European Commission launches online information platform on national R&D and policies
The European Commission has launched ERAWATCH, an online information platform on research systems and policies within the European Union. ERAWATCH provides policy makers and policy analysts working in science and research with condensed and updated information and analysis on the development of research systems, programmes and policies in all Member States of the European Union, plus the US, China and Japan. Conceived to support the ongoing construction of the European Research Area (ERA), it contains information on recent policy documents, research programmes, funding agencies, research performance, as well as major indicators such as expenditure, publications and patents. In this way, policy makers will be able to compare the inputs and outputs of the research system and use this information to design better science policies at all levels. For example, a user could ask about tax and fiscal measures for researchers 'Many governments give tax breaks for research. You can see for all countries what they do, if anything, and compare them,' Patrice Laget, Head of the Supporting the ERA (SERA) Unit at the Joint Research Centre's Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS), told CORDIS News in July. EU Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik, said: 'Figures released today show that research investment in the EU in 2005 has stagnated. This just goes to show the importance of implementing the measures proposed by the Commission in the Growth and Jobs Strategy in 2005. If we are to see improvement in the future, we need to press on. A fully functioning European Research Area will allow us to make the most of the resources we have and encourage further investment. 'ERAWATCH is an invaluable service that will allow us to take action to improve the functioning of the European Research Area on the basis of solid and accurate information. I hope to present to the College later this year proposals to revitalise the European Research Area as a major project for Europe's future,' he continued. The site is kept up-to-date by a network of national contact organisations that collect and organise the information presented. Within its 'Intelligence Service', ERAWATCH develops further analyses and reports on research and related policies, as well as on the trends and factors influencing them. ERAWATCH is also a user-driven service, allowing users to access and customise the way information is presented and downloaded. They are also invited to provide feedback so that the service can be developed and improved.