Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament - A strategic european framework for international science and technology cooperation
Date: 2008-09-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU research policy, cooperation policy, innovation, investment, research and development, research body, research staff, scientific exchange

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 24.9.2008 
COM(2008) 588 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

A STRATEGIC EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE 
AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 

A STRATEGIC EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE 
AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION 

This Communication presents a strategic European framework for international cooperation in 
science  and  technology  (S&T).  It  also  covers  the  specific  aspects  of  such  cooperation  in 
information and communication technologies (ICT). 

By strengthening its research effort and facilitating the use of new technologies, Europe can 
respond  more  effectively  and  efficiently  to  the  major  challenges  society  is  facing  today. 
Deepening the European Research Area (ERA) through greater  integration and cross-border 
coordination of research investments and activities will increase Europe's competitiveness and 
its  attractiveness  as  a  place  to  invest  in  research  and  innovation.  Promoting  European  ICTs 
worldwide as a key driver of socio-economic growth will also contribute to the Growth and 
Jobs agenda1. Deepening the ERA should go hand in hand with widening it, through enhanced 
cooperation with international partners.  

Key strategic goal for international cooperation in science and technology and universal 
access to ICTs 

Globalisation  is  accelerating,  and  this  has  an  impact  on  the  way  we  produce,  share  and  use 
knowledge.  Major  global  challenges  such  as  climate  change,  poverty,  infectious  disease, 
threats  to  energy,  food  and  water  supply,  security  of  the  citizen,  networks  security  and  the 
digital divide highlight the need for effective global S&T cooperation to promote sustainable 
development.  

The  7th  Research  Framework  Programme  (FP7)  reflects  this  need  by  being  open  to  third 
country  participation  and  by  including  several  new  instruments  to  encourage  international 
cooperation. However, FP7 represents only a small proportion of all research in Europe; most 
research investment is by the Member States. Only by strengthening the partnership between 
the  Member  States  and  the  European  Community  (EC)  can  European  international  S&T 
cooperation  contribute  effectively  to  stability,  security  and  prosperity  in  the  world2.  Better 
cooperation  is  equally  needed  for  promoting  European  policy  goals  and  European 
technologies  worldwide.  This  Communication  sets  out  a  European  framework  for 
international cooperation in S&T to underpin the strategy which is based on a new long-term 
partnership  between  the  Member  States  and  the  EC.  It  also  proposes  ways  to  improve 
cooperation instruments with strategic partners. The main objective is to contribute to global 
sustainable development and to foster Europe’s S&T excellence, which is increasingly a basis 
for  economic  competitiveness  at  a  time  where  EU  companies  are  ever  more  facing 
competition from emerging economies. 

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The EU accounts for over 15% of world trade in ICT goods and services. ICT goods account also for a 
substantial share of total trade between the EU and its economic partners. They represent 10.2% of all 
extra-EU exports of goods and 14.4% of all imports 
The European Research Area: New Perspectives (COM(2007)161 of 4/04/2007 

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This proposed European framework consists of a number of core principles and orientations 
for action. Actions under this framework will strengthen European public and private players 
in  the  way  they  interact  with  their  partners  and  competitors  elsewhere  in  the  world.  The 
proposed  framework  will  contribute  to  the  free  circulation  of  knowledge  –  ‘the  EU’s  fifth 
freedom’  —  at  global  level,  to  raising  the  S&T  profile  of  Europe  worldwide  and  to 
disseminating European ICT know-how in the world. It will put the European Research Area 
on  the  global  map,  an  Area  open  to  the  world  and  boost  Europe’s  competitiveness  in  the 
global economy. 

Actions under the framework will:  

•  strengthen  the  coordination  of  Member  States'  and  EC  actions  aimed  at  reinforcing 
strategic S&T cooperation and Information Society dialogues with partners worldwide;  

•  create  additional  synergies  between  public  authorities,  industry  and  civil  society  to  make 

EU action in these policy fields more efficient;  

•  facilitate access to knowledge, resources and markets worldwide;  

•  have  a  positive  influence  on  the  global  science  and  technology  agenda  by  pooling  of 
resources  to  achieve  critical  mass  and  by  underlining  democratic  values  in  the  global 
information  society,  in  particular  freedom  of  expression  and  the  right  to  access 
information3;  

•  improve  framework  conditions  under  which  international  research  is  conducted  and 
promote the European model of convergence to reinforce the effectiveness of information 
society policies;  

•  make it easier for Europe’s researchers and universities to work with the best scientists and 

research infrastructures in the world; 

•  strengthen the global position of the European industry in electronic communications and 

other advanced technologies. 

