THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATIONS Christopher John Hull Secretary General rue Joseph II, 36-38 B-1000 Brussels Tel.: +32-2-5028698 Fax: +32-2-5028693 e-mail: office@earto.org
RTOs and EARTO RTOs: organisations whose predominant activity is the provision of R&D and related technology services to enterprises, governments and other clients EARTO a non-profit association, founded in 1999/2000, by merger of EACRO and FEICRO 350 Research and Technology Organisations in Europe 150,000 scientists, engineers, technicians 15 billion turnover per annum 150,000 clients per year in government, industry, services CEA, Fraunhofer, Sintef, Tecnalia, TNO, VTT Impact on economy and society: innovation for competitiveness, tackling Grand Challenges Collaborative and contract research, strategic research, value chain integration, precautionary and other public-interest research, related technology services Multi-disciplinary skills, critical mass, special facilities, long-term partnerships Technology and knowledge transfer through publication, training, licensing, spin-offs Postgraduate training in technology and innovation
WHAT IS AN RTO? RTOs LINK SCIENCE AND APPLICATION Private Industry ( competitiveness ) RTOs Universities Ministries, public agencies ( Grand Challenges ) Public Public Basic Innovation Applied
WHAT IS AN RTO? RTOs LINK SCIENCE AND APPLICATION Technology Readiness Levels Industry RTOs Universities 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 9lic Prototype Demonstration in operational environment Demonstration in laboratory environment Innovation Basic principles observed
WHAT IS AN RTO? RTOs SUPPORT ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE Problem-oriented, client-focused solution providers Capability to integrate diverse technologies Support for product, process and service innovation in all sectors of the economy Special role supporting SMEs Support for public policy, precautionary research, monitoring
WHAT IS AN RTO? FIRMS NEED RTOs Growing trend in R&D outsourcing, encouraged by search for cost-effectiveness speed to market accelerating technological change Open Innovation Some companies now conduct less than 10% of their R&D inhouse
The Mission 1. Promote and defend the interests of RTOs in Europe 2. Provide added-value services to EARTO members The Strategy 1. Continually reinforce RTOs as a key-player category in the minds of EU decision-makers 2. Seek to ensure that European R&D and innovation programmes are best attuned to the interests of RTOs 1. Help members to make contacts, build networks, benchmark and exchange good practice to improve their business performance 2. Assist members singly and collectively with information and advice to identify and exploit European R&D and innovation programme funding opportunities 3. Provide European support facilities (office support in Brussels, meeting facilities, etc.
EARTO s MISSION PROMOTE AND DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF RTO s IN EUROPE Seventh Framework Programme (but also Structural Funds, CIP, State Aid Framework ) Contacts with Commission, Parliament, Council, other professional groups EURAB, SME Expert Group, Sounding Board, Expert Groups, Evaluation Panels, Hearings European Parliament EARTO Strategic Policy Groups and Task Forces on: IPR, SME measures, State Aid, Model Contract, Model Consortium Agreements, ex-post Audits of FP Projects Board representations to Commission, meetings with Commissioner, senior officials, MEPs Upstream and Downstream
EARTO s MISSION PROMOTE AND DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF RTO s IN EUROPE Seventh Framework Programme 75% funding for non-profit research organisations Reinforced SME-specific measures Guarantee Fund Full reimbursement of overhead costs Ex-post FP6 audits Simplification Uniform interpretation of rules Usual accounting principles (also average personnel costs)
FACILITATE EXCHANGES OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND GOOD PRACTICE Working Groups Technology commercialization, quality and excellence, RTO financing, FP proposal writing, spin-offs, Task Forces IPR issues in FP projects, Green Paper on future of ERA, State Aid for R&D, new SME funding model in FP7 Special Interest Groups EUROTECH ( national RTOs), SAFE (food safety), EARPA (automotive research) Annual Conferences 2010, Gothenburg, Sustainability 2011, Warsaw EARTO s MISSION
RECENT & CURRENT PRIORITIES ex-post audits FP6 projects Improved funding and management of Framework Programme Addressing Grand Challenges (Joint Programming, Innovation Partnerships) Innovation Union, preparing for FP8 Reinforce EARTO communication strategy RTO Impact study Case studies EARTO s MISSION