European Commission focus on cooperation in Research and Innovation

The EC published a roadmap for the “Communication on enhancing and focussing international cooperation in Research and Innovation”

As the international landscape in science, technology and innovation (STI) is changing rapidly – creating new opportunities and challenges – Europe needs to adapt its international cooperation framework in order to better focus, prioritise and lever EU and Member States’ funding actions to support international cooperation, in particular in the context of the future Common Strategic Framework (CSF). While at EU-LAC meetings the importance of industry and in particular SMEs in innovation creation is emphasised, the roadmap does not mention them. The future Communication will also lay down the rules how third countries can participate in EU R&I projects. 

It is expected that a Communication will be published in September 2012.