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Science and technology: production and development of Community statistics

2001/0197(COD)

The Commission presents a report on the implementation of Decision No 1608/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on science and technology statistics. The quality of the statistical data has become more essential because of policy orientation and monitoring and in particular the fact that policy targets are set through statistical information. The Europe 2020 strategy, like its predecessor the Lisbon strategy, has set a precise target for R&D intensity (spending 3 % of EU GDP on R&D by 2020) and it is therefore of the utmost importance that the quality of the measurement is and stays at a high level.

Official statistics on science, technology and innovation (STI statistics) in the EU are largely based on Decision No 1608/2003/EC. This report evaluates the implementation of the individual statistical actions listed in Article 2 of the Decision. These actions aim at establishing a statistical information system on science, technology and innovation to support and monitor EU policies. The report also examines data quality, costs and the statistical burden, and looks ahead to strategic actions that should be taken in the years to come.

It states that the adoption of Commission Regulations (EC) No 753/2004 and No 1450/2004 implementing Decision No 1608/2003/EC has stabilised STI data quality. This has been followed by gradual and ongoing improvements and close monitoring of quality. Agreeing and implementing international standards and methodology and constant discussion of their relevance in a dynamic measurement framework aim to keep the statistics up to date and of first-class quality.

In further development work on STI statistics both the priorities set by the policy needs and the development of the ESS as a whole will be taken into account. Given the priorities already set by the Europe 2020 strategy and its flagship Innovation Union initiative, a balance will be sought between new work and actions to further improve the existing STI statistics. The following issues in particular will be addressed with high priority:

  • R&D statistics: this involves ensuring that the underlying data are measured by all R&D performers or at least estimated when needed, whether or not they are known beforehand, and cover all economic sectors and sub-sectors and all sizes of operating units — therefore covering the totality of R&D (expenditures and personnel) in the economy at a given time. In this context, a core set of indicators to monitor the ERA will be developed.
  • European innovation statistics: the measurement issues of innovation in its different concepts need to be addressed. This covers in particular the numeric variables, innovation expenditures and turnover from innovation. A strategy for using an integrated survey on R&D and innovation will be evaluated and an assessment will be made of what would be the impact particularly on the data quality and comparability.
  • CDH statistics: a thorough evaluation will be made in 2011 of the implementation of the statistics on the careers of doctorate holders (CDH) data collection in 2006 and 2009 with a view to assessing the future of this data compilation.
  • Patent statistics: richer use of the underlying administrative source will be investigated, in particular in connection with other existing sources for adding the new information and variables. Full use will be made of the improved methodology for name harmonisation.
  • Improvements in existing STI statistics will be made in close cooperation with the OECD and other international organisations with which coordination has already been stepped up. This covers work towards revised international methodological manuals.
  • New indicators, new data sources: development work which goes beyond using the existing data sources, including new indicators, new data sources and even further breakdowns of the existing data (as they may involve larger sample sizes or methodological work), will take place only after thorough screening and analysis. This may concern work on patents in technologies or data on other intellectual property rights related to Societal Challenges. Feasibility studies and pilot surveys will also be utilised in this context.
  • Updating the legal framework for STI statistics: adoption of the Europe 2020 strategy and its various flagship initiatives together with monitoring of the European Research Area call for agreement on the statistical monitoring framework for the EU policies set. Eurostat therefore aims to review both Regulation (EC) No 753/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 1450/2004 with a view to revising them, taking into account in particular the most recent policy monitoring needs. The emphasis will remain on the relevance and quality of the data. New legislation will be considered with particular care.