Commission adopts strategy to boost EU regions' role in European research
The European Commission has adopted a Communication on 'The regional dimension of the European Research Area' as part of a drive to unlock the full research and innovation potential of the EU regions. The document proposes a variety of strategies aimed at further integrating regional and research policy in the EU in order to enhance the role of local policy and activities in building the European research area (ERA). It underlines the need for all European regions to take the initiative in developing their research and innovation capacity in order to prepare for the emerging knowledge economy of the future. It also highlights the wider strategic importance of giving fresh impetus to local economies through a well-targeted regional research strategy. European Research Commissioner, Philippe Busquin, said the new strategy would help to 'stimulate research operators at every level with the ultimate goal of creating a European research area.' He explained that the measures aimed to boost research and innovation development in the regions and ensure efficient networking between them. He added that some of the actions included in the strategy would become operational during the Sixth Framework programme (FP6) running from 2002 to 2006. Regional Policy Commissioner Michel Barnier said the strategy would build on the growing tendency of EU regions to conduct their own research policies and programmes: 'I am pleased that the concept of the European research area now provides a framework for these activities and initiatives to be oriented towards common goals.' Particular attention will be paid to the regional dimension of researcher mobility. One initiative proposed is the introduction of reintegration grants for researchers who have worked abroad within Europe bringing a project to their region of origin, under the Marie Curie researcher support scheme. Awards would be given to researchers from less favoured regions, particularly in candidate countries, returning from work abroad in Europe. A similar mechanism would be created for researchers who have carried out research outside Europe. The document also discusses the possibility of complementing framework programme funding with money from European structural funds, the principal EU funding mechanism for underdeveloped European regions. The move would aim to eradicate disparities between economically successful regions and Objective 1 regions, whose development is lagging behind. One of the most important differences between Objective 1 and other regions, the Commission states, is business expenditure for RTD (research and technological development) and innovation. The paper announces plans to increase synergy between RTD and regional development policy under the next framework programme by using structural funds to supplement framework programme funding where less developed regions are involved. It also states that structural fund priorities have been realigned to reflect the economic importance of research and development activity in the emerging knowledge society, saying that 'for the period 2000-2006, the structural funds explicitly place the promotion of research, innovation and the information society as a priority.' The paper also provides for the networking and coordination activities of EU Member States to be extended to a regional level. It suggests that the two key mechanisms of the ERA, networks of excellence and integrated projects, will help to safeguard and encourage the role of the regions in the wider research and development picture. It says that large-scale cooperation of the kind envisaged under the ERA will help to build links between central and peripheral scientific hubs and guard against the so-called interregional 'brain drain,' where scientists move from less favoured to richer regions. In addition, the paper includes a special initiative aimed at the outermost regions of EU territory, including the French departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and Reunion, Spain's Canary Islands and the autonomous Portuguese regions of Azores and Madeira. The strategy aims to build on the unique cultural, demographic and regional characteristics of these areas to develop of their research and innovation capacity. Suggested measures include work on tropical medicines or agriculture and aeronautics and space technology research which would build on the existing technological capacity of the regions. The Communication also sets out plans for the inclusion of regional research and innovation indicators in the Innovation Scoreboard, the Commission's annual benchmarking exercise across the EU and candidate countries. In addition, it aims to develop an integrated information system covering national and regional research and innovation programmes. It is hoped that this service will help to encourage transnational and transregional cooperation and the exchange of best practice. The European Commission proposed the creation of a European research area in January 2000 to initiate debate on the performance and organisation of European research and to stimulate innovative EU science and technology initiatives with the aim of creating a 'fully developed, functioning and interconnected research space, in which barriers would disappear, collaboration would flourish, and where a functional integration process would take place.'