FORESTA Fostering the Research Dimension of Science and Technology Agreements Project n° 248676
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FORESTA is a project dedicated to foster research cooperation between Latin America and the European Union in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The project seeks to bring a relevant and meaningful ICT research-policy dialogue at institutional level, via conferences and through analytical work on current research cooperation between EU and Latin America, to the attention of policy-makers and policy- and programme-implementers for consideration in their development of current and future national, regional and international programmes in support of ICT research and technological development and innovation (RTDI). The objective of this deliverable is to provide a summary of the input, positions and views of European industry representatives in order to develop a set of strategic priorities for EU industry in respect of the policy and thematic areas which should be covered and developed as strategic priorities in future EU and Latin American RTDI support activities both nationally, regionally and inter-regionally and, in so doing, facilitate future EU–LA cooperation. In addition to the active involvement of industry representatives, input was collected from the members of the Policy Dialogue Council, from industry and other stakeholder representatives who either participated in the FORESTA Conferences and/or in its final event in Brussels or who were contacted through follow-up activities. Valuable inputs also resulted from synergies and the sharing of information with other projects. The priorities indicated as most important were identified and are presented for each significant information source which included industry representatives, the Senior Officials ICT Working Group, Horizon 2020, the Madrid EU-LAC Action Plan 2010-2012, European Technology Platforms, the FIRST and MaPEeR projects, the European Future Internet Initiative and the FORESTA Joint Declaration. These were then analysed and synthesised into a set of priorities for EU industry which was further analysed leading to the extraction of a set of reasoned, strategic priorities for EU industry relating to what ICT sector companies should pursue under their own initiatives and what EU industry would like policy-makers to pursue in the EU and in Latin America. In summary, those priorities are set out hereunder: EU RTDI policy-makers at regional, national and EU level should prioritise the following actions as strategically important: 1.
Support ICT RTDI in all of the areas identified as priority for EU industry.
2.
Engage with, cooperate and coordinate their funding and other activities with equivalent counterparts in Latin America (i.e. an EU-LA dialogue) in all areas where there is synergy.
3.
Cooperate and coordinate their funding and other RTDI activities taking place exclusively within the EU, including exclusively in their own region and country, and taking place externally outside of the EU (i.e. an intra-EU dialogue).
4.
Develop common, strategic, ICT research agendas between the EU and Latin America where there is relevant experience to share or other mutual benefits to be realised.
5.
Provide for reciprocal access to regional, national and EU RTDI funding programmes on equal terms for all.
6.
Take a more active role in promoting the development of harmonised standards early in the RTDI process.
7.
Include special provisions for SMEs when setting research priorities.
8.
Simplify the process of accessing RTDI funding.
9.
Improve access to research infrastructure and facilities.
D2.9 – Summary of Strategic Indications from EU Industry TESEO Sprl.
Page 4/38