13. Notes with concern the recent European Ombudsman's ruling concluding that the Authority "should revise its conflict of interest rules, and the related instructions and forms it uses for declarations of interests" to "ensure that those experts who work in academia declare all relevant information to" it; calls on the Authority to have scientists on its panels and working groups disclose the financial arrangements between the departments of the universities they work for and commercial companies when they are in the Authority's remit;

14. Believes that it is necessary to facilitate better access to finance for SMEs through investment in start-ups, venture capital and support for technology transfer, and less complex regulations and knowledge valorisation in the field of the bioeconomy; suggests that an SME panel should be set up to advise the Bioeconomy Panel and secure a business-driven approach; further emphasises the important role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in accelerating the transition towards a bioeconomy; believes that SMEs play a crucial role in the translation of scientific research into applications and market introduction in the form of new p ...[+++]roducts or techniques;

64. Welcomes the Commission's intention to base its new award scheme on existing practices on this area; believes that the awards can incentivise CSR, but only if winners represent genuine best practice at the national, European and global level; invites the Commission to set up an independent panel of experts to assess this and to ‘audit’ the scheme in this and future years on a continuing basis; asks that the publicity around the awards reflect the real complexity of the challenges faced and emphasises lessons for all companies and not solely the winners;

66. Welcomes the Commission's intention to base its new award scheme on existing practices on this area; believes that the awards can incentivise CSR, but only if winners represent genuine best practice at the national, European and global level; invites the Commission to set up an independent panel of experts to assess this and to ‘audit’ the scheme in this and future years on a continuing basis; asks that the publicity around the awards reflect the real complexity of the challenges faced and emphasises lessons for all companies and not solely the winners;

– having regard to the findings of the European Business Test Panel (EBTP) on ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’, covering the period from 17 December 2010 to 17 January 2011,

This includes the setting up of standing panels to gauge views, such as the Business Test Panel.