Next steps for the European Research Area, the role of policy coordination and OMC-NET Marnix Surgeon, European Commission DG RTD – C.3

2 Green Paper: The European Research Area: New Perspectives  Re-launching ERA: why and what?  Results of the consultation  Next steps

3 Why relaunch ERA (1/2)?  The Research branch of a European Knowledge Area… Broad Based Innovation Strategy (2006) European Higher Education Area (since Bologna 1999) European Research Area (2000 and 2007) …which is a central priority for the Lisbon strategy (new cycle )

4 Why relaunch ERA (2/2)? Internationalisation of research and global issues (climate change, energy security, health…) Despite progress of EU, national and regional reforms, fragmentation of R&D systems, policies and programmes remains  Challenges requiring a new impetus

5 The Green Paper: Vision & Questions  To free Europe’s knowledge potential… A “Fifth Freedom” for Knowledge …in all its dimensions: 1. A single labour market for researchers 2. World-class research infrastructures 3. Excellent research institutions 4. Effective knowledge sharing 5. Well co-ordinated research programmes and priorities 6. A wide opening of ERA to the world

6  European institutionsCouncil, EP, CoR, EESC (until Dec 07)  Member StatesNational contributions (until Dec 07)  Regions  Researchers  Research institutions  Business  Citizens  Experts, academicsExpert groups July 07-Jan 08  Consultation report early 2008 The Green Paper: consultation process Online consultation Free-form contributions Lisbon Conference 8-10 Oct 07

7 Contributions received  ~470 individuals (online contributions)  ~340 organisations (online and free-form)  14 Member States + 3 Associated States: BE, CZ*, DE, DK*, EE, ES, FI, FR, IE*, IT, NL, PL, SE*, UK CH, NO, TR *based on national consultations  Parallel work of 7 Expert Groups  Portuguese Presidency conference ‘The Future of Science and Technology in Europe’

8 Online contributions by country

9 Organisations having contributed  Higher education institutions  Public research organisations  Research funding organisations  Regional / local authorities and bodies  Large companies and industrial associations  European Technology Platforms  Scientific and professional associations  Civil society organisations CoR ERRIN =50 R’s SALAR Scotland Yorkshire Lower Saxony Wallonia Ile de France CCIP (Paris) Piemont Catalonia Basilicata

10 Broad analysis of contributions (1/3)  Broad support for coordinated EU and national action  On all six ERA dimensions « knowledge sharing » coming on top overall « researchers » coming on top for EU action  Preference for a flexible approach based on voluntary measures and variable geometry  Need for regional / local action perceived primarily for knowledge-sharing and research institutions

11 Broad analysis of contributions (2/3)  Preliminary analysis reveals strong stakeholder support for the ERA vision  High importance is accorded to each of the six specific ERA dimensions highlighted in the Green Paper, with "knowledge sharing" coming out on top  Though "realising a single labour market for researchers" being the most important in terms of need for action at EU level / National / regional levels perceived as most appropriate for action

12  Points to watch Links and synergies with education and innovation Governance of ERA Role of regions Role and requirements of industry Role of research performing organisations, other than Universities Broad analysis of contributions (3/3)

13  Read first draft report at  Full analysis coming soon Detailed analysis of contributions

14 Lisbon Conference – 8-10 October 2007  Large convergence with replies to Green Paper:  Knowledge policy central to deliver on the Lisbon agenda  Commitment of Member States and regions is key to progress  Integrate European dimension in national / regional policies  Commission role is to catalyse, facilitate and support  Support for a broad policy approach, linking research, innovation education and other policies.

15 Next steps (1/2)  Closely linked to the next Lisbon cycle  Step by step approach to build momentum… (no definitive “white paper”)  …in systematic partnership with MS, regions and stakeholders  Start in 2008 with concrete proposals in selected areas to encourage / facilitate / support actions at national and regional levels, with more consistency, coherence and joint action stronger and sustained commitment

16 Next steps (2/2)  Proposals planned for 2008 Framework / partnership focussing on key issues to improve researchers’ career prospects and mobility (virtual researchers’ passport) Community legal framework to facilitate the construction and operation of new pan-European infrastructures Recommendation & code of conduct for knowledge transfer between universities and industry (IP charter) Joint programming process to increase pooling of public efforts in relevant areas – bottom up and variable geometry European strategy for enhanced and coherent international S&T co-operation

