E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems EU environmental research : Part B Policy objectives  Lisbon strategy EU to be the world’s most dynamic and competitive knowledge economy by 2010  Increasing research excellence  Creating the European Research Area Greater coordination of research policies and activities  Increasing research investment Towards 3% of GDP by 2010, with 2/3 financed by industry Improved environment for commercial developments

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems 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 E.g. microelectronics, IT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, aerospace, energy technologies

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Context: research actors  For universities Sustainable funding, competing internationally Place in the economy and region  For industry Insufficient level of research investment  For public authorities Budget priorities Changing responsibilities: e.g. regionalisation

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Commission proposals for future European policy to support research  Proposals for the next budgetary period :  Sustainable development, competitiveness and the Lisbon agenda as priorities  Significant increase in research budget  Structural Funds to focus more on research and innovation

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Commission proposals  Commission communication on future research policy:  Further details on the Financial Perspective proposals  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

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Commission proposals Objective 1: Consolidating collaborative research Creating “poles of excellence” in priority areas  Proven European added value  Continuity with FP6, but with improvements, e.g. regarding instruments, procedures etc.  Priorities to be selected in consultation with the scientific community and industry: Where European value added is greatest To support EU policy objectives

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems 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 In most cases via support to collaborative research (e.g. Integrated Projects) In limited number of cases via “joint technology initiatives” based on Article 173 (e.g. Galileo)

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems 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

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems 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

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems 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 Based on support mechanism used for Trans-European Networks.  Role for “European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructures” (ESFRI)

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems 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

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Commission proposals: additional aspects  Raising research excellence in all regions Specific measures in regions with insufficient research capabilities Complementarity with Structural Fund support  Space and Security research  Innovation and SMEs  Supporting private finance for research  Improved procedures and management

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Steps towards FP7  Consultation on the Communication Do we have the right objectives Identifying priorities where EU value added is greatest Improving instruments, management and innovation aspects of FP  Consultations in Member States  Commission proposal for FP7 in early 2005

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Environmental research in the new Communication  Main lines of action  Essentially through objectives 1 (collaborative research) and 2 (technology initiatives)  Some explicit references  e.g. coordination of the MS activities (natural hazards, climate change)  The strong focus on technology initiatives  An important role for environmental research through ETAP and GEO

E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o nCommunity Research Global Change and Ecosystems Conclusions  Next FP6 calls adapted to the new policy context  Environmental research more technology and service oriented – involvement of the private sector a must  Future of the EU research policy  Doing better to do more  Emphasis on critical mass and excellence to attract R&D investments in Europe  The future of environmental research  Essentially through the continuation of collaborative research and the support to technology initiatives