Science in Europe. The new framework for EU research and innovation.

1066 POLICYFORUM O n 30 November, the European Commission is to issue legislative proposals for a decision of the European Parliament and Council of the European Union (EU) concerning Horizon 2020, the next Framework Programme (FP) for Research and Innovation. The decision process and adoption by the Parliament and the Council is to follow I offer a critical preview of Horizon 2020, addressing new political contexts, challenges, and opportunities. The analysis is mainly based on information currently available from the EU Budget Review (1) and the Budget for Europe 2020 (2). FP7 and the New Policy Frame The EU FP, begun in 1984, is expected to add value compared with national activities by fostering cross-border and cross-sec-toral cooperation, organizing competition toward excellence beyond national capacities , and combining complementary compe-tences. Evaluations (3) show that it attracts high-quality project ideas, top researchers, and excellent consortia involving researchers from Europe and other countries. However, evaluations also identifi ed areas for improvement , such as further sharpening of objectives , better alignment of instruments for participation , and simplifi cation of procedures, management and administration. The current FP7 is the world's largest competitive trans-national program, with a €50 billion budget for the 2007–2013 period (4). The new EU policy frame relevant for the 2014–2020 period is the Europe 2020 strategy (5, 6) for jobs and growth. It defi nes three priorities: (i) smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth; (ii) measurable headline targets (7), such as meeting the EU's climate change and energy objectives (8); and (iii) investment of 3% of EU's GDP in research and development (R&D) by 2020. The three priorities are supported by seven " Flagship Initiatives " (9). Although research and innovation will be important for all seven initiatives, the Innovation Union (10, 11) has a particular focus there. Through more than 30 commitments, it addresses issues such as higher investments in research, increasing the number of researchers, modernizing universities, and spending resources more effi ciently. One of the commitments is to complete , by 2014, the European Research Area (ERA), a single unifi ed market for research and innovation that will allow free movement of researchers, knowledge, and technology (12). In 2012, the Commission will propose an ERA Framework (13) encompassing measures for strengthening the position of researchers, including career and social security issues; improving the interoperability of national research councils; facilitating access to and cooperation of research infrastructures; and …