4,5/4,5 CM Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação The NEST Program and the Future of European Research...
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4,5/4,5 CM 4,5/4,5 CM 4,5/4,5 CM 4,5/4,5 CM Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação The NEST Program and the Future of The NEST Program and the Future of European Research at the Frontier European Research at the Frontier Rachel Newton CRC 2005
4,5/4,5 CM Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação The NEST Program and the Future of European Research at the Frontier Rachel Newton CRC 2005
4,5/4,5 CM Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovao The NEST Program and
the Future of European Research at the Frontier Rachel Newton CRC
2005
Slide 2
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Overview
Part I - NEST at a glance Part II - Stimulating new and emerging
technology Part III - The future of emerging science and technology
research funding
Slide 3
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part I
NEST at a glance i.What is NEST? ii. The Action lines iii.
Examples
Slide 4
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part I
NEST at a glance i What is NEST? NEST - New and Emerging Science
and Technology A new activity within the EUs Sixth Framework
Programme (FP6) providing research funding for unconventional and
visionary research No restrictions on the scientific fields to be
addressed- interdisciplinary research encouraged, cutting across or
lying outside the areas funded by other activities. Overall budget
215 million Involves 3 Action Lines, which contribute to improving
European anticipation of future scientific and technological
needs
Slide 5
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part I
NEST at a glance ii The Action Lines NEST supports three
complementary action lines which operate in parallel: ADVENTURE -
develop new scientific and technological opportunities in areas
identified by the researchers themselves INSIGHT -assess new
discoveries or newly- observed phenomena which could indicate risks
or problems to society PATHFINDER - groups of complementary
projects with highly challenging objectives in emerging scientific
and technological fields
Slide 6
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part I
NEST at a glance iii Examples Adventure projects ATOM3D - Grasping
tiny objects such as living cells using laser beams OPTICAL NOSE -
an instrument for gas sensing in the medical sciences EA-BIOFILMS -
identifying bacteria that can be used as a power source in fuel
cells.
Slide 7
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part I
NEST at a glance iii Examples (cont) Insight Projects Perforce -
risk assessment of the environmental impact of PFCs (perflorinated
compounds) Porgrow - examine obesity in Europe as a risk to society
to help policy-makers make informed strategic choices
Slide 8
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part I
NEST at a glance iii Examples (cont) Pathfinder Projects What it
means to be human- examining evolution and development of the human
mind. Tackling complexity in science- developing tools to tackle
complex world problems. Synthetic biology - transferring design and
production principles from engineering to biology
Slide 9
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology i.Europes capacity to
identify and exploit new and emerging technology ii.The role of
Creativity iii. Strategies and mechanisms for managing risk iv.
Social responsibility v. Interdisciplinary research
Slide 10
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology i- Europes capacity to
identify and exploit new and emerging technology Important issues
for investing in research: Continuity -build on the success of NEST
The role of Industry-listen to industry- private partnerships
Simplification- greater autonomy and trust in researchers Inclusion
- all fields to capture the entire research potential Integration
-East and Westexcellence should be the deciding factor
Attractiveness- Strengthen infrastructure- fellowship schemes
assure the career of individuals
Slide 11
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology i- Europes capacity to
identify and exploit new and emerging technology (cont) Generating
new ideas: Innovation from basic research Creating the conditions
for creativity in research Associating complementary skills
Implementing projects with risk Developing European and
international cooperation To respond to societal needs, to consider
the effect of research on society and to communicate the benefits
of technology to society
Slide 12
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Work
that is novel (original, unexpected)! With major implications or
potential New scientific findings mean New products or services
that create jobs Part II Stimulating new and emerging technology ii
The role of creativity - ii The role of creativity -why foster
creativity?
