Table 1 Research and the Structural Funds in the 12 EU new member states
Comment | Research and the Structural Funds |
|---|---|
Bulgaria Very limited activity for health research | Bulgaria has a low level of research funding, 0.50% of GDP (2008). The seven Operational Programmes do not directly identify R&D. The fourth, Competitiveness, Axis 1.2 (€75 m) includes 'pro-innovative infrastructure', 'pro-innovative services and 'innovation networks' - with beneficiaries "R&D institutions and organizations, municipalities, private or public bodies including NGOs". Also in April 2009, Operational Programme "Regional Development" allocated €17 million for support/upgrading of universities. |
CYPRUS Actively using SF for research programmes, including (small) public health research | Cyprus has low expenditure on R&D at 0.49% (2009). Cyprus has three private universities and no medical school (although one is developing in North Cyprus). Of €83 million R&D funds, 45% (€38 m) was directly from government funds, €19 m from the universities' budgets, €10 m from abroad (including €8 m from EU) and €16 m from the private sector (€5 m pharmaceuticals). Cyprus has €640 million Structural Funds. RTDI has been implemented through the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation. There have been two National Research Frameworks (DESMI) - in 2008 €48 million, and for 2009-2011 €40. These were allocated: €33.4 m for natural sciences, €16.6 m social sciences, €14.6 m engineering and technology, €10.2 m agricultural sciences, €5.1 m humanities, €3.2 m health and biological sciences (including public health research). Other State support for biomedical research includes €5 million annually for Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (University of Nicosia). |
Czech Republic Strong R&D programme, including biomedicine but not public health research | Czech Republic has medium level investment in R&D at 1.6% of GDP, with public sector investment 38% and private sector 62%. The Operational Programme Research for Development and Innovation has €2 billion, which includes €685 million (33%) for equipment and infrastructure, €685 million (33%) for R & D institutes focused on applied research, strengthening their cooperation with industry (including hospitals) according to the needs of the region, €414 million (20%) for universities' infrastructure of laboratories and IT, and €72 million (3%) monitoring of projects and programmes, studies and analysis, programme publicity, and training and consultancy services. A further operational programme for universities and Academies, funded through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, provides €154 million institutional support. The programme Call 1.2 (2009) for Regional R&D centres had 18 successful applications, predominantly in technical engineering. In Nov/Dec 2010, biomedicine has been favoured with a €100 million molecular genetics centre at Vestec near Prague for Charles University (the project coordinator is the former President of the Academy of Science) and a €12 million Regional Centre of Applied Molecular Oncology at Brno. |
Estonia Strong SF investment in R&D infrastructures and research programmes. No public health research. | R&D in Estonia has grown from 0.6% of GDP in 2000 to 1.4% in 2009. Spend is 39% natural sciences, 19% engineering, humanities, 15% medical and health sciences, 12% humanities, 9% social sciences, 5% agricultural sciences. Over 2007-2013, Estonia receives 3.4 billion - European Regional Development Fund support of €1.86 billion, Cohesion Fund €1.15 billion euros, and European Social Fund €390 million. ERDF supports €306 million for infrastructure and development of institutions, small-scale research equipment, R&D in biotechnology and other targeted programmes, and international collaboration. Operational Programme for Human Resource Development, operated by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research receives €102 million euros (plus €14 m state co-funding). Programmes include Mobilitas, supporting postdoctoral research (€20 million euros), implemented by the Estonian Science Foundation (July 2011 there had been five rounds of calls for 'top researcher grants'), and state's Archimedes Foundation funding internationalization of doctoral studies (€32 million). |
Hungary Strong use of SF for R&D. Support to industry and higher education institutes. No focus for public health research. | There is a low rate of research investment in Hungary at 1% of GNP. The Structural Funds (€22.4 billion) are allocated through 15 Operational Programmes of the National Development Plan. RTDI activities are mainly supported under the Economic Development Operational Programme (EDOP). Priority 1 "R&D and innovation for competitiveness" has €822 m over 7 years from ERDF for three fields: the promotion of market-oriented R&D; innovation clusters and technology parks; and R&D activities by enterprises. The Social Infrastructures Operational Programme supports research and educational infrastructure at HEIs, and the Social Renewal Operational Programme for collaborative RTDI, including basic research. Together with EDOP, these have more funds than the main national Research and Technological Innovation Fund. |
Latvia SF used actively for infrastructures and R&D calls. Small public health research support. | Latvia has a low rate of research, 0.61% of GDP (2008). In the ESF operational programme Priority "Higher Education and Science" includes "Attraction of Human Resources to Science" (€47 m) and "Support to Doctor's and Master's study programmes" (€58 m). But many of the scheduled activities were cancelled with the financial crisis. In the ERDF 2.1 Priority "Science and Innovation" has €451 m ERDF support. This includes "Science, Research and Development" for investigator-initiated proposals (€50 m). In a call in 2010, from 177 proposals 114 were financed. A second activity "Development of the scientific and research infrastructure" covers infrastructural development in 10 National research centres and the development of scientific computing network with total ERDF support €175 m. Among these 10 centres is the national research centre in public health and clinical medicine. In the 3rd operational programme "Infrastructure and Services" (ERDF/CF), €168 m is given to development of infrastructure for higher education, including large equipment. Activity "Development of Science and Technology park of Riga", originally intended to support biomedical research, has been put on hold because of absence of suitable land for development, as a consequence of privatisations. |
