STI in Flanders
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Key figures - 2013 Colophon
STI in Flanders is a publication of the Flemish Government, Department Economy, Science and Innovation
Flemish Government Department Economy, Science and Innovation Koning Albert II-laan 35, bus 10 1030 Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0)2 553 59 80 [email protected] www.ewi-vlaanderen.be
Authors: Niko Geerts, Monica Van Langenhove, Peter Viaene and Pascale Dengis
Publisher: Dirk Van Melkebeke, Secretary-general, Department Economy, Science and Innovation Flemish Government
Content finalised on 1st December 2013
The reproduction of content of the STI Publication is only allowed when accompanied with a quotation of the source. The Department Economy, Science and Innovation does not accept any liability arising out or in connection with the use of the information contained in this edition.
D/2013/3241/381
2 Table of contents
Colophon ...... 2 Table of contents ...... 3 Foreword ...... 7
Chapter 1 Science, Technology and Innovation system in Flanders ...... 9 1 Competencies in the field of science, research and innovation ...... 10 1.1 Federalism in Belgium ...... 10 1.2 Competencies in the field of science, research and innovation ...... 11 1.2.1 Direct support for R&D and innovation in broad sense ...... 11 1.2.2 All research related to the community (= person-related) and the regional (= territorial related) competencies ...... 12 1.2.3 Access to finance ...... 12 2 General orientations of Flemish STI policy ...... 12 3 Flanders, center of innovation ...... 14 3.1 More resources for R&D ...... 15 3.2 Focusing on ‘spearhead’ areas ...... 16 3.3 Output Monitoring Research ...... 18 3.4 More opportunities for research talent ...... 18 4 Instruments and actors of the Flemish STI policy ...... 18 4.1 Government department ...... 19 4.2 Policy advice ...... 20 4.3 Other bodies of public interest in the field of science and innovation ...... 20 4.4 Funding agencies ...... 21 4.4.1 Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) ...... 21 4.4.2 Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) ...... 22 4.4.3 Hercules Foundation...... 22 4.4.4 PMV – Flanders Holding Company ...... 23 4.5 Innovation intermediaries ...... 23 4.5.1 Infrastructure: science parks and incubators ...... 24 4.5.2 Financial intermediaries ...... 24 4.5.3 Innovative networks ...... 24 5 Main research and innovation performers...... 25 5.1 Higher education institutions ...... 25 5.2 Business Enterprise Sector ...... 26 5.3 Strategic Research Centers ...... 26
3 5.3.1 IMEC ...... 26 5.3.2 VIB ...... 27 5.3.3 VITO...... 27 5.3.4 iMinds ...... 27 5.4 Collective research ...... 28 5.5 Policy Research Centers ...... 29 5.6 Scientific institutes ...... 29 5.7 Other research institutes and knowledge centers ...... 29 5.8 Institutes from other authorities ...... 30 5.8.1 Federal authority ...... 30 6 Flanders in the international STI field ...... 32 6.1 Policy preparation, support and follow-up ...... 32 6.2 Bilateral and international co-operation and agreements ...... 33 6.2.1 STI actors: universities, university colleges, strategic research centres, scientific institutes, other knowledge organisations...... 33 6.2.2 Public authority level: the EWI policy domain and the International Flanders (IV) policy domain 34 6.3 Participation in various international programmes, networks and initiatives ...... 36
Chapter 2 Funding of R&D ...... 39 1 Introduction ...... 40 2 GERD ...... 40 3 BERD...... 42 4 Non-BERD ...... 43 5 GBAORD ...... 46 6 Estimate calculation method for publicly- financed R&D intensity (1% objective) ...... 47 7 Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) ...... 49 7.1 Introduction ...... 49 7.2 Participation of Flanders ...... 49 7.3 Benchmark of Flanders ...... 50 7.4 Top participant organisations ...... 51 8 EU Regional Policy R&D&I support ...... 52 Chapter 3 Human resources in science and technology ...... 55 1 Introduction ...... 56 2 S&T Students ...... 56 3 S&T graduates ...... 57 4 R&D personnel ...... 58 5 Mobility of researchers ...... 60
4 6 Odysseus – excellent researchers ...... 61 7 PhD ...... 62
Chapter 4 Innovation efforts of enterprises in Flanders (CIS results) ...... 65 1 CIS: global results ...... 66 2 Process and product innovation ...... 66 3 Organizational and marketing innovation ...... 67
Chapter 5 STI productivity or STI output...... 69 1 Introduction ...... 70 2 Scientific publications ...... 70 3 Citations...... 72 4 Co-publications ...... 72 5 Social sciences & humanities ...... 73 6 Patents ...... 74
Acronyms and abbreviations ...... 78 Websites (non- comprehensive list) ...... 81
5
Foreword
The department of Economy, Science and Innovation of the Flemish Government would like to present its very first version of the “STI in Flanders” publication. The aim is to present in depth information on Science, Technology and Innovation policy in Flanders, display important figures or indicators, describe the broad context and the performance of the research and innovation landscape, and list the main actors as well as public entities in the field of R&D and innovation.
The Government of Flanders is aware of the importance of research and innovation as a necessary condition for maintaining wealth and well-being in Flanders. Already since the mid-1990s it started to develop a broad-based strategy on STI policy, which is developed through a whole set of treaties, acts, decrees, agreements, decisions, MoU’s, statements to strive towards a common goal or other legislative measures that shape, implement and evaluate policy in the broad field of science, research and innovation. This is underpinned by a substantial public budget for research and innovation: total STI-budget of the Flemish Government reached almost 2 billion euro in 2013. This represents over 80% of the total public budget available for research and innovation, with another 277 million euro federal sources and 195 million euro EU (FP7, CIP, SF) sources. Hence, the total public budget available to various R&D&I actors in Flanders in 2013 reached +- 2450 million euro. On the other hand, public and private actors spent in total 5.1 billion euro on R&D (GERD) in 2011, which represents an R&D-intensity of 2.4% for Flanders. Although Flanders is part of the innovation leaders in the Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS), and performs well in various output-based criteria (e.g. patenting), its ambition to be among the top innovative regions in Europe needs further effort.
The variety of initiatives and policy measures in the field of STI has changed and broadened considerably. Gone are the days that innovation was only technology based. Today, social innovation, public procurement of innovation, eco-innovation or energy innovation are discussed at international top committees such as ERAC and EPG and rank high on the policy agenda. STI-policy has moved towards the core of political focus in the EU as well as at other governmental levels since the outbreak of the crisis end 2008. Indeed, the importance of innovation as a crucial factor of competitiveness of companies, economic systems, regions and countries is now widely recognized.
In many cases, various stakeholders from government, civil society, business organisations and STI- actors in Flanders have been joining forces to develop various initiatives, set policy targets, or persist in maintaining important efforts on the long term in the field of R&D and innovation. This is not a recent or new paradigm for Flanders. Such was already the case with the “Innovation Pact” of 2003, whereby Flemish public and private stakeholders committed themselves to strive towards the 3% R&D- expenditure / GDP target. The “Vlaanderen in Actie” (Flanders in Action), or ViA, future plan aims to rank Flanders among the top-5 EU regions by 2020. It defined several thematic breakthroughs, one being the “Innovatiecentrum Vlaanderen” (Innovation Centre Flanders). The “Pact 2020” has set specific indicators to monitor the progress towards these strategic ViA-goals.
At present, a lot of information on the policy initiatives and budgets of Flanders in the field of scientific research, technology and innovation exists already, yet in a fragmented way, and in Dutch as well as in English, and either as a part of a separate Flemish input or an overall Belgian report. There exist policy documents, evaluation reports, the “Vlaams Indicatorenboek” (Flanders’ Indicator Book), the annual “Speurgids” (or Budget Browser), the Flemish and Belgian Reform Programmes for the EU 2020 strategy, the Belgian ERA watch follow-up report, or the OECD STI Outlook. Yet a separate overview in English language on the science and innovation policy and figures in Flanders was not published before. This publication aims to give an in depth overview of Science, Technology and Innovation policy in Flanders.
We wish you a pleasant reading of the first “STI in Flanders”!
8
Chapter 1 Science, Technology and Innovation system in Flanders
1 Competencies in the field of science, research and innovation
1.1 Federalism in Belgium
Flanders is the autonomous region located in the northern part of Belgium, with Brussels as its capital. It manages important competencies and budgets in many policy fields. This is the result of a gradual process since 1970, whereby several state reforms have turned Belgium into a far-going federal country, where many competences have been transferred to the federalised authorities. Institutionally, Belgium is divided into four language-areas (the Dutch-speaking, the bilingual Dutch/French, the French-speaking and the German-speaking), and is composed of three Communities (the Flemish, the French, the German-speaking) and three Regions (Flemish, Brussels Capital, Walloon). Consequently, policy-making within the country is being prepared and executed by various authorities, based on three pillars: a federal, a Community and a Regional competencies’ pillar. The federalism as it is setup in Belgium is unique in the world. Its main characteristics are briefly: - each entity has exclusive powers and competencies in a number of areas (no shared competencies); - each entity has its own separately elected parliament, government, administration, legislation, advisory bodies, etc.; - no hierarchy exists between the different entities regarding their competencies (no overruling is possible); - since the 4th state reform of 1993, the principle of “in foro interno, in fore externo” is applied, meaning that each entity executes its competencies both within and outside Belgium.
In 1980, the Regional authorities were established. Thereby, the Flemish authorities merged the institutions of the existing Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. Hence, a single Flemish Parliament, Flemish Government, official consultative bodies and an administration, supported by specific agencies, manage and oversee both community and regional competencies in the various policy domains. The Flemish Parliament debates and legitimates all official legal decisions pertaining to both community and regional competence. Likewise, the Government of Flanders is charged with the execution and implementation of policy decisions and includes a minister who manages both the Community and the Regional competencies. This situation differs from the French-speaking part of the country where the French Community and the Walloon Region are separate institutional entities with different authorities.
10 Table 1: Key figures on Flanders, Belgium and EU-27 (EU-28 data not yet available)
year unity Flanders Belgium EU-27 Surface km2 13,521 30,528 4,324,782 Population 1/1/2012 million 6.37 11.07 506.8 246.452 GERD 2011 billion euro 5.088 7.488 (2010) GDP per capita 2012 euro PPP 30,200 30,500 25,700 Employment rate (20-64 2012 % 71.5 67.2 68.5 year)
Flanders’ population counts for about 58% of Belgium, whilst its surface is about 44% of the country’s. The majority of the companies and the working population of Belgium are located in its northern region which has a higher employment rate too. As a result, the economy of Flanders represents about 57% of the Belgian economy (as measured in GDP). It is also a very open economy: according to EU- definition, the exports from Flanders are worth 126% of its GDP (partly due to the trade of goods arriving in the Antwerp harbour). On the other hand, the relative wealth - as measured in GDP per capita – of Flanders is higher than the EU27 average but slightly lower than the Belgian average. The main reason for the latter is the capital-effect of the small Brussels’ region with its strong presence of company headquarters and public administrations. If the wealth generated by the daily commuters from Flanders towards the Brussels Capital Region were attributed to their residence in the Flemish Region, the Flemish GDP per capita rises above the Belgian value (32,600 euro versus 30,200). Total expenditures on R&D (GERD) in Flanders are over 60% of those in Belgium, and the Flemish R&D intensity is slightly higher than the value for Belgium (details see chapter 2).
1.2 Competencies in the field of science, research and innovation
While certain policy domains remain exclusively federal (e.g. defence policy, monetary policy, nuclear power research, social security), other domains have largely or even completely been transferred to either the Communities or the Regions. The latter is the case for the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)-domain: scientific research is mainly (in terms of legislation and budget) a Community competence, whereas innovation is almost completely a Regional competence.
More specifically, the federal authority remains responsible for a limited number of research programmes (notably in the field of climate and sustainable development), the support of research infrastructures of national interest, a number of federal scientific institutes, and a small number of exclusively attributed research themes including the Belgian space policy, ‘sustainable’ nuclear energy and polar research at the Antarctic station. In addition, framework conditions such as IPR, normalization, standardization, tax credits and scientific visas for researchers also are exclusively managed by the federal authority.
The various competencies as well as the types of institutes that Flanders is responsible for in the field of science, research and innovation in practice represent these topics:
1.2.1 Direct support for R&D and innovation in broad sense - grants, fees, PhD and subsidies or other support channels for basic, fundamental, cutting- edge, and applied research that is conducted by researchers at universities, institutes, companies, networks of knowledge and businesses, etc.; - all business-oriented support (e.g. technology transfer, technology advice, technology scans, networking, dissemination of innovation, knowledge and technology, valorisation or research results, feasibility studies, knowledge vouchers,…);
11 - various forms of collective research (joint industry-science research, innovative networks, clustering); - promotion and popularisation of STI (in education, society, business, science centres), mobility of researchers,...
1.2.2 All research related to the community (= person-related) and the regional (= territorial related) competencies This includes: the broad innovation policy as well as the scientific research policy (fundamental, applied and strategic basic research); (research at) higher education institutes (university colleges, universities); (research at) public research organisations (PROs); (research at) Community scientific institutes and policy research centres; (research at) various institutes that generate knowledge or scientific output; infrastructure in the field of research and innovation (small, medium-scale and large- scale research infrastructure (e.g. supercomputers, data collections, networks, clean rooms, etc.)) science parks, technology parks, incubator sites,... research in the policy fields of Flanders: economic support, industrial policy, entrepreneurship, social economy, public works, employment, environment, nature conservation, forestry, agriculture, energy (except for nuclear energy), heritage, (primary, secondary and higher) education, water management, transport, vocational training, health, culture, tourism, care, health and well-being, data transmission, sports, media, youth,…
1.2.3 Access to finance Support for start-ups, spin-offs, participations, seed capital, risk capital, guarantees, fast- growing or technology-oriented businesses, business angels, loans,…;
Thus apart from a number of exclusively-reserved competencies at the federal level (space, nuclear energy research, IPR, normalization) and certain institutes (federal scientific centers and various knowledge institutes), all competences and activities in the field of R&D and innovation are granted to and executed or implemented by Flanders.
2 General orientations of Flemish STI policy
As stated before, at the governmental level, one minister is charged with both scientific research and innovation. The public authority at the administrative level which is responsible for STI policy is the EWI (Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie) policy-domain. This manages the fields of Economy, Science and Innovation, and is composed of the EWI Department for the preparation, monitoring and follow-up of and a number of agencies that execute and implement policy measures in the fields of scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship and industrial policy (see 4. in this chapter).
The Government of Flanders is aware of the importance of STI as a necessary condition for maintaining wealth and well-being in Flanders. Already since the mid-1990s it has started to develop a broad-based strategy on STI policy. This is developed through a number of agreements, initiatives and statements, including:
the government agreement in which the various political parties that take part in the governing coalition outline their priorities for the five-yearly parliamentary term;
12 the policy note of the minister charged with scientific research and innovation for the five-year governing period; the annual policy letter of the minister, which further elaborate and specify the general policy framework announced in the policy note.
Moreover, a number of multi-annual strategic plans and targets have been agreed upon by a broad- ranging group of stakeholders from government, civil society and industry. These plans set out a set of targets across a range of policy fields, amongst which STI is assigned a clear priority. Major plans include:
the Innovation Pact (2003), a commitment by Flemish public and private stakeholders to meet the EU’s Barcelona target (GERD/GDP ratio of 3% by 2020); the Flemish Reform Programmes for the Lisbon strategy on Growth and Jobs (in 2005-2010), and currently the Reform Programmes for the Europe 2020 strategy; Flanders in Action (Vlaanderen in Actie, ViA), the future plan for 2020, that is composed by several Breakthrough initiatives including “Innovation Centre Flanders”, and the related Pact 2020 that sets specific targets and strategic objectives for the ViA Breakthroughs; the Concept Note “Innovation Centre Flanders” of May 2011, which elaborates a framework for the future of oriented innovation in Flanders; all relevant treaties, acts, decrees, agreements, MoU’s or other legislation designed for shaping and implementing policy in the field of science, research and innovation.
Through the ViA action plan, Flanders aims to rank among the top-5 EU regions by 2020 and strategic breakthroughs, crucial for the future wealth and well-being of all in Flanders, are identified. These breakthroughs in various fields are: the open entrepreneur; Flanders learning society; Innovation centre Flanders; Green and dynamic urban region; Europe’s smart hub; Caring society; Decisive governance. STI is not just the major theme of the ”Innovation Centre Flanders” Breakthrough, but also plays a transversal role across the various other themes and policy initiatives designed to match the overall goals of the ViA framework. The importance of STI in ViA is not only reflected by the target to spend 3% of GDP on R&D (idem in the governing agreement and policy note), but also in different targets of the 2020 Pact, which include:
Flanders will progress towards a competitive and multi-faceted knowledge economy distinguished by the generation of sustainable prosperity and welfare. In terms of prosperity and welfare, and investments, it will rank among the top five knowledge- intensive European regions; Innovation will be more widely and better distributed across all sectors, types of businesses, and segments of society.
In concrete terms, targets set include: a year-on-year increase of the number of patent applications, to be amongst the EU’s top-5 regions for public spending on eco-innovation, an increase of turnover from new or improved products and services, and a higher share of ‘spearhead’ areas such as ICT and health, logistics, smart electricity networks (GRID) in the economy.
The 2009-2014 Flemish Government coalition agreement explicitly restates that Flanders aims to reach the 3% R&D expenditure to GDP target, reconfirmed as a EU objective in the Europe 2020 strategy in March 2010, and includes the intention to draw up a new Innovation Pact (as a successor to the 2003 pact).
The annual policy letter on innovation lists 5 strategic targets that each consist of a number of operational targets. These strategic targets are determined by the objectives of the policy note for the governing period 2009-2014 and are:
13 Focussed innovation strategies; More innovative strength for the Flemish economy; Flanders as an innovation-friendly top region; Strengthen the fundaments of science policy; Increase the impact, persist in more inputs for research and innovation, and improve efficiency.