This Communication responds to the Council Conclusions of February 2008, and is one of the 
five  Commission  initiatives  following  public  debates  on  the  future  of  the  ERA4  and  on 
globalisation  of  the  Information  Society5.  It  also  follows-up  the  conclusions  of  the  2005 
World Summit on information society (WSIS)6 ". 

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In  its  Communication  of  27.4.2006  -  "Towards  a  Global  Partnership  in  the  Information  Society",  the 
Commission  called  upon  industry  to  develop  codes  of  conduct  on  the  misuse  of  ICT  for  restricting 
freedom of expression. So far this call for action has not been followed-up. 
SEC(2008)430 of 2/04/2008 
A public consultation on EU Strategy for International Co-operation on ICT was launched between 18 
June and 1 October 2007. 
In its Resolution on the Information Society (2004/2204) the Parliament "calls the Union and Member 
States  to  view  the  WSIS  as  a  spur  for  cooperation  in  traditional  areas  of  geographical  or  historical 
proximity (…) and for new cooperation with more remote emerging countries". In its Resolution on the 
Internet Governance Forum (B6-/2008), the Parliament "calls on the concerned EU Institutions to take 
the Tunis Agenda into consideration in their legislative work. 

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1. 

PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL S&T 
COOPERATION AND THE NEW INFORMATION SOCIETY PARTNERSHIPS 

Widening the ERA and making it more open to the world 

Excellence in research stems from competition between researchers and from getting the best 
to compete and cooperate with each other.  

A crucial way to achieve this is for public authorities, research funding agencies, public and 
private research institutes and universities to work together across borders. Such cooperation 
lies at the very foundation of the ERA. In an increasingly global science arena, the boundaries 
of  the  ERA  should  be  widened  to  include  our  neighbours,  and  cooperation  with  key 
international partners should be encouraged and facilitated.  

Ensuring coherence of policies and complementarity of programmes 

Research  is  not  carried  out  in  a  vacuum.  It  contributes,  to  and  is  influenced  by,  a  broader 
societal agenda.  

Europe’s international S&T strategy should underpin the EU’s main policy objectives, such as 
combating  climate  change,  bridging  the  digital  divide,  securing  sustainability  of  energy 
supplies,  biodiversity  and  ecosystems,  and  achieving  the  Millennium  Development  Goals. 
Greater coherence between research activities and other policies and funding instruments will 
strengthen the impact and influence of S&T on these policies.  

Fostering strategic S&T cooperation with key third countries 

Europe cannot cooperate with all countries on all topics.  

Choices  of  research  topics  and  third  country  partners  have  to  be  made.  A  critical  mass  of 
resources  in  support  of  these  choices  has  to  be  guaranteed.  Cooperation  with  scientifically 
advanced  partners  will  differ  in  nature  from  that  with  countries  which  are  developing  their 
science base; but both types of cooperation are needed. An effective international cooperation 
strategy requires a long-term commitment by the EC and Member States and a new approach 
to jointly defining priority research areas for cooperation with key third countries.  

The  ERA  being  built  by  Member  and  Associated  States  illustrates  the  potential  of  close 
cooperation  between  countries.  Where  groups  of  countries  in  a  geographical  region  (e.g. 
ASEAN, African Union) wish to engage in S&T cooperation with the EC, and where critical 
mass in S&T can be best achieved to address  key global challenges, a bi-regional approach 
should be favoured.  

In advanced technology areas, such as ICTs, geographical and sectorial research priorities for 
cooperation should be inspired by joint inputs from industry, academia and research institutes, 
for  example  coming  from  the  Strategic  Research  Agendas  (SRA)  of  European  Technology 
Platforms, the Information Society dialogues, and from other bilateral and regional contacts. 
This  would  facilitate  by  inclusion  of  third  country  partners  from  the  early  stages  in  the 
research pursued. 

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Special  attention  will  be  required  to  overcoming  divergent  standards  between  countries,  as 
these are often an obstacle to spreading information and communication technologies and can 
hamper interconnection and interoperability.  

Developing the attractiveness of Europe as a research partner 

To maintain research excellence and develop linkages between researchers and institutions in 
Europe and worldwide, Europe must be a favoured partner for research. To achieve this, we 
need  adequate  competitive  and  institutional  research  funding,  world-class  infrastructures, 
enhanced mobility for researchers in and out of Europe and appropriate IPR rules. 

International S&T cooperation activities have grown in importance in successive Framework 
Programmes, and the creation of the European Research Council has strengthened Europe’s 
reputation  for  high-quality  frontier  research.  The  work  of  the  European  Strategy  Forum  for 
Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) has attracted global interest and expressions of willingness 
by international partners to work together.  

An open ERA is the best way to make European S&T more attractive globally. Ultimately the 
success of the ERA depends on the availability of highly qualified researchers to underpin the 
development  of  a  competitive,  knowledge-based  economy.  Researchers  trained  both  in 
Europe  and  third  countries,  or  linked  through  networks,  will  become  ambassadors  for 
international cooperation.  

Launching results-oriented partnerships on information society regulation  

A  first  step  will  be  to  make  ongoing  policy  dialogues  more  results-oriented  by  early 
identification  of  priorities  for  regulatory  cooperation  and  joint  research.  Where  appropriate 
these  dialogues  should  be  extended  to  the  convergence  of  the  telecom  and  media  sectors. 
Business  dialogues  (e.g.  Business  Round  Tables)  and  consumer  dialogues  should  also  be 
results-oriented. 

Priorities for regulatory co-operation will include promoting the establishment of independent 
and  effective  regulatory  authorities,  the  non-discriminatory  allocation  of  scarce  resources, 
publicly available licensing criteria and transparent award procedures, non-discriminatory and 
cost-orientated  interconnection,  and  the  use  of  open  technologies.  Monitoring  on  non-tariff 
barriers and regulatory hurdles faced by EU players on third markets should be stepped-up. 

The European Community and Member States working together  

By working together, Member States and the EC will achieve much more, both within the EU 
and worldwide. This is true for policy areas like the environment or energy, and it is also true 
for research and for information society policies. 

Working  together  will  increase  the  attractiveness  of  Europe's  research  and  foster  better 
conditions for investment and acquisitions in key markets. Better coordination also responds 
to  the  interest  of  many  partners  worldwide  to  learn  from  our  regulatory  approach  on  issues 
such  as  convergence.  At  the  same  time  pooling  our  efforts  will  provide  Europe  with  better 
economic  intelligence  on  key  countries  /  regions  in  the  research  and  information  society 
sectors.  

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Member States and the EC need to define together their priority areas for research with third 
countries in order to draw most benefit from coordinated initiatives and actions.  

The  International  Thermonuclear  Experimental  Reactor  (ITER)  project  shows,  on  a  large 
scale, what can be achieved when there is the political will to work together internationally 
and to pool resources. But on a smaller scale, there are many examples of the great impact of 
coordinated European research agendas and joint funding, such as the European Initiative for 
Agricultural Research for Development.  

A  more  coherent  use  of  Member  State  and  EC  resources  for  international  S&T  cooperation 
will  help  to  gather  the  critical  mass  needed  to  provide  an  effective  response  to  policy 
challenges that are increasingly global.  

A strengthened partnership between the EC and European intergovernmental initiatives (such 
as EUREKA and COST) and research organisations, notably EIROforum7 and its individual 
members, can also make a significant contribution towards this aim.  

A  well  coordinated  and  effectively  communicated  international  S&T  strategy  will  enable 
Europe  to  develop  a  ‘single  voice’  on  key  global  challenges  and  will  help  the  EU  to 
participate more effectively in agenda setting in international fora such as the OECD, and in 
particular those with a UN focus such as UNESCO, WHO, and the ITU. 

2. 

ORIENTATIONS FOR ACTION TO MAKE THE ERA MORE OPEN TO THE WORLD 

Developing  a  close  and  long-term  partnership  between  Member  States  and  with  the  EC, 
underpinned  by  the  principles  outlined  above,  is  essential  if  the  ERA  is  to  achieve  its  full 
international potential.  

Sharing  objectives,  formulating  and  implementing  common  European  research  agendas  and 
positions  vis-à-vis  third  countries  and  in  international  fora,  engaging  in  joint  activities  and 
pooling efforts and resources will be essential for the success of this partnership. 

This process creates flows towards and away from Europe. It attracts researchers from all over 
the world, whilst also improving Europe's technology potential on the markets worldwide, as 
for example in ICTs. 

To achieve maximum results the following proposals need to be put into effect at both EC and 
Member  State  levels,  and  in  close  cooperation  with  third  countries.  An  appropriate 
institutional setting is needed to move this process forward. 

2.1. 

