first report on "Industrial Research & Development in Europe 2004"now available

["Dagmar M. Meyer" <dmeyer@DROPMEmariecurie.org>]

Dear All,

as most of you on this list will know, a survey on Industrial R&D was
carried out last year by the Association Euroscience under the
responsibility of Claus Hillebrand (all MCFA members had been invited
directly to participate in the survey, thanks to those of you who did!)

Below I am forwarding you a message regarding the first results of the
analysis and the report that is now available.

Kind regards,
Dagmar


---------- Forwarded message ----------

Dear Sir/Madam,

After having completed the analysis, I am pleased to tell you that the
first report on "Industrial Research & Development in Europe 2004" is now
available.

The preliminary key findings resulting from a univariate analysis of this
comprehensive study are:

Personal motivation and perspectives

* Mobility: R&D personnel in Europe (respondents) are slightly more
willing to move and work abroad (if their company suggests it) than to
another location in the same country.

* Start-up: Only about one-fifth of the companies in which respondents are
working support the creation of spin-offs. The majority of respondents in
this study would be willing to work in a start-up company. However, when
it comes to creating one themselves they risk financial loss and many do
not feel prepared enough in finance and administration. There is a certain
lack of confidence with regard to attracting venture capital or credits.

* European diversity: Exactly 25 percent of the participants who are
non-native speakers of mainly the English language admit that their
working language is at least sometimes a barrier to effective
communication. About 80 percent of all respondents say that the knowledge
of a foreign language is indispensable in their work.

Global and structural issues

* Competitiveness: Two main factors were identified by the respondents in
order to improve industrial R&D competitiveness in Europe: (1) less
bureaucracy and (2) making R&D work more attractive for potential
personnel.

* Investment forecast: Regarding R&D investment in their companies, the
majority of the participants predicts that there will be little change
over the next five years, possibly a slight decrease in investment.

* R&D Management: Most R&D personnel (respondents) consider that
good management is a prerequisite for researchers to unfold their
capabilities to a maximum. When asked about their approach to the
optimization of workflow and processes in their departments, the majority
answer that it is most important to focus on the main activities.

* Public research: Personal contacts with researchers in the public sector
are of great benefit to industrial R&D personnel and their companies. Most
of these personal contacts are with researchers in universities.

* European environment: The majority of participants think that
better education and better qualified personnel offer an advantage to
industrial R&D in Europe as compared to North America and Asia.
Governmental over-regulations and low public acceptance for new
technologies are the main disadvantages faced by industrial R&D in Europe
compared to other regions.

The full first report is available upon request.

Please do not hesitate to contact us in case of further questions.

Yours sincerely,

Claus D. Hillebrand

Tel:+49.173.2869460
cdhillebrand@DROPMEweb.de

in cooperation with Euroscience

67000 Strasbourg
8, rue des Ecrivains
www.euroscience.org
__________________________________________________________