R&D to the rescue

Traditionally the Spring summit has focused on the long-term innovation-related issues loosely termed the Lisbon agenda, after the city that hosted the event in 2000. That gathering has widely been derided since for having set unrealistic targets, in particular the plan to make Europe the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010.

Nine years on, and just 12 months from that fanciful deadline, Europe is arguably even further away from the 2010 goal, and the 27 prime ministers and presidents meeting next week have to tackle the worst economic downturn the continent has faced in living memory. Their focus will be on the short-term and their rhetoric is bound to be a lot more down to earth.

Nevertheless, this hasn’t deterred research commissioner Janez Potocnik from pressing the case for science and research. He argues that investment in Europe’s research infrastructure, and continued efforts to forge a European research area (ERA) should be viewed as part of the solution to the short-term economic malaise, not just a long-term wish.

“The current crisis is an even greater argument for better coordinated research investments and for encouraging companies and universities to compete and cooperate across Europe,” Potocnik told national science and industry ministers, who met in Brussels last week to prepare the ground for the summit.

Judging by the response, Potocnik does appear to have some support. Few if any ministers dispute the argument that investment in R&D will help pull countries out of the economic quagmire they are sinking into now.

However, investing at a European level, in addition to national efforts, is a different matter altogether. Potocnik made an impassioned plea not to retreat behind national parapets: “Just as there was a danger of Member States turning protectionist in response to crisis, there is also a danger of ‘research nationalism’”, the commissioner warned, adding, “We must tell loud and clear that, in times of interconnection and globalisation, protectionism is by no means the solution.”

Broadly, some countries in the more developed western half of the EU support initiatives at an EU level. France, for example, championed Potocnik’s vision of a European Research Area while it held the six-month rotating presidency of the EU in the second half of last year.

British prime minister Gordon Brown last month spoke about the UK having, “to play our part in supporting the work of an international scientific community,” in a speech at Oxford University.

Germany, on the other hand, appears less willing to share the benefits of its world class research with its neighbours, particularly with the poorer countries in eastern Europe, according to diplomats present at last week’s meeting.

“Germany appears to prefer to work in a reduced format, rather than within an EU-wide context”, said one diplomat who asked not to be named. “They ask why they should dilute their excellence with countries with weaker research credentials,” she said.

The Czech Republic has done little so far during its two or so months at the helm of the EU to boost EU-wide research. Many other countries suspect that research and innovation-related initiatives will have to wait until Sweden takes over at the end of June.

“Sweden is hoping to build on the success reached under France’s leadership in forging the ERA by reaching some agreement on the governance of the ERA,” said another diplomat, also requesting anonymity.

“Not much has moved forward under the Czech presidency, so don't expect too much from the summit,” he said.

The Czech Republic has however scheduled a debate on the role of energy and climate change research in boosting the EU’s economic prospects. “Research is on the agenda but not as directly as many other countries would like,” he added.