Europe to Increase R&D Spending to 3% of GDP by 2020, Seeks to Surpass U.S. in High Tech Research

The Commissioner was speaking at the European Technology Platforms conference in Brussels, Belgium on  May 11th. The Research and Innovation Strategy represents a major plank of the wider Europe 2020 Strategy that sets out the actions needed to help Europe emerge from the economic crisis as a ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive economy’. Among other things, the Europe 2020 strategy reiterates the goal of boosting research and development (R&D) spending in Europe to 3% of GDP (gross domestic product); R&D spending in the EU is currently below 2%.

‘As the Research and Innovation Commissioner, my job is to help create the conditions for a more dynamic Europe. A Europe where innovative firms want to do business, and where talented people want to live and work,’ stated Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn. ‘One of my first tasks is to draw up a new Research and Innovation Strategy that sets out how we intend to drive forward the research and innovation parts of Europe 2020.’

Although details of the Research and Innovation Strategy are still under discussion, the main features of the strategy are clear, Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn explained.

Firstly, the strategy will refocus research and innovation policies on the major challenges facing Europe and the world, such as climate change, energy efficiency, health and ageing. In addition, the strategy will be based on a broad understanding of ‘innovation’, including not only research but innovation in business models, management structures and the delivery of public services. Finally, Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn pointed out that, ‘the strategy will aim to remove all major bottlenecks to the flow of knowledge and to the emergence of what we’re calling a ‘Single Market for Research and Innovation’.’

Many aspects of the strategy, such as promoting researcher mobility, developing world-class infrastructures and reducing the fragmentation of national research efforts, are already key features of EU research and innovation policies.

Mrs Geoghegan-Quinn also noted that the strategy will give a ‘vigorous push’ to efforts to agree on an EU patent. ‘Enough is enough: let’s finally finish the job!’ she exclaimed.

The Commissioner also set out her plans for the future of the EU’s Research Framework Programmes. ‘I intend to tie it much more closely to the major societal challenges and ensure it has more leeway to fund innovation,’ she said.

Spain, which currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, is also gathering input for the research and innovation aspects of the Europe 2020 Strategy. At a recent conference in Bilbao, Spain, Spanish Minister of Science and Innovations Cristina Garmendia commented: ‘Without more science and innovation, but above all, without the necessary interaction between them, Europe will not be able to maintain its current leadership in certain areas and much less aspire to improve its position in the international ranking.’