ZEW Lunch Debate in Brüssel – Government Investment in Research and Development in Europe: Between Crisis and Consolidation

In Europe, the gap is widening considerably between the level of investment national governments are making in research and development (R&D). On the one hand, the countries hardest hit by the financial crisis have cut back massively on R&D spending in recent years, while on the other, countries with a strong industry like Germany have increased their public R&D budgets. The design and possible consequences of these fiscal reforms will be the focus of the next ZEW Lunch Debate set to take place at the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the European Union in Brussels on 5 March 2015.

Government investment in R&D can play just as decisive a role in a country’s growth potential as the innovative activities of private companies. But how must public R&D spending be structured if it is to succeed in stimulating sustainable growth in productivity? Debating this question at the ZEW Lunch Debate “Public R&D in Times of Fiscal Consolidation” will be

• Dr. Oliver Schenker, acting head of the Research Department "Environmental and Resource Economics, Environmental Management" at the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW)
• Professor Maria da Graça Carvalho, chief adviser in the cabinet of the EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Carlos Moedas.
• Professor Reinhilde Veugelers (Catholic University of Leuven), professor of management, strategy and innovation
• Professor Ramon Marimon (European University Institute, EUI, Florence), professor of macroeconomics and member of the expert group “Knowledge and Growth”, which advises the European Commission.

ZEW President Professor Clemens Fuest will greet the panellists and, following a lecture from Dr. Georg Licht on “Public R&D in Times of Crisis”, will moderate the panel discussion.