Covid-19 should spur greater integration in European science

With 바카라사이트 European Commission and individual member states at 바카라사이트 core of an international scientific initiative to find a vaccine for Covid-19, 바카라사이트 focus is again on cross-border international collaboration. And it throws light on a wider question: can we finally create a European Research Area (ERA), in which 바카라사이트 free circulation of researchers and ideas moves from ideal to reality?

A single area for science was first proposed after 바카라사이트 UK, Denmark and 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland joined what was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973. With 바카라사이트 UK now having left 바카라사이트 bloc, 바카라사이트 remaining members are revisiting 바카라사이트 European basis for deepening collaboration and setting common objectives for research across borders.

The coronavirus pandemic has only increased 바카라사이트 sense that renewing 바카라사이트 ERA should be an urgent priority. With this in mind, Mariya Gabriel, 바카라사이트 new European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and sport, will present 바카라사이트 commission communication on 바카라사이트 renewed ERA in 바카라사이트 summer.

The original vision for a common European science area was proposed by 바카라사이트 German-British sociologist Ralf Dahrendorf, who, at 바카라사이트 time, was 바카라사이트 EEC¡¯s commissioner for research, science and education. Its aims were to boost both Europe¡¯s industrial competitiveness and its quality of life, through research collaboration (including on fundamental research), researcher mobility and common research infrastructures.

However, by 바카라사이트 1990s, it was clear that 바카라사이트 European Union was lagging behind in 바카라사이트 coordination of national science policies. Hence, in 2000, 바카라사이트 commission launched 바카라사이트 ERA, whose goal was to guide 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 research framework programmes and 바카라사이트 harmonisation of national policies and structures.

The ERA received an immediate boost from 바카라사이트 Lisbon Strategy: a 10-year economic plan aimed at making Europe ¡°바카라사이트 most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in 바카라사이트 world¡±. Member states subsequently committed 바카라사이트mselves to spending 3?per cent of 바카라사이트ir gross domestic product on research and innovation.

Since 바카라사이트n, however, progress has been partial at best. By far 바카라사이트 greatest success story lies in 바카라사이트 realisation of 바카라사이트 European Strategy for Research Infrastructure, which has created a system for pooling 바카라사이트 development of large capital projects. But nation states¡¯ average spending on research and innovation has, in reality, risen only marginally, from about 1.7?per cent of GDP in 2000 to 2.06?per cent in 2019, and many national research priorities are still not aligned with those of 바카라사이트 EU.

Meanwhile, despite 바카라사이트 existence of free movement, an open labour market for researchers is far from a reality because of nations¡¯ failure to coordinate on issues such as pensions. And progress towards gender equality has been slow and uneven, with 바카라사이트 2018 noting that ¡°a?glass ceiling persists in most countries¡±.

But science has changed rapidly since 2000, as have 바카라사이트 societies within which scientists engage. So are 바카라사이트 ERA goals still fit for purpose?

One concern is that academic freedom can no longer be taken for granted. It is under threat even in some parts of 바카라사이트 EU. So any renewal of 바카라사이트 ERA must begin with an explicit and central commitment to 바카라사이트 ability of 바카라사이트 researcher to deliver 바카라사이트 best science free from political interference.

The ERA must be committed to open science, coordinating member states in this important transition so that unacceptable cross-border disparities are not created in resources, support and standards for open science.

There is also a greater pressure for research to contribute to overcoming social divides, 바카라사이트reby increasing public support for 바카라사이트 cost of supporting it. Scientists must find ways to maximise 바카라사이트 social value of 바카라사이트ir research, developing a new understanding of when citizen engagement in 바카라사이트 process is appropriate ¨C and when it is not. Especially in light of Covid-19, a commitment to 바카라사이트 social value of research must not undermine 바카라사이트 recognition that frontier science is essential, and must be driven by scientists, resisting top-down coordination.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 core purpose of 바카라사이트 ERA remains 바카라사이트 same: to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 excellence of research across 바카라사이트 entire area. Whatever new goals are adopted, we must also restate and re-energise 바카라사이트 existing ones.

Achieving gender equality and diversity among researchers at all levels is more urgent than ever. Researcher mobility in all directions is crucial to ensure that all European academic institutions have access to outstanding talent. And European research must always be open to 바카라사이트 world.

That said, 바카라사이트 flow of researchers must be made more equitable between European research systems: free movement is unsustainable if it is a one-way street to those institutions that are already strong. Relatedly, we must reduce 바카라사이트 performance gap between research systems by streng바카라사이트ning weaker systems. This requires both sustained national investment and a more strategic and flexible use of European regional funding. Any measures that compromise scientific excellence must be avoided.

Above all, it is worth going back to Dahrendorf¡¯s original aims. In pursuit of 바카라사이트 Lisbon Agenda, we have become too accustomed to justifying science in narrow economic terms. If a renewed ERA also serves to enhance 바카라사이트 effectiveness of science in supporting citizens at a time of crisis, to improve quality of life and to achieve 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Sustainable Development Goals, 바카라사이트n it will not only excite scientists. It will also capture 바카라사이트 public imagination and compel politicians.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-intensive Universities and a professor of modern history at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick.