Finns point to cooperation as potential key to ERA
Cooperation surfaced as the main element in explaining successful research and development at a recent pan-European meeting discussing the European Research Area (ERA) and national research policies. Representatives from several national R&D funding agencies discussed successful R&D in the context of the proposed European Commission's Framework Programmes and proposed ERA at an event hosted by Tekes (The national technology agency of Finland) and the Academy of Finland on 5 December. Finnish representatives, whose country lays claim to some of the most impressive research statistics in Europe, highlighted the principal role that cooperation has played in Finland's success. Both Reijo Vihko, President of the Academy of Finland and Dr Veli-Pekka Saarnivaara, Director General of Tekes. Finnish research is based on a balanced structure of funding and networking, said Dr Saarnivaara. Close cooperation exists between universities and business, big business and SMEs and in regional, national and international context. This high degree of cooperation makes Finland a model for the ERA, said a European Commission official at the event. The Commission has outlined the opening up of national programmes and increased co-ordination as vital for the creation of the ERA. Official Finnish comments on the Commission's ERA Communication, produced by the Committee for EU RTD affairs in Finland state that the Communication 'is a welcomed and important opening for two reasons. Firstly, it outlines the role and the tasks of EU research activities as part of the European Research Area and secondly, it acts as a basis for discussion on the objectives and principles of the Sixth RTD Framework Programme.' A meeting between Dr Saarnivaara and Professor Vihko, and Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin was scheduled after the event to discuss Finnish perspectives regarding the ERA. Dr Saarnivaara told CORDIS News that the ERA initiative 'contains a lot of good ideas', but that it is quite difficult at this stage to see the meaning of these ideas. He said that behind the ERA, a clear strategy, clear targets, commitment and patience are necessary, otherwise there is the risk that 'they [the ideas] could go in the wrong direction.' Mr Saarnivaara believes that most Member States are now willing to open up their programmes, and when asked by CORDIS News what the Commission could do to encourage this process, he suggested that 'the EU should think about developing incentives for co-operation.' Whilst supportive of the Commission using their power of influence, Mr Saarnivaara did however underline that the Commission should not seek to co-ordinate national programmes: 'Some countries want to be very independent and this shouldn't be a problem for the Commission', he said. This was also the opinion expressed by Martin Grabert, director of the German funding agency KoWi. He asserted that it is time for Commission to be proactive, and to encourage Europe-wide co-operation, but without imposing their own rules. Representatives from the European Commission however denied unwanted interference on the part of the Commission, pointing out that the heads of state and government indicated at the Lisbon summit in June 2000 that they wanted more involvement by the Commission in an effort to better co-ordinate European research. They also took the opportunity to highlight that, although the Commission can initiate the opening up of national research programmes, measures have to be taken at Member State level. Commission representatives also rejected a comment by Mr Grabert that concentration on ERA is in danger of marginalising the Framework Programme, and insisted that is being used as a tool in the creation of the ERA. Cees Vis, executive director of the Dutch R&D funding agency, NEST, whilst supportive of the ERA concept, was yet to be convinced that the plan can be realised. 'There is no federal Europe, but everyone wants to repair this lack of a federal Europe with the European Research Area', said Mr Vis. Governments are using the Commission's Framework programmes to enhance national competitiveness, whereas the concept of enhancing European research is a 'nice idea, but hasn't happened yet', Mr Vis added. He did however concede that there is a natural convergence between national research topics. Representing associated countries, Boris Cizelj, head of office of the Slovenian business and research association stated that 'being part of the Framework Programme is a major opportunity', and that Slovenia has been 'very satisfied with progress so far.' Mr Cizelj emphasised his opinion that finance is the key factor in developing an environment in which research can take place, but also recognised, along with all of the other participants, that money alone will not advance European research, enhanced co-operation is imperative.