Give Regions the relevant means for a role in R&D
11 March 2005 - 11 March 2005
"In the report approved yesterday, there is no specific mention of the role of the regions, affirmed Pia Locatelli, the European Parliament's rapporteur on this issue. "This is intentional, since they are omnipresent. In each chapter, you will see the role the regions need to play at all levels.
The delegates set out recommendations on the content and delivery of the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) and regional policy for the 2007-2013 period. It was not to be forgotten though that "we are up against a major problem which is one of funding, as recalled by the Director General of DG Research of the European Commission, Achilleas Mitsos, referring to the adoption of the financial perspectives.
The delegates underlined the need to implement actions designed to:
1) Support regional authorities
Firstly, regional authorities play an organising and coordinating role for research efforts undertaken in their region. To support them in these activities, a Regional Research Strategy along the same lines as the initiative implemented in the field of innovation (Regional Innovation Strategy RIS) could be introduced.,Secondly, the exchange of best practices and regional networking provide an important source for improving delivery. An ERA-Net scheme specifically dedicated to the regions together with a continuation of the "regions of knowledge initiative would be suitable instruments for this. Achilleas Mitsos stated that he was interested in receiving the views of the regions regarding the content of this scheme. Finally, it is important to clarify how regional authorities should be involved in technological platforms, by establishing clear rules in this area.
2) Support regional stakeholders
SMEs are at the top of the list of regional stakeholders requiring support. It is important to target RTD-FP actions in their favour, by setting up intermediary organisations designed to assist small businesses for example. ,It is also necessary to strengthen ties between large research facilities and regional business communities. FP7 could provide the appropriate instruments for this. Similarly, to allow greater interaction between universities and SMEs, "Multidisciplinary Liaison Offices could be set up in each European region.
3) Allow dialogue with regional partners
It is highly desirable to develop genuine coordination between EU research policy and EU regional policy in order to avoid all forms of useless duplication, scattering and waste of public funding. Moreover, with a view to maximising regional delivery of Community research policy, tripartite meetings between the European Commission, Member States and Regions could be organised on a two-year basis.
4) Take into account Europe's maritime dimension
The CPMR brings together 151 maritime regions and will be actively contributing towards the Green Paper on EU maritime policy. It maintains that marine research could be an innovative cross-cutting item in the 6 priority pillars and themes of FP7, since it is the source of an as yet untapped potential for European growth.
The Commission is due to finalise its proposals for FP7 in April. The framework programme will then go through the co-decision process.
The delegates set out recommendations on the content and delivery of the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) and regional policy for the 2007-2013 period. It was not to be forgotten though that "we are up against a major problem which is one of funding, as recalled by the Director General of DG Research of the European Commission, Achilleas Mitsos, referring to the adoption of the financial perspectives.
The delegates underlined the need to implement actions designed to:
1) Support regional authorities
Firstly, regional authorities play an organising and coordinating role for research efforts undertaken in their region. To support them in these activities, a Regional Research Strategy along the same lines as the initiative implemented in the field of innovation (Regional Innovation Strategy RIS) could be introduced.,Secondly, the exchange of best practices and regional networking provide an important source for improving delivery. An ERA-Net scheme specifically dedicated to the regions together with a continuation of the "regions of knowledge initiative would be suitable instruments for this. Achilleas Mitsos stated that he was interested in receiving the views of the regions regarding the content of this scheme. Finally, it is important to clarify how regional authorities should be involved in technological platforms, by establishing clear rules in this area.
2) Support regional stakeholders
SMEs are at the top of the list of regional stakeholders requiring support. It is important to target RTD-FP actions in their favour, by setting up intermediary organisations designed to assist small businesses for example. ,It is also necessary to strengthen ties between large research facilities and regional business communities. FP7 could provide the appropriate instruments for this. Similarly, to allow greater interaction between universities and SMEs, "Multidisciplinary Liaison Offices could be set up in each European region.
3) Allow dialogue with regional partners
It is highly desirable to develop genuine coordination between EU research policy and EU regional policy in order to avoid all forms of useless duplication, scattering and waste of public funding. Moreover, with a view to maximising regional delivery of Community research policy, tripartite meetings between the European Commission, Member States and Regions could be organised on a two-year basis.
4) Take into account Europe's maritime dimension
The CPMR brings together 151 maritime regions and will be actively contributing towards the Green Paper on EU maritime policy. It maintains that marine research could be an innovative cross-cutting item in the 6 priority pillars and themes of FP7, since it is the source of an as yet untapped potential for European growth.
The Commission is due to finalise its proposals for FP7 in April. The framework programme will then go through the co-decision process.
Keywords
7 FP