Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the Commission on Science and Technology: the key to Europe's future Guidelines for future European policy to support research
Date: 2004-11-18
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU programme, EU research policy, advanced technology industry, industry-research relations, research expenditure (EU), research staff

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Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the Commission on
Science and Technology: the key to Europe's future Guidelines for future European policy to
support research

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

(2005/C 71/06)

Having regard to the European Commission Communication on Science and Technology: the key to Europe's
future - Guidelines for future European policy to support research (COM(2004) 353 final;

Having regard to the decision of the European Commission of 17 June 2004 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 5 April 2004 to instruct its Commission for Culture and
Education to draw up an Opinion on this subject;

Having regard to the Decision of the Lisbon European Council, which adopted the concept of European
Research Area (ERA), thereby laying the foundation for common science and technology policy across the
European Union;

Having regard to the Decision of the March 2002 Barcelona European Council where the European Union
set itself the objective of increasing the European research effort to 3 % of the European Union's GDP by
2010;

Having regard to the European Commission Communication on Europe and Basic Research (1);

Having regard to the European Commission Communication (2) on The role of the universities in the Europe of
knowledge and the CoR Outlook Opinion on The role of universities in local and regional development within the
context of a Europe of knowledge (CdR 89/2003 fin) (3);

Having regard to the Report of a High-level Expert Panel chaired by Professor Ramon Marimon Evaluation
of the effectiveness of the New Instruments of Framework Programme VI (21 June 2004);

Having regard to its Draft Opinion (CdR 194/2004 rev. 1) adopted on 22 September 2004 by its Commis-
sion for Culture and Education (rapporteur: Jyrki Myllyvirta, Mayor of Mikkeli, FI/EPP);

WHEREAS:

1)

the overall goals of the Communication are absolutely necessary elements for implementing the
Lisbon strategy of Europe. Increasing the European R&D investment to 3 % of the GDP, 2 % of that
coming from private sources and all of it linked to research and development promoting the knowl-
edge-based society and economy in Europe,
is an ambitious objective which can only be met
through shared commitment and coordinated actions of the Union and Member States;

2)

the Communication adopts six major objectives for development. The objectives are:

— creating European centres of excellence through collaboration between laboratories;

— launching European technological initiatives;

— stimulating creativity of basic research through competition between teams at the European

level;

— making Europe more attractive to the best researchers;

— developing research infrastructure of European interest;

— improving the coordination of national programmes;

(1) COM(2004) 9 final
(2) COM(2003) 58 final
(3) OJ C 73 of 23.3.2004, p. 22

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The wider procedural proposals are related to:

— raising research performance throughout the Union, especially in the new Member States;

— focusing the European Union's efforts on key topics and

— doing better to do more;

3)

the actions proposed in the Communication are not cohesion instruments as such, but they inevi-
tably have an impact, either positive or negative, on cohesion. The knowledge-based industries are
the driving force of development for the whole of Europe; getting these forces to promote cohesion
targets is much more effective from the regional policy point of view than research policy leading to
centralisation, which has to be compensated by increased regional policy subsidies and handouts;

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 57th plenary session, held on 17-18 November
2004 (meeting of 18 November):

1. The Committee of the Regions' views

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

1.7
emphasises, as the Commission, that the new member
countries with their human and cultural resources are an extra
motivation for improved action and increase of resources in
research policy.

1.1 welcomes the Communication on Science and Tech-
nology: the key to Europe's future - Guidelines for future European
policy to support research and considers it an utmost important
starting point for increasing and improving European research
for the success of the whole of Europe;

agrees with the European Commission that scientific
1.2
research, technological development and innovation are at the
heart of the knowledge-based economy, a key factor in growth,
competitiveness of companies and employment and improving
the quality of life for the EU citizen;

1.3
reminds us that in Europe, the growth and success of
every region depends increasingly on the advancement of a
knowledge-based economy;

considers that while the efforts in the field of research
1.4
policy by the European Union have shown to be valuable and
necessary, this approach now seems to fall short of today's
needs;

1.5
supports the aim of investing 3 % of GDP in research
and development. This absolutely necessary aim can be reached
only through solid commitment of all the Member States into
this aim. Quantitatively, the role of direct EU research funding
can only be marginal. The EU measures can, however, contri-
bute into and they are necessary for the strengthening of the
commitment and for getting the maximum benefit out of the
investment;

1.6
supports the proposal by the European Commission to
double the Union research funding between 2007-2013. It is in
the interest of the whole of Europe that this proposal is realised
even if other parts of the budgetary plans for the period 2007-
2013 would change;

THE EUROPEAN ADDED VALUE

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

emphasises that in the field of research policy the Euro-

1.8
pean added value is evident. It is created by:

— the possibility to build up the necessary critical mass in
research subjects where the single countries are too small;

— better attracting top scientists; and

— the improved mobility of highly educated researchers and

other experts;

considers that the research and development funding of
1.9
the Union, including the new Framework Programme, must be
dynamic and responsive to the needs of business, science and
the community, in order to direct the research in fields where
the impact on European growth, competitiveness of companies
and employment is most evident;

points out that cities,

local and regional authorities
1.10
can in many positive ways contribute to the fulfilment of Euro-
pean added value. This includes regional
innovation policies,
incubators, science parks and risk-capital
technology centres,
funds, which all are taken well
into consideration in the
Communication. Local and regional authorities also have an
important role to play in innovating in issues such as sustain-
able development within the community, through their close
links with EU citizens;

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1.11 welcomes the objective of developing the research
infrastructure of European interest;

order to exploit this fully, Europe must have a widely spread
education and research infrastructure;

