Investing in Research and Innovation - Exchanging European Experiences in a Nordic Context

Your Excellencies; Ladies and gentlemen!

It is with great pleasure and great expectations that I open the main session of this conference “Investing in Research and Innovation – Exchanging European Experiences in a Nordic Context”. The Conference is a joint event between the Nordic Council of Ministers and the European Commission – for the benefit of both parties.

The aim of the conference is to promote the Lisbon agenda with particular focus on implementing the vision of the European Research Area (ERA). As you know, the Nordic Council of Ministers have launched a corresponding vision for a Nordic Research Area (NORIA) aiming to better exploit our long tradition for collaboration between the Nordic countries.

I consider the Nordic vision both as a parallel and a part of the more far-reaching ERA-vision. I hope that this conference can inspire the Nordic region to serve as an example or a pilot for initiatives on a European level. I also hope that the combination of a European and a Nordic perspective can be an arena for mutual inspiration and learning. Finally I hope that the conference can demonstrate that successful Nordic cooperation is for the benefit of both Europe and the Nordic region.

The Nordic model
So, in which ways can the Nordic region serve as an example to the rest of Europe? First of all the Nordic countries are ranked among the most competitive economies in the world. Or, as one newspaper recently put it: “ If there was such a thing as a world championship in national economy, the Nordic countries would dominate the podium”. But when we speak of the Nordic Region as a global “winner”, it does not necessarily mean that other countries or regions have to lose. An economically stronger Nordic Region has a contribution to make, for example in the form of increased development aid or as an inspiration to social and economic reforms in other countries. Several countries have taken an interest in the so-called Nordic model, because it combines a generous welfare system with high economic growth, high productivity and low unemployment. This combination has, until recently, been considered impossible. But now it seems clearer and clearer that the Nordic social system has an unrecognised strength when it comes to innovation and economic performance: Because of a good welfare system, inhabitants of the Nordic countries dare to take the initiative, run risks and do the unexpected. In other words, a good society is good for innovation. This is probably one of the reasons why the Nordic region is also a strong investor and performer in research and innovation. For example all the Nordic governments spend a relatively high amount of public resources on research. As a whole, the Nordic region has already reached the “Barcelona Goal” of spending 3% of GDP on research and development. Even though I have to admit that my own country, Norway, still has some way to go.

All this does not mean that the Nordic countries have come up with all the answers. We do have lots of challenges to deal with. But I believe that our region might be a source of inspiration for reform and development in other parts of Europe.

The Nordic region: An arena for collaboration
In my opinion, the Nordic region is also a suitable arena for trying out closer and more committed research cooperation between countries.

Several factors indicate that the Nordic countries should play the role as a “pilot-region” for more extensive cooperation on a European scale:

• We have a common culture, an interwoven history and – since years - no demand for passports or visa when crossing our borders.
• The Nordic countries share many of the same values, like equality, trust, proximity to power, inclusion and flexibility.
• There are many political and institutional similarities between the countries.
• To a large extent we understand each other’s languages.
• And we tend to support each other’s national teams in the World Cup – provided that it is not at the expense of our own country.

I am tempted to say that the Nordic countries have a unique cultural basis for bringing research cooperation one step further. So, if the Nordic countries don’t succeed, then who can? I will emphasize three challenges which will put our ability and willingness to cooperate to the test:

1. Researcher mobility

2. Opening of national programs

3. Regional cooperation

Researcher mobility
Concerning researcher mobility, the Nordic countries already have a strong tradition for collaboration such as joint projects, visiting scientists, joint expert committees, joint researcher training programmes etc. “The European Charter for Researchers” and “The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers” are important documents in the European Union’s policy to attract the best talents to a career in European research.

Making research careers more attractive, is an important element of EUs strategy to stimulate employment and growth. Today, research careers in Europe meet too many obstacles at local, national or sectoral level.

Researchers should have the same rights and obligations wherever they may work throughout the European Union. That would allow Europe to make the most of its scientific potential. The principles of both the Charter and the Code are, of course, implemented on a voluntary basis, but many countries have already ratified these documents. I am very pleased to announce that the Research Council of Norway will sign up during this very conference. And we hope that the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions will follow soon. I believe it is important for the Nordic countries to take a leading role in the issues concerning researcher's careers, as we already have come a long way in securing researchers rights and obligations.

Opening national programmes
I assume that many of you heard Erik Arnold present Technopolis' interesting study on opening up Nordic national research programmes yesterday. According to Technopolis, NORIA can be strengthened at little cost by selective mutual opening of national research-programmes. The study suggests several concrete actions to be taken, for example joint calls for proposals, either based on a ‘virtual common pot’ (so that funders fund their own nationals only) or real common pots, with no juste retour. Realizing such cooperation means that the Nordic countries have to tackle some important differences in law, administrative practice, timing of calls for proposals and so on.

