Communication from the Commission - Science and technology, the key to Europe's future - Guidelines for future European Union policy to support research
Date: 2004-06-16
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU research policy, applied research, scientific research

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 16.6.2004 
COM(2004) 353 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

Science and technology, the key to Europe's future - Guidelines for future European 
Union policy to support research 

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1. 

LISBON AND RESEARCH 

1.1. 

The European Research Area and the “3% objective” 

1. 

2. 

Scientific research, technological development and innovation are at the heart of the 
knowledge-based  economy,  a  key  factor  in  growth,  the  competitiveness  of 
companies  and  employment.  For 
the  Commission  has  made 
strengthening  European  research  a  major  objective  in  its  Communication  on  the 
future  financial  framework  of  the  Union1,  proposing  to  increase  the  European 
Union’s  research  budget:  taking  all  activities  together,2  the  budget  should  be 
doubled. 

this  reason, 

Launched  at  the  Lisbon  European  Council  of  March  2000,  the  European  Research 
Area  project  has  established  a  reference  framework  for  research  in  Europe.  At  the 
Barcelona  European  Council  of  March  2002,  the  European  Union  set  itself  the 
objective of increasing the European research effort to 3% of the European Union's 
GDP  by  2010,  two-thirds  coming  from  private  investment  and  one-third  from  the 
public  sector:  at  2%  of  the  European  Union's  GDP,  the  European  research  effort 
today lags behind the efforts of the United States (2.8%) and Japan (more than 3%). 

3. 

In  this  context,  to  attain  the  Lisbon  objectives,  increasing  research  efforts  at  the 
overall European level is indispensable. 

1.2. 

Strengthening the European research effort 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Research is becoming more and more expensive, owing to its increasing complexity: 
in 20 years, the cost of developing a drug has more than doubled, and that of a new 
microelectronic  component  has  increased  ten-fold.  And  there  are  many  research 
needs which cannot be met efficiently by one Member State alone. 

A  European  industrial  policy,  in  particular  in  highly  competitive  sectors  such  as 
information  and  communication  technologies,  biotechnology  and  nanotechnology, 
aeronautics  and  hydrogen  energy  technology,  requires  the  integration  of  research 
efforts at European level.  

And the Union's action has a recognised “European added value” which stems from 
its combined effects at several levels: 

– 

– 

Establishing  a  “critical  mass”  of  resources,  particularly  in  key  areas  for 
growth  such  as  microelectronics,  telecommunications,  biotechnologies 
and aeronautics;3 

Strengthening  excellence  through  competition  at  European  level  and 
transnational collaboration: the NeuroPrions network, for example, links 

1 

2 
3 

“Building  our  common  future  –  Policy  changes  and  budgetary  means  of  the  enlarged  Union 
2007-2013”, COM (2004) 101 of 10.2.2004 
Therefore including actions in the fields of space and security. 
For example, a project on improving approach and landing technology. 

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52 
laboratories 
Encephalopathies; 

for 

research 

on  Transmissible  Spongiform 

– 

Exercising  a  “catalytic”  effect  on  national  initiatives  and  improving  the 
coordination of the activities of the Member States in areas of interest to 
certain  countries  (such  as  natural  hazards),  or  of  interest  to  all  (such  as 
climate change).4 

7. 

8. 

9. 

Increasing  European  funding  would  also  help  to  achieve  the  “3%  objective”  which 
the  Union  is  trying  to  attain  through  an  “Action  Plan”5  consisting  of  a  series  of 
complementary measures, most of which are intended to boost private investment in 
research.6 

First,  through  the  combination  of  additional  European  co-funding  with  national 
public  funding  (in  certain  fields  and  certain  countries,  European  Union  support 
represents  the  equivalent  of  national  “additional  funding”).  This  requires  by 
definition  that  national  funding  will  not  be  reduced  in  proportion,  a  possibility 
against  which  both  the  political  commitment  taken  by  the  Member  States,  and  the 
effect of the Union’s example play. 

An  increased  effort  at  European  Union  level  would  above  all  have  a  powerful  and 
specific  leverage  effect  on  private  investment  in  research.  European  companies 
invest less in research than their American and Japanese counterparts. When they do 
invest,  it  is  often  outside  Europe.7  European  Union  funding  can  encourage  these 
companies to invest more in Europe by contributing to: 

– 

– 

– 

the establishment of a framework for major technological projects which 
would bring enterprises and universities together at European level, and 
which can only be conceived at this level;  

increasing  human  resources:  one  target  which  corresponds  to  the  3% 
objective  is  to  increase  the  number  of  researchers  in  Europe  to  8  for 
every 1 000 of the labour force (it is currently 6 for every 1 000), as in 
the United States; 

the  creation  of  “centres  of  excellence”8  of  critical  mass  capable  of 
attracting private investment. 

4 

5 
6 

7 

8 

With  funding  of  €2.2  million,  an  action  in  the  field  of  plant  genomics  coordinates  12  national 
programmes representing a total of €133 million; the corresponding figures are €2.5 million and €139 
million for an action in the field of micro-nanotechnologies. 
“Investing in research: an action plan for Europe”, COM (2003) 226 of 04.06.2003. 
Measures regarding the taxation of research and innovation, for example, like the “research tax credit”, 
which it is possible to imagine being applied at European level. 
European pharmaceutical companies, for example, tend to concentrate their research investment in the 
USA, in particular around the large universities on the east coast. 
See the Commission Communication “The role of the universities in the Europe of knowledge”, COM 
(2003) 58 of 5.2.2003. 

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1.3. 

Excellence and innovation, the key to European industrial competitiveness 

10. 

11. 

12. 

One  condition  for  the  Lisbon  agenda  to  be  realised  is  the  emergence  of  “European 
centres of excellence” with a high level of visibility, open at international level and 
which  will  attract  the  best  researchers  from  all  countries.  This  is  essential  to 
strengthen Europe's role on the world technology scene and in research initiatives on 
global  issues.  The  Union  must  help  to  create  such  centres  by  boosting  excellence 
through support for collaboration and competition at European level. 

Furthermore, Europe does not have sufficient capacity to transform knowledge into 
products and services, in particular commercial ones, making an economic success of 
them. European companies apply for 170 patents each year per million inhabitants, 
compared with 400 for American companies. And the Union’s commercial deficit for 
high-tech products is approximately €23 billion per year.9 

The  Union  is  today  conducting  a  number  of  activities  to  support  research  in  SMEs 
and  for  their  benefit;  for  the  development  of  risk-capital  funds,  science  parks, 
incubators  and  regional  innovation  policies;  for  technology  transfer  and  the 
management  of  intellectual  property  and  patents.  These  activities  need  to  be 
rationalised and regrouped to form a coherent whole with a critical mass. A process 
will  be  launched  in  this  respect  as  part  of  preparations  for  the  next  Framework 
Programme. 

1.4. 

Adapting the European Union’s Research Framework Programme 

13. 

14. 

15. 

There  has  been  a  massive  response  to  the  Union's  Sixth  Research  Framework 
Programme  2002-2006.  To  date,  taking  all  actions  together,  28  000  research 
proposals  have  been  submitted  involving  150 000  institutions  in  50  countries.  200 
major transnational research networks and projects have been launched in areas such 
as  “post-genomic”  drug-targeting  methods  and  nanometre-scale  microelectronic 
components, as well as 55 programme networking actions on subjects such as food 
safety and rare diseases. 

However, the Framework Programme has been the victim of its own success. Out of 
the thousands of proposals received, only 1 in 5 has been able to be supported due to 
the  lack  of  funding.  In  particular,  just  under  50%  of  projects  considered  to  be  of  a 
very high standard were able to be financed.10 

With a few instruments, the Framework Programme also has to meet different needs: 
strengthening  both  collaboration  and  competition;  support  for  both  basic  and 
industrial research; support for both spontaneously proposed projects and initiatives 
based on political choices, etc. And despite the progress recently made, such as the 
simplification  of  contractual  terms,  the  implementing  conditions  can  still  be 
improved. 

9 
10 

European Commission, Statistics on science and technology in Europe, 2003 edition. 
In budgetary terms, the rates of utilisation of commitment appropriations and payment appropriations 
were 99.98% and 96.9% respectively. 

