Research and industry experts have called on the European Commission and the European Parliament to initiate a radical change to research and innovation policy in Europe. In a joint statement presented on 7 December on the premises of the European Parliament, they emphasised the need not only for improvements, but also for better long-term planning so that the EU can maintain a competitive edge.

Choosing the transition to a new Commission and the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty as an opportunity to voice their concerns, the experts made a set of recommendations that - from their point of view - would help the EU weather current and future challenges.

First, the focus should be on the greatest societal challenges. This means the focus should be shifted from the pace of technological change to the direction of that change. In this context, the experts also call for more coherent programmes and a more systematic approach in the European institutions to analyse long-term trends.

Second, the five expert groups point out that the establishment of new networks, institutions and policies for open innovation should be encouraged. Their joint opinion is that research and innovation require open collaboration, which in turn requires an open environment for knowledge, talent and services to flow.

Furthermore, the statement recommends that the EU should spend more on research, education and innovation, in part through bolder co-investment schemes. At the same time, research, development and innovation (RDI) programmes should be coordinated and planned better, both in Brussels and in the Member States.

Finally, the experts stressed that open competition should be standard in EU programmes.

The five expert groups included the European Research Area Board (ERAB), the Business Panel on future EU innovation policy appointed by the European Commission's Directorate-General (DG) for Enterprise and Industry, the Expert Group on the role of Community research policy in the knowledge-based economy, made up of experts convened by DG Research, the European Technology Platforms Expert Group and the non-profit Science|Business Innovation Board.