Debate: A new ERA for Research and Innovation
Date: WEDNESDAY, 7 JULY 2021
Speaker: Cristian-Silviu Buşoi
Country: Poland
Language: EN

The objective of creating a genuine single market for research re-confirms the goal to realise an average research spending level of 3% of GDP. Research ministers reaffirmed their commitment to reaching the target by 2030. Here we are, 21 years after its launch, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: Europe faces extraordinary health, economic and social challenges. Last year’s communication set high ambitions for the new European Research Area (ERA), and it is very much welcomed. To further strengthen Europe’s world-leading research, a strong ERA is essential, and must be based on research excellence, international collaboration, openness, inclusiveness and academic freedom. It should help fulfil the ambitions of the European Green Deal and industrial strategy. And this, of course, will be a great challenge. The context having been set with the communication, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, which I have the honour to chair, has tabled an oral question with a motion for a resolution, on the matter of which I put forward several aspects for your consideration. We’d like to underline the important role of that ERA played in research and innovation during the COVID pandemic, in finding multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary solutions to overcome the crisis. In this regard, we welcome the ‘ERA versus Corona’ action plan as an example of quickly defined and well-targeted action undertaken together with the Member States. We are concerned that improving the quality of such an innovation system is slowing down: it shows uneven progress across the Union. The COVID pandemic has not only demonstrated the importance of research and innovation cooperation, but also of open science practices and infrastructures to rapidly deliver solutions to the most demanding societal needs.  While we welcome the inclusive approach of the Commission in aligning the ERA with the European Education Area and European industrial policy to foster synergies between the interdependent policies, this should lead to synergies, and not to more complexity in the European Research Area, the European Education Area or industrial policy. In order to achieve our goals, we need to have a pact for research and innovation in Europe, and clear commitments by 2030 to increase public spending on research, innovation, and national public R&D funding. We truly believe that one of the keys to success of significantly increased public spending on research and innovation lies in integrating different European, national and private funding streams, including convergence of funding through Horizon Europe, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), EU cohesion funds, and national R&D funding. We think that the recovery plans and the Next Generation EU represent an opportunity to reinforce the knowledge triangle and strengthen skills, education and research. And we stress the need for more structured links with the initiatives to reinforce the European Education Area and European Innovation Area. We call for an ambitious Horizon Europe, for widening participation and for the strengthening of an ERA package that supports collaboration between Member States in order to achieve a balanced access to excellence. We approve of the Commission’s plans to improve access to excellence, institutions and infrastructure for researchers from across the EU. However, there is a clear need for more targeted support aimed at helping close the research and innovation gap in the Union. We ask the Commission to work together with Member States to identify policies and procedures that could support a better management of research careers, reduce precariousness, promote inclusion and diversity, and ultimately increase the quality of science produced. We firmly believe that ERA cannot be complete without guaranteed academic freedom within the Union and without upholding the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union related to academic freedom, the freedom to fund higher education institutions, and the freedom to conduct business. In this regard, we underline that academic freedom does not only entail an individual dimension insofar as it is associated with freedom of expression, and specifically in the field of research, the freedoms of communication, of research and of dissemination of results. In order to achieve a strong research base in Europe, we need coherent efforts. We therefore welcome a reaction from the Commission to these matters. And I know that the ambitious, energetic and extraordinary Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will be able to make this ERA a reality.