Annexes to COM(2019)83 - European Research Area: advancing together the Europe of research and innovation - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2019)83 - European Research Area: advancing together the Europe of research and innovation. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2019)83  |
| date | February 15, 2019 |
Since the 2016 ERA Progress Report, EU Member States have experienced small but steady increases in co-publications with non-ERA countries. Average annual growth rates in these countries were 4.4 % in 2014-2016 and 4.2 % from 2007 to 2016 20 .
ERA countries employ different tools to promote international cooperation. These range from establishing bilateral agreements and dedicated research and innovation centres to appointing R&I advisors and specialists in their consulates and embassies worldwide. A number of ERA countries have also adopted national strategies for science and technology internationalisation or emphasised international cooperation in their national R&I documents. In addition, both research performing organisations and research funding organisations are increasingly pursuing bilateral or multilateral cooperation opportunities with partner country organisations.
The international mobility of researchers is actively promoted at both EU and national level. At EU level, EURAXESS as well as the Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions are the key programmes. ERA countries, especially those with less developed R&I systems, promote incoming mobility more actively to address their lack of human resources.
Despite many positive developments, several challenges remain across all ERA countries. These include a lack of financial and human resources dedicated to establishing and managing international partnerships.
Conclusion
In general, the extent of international cooperation activities between ERA and non-ERA countries is on the rise. Countries with more developed R&I systems have more collaboration opportunities, and they are also better equipped to sustain and initiate new partnerships. There is a particular need to facilitate international brain circulation by creating a more diverse set of incentives. ERA countries need to increase their efforts to attract the best international talent so they can overcome labour shortages, strengthen research capabilities, boost innovation and deal with grand challenges.
3.CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the previous reporting period 21 , progress towards the ERA priorities has continued across the majority of the headline indicators albeit at a slower rate. In terms of EU-28 averages, most headline indicators still show progress over time, although large disparities persist between countries in terms of both performance levels 22 and growth rates (see Table 1).
The wide variation in national progress between countries indicates that there is considerable room for further progress on all priorities. ERA ‘top scores’ could be used as potential benchmarks for countries that are not performing as well.
The fact that 28 countries have developed and published ERA National Action Plans is proof of the joint political ownership and mobilisation on all ERA priorities. These plans show a high level of ambition to make further progress on ERA.
In general, the emerging picture is that the 2015-2020 ERA Roadmap continues to be an influential tool for helping Member States and Associated Countries define, align and implement the necessary ERA reforms at national level.
At the same time, the slowing of progress on ERA headline indicators calls for reflection on how to accelerate, strengthen and encourage implementation on all ERA priorities. This is the joint responsibility of all Member States, Associated Countries and the EU.
More systematic use of the jointly developed ERA monitoring mechanism could strengthen the impact and convergence of ERA National Action Plans. This could be supported by mutual learning exercises like the Policy Support Facility 23 coupled with strategic debates in ERAC, and taking into account the European Semester.
As new challenges arise, European and national authorities need to coordinate and adapt their policy response to old obstacles and new opportunities. This implies that ERA priorities will evolve over time. There is clear added value for all in building a modern and agile ERA in close partnership with Member States, Associated Countries, the Commission and all ERA stakeholders. The proposed EU long-term budget is designed to provide incentives and support in order to jointly improve national R&I systems and advance the ERA.
