 February 2005. These proposals will be the basis of discussion for the Lisbon mid-term review during the Spring summit in 22-23 March 2005. Commission’s main proposals and remarks concerning the “knowledge and innovation for growth” -part of the new start for Lisbon process include:

Meeting the 3 per cent R&D target.  The EU’s total R&D expenditure as a percentage of its GDP grew only from 1.82 to 1.93 in four years (1999-2003) and presents currently only 2% of GDP. (At this rate, the Barcelona objective of spending 3 per cent of the GDP on R&D will be achieved at 2045, instead of 2010.) The main problem is poor business sector investment. To boost private funding, the Commission proposes improvements to the tax environment for R&D.

In addition, revision of the existing state aid framework for R&D and innovation will be brought forward to facilitate access to finance and risk capital as well as public financing of R&D and innovation. The Commission will present a communication on the future of state aid policy before summer 2005. 

Establishment of innovation poles will be supported to bridge research and industry and to bring together high technology small and medium sized enterprises, universities, the necessary business and financial support. Creation of a ‘European institute of technology’ is proposed to attract the best minds and best brains to Europe. 

Europe is strong in the area of R&D in ECO-innovation  and can use this to strengthen its global competitiveness. This requires, however, full implementation of the EU Environment technologies action plan (ETAP). Significant potential for economic, environmental and employment synergies from environmental technologies and energy efficiency is foreseen. 

New European technology initiatives (cf. Galileo) will be established to support European industrial competitiveness. The objective is to tackle market failures and to advance concrete product or service developments. Important possible examples relate to environment-friendly technologies (hydrogen technologies and solar energy). 

“Europe cannot, and will not, rely on cheap labour nor an unsustainable use of our natural resources. Our winning card is knowledge for growth. That means knowledge creation through research, knowledge diffusion through education and training, and knowledge exploitation through innovation – three pillars of the new “Partnership for Growth and Jobs” initiative launched by the European Commission,” says Janez Poto?nik, the Commissioner for Science and Research.

It is highly likely that the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Technological development (FP7) will be designed to serve the Lisbon goals: The European Parliament has said it wants to adjust FP7 thematic priorities to fit the key science and technology areas increasing European competitiveness, and the Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Poto?nik is determined to anchor the FP7 onto the Lisbon objectives.

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