Commission's Annual Report on research and technological development activities of the Union in 2003 (link)

Brussels, 06 Jun 2005

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION

Annual Report on research and technological development activities of the European Union in 2003 [SEC(2005) 725]
Full Text

INTRODUCTION

European research policy is geared towards the realisation of the Lisbon objective to transform the European Union into a competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy, capable of sustainable economic growth. To this end, it has three interrelated objectives:

· To realise a European Research Area to allow the free movement of knowledge and researchers and overcome fragmentation and duplication of research policies and activities in Europe.

· Increasing the levels of research investment in Europe to 3% of the Union's GDP by 2010, with two thirds of this to come from the private sector.

· To support and strengthening research excellence to achieve the first two objectives and by reinforcing and complementing national and private sector research efforts.

This Report covers developments and activities during the period from January 2003 to March 2004. It has been prepared pursuant to Article 173 of the Treaty establishing the European Community,1 and Article 4 of the decision on the Sixth Framework Programme.2 It is accompanied by the annexed Commission Working Document providing more detailed reporting and a statistics annex. As an addition to previous Annual Reports, information is included on developments in research and technological development activities taking place within the Member States of the European Union.

2. COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

2.1. Implementation of the 6th Framework Programme

A major step towards the creation of a European Research Area was taken in 2003 with the first full year of the 6th Framework Programme. The Programme is one of the largest

"At the beginning of each year the Commission shall send a report to the European Parliament and the Council. The report shall include information on research and technological development activities and the dissemination of results during the previous year, and the work programme for the current year." Decision No 1513/2002/EC of June 2002. Article 4 "In the context of the annual report to be submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 173 of the Treaty, the Commission shall report in detail on progress with implementing the sixth framework programme, and in particular progress towards achieving its objectives and meeting its priorities...; information on financial aspects and the use of instruments whall also be included. international R&D programmes in the world, with a budget of 17.5 billion euro for the period 2002-06 (increased to 19.2 billion euro with the enlargement of the Union). As well as European Union Member States, the Programme is open to the participants from other countries through cooperation agreements.

Progress on objectives and priorities

The 6th Framework Programme has attracted a very high level of response. During 2003 over 16000 proposals were submitted involving nearly 160000 participants from more than 50 countries. Some 2600 of these proposals were retained for funding (involving over 000 participants).

Under the heading of Focusing and Integrating Community Research, more than 10000 proposals were submitted of which over 1,600 were selected for funding involving some 24000 participations. The majority of these (over 1100 proposals selected for funding) were in the seven thematic priorities identified in the 6th Framework Programme, and a significant number in the horizontal activities involving SMEs and the specific measures in support of international cooperation. In addition, the new activities introduced in the 6th Framework Programme on Scientific Support to Policy and NEST (New and Emerging Science and Technology) witnessed a considerable success with 128 proposals selected to be funded, including 11 proposals selected from a special call for proposals in response to the SARS epidemic.

Calls for proposals in the Structuring the European Research Area heading led to nearly 6000 proposals being received in 2003, the vast majority under the human resources and mobility actions. Some 880 of these proposals were selected for funding, of which over 700 were for human resources and mobility, and the others are for funding actions for Research and Innovation, Research Infrastructures and Science and Society. Furthermore, a Researcher's Mobility Portal was launched providing information on job and funding opportunities and the practicalities of a European research career.

Under the Strengthening the Foundations of the European Research Area heading, a new activity was introduced in the 6th Framework Programme, the ERANet initiative ­ to network and open up national and regional research programmes. The initiative has a successful start in 2003 with 74 proposals received in the first call of which over 30 were selected for funding.

Regarding the dissemination of results, the Research and Innovation actions in the 6th Framework Programme, including the network of Innovation Relay Centres, supported the use of research results for the purpose of innovation while the horizontal research activities involving SMEs allowed smaller companies to access research which meets their needs. Furthermore, the CORDIS internet service has focussed on providing open access to information about European projects as well as various technology brokerage activities. The uptake of research results by policy makers is a particular characteristic of the Scientific Support to Policy scheme, and wider public engagement in research is an aim of the Science and Society actions. At individual project level, rules have been introduced and reporting mechanisms defined to promote the use and dissemination of results.

The series of evaluations conducted during the year confirmed that Community research activities have provided very major contributions to Europe's scientific and technological knowledge base, creating extensive networking and collaborations between and amongst European researchers in the private and public sectors and with significant European Value Added.

Financial aspects and instruments

Implementation and budgetary execution of the Programme remained on track, a major achievement given the level of response. By the end of 2003 a total of 489 contracts were

Brussels, 03.06.2005 COM(2005) 233 final Previous Item Back to Titles Print Item