ERRIN News & Events provides reports of main ERRIN activities (public events and project news) and EU research and innovation news from other sources. For more info on ERRIN activities see the weekly newsletters or check check the Director's Blog.
Report on the University-Business dialogue
28 March 2010
Following up on the Communication of the European Commission "A new partnership for the modernisation of universities: the EU Forum for University-Business Dialogue" published in April 2009, the Culture and Education Committee (CULT) of the European Parliament mandated Deloitte Belgium with a study on the ways for "Further developing the University-Business dialogue".
The resulting report analyses the University-Business cooperation in Europe and provides recommendations on how to further develop the existing dialogue at European level. In particular it stresses the need of representative examples of best practice and of improvement in their dissemination. It also suggests that in order to ensure consistency and visibility of the University-Business related activities, their coordination should be entrusted to a Task Force bringing together all Directorate-Generals involved. Finally the report recommends the involvement of the relevant regional and local authorities and underlines the importance of strategic mediators as e.g. the Chambers of Commerce.
The report can be found here
Source: SwissCore
Assessment of Europe’s University-Based Research
27 March 2010
The Commission’s DG Research has published a report on "Assessing Europe’s University-Based Research" (AUBR). In July 2008, an expert group was appointed with the mandate of identifying the framework for a more coherent methodology to assess research produced by European universities focusing on the different types of users and their respective needs.
The report presents a comprehensive overview of users and uses of the assessment of university-based research, identifies the basic principles to be observed when developing such an assessment, and analyses strengths and weaknesses of the different indicators.
The report, cautious about rankings comparing entire universities, gives general recommendations regarding the assessment of university-based research and proposes a new approach consisting in a multi-dimensional research assessment matrix linking specified users with the respective purposes and objectives.
The report can be found here
Source: SwissCore
Best practice guidelines for EU project website
25 March 2010
The European Commission has made some recommendations in the form of guidelines on how best to design the structure and contents of EU funded project websites. These guidelines outline the basic website frames resulting from best practices. This is the answer of the Commission to the growing creation of numerous project websites lacking coherence and actuality.
The aim is to improve the quality and user-friendliness of project websites in order to trigger higher popularity, as well as to increase the visibility for the projects and the European Commission through a more standardized format.
The recommendations refer to a broad range of aspects from the choice of an intuitive URL to the necessary or superfluous features. An example for a clear organizational chart is provided, as well as a proposal for the minimal content of a "Media" area or some "Case Studies". These guidelines have been produced for the thematic area "Environment", but can also be useful for research projects in other fields.
Link to the guidelines
Source: SwissCore
European Business Centres in India and China for the internationalisation of SMEs
23 March 2010
In accordance with the Small Business Act focusing on supporting SMEs the European Commission (EC) started to establish European Business Centres to help SMEs with the legal and cultural challenges of the growing markets outside Europe and to enable them to fully benefit from the new opportunities.
The first centre was opened by Eurochambres in India in 2008 with the aim of providing not only business advice, but also technological support. In fact the European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) in New Delhi helps European companies and researchers to access the market and promotes European clean technology in India with a focus on the areas of energy, transport, biotechnology and environment. Its main activities are to gather knowledge on India and to make it available to the European business community as well as to assist companies in contacting already established EU service providers in India.
A second centre was meant to be established in Beijing, China, in 2009 with a budget of €5 million over five years, but the EC has not awarded the contract to set up the office yet. Other similar offices should be opened in other strategic cities in the world during the upcoming years, in particular in Bangkok and in Moscow.
More information on the Indian EBTC can be found under
Information material for the "new approach" in SSH research under FP7
23 March 2010
Starting with the 2010 Work Programme, the European Commission is implementing a "new approach" for the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Theme of FP7. Instead of just calling for a mix of "traditional" topics in all fields of SSH, the Commission is now funding large-scale projects (over €6 mio.) addressing so-called "societal challenges". These "societal challenge projects" will require an interdisciplinary approach bringing together several teams of scientists from different fields, a professionalised scientific and administrative management, stock-taking and forward-looking activities as well as dedicated dissemination activities by specialised staff.
In order to illustrate the logic behind this new approach and to detail the new requirements towards such large-scale SSH projects, the Commission has recently published an information booklet that can be found under
A short leaflet is completing the more exhaustive booklet and can serve as a good tool for general dissemination of SSH research and its new focus on societal challenges in particular:
EC publishes summary outcome of its consultation on simplification of the Framework Programmes
22 March 2010
In July 2009, the European Commission launched a consultation on simplification of the implementation of the EU Research Framework Programmes.