Strengthening the international dimension of the ERA 

•  Integrating Europe’s neighbours into the ERA 

Association  to  FP7  is  the  most  intensive  form  of  cooperation  at  Community  level.  The 
opportunity  for  European  Neighbourhood  Partner  Countries  to  participate  in  certain  EC 

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EIROforum includes the: European Organisation for Nuclear Research, European Fusion Development 
Agreement,  European  Molecular  Biology  Laboratory,  European  Space  Agency,  European  Southern 
Observatory, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institut Laue-Langevin .  

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policies  and  programmes,  including  FP7,  is  an  important  aspect  of  the  European 
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)8.  

Virtually all Western Balkan countries are now associated to FP7. Association is also open to 
the  EU’s  southern  and  eastern  neighbours.  Widening  the  geographical  scope  of  the  ERA  to 
include ENP partner countries will make an important contribution to the EU’s policy goals 
towards  these  countries,  in  particular  building  sustainable  economic  prosperity.  The 
association  process  will  unfold  gradually,  on  a  case  by  case  basis,  taking  into  account 
endogenous  S&T  capacities,  present  and  potential  levels  of  cooperation,  and  the  mutual 
interests  of  the  EC  and  the  ENP  partner  countries.  ENP  countries  also  deserve  particular 
attention  in  fostering  international  cooperation  on  ICTs,  both  because  of  their  eagerness  to 
adopt EU patterns, and because some of them represent significant markets for EU technology 
companies.  

In order to promote closer scientific ties with these countries and to prepare association to te 
FP7, S&T capacity building initiatives and research cooperation will be undertaken by the EC 
through the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instruments and targeted FP7 activities 
(e.g. Specific International Cooperation Actions).  

Policy  dialogue  with  these  countries  is  important.  EC  bilateral  S&T  agreements  with  a 
number  of  them  (such  as  Egypt,  Morocco,  Tunisia  and  Ukraine)  are  a  good  setting  for 
dialogue.  In  addition,  bilateral  policy  dialogues  on  S&T  will  be  launched  with  countries 
which signal a specific interest to become associated to FP7 but which have not concluded a 
bilateral S&T agreement with the EC. 

The  recently  launched  FP7  INCO-Net  projects  support  regional  platforms  for  S&T  policy 
dialogue and priority setting at bi-regional level; they involve Member States and ENP partner 
countries in identifying future research priorities and coordinated actions.  

Russia,  as  a  neighbouring  country  with  significant  S&T  capacities,  is  already  an  important 
partner and has made it clear that it sees the EU as its long-term priority in S&T cooperation. 
EU-Russia  S&T  cooperation  could  be  enhanced  through  an  FP  association  agreement,  as 
recognised  by  both  sides  at  the  EU-Russia  Permanent  Partnership  Council  on  Research  in 
May 2008. This would contribute to the implementation of the EU-Russia Common Space of 
Research and Education, including Cultural Aspects. The perspective of a possible association 
to  the  FP  should  however  be  seen  in  the  wider  context  of  EU-Russia  relations  and  the  new 
EU-Russia Agreement for which negotiations were launched at the EU Russia Summit in June 
2008. 

Member States and the Commission to: 

•  Ensure coordinated and/or complementary implementation of S&T priorities identified in 
the  various  policy  dialogues  with  ENP  partner  countries,  in  order  to  facilitate  a  possible 
association to FP7.  

•  Enhance regional dialogues on Information Society issues. 

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COM (2006) 724 final of 4/12/2006, Council of the European Union, 10657/07 of 18/06/2007 

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•  Promote  European  regulatory  principles  by  developing  better  synergies  with  European 

regulators. 

The European Commission to: 

•  Establish policy dialogues with interested ENP partner countries that have no EC bilateral 

S&T agreement, with a view to their possible association to FP7. 

•  Accelerate the spreading of best practices and the alignment of policies in ENP countries 
by gradually opening to them the ICT Policy Support Programme (PSP) in the framework 
of the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). 

•  Fostering  strategic  cooperation  with  key  third  countries  through  geographic  and 

thematic targeting  

Member  States  and  the  EC  are  involved  in  a  myriad  of  research  cooperation  activities  with 
third countries. The absence of a common strategy on a European level has led to duplication 
in this cooperation, with a resulting waste of resources and a reduced impact9.  

