IRDAC opinion on the Fifth Framework Programme
The following is a summary of the opinion of the European Commission's Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee (IRDAC) on the preparation of the 5th RTD Framework Programme. IRDAC's members are executives and senior managers from major industrial concerns based in all EU Member States.
To improve the competitiveness of European industry, IRDAC stresses the need to place a greater emphasis on innovation. It believes that the European Community has a special role to play by coordinating RTD policies, stimulating standardization and facilitating the pooling of knowledge.
IRDAC's opinion sets out boundary conditions which the Community should adhere to if its RTD programmes are to contribute to innovation in Europe. In particular, the Community should:
- Step up consultation with industry
- Ensure a better link between different Community policies
- Not "pick winners", but leave industry a free hand
- Coordinate national RTD policies
With regard to the structure and content of the 5th Framework Programme, IRDAC calls for a limited number of RTD programmes based around four main themes:
- Knowledge infrastructure: six areas: training and mobility of researchers; access to large-scale facilities; technology forecasting and assessment
- International cooperation
- Generic technologies:
- information and communications technologies;
- industrial and materials technologies;
- life sciences and technologies;
- environment;
- energy;
- mobility.
- Research/industry task forces
As far as programmes for generic technologies are concerned, IRDAC suggests that although the previous framework programmes have demonstrated their great value, there is a need for less compartmentalization. IRDAC therefore suggests only six main programmes for generic technologies (see above).
The task force concept is a useful mechanism to bring the different actors together according to IRDAC, but the existing task forces should be tested and assessed before new ones are created.
IRDAC's paper states that a sound knowledge infrastructure is required, with the emphasis on quality and industrial relevance. Participation in Community RTD programmes should be opened up to organizations from non-member countries, providing there is reciprocity and no transfer of funds.
IRDAC also calls for strengthened measures in support of the participation of SMEs in RTD programmes, including the creation of a single CRAFT action for SMEs, with an open call for proposals and more frequent evaluations. It also suggests that the Commission examine new financial instruments for the participation of SMEs.
Finally, IRDAC calls for the procedures for implementing the specific programmes to be made less complex and less time-consuming. Programmes should be more flexible, and their evaluation should be more transparent and faster at every stage. IRDAC underlines the fact that successful implementation of the Community's RTD activities requires efficient management as a prerequisite. The key components of this should be quality and transparency.
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