Brussels, 12 Mar 2003

Press conference - Release of the
Third European Report on Science & Technology Indicators 2003
17th March, 2003, Brussels, 11h00 - 12h00

The Third European Report on Science & Technology Indicators 2003 presents the latest and most reliable data on investment in EU research and its performance. It analyses Europe's strengths and weaknesses in the fields of research and innovation. The findings of the report concern levels of EU public and private investment in research; the production and mobility of high-quality EU science and technology human capital; Europe's performance in the fields of scientific publications, patents and high-tech trade; its accomplishments in nanotechnology and biotechnology; the growth of university-industry co-operation; the availability of venture capital; and the increase in the number of research-based spin-offs. This report will be officially launched by European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin at a press conference to be held in Brussels, on Monday, 17th March 2003, at 11h00.

What will the press conference offer?
During the press conference, rather than an exhaustive presentation of the complete report, journalists will be presented with report highlights and key findings. Use will be made of brief 'snapshots' of the report. The snapshots relate to five broader policy areas: "The production of human capital" (what do you mean by this?); "The mobility of human capital"; "Industry, competitiveness and research"; "Universities and public research centres in the knowledge-based economy"; and "European perspectives on research and innovation".

What will this report offer?
By setting out where Europe is in relation to science & technology, this report provides a basis of quantitative and qualitative information on which decision-makers can build to strengthen and target policies. This is particularly important as scientific and technological research represents a crucial pillar of Europe's strategy towards becoming the most competitive knowledge-based economy by 2010.

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What's in the report?

The report consists of two main parts:
Part I deals with overall levels of investment in research and development (R&D), and in particular with the levels and characteristics of public and private contributions (in the latter case focusing, for instance, on the globalisation of research; the importance of mergers and acquisitions for R&D; and the growth in the number of international research joint ventures), and finally with human resources in science and technology (S&T).

Part II provides a detailed overview of Europe's scientific and technological performance compared with the rest of the world, analysing European scores with regard to scientific publications, citations, Nobel prizes, patents and high-tech trade. The report also contains different dossiers' focusing on specific aspects of the European research systems, such as the 'role and importance of nanotechnology and biotechnology' as key technologies for the 21st century, 'intellectual property protection in the service sector', 'spin-offs as vehicles to commercialise new technology', etc.
Additional information

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Contact
Michel Claessens
European Commission - Research DG - Information and Communication Unit
Tel: +32.2.295.99.71; Fax: +32.2.295.82.20; E-mail: michel.claessens@cec.eu.int

Date and time
March 17, 2003, 11.00-12.00

Venue
European Commission, Press Room, Breydel Building
45 avenue d'Auderghem, 1040 Brussels

Please register to participate at the press conference with:
Ana Aguilar Morell of Hill & Knowlton (Contractor to the European Commission)
Tel.: +32.2.7379514, Fax: +32.2.7379501, E-mail: aaguilar@hillandknowlton.com

Detailed fact sheets: a series of thematic facts sheets on specific science & technology indicators will be available to the media from 17th March.

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DG Research
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