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The European Commission has today set out concrete steps Member States should take to achieve the European Research Area (ERA), a Single Market for research and innovation in Europe. The goal is to enable researchers, research institutions and businesses to better move, compete and co-operate across borders. This will strengthen Member States’ research bases, increase their competitiveness and allow them to work together more effectively to tackle major societal challenges, such as climate change, food and energy security and public health. To help achieve the European Research Area, the Commission has also today signed a Joint Statement and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with organisations representing key research organisations and research funding bodies. The proposals are a response to the deadline set by EU leaders to make the European Research Area a reality by 2014.

When asked, almost 80% of the research community indicated that lack of open and transparent recruitment hinders international mobility. Member States are therefore asked to remove barriers to cross-border research careers in Europe, step up the pursuit of joint research agendas, enhance competitive funding for institutions and projects and invest efficiently in world-class facilities.

Research stakeholder organisations are urged to define and implement principles for accessibility and portability of national grants, to publish job vacancies on a common internet portal, to fill research positions according to transparent, open and merit-based recruitment procedures and to step up links between industry and academia.

To complement today’s European Research Area proposals, the Commission is also presenting an initiative to promote access to, and preservation of, scientific information. This aims at promoting open access to research publications from EU-funded projects, as well as from nationally funded research (see IP/12/790 andMEMO/12/565).

Background

EU leaders have repeatedly stressed the importance of completing the European Research Area, setting a deadline of 2014 in European Council conclusions of February 2011 and March 2012. The role of the European Research Area in Europe’s drive for competitiveness is also highlighted in the Compact for Growth and Jobs agreed at the European Council of June 28/29.

The Commission proposals to achieve the European Research Area focus on five key priorities where progress needs to be made:

• increased effectiveness of national research systems

• improved trans-national cooperation and competition including establishing and effectively operating key research infrastructures

• a more open labour market for researchers

• gender equality and mainstreaming in organisations carrying out and selecting research projects and

• optimal circulation and transfer of scientific information, including via digital means and broader and more rapid access to scientific publications and data.

For each priority, the Communication identifies concrete steps to be taken by Member States, stakeholder organisations and the European Commission, working together within a reinforced partnership.

The European Research Area is an integral part of the ambition to turn the European Union into a true Innovation Union. Increasing research investment, scientific quality and relevance are crucial to develop new knowledge-intensive products and services that hold the key to growth and jobs.

Source: EC Innovation Europe