Ideas were sought under two broad headings: changes which could be implemented without modifying the legal base of the FP, and ideas which would require a change in the legal basis.
Three major themes were identified by respondents: Simplification of the FP structures and corresponding administrative and financial rules; Improved access to the programme and user support; Faster execution and optimised timing of deadlines.
The Commission is expected to issue a Communication on simplification of the Framework Programmes in April, taking into account submissions to its public consultation.
ERRIN Future RTD WG also contributed to the consultation with the member regions' knowledge and expertise.
Source: EARTO
Germany calls off EU summit talks on education
19 March 2010
A debate about education targets in the proposed 'Europe 2020' strategy was removed from the agenda of an EU summit meeting next week after Germany expressed concerns that the proposed EU objective would step on its federal competences.
The German federal system guarantees that the Länder retain their own competence on education and more EU involvement with the issue would create problems if applied in Germany.
Austria is also reluctant and is backing the German position. Van Rompuy respects the attitude of the German states.
Barroso unveiled his 'Europe 2020' plans on 3 March, proposing a limited set of targets on employment, education, R&D and poverty reduction and "policy warnings" for EU countries that fail to meet them.
the Commission proposed reducing the share of early school leavers from the current 15% to under 10% and making sure that at least 40% of youngsters have a degree or diploma.
Source: EurActiv
EU innovation strategy delayed until 'autumn'
18 March 2010
The European Commission will publish a new 'Research and Innovation Plan' ahead of an autumn meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. The plan, first floated last year as the European Innovation Act, was originally to be published by spring 2010.
he document is currently being drafted by Innovation Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani and will take a broad approach to boosting innovation.
The Commissioners were speaking at the launch of the annual innovation scoreboard, which ranks member states' capacity for innovation.
The new figures, which date from 2008, showed steady improvement by most member states but noted that the economic crisis has hampered progress and stalled the EU's efforts to catch up with the US.
Both commissioners also reaffirmed their support for setting a spending target of 3% of GDP. The target has been the subject of much controversy, with finance ministers. The argument is that nothing improves public finances in the medium term like strong growth, and research and innovation are the key to achieving the growth we need.
Sources: EurActiv
Scoreboard shows that more innovation is needed in Europe
17 March 2010
Most EU Member States until 2008 were steadily improving their innovation performance. The economic crisis may, however, be hampering this progress, according to the 2009 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) published today. Early indications show that the worst hit are Member States with lower levels of innovation performance, potentially reversing the convergence process witnessed over recent years. Meanwhile, the latest statistics show that the EU is having difficulty in catching up with the US in innovation performance, although it maintains a clear lead over the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, despite rapid improvements in China.
The EIS 2009 includes 29 innovation-related indicators with publicly available data from 2007/2008 and trend analyses for the EU27 Member States, as well as for Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. The 29 indicators are grouped around three categories: enablers (human resources, finance and support), firm activities (firm investments, linkages & entrepreneurship, throughputs) and outputs (innovators, economic effects). It does not capture yet the full effects of the recent economic and financial crises.
Source: Rapid
European Innovation Scoreboard 2009
Regional and innovation chiefs pledge to end duplication
17 March 2010
The EU commissioners for innovation and regional policy have called for an end to duplication and misuse of EU funding between their vast policy machines and pledged to work better together.
Research and Innovation Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn outlined ways their departments could work together to improve the innovation output of Europe's regions and reduce overlap between their services.
They stressed that more "synergies" were required "to avoid any further multiplication and fragmentation of Community funding".
Big money is at stake, with regional funding accounting for a third of the EU budget, while the amount of Brussels money pumped into innovation and research has increased significantly in the past decade.
Improving contact between managing authorities for structural fund programmes, national contact points for research projects (FP7) and the Enterprise Europe Network for the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) should help start to eliminate overlaps. It was also suggested that the Commission's research directorate could pinpoint certain valuable projects which DG REGIO could then fund from the regional budget.
They also noted that they are preparing a joint communication to "better align cohesion policy with the Europe 2020 strategy" for creating a knowledge-based economy.
Source: EurActiv
Finance ministers want 3% R&D target ditched
17 March 2010
EU finance ministers are fighting against the European Commission's target of spending 3% of GDP on research and development (R&D), demanding a new "outcome-oriented" measure of success. The 3% figure is one of five headline goals of the 'Europe 2020' growth strategy.
Meeting in Brussels on 16 March, finance ministers called for "urgent consideration" of wider indicators to measure R&D and innovation.
Finance ministers agreed to pull back policies introduced at the height of the economic crisis, such as bank guarantees and support for subsidised part-time work.
They also agreed to embark on reforms that would put public finances on a sustainable course
Next steps:
25-26 March 2010: EU summit to discuss the strategy's overall approach and the Commission's proposed headline objectives.
17-18 June 2010: EU summit to adopt further details of the strategy, including country-specific targets.
Autumn 2010: Member states to submit stability and convergence programmes, as well as national reform programmes.
Source: EurActiv
EU promises 'embarrassment' for countries ducking EU 2020 targets
11 March 2010
The official in charge of Europe's new ten-year economic strategy has said the European Commission will rely on scoreboards and public warnings to embarrass national governments into hitting targets on reform and research investment.
The Commission will be more candid in its assessment of progress than in the past and will be willing to issue policy warnings, albeit as a last resort, according to Gerard de Graaf, a key player in drafting the 'Europe 2020' strategy at the EU executive's secretariat-general.
Speaking at a briefing hosted by Eurochambres, an umbrella group of EU chambers of commerce, De Graaf said the reputational damage that comes with a policy warning and the "embarrassment factor" will help keep member states on track.
He said the Commission would use the scoreboard to benchmark countries' performance and that some heads of state and government should feel uncomfortable with the results –"otherwise there's no point".
...
Source: Euractiv
Iceland still top as US, UK, Germany slip down INSEAD global innovation rankings
11 March 2010
It may have been one of the biggest victims of the banking crisis, but Iceland has maintained its top position in the innovation rankings published by the French business school INSEAD, while the US, Germany and the UK fell down the table.
Sweden and Hong Kong are second and third in the Global Innovation Index 2009-2010, which is complied by INSEAD with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and the sponsorship of the electronics company Canon. Switzerland is in the fourth position, Denmark fifth, Finland sixth, Singapore seventh, Netherlands eighth, New Zealand ninth and Norway tenth.
This is the third year the study has been carried out and some changes have been introduced to make it more comprehensive.The report considers enabling factors that stimulate innovation, and outputs that are the results of innovation activities. The five enabling factors are, Institutions, Human Capacity, General and ICT Infrastructure, Market Sophistication and Business Sophistication; and two output factors are Scientific Outputs and Creative Outputs and Well-Being.
Source: ScienceBusiness
The full report
Recommendations of the FP7 Advisory Group on SMEs
8 March 2010
The participation of industry and particularly of SMEs in FP7 is essential; otherwise the programme would just be a purely academic exercise, hardly able to fulfil its mission to enhance the competitiveness of the European economy and to strengthen its knowledge base. The FP7 Advisory Group on SMEs gives regularly inputs in order to integrate SMEs better in FP7. In the 2009 recommendations the group stresses among others the following points:
• The target of having at least 15% SMEs among the participants of FP7 should be kept. Especially in the Cooperation pillar the 15% target should be an overarching goal and Programme Committees are therefore called to introduce as many support actions and joint calls as possible. The SMEs-go-Health initiative is mentioned as an example for such efforts.
• FP7 programme delegates should collect inputs among SMES in their countries concerning their research needs and use this information for the preparation of the Annual Work Programme.
• A minimum quorum for SME participation in each FP7 core programme and in the industry driven programs such as JTIs should be implemented. In programmes outside FP7, such as CIP, SME focused measures to foster SME participation should be introduced as well. DG Research and DG Enterprise should cooperate more when developing and executing research and innovation programmes.
...
The recommendations in its full length can be found here
Source: SwissCore
A dedicated website for FP programme evaluation and monitoring
8 March 2010
DG Research of the European Commission has created a dedicated website for FP programme monitoring and evaluation, containing all relevant information on this topic. This website will be a very useful resource not only for experts evaluating and monitoring programmes, but also for policy makers and government officials requiring a sound knowledge base to submit position papers and proposals for future Framework Programmes. The archive on the website contains for example all the external monitoring reports and yearly assessments from FP5 and FP6. In addition, the newest documents regarding FP7 (or parts of it) are also collected on the website.
The FP programme evaluation and monitoring website can be found here
Source: SwissCore
Competitiveness Council focuses on EU 2020 Strategy
8 March 2010
An exchange of views was held on the new 2020 Strategy for jobs and growth at the latest meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 1 and 2 March in Brussels. Competitiveness Council members agreed on many areas regarding the new strategy, including the importance of encouraging European industry towards a green and sustainable economy, as well as the necessity of putting research and innovation at the heart of the new strategy. They also agreed also that research must be focused on the most pressing current issues such as climate change, energy, food security, health and demographics.
Ministers also adopted conclusions on a European partnership for researchers. There was agreement on the importance of encouraging researcher mobility throughout the EU, including the provision of social security coordination issues and supplementary pensions. The conclusions will be discussed by employment and social policy ministers at their next meeting on 8 March.
