An expert group established as part of the Seventh Framework Programme's (FP7) regional calls for 2010 has published a new report which highlights cooperative nature of EU's future research policy. The philosophy behind synergy is very much one of joining up the dots to ensure that policies are aligned and don't overlap. For the solution, the team also recommends that the Structural Funds be better exploited and they advise using the European Social Fund (ESF) to promote greater synergies between education and innovation programmes. 

The Synergies Expert Group (SEG) is made up of experts and representatives from Seventh Framework Programme FP7, the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), which was presented on 2006, and the Cohesion Policy Funds. Since October 2010, the group has been analysing how EU research policy should be aligned across the main European research policy framework programmes and actions. In addition, the work of the group also focused on the future of two regional actions under FP7: Regions of Knowledge (RoK) and the Research Potential (REGPOT).

The study raises the synergy  to ensure harmonization of policies and avoid overlap. For that reason, the will allow the overall research objectives of the Innovation Union strategy, which was presented on 2010, and the Europe 2020 strategy, wich was presented on 2010, to be better achieved.

Innovation policies at EU level are currently fragmented and that coordination of research and innovation as well as cohesion policies at European, national and regional levels, both within and between these levels, is suboptimal, according the final Report of the Synergies Expert Group. In addition, they also highlighted a need for common strategies in accordance with the orientations of Europe 2020, and a lack of a coherent and interacting governance structure. Furthermore, a lack of instruments aimed at supporting the pooling of European and national funds and poor communication, coordination and cooperation between actors and stakeholders at all levels, were also identified as areas for improvement.

The Synergies Expert Group also recommends, for the solution, that the Structural Funds be better exploited for innovative public procurement and demonstrations projects and they advise using the European Social Fund (ESF) to promote greater synergies between education and innovation programmes by making it more innovation oriented.