david uhlíř european commission dg research
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David Uhlíř European Commission DG Research. Regions of Knowledge Achievements and prospects. Cercle tcheque 24 th November 2005. The recent past: the 2000 Lisbon Strategy. 2010: Europe should become “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge society in the world” - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
David UhlířEuropean Commission
DG Research
David UhlířEuropean Commission
DG Research
Regions of KnowledgeRegions of KnowledgeAchievements and prospects
Cercle tcheque
24th November 2005
24/11/20052
The recent past: The recent past: the 2000 Lisbon the 2000 Lisbon
StrategyStrategy• 2010: Europe should become “the most competitive and
dynamic knowledge society in the world”– Sustainable development, employment, cohesion, better
governance, life-long learning and people mobility– “Open method of co-ordination and benchmarking” (as a
continuous, mutual learning process)• Barcelona European Council confirmed RTDI as a top priority
for the EU (March 2002)
• Ambitious goal of 3% of GDP average investment in RTD• Action Plan (April 2003)
• European Research Area project is a cornerstone of Lisbon strategy– A new vision for European research – Re-invent the European research landscape through large scale
integration of resources and overall organisational improvement
24/11/20053
February 2005: February 2005: Lisbon reLisbon re--launchedlaunched
Focused revision• Partnership for jobs and growth between the EU,
Member States and all economic operators– including business, academia and the regions
• Revitalise the European economy by jointly implementing actions:
1. to make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work
2. to creating more and better jobs3. to leverage knowledge and innovation for growth
24/11/20054
R&D and the R&D and the Knowledge Knowledge
economyeconomyToday’s advanced economies are "knowledge-based":• Ever higher S&T content in products and services• Growth of information and knowledge flows around the globe
Increasing pace of trade liberalisation and flows of goods and services
• World economies focus on more knowledge-intensive activities• Growing concentration in a small number of global knowledge
networks and hubs
Regions at risk?• Globalisation tends to increase regional disparities
24/11/20055
ChallengeChallenge for for regionsregions
The research challenge for regions• Traditionally not the “natural home” for regional economic
development• Research is a long term game, certainly longer than political cycle• Limited regional competence / budget• Limited research potential in some regions• Absence of political awareness at regional level about the
importance of R&D
Challenge for regions and Europe• Different strengths and weaknesses• Different resources and infrastructures• Regions need (we think!)
– awareness raising and guidance in research and technology policies– exchange of information and experience– analysis of their strenths and weaknesses in RTD / benchmarking
24/11/20056
Role for regionsRole for regions
Potential role for regions in the ERA • Can become key contributors to the delivery the 3 % target – if
they are active• Regional level is appropriate level for business/research linkage – to
strengthen this often weak linkage; to create the necessary trust; to stimulate demand for R&D and increase awareness
• Need for bringing together different regional actors to engage in development of the knowledge-based economy, build on existing competence
• Facilitate exchange of experience / networking at a trans-national level
European dimension for regions• A role in Structural funds • Potential role in Framework Programmes • Possibility to exploit better the synergy
→ Regional dimension to FP7
24/11/20057 Regional GDP is unevenly distributed
across the EU
24/11/20058
R&D R&D ExpendituresExpenditures
1.93% of GDP1.93% of GDPEUEU-25-25 Average Average
20020033
R&D regional map GDP per capita and is even more spatialy uneven…
24/11/20059 … and has a mirror pattern to regional
GDP per capita map
24/11/200510 FP particiation is strongly correlated with
R&D investment intensity…
24/11/200511 …and with availabilty of R&D staff
24/11/200512 But high and medium-high tech
manufacturing gives a different picture.
24/11/200513
The Regions of The Regions of Knowledge Knowledge Pilot Action (KnowREG)Pilot Action (KnowREG)
A first step for targeted fund for regions in the ERA• Introduced the by the European Parliament • Fully conceived and developed by the European
Commission (DG Research) • Independent from the 6th FP or the Structural Funds• € 2,5 million • Experimental activities
– Networks of European regions (universities, research centres, and the business community)
– Create "Knowledge regions“– Models of how regions can implement the Lisbon strategy– Demonstrate the role of knowledge in driving regional
development
• Pilot Action allocated to DG RTD in late April 2003
24/11/200514
1. Integrated Regional Technology Initiatives(a) Technology audits and Regional Foresight (b) University Driven Actions for Regional Development (c) Mentoring Initiatives
• technologically advanced regions co-operate with less advanced regions (Objective 1) in a kind of "mentoring" partnership
2. Supporting activities (workshops and conferences)
Projects had to have at least 3 partners coming from 3 different Member States.
