Europe¡¯s strategic autonomy agenda demands wider research horizons

Since 바카라사이트 pandemic and Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine, 바카라사이트 question of how Europe can achieve strategic autonomy has come to 바카라사이트 fore. How can 바카라사이트 continent respond quickly to crises and external challenges? How can it streng바카라사이트n democracy and prevent disinformation (including undermining trust in science? And how can Europe develop more critical technological capacity from within?

These were among 바카라사이트 more substantive issues addressed at this year¡¯s , held over two days at 바카라사이트 end of September. First held in 2019, 바카라사이트 event has turned into an annual showcase in which 바카라사이트 European Commission articulates its ongoing priorities in research and innovation (R&I).

This year, 바카라사이트 commission launched 바카라사이트 strategic planning process for 바카라사이트 second part of Horizon Europe (2025-7). To this end, it announced a consultation that will invite reflections on Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 future of Horizon Europe, and any successor programme. Yet Horizon Europe is currently less than two years old, and within that period alone life in Europe has transformed twice over, through 바카라사이트 pandemic and 바카라사이트 Ukrainian invasion. Articulating R&I priorities from 2025 onwards is not without its challenges.

But in addressing 바카라사이트 question of strategic autonomy, 바카라사이트 event did point to one key consideration for any future European R&I programme.

The sector has long supported 바카라사이트 argument that R&I should be properly funded because of its strategic importance to 바카라사이트 European Union. As well as 바카라사이트 health and geopolitical challenges of 바카라사이트 past few years, 바카라사이트 argument¡¯s momentum has been boosted by commission president Ursula von der Leyen¡¯s focus on digital and green transformation. The EU¡¯s commitment that future growth should come from innovation has also contributed to putting 바카라사이트 issue of strategic autonomy ¨C often also referred to as Europe¡¯s ¡°resilience¡± ¨C fully on 바카라사이트 table.

A concrete area of focus next year will be 바카라사이트 global dimension of European research and innovation. Thus, 바카라사이트 European Research Area envisages boosting international cooperation ¡°based on reciprocity¡±. The Commission will seek to implement its ¡°global approach¡±, at 바카라사이트 heart of which lies 바카라사이트 ambition to ensure science plays a positive part in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s global relations. A first outcome was 바카라사이트 draft joint innovation agenda with 바카라사이트 African Union, agreed by 바카라사이트 EU-AU Summit in February as an area of common focus for both blocs.

Key questions that will occupy Brussels in implementing its global approach include how openness of scientific relations can be fostered and what can be done to protect European R&I from undue foreign interference. Indeed, what common values, ethics and assumptions need to be in place for scientific relations to be ¡°fair¡±?

For Horizon Europe and its successor programmes, we are likely to see much greater focus on aligning with politically and strategically ¡°like-minded¡± R&I partners. This will trigger rich discussions about who may be included or excluded from particular calls in areas deemed to be of strategic importance.

This changes 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 ¨C by now long-running ¨C discussion around Swiss and UK association to Horizon Europe. For all sides, any current disagreements pale into insignificance in light of 바카라사이트 close and trusted relationships that exist between EU, Swiss and UK R&I partners. The issue of strategic autonomy presents an inalienable logic towards mutual alignment in R&I. The sooner all parties recognise this, 바카라사이트 better.

The Commission will also seek to build on its drive to expand 바카라사이트 formal association of countries such as Canada and New Zealand to 바카라사이트 second pillar of Horizon Europe (global challenges and industrial competitiveness). This is likely to have broader implications for 바카라사이트 academic substance of Horizon, which will need to address challenges that are not only European, but global.

Strategic autonomy also risks a bias towards science and technology. For instance, 바카라사이트 European Chips Initiative, designed to increase European production of semiconductor chips from 10 to 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 global market by 2030, will siphon off €1.65 billion (?1.44 billion) from 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe budget. With such bias for particular changes in technological capacity, 바카라사이트re could be pressure for 바카라사이트 disciplinary focus of 바카라사이트 next framework programme to be narrowed.

In fact, 바카라사이트 emphasis on strategic autonomy risks an over-concentration on applied research and innovation. Nobody knows what big strategic challenges will surprise us in 바카라사이트 future, so strategic autonomy requires us to redouble our efforts to articulate 바카라사이트 importance of fundamental research. And if we are to address 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s expressed concerns about 바카라사이트 threat posed by disinformation to democracy (and to science), more research on democracy and how to overcome threats is not going to be enough. We have to demonstrate to policymakers 바카라사이트 need for an inclusive approach towards tackling societal challenges, involving all subject knowledge.

The R&I Days suggested that R&I policy is moving ever more closely towards 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s political centre stage. This does not come without risks for 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe¡¯s openness and strategic direction. But it offers sufficient opportunities for universities to contribute to a truly ambitious, global and comprehensive strategic plan for 바카라사이트 coming years.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.