 |
Latvian RTD policy and the Fifth Framework Programme
For the Structured dialogue of the CEEC
and EU Research ministers, 14 May 1997 |
Research and technological development must be ascertained a key role in further economic growth, social and cultural development on a way of building the modern information society, as well as in rising the wide range competitiveness of the Europe at the international level..
Scientific research, both basic and applied, which constitute a core of RTD and an integral part of higher education, is regarded as one of the national priorities in cooperation with EU. Restructuring of research and higher education institutions, integration of research institutes into universities, competitive selection and turnover of personnel, tight contacts with industry, agriculture and social sphere, reorientation of the research potential to the national priorities and high international standard of research - these are the main tasks in cooperation of Latvian RTD with EU at the pre-accession period.
In the preaccession period Latvia reconsiders their RTD infrastructure, management and research priority areas in order to bring them into compliance with the rapidly changing socio-economic structure of the particular region and to stimulate integration into the European Union.
Latvian RTD priorities in collaboration with EU
A high scientific standard, competitiveness at the international level and the present efficiency of international contacts (particularly with EU), are taken as the main criteria for defining RTD priorities in collaboration with EU. At the present stage these priorities are:
1. information technologies and telematics;
2. life sciences and biotechnology (biomedicine, drug design, biotechnology);
3. new materials and technologies;
4. environmental protection (marine research and hydroecology).
International evaluation of the Latvian research pointed out a high standard in several areas - chemistry, physics, molecular biology, biotechnology, material mechanics and technology, information technology, that served for lay-out of the priorities.
Other areas of high importance for sustainable development are:
1. energy technologies;
2. forestry and agricultural research;
3. socio-economic research.
Structure of the 5th Framework Programme
5th Framework Programme must be consolidated and targeted to a clearly defined RTD areas, which are expected to be crucial for Europe in the next century and should increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the European research.
In each RTD area the well defined objectives must be formulated and clear targeting of calls for research projects is required, in order to concentrate EC funds on concrete research themes and to avoid undesirable spreading of resources too thinly, as well as to prevent the increasing number of non-accepted proposals. It might be reasonable to assign appropriate funds for RTD programmes, in which a limited number of participating countries may cooperate on a region- or problem-oriented basis.
Investment is required into high quality European research infrastructure by creating a network of the leading European research centres, training and mobility of researchers. Structural Funds might be used to strengthen and develop the key areas of European research.
The 5th Framework Programme must be linked with the relevant national research programmes to make RTD more concerted and nation-wide. Closer cooperation with the other EC programmes (EUREKA, COST, SOCRATES etc.) could be organized.
Participation of the CEE Countries in the 5th Framework Programme
Participation of researchers from the CEEC should be possible in all 5th Framework RTD areas, provided the research contribution of the CEEC partners are found to be sufficient for particular project. In general, all areas of the 5th Framework Programme on a competitive basis might be opened for RTD proposals coming from the CEEC. The financial contribution of the CEEC to the 5th Framework Programme might be allowed to be stepwise, in order to accommodate the national RTD budgets for full scale contribution within several years.
Participation of the CEEC in the main part (Activity I) of the 5th Framework Programme considerably changes the role and narrows the scope of INCO (Activity II) Programmes. INCO should be oriented mostly towards regional needs and priorities. In the Commission Paper on International Cooperation, INCO is designed a "regional approach, a means for targeted improvement in S&T". In that sense INCO in the 5th Framework could be used:
(1) for regional targets, e.g. Baltic See, regional environment protection etc. on a matching cost approach;
(2) to support the Centres of excellence in the RTD priority areas, so fulfilling the original task of INCO Programme - "safeguarding the RTD potential".
The Latvian policy for the restructuring of RTD
The national policy is oriented to the following two general targets.
1. Integration of the national research potential with the higher education by implementing general and sectorial plans and agreements. This particularly means to incorporate individual research institutions and their scientific staff into universities. The real integration will include: (i) restructuring of faculties, (ii) extensive participation of institutes in all level studies, (iii) reassessment and accreditation of study programmes, (iv) competitive election of academic personnel, based on national and international evaluation. At present time most of previous research institutes of the Latvian Academy of sciences are already joint to the universities or are on the way of that. However, a real functional integration is still a matter of time, which must be stimulated by financial and organizational means.
2. Reorientation of the research potential to national priorities in order to stimulate the more active involvement of researchers in solving the current economic, cultural and social problems. The development of the network of Technological centres and the increased impact of target-oriented research projects, initiated by researchers in scientific institutes and SME, is one of the milestones of the national RTD policy. Innovation and international cooperation in high-tech areas must be highly supported by national and international funds. However, the permanent lack of demands from the industry and agricultural sector, due to serious developmental problems, highly influences the innovation processes and ceases involvement of the RTD potential in solving the national economic and social problems.
3. Creation of the Centres of excellence in priority areas in recognition of scientific merit and productivity. High scientific productivity and international standard of research in the areas of national priority, integrated research and teaching will be set as the main criteria for nominating a limited number of research institutions as Centres of excellence, which receive a special governmental support and encouragement. The following criteria for the selection of candidates are:
1. evidently high internationally recognized level of research;
2. high standard of research, integrated with efficient teaching at the university level;
3. well developed international collaboration in research and training;
4. profile of the given institution coinciding with the national research priorities;
5. results expected to be remarkably developmental and innovative.
Support and build-up of the RTD infrastructure
At present, when the mobility of Latvian scientists is rather efficient without serious limitations in getting fellowships, the main strategic task is to strengthen the RTD infrastructure and considerably enhance the collaboration with European and world research centres. That strategic policy can be realized by:
1. restructuring of research institutions and establishing of the Centres of excellence;
2. considerable strengthening of the university science;
3. stimulating the institutional collaboration and joining to the regional and European RTD networks;
4. organizing the common research laboratories with the European scientific centres;
5. regular meeting and efficient collaboration between Latvian and European research management institutions.
At the next stage of RTD cooperation between EU and CEEC, what coincides with the start of accession period to EU and launch of the 5th Framework Programme, the RTD infrastructure build-up in the CEEC becomes a priority. Cooperation in the research projects and mobility of researchers, realized in the present RTD collaboration programmes, must be supplemented by RTD infrastructure build-up programme. That programme might be targeted to the cooperation at the institutional level, restructuring of RTD institutions in compliance with that in the EU and creation of the Centres of excellence in the priority areas. The existing experience of DG Research and DG Regional Policy by using the EU Structural Funds under STRIDE Programme to strengthen RTD capacity in less favored EU regions, might be applied to RTD infrastructure build-up in the CEEC.
The recent EU policy to use such Community instrument as PHARE (up to 10% of national PHARE annual budget) to support RTD infrastructure and capacity building, as well as to promote the participation in RTD Framework Programme might be a powerful measure to restructure the RTD system in the CEEC and to stimulate the cooperation with the EU. In that respect the present EU policy could be transferred also to the next period, started from 1999. Latvia had decided to use from 1998 the PHARE funds to complement the national budget for restructuring of RTD and infrastructure build-up in order to bring the Latvian RTD system in more compliance with the EU requirements.
Juris Celmins
Minister of education and science |
|
| |
