Research & Development Competitiveness Policy under the Spanish Presidency of the EU: challenges and opportunities.

Science and innovation are crucial aspects of our society today. They are arguably the activities that provide us with the best skills to reinvent our complex societies and create well-being and wealth. A strong competitiveness policy in these areas is a very important asset that we should develop for the future. Research&Development (R&D) has had an important role at European level since 1986, when an integrated policy was developed. Time has come to take further steps to improve our competitiveness and to make changes. Therefore the Spanish presidency will have a major role to play in a Europe without barriers.

With respect to the European funding for R&D, the most important source of financing is the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development (7FP), which earmarked €50521M to fund the research in Europe. The 7FP is divided into five thematic areas: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities (there is also funding available for atomic research like Euratom). The main objective of the Spanish Presidency of the Council in 2010 should be to continue encouraging R&D research in Europe as the best way to create wealth.

The ultimate goal of FP7 is to achieve the Lisbon objectives placing Europe in a world competitive position though research founding. FP7 finances projects and activities, supporting the implementation of EU policies, strengthening the EU industrial and technological base while attracting excellence and investments: In the "Cooperation" section of the 7FP policy, companies, research institutes and universities from all over Europe are encouraged to bring together R&D projects in any of the ten thematic priorities. The "People" programme finances Mobility to develop and strength the human potential of European research, the former Marie Curie actions. "Ideas" seeks scientific excellence and creativity funding “frontier” research in Europe. "Capacities" enhances research capacity of European infrastructures, SMEs, Universities, etc. These four programs are thought to cover all R&D projects in Europe.

The greatest strength of Europe remains in the quality of its human resources and knowledge, which are able to create technology and use it effectively. Moreover applying them to the needs of the productive fabric and improving the quality of life, welfare and general social and economic development are other assets of the EU. Thus the creation and improvement of European R&D clusters and the participation of local and regional authorities in Research programmes are challenges that 7FP undertakes in order to challenge itself.

In order to achieve the goal of prioritizing R&D in Europe, Spain must play an important role in 2010. The country has a well-prepared scientific, technological and business community. There is a widespread public and political support in order to make knowledge the basis of social and economic development in the country. Improving the quality of research in the European Union is necessary and should be enforced to improve the future.

However in Europe the situation concerning research is worrying. If this current trend is not adjusted with concerted action, it could lead to a loss of growth and competitiveness in an increasingly globalised economy. For instance, the average amount of research undertaken in Member States is currently only 1.8% of Europe’s GDP, compared to 2.8% of the GDP in the United States and 2.9% of the GDP in Japan. Unfortunately this gap currently increases. In terms of employment, researchers represent only 2.5 in every thousand people of the industrial workforce in Europe, compared to 6.7‰ in the United States and 6‰ in Japan. Yet Europe produces a third of the world's scientific knowledge.

Spain will assume the presidency of the EU at the beginning of 2010. Among other tasks, Spain will probably be responsible for implementing the Lisbon Treaty. Furthermore the presidency provides an opportunity to go ahead in developing common policies concerning science and innovation. All the actors involved in the process of research and technological innovation are those which rely more on R&D and on the Information Society and Knowledge. Since 2004 the importance of science and innovation has led the Spanish Government to promote a transition towards a more knowledge-based economy that is more diversified and innovative in all sectors.

Spain has already begun to develop this policy and it is necessary today to spread their Development and Research Competitiveness policy in Europe. Research plays a central role in the implementation of public policy, and the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain works on a daily basis in order to make this future a reality, designing policies that serve science, technology and the business sector effectively. It also generates the necessary confidence among stakeholders and society in general, thereby reinforcing the conviction that we are capable of becoming a benchmark country in science and innovation. Spain will be reinforced during the presidency of the Consilium in the field of competitiveness and R&D policy.

The Research and Development policy is already a challenge not only for the Spanish presidency but also for all European Union. Europe will succeed in the future only with stronger cooperation regarding competitiveness. There should be specific focus on creating R&D groups and providing more facilities in research in Europe.

In conclusion, creating new products and processes, carrying out market research and introducing new technology will enable to make Europe more competitive. Europe could be one of the main driving forces of economic growth, competitiveness and employment, as it is planned in the Lisbon Strategy and the Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities.