FAS supports in the main the EU Commission's proposal for the future research programme for Europe 2014-2020, Horizon 2020. The proposal to merge the research Framework Programme (FP) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) into one unit clarifies the objective, and is in line with the strategic formulations that are found in EU 2020.
In this context, it is particularly important to emphasise the significance of initiatives for research excellence, greater focus on "bottom-up", researcher mobility, research infrastructure, and the need for a transparent process in order to meet the current and future societal challenges. The division of Horizon 2020 into three parts with Excellence in Science, Industrial Leadership, and Societal Challenges, is positive and ought to provide good conditions for achieving goals within EU 2020.
However, FAS views the formulations within the third area with concern in respect to Societal Challenges and Joint Programming. Societal Challenges – the Commission states that within the "Specific programme" for the Societal Challenges area the thematic organisation will be departed from in order to enable the development of innovative solutions close to the market so that the challenges can be met. But the development of innovative solutions cannot take place without funding excellent interdisciplinary research, including research in social sciences and humanities (SSH). The design of this area is an essential part of the whole Horizon 2020. Effort should therefore be made to have broad interdisciplinary drafting within each challenge in order through interaction to create processer for economic growth. There is a current trend to position strategic research ever closer to the market. This can be good within certain areas, but it can also lead to a narrower framework for what could become pioneering research in the longer term.
The need for social innovations should be given greater scope in this context.
Joint programming (JPI) - FAS also views with a certain amount of concern the formulation that Horizon 2020 shall support the JP initiative in developing their research agenda (SRA - strategic research agenda). In addition, it is also stated that when prioritisations within JPI are in line with Horizon 2020, the Commission shall be able to support these initiatives via Eranet, Cofund and similar mechanisms. The Commission ought to limit its funding to the support infrastructure (secretariat costs), which are currently funded, and not affect the individual status that these initiatives ought to and do have at present.
Research has no geographic limits and is increasingly heading towards globalisation. In order to be able to optimise the use of common resources, strategies need to be devised for how the development from a European to a global research arena can be carried out.
Furthermore, the importance of strategies for achieving increased participation in the programme by the new member states should be emphasised.
This response was a part of the referral process of the Swedish legislative process.
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