1.12 welcomes the aim to make the European Union's
research policy more cost-effective;

1.13
emphasises that critical mass depends on the topic,
the thematic area and the participants (see the Marimon
report). The concept of ‘one size fits all’ should not be applied
across all thematic areas and instruments;

points out that,

1.14
in improving the coordination of
national programmes, also regional research programmes and
the impact of the programmes on regional development have
to be taken into consideration;

that

stresses

small and medium size enterprises
1.15
(SMEs), 99 % of all business enterprises, are providers of the
most jobs and key actors in European innovation and regional
development. The European research policy has to involve the
SMEs and their research and development needs better than
thus far;

1.16
agrees that researchers must be able to fully exploit
the European research policy measures – including the possibi-
lity of projects of a smaller size – according to their interests
and needs and welcomes the suggestion to create a more open
mechanism of research funding;

1.17 would like to see more weight behind projects
proposed by researchers on their own initiative based on the
R&D needs of companies;

1.18
emphasises the contributing role of local and regional
economic development policy and strategies. Usually, the cities,
local authorities and regions, in cooperation with the universi-
ties and businesses in the area, coordinate the tools for local
and regional economic development and the whole innovation
infrastructure;

1.19
considers the EUREKA-method a good example of a
scientifically oriented and ambitious research network where
also SMEs have a low threshold to take part.

THE DIVERSITY AND GEOGRAPHICAL DECENTRALI-
SATION OF RESEARCH

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

1.20
educational

points out that a main asset of Europe is the high
in
level of a very large part of the population;

to benefit

requests strong measures to enable also smaller insti-
1.21
from European
tutions and public authorities
research policy. The research and development world has
become many-sided and versatile. The distinction between
basic and applied research is becoming blurred. New knowl-
edge can be produced in establishments of varying size and
type. Even small institutions can produce knowledge of world-
wide interest in narrow fields of expertise, especially if they
collaborate with high-technology businesses;

1.22
emphasises that diversity, autonomy and geographical
decentralisation of research are important factors in increasing
its regional impact. Developing the administrative structures of
cities and regional authorities is also a prerequisite for the
successful spreading of innovations from research into business
and public organisations. This is particularly important in the
new Member States, where developing decentralised administra-
tive structures, as well as strengthening local and regional
government, are key factors in ensuring the establishment of
sustainable development at local and regional level;

points out that

1.23
there are different systems across
Europe. Depending on the country, the roles of the cities, local
authorities and regions are often crucial in organising, finan-
cing and developing higher education and research, and parti-
cularly in creating the innovative surroundings combining
research, development, incubators and business environments,
where the research results lead into new business activities,
new jobs and improved well-being;

believes that the concept of ‘centres of excellence’ as
1.24
proposed in the communication has to be implemented taking
also into consideration highly specialized smaller centres that
can be essential for the development of globally competitive
business in narrow fields of production and can be a starting
point for emerging new large-scale business;

believes that the same applies for the technology plat-
it is necessary to see the platforms as a vehicle to

1.25
forms;
promote diverse high-tech business in various parts of Europe;

1.26 welcomes the complementary use of research funding
and structural funds; the practical solutions have to be devel-
oped in the ‘Convergence’ Objective regions and within the
‘Regional competitiveness and employment’ Objective, with
special emphasis on the new Member States;

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1.27
recommends the ‘Marie Curie’ actions for making
Europe more attractive to the top researchers be continued and
strengthened. European research must be able to harness all of
to improve European competitiveness, young
its potential
people, women, all regions and the benefits of increased coop-
eration with extra-European countries.

incubators and regional

their benefit; for the development of risk-capital funds, science
parks,
innovation policies; for tech-
nology transfer and the management of intellectual property
and patents. This proposal involves many DGs of the Commis-
sion and has to be prepared jointly – it is essential that also the
Committee of Regions is closely involved.

TOWARDS THE SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME

2. The Committee of the Regions' recommendations

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

1.28 welcomes the invitation presented at the end of the
Communication to different
stakeholders in and users of
in the discussion process
research in Europe to take part
through which the seventh Framework Programme will be
formulated;

1.29
emphasises also the possible positive role of different
stakeholders and especially the role of local and regional autho-
rities in the proposed European Research Council. The idea of
a European Research Council, be it a Union agency or a
different kind of structure, should be developed to have close
contacts with the local and regional administration and the
Committee of Regions. The European R&D finance should be
directed on the basis of scientific excellence and of the potential
of bringing new innovations to the commercial market and to
meet society's needs. The CoR believes it is important that
European regions and researchers who are not part of the
that would be funded by the proposed European
teams
Research Council should also be able to benefit
from the
research results;

1.30
supports the proposed rationalisation and regrouping
of the union activities to support research in SMEs and for

Brussels, 18 November 2004

2.1
recommends that the aspect of promoting balanced
regional development in Europe be included in the implemen-
tation of European research policy;

2.2
emphasises that the promotion of R&D has to be taken
into consideration in the preparation of new structural fund
programmes;

emphasises that the ‘human dimension’ and societal

2.3
needs should be included in the new funding programme;

2.4
underlines the importance of research and innovation
infrastructure, research centres, technology parks and centres of
excellence including those of a smaller scale, keeping in mind
their key role in the training of researchers and in the building
of human capital
locally but also to the benefit of wider
regions;

2.5
recommends that the Union finance more research in
entrepreneurship, regional innovation processes and commer-
cialising research results in order to develop instruments for
strengthening knowledge-based economy in different parts of
the Union.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB