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European Research and Innovation - 2020:What can the leading institutions of civil society do for Europe?
A.C. The Permanent Platform for European ExcellenceUniversities Newspapers Businesses
“If I had to start again with the work of bridging the gap between the European people,I would not start from coal and steel, but from science and technology”Jean Monnet
“European Intelligence, I feel, could be at the very root of the identity of European people”Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Honorary President of Atomium Culture
“We cannot only ask what the European Institutions can do for society; it is important to alsoask what the leading institutions of civil society can do for Europe, and thus for themselves”Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, President of Atomium Culture
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Table of contents
pag.
Preface 5
The European Manifesto of Atomium Culture 6
1. Vision 7
2. Current situation and future scenarios 9
3. What is Europe doing and what would be needed to reach a really competitive ERA? 15
3.a-HumanResources 16
3.b-HorizontalInstitutionalCooperation 18
3.c-EngagementofSociety 21
4. What can the leading institutions of civil society do for Europe? 25
4.a-IncreasingEuropeanandinterdisciplinarycommunicationandinteractionbetweenresearchersanduniversities 27
4.b-IncreasingUniversity-BusinesscooperationataEuropeanlevel:transformingresearchintoinnovation 28
4.c-Engagingthepublicatlarge 29
5. Activities 30
6. The Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture 33
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TheLisbonAgenda launched in2000aimedtomaketheEU“themostcompetitiveanddynamicknowledge-basedeconomyintheworldby2010”.InatimewhereEuropeisfacingtheproblemsofaneconomiccrisisandisawareofthefuturechallengescausedbygrowingglobalpopulation,changingdemographics,climatechangeandneedtocreateamoresustainableenergymodel,theimportanceofresearchandinnovationareevenmoreaccentuated.Unfortunately,althoughmanyimportantstepsweremadeinthepasttenyears,theambitionsoftheLisbonAgendaarefarforreached.
ThePermanentPlatformofAtomiumCulture,bringingtogethersomeofEurope’sleadinguniversities,newspapersandbusinesseswasfoundedinrecognitionoftheproblemsthatEuropewillhavetoaddressinthecomingyearsandwiththeawarenessthatresearchandinnovationarethekeytosuccess.Theplatformoperatesthroughinnovativeandconcreteprojectstoincreasetheinteraction,communicationanddisseminationofthemostforwardlookingnewideasataEuropeanlevel.CertainofthepotentialofEuropeancreativity,thePermanentPlatformofAtomiumCultureaimstocreateareliableandaccessibletooltosupportthecreationofaEuropeanResearchArea(ERA).
InNovember2009thePermanentPlatformofAtomiumCulturehelditspubliclaunchandfirstconferenceattheEuropeanParliamenttoaddresstheissueofEuropeanresearchandinnovation.Togetherwiththeleadersandmainrepresentativesoftheinstitutionsengaged-universities,newspapers,andbusinesses-andpolicymakers,itlookedintotheseissuesfromtheangleofwhatcantheleadinginstitutionsofcivilsocietydoforEurope.
TheVisionforEuropeanResearchandInnovation2020addressestheissueofresearchandinnovationinEuropeandoutlinestheresultsoftheabovementioneddebatestopresentwhatthePermanentPlatformofA.C.candotosupportthesuccessoftheupcomingEurope2020Strategy;toensurethedevelopmentofaEuropeanResearchArea;tomakeEuropereadyforthefuture!
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini
(Honorary President and President of Atomium Culture)
Preface
Mr V. Giscard d’Estaing, Honorary President of A.C. and Mr M. Baracchi Bonvicini, President of A.C.
The Opening Session of the first conference held at the European Parliament on the 27th of November 2009
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AtomiumCultureisthefirstPermanentPlatformforEuropeanExcellencethatbringstogether25universities,overonehundredthousandresearchers,overonemillionstudents,seventeennewspapers,tenmillionEuropeanreadersperday,andsomeofthemostimportantbusinessesinEurope;atoolthatallowstheseactorstoconstantlybeconfrontedwithanewapproach,interdisciplinaryandintersectoral,allowingthedifferentexpertise,knowledgeandneedstointeract,contributingtothecreationofaEuropeanResearchAreaandatthesametimeworkingtoengagealltheEuropeancitizens,inordertoreallyfosteraknowledgesocietyinEurope:innovative,competitiveandcreative.
ThePermanentPlatformofAtomiumCultureengages,fortheselection,exchangeanddisseminationofthemostinno-vativeEuropeanresearch,thethreecorepillarsofaknowledgesociety:thisdependsforitsgrowthontheproductionofnewknowledgeanditstransmissionthrougheducation(universities),itsdevelopmentandusethroughnewindustrialprocesses(businesses)anditsdisseminationthroughreliableinformation(newspapers).
AtthebasisofthevisionofthePermanentPlatformofA.C.istheideathatEuropealreadyhasthepracticaltoolstomeetthegreatchallengesthatwewillhavetofaceinthenearfutureandthatwhatneedstobedoneistousethispotentialinamoreincisiveanddirectway;implementingthecapacityofinteractionofthedifferentsectorsengagedinthePermanentPlatformofA.C.andstimulating,throughareliableinformation,thecommunicationbetweentheseandsociety.
Interaction,communication andaction arethusthekeywordsthatwillallowthevisionofthePermanentPlatformofA.C.totranslateintoreality.AclosecollaborationbetweenthesekeypillarsandthedisseminationoftheirbestresultstothepublicatlargewillbefundamentalforEurope’snearfuture.
1. Vision
The search for knowledge has always been at the heartof the European adventure. It has helped to define our identity and our values, and it is driving force behindour future competitiveness1.
1European Commission, Working together for growth and jobs. A new start for the Lisbon Strategy, COM (2005) 24, p. 23.
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The future of Europe strongly depends on our capacity to reach a real knowledge based economy and promptly solve the challenges we are facing. That means that we have to act immediately to strengthen the European Research Area, leaving from its present weaknesses.
AsremarkedbytheEuropeanCommission,therecenteconomiccrisishaswipedouttheEuropeansteadygainsineconomicgrowthandjobcreationsucceededoverthelastdecade:Eu27GDPfellby4%in2009,theindustrialproductiondroppedbacktothelevelsofthe1990sand23millionpeople(the10%ofouractivepopulation)arenowunemployed.Inaddition,
thelasttwoyearsofcrisiserasedtwentyyearsoffiscalconsolidation,leadingtoadeficitat7%ofGDPonaverageinpublicfinancesandtodebtslevelsatover80%ofGDP2.
Theneweconomicandsocialscenariounveiledbythecrisis-whichputusonemoretimeinfrontoftheincreasingprocessofglobalisationandworldeconomicgrowinginterdependence-,shouldbeseenasawake-upcallandanopportunitytodevelop further theLisbonStrategy,entering“intoanewsustainablesocialmarketeconomy,asmarter,greenereconomy,whereourprosperitywillcomefrominnovationandfromusingresourcesbetter,andwherethekeyinputwillbeknowledge”3.
Infact,nowmorethanever,theroleofEuropeontheglobalsceneandthewell-beingofpresentandfutureEuropeangenerationsdependonourabilitytoreacharealknowledgebasedeconomyandsolvethegrandchallengeswearefacing.
Asthe“Worldin2025”foresightprojectillustrates,betweennowand2025theworldpopulationwillincreaseby20%toreach8billioninhabitants(6.5today),and97%ofthisgrowthwilloccurinthedevelopingcountries.FromanEuropeanpointofview,theEuropeanpopulationwillonlyaccountforthe6,5%oftheglobaloneandwewillcountthehighestproportionofpeopleofmorethan65yearsoldintheworld(30%ofthepopulation):thatmeansthatin2030justovertwopeoplewillbeofanagetoworkperelderlypersoncomparedtofourin2008.Suchchangesindemographywillimplygreatproblemsintermsofgreenhousegasemissions,healthservices,communicationetc.,andposegreatchallengesthatwillrequireamajorreconsiderationofhowoursystemworks4.