I am confident that this is possible, provided that we are willing to take the necessary steps. Besides, the ERA-NET experience shows that such obstacles can be overcome. Building experience and routines for tackling these questions will create an advantage for the Nordic region. As one of the responsible ministers, I am willing to make a clear signal that these barriers should be reduced and managed.

The regional perspective
I would also like to draw attention to the increasing cooperation within various regional contexts. As we heard in the previous session, there is a growing Nordic collaboration with the Baltic region. Following the accession of the Baltic countries to the European Union, this co-operation continues as with the other EU countries, but with the primary political aim of developing a common Nordic-Baltic education and research area. Co-operation with Northwest Russia has been ongoing since 1995, and continues with the emphasis on project co-operation.

But in my view one of the most striking examples of a region where reserach cooperation is needed is the High North. This region covers the areas of the Arctic adjacent to Norway, the northern parts of Scandinavia and Russia, and the ocean areas to the north of these countries. The possibilities and the challenges in this region have an Arctic, a Nordic and indeed a European dimension.

Firstly, the High North is an emerging European energy province. Just to give you an idea of the dimensions involved, the gas from the Russian Shtockman field alone could meet Germany’s gas consumption for the next 25 years! (And although Russia seems to have decided to develop the field without foreign partners, there will be great opportunities for foreign sub-contractors).

Secondly, the High North is an arena for a new chapter in our cooperation with Russia.

Consequently – and thirdly – this cooperation will contribute to a wider European integration.

Last – but not least – the region is an ecologically sensitive area and an early-warning zone for climate change.

The Nordic Council of Ministers has taken the initiative to a study on Arctic climate research. I would like to invite the Commission to participate as an observer in this project. As an energy producing country and an Arctic nation, Norway takes the warning signals very seriously.

This month Norway also takes over as chair of the Arctic Council. Major Arctic nations like the US, Russia, and Canada are involved in the council, in addition to Norway and the other Nordic countries. The council is an important platform for responding to the challenges of climate change, and we will therefore strive to strengthen it. In addition Norway’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council will partly coincide with the International Polar Year 2007-2008. This is indeed a huge, global research-event and an important opportunity to step up international research cooperation in the Arctic and in the Antarctic. Norway aims to play an important part in this event. We have therefore granted 10 million EUROs exclusively to research activities connected to the Polar Year in our budget proposal for 2007.

Nordic strength for the benefit of Europe
I am convinced that a strong and coordinated Nordic participation in European research is for the benefit of both parties: Even though only three of the Nordic countries are members of the European Union, all Nordic countries take part successfully in the EU framework programmes for research with the same rights and obligations as the member states. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Commissioner Potocnik with the recent Common Position obtained for the forthcoming framework programme.

Among the various issues focused in the 7 ^th> framework programme, I would like to draw special attention to two of the strategic initiatives aiming to enhance European research quality and recruitment of researchers:

1. The new European Research Council (ERC)

2. The ERA-Net initiatives

Regarding the European Research Council, the Nordic countries will undoubtly contribute through our national Centres of Excellence, our Nordic network Centres of Excellence (NCoEs), excellent databases and biobanks, through Nordic infrastructure initiatives and – in short - by research collaboration and joint Nordic efforts. Nordic research priorities largely correspond with the priorities of the EU framework programmes. Thus, the Nordic countries participate in a large number of initiatives under the 6 ^th> framework programme. One example: Norway takes part in more than 830 FP6 projects which involve more than 4000 researchers. These figures demonstrate that Norwegian research activities are well integrated in the EU framework programme. The same holds for all the Nordic countries. Through our participation in these and other European projects, the Nordic countries do contribute to implement the vision of the European Research Area.

Further, the growing research integration between the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe is well demonstrated by the fact that Nordic institutions participate in 44 different ERA-Nets, and have the co-ordinator in 8 of them. In 17 ERA-Nets all Nordic countries take part, and another 16 of the ERA-Nets include four Nordic countries. This will undoubtly lead to enhanced research collaboration between the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe and increased number of research programmes open for transnational application.

Final remarks: ERA and NORIA
The European Union has recognised the importance of globalisation and concentrating its research and innovation resources. The European Union has set ambitious targets, reshaped the way it makes policy, redefined its role in relation to research and innovation policymaking and restructured its funding instruments. In this respect, I think that the European cooperation has come further than the Nordic region.

On the other hand, the concept of a Nordic Research and Innovation Area (NORIA) has come far in engaging the national research councils through NordForsk. When NordForsk was established in 2005, it was with great expectations from the responsible Nordic ministers of research. It is therefore our job to make sure that NordForsk is able to reach it’s ambitious mission. This must have high priority in the coming years if NORIA is to succeed.

And let me conclude by reminding you of one of the main points in the Technopolis-study of opening national programmes: Namely that a stronger Nordic Research Area is good for the Nordic region and for the benefit of Europe. This mutual interest should be an important perspective and ambition during our coming discussions at this conference.

Thank you for your attention!