The Republic could play a key role in formulating future community research policy when the Irish EU presidency starts next January, reports Dick Ahlstrom
The start of the Irish EU presidency next January comes at a key juncture in the development of community research policy. It means that the Government could play a key role in setting future agendas for how the EU invests in research.
Such is the view of Dr Edward Walsh, chairman of the influential Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ICSTI). When Dr Walsh and the Council speak, the Government should take heed.
ICSTI in effect steered the Government onto its current path towards the development of a knowledge-driven economy. In 1999 ICSTI published its Technology Foresight report which set out a vision to make Ireland a centre of world-class research excellence for information and communications technology and in biotechnology.
The result was Science Foundation Ireland and its substantial research budget, increased for 2004 by a whopping 62 per cent in last week's spending Estimates.
ICSTI has proven itself an important compass when it comes to formulating science policy and now it has turned its sights on the Commission's efforts to stimulate debate on the EU's role in funding basic research.
Walsh believes that the Irish presidency will offer us an unprecedented opportunity to have an impact and help direct EU policy in this area.
"Many European scientists have argued that Europe does not commit sufficient funding for fundamental research," says Walsh. "The Government will be playing a key role in leading the debate on how Europe should deploy its large committed funding."
ICSTI last week issued an important statement on the debate, suggesting how the Government might become engaged in the process. "It is the start of a very interesting new phase of research for Europe," says Walsh.
The Commission recently announced a two-part approach for stirring up debate on support for fundamental research, initial discussion followed by firm proposals on funding mechanisms. It is due to have a discussion paper ready before the end of this year for distribution to member states, forming the basis of the debate during the first half of 2004.
This takes place while we are at the community helm, a time when we can have an extra influence on the proceedings. The Commission also plans to have initial hard proposals ready for release during the second quarter of 2004, again while we hold the presidency.
"A very important phase of the process will take place during the Irish presidency," says Walsh. "We can have an impact. We should have a good impact."
The entire debate will be influenced by decisions taken at the Lisbon council in 2000 when it set the goal for the community to become the "most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world". In essence, this meant "Europe taking on the US" on the fundamental research front, argues Walsh.
The Government will have to direct the debate in the context of this competitive atmosphere, he believes.
"It is recognising that the European research agenda and strategy is quite central in approaching the Lisbon goal. The Lisbon statement is of huge importance," he says.
The debate will raise questions about how money is currently spent on innovation and research, but the key question should be "how does the expenditure contribute to Europe's ability to meet the Lisbon goal", says Walsh.
"The ICSTI statement is designed to help the Government ask the kinds of questions that should be asked."
He also recognises that these questions may be different to those that the Irish research community might want to have addressed, and he is somewhat critical of the nature of European research institutions.
"I believe they are inhibiting superbly good scientists and engineers in doing their work." This will have to change if Europe collectively is to meet the demands of Lisbon.