On Friday 29 November in Brussels, the European Research Ministers acknowledged that Mario Draghi’s report on competitiveness should encourage the EU to step up investment in research to meet the challenges it faces.
During a debate within the Competitiveness Council on the contribution of research and innovation to the EU’s competitiveness, most ministers insisted on the need to devote an ambitious level of investment to European fundamental research that can generate innovations and get the European Union out of the trap of intermediate technologies.
At a press conference, Balázs Hankó, the Hungarian minister, stated that over the last 30 years, the EU’s influence in the international economy has declined. In terms of investment, 5% of venture capital is invested in the EU, and 50% in China. “We therefore need to be more competitive”, said the Hungarian minister, who issued a reminder of the three conclusions adopted by the Council.
The outgoing European Commissioner for Research, Iliana Ivanova, welcomed the conclusions endorsed by the ministers and said that it was necessary to increase investment, limit bureaucracy and promote careers in research.
Gap in research and excellence. Many ministers have also called for excellence to be placed at the heart of the Research Framework Programme by promoting breakthrough innovations and supporting leading-edge research. The gap that needs to be bridged in research, particularly within the EU, must not be bridged by sacrificing excellence, warned Denmark. Poland spoke of the innovation gap that separates us from other economic powers, but also the gap within the EU, which needs to be bridged, according to Polish minister Dariusz Wieczorek.
Denmark felt that Mr Draghi’s report was a wake-up call for moving to a ‘Research 2.0 Europe’. The Italian minister believes that the report’s recommendations “could be refined”, particularly with regard to strengthening governance.
Patrick Hetzel, the French Minister for Research, expressed concern that the report did not sufficiently reflect the benefits of collaboration between European research players, which is nevertheless a lever for strengthening the European Union’s scientific competitiveness. To strengthen governance, France has suggested setting up ‘industry committees’ bringing together the European Commission, the Member States and the key players in research (public and private). Industrial alliances could provide interesting platforms, according to Mr Hetzel.
Several ministers stressed the importance of mobilising private investment to make the European Union more competitive, because there is a big difference with the United States in this respect.
On the subject of the ‘Competitiveness Fund’ currently being drawn up at European level, France felt that it should include a clear line of action to support fundamental research.
Research Framework Programme. According to Spain’s Secretary of State, Juan Cruz Cigudosa, the Draghi report clearly shows that the 27 Member States are “not very dynamic or productive” when it comes to research and innovation. Madrid is banking on a robust and improved framework programme for research.
Financing. The ministers are committed to achieving the 3% of GDP in each EU country to be invested in research. More needs to be done in certain cutting-edge areas, according to Spain in particular. Belgium has stated that it devotes 3.41% of its GDP to research and development.
Conclusions on competitiveness. Furthermore, in their conclusions on competitiveness within Europe, the ministers considered that it was essential to increase investment in R&D and achieve the objective of 3% of GDP by 2030 (see EUROPE 13530/11).
To see their conclusions, go to https://aeur.eu/f/ejf
Several ministers (including those from France, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, etc.) stressed the need to respect the objective of collaboration based on scientific excellence. The projects supported at European level must be “evaluated and selected on the basis of this scientific quality”, said Patrick Hetzel.
Iliana Ivanova felt that “we are still a long way from our long-standing target of investing 3% of GDP in this sector”. She suggested that more should be done to improve working conditions for researchers and to mobilise talent.
Finally, the Council adopted conclusions on a possible European research and innovation initiative to promote the sustainable management of natural resources, the security of food systems and the deployment of the bioeconomy, exploiting the potential of Central and Eastern Europe.
To see their conclusions, go to https://aeur.eu/f/ek3 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)