Where  there  is  common  interest  and  mutual  benefit,  where  excellent  human  S&T  resources 
and capacity can be identified, and where a collective response to international commitments 
is  needed,  a  more  coordinated  approach  would  benefit  Europe  and  third  country  partner(s). 
The  EC  and  Member  States  should  therefore  define  together  strategic  priorities  for  S&T 
cooperation with key third countries and pursue these priorities in a coherent way. 

With  industrialised  and  major  emerging  economies,  priorities  for  coordinated  S&T 
cooperation  should  focus  on  areas  of  mutual  interest  requiring  broad  international  efforts  to 
address  global  S&T  and  societal  challenges.  Since  the  international  S&T  arena  remains  an 
area of strong competition between EU Member States and third countries, a healthy balance 
between  cooperation  and  competition  has  to  be  found.  In  this  respect  priority  should  go  to 
developing joint infrastructures, frontier and pre-competitive research, and research leading to 
common  or  compatible  standards  that  facilitate  market  access.  Particularly  in  ICT,  research 
co-operation  will  address  the  issue  of  divergent  standards  which  are  often  an  obstacle  to 
interoperability.  Research 
spreading 
cooperation  should  also  focus  on  areas  that  are  beneficial  for  the  competitiveness  of  EU 
companies  while  avoiding  these  benefits  being  undermined,  for  instance  due  to  the  lack  of 
intellectual property protection.  

technologies  and  hamper 

interconnection  and 

For  developing  countries,  research  cooperation  should  be  aligned  with  development 
cooperation  policies  and  the  Millennium  Development  Goals10.  Certain  research  areas  are 
particularly  pertinent,  such  as  developing  sustainable  supplies  of  clean  water,  food  and 
energy,  combating  infectious  diseases,  tackling  the  impact  of  climate  change,  reducing  the 
digital divide, and reducing threats to biodiversity and ecosystems on land and sea. In addition 
to  collaborative  S&T  projects,  international  cooperation  with  developing  countries  must 
include  S&T  capacity  building  (e.g.  infrastructure,  human  resources,  research  policy, 
networks of researchers and research institutes) This will enable researchers in these countries 
to contribute to the solution of local, regional and global problems and to economic and social 

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CREST Report 1207/07 of 13/12/2007 
SEC (2008) 434, Council of the EU 9907/08 of 27/05/2008 

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development.  Enhanced  research  capacity  will  also  encourage  researchers  to  compete 
internationally  in  terms  of  scientific  excellence  and  increase  their  incentives  to  continue  to 
base their research activities in developing countries.  

In the case of Africa, the focus for a concerted EC and Member States effort will be on the 
implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategic Partnership agreed at the Lisbon Summit in 
2007.11  The  specific  Africa-EU  partnership  on  "Science, Information  Society,  and  Space"  is 
based on the recognition that science, technology and innovation are essential to eradicating 
poverty,  combating  disease  and  malnutrition,  stopping  environmental  degradation  and 
building  sustainable  agriculture  and  economic  growth  in  Africa.  Bridging  the  scientific  and 
digital divide is essential to finding African-led responses to these challenges. 

Capacity building typically falls within the remit of development policy and funding, which is 
why  coherence  and  complementarity  of  S&T  instruments  with  other  instruments  and 
programmes for external action and assistance must be strengthened at both Community12 and 
Member  State  levels.  Where  third  countries  agree,  the  targeted  use  of  such  instruments  and 
programmes for building S&T capacities should be encouraged. Complementarity with other 
funding  bodies,  including  the  International  Financial  Institutions,  and  global  research 
initiatives  (e.g.  Consultative  Group  of  International  Agricultural  Research)  must  also  be 
sought.  A  pre-requisite  is  to  raise  the  awareness  of  policy  stakeholders  in  developing 
countries  of  the  importance  of  S&T  for  a  better  quality  of  life.  Special  attention  should  be 
paid to promoting and facilitating gender equality and the role of private sector investment in 
S&T in developing countries. 

Strategic research priorities will need to be implemented in a coherent and coordinated way 
by Member States and the EC. At present individual Member States use bilateral agreements 
and  national  programmes  for  cooperation  with  third  countries.  Likewise,  the  EC  fosters 
strategic  cooperation  with  key  third  countries,  particularly  within  EC  bilateral  S&T 
agreements13. These agreements have been reinforced under FP7 with specific instruments to 
assist their implementation and to support a targeted approach (e.g. the Specific International 
Cooperation  Actions,  and  coordinated  calls). Sharing information on future initiatives under 
these agreements makes for closer coordination between the EC and the Member States.  

A bi-regional approach towards country groupings (e.g. ASEAN, African Union) would have 
advantages over continually increasing the number of EC bilateral S&T agreements. But such 
bi-regional S&T dialogue cannot be effective without a regional structure capable of ensuring 
coordination with and within the country grouping, and which can play a significant role in 
S&T priority setting and research funding. In the long term such policy dialogue could lead to 
bi-regional S&T agreements. The current FP7 INCO-Net projects prepare the ground for such 
bi-regional  platforms  and  herald  a  new  approach  to  the  involvement  of  Member  States  and 
third countries in identifying future S&T priority areas. 

Where fully-fledged EC bilateral or bi-regional S&T agreements are not justified, the EC will 
ensure  that  the  specific  S&T  components  of  any  Partnership  and  Cooperation  Agreements 

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ec.europa.eu/development/eu-africa-summit-2007 
These  are:  the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  (IPA),  the  European  Development  Fund  (EDF),  the 
Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 
(ENPI) 
www.ec.europa.eu/research/inco 

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which  are  concluded  between  the  EC  and  its  Member  States  with  third  countries  are 
strengthened.  

Member States and the Commission to: 

•  Identify together and agree on S&T cooperation priorities with key third country partners 
where  cooperation  brings  a  clear  added  value  for  Europe  in  addressing  key  global 
challenges  and  engage  in  joint  initiatives.  This  should  be  done  where  possible  in 
accordance  with  the  approach  put  forward  in  the  Commission  Communication  “Towards 
joint  programming  in  research:  working  together  to  tackle  common  challenges  more 
effectively” 14 and in the i2010 action plan15 as regards ICT and media policies;  

•  Share the experience  gained and  initiatives foreseen under  bilateral  S&T agreements  and 
promote an efficient network of EC and Member State science, ICT and media counsellors 
in the EC Delegations and Member States’ embassies in third countries; 

•  Ensure  that  international  S&T  and  development  policies  are  consistent,  and  that  funding 
mechanisms at EC level (both FP funds and instruments for external action and assistance) 
and at Member State level complement one another;  

•  Strengthen EU and African Union cooperation on S&T through the implementation of the 
Joint EU-Africa Strategic Partnership and Action Plan, particularly the 8th Partnership on 
Science,  Information  Society  and  Space;  this  will  require  both  EC  and  Member  States' 
resources  and  the  active  involvement  of  the  African  Union  Commission,  Regional 
Economic Communities and relevant public and private stakeholders. 

The European Commission to: 

•  Keep  the  different  FP7  instruments  under  review  to  ensure  that  their  full  potential  for 

fostering strategic cooperation with key third countries is realised; 

•  Intensify S&T  including  ICT cooperation  at the level of regional country groupings  (e.g. 
ASEAN, African Union), develop policy dialogue with appropriate regional structures and 
negotiate bi-regional S&T agreements where appropriate; 

•  Encourage  third  countries  to  incorporate  S&T  capacity  building,  including  the  gender 
equality  aspect,  and  the  use  of  ICT  in  their  National  or  Regional  Indicative  Programmes 
for EC external assistance funds and cooperation programmes.  

•  Continue providing technical assistance on information society policies to third countries, 
drawing  from  the  experience  of  such  assistance  programmes  and  geographically  targeted 
projects, such as the @LIS for Latin America; EUMEDIS for the Euro-Mediterranean area, 
and EU-Asia IT&C for Asia. 

14 
15 

COM(2008) 468 final of 15/7/2008 
COM(2005) 229 final of 1/6/2005 

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10 

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2.2. 

Improving the framework conditions for international S&T cooperation 

•  Tackling scientific challenges through global research infrastructures 

One essential area of science that has a global dimension and lends itself particularly well to 
international  cooperation  is  the  joint  development  of  and  access  to  research  infrastructures. 
Many  S&T  disciplines  require  considerable  investment  in  infrastructure  if  major  scientific 
advances are to be made.  

There are good examples of Member States, the EC, intergovernmental research organisations 
and  third  countries  working  effectively  together  to  develop  research  infrastructures  (e.g. 
GEOSS,  GEANT).  GEANT,  a  high-capacity  and  high-speed  communications  network 
interconnecting the European National Research and Education Networks, initially connected 
research networks in industrialised countries (North America and Japan). It now has new links 
to  China,  India,  Latin  America,  South  East  Asia,  North  Africa,  the  Middle  East  and  the 
Balkans. This extension serve the research and education communities in the different regions 
of the world and has enabled platforms of cooperation in many fields across these regions and 
with  Europe.  These  initiatives  will  be  further  extended  in  time,  geographical  coverage  and 
scope over the coming years. 

