Richard Escritt, Director – Coordination of Community Actions DG Research, European Commission “The development of the ERA: Experiences from FP6 and reflections for future European research policy ” Presentation to the Norwegian ERA-Forum 20 February, 2004

2 Contents  6 th Framework Programme: Experience from first round of calls  6 th Framework Programme: Progress on the integration of European research  Prospects for future European research policy

3 6 th Framework Programme  Significant changes from FP5  Increased budget  New instruments  New approaches (NEST, ERA Net)  Fully open to accession countries  Broadly successful implementation  High level of interest  On time and on budget  High quality proposals  Excellent partnerships in key areas of science

4 6 th Framework Programme First Round of Calls  Facts:  11,596 proposals submitted involving 106,117 participants from over 50 countries  1,500 of these proposals submitted for the New Instruments  A good coverage of the different thematic priority areas.  Partners from the acceding and candidate countries present in 40% of proposals

5 6 th Framework Programme First Round of Calls  Positive aspects:  High level of interest  Overall good quality of proposals  Increase in average number of participants per proposal and in size  Relatively good participation of SMEs (13.1% of budget; target: 15%)

6 6 th Framework Programme First Round of Calls  Concerns:  Oversubscription:  Better focusing of calls  (but not such a problem for ‘good’ quality proposals)  Understanding of Networks of Excellence:  Targeted training and information campaigns  Guidance for Proposers and Evaluators  “Show cases” (examples good projects)  Marimon panel  Website  Final report: end June 2004

7 6 th Framework Programme First Round of Calls  Concerns:  Participation of Industry  29,5% of all IP participants; 9,4% of all NoE participants  Further analysis required  Participation of Candidate Countries  no coordinators of IPs or NoEs  Special Actions to strengthen the participation of:  SME’s  Candidate Countries  “INCO”-countries

8 6 th Framework Programme: Process of Integration  ERA objective:  Better coordination, overcoming duplication and fragmentation, of research policies and activities  Approach:  For research activities  New Instruments: NoEs and IPs  For research programmes  Article 169, ERA-Net scheme  For national policies  application of the Open Method of Coordination to the 3% Barcelona Target (outside FP6)

9 6 th Framework Programme: Process of Integration  ERA-Net scheme  Bottom up approach  Aimed at programme managers  Progressive approach: exchange of information through to mutual opening up of programmes  ERA-Net 1 st call;  72 proposals received  32 selected for funding (14 CA and 18 SSA)  Examples in fields of medical emergency research, ageing, marine science in Baltic Sea countries  A need to expand ERA-Net?

th Framework Programme: Process of Integration  Article 169  EDCTP initiative  14 Member States + Norway  Joint programme  Funding: €200 million MS; €200 million Commission; €200 million other sources  Scope for further use of Art. 169?

1 6 th Framework Programme: Process of Integration  Application of OMC to 3% Barcelona objective  Most Member States have voluntarily set national targets to increase research investment  5 expert groups established, agreed with CREST:  Public research base and links with industry  SMEs and research  Fiscal measures for research  Intellectual property and research  Research public spending and policy mixes

1212 Future prospects: political context  Lisbon strategy  EU to be the world’s most dynamic and competitive knowledge economy by 2010  European Research Area  Greater coordination of research policies and activities  Increased investment in research  Towards 3% of GDP by 2010, with 2/3 financed by industry  Improved environment for commercial developments

1313 Future prospects: changing research environment  For universities  Sustainable funding  Rôle – diversity/ focus  Place in the economy and region  Ensuring critical mass, collaboration, viability  For industry  Poor research investment and environment for innovation  Increased outsourcing  Research in the service sector?  For public authorities  Budget priorities  Changing responsibilities: e.g. regionalisation  Targeted public interventions  Research for policy making (“Evidence based policy”)

1414 Future prospects for EU research policy  What financial envelope for EU research programmes?  Financial perspectives negotiations  Research support through the EU Structural Funds

1515 Future prospects: Themes for EU research programmes  5 themes corresponding to 5 major European issues 1. Stimulating the excellence of European research  Commission Communication on Basic Research  European level competitive funding  Grants for individual teams  European Research Council 2Strengthening research capacities  Training and mobility of researchers  A need to increase mobility, greater industry – academia mobility.  Research Infrastructures  An area for greater European collaboration  Involvement of private sector and not-for-profit sector

1616 Future prospects: Objectives for EU research programmes 3European scale public private partnerships  “European Technology Platforms” concept  Large scale, coordinated efforts for key breakthrough technologies 4Strengthening networking and collaboration  to stimulate ‘poles of excellence’  Continuity with FP6, but with improvements, e.g. greater focus, type of instruments, simplification 5Coordination of research programmes and policies  Building on experience of Article 169, ERA Net scheme, Open Method of Coordination approach  Support to policies  More focus at regional level coordination?

1717 Future prospects: Timetable of developments  Consultation on basic research started in January…  …financial perspectives communication, 10 February…  …Strategic Orientations Communication planned for Spring  … with particular emphasis on:  European Technology Platforms  Research Infrastructures  European Research Council  Coordination of national programmes  Partnership with other funding bodies  Commission proposal for FP7 in early 2005.