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2. 

16. 

2.1. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

SIX MAJOR OBJECTIVES 

In  order  to  increase  the  impact  of  the  European  Union's  action,  it  is  proposed  to 
organise it around six major objectives. To launch the corresponding activities with a 
significant  effect,  the  Union's  research  budget  needs  to  be  increased  by  the 
proportions  indicated.  Funding  would  be  allocated  according  to  three  principles:  a 
balance between current and new activities; between research for the advancement of 
knowledge  and  its  industrial  application;  and  between  support  for  human  and 
material research capabilities. 

Creating  European  centres  of  excellence  through  collaboration  between 
laboratories 

Programmes  to  support  transnational  collaboration  between  research  centres, 
universities and companies have an observable impact on: 

– 

– 

the  quality  of  research  in  Europe,  which  they  are  helping  to  improve, 
whilst increasing its visibility, in key areas for growth; 

the  dissemination  of  knowledge  and  results  within  the  Union,  and  the 
ability of researchers to become involved in high-level projects. 

With  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme,  formulas  have  been  added  to  the  range  of 
possibilities – the “networks of excellence” and the “integrated projects” – which are 
having  the  effect  of  making  research  in  Europe  more  structured  by  helping  the 
development of “European centres of excellence”.11 

Researchers  must  be  able  to  fully  exploit  these  opportunities  –  including  the 
possibility of projects of a smaller size – according to their interests and needs.12 A 
Panel of experts for a mid-term evaluation of the efficiency of the Sixth Framework 
Programme instruments has been set up. After carrying out a review on the basis of a 
survey  by  questionnaire  and  hearings  of  participants  or  candidates  taking  part  in 
programmes, it will shortly put forward its suggestions. 

2.2. 

Launching European technological initiatives 

20. 

21. 

11 

12 

At the initiative of the Commission and industry, “technology platforms” are being 
set up, which bring together companies, research institutions, the financial world and 
regulatory authorities at European level to define a common research agenda which 
should  mobilise  a  critical  mass  of  -  national  and  European  –  public  and  private 
resources. 

This  approach  has  been,  or  will  be,  adopted  in  areas  such  as  energy  (hydrogen 
technology, 
(aeronautics),  mobile 
energy), 
communications,  embedded  systems  and  nanoelectronics.  This  entails  in  particular 

photovoltaic 

transport 

solar 

Like the bioenergy excellence network which has now been launched, involving 24 institutions in 13 
European countries, or the European research project on new combustion engine systems which brings 
together all the major European motor vehicle manufacturers. 
Support for networks of excellence, for example, should be provided where the capacity and motivation 
exist to integrate the activities of a small number of departments in a quasi-institutional manner. 

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22. 

2.3. 

23. 

identifying  the  legal  and  regulatory  conditions  needed  in  order  to  implement  the 
common research agenda. 

Often, it will be possible to implement the agenda by means of “integrated projects”. 
In  a  limited  number  of  cases,  a  “pan-European”  approach  appears  appropriate, 
involving  the  implementation  of  large-scale  “joint  technology  initiatives”.  An 
appropriate framework for their implementation is that of structures based on Article 
171 of the Treaty,13 more specifically a joint undertaking. 

Stimulating the creativity of basic research through competition between teams 
at European level 

Open  competition  between  individual  research  teams  and  support  for  them  at 
European  level  would  boost  the  dynamism,  creativity  and  excellence  of  European 
research  whilst  increasing  its  visibility.  The  discussion  on  basic  research  and  the 
“European Research Council” which has been ongoing for two years in the scientific 
community,  and  which  was  raised  to  the  political  level  by  the  Commission 
Communication of January 2004,14 has highlighted the need for: 

– 

– 

an  increased  effort  on  basic  research  in  Europe  given  the  increasingly 
recognised impact of this type of research on economic performance, as 
stressed by industry; 

increased support for this type of research at European level through the 
setting  up  of  a  support  mechanism  for  research  projects  conducted  by 
individual  teams  which  are  in  competition  with  each  other  at  European 
level.  

