APPENDIX 3: CALL FOR EVIDENCE
Effectiveness of EU research and innovation proposals
The Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment
Sub-Committee of the House of Lords European Union Committee,
chaired by Baroness O'Cathain, is conducting an inquiry into the
effectiveness of EU proposals relating to research and innovation.
Written evidence is sought by 11 February 2013. Public hearings
will be held in February and March 2013.
Background
During 2012, the Committee examined a number of European
Commission proposals for projects and strategies containing a
strong emphasis on research and innovation, including the EU 'smart
cities' innovation partnership, the development of an EU transport
technology strategy, the economic potential of cloud computing,
and the completion of the European Research Area. The Commission
is issuing these proposals against the background of the Europe
2020 Strategy, which emphasises supporting growth and jobs, and
the ongoing negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework
2014-2020 where the UK Government, and this Committee, support
an increase in the budget devoted to investment in education,
research and innovation. The Commission's Work Programme for 2013
also foresees legislative proposals later this year to renew and
create public-private partnerships to leverage investment in research
and innovation.
In its scrutiny of the above proposals, the Committee
identified a number of cross-cutting issues which will form the
basis of this inquiry. The Committee is particularly interested
in contributions from those working in research and innovation
in sectors where those disciplines play a particularly vital role,
for example, transport, medicine, agriculture, creative industries,
etc. Respondents need only reply to those questions which they
consider relevant to them, and are welcome to address matters
which are relevant to the inquiry but are not covered by these
questions.
Questions
(1) What are the essential elements of an effective
proposal relating to research and innovation?
(2) Do you feel that stakeholders at all levels
are properly consulted in the development of EU proposals on research
and innovation? Are stakeholder concerns properly taken into consideration;
how could consultation be improved; and to what extent does consultation
affect policy formulation?
(3) The EU facilitates Member State cooperation
on research and innovation through the open method of coordination,
the creation of high level groups, associations, networks, and
councils? Are these modes of cooperation effective, and could
other methods be used?
(4) Has the EU been successful in engaging private
sector support for projects with a strong research and innovation
dimension? Are there ways in which this could be improved?
(5) Do EU proposals clearly state their desired
outputs, outcomes, impacts, and 'European added-value'? Do you
think the European Commission's Impact Assessment Board helps
to ensure the production of useful and accurate impact assessments?
(6) Do the EU and its institutions provide sufficient
information about the monitoring and evaluation of their projects
and strategies?
(7) In terms of informing public policy and generating
economic growth, does the EU use the outputs of research and innovation
effectively in comparison with other countries, for example, USA,
Australia, Singapore, etc?
(8) How have the economic crisis and the atmosphere
of austerity in many EU Member States impacted the research and
innovation environment at the national and EU levels? Are the
proposed levels of spending in EU projects appropriate in the
current situation?
(9) What suggestions could the UK make to the
EU institutions to maximise the effectiveness of legislative and
project proposals with a strong research and innovation dimension?
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