Debate: Young researchers
Date: THURSDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Maria da Graça Carvalho
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Their situation got worse in recent years. The COVID-19 crisis has hit many young researchers, who faced worse conditions, funding problems and reduced access to laboratories and other essential facilities. In fact, the mentioned problems were the subject of an ‘Open letter on behalf of young researchers’ sent to the European Commission during the pandemic, of which I was one of the subscribers, together with many colleagues. The European Commission’s own communication on a new European Research Area for Research and Innovation identifies a series of problems holding back the careers of young researchers, in particular in terms of access to employment. A significant imbalance exists between the growing number of PhD graduates and the small number of positions, especially in public science systems. On the other hand, in another communication, on Harnessing Talent in Europe’s Regions, the Commission highlights the talent development trap in European regions suffering from demographic decline and a stagnant share of the population in higher education, and the significant departure of young people from such regions. I could go on quoting other documents from the different stakeholders, mentioning these and the other issues, such as the gender imbalance in access to many different fields, or the rise of the cost of living and its impact on young researchers. However, I believe this introduction is enough to establish a general picture of what we are facing. At the same time, the solutions are clear. Part of the responsibility belongs to Member States, and the time has come for them to reinforce strategies aiming at absorbing, in universities, public and private institutions, the young researchers that we are training.  The EU shares responsibility in several areas and, in fact, has been following this subject quite closely. Different European Parliament resolutions on this subject have offered concrete solutions, notably the European Parliament resolution of 11 November 2021 on the European Education Area, that stressed the importance of more research and training opportunities for young researchers across Europe, as well as the mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications that can facilitate the career of the young researchers in Europe. I believe that we can all agree that the European funding for research and innovation activities needs to be adjusted, not just in terms of total amounts, but also of the duration of certain programmes and grants, in order to offer more promising, more long-term career prospects for young researchers. The European Union should further promote cooperation in human capital development, especially through researchers’ training and mobility schemes, in particular the Marie Curie Actions. The need to increase women’s participation in STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – is also clearly identified, as is the need to improve the attractiveness of research careers in social science and humanities, which suffer the most from funding shortfalls in many Member States. Therefore, dear Commissioner, considering that there is a general agreement on what the problems are, and what the solutions could be implemented, and considering that preventing the brain drain of our brilliant young minds is key for the future of the European Union, I would like to ask you, what specific measures is the European Commission planning to take in order to change the current status quo for young researchers?