Session 2.1 conclusions: Which priorities for national policies post 2010?
November 5, 2009Context of change and opportunity:
• We are in a time of change: economic downturn, emergence of new global competitors and facing a number of global challenges
• We are in a completely new situation – the Lisbon Treaty is opening up opportunities for ERA:
o to design new framework for implementation,
o new partnership between the Commission and Member States, e.g. a new comprehensive strategy on patents
o Political ownership by national parliaments is important
o Opening ERA to the world
• Need for more optimism – Europe needs to emulate the optimistic spirit of US and acknowledge its own achievements e.g success of FP
Discussion:
• 3% target for R&D to be maintained – 1% for publicly funded research and 2% as indicator of how effective the improvement of framework conditions and incentives for business are in generating business funded R&D.
• Knowledge triangle investments are important, in particular increased funding for universities and research performers
• Broad consensus that considerably more investment in the national education systems is necessary. However, there was a lively debate whether to focus on the Higher Education part (with a target of 2% of GDP) or whether to target the whole education system in line with the life-long learning concept.
• Each of the KT corners has different spatial characteristics. The EIT can play an important role as a flagship demonstrating within the KICs, the synergy of research, education and innovation activities.
• Priority should be given to member states efforts to ensure the stability of funding
• The specificities of member states need to be taken into account, but without decreasing the overall degree of ambition
Agreement on:
• Need to ensure sound market demand for innovative products, processes and services, if companies are to invest in R&D.
• Priority needs to be given to structural reform, structural change and innovation-friendly environment through demand-side policies:
- innovative procurement and pre-commercial procurement of R&D services, lead markets and venture capital, standardisation, affordable European patent, state aid, tax policy
• Stakeholders call for changing the EC financial regulation applied to Research funding similar national rules to reflect high trust approach and to encourage further development of public-private sector R&D partnerships such as JTIs
Proposed actions:
• Combining qualitative and quantitative efforts to meet 2020 challenge, accompanied by related targets.
• Launch of lead research initiatives with Europe taking the lead in emerging technologies
• Investing in and reforming universities and lifelong learning and education
• Support poles of excellence, KICs and research and innovation driven clusters, based on a comprehensive policy for – open innovation and use and sharing of IP – EIT and KICs as stimulating agents for innovation at European and national level
• More innovation-friendly and competitive environment for business
• Reinforced environment for new technology and innovative spin-offs and start-ups has become a matter of priority – Fast track system for innovation-led Knowledge Intensive Firms to lead global sectors
• Award for entrepreneurs
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