24. 

The  Commission  suggests  the  creation  of  such  a  mechanism.  Projects  would  be 
proposed  by  researchers  on  their  own  initiative,  without  thematic  constraints,  on 
subjects of their choice. Projects would then be selected, without any obligation for 
transnational collaboration, on the basis of their scientific excellence, as assessed by 
peer review.15 

2.4.  Making Europe more attractive to the best researchers 

25. 

The  European  Union’s  objective  is  to  promote  the  development  of  European 
scientific  careers16,  at  the  same  time  helping  to  make  sure  that  researchers  stay  in 
Europe  and  attracting  the  best  researchers  to  Europe.  Against  a  background  of 
growing competition at world level, it is necessary to strengthen the “Marie Curie” 
actions which are being conducted for this purpose by placing emphasis on: 

13 

14 
15 
16 

“The  Community  may  set  up  joint  undertakings  or  any  other  structure  necessary  for  the  efficient 
execution of Community research, technological development and demonstration programmes.” 
COM (2004) 9 of 14.01.2004. 
See point 5.1.2 for the conditions for implementing this action. 
As  indicated  in  the  Commission’s  Communication  “Researchers  in  the  European  Research  Area,  one 
profession, multiple careers”, COM (2003) of 18.07.2003. 

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– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

attracting young people to science and the initial training of researchers 
in  particular 
the  structuring  of 
through  support 
transdisciplinary training; 

training, 

for 

the role and place of women in science and research; 

the  transfer  of  knowledge,  for  the  benefit  in  particular  of  the 
technologically least advanced regions and SMEs; 

the  international  dimension  of  training  and  mobility  through  increased 
exchanges with other parts of the world; 

life-long learning and career development.17 

2.5. 

Developing research infrastructures of European interest 

26. 

27. 

28. 

With the creation of the ESFRI Forum,18 an important step has been taken in the field 
of  research  infrastructures  in  Europe.  Until  then,  EU  activities  had  been  mainly 
confined  to  support  for  transnational  access  to  infrastructures  and  for  research 
projects helping to raise their performance. 

It  is  proposed  to  strengthen  this  action  through  the  introduction  of  support  for  the 
construction and operation of new infrastructures of European interest in the form of 
a mechanism like that used for the trans-European networks (TENs19), based on the 
model  used  to  support  a  free  electron  laser  and  nanoelectronics  facilities  in  the 
framework of the “European Growth Initiative”. 

This approach would also be adopted to support essential services for the European 
scientific  community:  distributed  communication  infrastructures  (GEANT  projects 
for  the  interconnection  of  electronic  research  networks  and  GRID  architecture),  or 
electronic archiving systems for scientific publications; bioinformatics databases. 

2.6. 

Improving the coordination of national research programmes 

29. 

Efforts have successfully been made to improve the coordination of national research 
programmes  in  the  context  of  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme  and  these  efforts 
must be strengthened. This involves increasing the resources allocated to the ERA-
NET  activities  for  the  networking  of  national  programmes,  extending  the  financial 
support  they  offer  to  research  activities,  and  an  increased  effort  towards  mutual 
opening-up. 

30. 

The aim of the Union's participation in national programmes carried out jointly under 
Article 169 of the Treaty20 is to ensure their genuine integration. The example of the 
clinical trials platform for poverty-related diseases, while it has a number of special 

17 
18 
19 
20 

See point 5.1.2 for the conditions for implementing this action. 
ESFRI: European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructure. 
TENs: Trans-European Networks. 
“In  implementing  the  multi-annual  framework  programme,  the  Community  may  make  provision,  in 
agreement  with  the  Member  States  concerned,  for  participation  in  research  and  development 
programmes undertaken by several Member States, including participation in the structures created for 
the execution of those programmes”. 

