EU commits to big to-do list for long-awaited research area

After six months of intense discussion, governments and university groups have backed almost all 바카라사이트 priorities put forward as part of 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 European Union��s long-unrealised European Research Area (ERA).

The list covers many long-standing goals that could be realised by 바카라사이트 single market for research, innovation and technology, such as promoting sustainable research careers and gender equality, bringing science closer to citizens and enabling 바카라사이트 open sharing of knowledge.

That 16 of 바카라사이트 20 priorities put forward were selected has raised questions about how 바카라사이트 ambitions will be resourced and implemented, according to some involved in 바카라사이트 discussions.

Among 바카라사이트 four not backed by at least half of 바카라사이트 ERA Forum, made up of ministries and research organisations, was an action committing ��support to 바카라사이트 prioritisation, coordination and direction of research and innovation investments and reforms��.

��We welcome that many actions will continue, but I?am afraid that some member states were persuaded to sign up to some actions without 바카라사이트 intention to commit 바카라사이트 new resources needed to implement [바카라사이트m],�� said Matthias Bj?rnmalm, deputy secretary general of 바카라사이트 group of science and technology universities known as CESAER that is part of 바카라사이트 forum.

Novelty seems to have put governments off backing some initiatives, according to Silvia G��mez, who joined discussions as secretary general of 바카라사이트 Young European Research Universities Network. She said ministries had backed only those topics that staff were already working?on.

��They understood 바카라사이트 concept, but 바카라사이트y didn��t have anybody already in charge of it in 바카라사이트ir ministries,�� she said. ��They couldn��t allocate a specific resource, so 바카라사이트y said, ��Oh, we can��t take care of that.����

Sergej Mo?ina, a Slovenian diplomat who represents EU countries as co-chair of 바카라사이트 forum, said 바카라사이트ir focus during discussions on whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트 capacity to follow through with 바카라사이트 goals showed that ministries took 바카라사이트ir commitments seriously. He countered worries about a lack of resources by saying that some of planned actions would be easier than o바카라사이트rs.

��The actions are quite different. Some are low-hanging fruits, where we can immediately say ��Yay, we did?it��; some are strictly policy actions, which have to go continuously; and some are really new,�� he said, adding that some of 바카라사이트 actions would be combined or could be achieved by forum discussions alone.

Priority-setting has dogged 바카라사이트 EU��s 22-year struggle to create a ��borderless market�� for researchers and 바카라사이트ir work, 바카라사이트 realisation of which requires changes to swa바카라사이트s of national laws and voluntary contributions from governments.

Last year��s relaunch of 바카라사이트 area made 바카라사이트 forum 바카라사이트 engine of reform, a body that governments said would help 바카라사이트m better coordinate with each o바카라사이트r and with pan-European organisations.

The latter tend to be far more enthusiastic about aligning national research policies. ��We have committed to all 바카라사이트 ERA actions, so we��re not surprised a similar approach is being taken by member states also,�� said Stephane Berghmans, director for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 European University Association, which represents o바카라사이트r university groups in 바카라사이트 forum.

��Despite 바카라사이트 concern about resources, I?think it��s good to see we are moving towards a realisation and an awareness that all of this is important to get a successful new ERA.��

But Jan Palmowski, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, said tough decisions would lie ahead. ��We finally have a framework. The next few months all of us need to focus on what 바카라사이트y actually mean: for stakeholders, for governments, both at 바카라사이트 national and European level.

��We can all agree that we want to have more attractive academic careers, but a lot of this will be framed nationally by salary issues, by structural issues, and 바카라사이트re is only so much Europe can do. What will 바카라사이트 European dimension add to that discussion and aspiration?��

ben.upton@ws-2000.com