However,  a  more  structured  approach  to  jointly  developing  global  research  infrastructures, 
including  e-infrastructures  is  needed.  In  Europe,  ESFRI16  has  taken  the  first  steps  in  this 
direction  by  establishing  a  European  Roadmap  for  new  research  infrastructures  which  are 
already global by nature or have the potential to become so.  

At the international level discussions continue on global research infrastructure projects that 
require international cooperation in order to be achieved in different disciplines and research 
areas (e.g. LIFEWATCH on biodiversity, the Integrated Carbon Observation System, and the 
Square Kilometre Global Radio Astronomy Array). 

In the ICT sector the EC is promoting, with the USA, Australia and Japan, a global research 
agenda  in  trustworthy  infrastructures,  including  sharing  of  knowledge  and  best  research 
practices  for  improving  the  resilience  of  present  and  future  global  networks  and 
infrastructures.  

Member States and the Commission to: 

•  Promote  international  cooperation  in  large-scale  research  infrastructures  to  facilitate  cost 

sharing where appropriate; 

•  Explore  new  ways  to  reduce  the  digital  divide  in  developing  countries,  including  public 

private partnerships. 

•  Participate  in  the  ad-hoc  group  of  senior  officials,  composed  of  representatives  of  G8 
members as well as individual countries, and build on the work of existing fora, such as the 
OECD Global Science Forum, to continue the dialogue in this field. 

16 

European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, http://cordis.europa.eu/esfri/home.html  

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•  Intensify cooperation on the global research agenda infrastructures in the ICT sector in the 

period 2009-10 including efforts to coordinate research and other policies.  

•  Include security and trust issues as priority in every current and future Information Society 

dialogue with third countries and regions. 

•  Mobility of researchers and global networking 

Mobility  of  researchers  is  an  essential  feature  of  international  S&T  cooperation,  and 
competition for the best brains is intense. In this context it is crucial that European researchers 
who  work  in  a  third  country  remain  part  of  the  ERA,  being  a  valuable  resource  at  home  as 
well  as  abroad.  Similarly,  researchers  who  come  to  Europe  from  emerging  economies  or 
developing countries must be enabled to contribute to their own countries’ development. Such 
connectivity,  through  networking,  or  ‘return’  grants,  will  make  brain  circulation  a  reality. 
Furthermore  the  possibility  of  establishing  joint  physical  or  virtual  research  laboratories 
between the EU and third countries should be promoted. 

Action is being taken17 to ensure that researchers working in the EU enjoy excellent training, 
attractive  careers  and  no  barriers  to  their  mobility.  The  People  Programme  of  FP7  offers 
multiple  opportunities  for  the  mobility  of  researchers  between  Europe  and  the  rest  of  the 
world. The full implementation of the ‘Scientific Visa Package’18 by all Member States will 
facilitate  entry  into  Europe  for  researchers  from  third  countries.  However,  more  can  and 
should be done. 

Member States and the Commission to: 

•  Continue — in close cooperation with third countries — to develop networks for European 

researchers working abroad, and for non-European researchers in Europe. 

Member States to: 

•  Transpose the ‘Scientific Visa Package’ (including the EC Recommendation on short-term 
visas  for  researchers)  into  their  national  legislations  and  ensure  smooth  administrative 
procedures for visa approval; 

•  Increase  specific  funding  mechanisms  and/or  re-integration  grants  for  European 
researchers  returning  to  Europe  and  third  countries’  researchers  returning  to  their  home 
countries 

The Commission to: 

Optimise  existing  EC  instruments  for  international  mobility,  including  the  FP7  People 
Programme.  

17 
18 

COM 317 final of 23/5/2008 
Council  Directive  O.J.  L  289/15  of  3/11/2005  (2005/71/EC),  Recommendation  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 (2005/761/EC) O.J. L 289/23 of 3/11/2005 

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•  More open research programmes 

EC  bilateral  S&T  agreements  are  based  on  the  principles  of  equitable  partnership,  common 
ownership, mutual advantage, shared objectives and reciprocity. While these principles have 
not  always  been  fully  implemented,  reciprocal  access  to  research  programmes  and  funds 
should be pursued to enhance the mutual benefit of international S&T cooperation. 

