Brussels, 06/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - European research ministers meeting in Council on Tuesday 6 December, in Brussels, had a first opportunity to set out their reactions to the new European Commission proposal concerning the next joint strategic framework for research and innovation, “Horizon 2020” (see EUROPE 10506). Ministers unanimously welcomed the work carried out by the European Commission, which placed particular emphasis on simplification of the programme's general structure (in three chapters/objectives), on the integration of funding programmes for both research and innovation, and on the importance granted to SMEs (€8.8 billion being devoted to this to promote innovation). The new strategic framework, which has a budget of €80 billion, was presented by the Commission on Wednesday 30 November and aims to replace the 7th framework programme that expires at the end of 2013.
Very few concerns have been expressed. That expressed by the Slovakian minister, Eugen Jurzyca, illustrates the apprehension felt by a number of member states, which have enjoyed little benefit from the current framework programme, at seeing their participation remain marginal. Although the main objective of Horizon 2020 is to translate European excellence in research and innovation into industrial opportunities, the weakness of a number of countries in these areas should today underline the idea of also resorting to the cohesion fund in order to stimulate national in research with a view to reducing gaps within the EU. The idea is seen in a favourable light, especially by Romania, which fears that the Commission's proposal embodies a de facto situation - that the Europe of research and innovation is a multi-speed Europe. During a conference after the Council meeting, this concern was answered by Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn (research, innovation and science), who recalled that, in the project presented, the Commission hopes to draw up a list of all the potential centres of excellence in low-result regions so as to allocate European structural fund resources to them to bring the infrastructure and equipment up to standard.
Other states, especially Germany and Belgium, expressed doubt about over-simplification and rationalisation of the Horizon 2020 programme. The fact of including in one and the same whole not only research and innovation programmes but also the funding of human and social sciences, means that this in itself entails the risk that there will be a temptation to “make money” out of the latter field, although not having the vocation of being transformed into industrial opportunities despite the general objectives set out in the Commission's proposal. (JK/transl.jl)