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features,  nevertheless  enables  a  certain  number  of  lessons  to  be  drawn.  The 
implementation of activities based on Article 169 would appear to be easiest in areas 
where the Member States are starting to introduce programmes. But it is in the fields 
where  established  national  structures  exist  that  this  provides  most  benefit.  It  would 
seem to be appropriate to use this formula: 

– 

– 

– 

in  areas  in  which  the  Member  States  have  firmly  displayed  their 
willingness to commit themselves financially; 

as  an  instrument  to  support  “variable-geometry”  cooperation  between  a 
limited group of Member States; 

with  the  most  effective  decision-making  mechanisms:  “packages”  of 
actions  to  be  agreed  upon  at  the  same  time  by  the  Council  and  the 
European Parliament; or a “framework regulation”. 

31. 

At  the  same  time,  it  is  necessary  to  strengthen  the  ties  between  European 
intergovernmental 
these 
organisations21  can  respond  to  calls  for  proposals.  The  Union  should  be  able  to 
provide direct support for some of their activities when Europe would benefit from 
their being conducted at Union level. 

research  organisations 

the  Union.  Today, 

and 

3. 

RAISING RESEARCH PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THE UNION 

3.1. 

Realising the potential of a Europe of 25 and more 

32. 

33. 

To achieve the Lisbon agenda, all research institutions of the enlarged Union must be 
given  the  means  to  take  the  road  to  excellence.  The  opportunity  to  take  part  in 
projects  of  limited  size  in  small  partnerships  with  excellent  laboratories  in  other 
countries  will  enable  young  teams  and  less  powerful  institutions  to  benefit  from 
transnational  cooperation,  whilst  acquiring  the  experience  necessary  to  become 
involved in complex projects. The transfers associated with the projects will help to 
strengthen the knowledge base of all European Union countries. 

In the spirit of the action carried out in recent years to support centres of excellence 
in  the  then  candidate  countries,  consideration  should  be  given  to  the  possibility  of 
strengthening  excellence  and  making  it  more  visible  where  further  development  is 
needed by means of specific initiatives in the regions concerned, covering measures 
relating  to  human  resources,  exchanges  and  networking,  the  development  of 
equipment and evaluation.  

3.2. 

Taking full advantage of complementarity with the Structural Funds 

34. 

21 

Part  of  the  Structural  Funds  is  allocated  to  supporting  the  development  of  research 
capability: 
the  creation  of 
intermediary  bodies  between  universities  and  SMEs.  The  proposal  for  reform  of 

infrastructure,  human  resources, 

local  research 

In  particular,  CERN  (European  Organisation  for  Nuclear  Resarch),  EMBO  (European  Molecular 
Biology Organisation), EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) and ESO (Euorpean Southern 
Observatory), combined with others within EIROforum. 

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cohesion  policy  makes  the  “Lisbon  agenda”  one  of  the  main  bases  for  Structural 
Fund intervention in the “Convergence” Objective regions, and a basis which must 
be  covered  by  the  programmes  in  the  “Regional  competitiveness  and  employment” 
Objective regions. 

35. 

In order to take full advantage of this trend, it is necessary to:  

– 

– 

strengthen  complementarity  between  the  use  of  the  Union’s  research 
budget  and  the  Structural  Funds,  in  particular  in  the  framework  of  the 
future “Strategic Union guidelines for cohesion”; 

increase  their  combined  use,  for  example  by  granting  complementary 
funding from the Structural Funds where a research project  co-financed 
by  the  Framework  Programme  is  carried  out  in  a  “Convergence” 
Objective region.  

4. 

FOCUSING THE EUROPEAN UNION’S EFFORTS ON KEY TOPICS  

4.1. 

Identifying topics of major European interest 

36. 

The  support  activities  for  individual  research  teams  and  researchers  will  not  have 
predetermined  topics.  In  all  other  cases,  it  is  necessary  to  identify  the  subjects  for 
which  support  at  European  level  is  most  needed:  for  actions  based  on  calls  for 
proposals,  in  liaison  with  the  scientific  community  and  industry;  for  technological 
initiatives  based  on  Article  171,  in  contact  with  the  technology  platforms;  for 
programme  coordination  activities,  in  particular  on  the  basis  of  Article  169,  in 
dialogue with the Member States.  

4.2. 

Supporting the Union’s political objectives  

37. 

