Presentation

As all bibliometric and other indicators point out, over the past twenty years the research carried out in Catalonia has increased greatly, both in quantity and in quality. It is precisely on this basis that we are now able to propose a step forward and meet the challenge of building the European research space with possibilities of success, and moreover we should aspire to playing an important role in this process.

The 3rd Research Plan (2001-2004) is the political instrument with which the Generalitat de Catalunya intends to stimulate Catalan society to enable it to attain this goal. We should stress that our research policy is characterised by its continuity. The 3rd Research Plan is a natural extension of the 2nd Plan which, in its turn, was the logical continuation of the 1st Plan. Similarly to the first two, the 3rd Plan contemplates the reality of Catalan research as inserted in a Spanish and European context essentially, and like the other two, it considers our research policy a tool for the creation of a strong material and human structure, capable of attracting the external resources that are indispensable for the expansion of our research. This is the intention behind the continuation, refinement and further development of our policy of human resources. Consequently, the 3rd Research Plan will extend the policies regarding consolidated groups towards formulae that will favour the creation of institutions of greater magnitude and with more competitive potential in Europe.

As for the areas which it is advisable to promote, the 3rd Research Plan takes a stand in favour of guaranteeing a presence in large areas, yet against prioritising sub-areas. What we need is a research with an external impact, in other words, we require a research sector susceptible of exporting. The only way to attain this objective is granting support to success. Clearly, certain themes are of specific interest to us because they respond to our reality and to our needs. In our opinion these are detected by the various departments and ministries of the Generalitat, and it is consequently logical that the specific research plans should be developed following an agreement between Ministries, co-ordinated and monitored by CIRIT. This stems from the idea that research is not confined exclusively to one specific ministry or department but rather of all those comprised within the Generalitat.

Neither is it a matter concerning the Generalitat solely. Other public administrations also partake in research, though above all it is private enterprises that are increasingly carrying it out and commissioning it, and will continue to do so. In today's world, the research structure to be promoted is one that will be chiefly though not exclusively used by enterprises, thus transforming investigation into an economic driving force. So it is very important that our research structure (universities, institutes, etc.) becomes a key component of our system of business innovation, and it is therefore necessary to observe that the 3rd Research Plan both complements and is a complement to the Innovation Plan elaborated by CIDEM. The 3rd Research Plan and the Innovation Plan are the two sides of one and the same policy: that of stimulating Catalonia's intellectual and economic competitiveness.

Finally, I would like to thank all those individuals whose work, in very different fields and with great enthusiasm, has contributed to make such an ambitious and realistic Research Plan possible. It is now our turn to make it prosper.

Andreu Mas-Colell
Minister of Universities, Research and Information Society

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