Commission Report 2002 (Romania)

• Progress since the last Regular Report
• Overall assessment
• Conclusion

Chapter 17: Science and research

Progress since the last Regular Report

Since the last Regular Report, Romania has made some progress in the area of science and research.

Implementation of the National Plan for Research, Technological Development and Innovation has started and 1 045 projects have been selected for financing.

The Inter-Ministerial Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CISTI) was reorganised in December 2001 and given the responsibility for drawing up and implementing strategies and programmes for research, development and innovation. CISTI also advises on proposals for updating the National Plan.

In August 2002, the Ministry of Education and Research was nominated as the State Authority for Research and Development. A National Council for Certifying Research was also established and a legal status was defined for Research and Development personnel.

A Government Ordinance from February 2002 on scientific and technological parks established a framework for co-operation between enterprises and research units from universities. This legislation aims to promote the transfer of technological research to enterprises and to establish research poles attracting foreign investment at the regional level.

Romania has continued to be associated with the Fifth EC Framework Programme, as well as with the Fifth Euratom Framework Programme and overall levels of participation improved in 2001. Romania is preparing for participation in the Sixth Framework Programme (2002 - 2006). An action plan with the aim of improving participation in EC Framework Programmes was adopted for the period 2003-2004.

Funding for RTD activities increased in nominal terms but the real increase was very limited and overall levels of expenditure remain low.

Overall assessment

Romanian participation in the Fifth EC Framework Programme should be improved since Romania is still not able to reap the full benefits from its considerable financial contribution. The assessment of last year`s Regular Report remains valid and reinforcement of research-related administration capabilities, co-operation practices and co-financing possibilities, and the strengthening of research-related infrastructure, are all necessary in order to ensure Romania`s successful participation.

The institutional framework for Research and Development has been progressively developed. However, Romania`s gross domestic expenditure on research and development as a percentage of GDP remains very low and needs to be increased significantly.

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission concluded that making Romanian research competitive at the international level would need greater efforts, but that no major problems should be expected.

Since the Opinion, Romania has fully associated itself with the Fifth Framework Programme and the financial and institutional framework for participation in the Programme is well established. Romania has adopted the National Plan for Research, Technological Development and Innovation as the basic reference for Romanian research activities. Efforts to encourage co-operation between enterprises and the research sector have also been made.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. Romania has not requested any transitional arrangements. Romania is generally meeting the commitments it has made in the accession negotiations in this domain.

Romania should focus further efforts on reinforcing research-related administrative capacity and infrastructure, in order to increase the benefits from association with the relevant Community Framework Programmes.

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