Reding warns against reduction in ICT research during budget negotiations
Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding has told the European Parliament and Council that it is 'essential' that the share of the EU research budget devoted to information and communication technologies (ICT) is not reduced during their negotiations on the Financial Perspectives. The Commissioner made the appeal at a conference on investment in ICT research and innovation in Vienna, Austria, on 23 March. She highlighted the gap in ICT investment between the EU and the US and Japan, and said the threat posed by this gap goes far beyond the competitiveness of the ICT sector itself. 'Those nations that master the development of ICT will be the best positioned to benefit from it in their economy and society. What is at stake therefore is the future development of the whole EU economy. It is about our capacity to face our key societal challenges and to ensure the security of our citizens,' Ms Reding argued. The Commissioner pointed to a recent study carried out by Boston Consulting in Germany, which concluded that a well designed 'ICT Master Plan' that combines training, public sector leadership in innovation and active promotion of ICT innovation and research could boost the German economy by 138 billion euro in three years. 'If such an ICT strategy could provide a gain of 138 billion euro for Germany, imagine what it could do for Europe as a whole!' she said. Alongside the increase in Community funding for ICT research, the Commission is calling for a rise in national spending, better conditions for attracting private investment in technology research, improved coordination of EU, national and industrial research efforts, and actions to ensure that ICT research leads to innovative products and services for citizens and businesses. All of these objectives are addressed in the Commission's i2010 initiative, added Ms Reding. The Commissioner concluded by calling on stakeholders at the conference to outline concrete actions rather than a list of wishes and claims: 'These cannot be only actions for the Commission. They cannot be just actions for governments. They have to be for all of us - business, society, governments, policy makers and others - to work together and shape our future.'