Draft Report of the Expert Group on International STI Cooperation to ...

e) International outreach <strong>of</strong> R&D is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> key strategic decisions that almost every
large R&D spending firm has to make and increasingly such firms are implementing
corporate-wide strategies for achieving this at <strong>the</strong> business unit and functional level.
An industry view on policy support
During <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EG, a dedicated workshop with representatives from industry and
European Technology Platforms was conducted (please see a summary in annex 4) 14 . The
main conclusions coming out <strong>of</strong> this workshop point to key policy implications:
a) The companies were keen to emphasise that <strong>the</strong> first thing to do in support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
internationalisation <strong>of</strong> EU industry and <strong>the</strong> ERA is to continue to operate a strong (but
<strong>of</strong> course administratively simplified) Framework Programme. One aspect <strong>of</strong>
investing in STI in Europe is to attract FDI and to continue to make it attractive for
EU-based firms to remain in place.
b) Reciprocity in access to programmes was seen as important. There is lack <strong>of</strong> a clear
distinction between policy to support development in poor countries and STI
cooperation with developed ones. In <strong>the</strong> second case, <strong>the</strong> EU should only support
cooperation with countries that allow EU organisations to participate in <strong>the</strong>ir
programmes on a similar basis. The EU should devote efforts to persuading o<strong>the</strong>rs to
open <strong>the</strong>ir programmes as this would make international cooperation easier.
c) International cooperation plays an important role in converging efforts, reducing risk
and setting standards. This is valuable and needs support well beyond Europe.
d) Researcher mobility schemes operating beyond Europe should be streng<strong>the</strong>ned.
e) Investment by <strong>the</strong> EU not only in R&D but also in pilots and demonstrations is
necessary. They have benefits both for technological development and for
standardisation.
f) The EU should lead projects aiming to set global standards and norms. This is an
opportunity to take <strong>the</strong> initiative and have a decisive influence on <strong>the</strong> shape <strong>of</strong> such
standards.
g) The EU could also take <strong>the</strong> lead in projects addressing some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> grand challenges,
where a global effort is beneficial for everyone. This is especially useful in
‘horizontal’ issues where IPR is not a major concern. More broadly, EU international
projects should have clear and transparent IPR and exploitation rights. The EU
should work towards more harmonised international rules and practices in relation to
IPR.
h) The EU efforts towards innovative procurement should be mirrored in international
activities – encouraging o<strong>the</strong>rs to open <strong>the</strong>ir innovative procurement programmes also
to EU firms.
i) The EU should pay attention to traditional trade and industry policy aspects such as
reduction <strong>of</strong> trade barriers and encouraging entry.
The global context makes good and transparent framework conditions important. In fact, with
<strong>the</strong> increasing globalization, a global “STI commons” should be supported by rules,
14 To cover SMEs a small survey was conducted, see annex 5.
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