A new Commission communication on using research and innovation to boost regional competitiveness highlights the need to exploit synergies between the EU's regional policies and research and innovation programmes. In the communication, the Commission points out that ultimately, the EU's research and regional policies have a common goal, namely creating jobs and growth.

The European Commission presented a new Communication in which it proposes to exploit synergies between the EU's regional policies and research and innovation programmes in order to to boost regional competitiveness and create jobs. Thus, the Commission is now planning a series of actions to help Member States and regions make better use of funding. By the end of the year, the Commission will produce a guide to help research organisations and businesses identify the most appropriate source of funding.

Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner considers that many key drivers of research and innovation are most effectively addressed at the regional level. She puts as examples the poles of excellence and the growing numbers of small, regional universities as examples of what is possible. However, while some regions are already investing heavily in research and innovation, others are investing nothing.

This is the reason why the Commission will work to ensure that national and regional authorities know which organisations are receiving research and innovation funding from the EU so that they can consider topping this up with regional, national or other European funds. Also, it will hold regular events bringing together the relevant stakeholders in research, innovation and regional development to share ideas and exchange best practice.

Regarding the current European funding programs, in the latest round of programming for the Cohesion Policy, which covers the period 2007 to 2013, Member States are required to allocate between 60 and 75% of the available resources to Lisbon-related activities, such as research and innovation. For its part, the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) includes initiatives designed to boost the research capacity of Europe's regions. For example, the 'Regions of knowledge' initiative encourages the development of regional 'research-driven clusters', which bring together universities, research centres, businesses and regional authorities. Meanwhile the 'Research potential of Convergence Regions' programme aims to strengthen the capacity of researchers in Europe's least developed regions to participate in the EU research programmes.