Reduced FP7 budget calls for process of prioritisation, says Potocnik
With the European Council reaching a compromise on the EU's Financial Perspectives that falls short of the proposed doubling of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) budget, Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik has called for a prioritisation of resources on those areas with the greatest added value. Speaking to an audience of industrial participants in European Technology Platforms (ETPs) in Brussels on 16 December, Mr Potocnik correctly predicted that the Council would not provide all the funds for FP7 originally requested by the Commission. Therefore, he said, 'we will have to prioritise and focus our resources on those topics that have the greatest added value, both in terms of the European dimension and in terms of transforming knowledge into growth.' Having already helped to shape the FP7 proposals through their strategic research agendas, ETPs will be close partners in the process of drafting the specific work programmes, he added. Given the lower than hoped for budget for FP7, Commissioner Potocnik also stressed the importance of finding opportunities within the Structural Funds to invest in research and innovation. 'I believe that Technology Platforms could usefully draw attention to opportunities for investment in this sector,' he said. Despite expressing high hopes for the role that ETPs can play in the EU's Growth and Jobs strategy, the Commissioner warned that two factors will be crucial to their future success. First, platforms must demonstrate openness and transparency to avoid being perceived as closed shops representing narrow industry interests. 'The second factor is to avoid dilution [... with] a technology platform for every subject or lobby under the sun,' he added. Mr Potocnik concluded: 'We want to invest in you, because we strongly believe that you action can yield interesting dividends. We are not opportunistic investors. We invest for the long haul, but of course we want to see results. I trust that you will do what you can to optimise the shareholder value that we would expect.'