Regions of Knowledge Regions of Knowledge 2003: Strands2003: Strands
24/11/200515
KnowREG 2003 KnowREG 2003 implementatioimplementationn
• Not the Framework Programme– new legal basis– new procedures and documentation (e.g. evaluation,
contracts) • Call for proposals:
– 1 August 2003 Deadline for proposals– 17 September 2003 (47 calendar days)
• Response was good -53 proposals• 246 applicant organisations
• Only organisations from the then 15 Member States could apply
3) Mentoring• Mentoring European Knowledge of the Chemical Regions
• Strategic Mentoring Initiative for the Region of North Aegean
• Demand Knowledge
1) Technology audits and Regional Foresight• META Foresight
• Building Regional Integration KnowleDGE Strategies- BRIDGES • Insular Regions Knowledge TRACKer (IN.TRACK)
• MAREDFlow
• ReKnoMa - Regional Knowledge Management2) University Driven Actions for Regional Development • BluBioNet • Baltic Sea-Knowledge Region
• SPIDER Project. Increasing regional competitiveness through futures research methods
• COHERA-A cohesive ERA: Universities as knowledge Drivers in LFRs
Supporting Actions •European Regions Research and innovation Network in Brussels (ERRIN)
• Network, Knowledge Sharing and Cluster Development (NEKS)
KnowREG 2003 Projects
24/11/200517
Lessons Lessons learnedlearned
• Regions are aware of the need for RTD invesment and are mostly keen
• Need for greater engagement of Regional Government and Policy makers
• Successful projects have tended to be– Focused– Thematic– Building on need– Clear and targeted
• Identified a real need for regions - leading to KnowReg2 and regional dimension in FP7
Problems:• Project management in some cases• Actual delivery of promised work packages • Weak coordination in some cases
24/11/200518
Regions of Regions of Knowledge 2Knowledge 2
• In the 6th Framework Programme (FP6 rules apply)• FP6 Specific Programme 1 (Integrating and
Strengthening the ERA - Coherent Development of Policies)
• Focus is on R&D investment at regional level (achieving the Barcelona targets at a regional level)– Instrument chosen: Coordination Actions (CA)– trans-national, trans-regional collaborative projects – RTD policy-making and investment strategy at regional level – Spreading best practice to other regions
• Link to the Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) network
24/11/200519
What are we looking What are we looking for?for?
• Identification of R&D policy priorities and strategies at a regional level– through foresight and prospective / intelligence methods
• Benchmarking, networking and other activities
– evaluation of trends
– subsequent guidance to policy makers in RTD matters
• Mentoring in the field of implementing R&T policy, incl. staff exchange
• Better and more efficient use of Structural Funds in supporting RTD investment
24/11/200520
• Projects could be thematic but policy driven• Call closure Date: 19 May 2005• Budget: €8,95 Million• maximum total budget of €500,000 for
each project selected• EU financial contribution - up to 100% of
eligible costs • 18 project in the final stage of negotiation
Regions of Regions of Knowledge 2Knowledge 2
24/11/200521
What next?What next? (2007-2013)(2007-2013)
• Ongoing debate about the EU budget– New financial package announced by the Commission
(February 2004 Comm. and July 2004 legislative package)
• New Structural Funds (2007-2013) based on Lisbon goals
• FP7 (2007-2013)• "Capacities" Specific Programme of the 7th FP -
actions relevant for regions:• research infrastructures• special measures for SME-related R&D• regional research-driven clusters (“Regions of Knowledge) • unlocking research potential of Convergence regions
(secondments, R&D equipment, evaluation facililties etc.)
24/11/200522
RRegional component in egional component in FP7FP7 - - Regions of Regions of KnowledgeKnowledge
• Proposed budget: €158 million
• A new generation of projects focusing on R&D driven clusters at regional level
• Helping create new R&D intensive clusters• Interconnect established clusters
– to improve performance– productivity – integration to regional economies
• Collaboration involving – regional authorities– universities– research centres– industry – local stakeholders in public-private partnerships
24/11/200523
LinksLinks
• Seventh Framework Programme:http://www.cordis.lu/fp7/
• Regions and the European Research Areahttp://www.cordis.lu/era/regions.htm
Contact:David Uhlíř[email protected]