The Commission will not build the ERA alone, neither by law nor by wishful thinking. A genuine European Research Area will only be created if all researchers, their institutions and companies, the Member States and regions as well as the Commission work together in partnership, with each accepting their responsibility for making it happen. Janez Potočnik Lisbon conference, October

Open Method of Coordination  building the partnership !  introduced with launch of Lisbon strategy in 2000  progress jointly towards common goals  goals, national action plans, benchmarks/indicators, monitoring and evaluation  research policy : implementation of 3 % target and 3 % action plan

Open Method of Coordination  CREST oversees implementation of the OMC in the field of research policy since 2003  yearly cycles  mututal learning, exchange of experience, common guidelines, policy recommendations  currently 4th cycle : policy mix peer reviews, universities, industry led competence centres, internationalisation of R&D

Open Method of Coordination  No direct involvement of regional authorities  but : results are relevant for regions  for instance : CREST guidelines on how to better coordinate the use of Structural Funds and the Framework Programme 

OMC-NET : bottom-up policy coordination  OMC  supervised by CREST  multi-lateral  issues of common interest  decision by CREST  limited support  only countries  no third countries  OMC-NET  call for proposals  smaller groups  issues of specific interest  bottom-up  resources for support  possibility to include regional actors  third country participation

OMC-NET : expected outcomes  Mutual learning and peer review of regional and national R&D policies  Identification of good practices  Concerted or joint policy initiatives between groups of countries and regions  Identification of issues requiring complementary and mutually reinforcing actions at MS and Community levels

OMC-NET : implementation  calls for proposals for Coordination and Support Actions  R&D policy makers form consortia  consortia decide themselves on topic for discussion/study  consortia submit proposal to Commission  projects selected on basis of independent evaluation and subsequent negotiation

OMC-NET  first call under FP6  8.5 M€  typically 2 year projects, about € budget  10 projects currently running

OMC-NET  BIS – RTDBuilding support for RTD policy and public spending  REACTRegional policy for technology transfer  COGNACCoordination of regional RDI policies  ERID WatchImproving public investment efficiency for RIs  ForTransRisTransregional foresight methodology  OMC-PTPPublic technology procurement  EUROPEER SME Support programmes for SMEs  CERT-TTT-MTraining of technology transfer managers  R4RRegional policies for knowledge transfer  SupPolicyInnovative assessment tools for policy making

OMC-NET in FP7  FP7 Specific Programme ‘Capacities’  Activity : ‘Support for the Coherent Development of Research Policies’  Support for bottom-up policy coordination activities undertaken by several countries/regions on issues of their specific interest  3 calls planned under FP7

OMC-NET in FP7  first call launched on 19 October 2007  sersite.FP7DetailsCallPage&CALL_ID=76 sersite.FP7DetailsCallPage&CALL_ID=76  7.5 M€ budget  call deadline : 26 June

OMC-NET : participation Who will participate?  Minimum 5 independent legal entities from 5 different MS or Associated States  The minimum number of participants will include only public bodies involved in the formulation of research related policies at national or regional level;  But will in addition include, other stakeholders: industry, European organisations, civil society, etc…

OMC-NET : topics Type of proposals ? Clearly focused proposals, dealing with specific R&D policy issues relating to :  developing an appropriate R&D policy mix  creating appropriate framework conditions for stimulating private R&D investment  improving the cooperation and transfer of technologies between public research institutes and private enterprises  developing and making better use of incentives to leverage private R&D  modernising the management of research institutions and universities  enhancing the carreer development and the European, international as well as intersectoral mobility of R&D personnel

OMC-NET : activities  Peer review  Exchange of experience and personnel  Joint evaluations and impact assessments  Quantitative comparisons of policy effectiveness  Identification of good practice  Policy recommendations  Transfer of policy  Joint/coordinated initiatives  Dissemation of results

OMC-NET : important points  focussed and well-defined topics  demonstrate potential for policy impact  be sufficiently ambitious  be attentive to synergies with other sources of information/other fora

Thank you ! Marnix Surgeon/Desislava Kolarova