Activities of Vicky FORD related to 2011/2107(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU research and innovation funding (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Green Paper: From challenges to opportunities: towards a common strategic framework for EU research and innovation funding PDF (424 KB) DOC (294 KB)
Amendments (22)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU has established the objective of increasing spending on R&D to reach 3 % of EU GDP by 2020, however the overriding objective is to stimulate innovation and growth and to meet Europe's societal challenges, in particular stimulating and encouraging private investment in R&D,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas other regions and countries of the world are increasingly investing in R&D&I, and whereas EU investment in this domain should therefore be oriented towards a reinforcement of scientific capacitencouraging investment by industry and an improvement in overall EU competitive capacity,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, although EU funding for R&D&I has been increasing, scientifically and technologically more developed EU Member States (MS) still absorb the greatest slice of the available resources under the various Framework funding schemes and programmes (including large- scale projects), perpetuating the under- representativeness of some MS and European regions in terms both of access to funding and of participation, recognises that many of the less represented regions in FP funding conversely absorb greater resources available under Cohesion and Structural Funds,
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the great importance of SMEs for the EU economy and employment is not mirrored in their level of access to EU R&D&I fundsparticipation in EU R&D&I funds, recognises that collaborative work with industry has encouraged significant investment in R&D&I by industry,
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that EU research funds and programmes and the Structural and Cohesion Funds have different aims and, as such, should be kept separate, although on a complementary basis where appropriate;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the importance of maintaining convergence policies, and asks the Commission to build stairways to excellence for those MS and regions that are underrepresented in the FP by developing appropriate instrumentutilising Structural and Cohesion funds to intensify cooperation between MS with a strong participation and those with a weaker participation, and to substantially increase human capacity building and infrastructure in the latter;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that although excellence is considered the main general criterion for funding, it must be borne in mind that the naturehowever the assessment of excellence differs with the type of participant or the very nature of the research and innovation project (the excellence criterion for a research institution is not the same as for an individual researcher or for an SME, and also differs between fundamental and applied projects);
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for a better articulation between local and regional, national and European research and innovation strategies, respecting the specificities of the different contexts and, at the same time, reinforcing the possibilities for complementarity and cooperation between them; believes that cooperation and sharing of information and results isare of key importance hereto increasing the effectiveness of funding;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is convinced that the Framework Programme is at the heart of the CSF and yet different tasks within the CSF should be tackled separately but in close particulationnership: the European Institute of Technology (EIT) to operate mainly as a network of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) to concentrate on its strength in supporting innovative SMEs and therefore not necessarily to be included in the next FP; the next FP to embrace research as a whole; and the structural/cohesion funds to be used in closer cooperation but kept separate;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the need to fund large-scale projects, such as ITER, Galileo and Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) outside the FP,whilst controlling and limiting their potential for cost over-runs; calls on the Commission to examine whether creating autonomous budget lines for them, in order tose projects would guarantee a more transparent and, reliable, contained and prudent financing structure; suggrequests that they sh Commission prepares an assessment to consider whether this projects could be partially funded through the issuing of project bonds by the EIB without increasing the funding liability of Member States;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
2nd Layer: PotentialResearch, Potential, Collaboration and cConsolidation
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. This layer is the space for overall research, fundamental and applied, and social sciences and humanities; coordination participants are universities and research centres/institutes, althoughnd the industrial sector should be encouraged to participate;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. The key words here are originality, quality and potential for excellence and added - value of projects, and not only the possible marketed results;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that the European Research Council (ERC) has proved to be successful and a strengthening element of the European Research Area (ERA); stresses the need toat if the ERC's mandate is increased tho facilitate pgroportion of the budget dedicated to grants to youngup research this should not be to the detriment of grants to individuals; stresses the need to increase the capacity for young researchers whilst not excluding more experienced researchers, as well to strengthen Marie Curie actions and initiatives, thus reinforcing mobility; calls for the implementation of the necessary measures to cope with the precariousMember States to be sensitive to the working conditions of scientific workers in the EU as a meansnd the need to attract and retain researchers, bearing in mind that precarious working conditions (which are still more prevalent for women) constitute a bottleneck on the way to achieving excellence in Europe given the globalised demand for researchers;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. This layer is the space for marketing of products and services and generation of public wealth; industry, including innovative SMEs, plays a pivotal role here in developing novel products and services;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. The funding scheme within this layer is covered by EU funding associated with CIP, access to credit enhancement by the EIF and specific loans from the EIB (mainly covering projects under EUR 50 million), and cooperation with the Structural Funds associated with entrepreneurship; additionally, suggests that the Commission should consider an impact assessment regarding the possibility of the creation of a new funding instrument –- the EU SME Bank –- which should act in articulation witlst still supporting larger businesses; believes that this could be effected through national contact points and financial institutions designated by the MS;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that increased participation by SMEs needs appropriate funding instruments that respond to their specificities, including an increased margin of the tolerable risk of error; within this scenario where smaller amounts are concerned; within this scenario strongly recommends that soft loans should be considered, which are reimbursed in the event of success, excluding administrative costs;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Strongly encourages the implementation of training programmes for all potential participants, particularly on the application of management rules, and calls on the Commission to develop criteria for the selection, evaluation and assessment of projects, bearing in mind the stairways to excellence;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for the Cooperation Programme to be kept at the heart of the FP, reinforcing collaborative and transnational research;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for consolidation of multidisciplinary research and recognition of the social dimension of research; in this context, recalls that great societal challenges (such as climate change, demographic ageing, food, water and energy security, and resources sustainability) cannot be dealt with only through technological responses and that therefore European research in social sciences and humanities is a pivotal asset in successfully addressing them;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for a balance to be kept between bottom-up (cooperative) and top-down projects (’great societal challenges’), as well as for smaller bottom-up projects to be facilitated;
Amendment 377 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls for an intensification of international cooperation where appropriate through effective reinforcement of capacity building and the establishment of fair partnerships with developing countries in order better to tackle global challenges;