By Henrietta Billings - 15th June 2004
Brussels on Wednesday fleshed out guidelines for the future of research policy in the EU.
A proposal, adopted by the European Commission, follows a call earlier this year to double Europe's research budget for 2007 -20013.
Under the plans research funding would receive an average of €10 billion a year for the next six years- twice as much as the current rate.
The "six-point plan", approved on Wednesday includes the creation of European centres of excellence for research, increasing the involvement of private investment, and setting up an EU 'agency' to support research teams.
"The debate on the future of research in Europe has been launched," EU research chief Philippe Busquin told reporters.
"Scientific research and technological development are key to the future of Europe because they generate more than half of economic growth and determine Europe's political weight on the international scene."
"By backing a more innovative Europe, we are investing in the well-being of generations."
The Belgian Commissioner also urged member states to meet the political commitment made in March to increase spending on research - made up of private and public investment - to three per cent of GDP by 2010.
Expenditure as a share of GDP is roughly 2 per cent in Europe which according to Eurostat, the EU's statistical arm, lags behind Japan (more than 3 per cent) and the US (2.8 per cent).
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