Sustainable and growth-oriented European research and innovation policy
The EU needs to pursue an ambitious common research and innovation policy that will further the development of solutions and technologies required.
Denmark and Europe face significant challenges in terms of creating growth and boosting competitiveness while at the same time focusing on sustainability, climate and health. At the end of the day, only a well-educated population, creativity and development and implementation of new knowledge in production processes will allow us to generate new growth in Europe.
In the agriculture and food sector, Danish businesses have managed to step up productivity and increase the value of products thanks to targeted public and private focus on research, innovation and dissemination of knowledge, etc. This being the case, the EU needs to pursue an ambitious common research and innovation policy that will further the development of solutions and technologies required. Denmark must have the courage to set the agenda in the forthcoming reform of European research policy. The following is needed:
- Massive strategic concentration on research in the fields of agriculture, food and biotech (Knowledge-Based BioEconomy).
- Establishment of a stronger link in EU research programmes between research and innovation, with knowledge transfer to the corporate sector as a key parameter. This can be achieved, for instance, through continued support of European technology platforms (ETPs) and requirements of plans for knowledge transfer and business plans in connection with projects.
- Underpinning of joint programming initiatives that, bearing a strong Danish fingerprint, have been formulated for climate/food production, health and aquaculture and other exploitation of ocean resources.
- Expansion of Knowledge and Innovation Communities as they are likely to be one of the key tools in European research policy.
- The means to facilitate research and innovation should be seen in the light of a common strategic framework (FP8, EIT, CIP and structural funds).