These objectives, based on an interaction of research and innovation with other specific policy domains and with overall socio-economic objectives (as set e.g. in the ViA action plan), clearly demonstrates the relative importance of STI in the Flemish policy-agenda. These must take into account the significant societal as well as economic challenges, and be in line with a number of major EU initiatives, such as the EU 2020 strategy, the Commission’s Flagship initiative on “Innovation Union”, the objectives of the European Research Area (ERA), and the principles in the EU’s (future) Horizon 2020 programme on R&D and innovation.
3 Flanders, center of innovation
Various knowledge actors from Flanders are recognized as excellence centers in their field and conduct research with partners throughout the world, or even have setup establishments in the US or Asia, as did several universities, IMEC, VITO etc. (see 6.2 in this chapter for examples). The Times Higher Education World University Rankings lists 2 Belgian (Flemish) universities in the top-100, namely KU Leuven and UGent.
In the 2013 EU Innovation Union Scoreboard (IUS) Belgium is listed as the 7th best country and the third among the second set of “Innovation followers” countries. It is classified behind the “Innovation Leaders” countries of Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Finland, and behind “Innovation followers” the Netherlands and Luxemburg, but ahead of the United Kingdom Austria, Ireland and France. Based on the methodology of the IUS, there also exists a Regional Innovation Scoreboard, RIS. This covers 190 regions across the EU, Croatia, Norway and Switzerland. In de RIS 2012 there are 41 regions that belong to the top group of "innovation leaders", including Flanders. Figure 32 displays a map with both the country rankings in the IUS and the regional scores from the RIS.
Flanders in Action (ViA) is the future project for Flanders, aimed to lever the region to the top five of the European regions by 2020. This endeavor is not a goal in itself, but is part of the desire to secure and improve the prosperity and welfare of the people. More transversal relations must be made in order to achieve a bigger leverage. The challenges of the so-called ViA breakthroughs are very diverse : the necessary economic transformation, poverty alleviation, renewable energy, sustainable materials management, transportation and logistics. To realize these challenges, innovation will always play a major role.
Innovative solutions to social challenges ensure the creation of jobs, allow our companies to grow internationally, and bring Flanders at the top of the European regions. In order to achieve this, researchers, businesses and government have to work together very closely. This concept is called 'open innovation'.
14 The ViA breakthrough "Innovation Centre Flanders" contains four action lines:
1. More resources for R&D 2. Focusing on ‘spearhead’ areas 3. Output Monitoring Research 4. More opportunities for research talent
3.1 More resources for R&D
Flanders is committed to the EU 2020-target to invest 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in R&D, one-third being funded by the government (the so-called 1% objective), and two-thirds by the private (business) sector. Total expenditures on research and development reached 5.088 billion euro in 2011, which represents almost two-thirds of all R&D expenditures in Belgium (GERD). Of this amount, 3.474 billion euro were business expenditures on R&D (BERD), in which the chemical and pharmaceutical sector represented with 34% (2011) the major share and other main performers were motion picture, video and TV production, computer programs, engineering and technical testing and analysis activities
In 2013 budgetary allocations for R&D of the Government of Flanders reached 1.271 billion euro. This amount represents almost half of Belgium’s total allocations, the remaining half stemming from the other four authorities altogether (namely the sum of the budgets from the federal, French Community, Walloon Region and Brussels Capital Region authorities). To calculate the total public efforts in the Flemish Region on R&D, the federal and EU efforts on R&D in the Flemish Region must be added. This federal part is 277.3 million euro (based on 35.5% of the federal ESA budget plus 56% of the remaining federal allocations), and the EU share reaches 176 million euro (based on the return for Flanders from the participation in the EU FP on RTD). In this EU share, the EU budgets for R&D&I towards actors in Flanders from the CIP (+- 7 million euro) and the EU Cohesion Fund (+- 12 million euro) were not taken into account. Hence, total public R&D efforts in Flanders (sum of Flemish, federal and EU outlays) are estimated to be 1.725 billion euro in 2013. Apart from the efforts for R&D (as defined by the OECD), the Government of Flanders allocated another 700 million euro for science and innovation that is not R&D in a strict sense. Consequently, the total available Flemish public budget for R&D&I reaches almost 2 billion euro, which is the sum of 1.27 billion euro R&D budgets and 0.70 billion euro non-R&D science and innovation budget. If one adds the budgets that origin from the federal and the EU, total public R&D&I budget available in Flanders is about 2.43 billion euro.
The R&D-intensity (total R&D expenditures as % of GDP) of Flanders reached 2.40% in 2011. The R&D expenditure in the private sector was 1.64% of GDP, and in the public sector 0.76% while 1.70% is privately funded and 0.70% is publicly funded. It is essential that the 1% objective (public funding) is reached by 2020. In 2011, the Flemish Government reached an agreement on a minimum growth path for this objective. Achieving the 1% public R&D/GDP target has been an important focus of attention. Already since the mid-1990s, substantial budget increases for R&D&I were allocated by the Flemish Government. Depending the available public budget, this effort has further continued in the 21st century. In the period 2006-2009, an additional budget of 525 million euro was earmarked for R&D&I. The annual net increases of the public R&D budget from the Flemish Government thereafter have been (in million euro): 160 (2010), 65 (2011), 60 (2012) and 59.5 (2013). These include a number of one-off public investments, for example in the new research vessel “Simon Stevin” of the VLIZ.
Studies have shown that achieving the 1% objective has, through leveraging, a positive impact on private investment in innovation. A higher government R&D funding leads to more private investment in R&D. A causal relationship between both was established and no crowding-out effects would occur.
15 3.2 Focusing on ‘spearhead’ areas
A basis for policy priorities was proposed in a recommendation of the Flemish Research Council in 2006. This recommendation described six strategic clusters based on a SWOT analysis of Flanders versus the EU - assessing scientific, technological, innovative and economic characteristics of the Flemish region - , combined with a European foresight study of 15 key areas. The strategic clusters were redefined into these following ‘spearheads’ for technology and innovation: (a) Transportation - Logistics - Services - Supply chain management; (b) ICT and Services in Healthcare; (c) Healthcare; (d) New Materials - Nanotechnology - Manufacturing industry; (e) ICT for Socio-economic innovation; (f) Energy and Environment.
In the course of 2012-2013 the Flemish Council for Science and Innovation (VRWI) performs a foresight study with a time horizon up to 2025. This study – building on the foresight study completed in 2006 - aims at establishing scientific, technological and innovation priorities to help address grand societal challenges such as energy, mobility, ageing population, health, environment and climate change. An inventory has been made of both national and international (1) societal trends and (2) trends with regard to Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). Subsequently, a matching exercise has been performed on the basis of a foresight workshop to link (1) and (2) resulting in a model with different transition areas. Parallel, a strengths/weaknesses analysis of the current situation in Flanders was performed with regard to scientific research, technological development, innovation, economic activity and societal developments.
On the basis of the results of this preparatory phase, (i.e. transition areas and strengths/weakness analysis) a steering committee consisting of Captains of Industry and Captains of Society has set a number of priority transition areas for Flanders. This resulted in a transition model consisting of:
- one horizontal transition area: Society 2.0; - six vertical transition areas: (a) E-Society, (b) Food, (c) Health - Well-being, (d) Smart Resources Management & Manufacturing Industries, (e) Urban Planning, Mobility Dynamics & Logistics, (f) New Energy Demand and Delivery.
The aim is to set up, for each of the selected transition areas, a panel with experts from knowledge centres, enterprise and civil society. These expert panels will be supported by consultants in close collaboration with the VRWI staff. Each expert panel will set scientific, technological and innovation priorities and opportunities that can address the societal challenges within the transition areas and will discuss the factors of success to realize the different transitions.
In May 2011, the Flemish Government adopted a Concept Note on “Innovation Centre Flanders”. This elaborates a conceptual framework and a long-term vision on the future of oriented innovation in Flanders in order to achieve major projects oriented towards the grand future economic and societal challenges, including in the above ‘spearhead’ areas. To this aim, two transversal and four vertical so- called “innovatieknooppunten” (innovation hubs) have been defined . The paradigm is based upon the assumption that external funding sources, the government, knowledge centers and the business sector jointly act to develop and implement research results and innovations that arise from the innovation ‘spearheads’. The various (existing and new) cooperation projects and initiatives will be bundled into so-called “Lichte Structuren”, literally “Light Structures” or “innovation platforms”. International research infrastructure is thereby a differentiating factor. Concurrently, the Government of Flanders strives to create an integrated innovation system across borders of various policy domains by putting the “systemic” character of innovation at the core.
16 The six innovation hubs are listed below.
Innovation hub Strategic focus Economic transformation through Embedding economic activity with sustainable and diversified innovation employment; This transversal innovation hub has four sub hubs in various industries: manufacturing, construction, sustainable chemistry, creative industries Eco-innovation Sustainable material management, cyclical economy, clean- tech Green / sustainable energy Renewable energy, energy-efficiency, clean-tech (energy) Health care innovation Ageing, health, emancipation Sustainable mobility and logistics Sustainable and efficient mobility and logistics Social innovation Creative entrepreneurship for new solutions to societal and economic challenges and needs
The scheme hereunder presents the linkages between the scientific and innovative basis, whereby the “innovation platforms” connect with the 6 innovation hubs that were defined in the Concept Note and that are oriented towards the topics of the “Grand Societal and Economic Challenges”:
For a number of themes, so-called “Innovatieregiegroepen” (IRG, innovation steering groups) have been established since 2010. The main task of these IRG is to elaborate - within their area of activity – strategic innovation agendas (SIAs). These are mid-term innovation strategies aimed at dealing with the major societal challenges, and at developing a roadmap for the valorisation of innovation and research results in that particular field. At present, the focus has been on these domains: automotives, sustainable chemistry, social innovation, construction, green energy, and eco-innovation.
The initiatives that are taken in the oriented innovation concept tackling merely the industry sector are being developed taking into account the actions listed in the White Paper on New Industrial Policy (NIB) that relate to the innovation field. This NIB white paper has been approved by the Flemish Government in 2011 and consists of 50 actions in a broad sense. Transformation of the economy through innovation represents in particular the topic in which both the initiatives of the Concept Note (focus on innovation) and of the White Paper (focus on industrial policy) will strive concurrently (or be
17 streamlined) to reach this ambitious goal. Moreover, within the policy domain of industrial policy and entrepreneurship in Flanders, a number of round tables in different sectors have been among stakeholders held in the past. Wherever the possibility will arise, coordinated strategies and a common initiative between the Concept Note and the White Paper initiatives can be developed into an innovation platform.
3.3 Output Monitoring Research
In general, research is mainly measured by the amount of resources provided. But also the results from the research should be evaluated. Evaluation of research and innovation policy will therefore focus both on output and input. Data on patent applications per inhabitant and the science citation index demonstrate that Flanders is doing relatively well, taking into account its size. Also, there exist a more-than-average cooperation with foreign researchers, and the impact of the research results is among the best in the EU.
The innovation instruments should be made more output-driven. The Government of Flanders will develop new evaluation and control mechanisms for the innovation instruments in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness. The focus will be broadened to a full output monitoring rather than just input monitoring system. Currently, innovation is part of the monitoring of the progress towards the ViA goals and Pact 2020 targets, whilst a biannual Flemish Indicator book (“Vlaams Indicatorenboek”) is being published in which for a wide set of indicators, Flanders is benchmarked with other EU- countries.
3.4 More opportunities for research talent
Too few young people opt for science and technology disciplines. Therefore, great care has to go to science communication and popularization. Working as a researcher would be made more attractive by more transparent career paths and specific programs to attract foreign talent. The careers of our researchers should be attractive, and offer perspectives. Flanders' ambition to be a successful knowledge society can be realized if it continues to invest in high-level research and good researchers. To meet the challenges of the future, there is need for adequate, mobile R&D personnel of high quality. Not only Flanders is faced with this challenge: the mechanism of supply and demand is nowadays valid for research personnel worldwide. Flanders can only play a role here when it asserts itself to the international research market and supports and encourages excellent, dynamic, flexible and mobile scientific workers.
Hence, popularisation of science, technique and innovation are an important focus of attention. At policy level, this translates into the policy plan Science Communication 2012-2014 and an action plan 2012-2020 to stimulate careers in mathematics, exact sciences, and technique 2012-2020 (STEM- action plan). Moreover, a marketing and communication plan “Science, Technology and Innovation in Flanders 2012-2014” will contribute to more visibility and hopefully increased perception towards STI in general and among (future) students.
4 Instruments and actors of the Flemish STI policy
A wide range of actors and stakeholders are involved in the Flemish STI landscape: public administrations and agencies, advisory bodies, knowledge institutes and centres, universities, university colleges, scientific institutes, public research organisations (PROs), various networks active in (collective) STI, university hospitals, various collective research centres, data collection institutes,
18 incubation centres, science and technology parks, technology transfer offices, other intermediaries and last but not least many private companies, sectors, and professional (technology and other) organisations.
At the public governing level, the field of science and fundamental research (= community competencies), as well as of innovation and applied research (= regional competencies) are being dealt with in one specific commission of the Flemish Parliament and by a single minister in the government. Furthermore, there is one advisory council (VRWI), and a single administration (department) responsible for preparing and monitoring policy within the policy domain. At the implementing level, the Agency for innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) is responsible for innovation (= a regional competence); while for the community competencies, specific funding agencies (notably, the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Hercules research infrastructure fund and initiatives such as the Special Research Fund (BOF), support universities, university colleges, scientific institutes, research centres and companies of the Flemish Community which are located in both the Flemish Region and the bilingual Brussels-Capital Region. The Flanders Holding Company (PMV), supports (innovative) companies with guarantees, loans, risk capital, etc. The scheme hereunder presents the public bodies that are active in the STI field:
The following section presents an overview of the missions and activities of the main (public) actors and some of their policy instruments.
4.1 Government department
The EWI Department (EWI = Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie, or Economy, Science and Innovation) of the Government of Flanders is responsible for the policy-making process in the field of STI. The department was established in 2006 in a major administrative reform, entitled BBB (‘Better Governance’), of the Flemish public authority. Previously the competencies and activities of the current EWI department were divided between two distinct departments and policy domains. Through the merger, the Flemish Government wanted to emphasise the linkage between economy (industrial policy) and entrepreneurship on the one hand, and scientific research and innovation, on the other.
19
Similar to all other Flemish policy areas, the EWI policy area consists of a (policy preparation) department and several (policy-executing) agencies.
The role of the EWI department is to prepare, monitor, and evaluate public policy in the field of economic support (including entrepreneurship), science and innovation, to contribute to more wealth and well-being in Flanders. Its driving forces are the promotion of:
excellence in scientific research; an attractive and sustainable business climate; a creative, innovative and entrepreneurial society.
More specifically, within the STI-field, the EWI department:
prepares all legislative initiatives in the field of science, research and innovation; promotes close co-operation between research institutions, HEIs and companies; prepares multi-annual management agreements with a number of organisations, such as the Flemish strategic research centres (PROs), the FWO, or the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ); evaluates policy instruments and organisations that receive governmental and public support; coordinates on all STI topics within and outside the Flemish Government; monitors the execution of policy measures and reports on policy developments in the STI-domain; holds the responsibility for the direct implementation of a few policy instruments, examples of these being the interface services (that support technology transfer offices), the IOF (Industrial Development Fund), the “Steunpunten” (21 policy research centres in the period 2012-2015) or the BOF (Special Research Fund).
4.2 Policy advice
The Vlaamse Raad voor Wetenschap en Innovatie (VRWI, Flemish Science and Innovation Policy Council) is the advisory body of the Flemish Government and Flemish Parliament for science and innovation policy. The Flemish Government is obliged to ask for its advice on preliminary drafts of parliamentary acts concerning science and innovation policy, draft decisions of the Flemish Government that concern science and innovation policy and that are of strategic importance. Furthermore the VRWI can, on its own initiative or by request, give advice, make recommendations, conduct surveys and generally provide contributions on matters related to STI policy. The Flemish Government can authorise the VRWI to represent Flanders in federal or international advisory bodies.
4.3 Other bodies of public interest in the field of science and innovation
A number of long-standing public institutes of the Flemish Community that are related to science policy, in a more academic context, play a promotional or advisory role. Though these are not directly involved in policy-making, it is noteworthy to list these to complete the broad Flemish STI-domain: Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten (KVAB, Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts), originally established in 1772; Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België (KAGB, Royal Academy for Medicine of Belgium);
20 Koninklijke Academie voor Nederlands Taal- en letterkunde (KANTL, Royal Academy for Dutch Language and Literature), established in 1886; STV Innovatie en Arbeid (Stichting Technologie Vlaanderen Innovatie en Arbeid) (the Foundation for Technology Assessment Flanders - Foundation Innovation and Work), which is a part of the SERV (Sociaal-Economische Raad van Vlaanderen, Flanders Social and Economic Council); Vlaamse Academische Stem (VLAST, Flemish Academic Centre for Science and the Arts) is a non-profit organisation supported by both the KVAB and the KANTL.
4.4 Funding agencies
Whereas the Flemish Government’s departments prepare, monitor and evaluate public policy, a number of agencies are charged with the implementation of policy decisions. In the STI field, there are four agencies, aimed at different target groups and charged with various initiatives: IWT: R&D and innovation support for businesses FWO: Research Foundation Flanders Hercules Foundation: Research infrastructure PMV: Flanders Holding Company
4.4.1 Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT)
IWT (Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie) is the onestop-shop for all industrial R&D and innovation support in Flanders. The agency was setup in 1991 by the Government of Flanders and assists companies, research centres and knowledge centres in realizing their research and development projects, by offering funding, advice and a network of potential partners in Flanders and abroad.
