Towards a 6th Framework programme, with seven thematic priorities and three new instruments

Brussels, 07/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission proposal for the 6th research and development framework programme (RDFP) should be adopted by the College on 21 February or, if the interservice consulation is prolonged, on 28 February at the latest. It will then be presented to the Research Ministers during the informal meeting, which will take place in Uppsala from the 1 to 3 March 2001.

The talks presently underway between the Commission services mainly cover the structure and priorities proposed by the Directorate General Research in a first draft that does not yet mention any budget. However we already know that the 6th framework programme (2002-2006) should not see any substantial increase in its budget, which should respect the famous "Berlin ceiling". Taking into account the pressure of the additional budget linked to the financing of the BSE crisis, this increase will translate into, at best, the maintaining of the budget in real terms (taking into account inflation: Ed.). The budget and its allocation, in the form of percentages, between the various priorities of the programme should only be defined during the adoption of the Commission proposal. EUROPE believes that the interservice consultation has seen the development of certain difficulties mainly due to the service of Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, which wants for information technology to retain the same degree of priority than that given to it in the 5th framework programme. To do this, it would involve granting it a separate place within the framework programme. This attitude brings into question the whole structure of the sixth programme by inciting each service to want its specific programme. It also totally opposes the idea developed by the services of Commissioner Philippe Busquin who, with the support of scientists, wants to strengthen fundamental research in the crucial sectors of knowledge, innovation and the prospects in terms of industrial competitiveness. In this context, Community support should privilege the development of interoperable systems in the framework of information society while leaving behind numerous fine tuning and development activities that the industries from the sector can carry out without public subsidy.

• Integrate European research: this aspect, which also includes the international cooperation activities,, is subdivided into three parts:

1. Priority thematic research fields which are seven in number. In order: - genomics and biotechnology for health; - technologies for information society; - nanotechnology, intelligent materials and new production methods; - aeronautics and space; - food safety; - climate change and energy technologies for sustainable development; - European knowledge-based society. Added to these in the framework of Euratom are: - processing and storage of waste; - controlled thermonuclear fusion, Inter. Three new instruments will be used for the implementation of actions in these thematic fields. Firstly this concerns flat rate support to networks of excellence gathering together several universities and research centres around a common project of activities. The former directed research projects will be replaced by integrated projects on specific issues, by favouring a strong collaboration between universities and industry. They will continue to be cofinanced to the maximum of 50%. The third tool will allow to apply Article 169 of the Treaty (which has remained unused until now) by cofinancing (up to 50% research programmes jointly implemented by several Member States.

2. Anticipation of the EU's scientific and technological needs: this part is based on targeted call for proposals (research projects of limited scope, networking of competences, modelling work, socio-economic studies and research, definition of standards, validation of results and methods of analysis). Concerned are the activities carried out in the Member States, either in support of Union policies, or to answer the needs of emerging fields, as well as the activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

3. Complementary research activities for SMEs: the support to "collective research" and "cooperative research" actions implemented by small and medium sized enterprises is maintained in the framework of the maximum cofinancing of 50% from the research budgets

• Structure European Research Area: this aspect covers four chapters: - research and innovation (exchange of experiences, information and assistance services, technology transfers and incubators); - human resources and mobility (support for the hosting of European and third country researchers, professional return and reinsertion mechanisms for students and researchers who have left the EU, support for European research teams located at the highest level of excellence, scientific prizes); - infrastructure (transnational access, cooperation networks, feasibility studies and preparatory works to create new infrastructures, development of new infrastructures); - sciences and society (structures for ties between institutions at national and European level, exchange of experiences, statistical and methodology studies).
• Strengthen the foundations of the European Research Area: this aspects should enable the framework programme to bring financial support to reinforce to coordination of research activities in Europe, through the mutual opening of national programmes, the networking of national activities, of cooperation bodies cost (CERN, EMBL, ESO and ESA). The RDFP should also contribute towards the coherent development of research policies: analysis, studies, working groups, benchmarking, maps of excellence, improvement of the regulatory and administrative environment.