CRPM – Conférence des Régions Périphériques Maritimes

CONFERENCE DES REGIONS PERIPHERIQUES MARITIMES D’EUROPE
CONFERENCE OF PERIPHERAL MARITIME REGIONS OF EUROPE
6, rue Saint-Martin 35700 RENNES - FR
Tel. : + 33 (0)2 99 35 40 50 - Fax : + 33 (0)2 99 35 09 19
email : [email protected] – web : www.crpm.org
CRPMNTP10 0049 A0
SEPTEMBER 2010
TECHNICAL PAPER FROM THE CPMR GENERAL SECRETARIAT
THE CPMR’S ACTIVITES RELATING TO RESEARCH
AND INNOVATION – FACTUAL SUMMARY AND
PERSPECTIVES
Research and innovation have acquired a vital dimension in European policies through their influence
within the Lisbon and EU2020 strategies and within a number of policies with strong territorial impacts
(Regional Policy1, Integrated Maritime Policy etc) or a specifically technological slant (Framework
Programme on Research and Technological Development (FPRTD), Competitiveness and Innovation
Programme (CIP) and Regulations on State Aids). These policies currently impact very strongly on the
regions and they represent an important share of the European budget. Their development after 2014 is an
important policy challenge for the CPMR.
The CPMR is therefore actively involved in research and innovation issues. In line with the medium-term
political guidelines presented at the General Assembly in Aberdeen, the CPMR’s political priorities are to
promote taking the territorial dimension into account, the role of the regions and policy areas relating to the
sea. The CPMR’s objective is therefore not to address all the issues relating to European research and
innovation support policies, but to concentrate on these priorities. The CPMR’s action is thus structured
around two approaches:
•
A horizontal approach, on the territorial dimension and the role of the regions in European
innovation and research support policies;
•
A thematic approach, on marine research and technologies.
Through the work it has carried out on these areas, the CPMR is today a recognised contact of the European
institutions and is able to put forward its policy proposals in the framework of debates on European policies
after 2014.
This Technical Paper provides a summary of the activities the CPMR has developed since the General
Assembly in Gothenburg (October 2009) as well as the prospects for the coming months.
I. A HORIZONTAL APPROACH: THE TERRITORIAL DIMENSION AND THE ROLE OF THE
REGIONS IN EUROPEAN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SUPPORT POLICIES
At the CPMR General Assembly in Gothenburg (October 2009), the CPMR set up a new inter-commission
working group chaired by Midi-Pyrénées Region, to look into the role of the regions in the European
Research and Innovation Area2. The group rapidly turned its attention to the issue of synergies between the
regions, regional policy, the FPRTD and the CIP.
Over the 2007-2010 period, 86 billion Euros from regional policy, almost 25% of its total budget, were dedicated to research and
innovation.
2 Information and documents relating to this group are available on the CPMR website:
http://www.crpm.org/en/index.php?act=13,18
1
Technical Paper from the CPMR General Secretariat
– The CPMR’s activities relating to Research and Innovation – Factual Summary and Perspectives – p. 1 REFERENCE
CRPMNTP100049 – September 2010
This issue is very present as such in the European policy debate, and represents a relevant political area of
work in order to promote the regional dimension within the innovation dimension of the EU2020 strategy. It
is naturally also relevant in order to address the issue of the research and innovation dimension of regional
policy. The reflections carried out on synergies were therefore also useful to further develop the CPMR
positions on this matter.
In February 2010, a first Technical Paper, “Regions and Regional Territories, Cornerstones of Synergies between
EU Regional Policy and EU R&D Policies” was drawn up. Further to this, the CPMR was able to emphasise its
proposals in the framework of constructive discussions with European institutions, such as:
•
•
•
•
The CPMR was invited to play an active role in the Spanish Presidency’s main conference on the
links between regions, European policies and R&D (WIRE Conference, Granada, 15-17 March 2010).
At the same time, the CPMR was invited to participate in the group of experts on synergies set up by
the European Commission. This group will begin work shortly and, in 2011, will table political
recommendations on the links between regional policy, the FPRTD and the CIP and on the future of
programmes such as “Regions of Knowledge”.
The CPMR has developed links with the European Parliament, for example through a meeting then
constructive interaction, in December 2010, with Mr Lambert van Nistelrooij, MEP and author of a
report on the issue of synergies.
The CPMR also interacts with the Committee of the Regions, and in September will participate in
discussions, for example with Ms Fiona O'Loughlin, Rapportrice on the simplification of the FPRTD,
and other issues in particular relating to synergies.
