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GREEN PAPER
The European Research Area: New Perspectives

SUMMARY

The Six Pillars of the European Research Area

As we approach the review of the first three-year cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs and the launch of the second cycle in 2008, it is a good time to assess progress made and discuss future orientations on one of its core elements ? the European Research Area (ERA). In a changing world characterised by the accelerating globalisation of research and technology and the emergence of new scientific and technological powers ? notably China and India ? the European Research Area is more than ever a cornerstone for a European knowledge society. Such a society is one where research, education, training and innovation are fully mobilised to fulfil the economic, social and environmental ambitions of the EU and the expectations of its citizens.

The ERA concept combines: a European "internal market" for research, where researchers, technology and knowledge freely circulate; effective European-level coordination of national and regional research activities, programmes and policies; and initiatives implemented and funded at European level. Some progress has been made since the concept was endorsed at the Lisbon European Council in 2000. The European Research Area has become a key reference for research policy in Europe. However, there is still much further to go to build ERA, particularly to overcome the fragmentation of research activities, programmes and policies across Europe. The European Research Area that the scientific community, business and citizens need should have the following features:

• An adequate flow of competent researchers with high levels of mobility between institutions, disciplines, sectors and countries.
• World-class research infrastructures, integrated, networked and accessible to research teams from across Europe and the world, notably thanks to new generations of electronic communication infrastructures.
• Excellent research institutions engaged in effective public-private cooperation and partnerships, forming the core of research and innovation 'clusters' including 'virtual research communities', mostly specialised in interdisciplinary areas and attracting a critical mass of human and financial resources.
• Effective knowledge-sharing notably between public research and industry, as well as with the public at large.
• Well-coordinated research programmes and priorities, including a significant volume of jointly-programmed public research investment at European level involving common priorities, coordinated implementation and joint evaluation.
• A wide opening of the European Research Area to the world with special emphasis on neighbouring countries and a strong commitment to addressing global challenges with Europe's partners.

Based on an assessment of the situation in these main areas, this Green Paper raises a number of questions on how to deepen and widen the European Research Area so that it fully contributes to the renewed Lisbon strategy. It intends to launch a wide institutional and public debate with a view to preparing initiatives for 2008.