| Country | Headline indicators | ||||||
| JRC Res Excellence (2013-2016) | GBARD transnat (2014-2016) | EURAXESS job postings (2014-2016) | Women Grade A (2014-2016) | Innovative firms coop with univ. (2012-2014) | Innovative firms coop with res. inst. (2012-2014) | Non-ERA pubs per 1000 res (2014-2016) | |
| EU-28 | 3.2 % | 3.9 % | -5.0 % | 1.0 % | 0.7 % | 4.0 % | 4.4 % |
| AT | 8.1 % | -0.6 % | -4.0 % | 5.7 % | 2.1 % | -2.5 % | 5.0 % |
| BE | 3.0 % | -4.5 % | 21.2 % | 5.5 % | -1.6 % | 2.4 % | 0.7 % |
| BG | -0.1 % | -19.5 % | -61.4 % | 2.2 % | -7.7 % | -19.2 % | 2.8 % |
| CH | -0.5 % | : | : | 6.6 % | : | : | : |
| CY | 3.2 % | -2.6 % | 20.1 % | -4.7 % | 13.3 % | -4.5 % | 9.8 % |
| CZ | 3.2 % | 12.7 % | -10.2 % | 2.2 % | -8.4 % | -0.5 % | 5.6 % |
| DE | 2.6 % | 6.3 % | 85.5 % | 4.1 % | -0.6 % | : | 1.2 % |
| DK | 7.1 % | -7.1 % | 13.3 % | 6.9 % | 1.9 % | -21.2 % | 8.5 % |
| EE | 4.6 % | 17.4 % | -18.0 % | 3.3 % | 15.9 % | 47.0 % | 6.3 % |
| EL | -1.9 % | -21.5 % | -44.7 % | 2.9 % | -27.8 % | -35.9 % | 6.9 % |
| ES | 3.5 % | 9.2 % | 19.9 % | 0.7 % | 2.9 % | 13.7 % | 5.9 % |
| FI | 2.9 % | 2.0 % | 169.9 % | 2.6 % | -6.2 % | -11.6 % | 11.0 % |
| FR | 3.3 % | : | 8.7 % | -4.6 % | 2.5 % | 2.2 % | -0.3 % |
| HR | 7.1 % | -22.6 % | 12.8 % | 2.3 % | -26.2 % | -34.3 % | -0.7 % |
| HU | 3.6 % | 112.3 % | 31.9 % | 12.4 % | -17.6 % | -12.0 % | 3.8 % |
| IE | 7.0 % | -16.6 % | -35.6 % | -10.0 % | -4.7 % | : | -13.2 % |
| IS | 0.0 % | : | 0.4 % | : | : | : | 1.2 % |
| IT | 3.6 % | 0.8 % | 21.9 % | 2.0 % | 12.3 % | 16.7 % | 3.4 % |
| LT | 4.4 % | -5.4 % | 21.3 % | 9.7 % | -35.0 % | -33.0 % | 7.5 % |
| LU | 9.7 % | 9.6 % | 42.6 % | : | 25.3 % | 16.5 % | -3.8 % |
| LV | 3.3 % | -8.8 % | 65.7 % | 6.3 % | -2.9 % | -11.1 % | 35.5 % |
| MT | 17.3 % | 33.2 % | : | -22.6 % | -10.3 % | 31.3 % | 15.5 % |
| NL | 4.6 % | -1.2 % | 4.3 % | 5.0 % | 14.7 % | : | 3.8 % |
| NO | 8.2 % | -2.5 % | 6.1 % | 3.1 % | 5.5 % | -0.5 % | 0.5 % |
| PL | 4.2 % | : | 1.7 % | 3.0 % | 0.2 % | 7.3 % | 2.4 % |
| PT | 6.0 % | 21.0 % | -5.4 % | 1.3 % | -1.5 % | -12.8 % | 4.3 % |
| RO | 3.5 % | 24.3 % | 19.9 % | 22.3 % | 57.5 % | 4.0 % | 8.4 % |
| RS | 2.6 % | : | -49.5 % | : | 138.8 % | : | -1.0 % |
| SE | 4.8 % | 1.8 % | -43.8 % | 4.2 % | -6.7 % | : | 4.9 % |
| SI | -0.1 % | 22.3 % | -9.0 % | 7.6 % | -11.5 % | : | 8.1 % |
| SK | 5.6 % | 125.8 % | -9.3 % | 0.1 % | 0.2 % | 6.1 % | 9.0 % |
| UK | 1.0 % | 5.1 % | -10.5 % | : | -1.8 % | 7.8 % | 6.6 % |
(1)
The Commission reports on a biennial basis on ERA progress. Policy developments have been described from mid-2016 (cut-off date for the 2016 ERA Progress Report) to mid-2018 (cut-off date for the 2018 ERA Progress Report). However, indicators are only available after some delay. As a result, most of the indicators in this report refer to previous years.
(2)
Findings throughout this report refer to the Science-Metrix Report ‘Data gathering and information for 2018 ERA monitoring’, which also includes definitions of the headline indicators. Due to the availability of statistical data, the definition of a few indicators had to be adjusted.
(3)
Doc. 14516/18.
(4)
Doc. 9351/15.
(5)
Technical report, Table 4.
(6)
Technical report, Table 5.
(7)
‘ERA countries’ include EU Member States and countries associated with the framework programme.
(8)
Technical report, page 46. Growth rates for individual countries could have significant fluctuations between years.
(9)
ERA-NET Cofund, European Joint Programme Cofund, initiatives based on Article 185 of TFEU, joint programming initiatives.
(10)
Technical report, page 46.
(11)
Doc. 15320/17.
(12)
Technical report, page 66.
(13)
Technical report, Table 15.
(14)
Three objectives have been defined: 1. Remove barriers to the recruitment and career progression of female researchers; 2. Address gender imbalances in decision-making processes; and 3. Strengthen the gender dimension in research content.
(15)
EU, strategic engagement gender equality 2016-2019: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/eu-policy/strategic-engagement-gender-equality-2016-2019_en.
(16)
Technical report, page 76.
(17)
Revised in April 2018.
(18)
Technical report, Table 18.
(19)
Technical report, page 86.
(20)
Technical report, Table 28.
(21)
For a comparison of the headline indicators’ growth rates with the previous reporting period, see ERA Progress Report 2016 at http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/pdf/era_progress_report2016/ era_progress_report_2016_com.pdf.
(22)
See technical report.
(23)
https://rio.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/policy-support-facility.