Foreword

• Author: Michel Poireau
• Profession: Head of Unit Energy Research - Strategy and Policy
• Pages: 5

Page 5

This publication is part of a wider set of studies and reports, undertaken since 2002 within the Unit in charge of strategic and policy aspects of energy research.

This overall work dealing with analysis, reflection and proposals aims at offering a shared basis of knowledge and understanding to all stakeholders involved in energy research in Europe. Its objective is to provide sound information, quantitative and qualitative, which could help:

* To better design, implement and assess energy research activities in the European Union.

* To improve their efficiency through increased cooperation and collaboration, along the European Research Area approach.

The study was carried out within a contract awarded to IZT and Frost & Sullivan under the supervision of Jacques Bonnin from the Services of the European Commission.

The task entrusted to the contractors was to compare and assess the main differences and commonalities of energy research portfolios between Framework Programme (FP), major Member States' activities on the one hand and major third countries' programmes on the other in the same fields.

The results presented here illustrate the need to improve synergies between FP and Members States' activities, to stimulate commitment and involvement of industry in these areas. They also highligt the necessity to strengthen our collective ability to anticipate major S&T developments, especially through careful analysis, including a dimension of "policy and technology watch" of what our main competitors are doing.

I wish to conclude by thanking the numerous representatives from industry, public administrations and researchers who discussed with us and contributed to this report at the various stages of its development.