1. The Open Method of Coordination as an example of policy learning at the European Level Six Countries Programme Stockholm May Peder Christensen DG RTD.M.2

2. The 3% objective
Barcelona summit in target of investment in R&D: « to approach 3% in 2010 »
With an «appropriate split» 1/3 financed by public funds and by 2/3 private – i.e. 1% public/2% private
For the EU in 2003:
- R&D expenditure in % of GDP: 1.93%
- Financed by business: 55%
(Source: Key Figures 2005)

3. Reaching the 3% objective
Main lines of action:
The «3% Action Plan» in 2003 (Open Method of Coordination 3%, Community Actions etc.)
The National Reform Programmes introduced by Lisbon II
Note: the Framework Programmes make up a relatively small proportion of overall EU R&D spending

4. The Open Method of Coordination 3% (OMC 3%) (1)
Background:
At the Spring summit in 2003 it was decided to apply the OMC to R&D policy making
The Competitiveness Council entrusted CREST to be the operational interface between Member States when applying the OMC
CREST is the EU’s Scientific and Technical Research Committee

5. The Open Method of Coordination 3% (2)
Aim:
To achieve greater convergence towards EU goals by helping Member States progressively improve their own policies in areas where policy competence lies primarily at national level
Means:
Mutual learning
Concerted/joint actions between Member States or regions
Community initiatives reinforcing actions at Member State level

6. The Open Method of Coordination 3% (3)
The 1st cycle (November 03 – June 04):
Five CREST Expert Groups:
- Public Research Base and Links with Industry
- SMEs and Research
- Fiscal Measures for Research
- Intellectual Property and Research
- Research Public Spending and Policy Mixes
CREST report (October 2004) : 30 recommendations

7. The Open Method of Coordination 3% (4)
The 2nd cycle (November 04 – May 06):
Five CREST Expert Groups:
- Public Research Base and Links with Industry
- Measures for promoting research intensive SMEs
- Fiscal Measures for Research
- Intellectual Property and Research
- Policy Mix Group
CREST report (May 2006)

8. The Open Method of Coordination 3% (5)
Reinforcing the OMC 3% in the future:
Continue to work with groups of Member State Experts
Launch OMC-NET (pilot call euro 8.7 mill)
Establish sub-groups of CREST
Link the OMC 3% more to the Lisbon Strategy and in particular the National Reform Programmes

9. The National Reform Programmes (1)
Member States submitted National Reform Programmes (NRPs) in October 2005
Basis for the NRPs: “Integrated Guidelines 2005”
Broad Economic Policy Guidelines
Employment Guidelines
Commission assessed the National Reform Programmes in November/December 2005
Commission reported to Spring Summit 2006 in its Annual Progress Report (APR)

10. The National Reform Programmes (5)
In 2006 Member State Progress Reports:
June/July 2006 – country visits
1- 15 October 2006 – Progress Reports are presented
November/December - assessment by Commission
APR 2006 adopted before Christmas 2006

11. The National Reform Programmes (6)
Summary of assessment:
R&D intensity < 1%: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Malta, Cyprus, Greece and Portugal
1% < R&D intensity < 2%: Spain, Italy, Ireland, The Netherlands, The UK, Luxembourg, Slovenia, The Czech republic
2% < R&D intensity < 3%: France, Austria Belgium, Germany, Denmark
R&D intensity > 3%: Sweden, Finland

12. The National Reform Programmes (7)
Common themes:
Increase investment in public research
Improved public-private sector interaction
Increased relevance of public R&D
Improved knowledge transfer
Public-Private Partnerships
Promote research intensive SMEs
Increase number of researchers

13. Combining the NRPs and the OMC 3%
The NRPs provide a complete overview of the policy mix of a country including the place of research
Many common themes between the OMC 3% and the parts of the NRPs concerned with research
The NRPs effectively provides a « feed-back » loop on implementation of OMC 3% measures
Proposal: to use the NRPs as a basis for mutual learning in the OMC3%

14. Will we reach 3%...?
All Member States have set targets for their R&D investment in 2010 and most NRPs are quite ambitious on R&D
If Member States reach their targets, then it is likely that the EU will be around % in 2010 (APR 2005 and Summit Conclusions)
However, it may be more important in which way the target of 3% is approached

15. Thank you for your attention!

16. Reaching the 3% objective (1)
Is easy……
The UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands account for about 85% of R&D expenditures in the EU. If they were to increase by 50%, then….
But is that the purpose?

17. The National Reform Programmes (2)
Integrated Guideline 7:
The overall objective for 2010 of 3% of GDP is confirmed with an adequate split between private and public investment, Member States will define specific intermediate levels
Member States should further develop a mix of measures appropriate to foster R&D, in particular business R&D, through:

18. The National Reform Programmes (3)
Integrated Guideline 7 (continued):
1. improved framework conditions and ensuring that companies operate in a sufficiently competitive and attractive environment
2. more effective and efficient public expenditure on R&D and developing PPPs
3. developing and strengthening centres of excellence of educational and research institutions in Member States, as well as creating new ones where appropriate, and improving the cooperation and transfer of technologies between public research institute and private enterprises;

19. The National Reform Programmes (4)
Integrated Guideline 7 (continued):
4. developing and making better use of incentives to leverage private R&D;
5. modernising the management of research institutions and universities;
6. ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified researchers by attracting more students into scientific, technical and engineering disciplines and enhancing the career development and the European, international as well as intersectoral mobility of researchers and development personnel.