More specifically, it encourages innovation through:
Funding: financing innovative projects of companies, research centres, collective research initiatives, organisations and individuals through assignments set by the Flemish Government; Advice and services: support to all Flemish companies and research centres by helping these during their applications, or providing technological advice during their innovative projects; Co-ordination and networking: stimulating cooperation by bringing innovative companies and research centres in contact with Flemish intermediate organisations that stimulate innovation. To this end, IWT established the Flemish Innovation Network (VIN); Policy development: supporting the Flemish Government in its innovation policy, e.g. by studying the effectiveness of the Flemish innovation initiatives and different support programmes.
IWT supports all types of innovators in Flanders: Companies that are actively innovating, from small start-ups to multinationals with a branch in Flanders. Specific attention is paid to SMEs, whilst partnerships of companies and knowledge centres (e.g. excellence centres, innovative co-operation networks or clusters) are also eligible for innovation support; Individual researchers and research centres: can apply to IWT for the appropriate support and receive funding, advice and contacts with potential partners for innovative scientific research, applied research and technology transfer;
21 Organisations: financial support to various types of organisations (e.g. collective research centres) that stimulate innovation in Flanders. IWT also unites these organisations via the VIN to facilitate active support of innovation.
The agency applies a bottom-up approach: subsidies and advice are attributed to initiatives proposed by the actors themselves and any project including a technological innovation component is eligible for funding. Apart from direct financial support through a wide range of different support measures, the policy mix of IWT also consists of various forms of indirect support and services (advice, technology scans, partner search, networking). There exist relatively few thematic Flemish research programmes and support is to a large extent awarded through generic initiatives. Annually, the Flemish government provides IWT with a budget to finance R&D by and for businesses.
4.4.2 Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)
The main mission of the FWO (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen) is to deepen knowledge about humans and their environment. It stimulates and supports ground-breaking fundamental research in all areas of science at the universities in the Flemish Community, including collaboration agreements between Flemish universities and other research institutes. FWO funds excellent and promising researchers as well as research projects following an interuniversity competition and an evaluation by national and international experts. The only criterion is the outstanding quality of researcher and research proposal. Researchers can apply for support from the FWO through a broad range of funding instruments, providing they are affiliated to a university of the Flemish Community.
The two main instruments of the FWO are support to fellowships (Ph.D. students, postdoctoral researchers, etc.) and to research projects. Furthermore, extensive means are available for international cooperation and mobility, including for participation in multilateral initiatives (e.g. the European Molecular Biology Laboratory) or in “big science” research facilities such as CERN-CMS and CERN-ISOLDE. The FWO also awards scientific prizes to distinguished researchers, often in collaboration with private companies.
A system of peer review by the scientific community is used to assess all applications and scientific activity reports. To this end, the FWO puts together scientific committees including top researchers from Belgium and abroad. The FWO’s scientific committees, called ‘FWO Experts panels’, are crucial to ensuring the excellence of FWO funded activities. FWO now has 29 specialised committees or “expert panels” and one interdisciplinary committee, which cover all Flemish scientific research disciplines, whereby each committee consists of 16 experts, the majority being assigned to an non- Flemish university.
FWO actively stimulates international cooperation and promotes scientific mobility. Flemish researchers are offered numerous funding schemes for financing short or long-term stays abroad and research teams are offered logistic and institutional support in their collaboration with colleagues abroad. The latter is often necessary to participate in major international projects or to co-ordinate research networks or platforms. Foreign researchers can apply for a visiting postdoctoral fellowship to undertake research at a university of the Flemish Community. FWO manages a budget of 218 million euro (2013), of which 79% stems from the Government of Flanders and 6% from the federal authority (the remaining 15% are federal fiscal and parafiscal measures).
4.4.3 Hercules Foundation
The Hercules Foundation (Hercules Stichting) was set up by the Flemish Government in 2007 with the aim to fund medium-scale and large-scale research infrastructure. The infrastructure serves for
22 cutting-edge-driven and strategic basic research in all scientific disciplines including the humanities and the social science.
The Hercules Foundation organises calls for applications and assesses project proposals. Application may be submitted for either: medium-scale infrastructure: proposals submitted by HEIs (universities and university colleges); Large-scale infrastructure: proposals submitted by HEIs and a number of other knowledge institutes: the Flemish strategic research organisations (IMEC, VIB, VITO, iMinds), the ITM (tropical medicine) and the Vlerick Leuven Ghent Management School.
The Flemish Government funds 70% to 90% of the costs of the investment; if a third party is part of the consortium, 100% of the eligible costs can be funded. ‘Third parties’ are private and public bodies (such as companies or other organisations) not necessarily established in Flanders.
4.4.4 PMV – Flanders Holding Company
The Flanders Holding Company, PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen), provides financial leverage to projects that are important for the future of Flanders, acting as an ‘entrepreneur’ and as a facilitator. It supports investment projects that strengthen the structure of the Flemish economy and fit the government’s economic policy objectives. The organisation creates, structures and manages co- operation with private partners. Its goals are to support innovative starters, facilitate growth of Flemish companies, stimulate ‘spearhead’ sectors, support specific sectors and solve temporary liquidity problems of creditworthy companies. PMV invests in companies, projects and sustainable development. PMV’s activities mainly consist of three pillars: risk capital, loans and mezzanine finance. It has developed a wide range of instruments aimed at different purposes, at various target groups, and ranging from the pre-start phase to the international growth phase. Innovative companies are eligible for support through these instruments; while, complementary incubation support is managed through IWT. The total value of the amounts managed in the different PMV instruments exceeds 1 billion euro.
Among its instruments there are several innovation-oriented initiatives. The “Vlaams Innovatiefonds” (Vinnof, Flemish Innovation Fund) is specifically aimed at innovative start-up companies. It provides risk capital for the early stage of a company, with the expectation that entrepreneurs will find it easier to call upon private investors in later phases. Vinnof invests seed capital during three stages: pre-start, start and initial growth. PMV also manages the TINA-fund, a 200 million euro fund aimed at supporting innovative projects that support the transformation of the economy in Flanders. This is actually also a transversal topic defined as an one of the six innovation crossroads in the Concept Note “Innovation Centre Flanders”. The SOFI-fund has been established to support spin-off companies setup from research results in one of the four Flemish PROs (IMEC, VIB, VITO, iMinds) or the universities. Another example is Flanders’ Care Invest, designed to invest in innovative companies in the care sector. Finally, the Innovatiemezzanine scheme is a subordinate loan for starting companies that have already received a grant from the IWT.
4.5 Innovation intermediaries
A number of intermediaries and co-operation networks are active between on the one hand the government agencies that offer instruments and budgets aimed at innovation, and on the other hand the companies and industries that conduct research and innovate.
23 4.5.1 Infrastructure: science parks and incubators
In Flanders, several science parks, research parks and incubators offer facilities for research-based young companies and innovative enterprises. Often these are spin-off companies from a university or a PRO and located close to the knowledge centre, and in some cases an incubator is specifically oriented towards a particular scientific area. An example is the Ardoyen science park, which is part of the Zwijnaarde technology park (near Ghent). It hosts the incubation and innovation centre of Ghent university (UGent) and the bio-incubator of the VIB (biotechnology), hence the majority of its 40 companies are spin-offs from UGent and start-ups of the VIB. Another example is the Arenberg science park in Leuven, with several actors related to the KU Leuven and IMEC, and the Haasrode Business and Research Park. The Flemish Government supports these science parks and incubators through both regulatory and financial means, mainly through the IWT and AO (Enterprise agency).
4.5.2 Financial intermediaries
BAN Vlaanderen, the business angels network in Flanders, is a platform in which starting or growing entrepreneurs seeking risk capital are matched with informal private investors, so-called ‘Business Angels’. The latter offer not only money but also their own know-how, experience and contacts. BAN Vlaanderen is a market place where demand and supply meet, rather than an investment fund.
GIMV (Flanders Investment Company) is Belgium’s most important private equity and venture capital provider and a major European and international market player. It makes venture capital investments in promising high-tech companies and also focuses on buyouts and growth financing, to support companies’ development and growth. Initially it was setup by the Flemish Government, that still holds a minority stake in the company. GIMV manages for example the Biotech Fonds Vlaanderen that was set up in 1994 to provide venture capital to existing and starting medium and large sized companies in the Flemish biotechnology sector.
4.5.3 Innovative networks
Collaboration is an important aspect of the Flemish innovation policy. It enables companies and knowledge centres to develop their internal know-how and to tackle common technological issues efficiently by using a shared platform for demand and supply of R&D and innovative matters. IWT has established the VIN network (Flemish Innovation Network) in which a wide variety of intermediaries and knowledge centres in the field of innovation are involved. Almost 1000 people from 175 intermediate organisations offer a wide variety of expertise and information to support innovation. Each Flemish province hosts an innovation centre where experts provide specialised and personalised advice to any company. Apart from advice, IWT also offers information on public calls, networks or initiatives related to innovation. Another example is the TTO Flanders (Technology Transfer Offices - Flanders) initiative, a joint initiative of the five Flemish universities that offers a unique portal to the knowledge and technology of the Flemish universities and university colleges.
24 5 Main research and innovation performers
5.1 Higher education institutions
The universities represent the first pillar of the higher education system and play a major role in (the output of) Flemish R&D. These represent almost 90% of all non-private scientific output in Flanders. The five universities of the Flemish Community are: the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Universiteit Gent (UGent), Universiteit Antwerpen (UA), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), and Universiteit Hasselt (UHasselt). Public support for universities can be categorised into three budgetary flows, namely a basic allowance, support granted on a competitive basis, and a variety of (project) sources.
FWO and BOF mainly support academic (basic) research: FWO support is granted based on competition between the different universities while BOF support is a targeted subsidy for basic research allocated on fixed criteria and then granted based on intra-university competition. IWT and IOF mainly support industrial and strategic research: IWT support is granted on a competitive basis whereby applicants are evaluated based on a number of criteria. IWT also provides support at academic level for research conducted at the demand of companies, e.g. through the innovation mandates, the Baekeland mandates or the doctoral grants for Strategic Basic Research. IOF support is a targeted subsidy for industrial and strategic research allocated on fixed criteria and then granted based on intra-university competition.
In addition to FWO and BOF funding, the EWI policy domain provides extra support aimed at further strengthening academic working conditions and research excellence, e.g. via the tenure track system, the Methusalem programme (long-term structural support for top researchers), and the Hercules Foundation for research infrastructure.
Apart from the main support pillars through the FWO, BOF, IWT and IOF, the higher education institutes receive support from private partners (for conducting contract research), federal authorities, other Flemish public bodies, and the EU (mainly the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development). They are also entitled to a basic grant from the Flemish Ministry for Education and Training on a direct and non-competitive basis.
All information about on-going research of the Flemish universities can be consulted via www.researchportal.be.
The other pillar of the Flemish higher education system consists of ‘hogescholen’, or ‘university colleges’. These colleges provide higher education and advanced vocational training and their mission includes research, and services to society. Since the academic year 2013-2014 all academic education of the university colleges has been integrated in the universities. Thereby, so-called “associations” have been setup: a cooperation agreement between one university and one or more university colleges. These associations were setup at the introduction of the Bachelor-masterstructure in 2004 and are the result of the Bologna process The bachelor education remains at the university colleges. Several colleges are currently merging with each other. In total, there exist five associations: KU Leuven, Gent, Antwerpen, Brussel, Hasselt.
Only statutory registered universities and university colleges can use these designations and receive government funding to support education and research activities. Apart from universities and university colleges, there are a few other institutions and a number of other officially registered institutions like the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp), and the Antwerp Management School. Within the higher education field there exists a number of advisory
25 bodies and notably the VLIR (Flemish Interuniversity Council), which defends the interests of the universities, advises the Flemish Government on university matters, and organise consultation between the universities. The “Vlaamse Universiteiten en Hogescholen Raad” (VLUHR, or Flemish Universities and University Colleges Council) integrates all actors from the higher education level of the Flemish Community.
5.2 Business Enterprise Sector
The companies are of great importance within the STI system in Flanders. 70% of R&D in Flanders is funded by the business enterprise sector. However, they are a very heterogeneous group. Most large companies are clearly innovation-active. Some of them have significant research budgets. Given the industrial texture in Flanders, most of these large enterprises belong to multinational groups, so their research policy is not only determined in Flanders. The main sectors that conduct research are those of life sciences and chemistry, ICT, and communications, and the electrical machinery and apparatus industry.
Besides the large, innovation-intensive companies, a group of high-technology SMEs arises the recent years and grows steadily, despite the setbacks (and the failures) that have occurred in periods of difficult economic climate. In addition, a large majority of SMEs who do not do research, but some of which outsource research to some extent, or even, some of which certainly can be called innovation- oriented. According to the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) of 2011, 62% of all companies in Flanders can be called innovative (= introduction of new or renewed product- or process innovations or organisational or marketing innovations). Mainly industry and big companies are innovative. The results of the CIS furthermore demonstrate that in 2010 the average Flemish company generated 7.5% of its turnover from innovative goods or services. Almost half of this stems from new-to-market goods and services, while the remaining part comes from goods or services which are only new to the company itself (called imitation). For more detailed information, also see chapter 4. International comparisons demonstrate that that the share of people employed in (medium) high-tech industry and high-tech services in Flanders is higher that the EU average (9.3% versus 8.3% for EU-27 in 2009). The R&D activities (expenses) within companies in Flanders are mainly focused on the next high-tech sectors (2011): Chemicals and pharmaceuticals (NACE 20-21) have a share in the total R&D expenses of the BERD of 34% (based on a sample). Information technology, electronic, optical products and electrical equipment (NACE 26-27) show a share of 14%, motion picture, video and TV production, computer programs, engineering and technical testing and analysis activities (NACE 59- 63, and 71) a share of 16%, as well as machinery and transport (NACE 28-30) with a share of 12%. The R&D intensity of the business sector was 1.64% in 2011. Flanders ranks higher than the EU-27 average and the Netherlands, but much lower than the Scandinavian countries, Germany, the USA and Japan.
5.3 Strategic Research Centers
Flanders aims to be a front-runner in the European knowledge society and economy by continuing to build on and utilise its existing knowledge base and increase its innovation potential. Apart from the universities, the leading Flemish research and innovation actors are four strategic research centres (SOC, Strategische Onderzoekscentra) or PROs (public research organisations). Each of the centres is active in a specific research area, and they have co-founded several start-up companies, often based on breakthrough research.
5.3.1 IMEC
IMEC was setup in 1984 and performs world-leading research in nano-electronics and nano- technology. The research conducted includes digital components, organic electronics or scaling-driven
26 nanoelectronics and is applied in healthcare, smart electronics, sustainable energy, and transport. Its staff of more than 1,900 people includes over 500 industrial residents and guest researchers. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, strong and worldwide network and cleanroom facilities it is well-placed to conduct research at the nanoscale and bridge the gap between research and industry. The spin-off companies that have been set up are active in photovoltaics, analog chip design, satellite navigation or infrared detectors. IMEC is also internationally very integrated and has a setup a number of foreign establishments abroad, including in the US, Taiwan and China.
5.3.2 VIB
The mission of the VIB, the Flemish Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, is to conduct frontline biomolecular research in diverse fields of life sciences for the benefit of society. It was established in 1996 and main task consists of acquiring new knowledge via strategic basic research, whereby the researchers use advanced molecular biological technologies to study the functioning of human cells, plants and microorganisms. Another of the institute’s core tasks is to translate knowledge into useful applications such as diagnostics, medicines or agricultural applications. VIB’s third core activity consists of informing the people of Flanders about the discoveries and developments in the life sciences. The institute has achieved major breakthroughs in the field of cancer, immunology and inflammation, neurobiology and neurogenetics, angiogenesis and cardiovascular disease, plant biology and plant systems biology.
5.3.3 VITO
VITO exists since 1991 and is the largest and best-equipped multidisciplinary research centre for energy, environment, materials and terrestrial observation in Flanders. As an innovative customer- oriented research organisation, it wants to create technological solutions and give independent scientifically-based advice and support to strengthen the economic and social fabric of Flanders and make an essential contribution to sustainable development. The scientific research includes energy technology (renewable energy, biofuels, smart grids), environmental and process technology (reuse of waste water), research into sustainable materials and chemistry, environmental measurements (water and air quality), environmental toxicology and earth observation as integrated environmental studies.
5.3.4 iMinds
The Interdisciplinary Institute for Broadband Technology (IBBT) was established in 2004 and is called iMinds since October 2012. This strategic research institute works on research into Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in general and the development of broadband applications in particular. This research is interdisciplinary and demand-driven, and is conducted in close collaboration with both industry and the government. Its objective is to offer solutions to complex problems and thus to assist society to meet future challenges. iMinds stimulates research that addresses main social and economic issues: e-Health, new media, mobility & logistics, enabling technologies, and e-Government. The institute also aims to help create a sustainable society by working on the social, environmental and economic aspects of ICT services and developing a green ICT strategy. It possesses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for the testing of prototypes, using the full range of broadband platforms.
In 2013, the Flemish Government decided to establish a new Strategic Research Centre for Manufacturing, aimed at production technology and know-how on smart assembling. The aim of this centre will be to support companies from various industries by conducting research in product- and production technology and processes. The best researchers from existing research centres, universities and companies will be integrated to further support the transformation of industry.
27 5.4 Collective research
A number of innovative networks involving various knowledge actors and industry (often businesses belonging to a specific sector) are being supported by the Government of Flanders, often in cooperation with that specific industry. The main policy instrument for this support is the “VIS- trajecten” (VIS-trajectories) scheme whereby for a specific problem or a demand-driven opportunity of a collective of companies, innovative solutions are being offered that result in a clear (economic) added value towards a broad target group.
Since 2000, the Flemish Government has supported a number of “excellence centres” (‘Competentiepolen’). These organisations are primarily oriented towards the structuring of and cooperation amongst actors of a specific industrial sector with relevant research and innovation potential at Flemish level. Within the excellence centres, industrial partners co-operate with PROs, universities, professional organisations, etc. The main activities are knowledge creation and knowledge diffusion, with the focal point of the activities varying case by case. The organisational model is dynamic and bottom-up and the activities are focused on a large group of companies (collective character). Since 2012, these centres are supported under the new mechanism for “Light Structures” or Innovation Platforms scheme, that was announced in the Concept Note Innovation Centre Flanders of 2011, and include:
Flanders’ DRIVE (automotives industry); VIL (logistics – Flemish Institute for Logistics); FMTC (Flanders’ Mechatronics Technology Centre); Flanders’ Food (innovative food industry); VIM (mobility – Flemish Institute for Mobility); Flanders InShape (product development and industrial design); Flanders’ Synergy (innovative labour organisation); Flanders’ PlasticVision (plastic processing industry); Flanders Innovation Hub for Sustainable Chemistry (FISCH); Sociale Innovatiefabriek (Social Innovation Factory, for social entrepreneurship and social innovation).
The previously existing FLAMAC (Flanders Materials Centre) was incorporated in 2011 into the SIM (Strategic Initiative on Materials). As of 2014, the activities of Flanders’ Drive, FMTC as well as the manufacturing units from SIRRIS, the collective centre of the Belgian Technological Industry, are integrated in the newly established strategic research centre for the Manufacturing industry.
IWT has accredited a number of research centres under the VIS scheme, some of which are collective centres. Their activities are: collective research; various services of scientific or technical character rendered individually to their members; dissemination of technical information, training, etc. Collective centers were founded by the Belgian business federations, usually by way of associations, and are mainly active in the applied research relevant to the companies in their sector. In addition, they often participate in European, federal and Flemish research programs and carry out research themselves in order to maintain their knowledge. More specifically, in the context of support from the IWT, these centers define and conduct such research. At the request of individual companies, they also carry out contract research (which will be funded by the IWT). These are: Belgian Institute for Wood Technology and Training Centre Wood; Belgian Welding Institute (BWI); Belgian Research Centre of the Cement Industry (CRIC); Belgian Road Research Centre (BRRC); Scientific and Technical Service Centre for the Belgian Textile Industry (Centexbel); Belgian Building Research Institute (BBRI); Scientific and Technological Research Centre for Diamond; Collective Centre of the Belgian Technology Industry (SIRRIS).
28 5.5 Policy Research Centers
The Flemish Government launched in 2001 the policy research centres (“Steunpunten”) programme to provide a scientific basis for policy. The focus of the policy research centres is both on problem- driven short-term research and on fundamental long-term basic research on themes that the Flemish government regards as priorities and relevant to its policy. The task further includes the transfer of knowledge, the provision of scientific services, the building up of collections of data, the unlocking of data sources and data analysis. The Flemish Government selects the themes on the basis of its policy priorities and currently there exist 21 of these centres that are supported in the period 2012-2015. In 2009, the policy research centre on R&D indicators was transformed into ECOOM (Center for R&D Monitoring) to guarantee its continuity as a provider of R&D data and indicators to the Flemish Government on a permanent basis.
5.6 Scientific institutes
Within the Flemish Community, there exist four scientific institutes, that each are managed by a department of the Flemish Government. These perform scientific research in a specific policy field. Apart from building-up and diffusing the knowledge gained from scientific research, the institutes also provide advice and assistance to policymakers as well as services to society as whole. Furthermore, they strive to develop and exchange their knowledge through international contacts or programmes and cooperation with other (foreign) institutes e.g. by membership of EU research networks. The institutes are: Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (Instituut voor Landbouw en Visserijonderzoek, ILVO): conducts research in these four areas: plant sciences (applied genetics, breeding, crop protection), animal sciences (functional nutrition), technology and food science (food safety), social sciences; in many cases this is conducted in cooperation with various international partners; Research Institute for Nature and Forest (Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, INBO), that conducts research on themes such as fauna, flora, biotopes, areas and regions, sustainable land and water use. INBO studies aspects such as ecohydrology, acidification, pollution and climate change; Royal museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen, KMSKA): charged with the care of a unique collection of expressive arts, composed of mainly Flemish artefacts and complemented with a number of pieces from other schools; Agency for Archaeological Heritage (Agentschap voor Onroerend Erfgoed): research on immovable heritage in Flanders (archeology, monuments, landscapes). Themes cover e.g. redecoration of historic gardens, sea wrecks, historic organs, parks, industrial and maritime heritage.
5.7 Other research institutes and knowledge centers
Apart from the afore mentioned organisations, that are part of a clear category such as the Public Research Organisations (PROs), excellence centers, collective research centers, scientific institutes, there exist a variety of other institutes and organisations in the public field with activities that mainly focus on (scientific) data collection, conducting research or generating knowledge. Some of these fulfill even a prominent role in their field of activity worldwide. The main institutes include:
Institute for Tropical Medicine, ITM (Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde, ITG): one of the world’s leading institutes for training, research and assistance in tropical medicine and health care in developing countries. Provides (reference) clinical services for the management of tropical diseases;
29 Flanders Marine Institute, VLIZ (Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee): renowned for coastal and marine scientific research; sails its Simon Stevin vessel and manages the InnovOcean site and the Flanders Marine Data and Information Centre which is an integral part of international networks like IOC of UNESCO, ESF Marine Board and EurOcean; The Centre for Research and Conservation (CRC), the research department of the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp (RZSA) conducts research activities in 4 disciplines: Ethology and animal welfare, Functional Morphology, Veterinary Sciences and Conservation Biology. Research takes place in Flanders (Antwerp Zoo, Planckendael Wild Animal Park in Mechelen, near Geel), in other zoos and associated institutions, in Cameroon, and Brazil; MIP3: the third phase of the Environmental & Energy Technology Innovation Platform, all relevant innovation actors from businesses, research institutes and government administrations jointly aim at developing sustainable technologies, products and service that reduce the environmental impact; I-Cleantech Vlaanderen vzw: aims at the internationalisation of clean technologies in Flanders, establishing innovative projects, strategy development and stimulate entrepreneurship. Its operation is based on three main categories, namely an industrial, a knowledge and a public pillar; Neuroelectronics Research Flanders, NERF: this basic research initiative is a cooperation initiative of IMEC, VIB and KU Leuven. It aims to unravel the neuronal circuitry of the human brain by dealing with fundamental neuro-scientific questions via research combining nanoelectronics with neurobiology. A cooperation between IMEC and UGent is IPKISS, on Photonic circuit design; Energyville vzw: a cooperation between research actors that aim to excel in the field of European innovative energy research (e.g. by developing human capital to build a sustainable energy future for society) and drive the transition towards a sustainable energy infrastructure for large urban areas; Centre for Medical Innovation (CMI): a virtual research centre that specializes in translational biomedical research, the transfer of fundamental inventions with potential into clinical applications based on high-quality biobanks; Strategic Initiative on Materials (SIM): the main ambition of SIM is to strengthen the economic position of the materials producing and materials processing industry in Flanders; Microsoft Innovation Center Vlaanderen (ICT in care, e-health); Plan C: the Flemish Transition Network on Sustainable Materials Management; Smart Grids Flanders (innovation platform for smart grids). Recent initiatives include Living Laboratories, or test beds, in a number of fields. These are structured test environments in which organizations can test innovative technologies, products, services and concepts, using a representative sample of individuals, which are used as testers in their living and working environments. A living laboratory consists of one or more experimental platforms on which various projects are executed. Living Labs have been setup in various activity fields: Electric Vehicle, Social Innovation Factory, Care Innovation Space Flanders.
5.8 Institutes from other authorities
5.8.1 Federal authority
Belgium has ten federal scientific establishments, which are of diverse types and cover a variety of research activities and collections, such as museums, libraries, weather and space observatories and research institutes on crime, African culture, geology and health institutes. Some do not only perform research in specific fields of expertise, but also have a publicly orientated scientific mission. At the administrative level, these are managed by various policy fields and the federal Minister for Science is responsible for these institutes, which are part of the Programmatory Public Service (PPS) for Science Policy (the related federal administration).
30
These scientific establishments perform a two-fold mission: a “scientific public service mission” (development, maintenance and dissemination of scientific, technical and cultural information and documentation, collection conservation,…) and a research mission (research conducted often in partnership with the universities of the Flemish (and of the French) Community). As such, these institutes interact with and add to the scientific potential and outcome of the actors in the Flemish STI- landscape, especially researchers in HEIs that are active in the likewise field of activity. The federal scientific institutes are: Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy; National Archives and State Archives in the Provinces, including the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation on War and Contemporary Society; Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences; Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage; Royal Library of Belgium; Royal Meteorological Institute; Royal Museum for Central Africa; Royal Museums for Art and History; Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium; Royal Observatory of Belgium, including the Planetarium.
In addition to these, some federal partner institutions exist as well as other organisations subsidised by the PPS (e.g. the University Foundation), whilst some federal scientific institutes report to other Federal Public Services (e.g. in the field of public health, there is the Scientific Institute of Public Health, Veterinary and agrochemical research centre). The Federal Government also has responsibility for two other research organisations, the National Institute for Radioelements, and the renowned Nuclear Energy Centre, SCK or CEN. The latter is located in Mol aside the Flemish VITO, which is responsible for the non-nuclear part of energy research.
Following a political agreement concluded during the 5th (2001) and again during the 6th (2011) Belgian state reform, the minister-president of the Flemish and of the French Community reached an agreement end 2012 on the National Botanical Garden. The institutional power over the Botanical Garden was thereby transferred from the federal authority to Flanders (the French Community remains responsible however for the staff that historically is part of its payroll). As of 2014, this institution will become an additional agency within the EWI domain, the “Agency Botanic Garden of Meise”. Its collection includes over 18,000 species of plants and its 92 ha large domain located in Meise (just north of Brussels) is one of the ten most diverse gardens in the world that includes the Boechout Castle and a collection in large greenhouses.
5.8.1.1 International institutes or organisations in the STI field
Apart from institutes related to or managed by the Government of Flanders and the Federal Government, there exist a number of EU of international institutes that collect scientific data or conduct research and are located in Flanders. Some of these receive funding or support from the Flemish Government. Examples include: the Von Karman Institute on fluid dynamics (located south of Brussels in Sint-Genesius- Rode); the EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, IRMM, located in Mol (nearby the Flemish VITO and the federal SCK CEN); in the field of international marine science: the Project Office of the "Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission" (IOC) of UNESCO for the "International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange" (IODE) programme, and the European Marine Observation and Data network (EMODnet), both located at the fish auction hall in Ostend (aside the Flanders Marine Institute, VLIZ, which also supports the IOC). Other examples of international research-related establishments are the executive offices of the EU’s joint initiatives on Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), Clean Sky, ENIAC (nano-electronics), Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH), and ARTEMIS (embedded systems), that are all located in Brussels.
31 6 Flanders in the international STI field
The international aspects of the STI field cover a wide range of both activities and institutions, and are embedded at the public, semi-public as well as at the private level. Consequently, no single administrative entity or agency has been setup to manage specifically the international aspects of STI. All public and private actors that are (possibly) interested or regulatory eligible can initiate their own policy initiatives and programmes at the international level. The overview hereunder lists the main types of activities and initiatives that are carried out in the field of international scientific research and innovation.
6.1 Policy preparation, support and follow-up
Since 1993, the Communities and Regions can execute their competencies also at the EU and international policy level. Since then, a substantial effort has been made towards the internationalisation of STI policy. More concretely, this policy is being shaped by the preparation and follow-up of policy initiatives at the bilateral (towards a region or a country), inter-regional, intergovernmental, EU, or international (OECD, UN) policy level. The overall focus of policy lies however at the (supranational) EU-level, i.c. the decisions and actions of the EU Council and EU Commission.
In the EU Council meetings dealing with research and innovation policy, Belgium is represented by its Communities / Regions, whilst the federal authority holds the position of assessor. As a result, Flanders is one of the authorities that is directly involved in the preparation of decisions within this Council, and represents Belgium according to a turn-role with the other authorities. The Council Working Group meetings are attended by the Flemish representative for research and innovation, who is assigned to and indeed also an integral part of the Belgian Permanent Representation to the EU. Principal fields of action include the EU 2020 strategy, the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP on RTD), the Horizon 2020 programme 2014-2020, the European Research Area (ERA)-objectives, the Innovation-Union flagship initiatives, and all related R&D and innovation matters in a broad sense (e.g. SFIC, ESFRI,…).
The active involvement in the EU’s research and innovation policies includes: the preparation and follow-up of decisions within the EU Competitiveness Council (Research); the EU’s FP7 (and the future Horizon 2020 and COSME programmes): Belgian position paper, preparation of the programme themes, the National Contact Point (NCP) function, involvement as programme committee members, in ERA-Networks, OMC-networks, and in support actions; the EU’s CIP: coordinator for Flanders for the three thematic pillars; participation in the meetings of the ERAC, the body of EU member-States that advices the Commission on its research and innovation policy; preparation for the meetings of the Enterprise Policy Group, the body of the EU member- states that advices the Commission on its industry and innovation policy; preparation and follow-up of decisions of various R&D and innovation related EU initiatives from the Council or the Commission, such as the JTI (Joint Technology Initiatives), JU (Joint Undertakings), ESFRI (large research infrastructure), KET (Key Enabling Technologies), EIT (European Institute for Technology) and JP (joint programming initiatives); contributions to reports and consultations from the EU Commission and the Committee of the Regions on scientific research and innovation (ex.: Flemish and Belgian National Reforms Plans EU 2020, the EU Trendchart on Innovation, EU ERA Watch and ERA follow-up report, ERDF R&D and innovation actions, participation in the bilateral meeting Commission – Belgium on the targets of the EU 2020 strategy and the Innovation-Union Flagship, thematic /
32 specific questionnaires from ERAC and peer reviews of the STI-system, R&D-legislation, university research,… Other involvement in EU policy networks includes membership of ERRIN (European Regions Research and Innovation Network).
Apart from the EU level, there are representation functions linked to preparation and follow-up of policy-making and activities of international organisations, as well as specific support initiatives. This includes the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN). More precisely:
OECD: participation in CSTP (Committee on Science and Technological Innovation Policy), TIP (Technology and Innovation Policy), NESTI (National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators) group, and in thematic subgroups on e.g. ICT, biotechnology, and researchers’ mobility; UN: support for the Flanders’ UNESCO Science Trust Fund (FUST: capacity building in development countries; in 2000-2010 17.7 million US$), UNIDO (biotechnology field), UNU- CRIS (United Nations University – Centre for Regional Integration Studies, located at the Europacollege in Bruges), and the project office of the IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at Ostend; 2.9 million euro since 2005).
6.2 Bilateral and international co-operation and agreements
Many institutes and organisations in the field of STI have developed international links, are part of international networks, have established representations or setup joint initiatives or concluded bilateral partnerships with a foreign partner in the host country. Such initiatives are the result of a gradual internationalisation tendency whereby companies, universities, research institutes or knowledge centres developed bottom-up cooperation with foreign partners and in networks, and have been setup either independently or complementary to initiatives from Flemish, federal or EU public actors towards these foreign countries or regions.
6.2.1 STI actors: universities, university colleges, strategic research centres, scientific institutes, other knowledge organisations
At the level of the universities for example, KU Leuven provides grants for students to go to development countries. It cooperates with partner universities in the Netherlands, Poland, the US, Japan, and South-Africa and for several decades it has held intensive contacts with China through cooperation programmes with top universities, the ministry of Education, bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding. Furthermore, it is member of certain international networks, such as the Coimbra Group, the LERU (League of European Research Universities), the IAUP (International Association of University Presidents), the EUA (European University Association), the IMHE (International Management in Higher Education) programme of the OECD, the EAIE (European Association of International Education) and the EUCEN (European Universities Continuing Education Network). Ghent University on the other hand, has concluded bilateral framework agreements outside Europe with institutes in all continents. It has a representation in Peking (China) and even a Chinese alumni network in Shanghai and in Peking. It has concluded partnerships (U4 with Groningen, Göttingen, Uppsala; with University of Kent; with Université de Lille) and takes part in international organisations including the Santander Group, EAIE, EUA, European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities (ESMU), European Association of Institutions of Higher Education (EURASHE), UK Research Office (UKRO), Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals (ASTP), Magna Charta Observatory of Fundamental University Values and Rights, and the United
33 Nations Academic Impact Programme. Its India and China platform also include industrial partners. As of 2014, UGent offers an academic degree in Songdo (South Korea).
Among the Flemish strategic research centres or PROs, in particular IMEC has been very active at the international level. Apart from its home-based offices in Leuven and Ieper, it has also establishments abroad in the Netherlands, Taiwan, China, India, the US and Japan. VITO has setup a VITO Asia office in Hong Kong and develops activities in India and Vietnam. In 2011, it established a joint venture with a counterpart institute in Peking, and it also signed a cooperation agreement with the Tianjin Academy of Environmental Sciences (TAES). Evidently, these organisations take part in the activities of various networks within their field of activities; IMEC for example is active in the Silicon Europe initiative along with leading EU partners.
Apart from the universities, university colleges, the 4 PROs, and the 4 scientific institutes, all other knowledge organisations in Flanders can cooperate with international partners in various initiatives or actions. For example, the VLIZ concludes cooperation agreements with international universities, research institutions and individual research groups, participates in international networks and projects. ITM works with many scientific institutions, governments and organisations all over the world for a long-lasting improvement of health care and disease control in developing countries.
6.2.2 Public authority level: the EWI policy domain and the International Flanders (IV) policy domain
a. EWI policy domain: At the public authority level, Flanders has concluded since the 1990s a number of cooperation agreements in the field of R&D and innovation with various countries (Chili, China, South-Africa, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Rumania) and a region (Québec). Today, the bilateral cooperation of academic researchers is to a large extend structured and managed within the EWI domain, through the Research Foundation Flanders, FWO, mainly via two channels: bilateral research cooperation: Vietnam, Québec (Canada), Ecuador, China, South-Africa; cooperation projects for researchers: China, France, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Bulgaria, Poland, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey. FWO also manages specific instruments for international mobility of researchers: Odysseus programme: a “brain-gain” programme to attract Flemish and other top researchers worldwide (back) to universities of the Flemish Community; Visiting (international) postdoctoral fellowships; Pegasus programme: for foreign postdoctoral researchers who want to stay either one or three years at a university, and co-funded by the EU’s Marie Curie fund. Furthermore, FWO supports researchers via general funding instruments for them to participate more actively in the international research scene, for example by funding short term stays, organisation of workshops, participation in colloquia, etc., abroad.
FWO also works together with its European and international sister organisations in various networks and with European research organisations or similar institutes, for instance the European Science Foundation (ESF), Science Europe, CECAM, and ECT. At the policy level, FWO has signed so-called “Lead Agency agreements” with the Netherlands (NWO), Austria (FWF), Slovenia (ARRS) and the Grand-Duchy of Luxemburg (FNR). This demonstrates a high degree of transnational confidence between the concerned institutes.
In addition, FWO supports the access to the use of research facilities of important international or multilateral initiatives e.g. at the EMBO (Heidelberg) or the ESO (Munich, Santiago de Chili); as well
34 as to the Big Science projects: CERN-CMS & CERN-ISOLDE (Genève); ESRF-DUBBLE (Grenoble); Mercator telescope (La Palma, Spain), Spiral2 (Caen), and Ice Cube (the Arctic area). In the field of international innovation, IWT provides co-funding for participants from Flanders in EUREKA-projects. EUREKA is an intergovernmental initiative to promote international cooperation for projects (as well as clusters and “umbrellas”) for applied and market-oriented industrial R&D, based on a bottom-up principle. Projects that are approved, after a quality check, receive an EUREKA-Label. Likewise, the participants from Flanders in the EUROSTARS innovation programme, that is aimed at cross-border innovative SMEs, is supported through IWT as well. The agency is the NCP for Flanders for supporting applications to thematic programmes within FP7, ERA-nets, INNO-nets, EUREKA, and some Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs). IWT also shares best practices with other European agencies and is involved in various international networks and actions. It is for example, a member of the Association for Technology Implementation in Europe (TAFTIE), which fosters an exchange of best practice between 18 government agencies supporting innovation in Europe.
In the field of international cooperation through the EU Regional Fund, there exist a number of Interreg projects whereby STI actors, public authorities and private partners from Flanders jointly support multiannual projects. Examples of these include BioBase Europe (21 million euro investment in total), Waterstofregio Vlaanderen – Zuid-Nederland (Hydrogen Region), NanosensEU, or Organex. Furthermore, cooperation with the neighbouring regions of Noord-Brabant (the Netherlands) and North-Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) exist in the framework of the ELAt (Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen triangle).
The Enterprise Europe Network (E.E.N.) for Flanders consists of IWT, AO (Enterprise Agency) and FIT (Flanders investment and Trade), and provides information on (innovative) internationalisation for companies.
The EWI department manages a number of multi-annual agreements and accompanying budgets to execute actions within the framework of the United Nations (UN). These are: - the Flanders UNIDO Science Trust Fund for Industrial Biotechnology (FUSTIB) programme; - the Flanders Unesco Trust Fund (FUST); - the UNU-CRIS (United Nations University – Centre for Regional Integration Studies).
It also manages the financial support for the “European Marine Ocean Data & Information Network” (EMODnet) and the IOC – IODE project office (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), both located in Ostend aside the VLIZ. Finally, the EWI department also prepares and monitors the memoranda of understanding (MoU) that are concluded directly among administrations or ministers that are charged with R&D and innovation. These include for example agreements with Slovenia (2008) and China (2012). During ministerial missions abroad or during official visits of foreign delegations to the Flemish minister or to the public EWI entities, such agreements may be discussed and/or signed officially.
In a number of cases, treaties that include topics on scientific research exist or are being prepared between Belgium and another country. These may comprehend (or, following a state reform, have become) either Community or Regional competencies in the field of STI. Whenever it is required, the EWI department acts as responsible entity to monitor such agreements if public or private STI actors from Flanders are subject of the agreement.
b. Innovation Flanders policy domain: At the overall governmental level, Flanders has concluded since many years bilateral treaties with foreign regions or countries that often are elaborated through multi-annual working programmes which include various policy domains, one of these being scientific research and innovation. These agreements are managed by the International Flanders department of the International Flanders (IV) policy domain. Such agreements have been concluded with Estonia, Russia, South-Africa, Rumania,
35 Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, North-Rhine Westphalia (Germany), Catalonia (Spain), and the German-speaking Community (Belgium). A number of other agreements are currently being negotiated.
Since 2011, the minister-president has been offering Flemish STI actors (universities, university colleges, research organisations, other knowledge institutes) the possibility to attend his official missions abroad, the so-called “academic diplomacy” principle. Thereby, the opportunity arises to conclude general or specific cooperation agreements with actors from that region or country. Examples of these include the mission to Québec (Canada) whereby a project was signed between KU Leuven and Université McGill University (Montréal), and a visit to China in the presence of several universities (Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven) whereby VITO concluded cooperation agreements with 2 Chinese partners.
Another actor in the IV policy domain is the agency Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT). This has delegated a number of technological attachés that focus on future-oriented innovative and technological fields such as energy, ICT, life sciences or nano-materials, and who are stationed in different world cities (Tokyo, New York, Peking, San Francisco, New Delhi). On behalf of high-tech companies in Flanders, these attachés can provide specific, sectorial, information. One attaché who is located in Brussels, coordinates their activities and acts as a hub between on the one hand, Flemish knowledge institutes, strategic research centres, technology clusters and federations, and on the other hand, the technology market in Europa (with a special focus for the United Kingdom).
Flemish STI actors also participate in Belgian Economic Missions or other official missions that take place all over the world. These were or are being led by a prince, or a princess, and include missions to China or South Africa. On the other hand, official visits of foreign head of state or prime ministers to Belgium may also lead to cooperation with Belgian (including) Flemish actors in the field of research. This was the case for example during the visit of the president of India, whereby MoUs were signed between the key Belgian universities and their Indian counterparts such as JNU, Delhi; the University of Delhi and Hyderabad University to collaborate on improving India's research capabilities in cutting- edge areas such as molecular biology.
6.3 Participation in various international programmes, networks and initiatives
Flanders needs to adjust its priorities in the field of R&D and innovation as much as possible with those from the grand challenges, the European Research Area, the Europe 2020 strategy and listed in the Framework programmes on RTD and Horizon 2020 / COSME (as of 2014). Such goals can be achieved by striving towards excellence, increase budgets, facilitate researchers’ mobility, and participate in EU and international cooperation programmes or networks. This is especially relevant for the future well-being of Flanders, taken into account its open economy (export-to-GDP ratio of almost 100%), and the high share of international companies active in conducting R&D. Research actors receive apart from Flemish and federal budgets, also important amounts from various EU programmes (mainly the FP, CIP, and Cohesion Fund).
Researchers can participate in the afore mentioned (see 6.2. of this chapter) international or bilateral programmes and initiatives, to which aim the Flemish or the federal authorities have setup support channels or assured formal access (e.g. European Space Observatory, CERN). Also in the long- standing initiatives for international research COST and EUREKA (including Eurostars), institutes and companies from Flanders are active. For example, there are over 100 COST-actions with experts from organisations in Flanders, while IWT provides annually support for about a dozen businesses active in EUREKA initiatives. IWT has also opened up its support programmes for companies for international
36 (innovative) cooperation and provides budgets to foreign partners connected with Flemish companies in a consortium.
A major point of attention and income source lies however at the EU-level, i.c. the participation in the EU’s Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development (FP on RTD) for competitive and excellent research. 'Framework programmes' (FPs) have been the main financial tools through which the European Union supports research and technological development activities covering almost all scientific disciplines.
FPs have been implemented since 1984 and cover a period of five years with the last year of one FP and the first year of the following FP overlapping. The current FP is FP7, which runs up to the end of 2013. As of 2014, Horizon 2020 and COSME are the follow-up programmes of FP7, CIP, and EIT. Preliminary data (status on 21/06/2013) on the FP7 programme show that actors in Flanders are strongly participating. With a financial return of 2.43%, Flanders scores above expectation (see also chapter 2.7).
Some EU support for R&D and innovation is granted through the ERDF and INTERREG programmes of the EU Regional Policy funds. With the latter, cross-border cooperation is setup in specific areas which research actors from the neighbouring countries. Examples are NanosensEU, Photovoltaic, Hydrogen fuel and cells, and Organext. However, these EU budgets are small compared to the amounts drawn out of the FP and tend to become relatively smaller. More specifically, the average annual amount stemming from FP on RTD is 176 million euro, whereas the average budget that Flanders is entitled to receive from the ERDF and Interreg programmes is in total about 12 million euro.
Flanders has developed especially with the Netherlands an intensive cooperation in the field of STI and the country is a priority partner. Cooperation examples are the FP projects in which both sides participate, the Holst centre (Leuven and Eindhoven; IMEC and TNO), the ELAt (Eindhoven-Leuven- Aachen triangle), and some important EU Interreg projects.
Since 2007, various variable geometry initiatives have been setup at the EU level, whereby certain countries participate in research complementary to the EU-FP themes. In several cases, actors from Flanders have joined these and occasionally receive public support (from IWT). The initiatives in which research actors participate or that are followed-up are (situation end 2012):
JTI (Joint Technology Initiatives; e.g. ENIAC, Clean Sky, ARTEMIS, AAL, Hydrogen Fuel Cells); JU (Joint Undertakings; IMI, Eurostars); JPI (Joint Programming Initiatives: Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND - Alzheimer), Cultural Heritage and Global Change, A healthy diet for a healthy life (HDHL), More years, better lives (demographic change), Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)…..); ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures): 3.7 million euro support to participate in European Social Survey (the ESS), Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS), LIFEWATCH (biodiversity), SPIRAL2; ERA-Nets and OMC-nets; EIT-KICs ( European Institute of Technology – Knowledge Innovation Communities): a Flemish-Dutch consortium is partner in the InnoEnergy KIC (sustainable energy), with a co- location centre in Waterschei; SET Plan: follow-up of European Industrial Initiatives (EIIs) in the various themes (wind, solar, Electricity Grids, Bioenergy, Initiative Smart Cities);
37 Also in related EU initiatives to stimulate the European Research Area, Flemish actors are involved or follow-up the state of play, e.g. as is the case with the EU I.P. (EU Innovation Partnerships): active and healthy ageing (AHA), the ETP (European Technology Platforms), or the KET (Key Enabling Technologies)….
Occasionally, one-off budgets are available for initiatives that stimulate internationalisation in broad sense and build on already existing strengths in specific fields or with certain foreign entities. A more exhaustive overview is listed under 6.2 of this chapter.
38
Chapter 2 Funding of R&D
1 Introduction
At the European Summit in Barcelona (March 2002), the heads of State and Government decided on the objective to increase by 2010 total R&D expenditures (GERD) by 3% of the GDP (gross domestic product) in the EU (“3 % objective”). As an additional objective, one third of the R&D expenditures should be publicly funded and the other two thirds by the business community. This target was one of the headlines of the Lisbon Strategy from 2000. Flanders translated this objective within a Flemish context through the so-called Innovation Pact. This pact was signed in March 2003, and it contains a formal engagement by all involved actors in the Flemish research and innovation landscape to jointly reach this 3% objective by means of complementary efforts.
The Vlaanderen in Actie (ViA) (Flanders in Action) plan reflects a joint long-term vision, strategy and actions of the Flemish Government and the social partners. It identifies a number of strategic breakthroughs in various fields that are crucial for the future wealth and well-being of all in Flanders. With ViA, Flanders aims to reach the top-5 EU regions by 2020. STI play a transversal role across these various themes.
In 2009, the Flemish government and the Flemish social partners took the initiative to conclude the “Pact 2020” that specifies and implements the broader societal objectives of the ViA plan. The importance of STI is reflected by the target to spend 3% of GDP on R&D, in accordance with the EU 2020 Strategy. The Pact 2020 contains 20 thematic chapters with concrete targets and actions to be reached by 2020, which are monitored on an annual basis. The specific targets include:
innovation will be more widely and better distributed across all industries, business types and segments of society; an increase of turnover from new or improved products and services; a year-on-year increase of the number of patent applications; to be amongst the EU’s top-5 regions for public spending on eco-innovation.
2 GERD
In 2011, Flanders spent over 5,088 million euros on R&D (GERD). Two thirds of the research expenses are spent by companies (Business Enterprise Sector, or BES) and one third by public research institutes (PNP, GOV en HES). 71% of the GERD (2011) stems from companies and 29% by the public sector (federal, regional, community, European and international funds). This effort of 5.1 billion euros represents almost two-thirds of the GERD for the whole of Belgium.
The R&D intensity (measured as the percentage of GERD related to GDP) of Flanders was 2.40% in 2011 (compared to 2.12% in 2009 and 2.29% in 2010). With this result, Flanders ranks higher than the Netherlands, France and the EU-27 average, yet much lower than the USA, Germany and the Scandinavian top countries.
40 Figure 1: Evolution of total R&D spending (GERD) and the R&D intensity of the GERD in Flanders from 1993 to 2011, in million euro (current prices)
6,000 3 2.4 5,000 2.29 2.5 2.16 2.05 2.06 2.12 1.92 1.96 1.98 4,000 1.7 2
3,000 1.5 5,088 4,640 2,000 3,847 4,116 4,149 1 3,317 3,571 3,597 2,427 1,000 1,815 0.5
0 0 1993 1997 2002 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
GERD R&D intensity - GERD
Figure 2: International comparison of the R & D intensity of GERD for 2011
4 3.78 3.26 3.37 3.5 3.09 3 2.77 2.84 2.4 2.5 2.25 1.94 2.04 2.04 2 1.5 1 0.5 0
Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators Volume 2012/2
Denmark: national estimate or projection; Sweden, the Netherlands: provisional figure and break in time series; Belgium: provisional figure; USA: provisional and excludes most of all capital expenditures; EU-27: secretariat estimate (provisional).
41 Figure 3: R&D intensity broke down by sector of performance or source of funds for Flanders, 1993-2011
3 2.40 2.29 2.5 2.16 2.05 2.06 2.12 1.92 1.96 1.98 2 1.70 0.76 0.56 0.76 0.73 0.47 0.62 0.60 0.62 0.66 1.5 0.41 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.49 1.47 1.5 1.51 1 1.6 1.53 1.64 1.29 1.45 1.43 1.35 1.36 1.4 1.39 0.5 0.61 0.69 0.7 0.55 0.53 0.51 0.56 0 1993 1997 2002 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
BERD/GDP non-BERD/GDP public funding/GDP private funding/GDP GERD/GDP
3 BERD
In 2011, the business enterprise sector spent 3,474 million euros on R&D activities in Flanders, measured in current prices (the Business Expenditures on R&D (BERD), which corresponds to an R&D intensity (BERD in % of the GDP) of 1.64%. This level is a sharp increase for the GERD compared to 2009 (1.39%) and 2010 (1.53%). When the total R&D intensity of the BERD is broken down by source of funding, 1.51% stems from private funds and 0.13% by public funds (2011). Recently, the share of the BERD in the GERD increased to more than 68% in 2011.
Figure 4: Evolution of the R&D spending by companies (BERD) and R&D intensity for the BERD, from 1993 to 2011, in million euro (current prices)
4000 1.60 1.64 1.75 1.53 1.45 1.43 3500 1.35 1.36 1.40 1.39 1.50 1.29 3000 1.25 2500 1.00 2000 3,474 0.75 1500 3,099 2,650 2,796 2,718 2,459 2,485 2,489 0.50 1000 1,835 1,379 500 0.25
0 0.00 1993 1997 2002 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
BERD R&D intensity - BERD
42 Figure 5: International comparison of the R & D intensity of BERD for 2011
Finland 2.67% Japan (2010) 2.49% Sweden 2.34% Denmark 2.09% Germany 1.90% USA 1.89% Flanders 1.64% France 1.43% Belgium 1.37% EU27 1.20% The Netherlands 1.07% 0.00% 0.50% 1.00% 1.50% 2.00% 2.50% 3.00%
Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators Volume 2012/2
Germany, Belgium: provisional figure; EU-27: secretariat estimate (provisional); the Netherlands: provisional figure and break in time series; USA: provisional and excludes most of all capital expenditures; Denmark, Sweden: national estimate or projection
The R&D activities (expenses) within companies in Flanders are mainly focused on the next high-tech sectors (2011): Chemicals and pharmaceuticals (NACE 20-21) have a share in the total R&D expenses of the BERD of 34% (based on a sample). Information technology, electronic, optical products and electrical equipment (NACE 26-27) show a share of 14%, motion picture, video and TV production, computer programs, engineering and technical testing and analysis activities (NACE 59- 63, and 71) a share of 16%, as well as machinery and transport (NACE 28-30) with a share of 12%. The R&D intensity of the BES was 1.64% in 2011. Flanders ranks higher than the EU-27 average and the Netherlands, but much lower than the Scandinavian countries, Germany, the USA and Japan.
4 Non-BERD
The share of R&D spending in the public sector within the total R&D spending increased between 2004 and 2009 from 30% to 34.4%. Afterwards, the share R&D spending in the public sector fell slightly to 31.7% in 2011. The R&D spending in the public sector (non-BERD = GOVERD + HERD + PNP) amounted to 1,613 million euros in 2011. One third of this amount is spent by public research institutes (GOV) and nearly 64% by higher education institutes (HES). The R&D spending in the public sector in 2010 and 2011 increased further. There is a stronger increase in the R&D expenses of the private sector compared to the expenses of the public sector. The R&D intensity for the public sector (non-BERD in % of the GDP) in Flanders amounted 0.76% in 2011, a status-quo compared to 2010 and a slight increase compared to 2009. When the total R&D intensity of the non-BERD is broken down by source of funds, 0.19% is funded privately and 0.57% by public funds (2011) .
43 Figure 6: Evolution of the R&D spending by GOV, HES en PNP (non-BERD=GOVERD+HERD+PNP), from 1993 to 2011, in million euro (current prices)
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0 1993 1997 2002 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 PNP 29 32 36 38 38 40 42 43 44 45 HERD 311 400 541 667 690 740 819 903 983 1031 GOVERD 96 160 281 380 383 419 458 485 515 537 NON-BERD 436 592 858 1085 1,111 1,199 1,319 1,431 1,542 1,613
The GOVERD and HERD broken down by field of science (2011) shows the dominant position of engineering and technology (73.2%) for the GOV and the medical sciences (31.4%) as the equivalent for the HES in 2011 for Flanders. Other important fields of science for the HES are the natural sciences (17.5%), the social sciences (16.5%) and engineering & technology (16.1%).
Figure 7: Evolution of the R&D intensity for the non-BERD (GOVERD, HERD en PNP) from 1993 to 2011
0.90%
0.80% 0.76% 0.76% 0.73%
0.70% 0.66% 0.62% 0.60% 0.62% 0.60% 0.56%
0.48% 0.49% 0.50% 0.46% 0.46% 0.41% 0.41% 0.38% 0.37% 0.38% 0.40% 0.35% 0.31% 0.29% 0.30% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.23% 0.22% 0.21% 0.21% 0.18% 0.20% 0.13% 0.09% 0.10% 0.03% 0.03% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02% 0.02%
0.00% 1993 1997 2002 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 HERDgew PNP GOVERD non-BERD
44 For the GOVERD, the most important source of funds in 2011 was the government funding (46.8%) followed by “abroad” (46.5%) and thirdly the companies (6.5%). For the HERD, the share of government funding was the most important source of funds as well (60.8%), followed by the higher education sector (15.9%) and the companies (13.5%). This proportion of HERD that is supported by (domestic) companies for 2011 (13,5%), ranks internationally higher than that of the Scandinavian countries and is more than twice the figure for the EU-27. Only Germany has a larger proportion. Summarized, companies are an important client of as well as a funder for research at Flemish higher education institutes.
Figure 8: International comparison of the funding by companies of the HERD in 2011, in %.
16 13.9 13.5 14
12 11
10 8.2 8 6.4 5.5 6 5.2 4.1 3.8 3.2 4 2.6 2 2
0
Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators Volume 2012/2
EU27: provisional and secretariat estimate or projection; Sweden: national estimate or projection; USA : no recent data
Flanders scores similar (2011) to France and above the EU-27 average for the R&D intensity of the HES. Finland (0.76%), the Netherlands (0.75%), Denmark (0.92%) and Sweden (0.88%) have a much higher R&D intensity for the HES. In summary, Flanders maintains its international position, compared to 2009 figures from the HERD.
The R&D intensity of the GOV is higher in Flanders than that of Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark. Flanders’ results are roughly similar to the EU-27 average and Norway, but lower than those of Germany, Finland and France. In summary, Flanders holds its international position, compared to 2009 figures from the R&D intensity of the GOV en HES.
45 Figure 9: International comparison of the R&D intensity of GOVERD and HERD for 2011
Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators Volume 2012/2
Belgium: provisional figures; the Netherlands: included other classes (GOVERD) and provisional; EU-27: secretariat estimate or projection based on national sources; Denmark, Sweden: national estimate; USA/ federal or central government only (GOVERD) most or all capital expenditure excluded (HERD); Germany, provisional figures, included other classes.
5 GBAORD
This section examines in detail the R&D-support from Flanders, in particular that of the Flemish government, and compares it with that of other countries. GBAORD (Government Budget Appropriations or Outlays for R&D) is an indicator used by the OECD and EUROSTAT. The table below shows an international comparison of the GBAORD as a percentage of GDP. The calculation method of the Flemish figure is explained further in this chapter.
It is clear that the trends for GBAORD, expressed as % GDP, differ between countries. In some countries they stagnate, in others there is even a drop over several years. Figure 10 compares Flanders with the selected countries. Because of the worldwide financial and economic crisis, followed by measures taken for the benefit of the economy, one must proceed with caution when comparing budgets. Comparison is therefore made for the year 2010, the most recent year with data for all compared countries.
Table 2 International comparison of Government Budget Appropriations or Outlays for R&D (GBAORD), expressed as a percentage of GDP(R)
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013i
Flanders 0.64% 0.65% 0.66% 0.62% 0.70% 0.71% 0.74% 0.71% 0.70% 0.69% Belgium 0.59% 0.59% 0.61% 0.60% 0.68% 0.67% 0.67% 0.63% 0.64% Denmark 0.71% 0.71% 0.72% 0.79% 0.85% 0.98% 0.97% 1.02% 1.01% Germany 0.77% 0.77% 0.76% 0.77% 0.80% 0.91% 0.92% 0.91% 0.91% Finland 1.01% 1.03% 1.02% 0.97% 0.98% 1.12% 1.16% 1.09% 1.03%
46 France 0.96% 0.97% 0.81% 0.75% 0.88% 0.93% 0.84% 0.84% no data Ireland 0.42% 0.46% 0.45% 0.48% 0.53% 0.56% 0.54% 0.50% 0.49% Italy no data 0.67% 0.61% 0.64% 0.63% 0.64% 0.61% 0.56% 0.54% The Netherlands 0.82% 0.79% 0.80% 0.78% 0.79% 0.86% 0.87% 0.79% 0.77% Austria 0.66% 0.66% 0.66% 0.65% 0.70% 0.78% 0.79% 0.77% 0.80% Portugal 0.61% 0.70% 0.69% 0.75% 0.91% 1.04% 1.02% 1.03% 0.94% Spain 0.54% 0.55% 0.68% 0.76% 0.77% 0.83% 0.79% 0.68% no data United Kingdom 0.69% 0.67% 0.66% 0.65% 0.65% 0.69% 0.64% 0.59% no data Sweden 0.87% 0.86% 0.84% 0.79% 0.80% 0.91% 0.88% 0.83% no data EU-27 0.71% 0.69% 0.67% 0.67% 0.70% 0.76% 0.71% 0.68% no data Japan 0.72% 0.71% 0.71% 0.68% 0.71% 0.76% 0.74% 0.78% 0.78% United States 1.07% 1.04% 1.02% 1.02% 1.02% 1.18% 1.03% 0.96% 0.90% Source: Main Science and Technology Indicators, OESO, Volume 2012/2
Flemish government R&D funds + Flemish share of the federal funds (35.5% ESA 56% for the rest) Belgium 2012 figure: Commissie Federale Samenwerking, CFS/STAT: final budget Flanders + provisional budget other authorities)
Figure 10: International comparison of Government Budget Appropriations or Outlays for R&D (GBAORD) 2011, expressed as a percentage of GDP(R)
1.20% 1.09% 1.03% 1.02% 0.96% 0.91% 1.00% 0.84% 0.83% 0.79% 0.78% 0.77% 0.80% 0.71% 0.68% 0.68% 0.63% 0.59% 0.56% 0.60% 0.50% 0.40% 0.20%
0.00%
Italy
Spain
Japan
EU-27
France
Ireland
Austria
Finland
Sweden
Belgium
Portugal
Flanders
Denmark
Germany
UnitedStates
UnitedKingdom The Netherlands The
civil GBAORD defence GBAORD
Source: Main Science and Technology Indicators, OESO, Volume 2012/2
Flemish government R&D funds + Flemish share of the federal funds (35.5% ESA 56% for the rest) Flanders and all countries: 2011
6 Estimate calculation method for publicly- financed R&D intensity (1% objective)
For the period after 2011 there are no survey data available by sector yet. A cautious estimate is being made of the growth path to reach the 1% objective (the public financed share of the above mentioned 3% objective) by 2020. Consequently, for the present purpose, as in the previous EWI Budget Browsers, a calculation is included to approximate the results for the most recent years.
47 The combined efforts of the government are calculated here by elaborating different variants.
1. The own efforts of the Flemish government This is the Flemish GBAORD in the strict sense, funded by just the Flemish government.
2. The efforts of the Flemish government + the Flemish share in the federal government funds In Flanders, R&D activities are also funded by federal government R&D funds. When this share of the federal government is accounted for into the Flemish GBAORD in the strict sense (1), a GBAORD is obtained for Flanders that is possibly closer to reality. This variant is consequently the most suitable for an international comparison of the GBAORD. When calculating Flanders’ share in the federal government funds, following formula is used: 35.5% of the funding from the European Space Agency (source: Flemish Council for Science and Innovation – VRWI) and 56% for the rest of the total federal R&D funds.
3. The efforts of the Flemish government + the Flemish share in the federal government R&D funds + the Flemish return from the funds of the EU Framework programs for Research and Technological Development
In another variant, the Flemish return from the EU Framework programs for Research and Technological Development can also be accounted for (= added), since these too represent R&D activities funded publicly. However, the result of this additional calculation can no longer be considered as GBAORD, but is actually a third variant that can be used for calculating the publicly financed share of the R&D intensity.
The results of this calculation are given in the table below. The figure achieved for 2013, initial budget (i), is presumed to be 0.77% of GDP(R) .
Table 3: Evolution of R&D budget and R&D intensity
R&D budget 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013i (million EUR) Flemish government (1) 820.666 898.638 967.954 952.670 1,121.429 1,130.072 1,224.024 1,227.577 1,236.008 1,271.481 Flemish gov. + Flemish share of 1,069.527 1,132.220 1,219.950 1,215.642 1,403.281 1,390.345 1,506.837 1,511.539 1,513.354 1,548.827 federal gov. (2) Flemish gov. + federal share + 1,157.600 1,220.293 1,308.023 1,303.714 1,579.281 1,566.345 1,682.837 1,687.539 1,689.354 1,724.827 EU-FP (3)
Public R&D intensity as % of 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013i GDP(R) (1% objective) Flemish government (1) 0.49 0.52 0.53 0.49 0.56 0.58 0.61 0.58 0.57 0.57 Flemish gov. + Flemish share of 0.64 0.65 0.66 0.62 0.70 0.71 0.74 0.71 0.70 0.69 federal gov. (2) Flemish gov. + federal share + 0.69 0.70 0.71 0.67 0.79 0.80 0.83 0.80 0.78 0.77 EU-FP (3)
GDP(R) (million EUR) (4) 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013i 167,550.6 174,288.1 183,996.4 194,866.4 199,956.9 195,354.6 202,729.7 211,716.6 216,413.7 224,279.7
(1) Flemish government budget for R&D - final budgets 2004-2012; 2013: initial budget (2) • Flemish share in the Federal government R&D funds: ESA distribution key at 35.5% Flemish (source: VRWI) and the rest of federal government R&D funds considered as 56% Flemish. • federal government R&D funds: source: CFS/STAT. For 2012 and 2013i: initial budget of 2012 used. (3) Estimated according to the calculated Flemish return for the 6th Framework Programme for 2003-2007. For 2008-2013i: estimated return based on preliminary results of the Flemish return for the 7th Framework Programme. Sources: eCorda data, reworked by EWI (4) GDP(R): Gross Domestic Product by Region – source: Hermreg – Research Centre of the Flemish Government (Studiedienst van de Vlaamse Regering) – June 2012.
48 7 Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)
7.1 Introduction In March 2010, the European Commission launched the Europe 2020 strategy, the successor to the Lisbon Strategy, which ended in 2010. The new EU strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth will help Europe to overcome the crisis and prepare for the European economy over the next 10 years.
The Europe 2020 strategy is based on three coherent and mutually reinforcing priorities: smart growth - an economy based on knowledge and innovation; sustainable growth - a low-carbon, efficient and competitive economy are handled with resources; and growth for everyone - for a high-employment economy and social and territorial cohesion. The new strategy is therefore focused on areas where action is needed: knowledge and innovation, a sustainable economy, high employment and social inclusion.
The most important funding instrument for research within the European Union (EU) is the European Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities, a multi-year research and stimulation programme that sets out the activities of the EU in the field of research and technological development in the medium term. It contributes substantially to the aims of the European Research Area (ERA) and the Innovation Union flagship of the EU 2020 strategy.
The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) that runs from 2007 until 2013 is provided with a total budget of € 50,521 million.
The data used in the present section were taken from the database that the European Commission provides via the electronic platform e-CORDA. The release date of these data is 21th June 2013, hence about 68% of the available budget over the total period has been awarded at this time of the report.
7.2 Participation of Flanders Flanders participates 2,224 times in 1,738 projects under the Seventh Framework Programme. Flanders totals a participation funding of € 828.5 million. This represents the major part of total Belgian number of participations, projects, coordinators, and participation grant.
The total Flemish participation funding represents 2.43% of the total funding received from the European Commission for participating in FP7. During the period 2007 – June 2013, Flanders received a yearly average of 118,4 million euro in FP7 financing.
ICT, nanotechnology and health were the three thematic priorities with the highest number of participations from knowledge actors in Flanders.
As is shown in figure 11, the Flemish participation is most successful in the thematic priorities Fission and Fusion, Social Science and Humanities (SSH), Food, ICT, Nanotech and Health. The participation in Fission is due to the research institute on nuclear energy SCK/CEN, which is situated in Flanders, but depends on the federal government. The participation in Fusion is mainly due to the University of Ghent (UGent) but also the SCK/CEN. The participation in SSH is mainly due to the
49 universities. In the priorities Food, ICT, Nanotech and Health there is a distributed participation of universities, research centres (IMEC, VIB, VITO, iMinds) and industry.
Figure 11: Financial return for Flemish participant in the thematic priorities of FP7, as compared to the expected return (vertical line at 2,3%) (preliminary results as of June 2013).
Health Food ICT Nanotech Energy Environment Transport SSH Space Security General HES ERC Industry Marie Curie Research centres Infrastructures other SME Regions Potential Society Policies INCO Fusion Fission 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% Return (%)
7.3 Benchmark of Flanders The performance of Flanders in the Seventh Framework Programme was examined by dividing its financial return by the Gross Domestic Product and ranking the result with those of the other participating countries. Figure 12 shows that Flanders performs well with a third rank, behind Greece and the Netherlands, and performing better than the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Austria and the United Kingdom.
50 Figure 12: Benchmark of the Flemish participation in FP7: funding / GDP
Greece The Netherlands Flanders Finland Belgium Denmark Switzerland Sweden Austria United Kingdom Portugal Spain Germany France Italy Norway Poland 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 Funding (in thousands of euro) / GDP (in billions of euro)
7.4 Top participant organisations The higher and secondary education institutes (HES) are the main Flemish beneficiaries of FP7, accounting for about 45% of the return received by Flanders. The research centers receive about 30% of the Flemish return, and companies about 20%.
The top-3 participating institutes of Flanders (and of Belgium) in FP7 are KU Leuven, UGent and IMEC, which jointly represent almost a third of total EU FP contribution to Belgian grant holders.
51 Figure 13: Top 10 of the universities (HES) in an international ranking, sorted by number of participations and funding (in millions of Euro).
Number of participations Funding (in millions of euro)
700 400
600 350 300 500 250 400 200 300 150 200
100
Funding (in millions of euro) of millions (in Funding Number of of participations Number 100 50
0 0
University of Oxford of University
Lausanne
Hochschule Zürich Hochschule
Kobenhavns Universitet Kobenhavns
University of Cambridge of University
University College London College University
Eidgenössische Technishe Eidgenössische
The university of Edinburgh of university The
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Universiteit Katholieke
Imperial college of science, college Imperial
Danmarks TekniskeDanmarks Universitet Ecole polytechnique federale de federale polytechnique Ecole technology and medecine London medecine and technology
8 EU Regional Policy R&D&I support
For the 2007-2013 period, the Flemish Region is entitled to receive structural funds in the framework of the Objective 2 and Objective 3 programmes. However, these (cohesion) budgets are considerably lower than the (competition-based) support that stems from the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. More precisely, a budget of 200 million euro in total is available in 2007-2013 under the Objective 2 programme, which is divided equally among four main priorities. The first of these is “Knowledge and innovation”, and distracting the budget on coordination costs, total available R&D and innovation budget reaches 48.5 million euro, which is about 8 million euro on average per year (compared to 116,4 per year from FP7).
Flanders is also active in a number of Interreg IV projects under the Objective 3 programme, that aim at increasing the research and innovation potential. There are a number of major initiatives worth mentioning in this respect: BioBase Europe (allocation of € 21.8 million): construction of a pilot plant (for research) and training facilities for bio-based activities that aim to speed up the development of a sustainable bio-based economy in Europe. It is the first of its kind in Europe that will use renewable resources for industrial biotechnology at such level of scale. The involved actors are Ghent Bio-energy Valley, UGent, Stad Gent, Biopark Terneuzen (Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, NL), and various stakeholders; NanoSensEU (allocation of € 1.6 million): project to develop a universal measure surface for detection of biomolecules, to develop and use biosensors, and also setup a knowledge cluster on biosensors (various specialities). Involved partners from Flanders are UHasselt, IMOMEC (IMEC vzw), KULeuven;
52 Hydrogen Region Flanders – South Netherlands (alloc. € 14.1 million): focus on sustainable produced hydrogen in the field of education, production and infrastructure of hydrogen and “early markets” (demonstration projects). Here, IMEC, UGent, several university colleges, and various stakeholders are involved in the project; Organext: project that bundles 12 partners from business, policy and knowledge centres from the Euregio Maas-Rhine, Eindhoven and Leuven with expertise in the domain of nanotechnology, new materials, organic solar cells and economic valorisation. Flemish partners: UHasselt, IMOMEC.
53
54
Chapter 3 Human resources in science and technology
1 Introduction
Highly educated and skilled personnel is a key resource for science and technology. Therefore, indicators on the Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) are very important. HRST- statistics always focus on two main aspects. First the stock of HRST which focuses on the characteristics of the current labour force involved in science and technology. Second, the flows showing the job-to-job mobility and the inflow from education to the science and technology labour force. In this case, particular attention is paid to scientists and engineers, who are often the innovators at the center of technology-led development.
2 S&T Students
About six out of ten students start after their secondary education a higher education training. In the 2011-2012 academic year 46,041 students enrolled for the first time at a Flemish university or a university college. Of this group, known as first entry students, more than half started a professional Bachelor training at the university colleges, a large third preferred studying at the universities, and the remaining part choose an academic Bachelor at a university college.
About 4,600 first entry students (more than 29% of the total) at the universities start in the S&T domains (grouping the Natural Sciences, Applied sciences, Applied biological sciences, Pharmaceutical sciences and Biomedical sciences). After a strong decline around the turn of the century, the number of new students in this group is rising slightly again and compared to the last academic year, an increase of 400 first entry students were counted. Especially the Biomedical Sciences and the Natural Sciences attracted more students.
Figure 14: Evolution of the number of generation students at Flemish universities (exact and applied sciences) from 1998-1999 to 2011-2012, in absolute terms
5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 Biomedical sciences 2500 Pharmaceutical sciences 2000 1500 Applied biological sciences 1000 Applied sciences 500 Natural sciences 0
In the academic Bachelors at the university colleges almost one third of first entry students start a course of study within the following science and technological domains: Biotechnology, Industrial sciences and technology, Nautical sciences and Product development. In the professional Bachelor over 16% chooses for similar studies in these areas.
56 3 S&T graduates
A steady increase since 2002 (10.9%) in the 20-29 year old population of Flanders with a higher degree in mathematics, science and technology can be remarked. In 2011 the figures amounted to 14.3% of the 20-29 year old people. Flanders ranks below the EU-27 average (15.2 %) and the gap with the leaders Finland (24.2%), France (21.7%), Ireland (20.1%) and the United Kingdom (18.7 %), remains very high. On the other hand, Flanders scores better than the Netherlands, Norway and the United States.
Table 4: Evolution of the proportion of graduates in mathematics, science and technology (higher education) in Flanders compared to age 20 to 29 years (2002-2011)
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Flanders 10.9% 12.3% 11.8% 12% 11.9% 15.6% 14.0% 14.2% 13.9% 14.3%
Figure 15: International comparison of the proportion of graduates in mathematics, science and technology (higher education) compared to age 20 to 29 years (2010)
Despite the numerous initiatives to promote S&T, the share of S&T graduates in the total awarded graduates in Flanders hasn’t increased in the past ten years. The rate for Flanders recently even declines a little. In an international perspective for 2010, Flanders is situated below the EU-27 average and far below the leaders (Finland and Austria), where more than 27% of all degrees is achieved in science, mathematics and technology. The USA, the Netherlands and Norway also score low regarding the share of the S &T and M graduates.
Table 5: Evolution of the percentage of degrees in mathematics, science and technology in higher education compared to all degrees in higher education for Flanders (2002-2011)
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Flanders 19.8% 20.5% 20.1% 20.3% 19.0% - 18.5% 19.0% 17.7% 17.9%
57 Figure 16: International comparison of the percentage of degrees in mathematics, science and technology in higher education compared to all degrees in higher education (2010)
*Flanders: figures for Flemish community
4 R&D personnel
The total R&D personnel for Flanders reached 39,282 full-time equivalents (FTE) in 2011, which is an increase of 13.2% since 2006. Over the past five years the research staff increased both for firms as for the public sector. The public sector groups all research institutes from the higher education sector (HES), government sector (GOV) and private not for profit sector (PNP). Most of the R&D personnel (57.6%) works in the private sector (BES), although the importance of the public component (PNP, HES EN GOV) in recent years has increased. The HES component is the most important of the public component (13,141 FTE or 78.9%) in 2010, followed by the GOV component (3,154 FTE of 18.9%).
Figure 17: Evolution of the R&D personnel from 1993 to 2011
58 Figure 18: International position of Flanders on total R&D personnel (% of the labour force) (2011)
The R&D personnel corresponds to 0.62% of the total population and 1.37% (2011) of the labour force. Flanders belongs to the sub-top with regard to R&D personnel numbers in proportion to the total population. The Flemish figure is higher than the EU-27 and can compete with the Dutch and the French level. Scandinavian countries take the lead here.
81.5% of the R&D personnel for the HES are researchers (2011). This figure for Flanders is higher than France, Germany, but also higher than the EU-27 average and the figure for the most of the Scandinavian countries. About 61% of the R&D personnel for the GOV are researchers. This share for Flanders is higher than the neighboring countries and the EU-27 average but lower than the Scandinavian countries.
With 40% female researchers within the higher education (HES), Flanders ranks internationally not so bad compared to neighbor countries Germany, Netherlands and France. Compared to the Scandinavian countries the percentage of women researchers in higher education for Flanders is lower. Also for the public research centers (GOV), Flanders scores similar to Germany and Netherlands but slightly lower than France. The figures for Flanders here are also below these of Northern Europe. Flanders is called to follow the international trend with an increasing proportion of female researchers for HES as well as for GOV.
59 Figure 19: International comparison - % share of women researchers for HES en GOV (headcount) – 2011
Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators Volume 2012/2
EU-27, USA: no recent data available; France: break in time series; the Netherlands: includes other classes(GOVERD); Norway: university graduates instead of researchers.
5 Mobility of researchers
Between 2003 and 2012 and for all statutes and levels of the academic career, the existing pattern concerning citizenship is gradually changing. These changes are the least pronounced in the Assisting Academic Staff or AAP (in 2003 95.7% were Belgians and 94.7% in 2012) and also less noticeable in the Senior Academic staff or ZAP (in 2003 94.8% and in 2012 still 91.9%). The changes are noticed particularly strong for the Scientific Staff or WP. Especially for postdocs in this group, the number of Belgian researchers declined from 87.3% in 2003 to 67.0% in 2012. Foreign postdoc researchers are more common from EU countries (19.9%) than from non-EU countries (13.1%) in 2012. But also for doctoral researchers in this group a diminution can be determined: 89.4% in 2003 and 71.2% in 2012.
60 Figure 20: Evolution of the nationality of statutes and levels of the academic career (2003-2012)
For Belgian Ph.D. holders, the United States is the most popular destination to proceed their career. The availability of some renomated research institutes obviously attracts more researchers. Belgian researchers choose neighbor countries with strong research tradition such as France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany . This mobility pattern of Belgian researchers is similar to other Western European countries. Researchers in medical sciences often stay in an academic institution (or hospital) in North America. For natural -, applied - and human sciences, researchers prefer more often to work in other countries within the EU.
Dutch researchers are strongly represented among the group of foreign researchers, followed by researchers from China, Italy, Germany and India. Foreign researchers are mainly found in the following groups: doctoral students and postdocs.
In the international survey ‘Careers of Doctorate Holders’, the market situation of doctorate holders is also analyzed. A third of all doctorate holders is still employed at the university with their doctorate, and a quarter afterwards in the industry. Approximately one in ten has developed a career in government or in the service sector. Compared to other countries, Flanders holds a similar position to the United States, Denmark, and the Netherlands as the ratio of the percentage of doctorate holders employed in the business sector (including industry and services), compared to the percentage of doctorate holders who has developed an university or college career. For Belgium, 33.4% is employed in the enterprise sector and 41.7% in higher education sector and for Flanders these figures are respectively 35.6% and 40.5%.
6 Odysseus – excellent researchers
The Odysseus initiative, launched in 2006 and administered by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), is designed to attract excellent researchers, who have built a career outside Flanders. The objective is to offer these researchers a funds to start or to exploit a research group at a Flemish university. Odysseus aimed at two groups of researchers: top researchers with a high level of international standing (Group I) and young researchers with the potential to evolve into this group (Group II). Based upon the advice of an international jury, 28 laureates were funded in a first call (budget: annual 12 million euros for 5 years). Thirteen of them belonged to Group I and received a
61 funding between 2,000,000 to 7,500,000 euros for the period of 5 years. The fifteen remaining, each received a budget between 500,000 and 1,000,000 euros. Eleven of these researchers were foreigners, the others were (very) long worked abroad.
Table 6: Odysseus funding split by type of financing and scientific discipline for the period 2006-2010, in %.
Group I Group II Biological sciences 27.5 32.9 Social Sciences 15.5 13.8 Humanities 9.4 0 Medical Sciences 24.4 18.1 Sciences 17.4 35.3 Technology 6 0 Total amount in euro 47,210,894 9,940,926
7 PhD
Figure 21: Evolution of PhD in Flanders by sex from 2002-2003 to 2011-2012
62 Figure 22: Evolution of PhD in Flanders by field of science from 2002-2003 to 2011-2012
During the past five years, the total number of all distributed PhDs in Flanders has increased more than 53% to 1,670 new doctorate holders in 2011-2012. The number of female PhDs had significantly grown (about a double in the past ten years). Nevertheless, women’s share stays limited to nearly 45%. An analysis of the number of granted PhDs by field of science show a substantial increase for the medical sciences, social sciences and engineering and technology in the past years. For the other fields of science, a light increase can be seen.
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Chapter 4 Innovation efforts of enterprises in Flanders (CIS results)
1 CIS: global results
Based on the principles described in the so-called Oslo-manual, the innovation efforts from businesses in the European Union are systematically measured by the Community Innovation Survey (CIS). These harmonized surveys are executed by the national statistical offices and designed to give information on the degree of innovativeness of different sectors and regions. Different surveys were launched in 1993, 1996, in 2001 (CIS-3), in 2005 (CIS-4), CIS2007, CIS2009 and CIS2011. CIS-4 (2005) included more sectors than the CIS-3 (2001), CIS2007, CIS2009 and CIS2011 but by disregarding the additional sectors, a historical comparison can be made.
The results for Flanders for the CIS2011 show that 53% of the companies is innovative (ongoing or abandoned product or process innovations) for the period 2008-2010. This is a similar to the results of CIS2009 (52%). Nevertheless the time series show, that the proportion of innovation firms, stays rather stable.
Table 7: Evolution of the rate of companies with ongoing or abandoned product and / or process innovation activities
CIS-3 (2000) CIS-4 (2005) CIS2007 CIS2009 CIS2011 All 58% 59% 56% 52% 53% companies
SMEs 58% 57% 54% 51% 52% Large 83% 88% 82% 80% 79% companies
Low 55% 55% 53% 49% 49% technology High 71% 78% 71% 70% 73% technology
Industry 69% 64% 64% 56% 60% Services 49% 54% 49% 49% 47% Source: ECOOM A historical comparison could be made when the additional sectors from CIS-4 are disregarded
2 Process and product innovation
The results for Flanders show that 53% of the companies is innovative (ongoing or discontinued product or process innovation for the period 2008-2010). Process innovation is most common way for innovation in the Flemish companies. Approximately 35% of the enterprises did process innovation, meaning that 66% of all Flemish innovative companies in the period 2008-2010 introduced process innovation. Approximately 34% of the enterprises did product innovation and this corresponds with 64% of all Flemish innovative companies. About 29% of all enterprises report ongoing or abandoned innovation activities (or 55% of the innovative firms).
Lager companies are more innovative than medium-sized and small enterprises. The most innovative sector is the ICT-/Electronics sector, since 89% of companies in this sector indicates to have started (but possibly did not finish) product and / or process innovation activities. Analyzed by type of innovation, that has been introduced, large companies and medium-sized companies are more innovative: they introduced more product and process innovations than small firms did.
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At least 48% of the innovative companies aimed to improve the quality of the offered goods or services (main target). Other objectives are the expansion of the current range of goods or services (45%), an increase of the market share (44%), the replacement of obsolete products or processes (43%).
With an innovation rate of 53% (process and product innovation) Flanders score quite good in Europe. Although this figure is a status-quo compared to the results of CIS2009 (52%), Flanders belong to the top countries with the percentage of product and process innovation activities.
Figure 23: International comparison of the percentage of companies with ongoing or discontinued product and / or process innovation activities (2008-2010)
0.7 0.64
0.6 0.53 0.52 0.49 0.47 0.47 0.46 0.46 0.5 0.44 0.43 0.4 0.34 0.34 0.29 0.3 0.2 0.1 0
3 Organizational and marketing innovation
In addition to product or process innovations, organizational or even marketing innovations have a significant impact on the performance of a company. In the period, 2008-2010, organizational innovations were introduced by 28% of the firms. Especially large companies (50%) performed such innovations, compared to 44% for medium-sized and 23% for small enterprises. High-tech companies achieved more remarkable organizational innovations (41%) than low-tech companies (25%). The main goal pursued through organizational innovations is the ability to respond faster to needs of customers or suppliers (54%). Better quality of goods or services is also an important goal for organizational innovators (51%) just like better communication and information sharing within the company, or other companies or public institutions (37%)
According to the CIS-2011 definition, 29% of the surveyed companies responded to have done marketing innovation in the period 2008-2010. The differences between low-and high-tech companies, or between the industrial and service sectors, are much less pronounced than for organizational innovations. Again, there can be noticed that many large companies are more active in this type of innovation (36%) than medium (40%) or small (26%) companies. Motivations for marketing innovations are the objective to increase or maintain market share (70%). The introduction of products by new customer groups also is an objective of marketing innovations (50%). The introduction of new geographic markets was seen by one third of the companies as a goal.
With an innovation rate of 62% (process innovations, product innovations, organizational and marketing), Flanders score quite good in Europe. Flanders is ranked second after Germany is the list of neighboring countries and reference countries.
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Figure 24: International comparison of the percentage of companies with ongoing or discontinued product and / or process innovation activities, marketing and organizational innovation activities (2008- 2010)
0.9 0.79 0.8 0.7 0.62 0.61 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.57 0.57 0.56 0.6 0.55 0.54 0.53 0.5 0.44 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0
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Chapter 5 STI productivity or STI output
1 Introduction
Patent statistics and publication statistics provide important indicators for measuring R&D output. Long time series are available and data allow cross-country comparison. This section looks more closely at the role of publications and patents (applications and grants) as an output of R&D expenditure.
2 Scientific publications
Scientific publications are an important instrument for measuring the visibility of research output. This analysis is based on the major bibliographic information of ISI-Thomson Scientific (Science Citation Index (scientific journals) and Proceeding database (conference proceedings)). The Flemish scientific publication output has recent years increased significantly. In 2011, these publications output amounted 20.3 per 10,000 inhabitants, while this was only 11.7 per 10,000 inhabitants in 1998. Flanders ranks fifth in 2009 after Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland.
Table 8: Evolution of the publication output per 10,000 inhabitants for Flanders (1998-2011)
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 only scientific journals 10.3 10.6 11.2 12.6 14.7 15.2 17.1 17.4 17.4 18.7 scientic journals and proceedings 11.7 11.8 12.9 14.2 16.4 17.4 19.9 19.1 19.1 20.3
Figure 25: International comparison of the publication output per 10,000 inhabitants (2011)
Denmark 24.4 Sweden 22.6 The Netherlands 20.6 Finland 20.5 Flanders 20.3 Belgium 17.4 Ireland 16.7 United Kingdom 15.8 Germany 12.5 Spain 11.4 France 11.2 Italy 9.9 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0
The share of Flemish publications in the total figure for Belgium shows an upward trend from 64% in 2000 to about 70% in 2011. The Flemish share (all fields but only journal articles) of world total publications increased from 0.82% in 2000 to 0.99% in 2011 (+ about 21%). From about 2005 the share of most European countries to the global total starts to decline. Besides Flanders and Belgium (1.43% in 2011), only the Netherlands (2.60% in 2011, Ireland (0.56% in 2011) and Spain (3.89% in 2011) are exceptions. While China's share in 1998 was situated at the same level of Italy (about 3.76%), China passed France in 2004 and in 2006 Germany and Great Britain. In 2011, the Chinese share already amounted to 12.72%.
70 Before the specialization profile of Flemish research is analyzed, another aspect can be discussed. All publication output can be broken down by the different types of organizations. If a work addresses consisted of more than one type of organization, it was assigned as a full publication for all these types. The share of higher education (universities and university colleges) amounted to more than 85%. Over 10% of all Flemish SCIE documents was published by employees from public research institutes or civil servants. Private institutions and hospitals (apart from university hospitals) carry respectively around 7% and 5% to the total. The share of the university sector has continuously increased slightly.
The scientific specialization profile for Flanders is an example of the Western pattern with life sciences and medical sciences as dominant publications areas. Nevertheless, some evolutions concerning the scientific research areas can remarked. A sharp growth can be noticed for Flanders in neurosciences (NEUR) and mathematics (MATH). Flemish publication profile is characterized by significantly lying above the world standard activities in the following areas: biology (BIOL), life sciences (BIOS), biomedical research (BIOM) and clinical and experimental medicine I (CLI1) and below the world standard in the areas chemistry (CHEM), earth and space sciences (GEOS) and physics (PHYS) for the second period. Remarkably, neurosciences (NEUR) moves from an area with relatively little activity compared to the world standard to a domain with higher activity.
