April 2001 was the date when Minister Dirk Van Mechelen cancelled the so-called 3C/4C-cooperation agreement, between the federal State and the three Regions, on funding for Collective and Similar Centres. As a result, the pact expires at the end of this year.
A new agreement has to be negotiated in 2002. The Flemish Science Policy made a number of comments.
- Uniform mixes of expertise have to be sought for the various authorities.
- Cooperation between the regions has to be promoted, via the Collective Centres, for example.
- The Collective Centres act as a unit and the knowledge is a boon for the relevant sector in the various regions.
- There must be room for parallel funding for priority projects.
- Federal resources should be deployed to grant bonuses for inter-regional projects.
- Cooperation has to be promoted with universities and colleges in the light of an agreed hoc bonus system.
- The overall budget allocation has to be extended for the Flemish Innovation and Cooperation Cluster (VIS).