European Science and Technology Policy - Towards Integration or Fragmentation?

This innovative book focuses on the most important concept underpinning current European Union research policy. It describes the history and concept of the European Research Area (ERA), analyses some of the underlying assumptions, assesses some of its achievements, and takes a brief look at its future. European Science and Technology Policy deals with the notion of the ERA, a coordinated and effective European Research Area, the successful achievement of which will become the main objective of EU research policy once the Lisbon Treaty enters into force. The book demonstrates that almost ten years after the formal launch of the ERA concept, little top-down progress seems to have been made in terms of achieving better governance of the European research landscape. However, tangible bottom-up progress has been made towards harmonizing research beyond the existing uncoordinated national, intergovernmental and supranational policy schemes. Given the current ongoing ERA debate, this timely publication will be an invaluable tool for technology and innovation policymakers and practitioners in Europe. It will also appeal to scholars and students in the fields of science, technology and innovation.