IRDAC opinion on Innovation Action Plan
The First Action Plan for Innovation in Europe is the subject of the latest opinion from IRDAC, the Commission's Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee. IRDAC welcomes the Action Plan, which responds to its wishes to see an integrated approach to innovation established. In particular, the Committee is pleased that the Commission has made innovation a specific objective for all Community instruments, such as the Structural Funds, in addition to the Fifth RTD Framework Programme. It regrets, however, that the Commission has not set out a detailed schedule for the implementation of the diverse measures proposed. The opinion outlines those measures which IRDAC sees as a priority. It calls on the Commission to give strong priority to the establishment of a legal, regulatory and financial framework conducive to innovation. This will include measures to improve the mobility of researchers, access to capital, in particular venture capital, and the European patent system. The Commission should also take measures to increase awareness among researchers, SMEs and investors of innovation issues, including intellectual property rights. Creating an innovation culture is also supported strongly by IRDAC, which calls for a creative and entrepreneurial spirit to be stimulated from an early age. Students must be attracted to science and technology areas, but they must also be given the necessary background in areas such as management and administration, according to IRDAC. Whilst action in this area is primarily the responsibility of Member States, the Commission can play a role in fields such as mobility of young researchers and engineers. In respect of gearing research towards innovation, IRDAC calls for projects funded by the Fifth Framework Programme to be more concentrated on those which are innovative in terms of science and technology and those which are more user-oriented. Whilst the selection criteria should be clear and exhaustive, the selection procedures should be simplified and speeded up.