Commission adds new structural indicators for innovation and research
The Commission is to include the number of science and technology graduates and expenditure on information and communication technologies (ICT) in its spring report on structural indicators in the EU. The report will be presented at the spring 2003 European Council meeting, and is designed to monitor Europe's progress towards achieving the Lisbon goal of becoming the world's most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010. The two new indicators will join five existing criteria to create a list of seven. The others are 'public expenditure on education', 'patents', 'venture capital', 'research and development expenditure' and 'level of Internet access'. The indicators are designed to allow comparison between Member States and other developed economies on issues considered to be key to competitiveness. The results of the report will highlight areas where there is room for improvement, and the Commission hopes that this will encourage national governments to pursue the necessary reforms.