Pro-Rector for Research at UCLouvain

Science policy playing a leading role in the economic redeployment of Wallonia

Interview with Mr Jean-Christophe RENAULD, Chairperson of the Walloon Science Policy Cluster, Pro-Rector for Research at UCLouvain

What are the missions of the Walloon Science Policy cluster? The Science Policy Cluster (SPC) issues opinions on the guidance notes of the Walloon Government and on draft decrees concerning science policy. It also makes proposals on ways to mobilise with a view to promoting effective development and coordination of research activities in both the economic and academic sectors, formulates suggestions on the funding of science policy and Regional participation in national, regional and international scientific or technological research activities. Every two years, the Cluster evaluates the regional science policy in a detailed report. Finally, it gives opinions on the activities of the Walloon Institute for evaluation of forecasts and statistics and makes recommendations to the Walloon Government overnment on statistics, evaluation, strategy and forecasting advice.

How do you view the Walloon Government’s science, research and innovation policy? Wallonia ranks among the strong innovators in the “Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2017” published by the European Commission. It is particularly dynamic in the areas of research, innovation and creativity.

Our region has distinguished itself through its level of spending on R&D for enterprises, the quality of its fundamental research, the level of training of the population and the creation of jobs in high-tech services, even if these competitive advantages have stagnated in recent years. The latest evaluation report of the SPC published in January 2019 identifies a new strength: the importance of collaborations in the field of innovation.

We must also endeavour to improve the weaknesses in the Walloon research, development and innovation (RDI) system, the commercialisation of RDI in traditional sector SMEs, and human resources in science and technology. Public R&D expenditure has developed positively in recent years. The rate of innovation at SMEs is also going up.

On what subjects do you plan to submit advice on your own initiative? In the next few months, we will be compiling the 8 th Report on the science policy of Wallonia and the Walloon-Brussels Federation. These reports are very useful for us because they allow us to monitor the evolution of the RDI system and subsequently formulate proposals to the Walloon Government.

In the short term, the Cluster will examine the Policy Declaration of the Walloon Government for the new legislature. We want to set up a constructive dialogue with the new Minister for Research to jointly agree on a number of priorities upon which the Cluster can bring its experience to bear.

What do you think are the main challenges to overcome for the Walloon Region in terms of scientific research and innovation? In its memorandum, the Cluster identifies five priority areas for science policy for the 2019-2024 legislature: • Increase public support for research by continuing efforts to increase public R&D expenditure to 1% of GDP in order to achieve the overall target of 3% by 2020; while the support for all research stakeholders needs to be increased, special attention must also be paid to the financing of our universities and the quality of fundamental research through the strengthening of Walloon support measures at the National Fund for Scientific Research; • Implement a strategic intelligence system to steer the RDI system, rapidly adapt it to the needs of stakeholders and measure the impacts of the implemented instruments on the quality of research and on the socio-economic development of Wallonia; • Improve the promotion of research results, as this remains one of the main weaknesses of the Walloon RDI system; • Strengthen human resources within the STIM; • Support Walloon RDI stakeholders so that they become more involved in European and international research programmes.