Measuring the integration and coordination dynamics of the European Research Area

This paper is concerned with the reconfiguration of national research and innovation (R&I) systems towards a European Research Area (ERA). We conceptualise R&I activities as either: integrated at European level, coordinated with other European partners or nationally juxtaposed. Such a conceptualisation can be usefully applied to the measurement of progress towards the ERA along the lines of: providing orientation for R&I, programming and funding of R&I, and performing R&I. Based on a newly constructed set of indicators, and using purpose-collected budgetary data from major pan-European R&D initiatives and other R&D statistics, we apply this framework empirically to the process of Europeanisation of publicly funded R&I. Our estimates show that Europeanisation of R&I has increased substantially over the past ten years. Europe has entered a new phase of Europeanisation of R&I, a phase that opens up the opportunity to achieve a further intensification of Europeanised R&I.