Expert Group calls for Europe to double its research and innovation budget

3rd July 2017 – Science Foundation Ireland today welcomed the publication of the report by the High Level Group on Maximising the Impact of EU Research and Innovation Programmes (Lamy Group) entitled LAB – FAB – APP: Investing in the European future we want. The group has formulated a vision for future EU Research and Innovation and made eleven strategic recommendations to the Commission on how the impact of EU Research and Innovation programmes can be maximised.

Commenting on the report, High-Level Group member, Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, stated “Research and innovation matter for our future. Increasing investment in these areas both at an EU and national level is critical to generating economic growth and societal benefits. Research will be at the heart of improving productivity, boosting the competitiveness of the European economy, and delivering tangible improvements to our quality of life. By doubling the EU research and innovation budget post-2020 and significantly increasing national expenditure, there is a real potential for Europe to be a global innovation leader. We are all facing the same challenges; climate change, ageing populations, food security and cybersecurity being just a few examples. Science, technology and engineering will be core to solutions, and will generate benefits for citizens across the EU. These issues impact directly on the lives of people, so the report highlights engagement with citizens as a key goal for European research policy.”

The Lamy Group proposes eleven recommendations:

  1. Prioritise research and innovation in EU and national budgets, including a doubling of the budget of the post-2020 EU research and innovation programme
  2. Build a true EU innovation policy that creates future markets
  3. Educate for the future and invest in people who will make the change
  4. Design the EU R&I programme for greater impact
  5. Adopt a mission-oriented, impact-focused approach to address global challenges
  6. Rationalise the EU funding landscape and achieve synergy with structural funds
  7. Simplify further, privilege impact over process
  8. Mobilise and involve citizens
  9. Better align EU and national R&I investment
  10. Make international R&I cooperation a trademark of EU research and innovation
  11. Capture and better communicate impact

Click here to view the Report.

Click here to view the press release from the Commission/Lamy Group

Background

The High Level Group on maximising the impact of EU Research and Innovation Programmes brings together 12 leading personalities from across Europe with a wide range of expertise. The members hold key posts in universities or research organisations, are leaders of industrial giants and dynamic SMEs, serve in high-level policy positions in national or international organisations, and play important roles in civil society organisations.

The Group was tasked in December 2016 to advise the Commission on how to maximise the impact of the EU's investment in research and innovation
The Commission will respond to recommendations of the High Level Group in a Communication to be published later this year. The results of the conference will feed into the discussion on the shape of the successor research and innovation programme to Horizon 2020.