Finally, the ministers adopted conclusions on the structure and mechanisms of the European Research Council (ERC). Among other things, the ministers called on the Commission to carry out an independent evaluation in 2011 as a follow-up to the recommendations made in last year's review of the ERC. Other factors considered in the conclusions concern the evaluation process, the integration of scientific and administrative functions, and the simplification of procedures. If they prove successful at the ERC, simplified measures could be extended to the rest of the Framework Programme.
Source: EARTO
Sherpas’ Group report tries to design the ideal home for future JTIs
8 March 2010
Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI) represent the first experience with setting up Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in research at European level. They are supposed to play an essential role in raising private companies investment in R&D and thus reaching the so-called Barcelona target (3% of GDP spent for R&D, thereof two third by private companies), which is an integral part of the Lisbon strategy. Currently five JTIs are running: Clean Sky (aeronautics), Innovative Medicine Initiative (IMI), Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH), ARTEMIS (embedded computing systems) and ENIAC (nanoelectronics). Three of them became already autonomous from the European Commission. In addition, three PPP have been launched within the European Economic Recovery Plan last summer and are implemented in FP7 (Factories of the Future, Green Cars initiative and Energy Efficient Buildings). A fourth PPP, Future Internet, is currently under preparation and will most likely be launched this spring
...
The full report can be found here
Source: SwissCore
Entrepreneurship in vocational education and training
8 March 2010
The Spring European Council meeting of March 2006 underlined the need to encourage entrepreneurship education, which should be considered as a way to promote creativity, innovation and self-employment. In October 2006, the Commission published the “Oslo Agenda for Entrepreneurship Education in Europe” listing good practices in this field.
In order to examine the current status of entrepreneurship education, the Commission, together with experts in the field of education and entrepreneurship, conducted a study – financed under the CIP – on entrepreneurship in Vocational Education and Training (VET). The project focuses more specifically on initial vocational training, since self-employment is considered as a very relevant and valuable option for graduates from this curriculum.
The study reveals that, although entrepreneurship is included in national vocational education curricula in a majority of EU countries, there is still a gap to be filled. For example, entrepreneurship training is completely neglected in some VET sectors; teaching methods are sometimes ineffective and teachers are not fully competent; entrepreneurship is often not linked enough to specific training subjects; and there is an obvious lack of cooperation between school and enterprises.
...
You can find the report “Entrepreneurship in vocational education and training” here
Source: SwissCore
What future role for European Technology Platforms?
8 March 2010
The discussion about the so-called Grand Challenges has been stimulated by the Swedish EU Presidency and therefore it is not surprising that an Expert Group on European Technology Platforms (ETP) examines in its latest report the future role of ETPs in the light of the discussion on Grand Challenges.
According to the Expert Group numerous ETPs have recently formed joint activities to address themes beyond the scope of a single platform. Such a multidisciplinary approach offers the chance to tackle societal Grand Challenges and to find innovative products and services. The Expert Group recommends that in the future all ETPs should try to follow this example. ETPs should work in flexible clusters focusing on addressing key societal challenges facing Europe. These clusters should involve all relevant stakeholders, work across all aspects of the knowledge triangle (education, research and innovation), and be responsible for implementing potential solutions.
This newly formed cluster of ETPs would form an overarching Platform, named by the Expert Group as European Technology Integration and Innovation Platform (ETIP). In parallel the traditional ETPs would still exist, given that probably not all ETPs would agree on forming an ETIP. An ETIP cluster would not be a legal entity, but would be similar to ETPs today a flexible and voluntary gathering, free to organise as they see fit. Unlike ETPs the ETIPs would also include research funding organizations and policy makers at both EU and Member State level.
The full report can be found here
Source: SwissCore
Commission steps up biomass use – Nearly € 80 million for biorefinery research
4 March 2010
A major research initiative of the European Commission about the sustainable use of biomass has started. Researchers and industry are going to develop new ways to convert biological feedstock into energy and valuable material using biorefinery technology. The Commission will fund the programme with € 52 million for 4 years. 81 partners from universities, research institutes and industry in 20 countries will invest an additional € 28 million.
The programme will contribute to the European Lead Market initiative on Bio-Based products. It aims to facilitate the translation of technological and non-technological innovation into commercial products and services. Biorefinery research will also contribute to the implementation of the European Energy & Climate Package. The goal is that by 2020 transport in every Member State will use a minimum of 10% renewable energy – especially biofuels. Biorefinery is also an important feature of the Bio-energy European Industrial Initiative, one of the six industrial initiatives of the European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan. Its objective is that by 2020 at least 14 % of the EU energy mix will be bio-energy. More than 200 000 local jobs could be created as a result.
