ESTA opinion on the Fifth Framework Programme
The following contains a summary of the European Science and Technology Assembly (ESTA) report on "The competitive position of European science, technology and industry" which contains the Assembly's opinion on the 5th RTD Framework Programme.
ESTA consists of 100 representatives of the European scientific and industrial research communities, and provides assistance to the European Commission in implementating European RTD policy.
Although the European Union has a strong science base in comparison to the USA and Japan, ESTA believes that in the areas of production and application Europe lags behind both. Redressing this weakness should be a priority for the EU. ESTA suggests that the EU conduct a "technology foresight" exercise, similar to those carried out by some Member States, including the UK and France, in recent years. This exercise would result in a report, based on science and technology indicators, which would be a major input to the formulation of the 5th Framework Programme.
ESTA recommends that, in relation to the 5th Framework Programme, Europe should maintain its science base, particularly its quality and output, and should strengthen key technologies in relation to the USA and Japan. The transfer and diffusion of scientific knowledge should receive more emphasis in the formulation of policy.
ESTA believes that the current specific RTD programmes being implemented under the 4th Framework Programme should be maintained. However, the second (international cooperation with third countries) and third (dissemination and exploitation of results) activities should be examined carefully and compared with US and Japanese activities in the same areas.
ESTA emphasizes that greater coordination between national and European technology policies is needed, although the main responsibility should be at national level, with European RTD programmes complementing the national programmes in areas of major importance to European competitiveness.
The needs of SMEs in relation to RTD programmes should be more closely examined, in particular for the Training and Mobility of Researchers programme.
Finally, ESTA recommends that a number of social and economic issues, many of which are addressed in the Commission's Green Paper on Innovation, be considered extensively in the development of the 5th Framework Programme.
The report is available, in English only, from:
ESTA Secretariat
8 Square de Meeus
B-1040 Brussels
Tel: +32-2-2957056 / 2994856
Fax: +32-2-2962536
| 
