ZEW policy brief Published: Public Funding of Innovation Projects: Is it Time for a More Flexible Approach?

Every year, the European Union and its Member States spend billions of euros for funding Research and Development (R&D) projects both in companies and public research organisations. The aim is to strengthen Europe's competitiveness. The success of public funding and the outcome obtained from each euro granted, however, could be increased if the rather rigid pattern of public support, which is currently being employed, would be more flexible. This is the result of a study jointly conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) and Warwick Business School within the framework of the SEEK Research Programme.