Source: DG RTD
EIT money starts to flow
4 March 2010
The initial €1 million grants for each of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) being set up by European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) are due to be signed next week.
This will allow the three winning bids, in the fields of climate change, sustainable energy, and the future information and communication society, to put in place organisation and management structures, and start moving towards becoming fully operational by the middle of the year.
Schuurmans, chairman of the EIT's governing board, is not happy that the start-up grants for the new KICs will be signed slightly later than planned, but the reasons are not surprising: first the EIT has to find its own feet, secondly the complexity of European Commission rules.
The KICs, selected by the EIT on December 16, are co-located at several centres in Europe, and bring together industry and academics to work together, with the aim of becoming world experts in their respective fields.
The EIT itself is something of a curious organisation, being on the one hand an EU body subject to EU controls, and on the other hand having an independent governing board that is, as Schuurmans puts it, opportunity-driven with a desire to explore simplification and move quickly.
The EIT will be closely monitoring the KICs, checking that they are implementing their business plans and delivering on the goals that they themselves set.
Source: ScienceBusiness
Communication on Europe 2020: EC Launches new economic strategy for the EU
3 March 2010
On 3 March 2010, President Barroso launched the EU 2020 Strategy in Brussels, which will replace the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs and should help the EU recover and prepare EU economy for the next decade. The Commission identifies three key drivers for growth, to be implemented through concrete actions at EU and national levels: smart growth (fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society), sustainable growth (making our production more resource efficient while boosting our competitiveness) and inclusive growth (raising participation in the labour market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty).
The following targets are proposed: 75 % of the population aged 20-64 should be employed, 3% of the EU's GDP should be invested in R&D, the "20/20/20" climate/energy targets should be met, the share of early school leavers should be under 10% and at least 40% of the younger generation should have a tertiary degree, finally 20 million less people should be at risk of poverty.
Link to the presentation to heads of state and government on the Europe 2020 strategy
Link to the Europe 2020 strategy launch news
The Hospital of the Future – care, sustainable development and regional advantage
2 March 2010
Introducing this first ERRIN Mind Forum in 2010 on “Hospitals of the Future”, Mike Tremblay, independent Health and Innovation Consultant, pointed out that while healthcare is one of the economically most intense areas in Europe and second only to aerospace/defense in terms of spending, the sector is rarely seen in terms of its potential to contribute to jobs and growth and strengthen regional innovation systems.
The aim of the event was to explore the future role of hospitals as a sort of “ideal enterprise”, as a breeding ground and trigger for organisational innovation, new services and products that may benefit and produce opportunities for regional societies and economies. This is a tall order, but the cases presented from across Europe showed that there is a new wave of more holistic approaches towards hospitals and health being commissioned/implemented that go beyond care and address issues such as environmental sustainability, urban regeneration, long-term unemployment and research intensive cluster development.
The regional case-studies stimulated a broad and fascinating debate among participants, focusing on issues such as: Patient safety, quality of care and standards, health promotion as tool, questions of scalability/transferability of regional good practice, pre-commercial procurement, training, e-learning, entrepreneurial spin-offs, hospital a building vs. system, design and ageing, “smart hospitals” and hospitals as regional innovators.
As a summary we realized there is need for more and more detail, in particular concerning the actual implementation of some of the presented measures. There was a clear interest to flesh this further out and contribute to a necessary mentality change in the field through further work in sub-groups and possible cooperation projects.
The presentations can be found in the ERRIN Events Calendar
Council conclusions on the review of the ERC
1-2 March 2010
At its meeting of 1-2 March, the Competitiveness Council (Council of the EU) adopted conclusions regarding the review of the European Research Council (ERC). Acknowledging the excellent report of the independent review panel of 23 July 2009, the response of the ERC’s Scientific Council of 25 August 2009 and the communication by the European Commission of 22 October 2009, the ministers identified the following points in which further action would be required:
• In order to continually replenish the knowledge base of the ERC Executive Agency, the Commission should make possible the involvement of highly qualified research management experts and scientists for up to four years in addition to the permanent staff, for example through secondment.
• The Commission should ensure that scientists are better represented in the Steering Committee of the Executive Agency, and the Agency should be able to recruit highly qualified external scientists with experience in management.
• The Commission should make full use of the administrative flexibility when funding frontier research, especially regarding accounting and auditing procedures.
• More flexibility should also be introduced in the operations of the ERC Executive Agency.
...
Link to the Council conclusions on the ERC review
Source: SwissCore
| Copyright © 2007 ERRIN | Terms of use |  |