Lithuania Strong use of SF for research - industry, human capacities and programmes. Strong list of public health research support. | Lithuania has a relatively low level of research at 0.82% of GDP in 2007. The annual Structural Funds for Lithuania 2007-2013 are €1 bn, around 15% of the total national budget. Planning with stakeholders was developed from 2005. Support for research and innovation is well-developed under all three priority areas. Operational Programme 1-3: 'Enhancement of researchers' capacities', coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Science, includes development of scientists and researchers, thematic networks and R&D training (€140 m). Operational programme 2.1: 'R&D for competitiveness and growth' has €602 m, includes infrastructure projects, 'high level research centres', business parks and integrated studies Operational Programme 3.2: Priority 1.4 Strengthening of Administrative Capacity and Increase of Efficient Public Administration (€178 m) includes Priority 1-4.3 (€37 m), which integrated science, study and business centres (valleys), joint research programmes, strengthening the Lithuanian Scientific Council, and the development of monitoring of science and studies. Research supported by this last measure include the analysis of public health care carried out by municipalities, studies to identify the scope of public health services, the development of a monitoring system, creation of models for providing public health services, training and professional development of public health care specialists, creation of a demand planning system as well as improvement and development of public health impact assessment. |
Malta Moderate use of SF for public sector research infrastructures and human resources, but not public health research. | In 2007, Malta spent 0.6% of GDP on research and development. Business contributed the largest proportion of funds with €21 m (65%) (largely multinational firms undertaking in-house R&D), followed by higher education €10 m (31%), with public research organisations just €1 m (3.3%). Malta's Structural and Cohesion Funds for 2007-2013 total €855 m. Just under 10% is allocated to 'Knowledge & Innovation', mainly for infrastructures (eg the IT faculty at the university, strengthening university laboratories in engineering, biotechnology and chemistry, €49 m). Malta Enterprises, an agency working under the Ministry of Finance, receives €20 m for a Life Sciences Centre (molecular genetics). An Educational Pathways Scholarship Scheme for Post-Graduate studies (MSc, PhD) is established with €10 m, and Centre for Policy Research and Training for the Public Sector €3.4 m. |
Poland Very large overall SF available, smaller proportion for R&D, focus on technologies, no public health research | The research expenditure in Poland is low (0.61% GDP in 2008), mainly non-competitive public funding through a large number of higher education institutes and academies. The Structural Funds for Poland 2007-2013 at €67.3 billion are the largest for any member state, allocated in four main programmes. The smallest, the Operational Programme Innovative Economy, with €8.85 billion from ERDF, has two research-related programmes: 'Research and development of new technologies' (€1.1 billion) covering informatics, technologies and biotechnologies (includes 'new medical products and techniques'). The Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment (€27.9 billion) includes Priority 12 'Health security and improving the efficiency of the health system' (€350 m from ERDF), although this is not related to research. Priority 13, 'Infrastructure of higher education' (€500 m from ERDF) covers infrastructures, access and improving the quality of education through IT. In the Human Capital Programme (€9.7 billion) is Priority 4.2, 'Developing R&D staff qualifications and increasing awareness of science importance to economic growth' (€61 m.). Regional Operational Programmes (€16.6 billion) have been created for each of the 16 provinces. Some Regional Innovation Strategies include innovation networks and R&D. |
Romania Substantial SF funding, moderate use for research infrastructures and human resources, and competitive programme calls include 'health' but not public health. | Romania has a low level of R&D investment (0.58% GDP in 2008). There is growing use of competition in public funding of research, and of the structural funds to support research, but substantial public budget cuts in 2009. Romania gains €19.6 billion from EU Structural and Cohesion Funds. Funded by ERDF, the Operational Programme "Increase of economic competitiveness" includes Axis 2: Research, Technological Development and Innovation for competitiveness (€536 m), which is managed through the National Authority for Scientific Research and addresses five of the nine priorities of the national RDI strategy, including (first) 'Health'. The Operational Programme 'Human Resources Development' funded by ESF, has Axis 1 with €797 m for higher education, and includes University education for the knowledge society' and 'Doctoral and postdoctoral programmes in support of research'. |
Slovakia Strong SF use for research university infrastructures, human resources and programme calls, including clinical research. | Slovakia's proportion of R&D was low at 0.49% by 2007. However, R&D is the main thrust for the 2007-2013 Structural Funds, with €1.2 billion allocated for the Research and Development, €883 m for Convergence, and €326 m for Regional Competitiveness and Employment. Over €500 m was put out to 13 calls in 2009, which included grants for research of around €1 m each (including clinical research studies), for 'centres of excellence' of around €4 m (including environment and health, stroke and perinatology), and grants for SMEs, including several for biomedical technology. The Operational Programme Education, with a total of €617 m, includes Measure 2.1, support for tertiary education (€28 m in 2009 call), as well as Measure 2 2 'Support for life-long learning in the Health sector', with sub-objectives of building human resources for the health system and promoting continuing education (no calls yet under this heading). The Operational Programme, Competitiveness and Economic Growth includes a thematic programme for universities' buildings and infrastructures, with a budget of €1.2 bn |
Slovenia Moderate SF use for R&D public infrastructures, SMEs and technology. No public health research. | Slovenia has a medium level of investment in R&D at 1.6% of GDP in 2008. The total EU Structural Funds are €4.2 billion, divided into five programmes. The first of these, Strengthening Regional Development Potential has €1.7 billion (40%), with five operational programmes, of which the first 'Competitiveness and Research Excellence' receives €402 m (24%). In a competitive call for 2009-2013, eight Centres of Excellence for infrastructures programmes and operation were chosen (out of 60 applications), each receiving €10 m: all were in technology, with one in biochemistry. Seven Competence Centres received €7 m each, with one in biotechnology and one in biomedical engineering. |