Commission unveils proposals to pull all EU research funding under one umbrella

The Commission is proposing to bring all the research it funds under a single umbrella, a move that could have implications for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), and for money for renewing research infrastructure and promoting innovation that is channelled through the Structural Funds.

The EU lacks a joined-up approach to research and innovation, there are no clear objectives, funding is spread too thinly, and there is duplication and fragmentation, the Commission says in its Green Paper on innovation, published this week (9 February).

Uniting all research-related budgets together under a so-called Common Strategic Framework would make EU funding more attractive and easier to access, underpin a simpler and more efficient way of allocating and managing grants, and make it possible to have a streamlined set of programmes, spanning the whole of the innovation chain in a seamless manner. Rather than hypothecating funding to particular researchers, grants could be given out as lumps sums and those getting the money could handle it through their own accounting systems.

Replace rigidity with flexibility

Procedures need to be simplified, rules made more consistent and predictable, and overlap and duplication between programmes removed, said Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, as she launched a public consultation on the Green Paper, which sets out the Commission’s proposals for how the EU should organise its research funding after 2013, when the current Framework Programme 7 ends.  “We are asking for stakeholders’ help in replacing rigidity with flexibility and in replacing confusion with consistency,” Geoghegan-Quinn said.

The current budgets in the 2007 – 2013 spending cycle for the R&D programmes the Commission wants to corral into the Common Framework are: Euro 53.3 billion for Framework Programme 7; Euro 309 million for EIT; Euro 3.6 billion for the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme, which is directed at SMEs; and Euro 86 billion from the Structural Funds budget (in support of the Cohesion Policy, which aims to bring all Member States to the same stage of economic development).

The Green Paper, ‘From Challenges to Opportunities: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation funding’ says that as a first step for making better use of this funding there is a need to focus on clarifying objectives and how these are translated into funded programmes.

There is also a pressing need to reduce complexity. Over time, EU research and innovation programmes have multiplied and expanded to the point where there are too many uncoordinated programmes, spreading funding too thinly. A lack of coordination between EU and Member State funding adds to the complexity and leaves a potential for overlap and duplication, for example in measures to support SMEs, or attempts to increase the supply of risk capital.

Increase scope, reach critical mass

Avoiding duplication and fragmentation would allow the EU to add more value in terms of the research it funds, enable it to attract more private funding, and by pooling of national and regional programmes, achieve scope and critical mass.

There is another promise to cut red tape, reduce the time taken to award and pay grants, and place more trust in researchers.

Following consultation on the Common Strategic Framework, a concrete set of proposals – and a new name for the EU’s research programmes - will be announced at a conference on 10 June.

The proposals are in line with the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 4 February, when innovation made it onto the agenda for the first time. Heads of state at the meeting endorsed the Commission’s Innovation Union strategy and called for a more simplified approach to funding.

“It is crucial that EU instruments aimed at fostering R&D and innovation be simplified in order to facilitate their take-up by the best scientists and the most innovative companies,” the Council said in its conclusions. “In particular, the relevant institutions need to agree a new balance between trust and control, and between risk taking and risk avoidance.”

Budget still to be decided

Geoghegan-Quinn wouldn’t be drawn on how big the budget will be after 2013. Instead she noted the recognition and support at last week’s Council and recent meetings at the European Parliament for innovation to become an integral part of economic policy.

The Green Paper is open for comments until 20 May. It was issued by Geoghegan-Quinn in cooperation with six other Commissioners with responsibility for research and innovation: Siim Kallas (transport), Neelie Kroes (digital agenda), Antonio Tajani (industry and entrepreneurship), Androulla Vassiliou (education), Janez Potočnik (environment) and Guenther Oettinger (energy). These commissioners are also members of the broader innovation group of commissioners, headed by Geoghegan-Quinn.

Response to FP7 mid-term review

The Commission’s proposals for future research and innovation spending are designed to take account of the mid-term review of the 7th Framework Programme published last November, and to which the Commission 9 February responded this week (9 February).

The review by ten independent experts made ten recommendations for improvements before the end of FP7 in 2013. Yesterday’s response outlines which actions the Commission intends to take and those areas where no obvious or immediate solution exists. 

Links:

The Commission response to FP7 mid-term review

EU Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework for future EU Research and Innovation Funding