FP7  is  open  to  third  country  partners.  Funding  is  normally  limited  to  participants  from 
international  cooperation  partner  countries19.  However,  since  open  competition  promotes 
excellence  in  research,  funding  for  collaborative  projects  could  be  extended  to  include 
research  organisations  and  researchers  located  in  industrialised  third  countries  where 
reciprocal funding is made available for European researchers.  

Member States are developing funding schemes to facilitate international cooperation; some 
are  starting  to  open  these  schemes  to  allow  funding  for  R&D  work  done  abroad.  Member 
States  should  increase  their  efforts  to  launch  cooperative  research  initiatives  with  third 
countries  on  well  defined  areas  of  research  and  to  gradually  open  their  respective  schemes 
(including funding) in specified areas to countries prepared to provide reciprocal access.  

Member States and the Commission to: 

•  Intensify  the  use  of  FP7  coordination  instruments  (e.g.  ERA-NET  schemes)  to  provide 

incentives to link up EC and national resources for cooperation with third countries. 

Member States to: 

•  Work  towards  a  step-by-step  opening  of  national  research  programmes  in  well  defined 
research  areas  with  key  third  countries  on  a  reciprocal  basis;  they  should  design  and 
implement  joint  initiatives  and  programmes  with  third  countries  where  reciprocal 
conditions in the partner countries' programmes exist or can be developed.  

The Commission to: 

•  Translate  —  within  the  context  of  the  EC  bilateral  S&T  agreements  —  the  reciprocity 
principle into mutual access to public research programmes and cooperation opportunities 
in  third  countries.  As  a  consequence,  it  should  progressively  introduce  funding  for 
scientists  from  industrialised  third  countries  in  calls  under  FP7,  subject  to  reciprocal 
conditions in the partner countries’ research programmes.  

•  Intellectual Property Issues 

Good  management  of  intellectual  property  (IP)  issues  is  an  important  requirement  for 
successful  and  durable  international  S&T  cooperation,  promoting  trust  and  the  sharing  and 
exploitation of knowledge in cooperative research activities.  

It must be based on shared principles and practices, ensuring reciprocity, equitable treatment 
and mutual benefits. The EU and third countries should apply appropriate rules and treat each 
other’s  legal  entities  similarly.  IP  principles  and  practices  will  continue  to  be  promoted 

19 

Regulation (EC) 1906/2006 of 18/12/2006 

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through  bilateral  S&T  cooperation  agreements  and  adequate  access  of  Least  Developed 
Countries (LDC) to the results of research will be facilitated. 

•  Member States and the Commission to: 

•  Promote  globally,  including  through  bilateral  EC  and  Member  State  international  S&T 
cooperation agreements, the principles set out in the Recommendation and associated Code 
of Practice on the management of IP20. They should further develop these to guarantee fair 
and mutually beneficial conditions for all parties, whilst taking account of LDC needs. 

•  Pre-standardization 

Particular  attention  in  ICT  research  co-operation  will  be  given  to  the  issue  of  divergent 
standards as they are often an obstacle to spreading technologies and hamper interconnection 
and interoperability.  

The Commission to: 

•  Promote  strengthening  of  the  link  between  results  of  research  programmes  and 
standardization,  put  more  emphasis  on  international  pre-competitive  industrial  research 
collaboration  and  pay  more  attention  to  pre-standardization  cooperation  based  on  open 
standards. 

3. 

IMPLEMENTING A SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP 

As set out in this Communication, the EC and the Member States will need to strengthen their 
strategic  S&T  cooperation  with  key  partners  worldwide.  This  can  best  be  achieved  by 
building a strong partnership between the Member States and the EC. At present there is no 
dedicated institutional setting to propel and guide such a partnership.  

It is therefore essential that: 

•  Member  States,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  commit  themselves  to  the  proposed 
strategic European framework for international S&T cooperation, including the partnership 
for action, outlined in this Communication; 

•  the  Council  identifies  the  appropriate  institutional  settings  for  ensuring  the  effective 
implementation  of  the  strategic  European  framework  for  international  S&T  cooperation, 
taking into account the specific characteristics of Information society policies;  

•  the Council oversees and monitors progress of the further opening of the ERA to the world 
and,  if  necessary,  considers  further  steps  to  ensure  the  effective  implementation  of  the 
proposed actions.  

•  the European Parliament lends its support to a coherent framework for international S&T 
cooperation  and  continues  to  follow-up,  in  close  cooperation  with  the  Commission, 
discussions on global issues, notably in fora such as the Internet Governance Forum. 

20 

C(2008)1329 of 10/04/ 2008 

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