Finland's Opinion on the Preparation of the European Union's Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Development (1998- 2002):
Part 1: General trends
1.1. Challenges to European R&D cooperation
The construction of Europe's future must be guided by a vision of a society in which the economy and general well- being are increasingly based on knowledge and know-how. The importance of natural and other material resources and of capital as the primus motor of social and economic development is changing, pushing science and technology policies into an ever more central role in the Union's economic and business policies, and those of its Member States. Knowledge provided by research will have an increasing importance in promoting social and cultural development.
Economic problems and violent structural changes related to them have led to exceptionally high unemployment in many EU Member States. OECD studies show that in industrial countries, new and well-paid jobs are being created specifically in knowledge intensive and high technology sectors. Moreover, productivity is improving considerably faster in knowledge and technology intensive sectors than in labour, raw material or capital intensive ones. |
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R&D measures are an effective way to support the necessary restructuring of business without distorting competition, thus promoting the creation of new well-paid jobs. R&D promote the industrial transition from slow growth and low technology to fast growth and high technology. The change is pioneered primarily by new technology-intensive companies with an advanced network of cooperation with major companies and research institutions. |
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In general terms, European basic research and applied technological research are on a high level. The problem lies in European industries' inefficiency in transforming this knowledge capital into new and competitive products and business. Europe has clearly fallen behind its main competitors, the United States and Japan. How to further and promote the innovative work of new technology companies is a central concern in exploiting research results more efficiently. |
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Europe is undergoing a profound political, economic, social and cultural transition. Analysing and solving the problems this has caused - unemployment, economic inequality, migration, greater intolerance, etc. - require more efficient research and more research cooperation on the Community level. An increase in such cooperation is also called for by environmental issues and the new health risks brought about by more international contacts. |
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In conclusion, there are ample grounds for enhancing the status of R&D in Community action and budget policies. The change should be reflected in an increase in the share of funding provided from the EU budget for the fifth Framework Programme, in comparison with that provided for the fourth Framework Programme. |
1.2. Developing cooperation with third countries |
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The Council of the European Union has agreed that R&D cooperation with third countries must support the objectives laid down in the Maastricht Treaty concerning R&D policies and other Community activities. The general aim in cooperating with non-member countries is to strengthen Europe's competitiveness, to develop scientific and technological cooperation with strategically important countries, to promote research on economic and social challenges and on sustainable development in developing countries, and to actively seek cooperation in large scale research. |
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The balanced promotion of these aims requires that in the future, research cooperation emphasizing high technology is intensified and expanded, especially with developed industrial countries. The underlying principle should be to open up the entire Framework Programme to non-member industrial countries. This will allow research consortia to be put together taking the global needs of enterprises into account. |
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Developing R&D cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) is an important element in the measures by which their economic and social development are being promoted and the scientific and industrial infrastructure of the countries which have applied for EU membership will be strengthened. It is important to continue cooperation in the fields of environmental protection and nuclear safety. The research cooperation between EU and the CEECs can be more or less classified as technical assistance to countries in economic transition. It is thus justified to use also TACIS and PHARE funds for this cooperation, specifically to finance the recipient countries' own share of the research costs. |
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The current arrangement whereby all cooperation with third countries falls under the same programme is not practical. A separate programme is needed for R&D cooperation with developing countries only when aspects vital to their own development are involved. Cooperation with other third countries would best be administered through Specific Programmes. |
1.3. The European Union's relationship with other joint European research organisations |
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Research supervised and funded by the EU is only a part of the multilateral European cooperation in science and technology. Generally speaking, the division of labour between existing European research organisations (for instance, EU Framework Programmes, COST, EUREKA, ESA, ESF, CERN and EMBL) is quite satisfactory and the programmes themselves complement each other rather well. |
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Almost without exception, EU Member States have already joined the most important European research organisations. This enables them to cooperate in the governing bodies of these organisations on the scale they consider desirable. |
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It is important that other European research organisations and funding systems are developed alongside related EU activities. It is not, however, necessary to increase coordination within the EU in matters which are decided in the governing bodies of other European research organisations. Nevertheless, cooperation between various organisations should be further promoted. |
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At present, the EU provides funds for the secretariat of COST and for several strategically important EUREKA projects. This has proved to be beneficial and should be continued. |
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According to the Treaties, EU research does not cover free basic research. European cooperation in this area must be developed by non-EU research institutions and funding systems. The European Science Foundation could take a major role in European coordination of basic research. |
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Part 2: Structure and priorities of the new framework programme |
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Part 3: Improving procedures
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