Topics which should be given particular attention, especially as regards collaborative 
research,  are  those  related  to  the  Union’s  policies.  These  actions  will  continue  to 
stimulate  advances  in  knowledge  in  areas  such  as  health,22  consumer  protection, 
energy, the environment, development aid, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, 
information  and  communication  technologies,  transport,  education  and  training, 
employment, social affairs and economic cohesion, justice and home affairs.23 

4.3. 

Two new areas for the Union: space and security  

38. 

Two  new  areas  for  the  Union  in  which  research  plays  a  leading  role  should  be  the 
subject of specific actions, namely space and security.24 

22 

23 

24 

Recent examples of this are the network of excellence on the prevention and control of animal diseases 
set up under the Sixth Framework Programme and the integrated project on the impact of global change 
on freshwater ecosystems in Europe. 
This  complements  the  scientific  and  technical  support  directly  provided  by  the  Joint  Research  Centre 
(JRC) in the definition, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. 
These  actions  will  essentially  be  carried  out  using  the  six  main  categories  of  means  of  intervention 
described in Section 2, taking account however of the particular characteristics of these two areas. 

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4.3.1.  Helping to implement European space policy 

39. 

In  a  changing  international  context,  a  European  space  policy  is  being  put  into 
practice.25 The current instrument is a framework agreement on cooperation between 
the  European  Commission  and  the  European  Space  Agency  (ESA).  It  involves  the 
development of a strong, scientific, technological and industrial base.  

40. 

In the future, this policy will be based on a “European space programme” in which 
research will play a key part, with the research effort focusing on: 

– 

– 

– 

technologies  for  the  exploitation  of  space,  in  the  areas  of  navigation 
(Galileo project), global monitoring for environment and security (GMES 
system26), and satellite telecommunications; 

space  transport technology,  essential  for ensuring independent access to 
space for Europe;  

scientific  activities in  space,  for example in the framework of using the 
International Space Station and relating to space exploration.  

4.3.2.  Placing research at the service of security 

41. 

42. 

Security  is  a  major  challenge  in  Europe:  the  security  of  individuals,  the  State, 
transport  and  telecommunications  networks  in  the  face  of  organised  crime  and 
international  terrorism,  in  particular  bioterrorism.  Increasing  security  involves 
advancing  knowledge 
reconnaissance  and 
surveillance, as well as analysis of the causes of conflicts. 

regarding  detection, 

intelligence, 

At the beginning of 2004, a preparatory action on this theme was launched. Taking 
this a stage further, and on the basis of the report of a high-level European group, a 
clearly 
to  be 
implemented. With more substantial resources allocated to it, the aims will be to:  

identified  “European  Security  Research  Programme” 

is  due 

– 

– 

increase  public  security  in  Europe  in  the  fields  of  civil  protection,  for 
example, and combating bioterrorism; 

help the Union to fulfil its tasks of preserving peace, preventing conflict 
and strengthening international security, in keeping with the principles of 
the United Nations Charter. 

5. 

DOING BETTER TO DO MORE 

5.1. 

Using the most effective means of implementation 

43. 

25 
26 
27 

In  conformity  with  the  principles  set  out  in  the  Commission’s  Communication  of 
10 February,27  the  most  effective  methods  of  implementation  will  be  used  to 
implement  research  policy.  The  aim  is  to  achieve  a  significant  decoupling  of  the 

COM(2003)17 of 21.1.2003 and COM(2003) 673 of 11.11.2003. 
GMES: Global Monitoring for Environment and Security. 
COM(2004)101 of 10.2.2004 

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increases in the Commission’s budget and staffing, while strengthening the link with 
national structures. 

44. 

The Commission would exercise its full political and budgetary responsibility before 
the Council and the European Parliament, and would ensure the scientific monitoring 
of the activities in a manner varied according to its involvement. 

5.1.1.  Management in partnership  

45. 

Management  in  partnership  by  the  Member  States,  research  stakeholders  and  the 
Commission  would  be  used  in  the  case  of  activities  carried  out  to  strengthen  the 
coherence  between  public  and  private  research  efforts,  and  coherence  between 
Member States’ technology policies: 

– 

– 

– 

Actions  carried  out  under  Article  171  of  the  Treaty:  mainly  the  “joint 
technological  initiatives”.  A  specific  management  structure  must  be  set 
up for their implementation;  

Actions  carried  out  under  Article  169  of  the  Treaty:  the  creation  of  a 
specific management structure is possible, but not compulsory.  

