Promotion of innovation and creation of strong technological cooperation networks.
ELEMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT
The renewed Lisbon strategy and the financial perspectives for the 2007-2013 period have placed knowledge as the engine of European growth. In order to achieve that, there are the following community policies:
- Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP): promotes competitiveness by the using of knowledge
- Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development: it is the tool for the creation of new knowledge
- New 2007-2013 programming period of the Structural Funds: inserts research and innovation in regional policy, as essential elements to achieve the development and cohesion goals of the regions
The CIP is composed by three programmes:
- Programme for entrepreneurial spirit and innovation
- Programme of strategic support for information and communications technology (ICT)
- “Intelligent Energy – Europe” Programme
It has a 3.600 million euros indicative budget for 2007-2013. The CIP gathers in a common framework the community help programmes that are specific to areas such as productivity boost, innovation ability, sustainable growth and environment.
The I+D VII Framework Programme (2007-2013) seeks four fundamental goals:
- To support transnational cooperation in research in new thematic fields by the “Cooperation” programme
- To increase dynamics, creativity and the excellence of research by the “Idéias” programme
- To reinforce in quantity and in quality the human potential in the Science and Technology fields by the “People” programme
- To increase ability in research and innovation in Europe and to ensure its correct using by the “Abilities” programme
The VII FP has a 50.521 million euros budget, and the Cooperation programme has the biggest share: 64.2% of the whole budget.
The intervention of the Structural Funds (ERDF and ESF) and of the Cohesion Fund has been concentrated and simplified in the new 2007-2013 programming period. Goals have been redefined, just like the new Regulation (EC) nº 1083/2006 stipulates, and which are now the following:
- The search for convergence between Member States and regions
- Regional Competitiveness and employment
- European Territorial Cooperation
The ERDF resources for 2007-2013 amount to 20.495 million euros.
In the “Convergence” goal, what one pretends is the increase of investment in the human and physic capital and in the improvement of its quality, the development of innovation and of the knowledge society, the adaptability to social and economic changes, the protection and improvement of the environment and administrative efficiency.
In the “Regional Competitiveness and employment” goal, what one pretends is the competitiveness and attractiveness level of the regions to increase, as well as its employment rate, by means of a foresight of economic and social changes related to trade liberalization, innovation, dissemination of the knowledge society, encouragement of the entrepreneurial spirit, etc.
The “Territorial Cooperation” goal aims at a triple end: intensify cross-border cooperation; strengthen transnational cooperation via actions destined to obtain an integrated territorial development connected to the Community’s priorities; to strengthen the interregional cooperation and the interchange of experiences at the appropriate territorial level.