The European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) has strongly supported the proposal to establish a new European Innovation Council (EIC), saying that currently EU innovation activities remain scattered and without focus.
“The EIC should be the tool to support consolidation of innovation investments at EU level,” EARTO says in a paper published in December.
EARTO is one of the first off the blocks with a published response to the proposal for the new council, which was made last June by EU Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas. His vision is to create a body to promote and support innovation in the same way as the European Research Council supports the best science.
The idea stems in part from business and researcher feedback on how confusing it is to find financial support from the EU’s many funding programmes, despite recent improvements. Mooting the formation of the EIC, Moedas said, “Europe does not yet have a world class scheme to support the very best innovations in the way that the European Research Council is the global reference for supporting excellent science.”
EARTO is in agreement that EU funding options could be simplified, but says that by and large the new council, “should be focused on how to bring research results to the market (i.e. crossing the valley of death) and how to ensure a full deployment of new technological opportunities by European industry to generate impact, keep and create jobs and economic growth in Europe.”
The EIC should be an ambitious body and not just a, “vehicle for handling existing Horizon 2020 [research] programme [grants],” with a role to play across a wide range of EU policies, including regional development, competition, digital single market plans and climate and energy initiatives.
EIC can draw up strategy for new innovation facilities
The EIC imprimatur could be used to back the creation of new technology infrastructures, EARTO suggests, much like the EU-run European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) provides strategic direction for new science clusters.
ESFRI is charged with drawing up a wish-list of new research networks and facilities. In 2008 it listed 44 research infrastructures of keen interest for Europe’s scientists.
By contrast, there is no dedicated instrument to support technology infrastructures at EU level,” EARTO notes, saying, “Without a clear policy on innovation infrastructures in Europe… EU’s strategy on innovation will fail to sustain EU stakeholders to compete with global players.”
Technology infrastructures do not get the same support from the EU as science institutes
Who should run the new council?
EARTO believes EIC governance could draw inspiration from the ERC model, which is run by 22 scientists, saying the EIC governing body should be filled with members from research institutes and representatives from small and large businesses.
Read full EARTO position here.
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