Actions  to  support  the  creation  and  development  of  infrastructures  of 
European  interest,  implemented  on  the  model  of  the  trans-European 
network projects (TENs). 

46. 

A characteristic of these actions is the mobilisation of a critical mass of resources in 
financial engineering schemes involving funding by the European Investment Bank 
(EIB)  and  national  public  and  private  funding.  By  adopting  its  “i2i”  and  then 
“Innovation 2010” action plans, the EIB has increased its commitment in the field of 
research.  To  make  use  of  the  opportunity  to  mobilise  loans  from  the  EIB, 
consideration  could  be  given  to  the  creation,  in  the  Framework  Programme,  of  a 
European guarantee scheme for major technological research projects. 

5.1.2.  Externalised management 

47. 

48. 

Externalised  management  would  be  used  for  the  support  for  individual  research 
teams and for researchers. In both cases, these are activities open to the entire field of 
science, concerning small numbers of people and involving a large number of small-
scale financial operations.  

Several  formulas  can  be  considered  for  giving  concrete  form  to  the  idea  of  a 
“European  Research  Council”:  an  executive  agency;  a  Union  agency  of  the 
conventional  type;  or  a  specific  structure  (for  example,  a  foundation),  set  up  under 
Article  171  of  the  Treaty.  The  political  process  initiated  will  make  it  possible  to 
determine  the  best  way  to  satisfy  the  following  three  fundamental  principles: 
supervision  by  the  scientific  community;  political  and  financial  responsibility  with 
the  Commission;  and  a  Community  nature,  to  avoid  the  risks  regarding  a  “fair 
return”.  

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5.1.3.  Management by the Commission in evolution 

49. 

Management  by  the  Commission  would  be  used  to  support  collaborative  research, 
for several reasons: 

– 

– 

the Commission’s role in establishing  and regularly updating  the “work 
programmes”, which are the heart of these initiatives;  

its  role  in  assisting  in  the  setting  up  of  partnerships  and  its  recognised 
ability to ensure the management of complex transnational projects;  

– 

the close tie between these actions and Union policies. 

50. 

With  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme,  new  financial  provisions  have  made  it 
possible  to  reduce  accounting  operations  in  favour  of  tasks  relating  to  supervision, 
control and scientific monitoring. Once the activities which do not require the direct 
involvement  of  Commission  staff  have  been  identified,  the  remaining  purely 
implementation tasks should be entrusted to an external body. 

5.2. 

Improving the operation of the Framework Programme 

51. 

52. 

6. 

53. 

At  the  same  time,  it  is  necessary  to  improve  the  regulatory  and  administrative 
environment.  The  aim  is  to  increase  the  transparency  of  the  evaluation  process,  to 
reduce delays, and to minimise the cost of preparing projects.28 

The  financial  and  administrative  provisions  must  be  revised  and  simplified  in  the 
light of the experience of current practice. Following on from the conclusions of the 
panel  for  the  evaluation  of  instruments  under  the  Sixth  Framework  Programme,  a 
process will be launched with this purpose in mind, involving programme users and 
national  research  structures.  The  financial  rules  will  be  re-examined  and  proposals 
will  be  made  to  the  Council  and  the  European  Parliament  in  the  framework  of 
proposals  for  Commission  decisions  for  the  next  Framework  Programme  and  the 
corresponding rules for participation. 

TOWARDS THE SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME  

The ideas presented here must be the subject of two debates: a policy debate within 
the  Institutions;  and  a  debate  among  the  stakeholders  in  and  users  of  research  in 
Europe.  At  the  beginning  of  2005,  notably  on  the  basis  of  the  results  of  these  two 
debates, the Commission will present its proposal for the Union's Seventh Research 
Framework Programme. Along with specific information about the financial support 
schemes, it will include the Commissions proposals for thematic research priorities.  

28 

In conformity with the conclusions of the Spring European Council of March 2004 (paragraph 26). 

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