Commissioner offers preview of Research and Innovation Strategy
The EU's forthcoming Research and Innovation Strategy for Europe will
focus on the major societal challenges, have a broad definition of
'innovation' and seek to remove bottlenecks to the flow of knowledge,
European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire
Geoghegan-Quinn has announced.
The Commissioner was speaking at the European Technology Platforms
conference in Brussels, Belgium on 11 May. The Research and Innovation
Strategy represents a major plank of the wider Europe 2020 Strategy that
sets out the actions needed to help Europe emerge from the economic
crisis as a 'smart, sustainable and inclusive economy'. Among other
things, the Europe 2020 strategy reiterates the goal of boosting
research and development (R&D) spending in Europe to 3% of GDP
(gross domestic product); R&D spending in the EU is currently below
2%.
The Research and Innovation Strategy will be published by September
of this year, so that EU leaders can discuss it at their Autumn European
Council meeting.
'As the Research and Innovation Commissioner, my job is to help
create the conditions for a more dynamic Europe. A Europe where
innovative firms want to do business, and where talented people want to
live and work,' stated Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn. 'One of my first tasks is to
draw up a new Research and Innovation Strategy that sets out how we
intend to drive forward the research and innovation parts of Europe
2020.'
Although details of the Research and Innovation Strategy are still
under discussion, the main features of the strategy are clear, Mrs
Geoghegan-Quinn explained.
Firstly, the strategy will refocus research and innovation policies
on the major challenges facing Europe and the world, such as climate
change, energy efficiency, health and ageing. In addition, the strategy
will be based on a broad understanding of 'innovation', including not
only research but innovation in business models, management structures
and the delivery of public services. Finally, Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn
pointed out that, 'the strategy will aim to remove all major bottlenecks
to the flow of knowledge and to the emergence of what we're calling a
'Single Market for Research and Innovation'.'
Many aspects of the strategy, such as promoting researcher mobility,
developing world-class infrastructures and reducing the fragmentation
of national research efforts, are already key features of EU research
and innovation policies.
Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn also noted that the strategy will give a
'vigorous push' to efforts to agree on an EU patent. 'Enough is enough:
let's finally finish the job!' she exclaimed.
The Commissioner also set out her plans for the future of the EU's
Research Framework Programmes. 'I intend to tie it much more closely to
the major societal challenges and ensure it has more leeway to fund
innovation,' she said.
Spain, which currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, is
also gathering input for the research and innovation aspects of the
Europe 2020 Strategy. At a recent conference in Bilbao, Spain, Spanish
Minister of Science and Innovations Cristina Garmendia commented:
'Without more science and innovation, but above all, without the
necessary interaction between them, Europe will not be able to maintain
its current leadership in certain areas and much less aspire to improve
its position in the international ranking.'
Source: Community R&D Information Service (CORDIS)