2. Current situation and future scenarios
The crisis as an opportunity:Strengthening the Lisbon Strategy
Research and Innovation are theonly tools we have to face the
challenges implied by thedemographic changes
2European Commission, EUROPE 2020. A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, COM (2010) 2020. • 3Commission working document, Consultation on the future of the “EU 2020”, COM (2009) 647, p. 2. • 4DG for Research. Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities, The world in 2025. Rising Asia and socio-ecological transition, EUR 23921 EN, and J. A. Goldstone, The New Population Bomb, Foreign Affairs Volume 89 No. 1, January/February 2010, p. 32.
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Research,DevelopmentandInnovationaretheonlytoolsweowntofacethesechallenges,andtheirstrengthening-whichcanonlyoccurataninternationalandintersectorallevel-istheonlychancetofollowbeingapreeminentactorontheglobalsceneintheclosefuture.
AccordingtotheFirstReportoftheEuropeanResearchAreaBoard(ERAB)“it’shumblingtolookathowsmallEuropeactually is: today,80%of researchers,75%ofresearchinvestment,and69%patentapplicationshappenoutsidetheEU”5.
InthelastdecadeEuropehasproducedmoretertiarygraduatesanddoctoralgraduatesthantheUSandJapan,butifwelookattheemploymentfigureswewillfindthatresearchersaccountforonly5.6ineverythousandoftheworkforceinEu,against9.3intheUSand10.7inJapan6:thatmeansthatEuropestilllargelysuffersfrombraindrain.
But we are still far to being a realknowledge based society
Europe is still largely sufferingfrom brain drain
5European Research Area Board, Preparing Europe for a new Renaissance. A strategic view of the European Research Area, EUR 23905EN, 2009, p. 25. • 6European Commission, Directorate-General for Research, A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area. Science, Technology and Competitiveness key figures report 2008-2009, EUR 23608 EN, 2008. • Graph: Ibid., p. 6.
Source: DG Research STC key gures report 2008 Data: Eurostat, OECD, UNESCO Notes: [1] Elements of estimation were involved in the compilation of the data
€SPP tnerruc ni seulav morf detaluclac erew serahS :DREG ]2[ fo yrtnuoc yb OPE eht gnitangised ,esahp lanoitanretni ta ,)ytaerT noitarepooC tnetaP( TCP eht rednu snoitacilppa tnetaP ]3[ residence of the inventor(s)
srotacidni lla rof mrofinu ton si dlroW eht fo tseR eht fo egarevoc ehT ]4[
0% 20%10% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
2000
2005
2000
2006
2000
2005
Researchers (FTE)
GERD [2]
Patent applications [3]
22.5 24.0 2.633.71
23.0 26.8 17.2 32.9
6.434.42 19.7 21.3
1.339.03 20.5 15.5
7.930.63 12.7 11.6
6.834.62 18.6 16.4
EU-27 US Developed Asian economies (JP+KR+SG+TW) Rest of the world [4]
11
TheERAisnotattractiveenough:ourresearchuniversities,thoughoftenprestigious,areunderfunded: in2006“theEU spent1.3%ofGDPonhigher education, comparedwith3,3%intheUS:inEurosperstudent,thistranslatesintoanevenmorestaggeringdifference:36.500intheUSversus8.700inEurope”7.
Europeanresearchers’salariesareconsiderablylowerthanthoseintherestoftheworld:consideringthecostofliving,an Indianresearcherearnsmorethanhiscolleague inEurope.Furthermore,wehavetoconsiderthehugedifferencesinEuropeansalaries(andmoregenerallyinR&Dinvestments):togiveoneexample,anAustrianprofessorearnsalmostdoublethesalaryofanItalianprofessor8.
EvenwithintheEU,circulationofresearchersandideasfromcountrytocountry,privatetopublicsectororbetweendisciplines,goesagainst“thefracturedstateof theERA
today:stilltoomuchdrivenbyinward-lookingnationalpriorities,toomuchcentralismandsuboptimalinstitutionalandlegalframeworks.”9
AlthoughtheLisbonStrategy-especiallyaftertheRelaunchof2005-,“repre-sentedastepchangeintheimportanceandvisibilityofresearchandinnova-tionpolicyattheEUlevel”10,wearestillfarbelowthegoalsetinBarcelonaof3%ofGDPspentonR&D,mainlyduetoaninsufficientgrowthinbusinessR&Dexpenditure(whichcanbepartiallyexplainedbytheEuropeanlackofhigh-techindustry)andthefactthatEUcompanieshaveinvestedmoreoutsideofEuropethannon-EuropeancompanieshaveinvestedinEurope.AsthePresidentoftheEuropeanCommissionJoséManuelBarrosoremarked“GooglespendsmoreoninformationandcommunicationtechnologiesR&DthantheEUFP7does”andinSiliconValley,theUniversityofCaliforniaatSanFranciscoalonehasspawnedpublicallytradedcompanywithacombinedvalueof$90billion-threetimesthevalueofEurope’sentirebiotechsector”11.Europeneedstoacttogether,improvinginternationalandpublic-privatecollaborationsandovercomingtherigiduniversitystructuresandpredominanceofnationalpriorities.
7Report of an Expert Group to the European Commission, The Role of Community Research Policy in the Knowledge-based Economy, 2009, p. 63. • 8European Commission, Research Directorate-General, Remuneration of Researchers in the Public and Private Sector, 2007, p. 56. • 9European Research Area Board, Preparing Europe for a new Renaissance. A strategic view of the European Research Area, EUR 23905EN, 2009, p. 7. • 10Commission Staff working document, Lisbon Strategy evaluation document, SEC(2010) 114, p. 12. • 11N. Moran, Innovation clusters: a Charter is born, Science/Business, 2008.
European Universitiesare underfunded
The growth in business R&Dexpenditure has been insufficient,
as the public-private collaborations
We live in a fractured ERA
12
InEuropeexcellenceinresearchisstilltoopoorlyrewarded,mainlyduetotheprevalentuseof national public funding systemsand centralizedand standardizedgovernments controlsystemswhichprovidefundsoftenregardlesseffectiveresults.Datainthissensearequite
scaring: ifwelookatthe386mostactiveresearchuniversitiesintheworld“wefindthat45%arelocatedinEuropeand32%intheUS,butofthe25mostactiveresearchuniversitiesintheworld,80%arelocatedintheUS”12.OurshareofscientificNobelprizeshasbeendecliningoverpastgenerations,andevenifEU27followbeingthelargestproducerofscientificpublicationsintheworld,wecontributemuchlessthantheUStohigh-impactpublications13,mainlyduetothefactthatwearenotspecialisedinthefast-growingscientificdisciplines(likehealthsciences,materialsciencesandenvironmentalsciences)andthatthelinksbetweenpublicationsandpatentsisweakerthanintheUS.ThisweaknessisduebothtotheinsufficientinteractionofuniversityandbusinessandtotheabsenceofacommonEUpatentsystem.
12European Commission, Directorate-General for Research, A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area. Science, Technology and Competitiveness key figures report 2008-2009, EUR 23608 EN, 2008, p. 94. • 13European Research Area Board, Preparing Europe for a new Renaissance. A strategic view of the European Research Area, EUR 23905EN, 2009, p. 24: “In academia (...) the EU produces 33% of global research papers and has 34% of the papers most often cited by other re-searchers. But the US is far more influential, producing 29% of papers and earning 42% of citations.”. • Graph: European Commission, Directorate-General for Research, A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area. Science, Technology and Competitiveness key figures report 2008-2009, EUR 23608 EN, 2008, p. 85.
Excellence is still toopoorly rewarded
STC key �gures report 2008
-5
-10
0
5
10
15
20
25
14.2
9.7
17.0
9.9
18.7 19.1
-0.2
-4.4
-2.1
500230027991
PPP$
(bill
ion)
US R&D expenditure in EU-15 EU-15 R&D expenditure in the US Balance
13
UnfortunatelythefinancialcrisishasdemonstratedonceagainhowmostoftheEU27countriesdonotprioritize researchand innovationbycuttingbudgetsandfunding.Inatimewherethisshouldbeakeypriorityforlong-termvisionofastrongEurope,short-termgoalstakeprioritydemonstratinghowthelack
ofawarenessoftheseproblemswiththepublicatlargecanbecriticalforthefutureofEurope.
