Opinion of the Committee of the Regions of on the "Communication from the Commission on Investing in research: an action plan for Europe"
Date: 2003-11-20
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU research policy, action programme, investment, research and development

23.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 73/69

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions of on the ‘Communication from the Commission on
Investing in research: an action plan for Europe’

(2004/C 73/13)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission on Investing in research: an action plan for
Europe COM(2003) 226 final;

Having regard to the decision of the European Commission of 30 April 2003 to consult it on this subject,
under the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to the decision of its president of 19 March 2003 to instruct its Commission for Culture
and Education to draw up an opinion on this subject;

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission on Researchers in the European research
area: one profession, multiple careers (COM(2003) 436 final);

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the
Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions on The Regional dimension of the European research area (COM(2001) 549
final) (CdR 442/2001 fin) (1);

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the
Commission on More research for Europe — Towards 3 % of GDP (COM(2002) 499 final), and the
Communication from the Commission on The European Research Area: Providing New Momentum —
Strengthening — Reorienting — Opening up new perspectives (COM(2002) 565 final) (CdR 328/2002
fin) (2);

Having regard to its draft opinion (CdR 246/2003 rev.) adopted on 2 October 2003 by the Commission
for Culture and Education (Rapporteur: Mr Nordström, Regional Councillor, Region of Västra Götaland
(SE/ELDR).

Whereas:

1)

2)

The Commission, acting on instructions from the Council in March 2003, has presented an action
plan for investment in research in order to achieve the objective of 3 % of GDP by the year 2010. In
order to achieve this level of investment, of which two-thirds should come from companies, an
additional 1,2 million research staff will be needed.

The action plan aims to ensure that the necessary initiatives at the various political levels are
sustained, mutually consistent and commensurate with bringing radical improvements. More than
80 % of public investment in research in the EU concerns the local and regional and national level.

3) Weak links in the system risk discouraging investment: research career problems can lead excellent
human resources to move out of research or out of Europe; there is dispersion and lack of visibility
of excellent research; difficulties are encountered by SMEs in securing financing for their projects;
there is a lack of awareness of researchers and research managers regarding the protection and
management of intellectual property.

4)

By the end of the year a group of experts is to present a report on the establishment of a European
Research Council (ERC).

(1) OJ C 278, 14.11.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 244, 10.10.2003, p. 10.

C 73/70

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.3.2004

5)

6)

The European Parliament has launched a new Regions of Knowledge (KnowREG) initiative, which is
to be funded outside the Structural Funds and framework programmes. The initiative aims to
provide support for strategic research policy efforts at local and regional level.

ERRIN (European Regions Research & Innovation Network), which comprises the Brussels offices of
100 EU regions (out of a total of 240), maintains contacts between the EU institutions and local and
regional bodies and can assist in the implementation of the Commission’s proposed action plan,

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 52nd plenary session, held on 19 and 20 November
2003 (meeting of 20 November).

1. The Committee of the Regions’ views and recommen-

dations

Fostering the coherent development of regional strategies for research
investment

The Committee of the Regions

1.1.
welcomes the Commission proposal for an action plan
for increased investment in research to provide Europe with a
stronger public research base and make it more attractive to
private investment in research and innovation;

1.2.
would point out that companies can only invest in
research if there is a prospect of sustainable results. Long lead
times are needed for basic research and innovation to produce
competitive products and services. An increase in EU support
for these areas should be particularly promoted;

1.3.
lead to
believes that EU support guidelines must
simpler exploitation of results. To provide incentives for
private investors, it is also important to establish — from the
point of view of content — the dividing line between research
and development, particularly as far as future development
trends are concerned.

Shaping a common vision for the development and deployment of
key technologies

The Committee of the Regions

1.4.
wishes to comment on proposals affecting the local
and regional level in respect of the establishment of European
technology platforms.

Enabling all regions to benefit from increased investment in research

The Committee of the Regions

innovation strategies, and that the same strategy can be applied
to the initiatives arising from the R&D human resources
implications of the 3 % objective. The measures required must,
however, be tailored to individual regional and national
situations;

1.6.
believes that the Commission proposal to develop a
typology of regions and a methodology for the comparative
assessment of regional performance would promote social,
economic, technological, environmental and organisational
foresight at regional
level, and the discussion of the EU’s
3rd Cohesion Report, as a basis for planning framework and
Structural Funds programmes for 2007-2013.

Designing a coherent mix of policy instruments

The Committee of the Regions

welcomes the fact that the Structural Funds are to be
1.7.
used to remove regional imbalances in infrastructure, training,
research and innovation. However, such moves must be
distinguished from measures to promote research, as the
purpose of the Structural Funds is different. Support for
research must be contingent on scientific excellence. Structural
Funds support is needed to achieve synergies. The Committee
has made this point in earlier opinions (1);

1.8.
agrees that the proposals for the coherent use of
various policy instruments and for strategy interaction must
be discussed before the spring Council meeting each year, on
the basis of information acquired and lessons learned by way
of example through the open process of coordination;

1.5.
gain from mutual

endorses the Commission’s view that all regions would
learning in defining their research and

(1) CdR 442/2001 fin on COM(2001) 549 final: The Regional

dimension of the European research area.

