Commission demands double budget for research

By Tim King

Date: 31/03/05

The European Commission is proposing that the EU's research budget should be doubled and the funding rules simplified.

The scope, span and volume of EU action in research should be increased, but the burden of administrative and financial rules and procedures must be reduced, the Commission will say in its proposal on the 7th Framework Programme (FP), to be published next week (6 April).

The Commission wants to manage its doubled budget with no increase in staff. All logistical and administrative tasks not related to policy would be taken outside the Commission. An executive agency would manage administrative tasks for the Marie Curie programme and support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Another executive agency would support the European Research Council.

The Commission pledges to test its efforts at simplification on small research organisations such as small companies and university teams, which, it is feared, have been deterred by the Commission's red tape.

By contrast with the 6th Framework Programme, there will be greater emphasis on research themes. Security research and Space will be a new theme under the FP7, in addition to such existing themes as health, biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology, transport, energy and environment.

Large-scale multi-financed initiatives will be introduced to drive research in fields of major European public interest. Joint Technology Initiatives are envisaged in innovative medicine, nanoelectronics, aeronautics and air traffic management, hydrogen and fuel cells and global monitoring for environment and security.

The Commission also hopes to see joint implementation of national research programmes on themes such as metrology, biotechnology, social sciences and water research.

The Commission estimates that doubling the research budget will generate additional annual growth of 0.5-1% of gross domestic product.

FP7 will have four objectives, each supported by its own programme.

The Co-operation programme will promote collaboration between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities across the EU to "gain leadership" in scientific and technology. It will also support co-operation between the EU and non-EU countries "where there is mutual interest in doing so".

The Ideas programme will support "frontier research", putting a premium on excellence and attracting the best research talent. The European Research Council will fund projects that will be selected through peer review on the sole basis of scientific excellence.

The People programme aims to reinforce the existing Marie Curie support for researchers, helping with skills and career development and promoting mobility between university and industry.

The Capacities programme will support research infrastructures, promote regional clusters, support SMEs and co-ordinate an international science and technology co-operation policy.

The Commission argues that the new research initiatives "should not be considered as a cost but as the best possible investment in Europe's future". FP research has been oversubscribed and requires more resources, it says.

Anticipation of the European Commission's proposal on the 7th Framework Programme (FP), to be published on 6 April 2005.

The Commission was to propose that the EU's research budget should be doubled and the funding rules simplified.

The scope, span and volume of EU action in research should be increased, but the burden of administrative and financial rules and procedures had to be reduced.