Tonotact,andtonotactnow,toinvertthesetrends,makingtheERAacompetitivereality,wouldmeantoloseourchallengewiththefuture.
Short-term goals still take priorityover the long-term vision for a
strong Europe
Source: DG Research STC key gures report 2008 Data: Thomson Scienti c/CWTS, Leiden University
-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60-100
Specialisation index
Computer sciences(100%)
Geological engineering(42%)
Civil engineering(31%)
Materials science(30%)
Environmental sciences(30%)
Health sciences(27%)
Japan US EU-27
Graph: European Commission, Directorate-General for Research, A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area. Science, Technology and Competitiveness key figures report 2008-2009, EUR 23608 EN, 2008, p. 66.
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A new approach to research to solve the grand challenges: European, Intersectoral and Interdisciplinary
SolvingtheGrand Challengesdescribedinthepreviouschapterwillrequiretheelaborationofaradicallynewconceptofresearch,asconcludedbytheERAB:“wemuststartbychangingthewaywedoresearch.Wemustreorganize,tocreateatrulyopenEuropeanResearchAreamarkedbyfreemovementofpeopleandideas.Wemustrethinkthewayscienceinteractswithpoliticsandsociety,soourgovernanceisbasedonbest-availableevidence”1.
Theextentandcomplexityoftheproblemswehavetofaceneedanewapproachthatmustbeatthesametime:
-European:sinceboththeexistingresearch institutionsandtheMemberStatesthemselvesdonothave,separately,sufficient resources;asBengtSamuelsson,FormerChairmanof theNobelFoundationBoardsays“TheE.U.needsaCOMMONresearchpolicyifitisgoingtoplayanimportantroleinthefutureglobaldevelopment”.
- interdisciplinary:cooperationacrossdisciplineshasproventobenecessarytoincreasetheinnovationpotentialofnewideas.Technologicalandscientificexpertisehastobecoupledwithawiderangeofotherdisciplines,suchaspsychology,socialsciencesetc.
- intersectoral:universitiesmustcollaboratemoreandmoreefficientlywithindustry,andbothpublicandprivateresearchinstitutionsmustinteractwithpolicymakerstocreatethelinkbetweenresearchandinnovation.
ChangingthewayweconceiveanddoResearchinEuropewillbepossibleonlyifweachievetoresolvetheproblemshighlightedintheprecedentchapter,whichinspiteoftheirinterconnection,canbedividedintothreemain“areas”,thatneedtobeaddressedinordertoreversethesetrends:
a)HumanResources;b)HorizontalInstitutionalCooperation;c) EngagementofSociety.
3. What is Europe doing and what would be needed to reach a really competitive ERA?
1European Research Area Board, Preparing Europe for a new Renaissance. A strategic view of the European Research Area, EUR 23905EN, 2009, p. 5.
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Why aren’t European Universities, RTOs and Clusters globally competitive and what must be done to move from the current situation of brain drain to one of brain gain?
Researchersarekey todevelopingEuropeasa competitiveanddynamicknowledge-basedeconomy.However,asunderlinedbythepreviouschapter,todayresearchersareareallysmallpercentageoftheEuropeanworkforceandEuropestilllargelysuffersfrombraindrain.
Inaddition to this the lastdecadehas seenanalarmingdecrease in interest inmathematics,scienceandtechnology(MST).Therearetwomainreasonsforthesepatterns:braindrainandtoolittlebraingain,whichareofcourseinterconnectedandmustbefacedtogether.
AtpresenttheEuropeanuniversitiesarenotgloballycompetitivewiththoseofothercountries(especiallytheUS),mainlyduetotheworseningunder-funding,whichjeopardisestheircapacitytokeepandattractthebesttalentsandsostrengthentheexcellenceof their researchingactivities.Research careersarealsogenerallyperceivedasunattractiveandnotveryprestigiousfromasocialpointofview:weneed tochange thisperception,givingmorespace to researchevenoutside theeducationcontext,encouragingyoungtopursuethesecareersandworkingtoensurethatresearchandinnovationareperceivedlikeprioritiesbysocietyatlarge.OnlyinthiswaywewillmakeEuropeanuniversitiesmoreattractivebothtostudentsandresearchers.
Increasefundingisnecessary,butnotsufficient:containingbrain-drainmeansfirstofallselectingandrewardingexcellenceinresearch,andfacilitatingresearchers’mobility.Forthispurpose,theERABandtheExpertGroupsoftheEuropeanCommissionemphasizedtheimportance,concerningR&D,ofpostponingthenationalprioritiestothoseofEurope,givingmoreautonomytotheUniversitiesandworkingtouniformthenationalregulationsandtaxregimestofacilitatethe
mobility of researchers between public to private, creating in that way theenablingconditionstopromoteprivatefunding.The creationof theEuropeanCouncil ofResearch, theEuropean InstituteofTechnologyandtheVIIFrameworkProgramhavebeen importantsteps for the
creationofarealERA,howeveritisstillnecessarytocoordinatebettertheEuropeanactionswiththeMemberStates.“Wedon’tneedanymoretools,weneedthewilltousethem[...]Europeneedstoconcentrateitseffortsinafewareasthatwillsetthedifference,whereourunionwillsetthedifference:researchisoneofthoseareas”2.
AfurtherrecommendationwidelysharedbytheEuropeanstakeholdersconsistsinencouragingtheagglomerationandspecializationofresearchstructures,bothtoreachthecriticalmasswhichwouldallowthedevelopmentofreallyinnovativeprojects(whichareoftenveryexpensive)-attractinginasameplacethemostauthoritativeexpertsinadeterminatefield
a) Human Resources
2Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture, European Parliament, 27th November 2009, Javier Moreno (Editor-in-Chief of El País, Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture).
From brain drainto brain gain
Why are European universitiesnot globally competitive?
What must be done? Rewardingexcellence and improving
researchers’ mobility
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ofresearch-,andtoreducethecurrentdisparitiesbetweenthedifferentEuropeanMemberStatesregardingtheircapacitytoattracthighlevelResearchers.Thesameassumptionscanbeapplied to industry,andespecially to innovativesmallandmedium-sizedenterprises;asremarkedbytheERAB“wehaveacrowdofinnovationclusters-morethan2000-butmanyaretoosmalltomattereconomicallyorscientificallyatthegloballevel”3.
Particularattentionmustthenbegiventoatypicalmentalityproblem,connectedwiththeapproachtorisk-taking:iftheAmericanuniversitiescurrentlyresultmorecompetitivethantheEuropeanones,thisisalsoduetotheirattitudetofunding
high-risk projects, which can fail, but that pursue, and often achieve, radicalinnovations.Thesameproblemregardsappliedresearchdevelopedbyindustry:asemphasizedbytheERAB“afundamentalculturalproblemholdsusback:inmost
ofEurope,failureinresearchorbusinessisseenasabadgeofshameratherthanacertificateofeducation,asteponthewaytofuturesuccess”,onthecontrary,“wewillknowtheERAisaplaceofexcellencewhenwesee50%ofECresearchfundingisgoingtofrontier,highriskresearchanddevelopment”4.
3European Research Area Board, Preparing Europe for a New Renaissance. A strategic view of the European Research Area, EUR 23905EN, 2009, p. 11. • 4Ibid., p. 24. • 5Report of an Expert Group to the European Commission, The Role of Community Research Policy in the Knowledge-based Economy, 2009, p. 34. • 6Ibid., p. 28. • 7Ibid., p. 8. • Graph: European Commission, Directorate-General for Research, A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area. Science, Technology and Competitiveness key figures report 2008-2009, EUR 23608 EN, 2008, p. 121.
Promoting clusters andspecialization both in Universities
and Industries
Encouraging high risk researchand development
Source: DG Research
STC key gures report 2008 Data: Eurostat Note: [1] EU-27 does not include: DE, IE, EL, LV, LU, NL
Other European country 5300 (1.1%)
Africa 17900 (3.7%)
North America 4400 (0.9%)
South America 15300 (3.1%)
Asia, Middle East, Oceania 26000 (5.3%)
Unknown 2600 (0.5%)
Other EU country 28400 (5.8%)
Own country 387000 (79.5%)
Shared recommendations:
-Rewardexcellenceandscientificinnovations;tomakeresearchattractiveasacareerpath,researchersandinnovatorsshouldberewardedaccordingtotheirmerits;
- IncreasefundingtoEuropeanacademicinstitutions,“makingspecificprovisionsforresearchthattakeintoaccountthespecificitiesandrisksassociatedwithit”5;
-Accordgreaterautonomyandresponsibilitytouniversities;- EncourageastrongerdifferentiationamonguniversitiesandRTO;-“Focussupporttocollaborativeresearchusingselectioncriteriathatemphasizeresearchexcellence,thepotentialfor
radicalinnovationandthecapacitytooperateglobally”6;-Realizearealsinglelabourmarketforresearchers;- Supportyounginnovativecompanies,especiallybeyondtheirstart-upphase,facilitatingtheircreditaccessthroughnew
formsofpublic-privatefunding(forinstanceinformofriskcapital)andthroughthelaunchof“anEU-wide‘excellencethroughcompetition’ scheme” that should support those industrieswhich“undertakehigh-riskprojectsandpursueradicalinnovation”7;
-ChangetheperceptionwithinsocietyatlargeoftheimportanceandimpactofresearchinordertocreatetheenablingconditionstobuildacompetitiveERA.
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b) Horizontal Institutional Cooperation
Reaching a united and stronger ERA through the implementation of the horizontal links between research institutions and between academic world and industry
Excellencestemsfromdialogueandfromthefreecirculationofpeopleandideas:untilwereachaunitedERA,wewillneverbereallycompetitive.InordertoestablishEuropeanresearchasaworldreference,itisnecessarythatEuropeanuniversitiesincreaseitscollaborationswithotherresearchinstitutionsandwithindustry.Weneedtostrengthenandimplementtherelationshipbetweeni)researchinstitutionsthemselvesandii)universitiesandbusinesses.
Research Institutions
Asalreadyremarked,containingbrain-drain,implementingresearchermobility,supportingthecreationanddevelopmentofinternationalprojectsandmakingouruniversitiesmoreattractive(alsofornon-Europeanresearchers)aretargetswidelysharedbytheEUInstitutions;allthisimpliesadramaticincreaseofcollaborationsamonguniversities.Astrongercoor-dinationandactivityofnetworkingisneededtomakeupforthedeficienciesoftheEuropeanuniversitysystem,mainlyduetothehighnumber,smallsize,poorspecializationandstronglynationalcharacterofuniversities,whoseexcellenceatinternationallevelisoftenalsocompromisedbythelackofinternalcompetition.
Adeepercooperationbetweenuniversitiesisnecessarytoavoidtheduplicationofeffortsonasamesubject,tospeedupthesolutionofcommonproblemsandtoincreasetheimpactoftheachievedresults.
Aformidableinstrumentforthispurposeisprovidedbyinternet:asoutlinedbytheERABweneedtobuildanERAnetworkon-linewhere“thetoolsof
e-sciencearedeployedthroughouttheERA,permittinginternationalcollaborationsothatallresearcherswillseethemselvesaspartoftheglobalresearchsystem”8.
Ifresearchistobedrivenbysocietalneeds,aimingtothesolutionoftheGrand Challenges,itwillbeimportanttotrainresearchersspecializedindifferentdisciplinestoworktogether,promotingatanEuropeanlevelmultidisciplinaryprojectsandcollaborations,asalreadystatedbytheFP7.
Finally it’s important toencourage theopening-upof theAcademicworld to theprimaryandsecondaryeducation,promotingtheinteractionbetweenresearchersandteachers.
8European Research Area Board, Preparing Europe for a new Renaissance. A strategic view of the European Research Area, EUR 23905EN, 2009, p. 16.
Implementing cooperation amonguniversities: building an ERAnetwork on-line, encouragingmultidisciplinary projects andengaging secondary education
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University-Industry (Research-Innovation)
Research by itself does not create money. It is in fact the opposite: research transforms money to knowledge and competence; it is innovation that transforms knowledge and competence into money and value. To make this work, you have to understand the needs from business and society9.
Thecollaborationbetweenuniversityandbusinessisafundamentalaspectinthedevelopmentofaknowledgeeconomy.HoweverinEuropethebondbetweenresearchandinnovation,betweentheacademicworldandthemarket,istooslack.AsoutlinedbytheExpertGroupoftheEuropeanCommissionresponsibleforstudyingThe role of Community Research Policy in the Knowledge-Based Economy“theinstitutionalseparationattheleveloftheEuropeancommissionbetweenresearchandinnovationandbetweenresearchandprogressontheinternalmarket,particularlyinservices,madetheLisbonStrategylesscrediblefortheprivatesector”10.
9Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture, European Parliament, 27th November 2009, Prof. Per Eriksson (Rector of Lund University).• 10Report of an Expert Group to the European Commission, The Role of Community Research Policy in the Knowledge-based Economy, 2009, p. 16. • Graph: European Commission, Directorate-General for Research, A more research-intensive and integrated European Research Area. Science, Technology and Competitiveness key figures report 2008-2009, EUR 23608 EN, 2008, p. 132.
From money to knowledge andback again: implementing theinteraction between Research
Institutions and Industries.
Source: DG Research STC key gures report 2008 Data: Eurostat
%51%01%5%0
Government or publicresearch institutes
Competitors or other enterprises of the same sector
Universities or other higher education institutions
Consultants, commercial labs,private R&D institutes
Other enterprises within the company group
Clients or customers
Suppliers of equipment, materials, components or software
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Europeneedsto“maximizeandacceleratethepracticalbenefitsofresearchforEu-rope’sbusinessesandSMEs,includingthroughmajorpublic-privatepartnerships”11.Forthispurposeitispivotaltoencourageopen innovation,andespeciallytomaxi-mizetheproductivecapacitiesoftheEuropeanSMEs:“Opennessacceleratesand
broadensinnovationprocessesbyofferingfirmsthepotentialtoaccessamuchbroadervarietyofknowledgeandideasthancouldbegeneratedbyitsin-houseR&Dcapabilitiesalone.Technologytransferandpublic-privatepartnerships(...)canconstituteamajorstimulusforradicalinnovation.(...)Thechallengeistoputinplacestructures,networksandmarketscapableofsupportingthedevelopmentofsuchentrepreneurialactivities”12.
Toachievethisitisimportant“tomovequicklytothefullimplementationofaCommunitypatentsystemandincreaseeffortstoreducethebarrierstoresearchersmobilityandreducethetransitioncosts inknowledgeandtechnologyexchanges”13;moreover,itisimportanttofacilitate,especiallyfortheSMEs,thefindingofpossiblepartners.
Universities, businesses and schools must collaborate to select and promoteamongtheyounggenerationsthedisciplinesthatareimportantforeconomicgrowth:inparticulartheencouragementofscientificcareerswillbefundamental.
AsoutlinedbytheEUInstitutionsandstakeholders,consideringthecurrentdemographictrendswewillsoonneedtoimportscientistsfromoutsidetheEuropeanUnioniftrendsdonotchange.
Shared recommendations
-PromotecooperationbetweenuniversitiesataEuropeanlevel;-CreateanERAnetworkon-line;- Focussupporttomultidisciplinaryprojectsandcollaborations;- Facilitateinteractionamongacademicresearch,innovationandeducation;-Promotea“strongercoordinationbetweenR&DsupportandLeadMarketinstruments”14;- Facilitateopeninnovation,technologytransferandpublic-privatepartnerships;-AchievethefullimplementationofaCommunitypatentsystem;-Encouragethemobilityofresearchersfrompublictoprivatesectorandviceversa;- IncreasetheattractivenessofcareersinMST.
11Commission working document, Consultation on the future of the “EU 2020”, COM (2009) 647, p. 5. • 12Report of an Expert Group to the European Commission, The Role of Community Research Policy in the Knowledge-based Economy, 2009, p. 25. • 13Ibid., p. 9. • 14Ibid., p. 7.
