European Groups Sign Pact to Coordinate Their Support of Research By BURTON BOLLAG
The European Union and the European Investment Bank last week signed an agreement to promote research and technical innovation. Under the pact, the two groups will join their substantial forces in hopes of increasing research financing and using their funds more effectively.
"There is no doubt the science quality in Europe is on the same par as in the U.S. or Japan," says Stéphane Hogan, a European Union official involved in research issues. "But when it comes to patenting and setting up companies to develop products, we're lagging behind. This is the European paradox."
The paradox appears to be partly explained by Europe's relatively low spending on research and development. The 15 member countries of the European Union invested approximately 1.9 percent of its gross national product in research in 1998, compared with 2.6 percent in the United States and 3 percent in Japan.
The European Union supports research through its Framework Program. The program's current four-year installment, which ends next year, has a total budget of $11.6-billion. The funds support several thousand research projects annually in the 15 E.U. countries and in 16 more "associated states" that are candidates for E.U. membership.
The European Investment Bank, which was created by the European Union, provides a similar level of funds. Most of the money is in the form of loans or venture financing to companies or institutes for purchasing equipment for experiments. The bank is expected now to redirect more of its funds to research.
Under the agreement the two agencies will establish a joint steering committee, as well as lower-level contacts, to coordinate research support and to avoid duplication of effort.