Slide 13
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier
Organizational features for creative research Scientific Diversity
Low Hierarchical and Bureaucratic Coordination Integration of
Multi-disciplinary Perspectives. High Quality Part II Stimulating
new and emerging technology ii The role of creativity (cont)
Slide 14
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier
Organizational features impeding creative research Funding problems
lack of, solely external, overemphasis on financial rewards
Bureaucracy limits time for research Other priorities: evaluation,
accountability, management, administration Too narrow, no
perspective of other disciplines Part II Stimulating new and
emerging technology ii The role of creativity (cont)
Slide 15
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology iii Strategies and
mechanisms for managing risk Factors that mitigate against risk
taking Scientists fear being less successful Organisations-
disciplines and structures Peer review confirms established
structures/ reputations Funding bodies go for short term
prudence
Slide 16
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology iii Strategies and
mechanisms for managing risk (cont) The promotion of risk taking as
a means of seizing new opportunities Environments that foster
creativity Interdisciplinary Non bureaucratic Motivation for
excellence The EU response is NEST Risk is a necessary part of the
project Balanced by the impact on science, and supported by
credibility
Slide 17
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology iii Strategies and
mechanisms for managing risk (cont.) The anticipation, response to
and communication of potential problems to society Information
gathering through surveillance and monitoring The need to assess
the of the level of knowledge i.e. its accuracy Involvement of all
the stakeholders
Slide 18
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology iv Social responsability
The need to build trust by: Early involvement of the public in new
fields Improving the communication of science in the media Contrast
between peoples lack of trust in the media and their trust is what
is written which influences the way they view certain fields of
science.
Slide 19
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology v Interdisciplinary
research To promote interdisciplinary research certain problems
need to be overcome including: Departmental and institutional
boundaries Peer review problems Discipline language differences
Erroneous concepts of other disciplines e.g. engineer vs.
scientist
Slide 20
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part II
Stimulating new and emerging technology v Interdisciplinary
research (cont.) Ways of promoting interdisciplinary research could
include: Interdisciplinary Conferences Transfer of techniques from
one field to another An EU interdisciplinary research centre Using
young scientists as transfer agents Broad education system
Slide 21
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding i
The 7th framework program ii The European Research Council
Slide 22
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding
Science-driven fundamental research is important for stimulating
economic growth and social welfare. Fundamental investigator driven
research in all fields Less distinction between basic and applied
research i.e. science orientated and problem generated rather than
conclusion orientated and solution driven Risk is inherent to
research so false positives must be accepted to stand a chance of
capturing a winner i The 7th framework program
Slide 23
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding
Linking science to technological innovation Furthering public
awareness Competing for talent i FP7 Some Challenges
Slide 24
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding
Linking science to technological innovation i FP7 Challenges (cont)
Research must address real problems The scientific question must
drive the methodological approach. Projects prepared merely to meet
criteria e.g. of multidisciplinarity probably have a weak
scientific basis. Selection of projects and evaluation panels must
be based on quality rather than on interdisciplinarity.
Slide 25
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding
Eurobarometer found that citizens are: poorly informed sceptical
that scientists will cross ethical boundaries want scientists to
have more freedom believe that scientific progress is beneficial i
FP7 Some Challenges (cont) Furthering public awareness
Slide 26
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding
Society influences research so communication is key to improving
progress Social responsibility at the heart of policy making
Integration of science in society to the whole program and a major
budget increase i FP7 Some Challenges i FP7 Some Challenges (cont)
Furthering public awareness
Slide 27
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding i
FP7 Some Challenges (cont) The strategic value of human resources -
knowledge is Europes riches resource Need to modify university
curricula to ensure graduates can cope with new challenges A
diverse undergraduate training prepares for change -learning a
second (or a third) scientific language early removes barriers
later. Interdisciplinary Research Centres should be encouraged
Competing for talent
Slide 28
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding iii
The European Research Council Supporting fundamental research of
the highest quality in a truly competitive mode, with applications
evaluated by peer review ERC independent; its Governing Council of
Scientists not an advisory body, but integral to the ERC in terms
of policy setting and decision-making A budget to suit its
ambitions: between 1.5 and 2 B per Annum
Slide 29
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding iii
The ERC-anticipated activities Research programmes Individual
researcher support Research networking Research infrastructure
Research policy Dissemination of scientific information
Slide 30
NEST Conference 2005 European Research at the Frontier Part III
The future of emerging science and technology research funding iii
The ERC and the future of NEST ERC originally 1/6th of the FP
budget NEST currently< 1/20 FP NEST ERC phasing out/phasing in
but NEST type activities will certain play a major role in future
European Research.