Promoting public-privatepartnerships and encouraging
open innovation
Realizing a Community patentsystem and facilitating
knowledge transfer
And increasing the attractivenessof careers in MST
21
c) Engagement of Society
“Citizens have a right - and are expected - to be involved in the crucial decisions of what their futures will look like and how science and technology can contribute to its betterment”15
Why is the engagement of society pivotal for the building of a knowledge society and what must be done to increase awareness of the importance of Research and Innovation with the public at large?
Thegrowthoftheknowledgeeconomyandsocietyleavesuniversitiestobecomemorecloselyinvolvedincommunitylifeandviceversa.Academicinstitutionscanandmustincreasinglybecomeaforumofreflectiononknowledge,aswellasofdebateanddialoguebetweenscientistsandpeople16.
AsoutlinedintheRelaunch of Lisbon Strategyin2005:“EstablishingbroadandeffectiveownershipoftheLisbongoalsisthebestwaytoensurewordsareturnedinto results”17.But5 years later, in the LisbonStrategyevaluationdocument,wereadthat“overall,therewasnotenoughfocusoncommunicatingboththebenefitsofLisbonandtheimplicationsofnon-reformfortheEU(orindeedthe
eurozone)asawhole”18.TheengagementofSocietyinpursuingtheLisbontargetshasremainedtooweak,jeopardizingtheirachievement.ThislackisparticularlysevereinrespecttothefieldsofResearch,DevelopmentandInnovation.
15Ibid., p. 37. • 16Commission of the European Communities, The European Research Area: providing new momentum, COM(2002) 565 final. • 17European Commis-sion, Working together for growth and jobs. A new start for the Lisbon Strategy, COM (2005) 24, p. 5. • 18Commission Staff working document, Lisbon Strategy evaluation document, SEC(2010) 114, p. 7.
The lack of citizens’ involvementin and support for the objectives
of the Lisbon Strategyis at the origin of its failures
22
TheprovenlackofunderstandingoftheimportanceofresearchandinnovationforthesustainablefutureofacompetitiveEuropedemonstratesthelackofcommu-nicationbetweenresearchontheonesideandsocietyontheother.AsemphasizedbytheERAB,“bothresearchersandsocietyatlargeneedtobefullyengagedwithandrealizetheconsequencesofthewiderchallengesfacingus”,forthispurposea“paradigmshiftinhowwethink,liveandinteracttogether[willbenecessary],aswellasaparadigmshiftinwhattheroleandplaceofscienceshouldbe.Anew,holisticwayofthinkingisrequiredastechnologicalanswersalonearenottheend-solutiontoagivenproblem”19.Thisparadigmshiftwillonlyhappenifwemanageto:
1)“trainabroadlyeducatedcitizenry,betterabletoparticipateinpublicdebateonthebenefitsandrisksofresearchandtechnology”,“andthatmeansresearchersmustbecomebetteratandmoreeageraboutexplainingwhattheydo.Communicationtrainingmustbecomepartofstandardresearchteaching”20.
2)“restoretrustbetweenscienceandsociety,withanewsocialcontractbasedonthe‘3Rs’:rigourindecisionmaking,politicalorscientific;respectforourfellowman,scientistandtheenvironment;andresponsibilityforourownactionsasscientistandascitizens”21.
Onlyabroadlyeducatedandinformedcitizenrywillallowthedevelopmentofatrulyknowledgebasedeconomy,awareofthenecessarycostsandthemanybenefits:asremarkedbyPresidentBarroso-togivejustanexample-today“the56%ofhouseholdshaveabroadbandconnection,butmanyusershavedoubtsaboutsafetyandfinancialtransactionsontheinternet”22;untilthesedoubtsarenotsolved,thedevelopmentofdigitalindustrywillbedefinitelycompromised.
Lack of communication betweenresearch and societyis particularly severe
To build a real Knowledge Societywe need a broadly educated
citizenry; we need to train ourScientists in communicating and
restore the trust between scienceand society.
19European Research Area Board, Preparing Europe for a new Renaissance. A strategic view of the European Research Area, EUR 23905EN, 2009, p. 9. • 20Ibid., p. 20. • 21Ibid., p. 9. • 22Europe 2020, Presentation of J. M. Barroso to the Informal European Council, 11 February 2010, p. 16.
23
Research,especiallythatorientedtosolvethegrandchallenges,needsahugeamountofinvestments,andoftendoesnotleadtoanimmediateeconomicallyprofitableoutcome.Inaperiodoffinancialcrisis,whenindustryinvestslessin
R&D,it’scommonlyassumedthatpublicfundingshouldbeincreased,butinaperiodoffiscalcrisisitisdifficultfortheStatetojustifythistotaxpayers(especiallyforbasic,curiosity-drivenresearch)byinvokinguncertainorresultsinthelongterm.Thisisthereasonwhypoliticsoftenabandontheirpurposesofinvestingmoreinresearchandthisisalsothereasonwhy,asoutlinedbytheEGnominatedbytheCommission,it’sabsolutelynecessarytofindeffectivestrategiestoengageSocietyinsustainingresearch.Inparticular:
-Weneedtohighlightthedemocraticvalueofresearchitself,because“scienceitselfisbasedonadeeplyheld,societalvalue:thatoffreeinquiryintowhatisyetunknown.Inthissense,scienceanddemocracyarecompletelyalignedtoday.Investingintoresearchisitselfbasedonaprofoundsocietalvalue”23.
-WeneedtofindmoreconvincingargumentsthantheeconomiconetofeedthesupportofSociety forpublicprocurement inR&D; in fact“Europehasyet todevelopastrategyontherhetoricallevelwhichissufficientlyconvincingtomobilisethemassofcitizenstodevotelargeresourcestoalongtermscientificvisionthattranscendselectoralcycles.(...)Therefore,aconvincingargumentforpublicsupportofresearchmustincludeavisionarynarrative,withgoalsthatcanbespecifiedandcrediblemechanismsinplace,showinghowtheycanbeachieved”24.
Shared recommendations
- EngagethecitizenryandwinsupporttoachievethefutureEurope2020Strategytargets;-Promotethedisseminationoftheresultsofresearch;-Providecommunicationtrainingforresearchers;- Informandeducatecitizenryonthecurrentscientificdebates;-Achievepublicsupportforresearchandinnovation.
23Report of an Expert Group to the European Commission, The Role of Community Research Policy in the Knowledge-based Economy, 2009, p. 37. • 24 Ibid., p. 38.
Outlining the democratic valueof research itself and creating
a visionary narrative to achievepublic support of research.
We must create a large consensusfor investment in research
University of Vienna
Université Libre de Bruxelles
University of Tartu
Ecole Normale Supérieure
Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6
Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin
University of Athens
Université Libre de Bruxelles
University of Budapest ELTE
Trinity College Dublin
University of Bologna
University La Sapienza of Rome
University of Luxembourg
University of Utrecht
Jagiellonian University in Krakow
University of Coimbra
University of Lisbon
Comenius University of Bratislava
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
University of Barcelona
Lund University
University of Edinburgh
London School of Economics
Der Standard
Le Soir
Postimees
Helsingin Sanomat
Le Monde
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Kathimerini
Népszabadság
The Irish Times
Il Sole 24 Ore
Rzeczpospolita
Público
SME
El País
Svenska Dagbladet
The Independent
Shell Telekomunikacja Polska
Microsoft
Vattenfall
Siemens
Fecyt
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Bayer
Luxemburger Wort
24
25
Ashighlightedbythepreviouschapters,theconcreteactivitiesdevelopedinthediscourseoftheEurope2020Strategywillnotbeenoughtocatalysethedeepersocietalchangesthathavebeencalledfor,whattheERABcallstheNewRenaissance.
ToradicallychangethementalityofEuropeanstowardsresearchandinnovationthereneedstobeanattitudeshift.However,sofarnorealisticandconcretesolutionshavebeenproposedtomanagethisshiftataEuropeanlevel.
Consciousofthedepthoftheproblemsandawarethatthesecannotbesolvedsolelybyatop-downapproach,butrequireanactiveeffortbycivilsocietyaswell,someoftheleadingEuropeaninstitutionsofcivilsociety-universities,newspapersandbusinesses-havecometogethertoproposeandcomeupwithconcretemeasurestofacethesechallenges,usingasstartingpointthetoolsofcommunicationandinteraction.
