Red tape hampering tech research

EC commissioner and scourge of mobile network operators, Viviane Reding, has blamed red tape for hampering Europe's efforts to capitalise on its high tech research.

The information society and media commissioner warned that Europe faces serious challenges in energy, health and with an ageing population, and said these areas can only be tackled by innovative use of ICT.

Reding called on the European Parliament and Council to cut administrative red tape and help create better links between research and venture capital to improve Europe's track record in turning cutting edge research into viable commercial products and services.

She said: "European ICT research is a world leader in telecommunications and audiovisual systems and in application areas such as intelligent cars and medicine. However, we are falling behind in terms of the level and intensity of ICT research spending and we consistently fail to commercialise research results.

"EU ICT research must be turned into growth, jobs and competitiveness. For this to happen we need a single market approach to ICT research and innovation. We need less administrative red tape and risk-aversion and a more proactive policy environment."

The EC is set to invest €9bn in high-tech research under its ICT research programme between 2007 and 2013.

Between 2003 and 2006, the EC gave away €4bn in funding, according to the Commission, with 45 nanometre miniaturised chips for PCs and mobiles one high tech research field that benefited from the cash.

The commissioner highlighted Europe's mobile success story, with three billion phones used worldwide on the European GSM standard, adding: "We can do it again."

Ahead of a new strategy for ICT research and innovation - to be unveiled next year - the EC has launched a public consultation on high tech research and is calling for contributions from industry, ICT experts, policy-makers and the wider public.

Questions posed in the consultation include what are the main challenges ahead for ICT research and innovation; how and in what fields should Europe lead; and how can public policy help.

The consultation will run until 7 November 2008 and can be accessed here.

It follows a recent report, headed by former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho, which detailed a number of failings of ICT research in Europe - in particular that Europe is underperforming in both the level and intensity of its research and innovation.