Regions for Economic Change: Innovating Through EU Regional Policy Workshop 2B Developing Poles of Excellence: Partnerships Between Research Institutions.

Regions for Economic Change: Innovating Through EU Regional Policy

Workshop 2BDeveloping Poles of Excellence:

Partnerships Between Research Institutions and Businesses

Dr John H Smith

EUA Deputy Secretary-General Brussels, 12 June, 2006

…2…

Brief Profile of the EUA

Established in 2001 in Brussels750+ University Members34 National Rectors’ Conferences MembersIndependent Voice for the University Sector

…3…

Starting point for EUA Views on Innovating Through EU Regional Policy

The Glasgow Declaration (April 2005) Third EUA Convention of Higher Education Institutions « Strong Universities for a Strong Europe ». On Excellence in Research and Innovation, the Declaration stated: « Universities must exercise their own responsibilities for

enhancing research and innovation through the optimal use or resources and the development of institutional research strategies. Their diverse profiles ensure that they are increasingly engaged in the research and innovation process, working with different partners at the regional, national, European and global level.»

…4…

Enhancing the Role of Universities in Fostering Regional Innovation

EUA has welcomed the European Commission’s commitment to achieving greater complementarity between FP7 and the European Research Development Fund with a view to strengthening existing university-based innovation networks (university/industry/SME partnerships) and developing new ones.

EU Research Framework Programmes have had a major positive effect in fostering research collaboration across universities, research institutions and business enterprises. EUA is engaged in the current debate to ensure that universities are able to benefit from the FP7 new proposals to reimburse direct and indirect eligible research costs on the basis of a « level playing field » across Europe’s regions.

EUA has been involved in the development of the « Responsible Partnering Guidelines » as a voluntary code of conduct reflecting established good practices on research collaboration between universities, public research organisations, industry and business enterprises.

…5…

Partnership Collaborations between Universities and Businesses

Four Main Challenges 1. Collaborative research needs to be treated as part of university

excellence. 2. Recognition is needed of different partners’ legitimate interests. 3. Investment should be made in strategies that develop

professionalism in collaborative research. 4. Change of « Mindset » is required: Young researchers are key to

the change process.

…6…

Contribution from University Partners

Strong potential to collaborate with industry for European economic success

Cutting edge research Human capital: talent and skills Ability to change mindset on collaborative research: education

programmes for entrepreneurship and innovation

…7…

University Partners: Main Benefits from Collaborative Research with Business

Universities as institutions Excelling in research and innovation

Proximity with business as a driver for innovation

Diversifying funds for research

Professors and Senior Researchers Attracting and re-training good professionals

Early Career Researchers Developing a wider range of professional careers and opportunities

…8…Responsible Partnering

Responsible Partnering

A voluntary code of conduct reflecting proven good practices for Industry-Science collaboration

Designed by practitioners

Endorsed by key stakeholders

Supported by Commissioners Potočnik and Verheugen

Endorsed in Esko Aho’s report on Creating an Innovative Europe

…9…

Responsible Partnering in Practice

Ten Actionable GuidelinesCollaborative Research AgreementsCheck-list for self-assessment tailored to the distinct needs of Universities, RTOs and CompaniesVoluntary approach with Entry, Expert and Strategic levels

…10…

Universities - Tackling the challengesKey messages of the RP Initiative

Strong bottom-up collaboration between University-Industry-RTO-Government necessary to foster European innovation

Universities are key players in innovation as well as in research and education

Through adopting the Responsible Partnering guidelines, universities build best practices into their collaborative research with business

…11…

www.eua.be

www.responsible-partnering.org