Finns to reveal blueprint for world-beating EU economy

The Finnish presidency will next month (4 December) unveil an ambitious innovation strategy designed to boost EU competitiveness which will set a number of deadlines for action from the European Commission.

The strategy, requested by EU leaders at a meeting in March, will focus on developing conditions that encourage private sector investment in research.

"It’s supposed to create structures for…the EU’s innovation agenda over the next two years or so," said one Finnish official. "We would like to make sure the Commission will move quickly enough with the projects, so that we have proposals on the table early next year."

The subject of patents will be raised with the aim of strengthening legal protection for businesses launching new products. Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has promised to present a proposal early next year for a mandate allowing the EU to participate collectively in negotiations on the European Patent Litigation Agreement, a non-Community treaty that would create a court to rule on patent appeals. The document holds him to that promise and makes it clear that proposals on a single community patent will not be laid aside.

Public procurement is addressed as a means of boosting innovation. Currently businesses seeking contracts from public authorities have to deal with the often arcane and idiosyncratic procedures of 25 different member states. The presidency draft indicates that McCreevy’s rules on making public procurement procedures more transparent, expected by the end of the year, will be welcomed. EU ministers are to discuss further action no later than October 2007.

The strategy document suggests that the prospect of a European Institute of Technology (EIT) is being accepted by member states. The Commission is asked in strong terms to "clarify budgetary implications of establishing the EIT", so that member states can approve proposals by the end of next year. Most of the €2.4 billion needed to fund EIT in 2008-13 will have to be drawn from existing EU funds, an issue that last month caused internal disputes at the Commission.

The Commission will be required to issue an initiative on boosting innovation in lead markets such as biotechnology and nanoelectronics by July 2007. An analysis on how best to promote regional participation in cross-border research clusters made up of research institutes, industry and public authorities is requested by April 2007. Proposals on reforming and streamlining EU product standardisation in fast-moving markets will have to be published by September 2007.

The list of targets is aimed at "filling in the gaps in the Lisbon Strategy", said the official, referring to the action plan signed by EU ministers in 2000. Designed to make the EU the world’s most dynamic and competitive knowledge economy by 2010, the Lisbon Agenda has been strongly criticised in the past for being short on concrete proposals.

The Finnish document, seen by European Voice, states that: "Innovation policy should be best understood as a set of instruments. These aim at improving access to financing in support of innovation, at creating an innovation friendly regulatory environment and demand for innovation."

Luke Georghiou, professor of science and technology policy at Manchester Business School, said: "I am pleased they put deadlines on everything. But it [the strategy] still needs to be implemented. The deadlines have to turn into real decisions." Georghiou is part of a four-person expert group, including the former prime minister of Finland, Esko Aho, which was tasked by the Commission last year with looking at ways of boosting EU research and innovation.

The presidency expects that the strategy will be signed off by EU ministers dealing with competitiveness next month. "It has been generally well received by member states," said the official, adding that the Finnish government has been co-operating closely with forthcoming presidencies Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.

The Finnish presidency will next month (4 December) unveil an ambitious innovation strategy designed to boost EU competitiveness which will set a number of deadlines for action from the European Commission.