Additionally, specific work has been carried out on several specific issues, which are all important in the
European debates on synergies and thus are addressed in the CPMR proposals. In particular, the following
specific issues were addressed:
•
The link between territorial cohesion and the impact of European policies funding research and
innovation (Earmarking in regional policy, FPRTD, CIP). On this issue, which is at the very heart of
current political debates on territorial cohesion objectives, an ESPON project coordinated by the
Region of Tuscany and involving 8 other maritime regions, has been drawn up under the umbrella
of the CPMR, with significant direct technical support from the General Secretariat. The project has
been selected and will begin in or around December 2010.
The regions involved have cutting edge expertise available, which is a requirement for formulating
proposals to help the development of reliable regional reports and assessments of the territorial
impact of the European policies concerned, whereas the currently available data does not enable this
to be carried out under the right conditions.
•
The role of the regions within public-private European structuring initiatives (European Technology
Institute, Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives, Clusters). Several discussions have
taken place with the regions and other stakeholders involved in these initiatives. In addition, the
CPMR is associated with the IC-MED project as one of the partners. The project, which is
coordinated by the Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, focuses on clusters and involves the
Mediterranean Regions.
•
The Regions’ participation in EU funding programmes helping to develop expertise (Regions of
Knowledge for example) or the coordination of research programmes (especially Era-nets and joint
programming). Several discussions also took place with regions and other stakeholders involved in
projects of this type.
•
The link between the regions, and the research and innovation dimension of macro-regional
approaches. In particular this issue is the subject of a conference in Lahti (Region Päijät-Häme,
Finland) organised on 16-17 September 2010 http://www.paijat-hame.fi/fi/innovationconference
by the regions of Päijät-Häme, Itä-Uusimaa and Uusimaa, the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission and
with the support of DG REGIO.
A draft CPMR policy position on all these points will be presented to the General Assembly in Aberdeen. In
the coming months, the CPMR will concentrate its action on these issues, whilst conserving the question of
synergies as a political focus of its work.
Technical Paper from the CPMR General Secretariat
– The CPMR’s activities relating to Research and Innovation – Factual Summary and Perspectives – p. 2
REFERENCE CRPMNTP100049 – September 2010
II- A THEMATIC APPROACH, ON MARINE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGIES
The CPMR is currently working on two specific policy areas: marine and maritime research on one hand,
and research and technologies for maritime energy on the other.
II.1. MARINE AND MARITIME RESEARCH
In February 2009, on the basis of work carried out by a working group chaired by the Land of SchleswigHolstein (Germany) in the framework of the CPMR Aquamarina group3, the CPMR Political Bureau adopted
a policy position concerning the European strategy for marine and maritime research. This position
establishes the guidelines on the basis of which the CPMR interacts with the European institutions and other
actors at European level. These guidelines are consistent with those of the CPMR on the issue of synergies.
In the framework of the implementation of the European strategy for marine and maritime research, the
CPMR has been involved in a group of experts set up by the European Commission on marine and maritime
research infrastructures4. This issue, and more specifically that of the funding, if necessary via regional
policy and the regions, of these infrastructures, is at the heart of the European strategy in question.
In this context, the CPMR actively contributes to ensuring that the opinion of the maritime regions be taken
into account in the framework of these debates. At the same time, the CPMR took part in or organised
various meetings such as a specific workshop on this issue during the European Maritime Days organised in
Gijon in May 2010.
In the coming months, the CPMR will continue its participation in this group of experts, and will further
develop its collaboration with the European Commission to foster the expression of the regions’ proposals
on the future of EU strategy for marine and maritime research.
II.1. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR MARINE ENERGIES
The reflections and initiatives taken by the CPMR in the scope of its working group on Energy, chaired by
the Autonomous Region of Navarra (Spain)5 in particular focuses on issues relating to research and
innovation. These were for example addressed in the framework of the event organised in Cornwall at the
end of 2009, and the seminar on the strategy of the Atlantic seaboard which was held in Cantabria in April
2010.
The CPMR’s contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on the basis of the document
“Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020”, also integrates the proposals linked to research and
technologies for marine energies.
Information and documents relating to this group are available on the CPMR website:
http://www.crpm.org/en/index.php?act=13,25,4,29
4 Information and documents relating to the European Commission’s group of experts are available on the CPMR website:
http://www.crpm.org/en/index.php?act=13,25,4,49
5 Information and documents relating to this group are available on the CPMR website:
http://www.crpm.org/en/index.php?act=13,24
3
Technical Paper from the CPMR General Secretariat
– The CPMR’s activities relating to Research and Innovation – Factual Summary and Perspectives – p. 3
REFERENCE CRPMNTP100049 – September 2010