Committee on External Affairs

 European Comission (EC) Consultation: EU Research and Innovation Funding

The EC presented a Green Paper which proposes major changes to EU research and innovation funding to make participation easier, increase scientific and economic impact and provide better value for money.

The EC is seeking the views of all interested individuals and organisations on these proposed changes and on the specific questions set out in the green paper. The deadline for contributions is Friday 20 May 2011.

Action: The ESC EU affairs department will be centralising ESC members’ contributions. For more details on how to contribute, contact us

Background: The major change, to be introduced in the next EU budget after 2013, would consist in a proposed "Common Strategic Framework", which should cover the current Framework Programme for Research (FP7), the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Overall, the EC's objective is to create a coherent set of instruments, along the whole "innovation chain" starting from basic research, culminating in bringing innovative products and services to market, and also supporting non-technological innovation, for example in design and marketing. The EC's Green Paper also provides the basis for far-reaching simplification of procedures and rules. The changes aim to maximise the contribution of EU research and innovation funding to the Innovation Union and the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Next steps: On 10 June, the EC will organise a major closing conference as a follow-up to the public consultation. The name for the new Strategic Framework will be announced there. Next, before the end of 2011, the EC will present a legislative proposal for research and innovation spending under the future EU budget post-2013.