CommunicationandinteractionareimportantkeystosolvingthedifficultiesEuropeanresearchandinnovationisfacing,ashasbeenseeninthe“problemareas”outlinedinthepreviouschapter.Thischapterwilloutlinesomeconcretesolutionthatcancontributetosolvethesedifficulties,resultingfromtheoutcomesofthePublicLaunchandFirstConferenceofthePermanentPlatformofAtomiumCulture,andwillfocusonhowcommunicationandinteractioncanbeusedtochangethecurrentlock-insindifferentdomains,actingataEuropeanandintersectorallevel,andengagingthepublicatlarge.
ThechapterwillalsounderlinehowthePermanentPlatformofA.C.hasbeensetuptocreateareliableanduniquecoordinatingbodyfortheseinitiatives,inorderto:
a) IncreaseEuropeanandinterdisciplinarycommunicationandinteractionbetweenresearchersanduniversities;b)IncreaseUniversity-BusinesscooperationataEuropeanlevel:transformingresearchintoinnovation;c) Engagethepublicatlarge.
4. What can the leading institutions of civil society do for Europe?
26
27
InthepreviouschapterswesawhowlackofcommunicationandcollaborationsamongEuropeanresearchinstitutesandresearcherscreatesalackofefficiencyandduplicationofefforts.Forinstance,currently72researchgroupsinEuropearedoingindependentlythesameresearchonthesamebacteria1.
Alackofinterdisciplinarycollaborationsfurtherdiminishesthepotentialfornewideasandinnovativeapproacheswhenitcomestothe“grandchallenges”whereresearchiscarriedoutinavarietyofdifferentfields.
TheissueremainshowdowecreatedynamicandinteractivecommunicationataEuropeanlevelbetweenresearchersandhowdoweextendthiscommunicationataninterdisciplinarylevel?
Asremarkedinthepreviouschaptersthemainproblemswithregardtothisissueare:- ExcellenceinResearchistoopoorlyknownandrewarded,andresearchers’mobilityistooscarce,mainlyduetothehigh
number,smallsize,poorspecializationandstrongnationalcharacterofEuropeanUniversities.- ThefragmentationoftheERAandtheimportancegiventothenationalprioritiesasopposedtoEuropeanonesisreflected
bythemultiplicationofreviewsandprojectsdealingwiththesametopic,withaconsiderableduplicationofeffortsandlackofefficiency.
-Mobilitybetweenthepublicandtheprivatesectorandwithindifferentfieldsofresearchistoolow.- Thelackofresearchers’mobilitywithindifferentStatesandfrompublictoprivatesectorisnotcompensatedbyasufficient
exploitationoftheICTtools.
1As referred by Ms Marion Dewar, member of cabinet in charge of innovation policy, in her speech on the economic potential of Europe’s innovation, European Voice Innovation Forum, Tuesday 30 march 2010, Residence Palace, Brussels.
What the actors involved in the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture can do:- IncreasethedisseminationofthemostforwardlookingEuropeanresearchinallfieldsofresearchinordertomake
iteasilyaccessibletoresearchersacrossthecontinent(seeChapter5,box1,4and8);-CreatearecognizableandreliablespacewherethemostinnovativeEuropeanresearch,bothpublicandprivate,is
collected(seebox3and4);-CreaterealandvirtualforumsforinterdisciplinaryandEuropeancollaborationsonissuesofpublicconcern(seebox2);-CreatethefirstglobalICTtoolforonlinecollaborationbetweenresearchersthatallowsforeasyandsecurecom-
munication,thepossibilitytobeinformedaboutcuttingedge/newresearchresultsdonewithinyourareaofinterestacrossthedifferentdisciplines(seebox4).
a) Increasing European and interdisciplinary communication and interaction between researchers and universities
28
Chapterthreeoutlinedtheimportanceofintersectoralcollaborationstodevelopresearchintoinnovation.Howdoestoday’ssciencebecometomorrow’stechnology?
Innovationmeans“newsuccessfulproducts,servicesandprocessesandthismeanstointerplaywithbusiness,universityandpolitics”2,itisaninter-domainchallenge.AlthoughlinearcollaborationsexisttodaybetweenthebigEuropeanbusi-nessesanduniversitiesandresearchinstitutesthisdoesnotapplytothemajorityofEuropeanbusinesses.InordertofullyimplementthecapacityofEuropeandiscoveriesweneedtostrengthenthecollaborationsbetweenresearchandbusiness,totransformresearchintoinnovation.
Recognizingthedeepdiversitybetweentheacademicandthebusinessapproachwemustovercometheexistingmutualmistrust, starting fromthebestpractices, for instancedoctorsandengineershavealreadyoutlined the importanceofmeetingtheneedsofsocietyandbusiness,ofbeing“veryindependent,butalsoveryopen-mindedandtakeideasfrombothIndustryandSociety”3.
Howeverthisisnotassimpleasitseems;95%ofEuropeanbusinessesareclassifiedassmallormediumenterprises(SME)anddogenerallynothaveaccesstouniversitiesandthelatestresearchresults,andifsothisisusuallylimitedataregionallevel.Theissueremainshowdowecreateaspaceforinteractionbetweenresearch,privateandpublic,andpossibleentrepre-neurs,innovatorsandnichebusinessesataEuropeanlevel?
Asremarkedinthepreviouschaptersthemainproblemswithregardtothisissueare:-Researchpursuedwithinuniversitiesisnoteasilyaccessiblebymostindustries,datashowthatUniversitiesarenotthe
maincollaboratorsofinnovativeEuropeanFirms:thatmeansthatacademicpublicationsrarelytranslateinpatents;-Private investment inR&D is too low, and theneeds andexpertiseof businesses arenot consideredandexploited
sufficientlybytheacademicworld,especiallywithregardtothe“grandchallenges”thatrequiremultidisciplinaryandintersectoralapproaches;
- Industries,andespeciallySMEs,donothavedirectaccesstocutting-edgeresearchandprojects;- Thecostsandefficiencyofknowledgeandtechnologytransferarestillsuboptimal.
What the actors involved in the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture can do:- IncreasetheaccessibilityofresearchresultsandprojectsconductedwithinleadingEuropeanresearchinstitutes(see
Chapter5,box1,3,4and8);-CreaterealandvirtualforumsforintersectoralandEuropeancollaborationsonissuesofpublicconcern(seebox2);-CreateadatabaseoftheresearchcurrentlyconductedbytheleadingEuropeanresearchinstitutes,bothpublicand
private(seebox3and4);-Createthefirstpan-Europeancoordinatingbodyforknowledgetransferthatbringstogetherandcreatesbridges
betweentheexistingknowledgetransferofficesoftheinvolvedinstitutions(seebox6).
2Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture, European Parliament, 27th November 2009, Prof. Per Eriksson (Rector of Lund University). • 3Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture, European Parliament, 27th November 2009, Prof. Per Eriksson (Rector of Lund University).
b) Increasing University-Business cooperation at a European level: transforming research into innovation
29
The attention given to a good idea is an indispensable part of its success4
Thechallengeforacompetitive,innovativeandcreativeEuropedoesnotonlyaffectuniversitiesandbusinesses,butitisachallengeforEuropeansocietyatlarge.
ResearchandinnovationareatthetopoftheAgendaoftheCommissionheadedbyPresidentJoséManuelBarroso,but“ifwearenotabletogoout,tocommunicatewithpeople,thenthatwillautomaticallyblocktheprocessofmakingoursocietymoremodern”5.TheproblemsthatEuropewillhavetoovercometobecomearealknowledgeeconomyresidealsoinanattitudeandstateofmindofsocietyatlarge.Theimportanceofresearchandinnovation,ofscienceandprivate-publiccollaborations,ofrisktakingandnewtechnologyneedstopermeatesocietyatlarge.
Todaysocietyisnotabystanderofinnovationbutisanactivepartindevelopingthenewscientists,entrepreneurs,consumersandventurecapitalists.Furthermore,ifwewanttoinvestheavilyincreatingaknowledgesociety,investinginresearchandinnovation,thishastobeacceptedandunderstoodbysocietyatlarge6.
Buthowdowedevelopthisconsciousness?HowcanEuropedevelopatransparencyandinvolvementofsocietytowardssomethingthathassofarbeendoneinclosedcircles?
