Advisory report 27: Vision on a good policy mix between free and thematic support for R&D in Flanders

VARIO conducted a quantitative analysis of the relationship between free (bottom-up) and thematic (top-down) Flemish R&D resources, and its evolution over the past ten years. Among other things, the analysis shows that:

• Almost all categories of Flemish R&D resources have grown in absolute terms.
• Free resources account for more than two thirds of the total, but show a slight downward trend from approximately 70% to approximately 66.5%.
• The budgets for the strategic research centers represent about half of the thematic resources.
• Within thematic resources, the strongest increase over time is for initiatives with mission-like characteristics. The Moonshot is the clearest example of such initiatives.

VARIO attaches great importance to strong bottom-up channels. However, there are no objective criteria to determine the correct numerical proportions in relation to top-down resources. VARIO therefore puts forward a number of principles in its recommendations:

• Provide a clear strategic framework with clear long-term objectives.
• Make objective, clear and steady choices and keep them broad.
• Set up policy mix evaluations and examine how each instrument individually, as well as the total mix of instruments, contributes to the objectives.
• Keep the effective achievement of goals or missions in mind and look beyond financial resources.
• Preserve and nurture bottom-up channels
• Create optimal conditions for companies to contribute to goals and missions.
• Keep the support instruments simple and transparent.
• Invest sufficiently in policy-supporting research from all policy areas in function of evidence-based policy.