Research RTD, 7th EC Framework Programme 2007-2013: Capacities specific programme for European research and innovation

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Vittorio PRODI (ADLE, I) on the proposal on the Specific Programme "Capacities" implementing the 7th Framework Programme (2007-2013). The following amendments were adopted in plenary:

- the Framework Programme should complement the activities carried out in the Member States and by the Member States through their participation in European intergovernmental research organisations; 

- research activities carried out within this programme should respect fundamental ethical principles, including those which are reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and reassert the civic and humanistic values of research, ensuring respect for ethnic and cultural diversity;

- to simplify calls for proposals and reduce costs, the Commission should set up a database as a prerequisite for notifying participants in calls for proposals;

- the overall administrative expenditure of the Specific Programme, including internal and management expenditure for the executive agency which it is proposed to set up, should be proportional to the activities undertaken under the Specific Programme and is subject to the decision of the budgetary and legislative authorities. Budget appropriations shall be used in accordance with the principle of sound financial management, namely in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, as well as the principle of proportionality;

- the Commission shall provide prior information to the budgetary authority whenever it intends to depart from the breakdown of expenditure stated in the remarks in and annex to the general budget of the European Union;

- the Work Programme shall take account of relevant research activities carried out by the Member States, associated countries and European and international organisations, with the aim of increasing synergies with such activities, achieving European added value, influencing industrial competitiveness and maintaining relevance to other Community policies;

- the Commission shall ensure that the research results are evaluated and shall report on their contribution to a dynamic, knowledge-based society in Europe;

- the Commission's report shall contain an assessment of the soundness of financial management and an evaluation of the efficiency and regularity of the budgetary and economic management of the programme;

- the Commission shall submit the present Decision and a report on the implementation of the Specific Programme to the competent bodies for review in sufficient time to ensure that the procedure for modifying this Decision can be completed by the end of 2010;

- existing informational help desks have to receive guidance and information so that they can be of service to SMEs, industry and knowledge institutions and do this with the idea of complementarity between the funds;

- Industrial research investment should be encouraged in sectors of key interest to the EU economy;

- research policies should be coordinated at the EU level in areas where there is a clear added value for cooperation. Duplication with work undertaken in the Member States' national research polices should be avoided at all costs;

- Special attention will be paid to: synergy in the development of research potential in combination with innovation-driven programmes and Structural Funds programmes; reducing administrative and physical hindrances to effective cross-border cooperation between regions in different Member States; and

the development of combined research and innovation capacity;

- research infrastructures have a vital role to play in disseminating research results to a wide range of research disciplines and communities, which is essential for fostering innovation. Information diffused via these infrastructures can also provide important evidence-based support for policy making;

- there is some emphasis on significant investment from public and private actors in all parts of Europe;

- optimising the utilisation of existing research infrastructures and improving their performance must be seen as a priority;

- it will be necessary to support in a coordinated way digital libraries (with a view to creating a European Digital Library);

- it is essential to improve the transparency of research infrastructures for potential users in order to promote their use by a wider range of communities in all parts of Europe;

- ESFRI as well as technology platforms, joint technology initiatives and the European Research Council will be requested to state their needs for research infrastructure;

- the variable geometry principle should be taken into account when deploying the new research structures pursued by this programme. It is also made clear that the selection criteria for actions under the Specific Programme should correspond to those laid down in the Seventh Framework Programme;

- the creation of "Open Innovation" centres would allow for single-site execution of major collaborative industrial R&D projects, with consortium partners seconding their staff on temporary postings and/or providing open access to research infrastructures and services on the basis of facility sharing;

- in order to share research results the establishment of a Scientific Methods Server would make a significant contribution to the efficiency of research methods by making the results of certain research steps accessible under comparable conditions; 

- other amendments aim to strengthen the leading role of SMEs with regard to ‘capabilities’; to achieve this, they must be given easier access to ‘RTD performers’.  Administrative procedures for SMEs will be made simpler and clearer and costs will be reduced for SMEs benefiting under the Framework Programme. Coordination will also be sought with relevant national research programmes. With this in view, consideration may also be given to possible joint implementation of technological development programmes aimed at SMEs under EUREKA in order to encourage innovatory projects geared to market requirements. Mechanisms will also be introduced for cooperation with national and regional R&D support programmes for SMEs, with the aim of providing a more local service geared to their requirements and strengthening the critical mass and European dimension of the various national support schemes;

-funding will support small groups of innovative SMEs in solving common or complementary technological problems, through the Framework Programme and/or intergovernmental funding schemes such as the Commission's, EIB's and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) JEREMIE and JASPER initiatives.