Course topics:

• Research and development in a historic perspective:
  • the focus of European R&D in the 1950s and 1960s;
  • the focus of European R&D in the 1970s and 1980s;
  • major technological advancements in the 1980s and shift of focus;
  • R&D as a common policy of the EEC;
  • multiannual framework programmes;
  • EU-funded research projects;
  • common R&D and the cohesion objective.
• Knowledge-based society, Lisbon strategy, Europe 2020 strategy:
  • the concept of the knowledge-based society;
  • R&D&I objectives in the EU strategies;
  • GERD and BERD;
  • Innovative Union flagship initiative;
  • Horizon 2020.

Aims:

Students will be able to:

• understand the basic concepts in relation to research, technological development and innovation;
• identify the history, the institutional background, the financing and the perspectives of research, technological development and innovation in the EU;
• read and interpret the basic documents of the research and development policy of the EU.

Essential reading:

Buzás, N. – Csonka, L. – Csuhaj, K. – Kovács, T. – Vilmányi, R. (2008): Research and Development in the EU. JATEPress, Szeged. ISBN 978 963 482 877 8 – ISBN 978 963 482 880 8

Recommended readings:

Eurostat (2012): Science, Technology and Innovation in Europe. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. ISBN 978-92-79-21874-3

European Commission (2012): European Competitiveness Report 2012: Reaping the Benefits of Globalization. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. ISBN 978-92-79-26948-6

European Commission (2008): A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. ISBN 978-92-79-10173-1