Debate: Young researchers
Date: THURSDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Dubravka Šuica
Language: EN

Allow me to begin by mentioning the specific actions that the Commission is undertaking in the European Research Area, in consultation with Member States and stakeholders. We have made a proposal for a Council recommendation on a European Framework for Research Careers, which we hope will be adopted by the Council by the end of the year. This recommendation covers many different aspects, including specific measures in support of early-career researchers. We will set up a dedicated observatory on research careers to improve our knowledge and data about these issues. We have developed a European Competence Framework for Researchers to foster the transversal skills of researchers and support mobility between sectors, which is already available online. We are developing an ERA talent platform as a one-stop-shop where researchers can find all available resources. We support reform of research and researchers’ assessment to move towards an assessment system that takes into consideration the overall impact of researchers’ outputs, activities and practices on research and innovation, and not only publications. We are preparing a Horizon Europe pilot call in 2034 with the objective of putting together inter-sectoral consortia, where partners join forces to improve the career opportunities for early-stage researchers. Finally, we are organising an EU TalentOn that challenges young researchers, 21 to 35 years old, to find solutions on the most pressing global issues. The next edition of the EU TalentOn will be part of the Katowice European City of Science in 2024. The Commission considers it essential to ensure a broad talent base for scientific research and to attract students and graduates to research careers in Europe. And the initiatives that I have mentioned certainly have the objectives of addressing this. The proposed Council recommendation and the new Charter for Researchers annexed to it aim at strengthening research careers in the entire European research area and countering regional divides, unbalanced talent circulation, as well as gender inequalities. In this respect, the Commission is also designing initiatives that can foster the exchange of good practices and lessons learned among Member States, including by means of mutual learning exercises. Regarding gender equality, the new Charter for Researchers includes also provisions on combating gender-based violence and sexual harassment, which are serious and under-recognised issues. These topics are also part of the ERA policy agenda, European Research Area Policy Agenda 2022-2024, and will be addressed by the upcoming project Gender Safe, funded by the 2023 Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme. You know how much the gender issue is close to my heart, and I am particularly sensitive to how the Commission supports projects that integrate arts, humanities and social sciences to STEM disciplines, the so-called STEAM approach to make STEM careers more appealing also to women. A range of activities are also developed under pillar three of Horizon Europe, including the Girls Go Circular initiative run by the EIT, and the package of measures introduced by the European Innovation Council to support women leadership in Europe’s deep tech industry, such as the Women TechEU scheme, offering early-stage financing, coaching and mentoring and which has already benefited 130 women-led deep tech startups. Also at operational level, Horizon Europe foresees that academic and research organisations benefit from a gender equality plan to ensure gender-equal and inclusive working environments. Allow me also to note that young and early career researchers’ precarity resulting from consecutive short-term project-based contracts is among the biggest challenges affecting the attractiveness of research careers in Europe. Again here, the proposed Council recommendation advocates limiting the use of fixed-term contracts, calls for a broader use of more adequate funding mechanisms and promotes career advisory and support services for researchers. It also addresses social protection rights to make sure that the researchers at all career stages can benefit from adequate levels of protection. Allow me to say a few words about inter—sectoral mobility. Making careers interoperable between sectors is very important. It helps close the gap between researchers and the labour market needs for highly skilled talents, and it enriches the spectrum of opportunities for young and early-career researchers contributing to addressing precarity. Here again, the Commission is proposing dedicated initiatives which include an ongoing mutual learning exercise steered by the Commission coordination and with the participation of 18 Member States. A widening action in Horizon Europe called ERA Talents, which promotes cross-sectoral staff exchanges in R&I, where there are now nine projects running, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions and the support of mobility offered by EURAXESS. At the same time, the Commission aims to reinforce careers in academia and the return of researchers to the academic path, and has recommended to Member States to consider the adoption of tenure-track systems. Brain drain is a complex issue caused by the interplay of several factors, including unattractive research environments and inadequate working conditions. There is a need to address the roots of this problem via system reforms that can lead to sustainable, long-term solutions. Several measures have contributed to reduce brain drain in the past, such as return grants or ERA fellowships. I believe that the implementation of the Council recommendation and of all other instruments, including the ones listed in the Harnessing Talent in European Regions communication, will be key in addressing this, both within the Union as well as in relation to young talents leaving towards third countries outside the Union. And last, a word about public investment and R&I. The competitiveness and attractiveness of the European R&I system also depends on the level of investment by the public and private sector. Resources invested at the level of the Union are only complementary to the national efforts. The Pact for R&I in Europe, adopted in 2021, reaffirms the Union-level target on investing 3% of Union GDP in research and development. The pact also refers to additional voluntary targets including 1.25% of Union GDP of public investment to be achieved by Member States by 2030. The level of investment in R&I is still far below these ambitious objectives at this moment, and 2.3% of GDP. The Commission will, of course, continue to urge investments in line with these targets.