Experts call for new approach to research and innovation in Europe
Research and industry experts have called on the European Commission and the European Parliament to initiate a radical change to research and innovation policy in Europe. In a joint statement presented on 7 December on the premises of the European Parliament, they emphasised the need not only for improvements, but also for better long-term planning so that the EU can maintain a competitive edge. Choosing the transition to a new Commission and the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty as an opportunity to voice their concerns, the experts made a set of recommendations that - from their point of view - would help the EU weather current and future challenges. First, the focus should be on the greatest societal challenges. This means the focus should be shifted from the pace of technological change to the direction of that change. In this context, the experts also call for more coherent programmes and a more systematic approach in the European institutions to analyse long-term trends. Second, the five expert groups point out that the establishment of new networks, institutions and policies for open innovation should be encouraged. Their joint opinion is that research and innovation require open collaboration, which in turn requires an open environment for knowledge, talent and services to flow. 'We have more than 2,000 innovation clusters in Europe, few of global significance,' the statement reads. 'Despite 30 years of trying, we still have no common, EU-wide patent system. Mobility of researchers remains limited. To change this, we need policies that encourage new networks, knowledge institutions and mobility to integrate European innovation into global value creation.' Furthermore, the statement recommends that the EU should spend more on research, education and innovation, in part through bolder co-investment schemes. At the same time, research, development and innovation (RDI) programmes should be coordinated and planned better, both in Brussels and in the Member States. Finally, the experts stressed that open competition should be standard in EU programmes: 'Excellence must be the watchword of EU research, development and innovation programmes. [...] RDI programmes must focus scarce resources on the best. Only this way can we compete globally.' 'The European Union needs a new industrial narrative that will push the discussion and the agenda around innovation and knowledge,' commented Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Portugal, who hosted the meeting together with her colleague James Elles from the UK. 'That narrative is just now emerging as industries across Europe begin to lay the groundwork for a post-carbon Industrial Revolution.' 'While the US and China take long-term planning seriously, the EU still has no long-term planning system in place,' added Mr Elles. 'There is a need to establish an inter-institutional system identifying long-term trends facing the EU. This would allow policymakers to identify the key long-term trends underway and to develop the best responses to them. Long-term trends show that there is an urgent need to focus on research to remain competitive in global markets.' The five expert groups included the European Research Area Board (ERAB), the Business Panel on future EU innovation policy appointed by the European Commission's Directorate-General (DG) for Enterprise and Industry, the Expert Group on the role of Community research policy in the knowledge-based economy, made up of experts convened by DG Research, the European Technology Platforms Expert Group and the non-profit Science|Business Innovation Board.
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Belgium