Asremarkedinthepreviouschaptersthemainproblemswithregardtothisissueare:-ResearchandInnovationareperceivedasverydistantandnotimperative;researchcareersaregenerallyperceivedas
unattractive,mainlyduetothefactthatresearchersandscientistsareoftennotrecognizedandrewardedfortheireffortsandresultsindevelopingnewideasandtechnologies;
- ThereisalackofunderstandingoftheimportanceofresearchandinnovationforthesustainablefutureofacompetitiveEurope;thereisaneedtosharewithsocietythat“whatEuropecancontributetodefinetheworldtomorrowisitsintelligence”7;
-Areasofknowledgeandthemeansoftransmittingthishavegrownexponentiallyoverthelastdecades,anddisinformationormisinformationareascommonasinformation:thereisagenerallackoftrustandreliabilitythatmakestherelationshipbetweenresearchersandthepublicatlargedifficult;
- Scientistsareoftennotabletoexplaininanunderstandablelanguagewhattheyaredoing.
4Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture, European Parliament, 27th November 2009, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini (President of Atomium Culture). • 5Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture, European Parliament, 27th November 2009, Claus Sørensen (Director General of DG Communication, European Commission, Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture). • 6The speeches held during the Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture are retrievable www.atomiumculture.eu. • 7Public Launch and First Conference of the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture, European Parliament, 27th November 2009, Bruno Le Maire (French Minister, Former Secretary General and Member of the Executive Board of Atomium Culture).
What the actors involved in the Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture can do:- Increasethedisseminationofthemostinnovativeandinterestingresearchresultsandtechnologiestothepublicat
largeataEuropeanlevel(seeChapter5,box1and8);-Makeaccessiblecomprehensive,intersectoralandinterdisciplinarydebatesontopicsofpublicconcern(seebox2and7);-Createareliableandaccessiblespacewherethepublicatlargecanfindoutthemostinterestingresearchresults
conductedinEurope(seebox3and8);- Translatecomplexconcepts,technologiesandideasintoalanguagethatcanbeunderstoodbynon-experts(seebox
1and5);-CreatealinkbetweenEurope’sleadingscientistsandthepublicatlarge(seebox1,4and8).
c) Engaging the public at large
5. Activities
1. The Dissemination Area of A.C.: Bridging the gap between Research and the public at large
Inlightofthegrowingimportanceofresearch,innovationandcultureingivinganswerstotoday’schallenges,theengagednewspapershavecometogethertobringtotheirreadersthemostinterestingandinnovativeideasontheseissuescomingfromthebestEuropeanresearch.Tomaketheresearchthatshedslightonintricateandcomplexissuesaffectingoureverydaylifeaccessible.
SupportedbytheEditorialCommitteeofAtomiumCulture,composedoffivechief-scienceeditorsoftheengagednewspapers(thecurrentcommitteeiscomposedofthechief-scienceeditorsofElPaís,LeMonde,FrankfurterAllgemeineZeitung,IlSole24OreandTheIrishTimes)andtheEditingOfficeofAtomiumCulture,ateamofexpertscienceeditors,theareaofdissemi-nationpromotesthewritingandpublicationofarticleswrittenbyleadingresearchersselectedbyandwithintheuniversitiesandbusinessesengagedintheplatform.
Thisallowsresearcherstodisseminatetheirresultsandthemostforwardlookingideasin16differentfieldsofresearchtotheEuropeanpublicatlarge.ThenetworkofEuropeannewspapersengagedinthePermanentPlatformofA.C.iscurrentlythestrongestinEurope,theonlyplatformthatbringstogether17nationalnewspapersofreference,from17differentcountries,thattogetherreachover10millionEuropeansdaily.
2. Area of Exchange: comprehensive, interdisciplinary and intersectoral high-levelworkshops on issues of public concern, easily accessible by the public at large
TheAreaofExchangeofthePermanentPlatformofAtomiumCultureperiodicallyorganizesHigh-LevelWorkshops(HLW)-incooperationwiththeuniversities,newspapersandbusinessesengagedintheplatformandwiththeGovernmentholdingthePresidencyoftheCounciloftheEuropeanUnion-oncurrenttopicsofpublicinterestandthechallengessocietywillneedtoface.
Thepurposeistocreatecomprehensive,intersectoralandinterdisciplinarydebatestocomeupwithperspectivessharedbythedifferentparticipatingsectorsandpossibleinnovativesolutions.Thesearetransparentforumsforsharingknowledgeandtogethercomingupwithinnovativeideasonhowtoconcretelyaddressthemainchallengesoftodaythroughsustainablecollaborations.Forumsthat,throughtheactionsandpresenceofthemediaengaged,havetheobjectiveofinformingthepublicat largeregardingthecontentsandmainoutcomesofthedebate;creatingacredibleandrealisticmediumforthepublicatlargetoaccessandunderstandthecomplexitiesofthecurrentissues.
ThephilosophyoftheAreaofExchangeisthatintheeraoftheknowledgesocietyitisnotaboutchoosingthecorrectvision/solutionamongthesuggestedproposals,buttobringtogethertheknowledge,expertiseandinterestsofALLthestakeholdersinordertocreatearealisticandsustainablesolutionpushedforwardbysocietyatlarge.AreportthatoutlinesthecurrentscenariosandtheoutcomesoftheHLWiswrittenforeachevent,underthescientificguidanceoftheleadingnationaluniversitywheretheHLWishosted.
30
31
3. www.atomiumculture.eu
ThewebsiteofthePermanentPlatformofA.C.hasbeencreatedtobecomeareliablespacetofindthemostforwardlookingresearchespursuedwithintheleadingEuropeanresearchinstitutes,publicandprivate,accessibletoanon-expertaudience;adatabasetocollectarticlesonthemostforwardlookingideasinnearlyallfieldsofresearch.Linkedtothewebsitesofthecooperatinginstitutions,thewebsiteactslikeaforumandsourceofinformationonleadingresearch.
4. Researchbase.eu: the first reliable and secure network for researchers’ online cooperation
Intelligence knows no borders, it knows no limits, it moves easily(Valéry Giscard d’Estaing - Honorary President of Atomium Culture)
Researchbase.euisthemostimportantoftheICTprojectsofthePermanentPlatformofA.C.:itforeseesthecreationofthefirstEuropeannetworkofresearchers,recognizableandauthoritative,reservedexclusivelytotheresearchersoftheleadinguniversitiesandbusinessesengaged in theplatform. It intends topromoteandcreatespontaneous interactionsbetweenresearchers,inanautonomousandindependentwayataEuropeanlevel.
Tomeettheneedsexpressedbymanyresearchersandthroughtheirindividualenterprise,Researchbase.euaimstocreateaflexible,dynamicandefficienttool,withthreedifferentlevelsofinteraction,tofavour:
a) theinteractionbetweenresearchers,usefultoeasilyfindcolleaguesworkingonsimilartopics,topicsofinterestandrelatedworkinotherfieldspursuedanywhereinEurope(throughthesecondandthirdlevel-reservedtotheresearchers);
b)thecreationofvirtualclustersandresearchlaboratories(thirdlevel);
c) thecreationofadatabase,inconstantevolution,onallresearchpursuedbytheparticipatingresearchers(firstandsecondlevel).
d)theaccessibilityofthelatestandmostforwardlookingresearchresultsbythepublicatlargeandtheinteractionsbetweenresearchersandsociety(firstlevel-accessibletoall);
ExcellenceandsecuritybeingkeyaspectsofResearchbase.eu,thisplatformwillinitiatewiththeactorsengagedinthePermanentPlatformwhoalonereachover100.000researchers.
5. Innovation Journalism: Learning how to communicate science
Thedifficultyoftranslatingcomplexconceptsintoalanguagefornonexpertsisoneoftheproblemsattherootofthegapthatexistsbetweenresearchandsociety.
SupportedbytheEditorialGuidelineswrittenbytheEditorialCommitteeandwiththedirecthelpoftheScienceEditorsoftheEditingOffice,thePermanentPlatformofA.C.teachesthetechniquesofinnovationjournalismtoover500leadingresearchersperannum.
