David UhlířEuropean Commission

DG Research

David UhlířEuropean Commission

DG Research

Regions of KnowledgeRegions of KnowledgeAchievements and prospects

Cercle tcheque

24th November 2005

24/11/20052

The recent past: The recent past: the 2000 Lisbon the 2000 Lisbon

StrategyStrategy• 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

24/11/20053

February 2005: February 2005: Lisbon reLisbon re--launchedlaunched

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:

1. to make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work

2. to creating more and better jobs3. to leverage knowledge and innovation for growth

24/11/20054

R&D and the R&D and the Knowledge Knowledge

economyeconomyToday’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

24/11/20055

ChallengeChallenge for for regionsregions

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

24/11/20056

Role for regionsRole 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

24/11/20057 Regional GDP is unevenly distributed

across the EU

24/11/20058

R&D R&D ExpendituresExpenditures

1.93% of GDP1.93% of GDPEUEU-25-25 Average Average

20020033

R&D regional map GDP per capita and is even more spatialy uneven…

24/11/20059 … and has a mirror pattern to regional

GDP per capita map

24/11/200510 FP particiation is strongly correlated with

R&D investment intensity…

24/11/200511 …and with availabilty of R&D staff

24/11/200512 But high and medium-high tech

manufacturing gives a different picture.

24/11/200513

The Regions of The Regions of Knowledge Knowledge Pilot Action (KnowREG)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

24/11/200514

1. 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

2. Supporting activities (workshops and conferences)

Projects had to have at least 3 partners coming from 3 different Member States.

Regions of Knowledge Regions of Knowledge 2003: Strands2003: Strands

24/11/200515

KnowREG 2003 KnowREG 2003 implementatioimplementationn

• 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

3) Mentoring• Mentoring European Knowledge of the Chemical Regions

• Strategic Mentoring Initiative for the Region of North Aegean

• Demand Knowledge

1) Technology audits and Regional Foresight• META Foresight

• Building Regional Integration KnowleDGE Strategies- BRIDGES • Insular Regions Knowledge TRACKer (IN.TRACK)

• MAREDFlow

• ReKnoMa - Regional Knowledge Management2) 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)

KnowREG 2003 Projects

24/11/200517

Lessons Lessons learnedlearned

• 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

24/11/200518

Regions of Regions of Knowledge 2Knowledge 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

24/11/200519

What are we looking What are we looking for?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

24/11/200520

• 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

Regions of Regions of Knowledge 2Knowledge 2

24/11/200521

What next?What next? (2007-2013)(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.)

24/11/200522

RRegional component in egional component in FP7FP7 - - Regions of Regions of KnowledgeKnowledge

• 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

24/11/200523

LinksLinks

• Seventh Framework Programme:http://www.cordis.lu/fp7/

• Regions and the European Research Areahttp://www.cordis.lu/era/regions.htm

Contact:David Uhlířdavid.uhlir@cec.eu.int