Community Research European Commission EU environmental research Part

Community Research European Commission EU environmental research : Part B Policy objectives ° Lisbon strategy n EU to be the world’s most dynamic and competitive knowledge economy by 2010 1 Increasing research excellence 1 Creating the European Research Area n Greater coordination of research policies and activities 1 Increasing research investment n Towards 3% of GDP by 2010, with 2/3 financed by industry n Improved environment for commercial developments Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission Context: the research environment ° Increasing cost and complexity ° Growing need for critical mass and interdisciplinarity ° Importance of basic research ° Particularly true for areas of importance for future economic growth n E. g. microelectronics, IT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, aerospace, energy technologies Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission Context: research actors ° For universities n Sustainable funding, competing internationally n Place in the economy and region ° For industry n Insufficient level of research investment ° For public authorities n Budget priorities n Changing responsibilities: e. g. regionalisation Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals for future European policy to support research ° Proposals for the next budgetary period 2007 -13: 1 Sustainable development, competitiveness and the Lisbon agenda as priorities 1 Significant increase in research budget 1 Structural Funds to focus more on research and innovation Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals ° Commission communication on future research policy: 1 Further details on the Financial Perspective proposals 1 Launching a debate on the way forward for the 7 th Framework Programme ° Central objectives for future policy: 1 Consolidating collaborative research 2 Launching European technology initiatives 3 Stimulating creativity in basic research 4 Strengthen human resources 5 Developing research infrastructures 6 Coordinating national research programmes Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals Objective 1: Consolidating collaborative research Creating “poles of excellence” in priority areas 1 Proven European added value 1 Continuity with FP 6, but with improvements, n e. g. regarding instruments, procedures etc. 1 Priorities to be selected in consultation with the scientific community and industry: n Where European value added is greatest n To support EU policy objectives Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals Objective 2: Launching European technology initiatives Supporting large scale industry-based research initiatives in key technologies ° Formation of “technology platforms” with key stakeholders ° Definition of strategic research agendas ° Implementation of research agendas n In most cases via support to collaborative research (e. g. Integrated Projects) n In limited number of cases via “joint technology initiatives” based on Article 173 (e. g. Galileo) Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals Objective 3: Stimulating creativity in basic research Strengthening scientific excellence through competition at European level ° All fields of science ° Excellence as sole criterion ° Grants to individual research teams ° Administered by a European Research Council/ Agency Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals Objective 4: Strengthen human resources Improving research careers and making Europe more attractive for researchers ° Build on success of Marie Curie actions ° Trans-national, trans-sectoral, and industry-academia mobility ° Research careers and life-long learning ° International dimension Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals Objective 5: Developing research infrastructures Developing research capacity and a European policy for research infrastructure °Continued support for transnational access, networking and improved performance °Support to construction and operation of new infrastructures n Based on support mechanism used for Trans-European Networks. °Role for “European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructures” (ESFRI) Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals Objective 6: Coordinating national research programmes Increased coordination of national and regional research programmes ° Reinforce ERA-Net scheme and extend funding to research activities ° Use of Article 169 ° Reinforce links with other European research organisations Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission proposals: additional aspects ° Raising research excellence in all regions n Specific measures in regions with insufficient research capabilities n Complementarity with Structural Fund support ° Space and Security research ° Innovation and SMEs ° Supporting private finance for research ° Improved procedures and management Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission Steps towards FP 7 ° Consultation on the Communication n Do we have the right objectives n Identifying priorities where EU value added is greatest n Improving instruments, management and innovation aspects of FP ° Consultations in Member States ° Commission proposal for FP 7 in early 2005 Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission Environmental research in the new Communication ° Main lines of action 1 Essentially through objectives 1 (collaborative research) and 2 (technology initiatives) ° Some explicit references 1 e. g. coordination of the MS activities (natural hazards, climate change) ° The strong focus on technology initiatives 1 An important role for environmental research through ETAP and GEO Global Change and Ecosystems

Community Research European Commission Conclusions ° Next FP 6 calls adapted to the new policy context 1 Environmental research more technology and service oriented – involvement of the private sector a must ° Future of the EU research policy 1 Doing better to do more 1 Emphasis on critical mass and excellence to attract R&D investments in Europe ° The future of environmental research 1 Essentially through the continuation of collaborative research and the support to technology initiatives Global Change and Ecosystems