Press Horizon 2020 moves one step closer (Science|Business)

News | 02-10-2013

Despite disappointment over the final budget, MEPs declared themselves pleased with the shape and the content of the Horizon 2020 research programme.

The budget of €70 billion is a disappointment, but lead MEPs said in the main they are satisfied with the overall package, after they voted through the Horizon 2020 research and development programme for 2014 - 2020.
"The Parliament has driven the programme in a direction that is more flexible, more innovative and more accessible to a greater number of European citizens," said Christian Ehler MEP, one of the rapporteurs responsible for steering Horizon 2020 through the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE).
MEPs gave their approval after negotiations with the Council and the Commission throughout the summer months. Among the triumphs claimed by the Parliament is a dedicated instrument to boost innovation in small businesses, a strengthening of the Marie Curie programme, and the addition of programmes that are intended to widen participation in Horizon 2020 by regions with less-well developed R&D infrastructures.
But not everyone was enthusiastic when MEPs gave their reaction in a press conference held after the vote last week, with Philippe Lamberts MEP, seeking to downplay the outcome. "We are still far from where we should be in terms of making innovation the key driver of Europe's competitiveness," he said.

Budget reflects political choices

The backdrop to the Horizon 2020 negotiations was the first reduction in the EU's long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in the union's history. Unlike other programmes, Horizon 2020 is going up in real terms from the €55 million allocated to Framework Programme 7 in 2007 - 2013. But it is getting less than the €80 billion originally proposed by the Commission and some MEPs on the ITRE Committee say this should not be the case. "Budgetary considerations should not affect sectors like research and innovation, education and training," said Teresa Riera Madurell, Spanish MEP and Rapporteur for Horizon 2020. Indeed, some MEPs were pushing for €100 billion for the programme. But, said Ehler, with the Council at one point talking of cutting the budget to €50 billion, "Realistically it was hard to achieve any more than €70 billion."

All MEPs spoke of the Parliament's success in linking Horizon 2020 with cohesion policy, as well as national and regional funds. A clear-cut definition will now tie Horizon 2020 to smart specialisation strategies and investments from structural funds, worth €300 billion. "Certain regional funds will be ear-marked for research and development," said Ehler, "but it will also be possible to [aggregate] money from both sources. That could have a leverage effect for the Horizon 2020 budget," he said.

R&D firsts

Horizon 2020 will see a number of firsts for R&D in Europe. The aim of promoting gender equality is made explicit. Another novelty is the new SME instrument, which will have an enlarged budget thanks to the Parliament, noted Maria da Graça Carvalho, MEP. Although the Council and Commission were loath to set definite budgets, the instrument is in line to receive seven per cent of the combined budget of Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies (part of pillar II) and Societal Challenges (pillar III). A simple and fast scheme of Innovation Vouchers, introduced by Carvalho, will fund research and innovation activities within Phase 2 of the instrument. This will be suitable for very small SMEs, such as innovative start-ups, she said.

Parliament's negotiators also ensured that 1.06 per cent of the Horizon 2020 budget will be devoted to measures to widen participation, for example by attracting new applicants or promoting networking of research institutions. A system of Return Grants introduced to the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions will support the reintegration of researchers following stints abroad, steering them mainly towards regions with less-developed innovation systems. This is designed to combat, "The brain drain we now see in Europe," said Carvalho.

True cause for optimism or mere political hype?

While is it a case of "job well done" for most MEPs involved, Lamberts is more measured in his assessment. "When you listen to Barosso and Van Rompuy, Hollande and all European leaders, you hear growth, jobs and competitiveness all over the place," he said. However this does not chime with the 2014 budget proposed by the Council, which slashes funding for competitiveness measures by €426 million. "The budget for Horizon 2020 reflects a political choice to focus on making Europe a low-cost continent instead of a value creator," said Lamberts.

He is also circumspect about the earmarking of twenty per cent of the combined budget of Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies and Societal Challenges for SMEs, saying "This is an indicative target. It is not that difficult to window dress the whole thing to make it look like we are really supporting SMEs."

The final votes in the Parliament's plenary session and the Council of Ministers will take place once the EU's long-term budget is formally approved. It is hoped that this can take place in October, allowing a first round of calls to take place on 11 December 2013