ESTA opinion on the Fifth Framework Programme
The European Science and Technology Assembly (ESTA) has published a report on "The competitive position of European science, technology and industry", presenting its opinion on the forthcoming Fifth RTD Framework Programme. ESTA consists of 100 representatives of the European scientific and industrial research communities, and provides assistance to the European Commission in the implementation of European RTD policy. ESTA believes that although the EU has a strong science base in comparison to the USA and Japan, in the areas of production and application Europe lags behind both. This weakness should be a priority for the EU, according to ESTA. It suggests that the EU conduct a "technology foresight" exercise, similar to those carried out by some Member States, including the UK and France, in recent years. This exercise would result in a report, based on science and technology indicators, which would be a major input to the formulation of the Fifth Framework Programme. ESTA recommends that, in relation to the Fifth Framework Programme, Europe should maintain its science base, particularly its quality and output, and should strengthen key technologies in relation to the USA and Japan. The transfer and diffusion of scientific knowledge should receive more emphasis in the formulation of policy. As regards the current specific RTD programmes in the Fourth Framework Programme, ESTA suggests that these be maintained in the Fifth Framework Programme. However, the second and third activities (cooperation with third countries and dissemination and exploitation of results) should be examined carefully and compared with US and Japanese activities in the same areas. ESTA suggests that greater coordination between national and European technology policies is needed, although the main responsibility should be at national level, with European RTD programmes complementing the national programmes in areas of major importance to European competitiveness. ESTA also recommends that the EU examine the needs of SMEs in relation to RTD programmes more carefully, in particular for the Training and Mobility of Researchers programme. Finally, ESTA recommends that a number of social and economic issues, many of which are addressed in the Commission's Green Paper on Innovation, be considered extensively in the development of the Fifth Framework Programme.