3rd Research Plan

3rd Research Plan

1. The general framework | 2. The 3rd Research Plan for Catalonia (2001/2004)

2. The 3rd Research Plan for Catalonia (2001-2004)

2.1 Introduction

In Catalonia there is a broad consensus among all economic, social and political stakeholders regarding the need for a R&D policy that will help develop all aspects of the Catalan innovation system, i.e. basic research, applied research, technological development and innovation activities.

The key challenge that must be addressed as a matter of urgency is to succeed in bringing R&D expenditure in Catalonia in relation to GDP (at present around 1.1%) closer to the European average (around 1.8%).Also, two fundamental framing conditions must be kept in mind when thinking about science and technology policy making in Catalonia. Firstly, the present legal framework under which the resources for financing research have not been transferred from the Spanish Government to the Generalitat. Secondly, the decision reached by the European Commission regarding the desirability of a common research space throughout Europe. Both these factors mean that the overall priority for research policies implemented in Catalonia is to co-ordinate and integrate very closely with policies on a national and European scale (Figure 8).In short, the Research Plan for Catalonia must play a role which is both 'interstitial' (complementary to the national and European policies) and 'revitalising' (promoting a proactive attitude regarding accessing resources by the research groups).

Internally, effective co-ordination of R&D carried out by the various government ministries of the Generalitat of Catalonia is also necessary. It is in this framework that we must place the restructuring and reinforcing of CIRIT announced in the constitutional decree of the Ministry of Universities, Research and the Information Society (DURSI).In particular, it should be noted that the President of CIRIT is now the President of the Generalitat, the Vice President is the Minister responsible for DURSI and the new position of the Director of CIRIT has been created at General Director level within the administration.

Bearing in mind the present situation of the Catalan system of science and technology summarised in chapter 1, the 3rd Research Plan for Catalonia proposes action along two main lines. The first policy priority is the development of human resources while the second is to develop and promote officially recognised centres of research. One significant new emphasis should be highlighted. This is the recognition that the international competitiveness of Catalonia in the 21st century demands that the revitalising of the R&D system must go hand in hand with much stronger innovation performance by Catalan enterprises if longer-term improvements are to be achieved. For this reason, the 3rd Research Plan for Catalonia will be accompanied by an Innovation Plan formulated and managed by CIDEM.

Therefore, actions proposed in the 3rd Research Plan intend not only to promote the quality and quantity of R&D, but also to increase the added value of all economic activities.

2.2 General Objectives

The fundamental challenge for the 3rd Research Plan is to promote the rapid qualitative and quantitative development of the Catalan science and technology system. The general objectives that will guide the development programme are as follows.

Stimulating the growth and quality of the Catalan science and technology system by means of:

Increasing R&D expenditure in Catalonia to reach the level of 1.4% of GDP.
Promoting the accessing of new resources (from the State, the European Union, the private sector) and focusing these resources in key strategic areas.
Providing the R&D system with the necessary equipment and ensuring it is properly maintained.
Reinforcing the co-operation between universities and other research centres and co-ordination of their scientific-technical, computer and documentary services.
Fostering the active collaboration with research organisations on a national level.

Promoting human resources dedicated to R&D by means of:

Training young researchers and encouraging their integration in R&D activities in companies and research centres.
Incorporating researchers trained outside Catalonia into the research system.
Ensuring the system facilitates the development of scientific careers by creating new types of long-term contracts.
Encouraging the best staff to dedicate more of their time to research.
Stimulating the growth and scientific productivity of existing Recognised Research Groups and supporting the creation of new groups in emergent areas.
Increasing the number of technicians supporting research.

Furthering the internationalisation of research carried out in Catalonia by means of:

Contributing to the development of the European Research Area through participation in multilateral initiatives developed by the European Union itself, or by its regions or member states.
Creating and developing Officially Recognised Research Centres capable of participating in the leading European networks.
Providing an attractive environment for locating high quality international research facilities in Catalonia.
Increasing the participation of Catalan companies and researchers in the Framework Programmes, calls for tenders and the multilateral public sector R&D schemes (ESA, CERN, etc.).
Establishing proactive programmes for co-operation with countries, regions and research institutions around the world.

Stimulating greater involvement of businesses in research, development and innovation by means of:

Supporting the actions proposed in the Innovation Plan promoted and managed by CIDEM.
Focusing on mechanisms to promote technology transfer to companies.
Increasing the number of researchers employed by companies.
Facilitating the mobility of researchers between businesses and universities.
Promoting the use of seed and risk capital for the creation of technologically innovative companies.
Backing a policy of fiscal incentives for R&D activities.

Promoting better management and greater communication of R&D activities by means of:

Introducing information society and communication technologies in Catalonia as set out in the Strategic Plan of the Information Society.
Increasing the efficiency of calls for proposals for R&D programmes by means of an Agency for on-line advice and proposal management.
Continuous evaluation of the quality of the results obtained from R&D projects and of the social benefits of the research projects and programmes.
Establishment of a general communication policy to highlight the importance of R&D activities as a tool for social and economic development and competitiveness.
Respect for, and promotion of the bio-ethical regulations governing experimentation with living organisms by means of staff training, the creation of advice bureaux and other appropriate lines of action.
Creating enthusiasm for science among young people and promoting careers in science in future generations.

2.3 Structure of Third Research Plan

In order to reach the general objectives defined in the previous sections, the 3rd Research Plan will promote the setting up of a series of actions, structured around the various horizontal programmes we will be describing in section 3.5. These programmes aim at consolidating and promoting all the high quality research that is already being carried out in Catalonia, and to focus our country's effort on those research lines currently regarded as of special interest. To ensure the successful implementation of the 3rd Research Plan, we shall be focusing on two major management issues. On the one hand, the Programme for the General Progress of Knowledge has been established. It will be managed and financed by DURSI with the intention of backing and promoting any high quality basic or applied research capable of increasing the international standing of research carried out in Catalonia. On the other hand, we have established a series of Selected Areas. The management and financing of the Areas is the responsibility of one or more ministries of the Generalitat with supplementary resources coming from DURSI or other organisations co-ordinated by CIRIT.

The Selected Areas in the 3rd Research Plan are:

1. Food and Agricultural Sciences
2. Culture and Society
3. Technological Innovation
4. Environment and Natural Resources
5. Health and Quality of Life
6. Information Society
7. Territory, City and Mobility

These Selected Areas have been defined following proposals made by the various ministries of the Generalitat, based on an analysis of the present and future needs of Catalan society, the competitive position of business and the research capacity of the universities and other research centres.