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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”
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David UhlířEuropean CommissionDG Research Regions of Knowledge Achievements and prospects Cercle tcheque 24th November 2005
The recent past: the 2000 Lisbon Strategy • 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
February 2005: Lisbon re-launched 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: • to make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work • to creating more and better jobs • to leverage knowledge and innovation for growth
R&D and the Knowledge economy Today’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
Challenge for regions 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
Role 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
R&D Expenditures1.93% of GDPEU-25Average 2003 R&D regional map GDP per capita and is even more spatialy uneven…
FP particiation is strongly correlated with R&D investment intensity…
But high and medium-high tech manufacturing gives a different picture.
The Regions of Knowledge 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
Regions of Knowledge 2003: Strands • 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 • Supporting activities (workshops and conferences) Projects had to have at least 3 partners coming from 3different Member States.
KnowREG 2003 implementation • 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
KnowREG 2003 Projects • 1) Technology audits and Regional Foresight • META Foresight • Building Regional Integration KnowleDGE Strategies- BRIDGES • Insular Regions Knowledge TRACKer (IN.TRACK) • MAREDFlow • ReKnoMa - Regional Knowledge Management • 3) Mentoring • Mentoring European Knowledge of the Chemical Regions • Strategic Mentoring Initiative for the Region of North Aegean • Demand Knowledge • 2) 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)
Lessons learned • 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
Regions of Knowledge 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
What are we looking 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
Regions of Knowledge 2 • 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
What next?(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.)
Regional component in FP7 - Regions of Knowledge • 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
Links • Seventh Framework Programme: http://www.cordis.lu/fp7/ • Regions and the European Research Area http://www.cordis.lu/era/regions.htm Contact: David Uhlíř david.uhlir@cec.eu.int