ThiswillincreasethroughtheseminarsoninnovationjournalismtobeorganisedaroundEuropestartingfromJanuary2011,inoccasionofthenationallaunchesofAtomiumCultureinallthecountrieswheretheplatformisactive.
6. Area of Knowledge Transfer: European Coordination Body
AtomiumCultureiscurrentlydesigningtheareaofKnowledgeTransfer.TheaimofthisareaistocreatetheEuropeanCoordinationBodyforKnowledgeTransferthatwillincreasethecommunicationandbeapointofcontactbetweenthedifferenttechnologytransferofficesoftheEuropeanuniversitiesandbusinessesengagedintheplatform.Thisbodywillbeatransparentflexiblestructureforthedevelopmentofinnovativewaysoffosteringuniversity-businesspartnerships.
CurrentlytheInnovationCommitteeofA.C.isbeingsetup.Thiscommitteewillbecomposedofrepresentativesfromindustryaswellassomeexternalmembers,todecideontheworkingoftheBody.
7. Area of Education: creating awareness of the challenges Europe is facingand inspiring innovative solutions
Engagingleadingresearchersfromthecooperatinguniversitiestointeractwithandexplaintheirresearchdirectlytosecondaryschoolsisimperativetoincreasetheinterestofchildrentowardsscienceandinnovationandtoexplainhowknowledgeisatthebasisforfindinginnovativesolutionstothegrand challengesEuropewillhavetoface.
ThisdevelopmentintendstorunparallelandusetheresultsoftheAreaofDisseminationandtheAreaofExchange.
8. Europe 2020 Strategy and the Public at Large
DuringtheLisbonAgendamanynewinstitutionsandprogramswherefoundedbytheEuropeaninstitutionstopromoteresearchandinnovation:FP7,EuropeanResearchCouncil,EIT.
Inordertomaketheresultsoftheresearchpromoted,fundedandselectedbytheEuropeanresearchinstitutionsaccessibletothepublicatlarge,andinordertoshowcasetheresultsofthesecollaborations,thePermanentPlatformofAtomiumCultureintendstosupporttheEuropeanCommissionindisseminatingthebestresultsoftheseinitiatives,openingitsareasofactivitytotheseprojectsandforeseeingto:
-OpentheAreaofDisseminationanditsactivitiestotheresultsoftheresearchpursuedunderthesupportoftheEuropeanInstitutions;
-IncludeanddemonstratethemostinnovativeEUresearchprojectspromotedbytheERCduringtheHigh-LevelWorkshops;-AllowaccesstoResearchbase.eutoallresearchersandresearchgroupsworkingundertheEUinitiatives;-PromotetheresearchresultsofEU-fundedprojectsmaketheneasilyaccessibletothemediaengagedinthePermanent
Platform;-InformandengagetheEuropeanpublicatlargeregardingtheactivitiessupportingresearchandinnovationcreatedand
supportedbytheEuropeaninstitutions,alsointheframeworkoftheupcomingEurope2020Strategy.
32
6. The Permanent Platform of Atomium Culture
•BayerAG
•ComeniusUniversityinBratislava
•DerStandard
•EcoleNormaleSupérieure
•ElPaís
•Fecyt
•FrankfurterAllgemeineZeitung
•Humboldt-UniversitätzuBerlin
•IlSole24Ore
•JagiellonianUniversityinKrakow
•Kathimerini
•LeMonde
•LeSoir
•LondonSchoolofEconomics(LSE)
•Ludwig-Maximilians-UniversitätMünchen
•LundUniversity
•LuxembourgerWort
•Microsoft
•Népszabadsàg
•Postimees
•Pùblico
•Rzeczpospolita
•Shell
•SiemensAG
•SME
•SvenskaDagbladet
•TelekomunikacjaPolska
•TheIndependent
•TheIrishTimes
•TrinityCollegeDublin
•UniversidadAutónomadeMadrid
•UniversitéLibredeBruxelles
•UniversitéPierreetMarieCurie(Paris6)
•UniversityofAthens
•UniversityofBarcelona
•UniversityofBologna
•UniversityofBudapest(ELTE)
•UniversityofCoimbra
•UniversityofEdinburgh
•UniversityofLisbon
•UniversityofLuxembourg
•UniversityofRome-LaSapienza
•UniversityofTartu
•UniversityofUtrecht
•UniversityofVienna
•VattenfallAB
33
27 NOVEMBER 2009 - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTPUBLIC LAUNCH AND FIRST CONFERENCE OF THE
PERMANENT PLATFORM FOR EUROPEAN EXCELLENCE OF ATOMIUM CULTURE
Professor Hans StoofRector of the University of Utrecht, Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture, Member of the Board of Directors of the League of European Research Universities (LERU)
Professor Marius RubiraltaSecretary of State for Universities of Spain,
Former Rector of the University of Barcelona
Mr Pawel LisickiEditor-in-Chief of Rzeczpospolita
Mr Wim PhilippaSecretary General of European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT),
Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture
Professor Massimo MarchioriResearch Scientist at MIT Laboratory for Computer Science,
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the University of Padua
Mr Joachim Müller-JungHead of Science Department of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,
Member of the Editorial Committee of Atomium Culture
Professor John HegartyProvost of the Trinity College Dublin
Professor José Sanz MartìnezRector of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
Professor Rolf TarrachRector of the University of Luxembourg
Ms Béatrice BaudetChief Editor of Planète, Science section of Le Monde,
Member of the Editorial Committee of Atomium Culture
Professor Alar KarisRector of the University of Tartu
Mr Claus SørensenDirector General of DG Communication, European Commission,
Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture
Ms Erika WidegrenDirector of Institutional Relations of Atomium Culture
Professor Kevin FeatherstoneVice-Chairman of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture, Former Director of the
European Institute of London School of Economics
Mr Mario MargioccoExecutive Editor of Il Sole 24 ORE
Mr Hans van der LooHead European Union Liaison of Royal Dutch Shell
Mr Geoff MulganStrategic Adviser of Atomium Culture, Director of Young Foundation,
Former Director of Policy at 10 Downing Street under British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Mr Javier MorenoEditor-in-Chief of El País,
Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture
Mr Bruno Le MaireFrench Minister of Agriculture, Former Secretary General of Atomium Culture,
Former French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture
Professor Per ErikssonRector of Lund University
Professor Karol MusiolRector of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow
Professor Damian ChalmersDirector of the European Institute of London School of Economics,
Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture
Mr Jean-Luc BeylatPresident of Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs France
Ms Bernadette González HarbourDeputy Editor-in-Chief of El País,
Responsible for Education, Science and Environment, Member of the Editorial Committee of Atomium Culture
Mr Björn EdlundVice-President Communications of Royal Dutch Shell
Ms Béatrice DelvauxEditor-in-Chief of Le Soir
Professor Monique Canto-SperberDirector of the Ecole Normale Supérieure - Paris
Mr Jean-Paul PeersVice President Energy Policy of Siemens AG
Professor Gilbert BereziatFormer President and currently Vice-President for Foreign Affairs of the Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6, Member of the steering committee of the Network
of Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA), General Director of Alliance Paris Universitas
Professor Pier Ugo CalzolariFormer Rector of the University of Bologna,
Member of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture
Professor M. Elisabeth Paté-CornellChair, Department of Management Science and Engineering,
Stanford University
Ms Cecilia Stegö ChilòChairman of the Advisory Board of Atomium Culture
Mr Per HeisterSpokesperson for EPP Group, European Parliament, Former Press Secretary to Carl Bildt, Former Head of the Information Centre of Timbro, Former campaign
and information secretary of the Swedish party Moderaterna
Atomium Culture brings together some of the most authoritative European universities, newspapers and businesses in the first permanent platform for European excellence for a reliable, transparent, and efficient area for the dissemination and exchange of new knowledge.
An innovative solution to concretely pursue a new vision of Europe based on most forward looking ideas from research, industry and media.
The Honorary President Mr Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and the President Mr Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini will open the conference at 10:15
“The Permanent Platform for European Excellence of Atomium Culture: the need for thinking in new ways with regard to research, culture and innovation”
Attending the public launch and first conference as speakers:
www.atomiumculture.eu
