ERA gets Eureka endorsement
The Europe-wide collaborative research network EUREKA has backed the European Commission's plans for a European Research Area (ERA) and proposes a further initiative to encourage industrial innovation. EUREKA sees its proposals for a European Innovation Area as complementary to the ERA plans in creating a suitable climate to promote economic growth and employment in the EU and associated member states. In a letter to the European Research Commissioner, Philippe Busquin, on September 15, Eureka director Dr Heikki Kotilainen and deputy head Dr Jean-Michel Etarian outlined their ideas for co-ordinating the work of the Commission and EUREKA. They maintain that closer ties are necessary to remedy problems in the funding and co-ordination of European R&D caused by weaknesses and uncertainty in existing research and innovation policies. The first goal, they suggest, is to foster closer links between the EUREKA network and the innovation relay centres, created under the EC's Innovation programme to support technology transfer within small and medium sized companies. The second aim would be to establish a better working relationship between industry and universities. This is essential not only in identifying academic projects with potential applications in industry but would also help to prevent the 'brain drain' of talented European researchers to laboratories abroad. The third element in the EUREKA plan is to enhance local initiatives and to motivate local public policymakers in encouraging collaborations between industry and academia. EUREKA believes that its proposed European Innovation Area initiative provides an opportunity to channel the talents of industrial scientists and technologists towards the strategic goals of the ERA project. 'EUREKA has a unique network and understanding of innovation through its decentralised and bottom-up approach and our direct contacts with industry - this is what our proposal reflects,' Mr Kotilainen explained.