AbstractAlthough the European Community budget for R&D has increased dramatically since the late 1970s, it has mostly been aimed at research to improve industrial competitiveness. In future, collaborative research should be encouraged; more emphasis should be placed on customers; it should be ensured that programmes support industrial growth and performance; basic research should be fostered; and social problems should be tackled. Only when EC R&D is customer-driven rather than science-driven will it truly reflect the democratic wishes, economic ambitions, and social and environmental concerns of the people of Europe.