Priorities
The Priorities of the Portuguese Presidency in Research – CORDIS
The Presidency wants to stimulate the development of policies and programmes which will increase public and private investment in R&D. We know that globally, the European Union has not yet reached the goal of 1% public investment in R&D, or the 2% of private investment in R&D. The exchange of experiences and mutual learning between national governments is still scarce and the collaboration between governments, R&D institutions and scientific organisation at the European level is still in its initial phase.
Europe needs more scientists and scientific jobs. The goals identified by the Lisbon Strategy cannot be reached without highly qualified human resources. The expansion of scientific jobs in Europe does not meet the ambitions and the policy objectives defined in the Lisbon Strategy.Hence, the definition of shared policy objectives in the field of Human Resources in Science & Technology has become increasingly indispensable.
Following the approval of the 7th Framework Programme and coinciding with the broad public debate on the European Research Area, a new opportunity is now open for rekindling the European agenda on science policy. Recognising the work in progress on the development of a research infrastructure policy, the European Institute of Technology, Intellectual Property, and completion of the Joint Technology Initiatives, the Presidency would like to propose the following lines of action:
European Policy on Publishing and Scientific and Technical Information
Based on the communication produced by the European Commission on “Scientific information in the digital era: access, dissemination and preservation”, the Presidency will encourage a debate on a European policy for publishing and scientific and technical information, namely in the field of digital scientific libraries, involving all interested stakeholders, and requiring that mutual trust be established.
A Priority for Europe: Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies
Coinciding with the Commission’s preparation of its mid-term review of the European strategy for nanosciences and nanotechnologies, the Presidency will highlight this field, stimulating in particular the coordination of national and European efforts and initiatives.
Reform and Modernisation of Universities
Universities are one of the most important strategic resources for a knowledge-based society and economy. The Presidency will contribute to the process of the modernisation of higher education in Europe, focusing in particular on the opening, diversification and internationalisation of universities, in the context of advanced research and training networks.
A New Impetus to Fundamental Research in the Frontier of Knowledge
The European Union gained an important science policy instrument with the creation of the European Research Council (ERC). The Scientific Council of the ERC will meet in Lisbon, symbolically representing the first event of the Presidency in science and technology and providing the occasion to discuss with the scientific community the activities developed by the ERC.
[ Last updated: 2007-07-16 ]
