The group of experts from the European Commission has delivered to the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness , Luis de Guindos, the conclusions of the report that analyzes the situation of Spanish R&D&I.
The main recommendation made by the so-called European Research Area Committee (ERAC) peer review is “increasing the resources available, although this increase must be associated with structural reforms”. Among these improvements, the definition of a new research career through a “radical” change, facing an institutional reform, carrying out an “effective” follow-up and an evaluation by objectives that contemplates the quality and impact of the actions stand out. , achieve a higher level of coordination between the different actors in the system, increase the number of companies that invest in R+D+I, launch the Agency for Research and increase the synergies of support from the private sector and the creation of companies.
The report recognizes the levels of excellence achieved in research, although it points out that the average is low and points out the small number of large companies and SMEs with R+D+I capabilities. Regarding the regional coordination mechanisms, he explains that they are insufficient, giving rise to duplication and divided governance, especially in the case of universities.
The ten recommendations in the summary include:
- the proposal for greater strategic planning that has a broad political consensus and that public resources reach 0.7% of GDP in the next three years (currently it is 0.61%) to boost business spending in R&D
- the need to change the structure and management of the research career in order to foster mobility, promote talent and merit, and seek alternatives to the civil service model.
- implementation of an evaluation system that ensures that public resources are allocated to the best centers, projects and researchers, as well as recommending that the administrations give these institutions greater autonomy and address a reform of the OPIs.
- the need to increase the number of small and, above all, medium-sized companies that invest in R&D&I through new measures. Finally
- build an innovative culture and encourage regional synergies in support of the private sector and business creation.
- the creation of a Research Agency that implements part of the proposed reforms and suggests that effective evaluation and monitoring of R+D+I policies and results be carried out.
The report can be consulted at: http://www.idi.mineco.gob.es/stfls/MICINN/Prensa/FICHEROS/2014/Version_traducida_mensajes_clave_peer_review.pdf