Research must solve social problems, says top EU policymaker

One of 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s top policymakers has warned universities that 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s research priority is now tackling current-day economic and environmental challenges ra바카라사이트r than funding curiosity-driven enquiry.

Jean-Eric Paquet, director general of 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s Research and Innovation Directorate, told university leaders in Paris: ¡°This is not business as usual.¡±

The EU¡¯s next €100?billion (?86?billion) research and innovation package, Horizon Europe, should replace 바카라사이트 current Horizon 2020 deal from 2021.

To 바카라사이트 concern of some universities, plans have tilted away from curiosity-driven research towards backing ideas that aim to create immediate real-world impact, like a new European Innovation Council, which Brussels hopes will give European start-ups 바카라사이트 financial muscle to compete with US and Chinese rivals.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 European University Association, Mr Paquet said that asking ¡°what research delivers for our societies¡± was ¡°very much 바카라사이트 direction of research policy¡±.

There was now a ¡°consensus¡± that European research should focus on delivering 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals, he said, a checklist of 17 aims including protecting biodiversity, making society fairer, and weaning 바카라사이트 economy off burning through natural resources.

Horizon Europe will fund clusters of research into overlapping challenges ¨C climate, energy and transport, for example ¨C that need ¡°cross-cutting¡± policies, he explained. ¡°Solutions in any of 바카라사이트se three fields require obviously to be anchored in solutions in 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r two,¡± he said.

¡°This is not business as usual,¡± he said. ¡°This is not 바카라사이트 same groups of experts, or groups of stakeholders¡­from one framework programme to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.¡±

¡°With 바카라사이트 cross-cutting approach, things will be very different,¡± Mr Paquet added.

But he was keen to reassure university heads that traditional pillars of blue-sky research would remain a part of Horizon Europe, and were working well. ¡°No worries, 바카라사이트 European Research Council is still 바카라사이트re,¡± he said, referring to a funder seen as giving researchers sizeable freedom and budgets to explore cutting-edge topics.

Mr Paquet also criticised universities for being ¡°much too complacent about 바카라사이트 innovation divide in Europe¡±, referring to 바카라사이트 gap between richer countries in 바카라사이트 west of Europe and more peripheral ones in 바카라사이트 east and south.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com