Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-11-17-Speech-1-105"
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"en.20031117.7.1-105"2
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"Mr President, once more I would simply like to thank the
Members for their speeches and respond to some aspects of them.
Since, in addition, this will probably be one of the last times we will be given these reports to discuss, I would like to thank all of the members of the Commission, as well as Parliament for the support they have given to research and innovation and my friend Erkki Liikanen, who will take over from me. Clearly we are on the same wavelength and we are in favour of an ambitious European industrial policy for research and innovation.
First of all, as Mr Linkohr rightly said, I believe that what is very important is that we show that we are keeping a close eye on the next Financial Perspective, because this is what will determine the leeway after 2006 and, not least, the place of research and innovation in the European Union budget. As Commissioner for research and innovation, I submitted proposals and the Commission will present a document, but it is clear that there will be a major political debate next year and up until 2006. That debate will allow a Financial Perspective to be drawn up, which increases the relative share of research and innovation in EU budgets, and will do so in order to respond to various needs that have been expressed and to sustain the 3% objective.
Clearly it is also important that, when I think of new measures, I am thinking, among others, of fundamental research, which is not currently supported at European level. I am thinking of space policy, on which Mrs McNally and myself have just published a White Paper, which has obviously drawn on this desire to develop new technologies and to develop technology transfers and to sustain this level of scientific curiosity, which is determined by the desire to go further because there is the potential to do so.
Mrs Matikainen, however, you rightly stressed the role of small and medium-sized enterprises. It is true that the drive to transfer research to the economy, which is also a reality, is and must be greater for small and medium-sized enterprises. You are from a country that sets an example for us since, in Finland, 55% of small and medium-sized enterprises maintain regular contact with universities and centres of research. These areas must be extended to European level and there are, of course, methodologies, which must be specific to small and medium-sized enterprises. The Commission intends to adopt the category exemption of small and medium-sized enterprises regarding state aid for Research and Development at the beginning of 2004. As a result, from 1 January 2004, it will no longer be necessary for small and medium-sized enterprises to inform the Commission and, therefore, it will be possible for the various States and regions to adopt more individual and specific measures for their small and medium-sized enterprises.
Furthermore, as regards fundamental research, it is absolutely necessary that there is a clearer proposal on this field, in the Seventh Framework Programme, that also takes into consideration the current debate in the scientific community on the European Research Council. You have spoken about this European Research Council, which seeks to place the best scientific teams in the area of fundamental research in competition with one another at European level and consequently to support these areas which, as has been said, are comparable with what is being done in the National Science Foundation
where the best teams have programmes at US level. We should have this type of programme at European level.
There is, of course, the issue that Mrs Plooij-van Gorsel, moreover, quite rightly stressed, and that is the issue of funding. This obviously includes public funding, private funding, which must be increased, and of course looking to the European Investment Bank, which could be more geared towards research and innovation, which is, incidentally, happening more and more. Also, in the Growth Initiative, which was adopted on 11 November 2003, we find the concept of ‘quick starts’, that is to say projects that can be implemented quite quickly. In addition, for the first time, EUR 14 billion is earmarked for projects for European structures and for essential European infrastructure.
We are, of course, thinking about all general network issues, all issues of space policy, regarding in particular the GMES and interactive telecommunications satellites; we are, of course, thinking about tri-electron lasers, which are crucial to the emergence of a new generation of research in molecular biology, in materials and in nanotechnologies because nanotechnologies will be essential, bearing in mind the shift from microelectronics to nanoelectronics.
We have made provision for a technological platform and, in this area; the Finnish centre is involved in implementing the shift from micro to nanoelectronics because it is there that the greatest challenge lies. As regards this challenge, we will clearly look into the issue of technological platforms. According to the sector, we will endeavour to bring together major players to determine research projects as well as research needs.
Moreover, to reply to a question from Mrs McNally, it is, therefore, through programmes that include questions such as: ‘what are you going to do?’ that we will get there. As regards the Member States, the 3% objective and the Growth Initiative call upon them to say: ‘this is what we are going to do. Here is our programme for us to reach the objective by 2010’. The Commission’s role will therefore be to encourage, because even if we cannot decide for the Member States, we can still motivate them, show the best practices and support the process to this 3% in 2010. This is an essential process if Europe wants to keep its place in the world, but that requires financing and being given the priority, which is granted to research policy. I think that you appreciate this and I would like to thank you for supporting this policy."@en1
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