23.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 73/71

also calls for integration of the accession countries in
1.9.
the research investment action plan, particularly by supporting
the establishment and development of inter-regional research
joint ventures through a coherent mix of vertical integration
instruments (to establish ‘added value chains’) and horizontal
integration
a multidisciplinary
approach);

instruments

(through

advocates increased scope for SME participation in
1.10.
public procurement. This could be achieved by establishing
sector-based research networks involving a large number of
SMEs.

Making research more attractive to students

The Committee of the Regions

believes that the local and regional level must closely
1.11.
monitor demographic trends so that a shortage of technology
or researchers does not pose a threat
to prosperity by
cooperating with training bodies and ensuring grass-roots
awareness of existing opportunities;

suggests that,

1.12.
in connection with the third level
(doctoral level) of the Bologna process, the Commission should
encourage the Member States and regions to report their
experience of new career structures for researchers, new
research institute partnerships, and any other forms of partner-
ship that can bridge the gap between researcher training and
employment.

Extending the public research base and its links with industry in the
regions

The Committee of the Regions

1.13.
endorses the Commission proposal for the EU to
develop guidelines for the administration and exploitation of
intellectual property rights and licenses resulting from publicly-
funded research.

Combining EU finance instrument with national research at regional
level

The Committee of the Regions

Promoting a critical mass at regional level through direct research
and innovation measures

The Committee of the Regions

1.15.
believes that research resources must also be inte-
grated in various sectoral perspectives in order to create
poles and networks of excellence at local and regional level.
Administration of sectoral and education efforts, sharing
know-how, etc., could be supported through various forms of
guarantee mechanisms that can help to spread risks between
several parties.

Support to risk capital for research-intensive SMEs

The Committee of the Regions

1.16.
believes that the question of risk capital for research-
intensive SMEs must be addressed in connection with the
negotiations on Member States’ national action plans in
accordance with the Luxembourg Process; with the mid-term
review of the EU’s social fund for skills development; and with
the preparations of the next generation of Structural Funds
programmes.

Improving the contribution of financial policy to growth and the
quality of public investment

The Committee of the Regions

recommends that the Commission should help to
1.17.
ensure that the national action plan negotiations provided for
under the Luxembourg Process pay particular attention to
national action plan proposals for redirecting public spending
towards research and innovation.

Reviewing State aid rules for research before 2006

The Committee of the Regions

1.18.
does not agree with the Commission that the current
Community framework for State aid to research and develop-
ment should be extended until 2005 (1). It would reiterate its
conviction that the current framework is not an appropriate

1.14.
would urge the Commission to help ensure that all
regions have the opportunity to take part in preparing the next
generation of Structural Funds programmes — this applies to
the accession countries in particular.

(1) CdR 328/2002 fin, point 16, p. 5.

C 73/72

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.3.2004

way to improve the climate for scientific innovation, particu-
larly as regards SMEs (1).

endorses the proposal for EU-wide IPR awareness and
1.19.
training activities for researchers and students, as long as these
additional activities can be provided on a voluntary basis.

Protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) for research processes and
specific technology areas

The Committee of the Regions

(1) CdR 328/2002 fin, point 13, p. 4.

Brussels, 20 November 2003.

Greater transparency in corporate reporting of investment in research

The Committee of the Regions

1.20.
suggests that the existing international guidelines for
assessment and reporting of intellectual capital should be
discussed in connection with corporate social responsibility
(CSR), and that recourse to the guidelines should be monitored
by the Dublin Foundation’s EMCC.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Albert BORE

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Proposal for a Decision of the European
Parliament and of the Council on Interoperable Delivery of pan-European eGovernment Services
to Public Administrations, Businesses and Citizens (IDABC)’

(2004/C 73/14)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Communication from the Commission on Interoperable Delivery of Pan-European
eGovernment Services to Public Administrations, Businesses and Citizens (IDABC) (COM(2003) 406 final
— 2003/0147 (COD));

having regard to the decision of the European Council of 17 July 2003 to consult it on this subject, under
Article 156 of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

having regard to the decision of its President of 19 June 2003 to instruct its Commission for Culture and
Education to draw up an Opinion on this subject;

having regard to its Opinion on the Evaluation of the IDA programme and a second phase of the IDA
programme (CdR 44/98 fin) (1);

having regard to its Opinion on the Trans-European data communications networks between adminis-
trations (CdR 48/94) (2);

having regard to its draft opinion (CdR 247/2003 rev.) adopted on 2 October 2003 by the Commission
for Culture and Education (Rapporteur: Mr Risto Koivisto, Mayor of Pirkkala (FI/PES),

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 52nd plenary session, held on 19 and 20 November
2003 (meeting of 20 November).

(1) OJ C 251, 10.8.1998, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 217, 6.8.1994, p. 32.