Figure 26: The scientific publication profile of Flanders in 2000-2005 and 2006-2011 based on the Activity Index AI
AGRI 1.4 MATH 1.2 BIOL 1 ENGN 0.8 BIOS 0.6 0.4 0.2 2000-2005 GEOS 0 BIOM 2006-2011 World Standard
PHYS CLI1
CHEM CLI2
NEUR
AGRI = Agronomy and Environmental Sciences BIOL = Biology (in the organism and the supra-organism level) BIOS = Life Sciences (general, cellular and subcellular biology, genetics) BIOM = Biomedical Research CLI1 = Clinical and Experimental Medicine (general and internal medicine) CLI2 = Experimental Medicine II (non-internal) NEURO = Neurosciences CHEM = Chemistry PHYS = Physics GEOS = Earth and Space Sciences ENGN = Engineering MATH = Mathematics
71 3 Citations
Citations reflect an impact analysis of the research output by the scientific community and can be used for measuring the quality. Compared to other European countries Flanders is, based on the results for different periods in the relative citation map, part of the leading group (Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom and the Netherlands). Flanders recently loses some ground compared to the leaders (Denmark and the Netherlands).
Based on the results of two periods (2000-2004 and 2006-20108), the relative citation frequency for Flanders ranks in all science areas above or at least equal to the world standard. Especially for the life sciences a very high score can be noticed. The indicator value of chemistry is the lowest but still represents the neutral value of 1.0 from the world standard. The relative citation scores in the clinical research (CLI1 and CLI2) – are higher than in the natural sciences. Noteworthy is the increased impact in earth and space sciences.
Figure 27: The scientific citation profile of Flanders in 2000-2004 and 2006-2010 based on the Activity Index AI
AGRI 1.75 MATH 1.5 BIOL 1.25 ENGN 1 BIOS 0.75 0.5 1998-2002 0.25 GEOS 0 BIOM 2004-2008 World Standard
PHYS CLI1
CHEM CLI2 NEUR
4 Co-publications
In addition, Flemish scientific publications are increasingly the result of strong international cooperation. In 2011, about 62% of the publications included a foreign co-author. Flanders takes the lead with Sweden (61.4%) and Denmark (60.5%) in the ranking of countries concerning co-authorship. An analysis of the major co-publication links for Flanders in the period 2006-2011 show an enhance cooperation towards Eastern Europa (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Lithuania and Russia) and Northern America (USA and Canada) compared to the period 2000-2005. An already well-established cooperation with the former EU-15 countries (and especially the neighboring countries Germany, the Netherlands, France and the UK) already existed in the period 1999-2003. The relative important link with some African countries (for example the Democratic Republic of Congo) can partly be explained on historic grounds but the cooperation towards Africa still rather limited. For the period 2006-2011, an growing cooperation with some new countries can be seen: Vietnam, Armenia and Georgia.
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A comparison (over two periods) of the profile of the international co-publications of Flanders with the profile of all publications shows a clear polarization in favour of life sciences and physics and a disadvantage of engineering, earth and space sciences and non-internal medicine. The decrease in relative cooperation activity in life sciences is compensated by the growing co-publication activity in the neurosciences and the behavioral sciences. In the second period (2006-2011) the profile of Flanders approaches slightly more the world standard than during the period 2000- 2005. The relative cooperation activity in non-internal medicine (CLI2), neurosciences and the behavioral sciences and earth and space sciences is consistent with the world standard in the second period.
Figure 28: The scientific co-publication profile of Flanders in 2000-2005 and 2006-2011 based on the Activity Index AI
AGRI 1.5 MATH BIOL
1 ENGN BIOS 0.5 2000-2005 GEOS 0 BIOM 2006-2011 World Standard
PHYS CLI1
CHEM CLI2 NEUR
5 Social sciences & humanities
A growing importance of publications in the innovation chain and in the distribution of research funds to universities can be noticed. Studies also show that the Web of Science (WoS) doesn’t fully represent the research efforts in the social sciences and the humanities. The Flemish Government also wants to map the publications which are not included in the WoS. Therefore a group of experts was charged to collect both groups in a database called the ‘Vlaams Academisch Bibliografisch bestand or VABB’ for the socio-economic sciences and humanities (SSH).
For this moment, VABB-SSH contained 42,240 publications published between 2000 and 2011, of which 16,467 were found in de WoS (SCIE, SSCI, AHCI and proceedings CPCI-S & CPCI-SSH)). The other 25,773 contained 17,833 articles in magazines, 614 books (author), 1,052 books (editor), 5,695 chapters in books and 579 proceedings. Analyzed by discipline, law have the greatest share (14.0%) in the VABB-SSH, followed by economics (13.9%) and social health sciences and psychology (both 9.6%).
73 6 Patents
Patents are intended for inventors to grant a temporary monopoly to exploit their innovative efforts. Patent information also helps provide the technological progress and picture the degree of innovation within an organization or within a region. In global both the patent number of Flanders as well as those for the other reference countries, increased the past few years.
Between 1980 and 2010 37,461 EPO patent applications with a Belgian applicant were made and on the moment of the analysis 17,440 or 47% were effectively assigned. For Flanders, comparable figures were calculated: 23,621 patents applications were made and 12,026 were assigned or 51%. These proportions are equal to observations of the following reference countries (Germany, UK, USA, the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Finland).
An international comparison of the number of patents by origin (EPO-patents) indicates that Flanders is located in the group of followers (8th position) with 255.3 patents per million population by origin by inventor or applicant. This ranking is led by Switzerland, Luxembourg, Sweden and Finland. Flanders is situated after Denmark (7th) and before Austria (9th). Internationally seen, is this quite a good result for Flanders and Belgium due to the fact that all reference countries together represent about 95% of the total patent activities.
Table 9: Evolution of the EPO-patent applications for Flanders per million population by origin by inventor and / or applicant (1992-2008)
1992 1995 1998 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Flanders 99.7 132.1 193.2 194 197.7 228.7 270.7 261.9 258.8 255.3
Figure 29: International comparison EPO-patent applications per million population by origin by inventor and / or applicant (2008)
Based on granted patents in the USPTO-system, Belgium and Flanders take respectively fifteenth and thirteenth place. Leaders here are Japan, the USA, Switzerland, Korea and Luxembourg.
Table 10: Evolution of the USPTO-patent applications for Flanders per million population by origin by inventor and / or applicant (1992-2008)
1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Flanders 44.8 112.7 119.2 131 141.5 164.5 130.8 89.7 47.4
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Figure 30: International comparison USPTO-patent applications per million population by origin by inventor and / or applicant (2008)
The majority of the available PCT-applications contains no address information, which complicates a reliable allocation to the regions. Therefore no reliable figures for Flanders are available. Belgium occupies the eleventh place in the ranking of PCT-applications. This list is led by Switzerland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Finland and Netherlands.
Table 11: Evolution of the PCT-patent applications for Flanders per million population by origin by inventor and / or applicant (1994-2008)
1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Flanders 34 40 71 97.2 132 164.3 173.2 183.2 179.7 * due to missing address information, no breakdown for Flanders could be made
Figure 31: International comparison PCT-patent applications per million population by origin by inventor and / or applicant (2008)
Especially companies are active in applying for patents (84.2% of all patent applications for 2008). Examples of companies with a substantial portfolio of patent activity are Agfa Gevaert, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Janssen Pharmaceutica, Electrolux Home Products Corporation, Bekaert and Solvay. In addition, both public research centers (e.g. IMEC and VIB) and universities are increasingly active as patent applicants. About 10.2% of the patent applicants in 2008 found their origin at universities (only 2.8% in 1991) and the number of patent applicants from public research
75 institutes is also increasing. All these figures above included international applicants next to Flemish applicants. When patents with exclusively Belgian and Flemish applicants/inventors are analyzed, the share of universities as applicant becomes even more important and the share of companies becomes less important.
Co-application of patents varies around 15% for Flanders (relative to the total number of patents with Flemish applicant) as well as for EPO-patents as for USPTO-patents. If only the international collaborations are analyzed, most co-applications have an international dimension (60% for Belgium and 52% for Flanders). Co-inventorship is much more frequently remarked than co-applicant of patents. Co-inventorship in Flanders fluctuates around 74% for EPO-patents applications (relative to the total number of patents invented by Flemish inventors) for the period 2002-2011. The main countries with which Flemish inventors collaborate are the USA (26%), Germany (23%), the Netherlands (22%), France (18%), UK (8%) and Spain (3%).
A regional European patent map (version 2013) divided 271 European regions at the NUTS2 level. The European top five on the basis of information from the applicant consists of: Oberbayern (DE), Stuttgart (DE), Noord-Brabant (NL), Luxembourg (LU) and Stockholm (SE). For Flanders: Vlaams- Brabant holds in this ranking at position 37, at 49 West-Vlaanderen, Antwerpen at 55, Oost- Vlaanderen on 75 and Limburg at 104. On the basis of information of the inventor of the patents, the top 5 consist of German regions: Karlsruhe (DE), Stuttgart (DE), Vorarlberg (AT), Tübingen (DE) and Mittelfranken (DE) The Flemish provinces are ranked at 21 (Vlaams-Brabant), at 53 (Antwerp), at 54 (Oost-Vlaanderen), at 66 (Limburg) and at 78 (West-Vlaanderen).
The regional patent map for Flanders (version 2013) divided the patents to the department level. On the basis of information provided by the inventor will be the top 5 composed of Leuven, Gent, Mechelen, Halle-Vilvoorde and Roeselare. The top regions based on information from the applicant are Leuven, Kortrijk, Turnhout, Gent and Brugge.
76 Figure 32: Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS, 2012) and Innovation Union Scoreboard (IUS, 2011) performance group maps
Source: Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2012, European Commission, 2012 Acronyms and abbreviations
AO Enterprise Agency BAN Vlaanderen Business Angels Network in Flanders BBB Better Governing BBRI Belgian Building Research Institute BERD Business Expenditures on Research and Development BES Business Enterprise Sector BOF Special Research Fund BRRC Belgian Road Research Centre BWI Belgian Welding Industry Centexbel Scientific and Technical Service Centre for the Belgian Textile Industry CERN European Space Observatory CIP Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme CIS Community Innovation Survey CMI Centre for Medical Innovation COST (European) Cooperation in Science and Technology CRC The Centre for Research and Conservation CRIC Centre of Cement Industry CSTP Committee on Science and Technological Innovation Policy E.E.N. The Enterprise Europe Network ECOOM Centre for Research & Development Monitoring EIT European Institute for Technology EMODnet European Marine Observation and Data network EPO-patent European Patent Office ERA European Research Area ERDF European Regional Development Fund ERRIN European Regions Research and Innovation Network ESA European Space Agency ESF European Science Foundation ESFRI European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures EU European Union EUREKA is an intergovernmental initiative to promote international cooperation for projects for applied and market-oriented industrial R&D EWI Economy, Science and Innovation (Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie) FISCH Flanders Innovation Hub for Sustainable Chemistry FIT Flanders Investment and Trade FLAMAC Flanders Materials Centre Flanders’ DRIVE Automotive Industry Flanders’ Food Innovative food industry Flanders InShape Product development and Industrial Design Flanders’ Synergy Innovative labour organisation Flanders’ PlasticVision Plastic Processing Industry FMTC Flanders’ Mechatronics Technology Centre FP Framework Programme FTI Full-Time Equivalent FUST Flanders UNESCO Science Trust fund FWO Research Foundation Flanders GBOARD Government Budget Appropriations or Outlays for R&D GDP Gross Domestic Product GERD Gross Expenditure on Research and Development GIMV Flanders Investment Company GOV Government Sector HEI Universities and university colleges HES Higher Education Sector HRST Human Resources in Science and Technology HUB Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel ILVO Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research IMEC Interuniversity Micro-Electronic Centre IMI Innovative Medicines Initiative iMinds Interdisciplinary Institute for Broadband Technology INBO Research Institute for Nature and Forest IOC Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission IODE International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange IOF Industrial Development Fund IPR Intellectual Property Rights IRG Innovation Steering Groups IRMM Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements ITM Institute for Tropical Medicine IUS Innovation Union Scoreboard IWT Agency for innovation by Science and Technology JP Joint Programming JRC Joint Research Centre JTI Joint Technology Initiatives JU Joint Undertakings KANTL Royal Academy for Dutch Language and Literature KGAB Royal Academy for Medicine of Belgium KMSKA Royal museum of Fine Arts Antwerp KVAB Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Sciences and Arts LERU League of European Research Universities MIP Environmental and Energy Technology Innovation Platform MoU Memorandum of Understanding NACE General Industrial Classification of Economic Activities within the European Communities NERF Neuroelectronics Research Flanders NESTI National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators NEUR Neurosciences NIB New Industrial Policy Non-BERD GOVERD + HERD + PNP NUTS Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development PCT Patent Cooperation Treaty PMV Flanders Holding Company PNP Private non- Profit Sector PPS Programmatory Public Service PROs Public Research Organisations RTD Research, Technology and Development R&D Research and Development RIS Regional Innovation Scoreboard RZSA Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp SCK CEN Nuclear Energy Centre S&T Science & Technology SERV Flanders Social and Economic Council SIA’s Strategic Innovation Agendas SIM Strategic Initiative on Materials SIRRIS Collective Centre of the Belgian Technology Industry SME Programme Small and Medium-sized enterprises SOC’s Strategic Research Centres SSH Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities STEM-action Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics STI Science, Technology and Innovation STV Foundation for Technology Assessment Flanders SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (analysis) TINA fund Transformation, Innovation and Acceleration Fund TIP Technology and Innovation Policy UGent Ghent University UN United Nations UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNU-CRIS United Nations University – Centre for Regional Integration Studies
79 USPTO United States Patent and Trademark Office VABB Flemish Academic Bibliografic database ViA Flanders in Action (Vlaanderen in Actie) VIB Flemish Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology VIL Flemish Institute for Logistics VIM Flemish Institute for Mobility VIN Flemish Innovation Network Vinnof Flemish Innovation Fund VIS Flemish Innovation Partnerships VITO Flemish institute for technological research. VLIZ Flanders Marine Institute VRWI Flemish Council for Science and Innovation
80 Websites (non-comprehensive list)
Vlaanderen in Actie www.vlaandereninactie.be (Flanders in Action)
Pact 2020 www.vlaandereninactie.be/over/pact-2020 (monitoring reports)
VRWI www.vrwi.be
Policy actors (EWI)
EWI department www.ewi-vlaanderen.be IWT www.iwt.be FWO www.fwo.be PMV www.pmv.eu Hercules Foundation www.herculesstichting.be AO www.agentschapondernemen.be policy-related, other
Policy research centres www2.vlaanderen.be/weten/steunpunten ECOOM R&D Monitoring www.ecoom.be Special Research Fund (BOF) www.ewi-vlaanderen.be/ewi/wat-doen-we/programmas- subsidies/financiering-van-onderzoek/bijzondere- onderzoeksfondsen KVAB www.kvab.be KAGB www.zorg-en-gezondheid.be/KAGB KANTL www.kantl.be VCP FP, CIP, JP, Horizon www.europrogs.be 2020, other: Europrogs Vlaams Innovatienetwerk (VIN) www.innovatienetwerk.be E.E.N. Vlaanderen www.enterpriseeuropevlaanderen.be Policy documents www.ewi-vlaanderen.be/ewi/beleid/beleidsdocumentatie VRWI Foresight 2025 www.vrwiforflanders2025.be GIMV www.gimv.com BAN Vlaanderen www.ban.be Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) www.ttoflanders.be Flanders FlandersBio Flandersbio.be
Science, Research and Innovation institutes and related organisations
5 (university) associations (Brussel, www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/nuttigeAdressen/ Antwerpen, KU Leuven, Limburg, #associatie Gent) Universities (VUB, UA, KU Leuven, www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/nuttigeAdressen/ UGent, UHasselt, HUB-KUBrussel, #Universiteiten tUL) University colleges www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/nuttigeAdressen/ #Hogescholen FRIS database (research projects www.researchportal.be from Flemish Community institutes) VLIR www.vlir.be VLHORA www.vlaamsehogescholenraad.be VLUHR www.vluhr.be IMEC www.imec.be VIB www.vib.be VITO www.vito.be IMINDS www.iminds.be Innovation platforms (list institutes www.iwt.be/subsidies/innovatieplatformen acknowledged by IWT) Federal collective economie.fgov.be/en/entreprises/Market_Regulation/Stan research centres dardization/Prenormative_research/ ILVO www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be INBO www.inbo.be KMSKA www.kmska.be Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed www.onroerenderfgoed.be ITM www.itg.be VLIZ www.vliz.be KMDA - CRC www.kmda.org and www.zooresearch.be MIP3 www.mipvlaanderen.be ICleantech www.i-cleantechvlaanderen.be NERF www.nerf.be Energyville www.energyville.be CMI www.cmi-vzw.be SIM www.sim-flanders.be Microsoft Innovation Centre www.micvlaanderen.be Vlaanderen Plan C www.plan-c.eu Smart Grids Flanders www.smartgridsflanders.be Flanders District of Creativity www.flandersdc.be College of Europe www.coleurope.eu Vlerick Business School www.vlerick.com Antwerp Management School www.antwerpmanagementschool.be Federal scientific institutes www.belspo.be/belspo/fsi/index_en.stm National Institute for www.ire.eu Radioelements Nuclear Energy Centre - SCK www.sckcen.be Agency Botanic Garden of Meise www.br.fgov.be College of Europe www.coleurope.eu Vlerick Business School www.vlerick.com Antwerp Management School www.antwerpmanagementschool.be Technology Attachés FIT www.flanderstrade.be/site/wwwnl.nsf/Buitenlandsnetwerk TA?readform Von Karman Institute www.vki.ac.be for fluid dynamics JRC - IRMM irmm.jrc.ec.europa.eu Project Office for IODE www.iode.org
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