French minister of research speaks to CORDIS
Encouraging mobility of researchers in Europe will help the emergence of a European research area as well as placing researchers at the heart of the knowledge society, the two strategic goals of the French minister of research and current president of the European research Council, Roger-Gérard Schwartzenberg. Speaking exclusively to CORDIS, Mr Schwartzenberg said he shares the conviction of European Research Commissioner, Philippe Busquin of the importance of creating a space for European research that transcends national borders, and that therefore he would be attaching great importance to attaining increased mobility between laboratories. 'What Europe needs is a flexible system that is capable of clearly identifying existing and future needs and which enables the Member States to coordinate their efforts at an early stage,' he said. 'In accordance with the good practice we have identified in building Europe, our approach towards resolving this issue shall therefore be guided by pragmatism and consist of setting up intensive cooperation schemes as well as bringing together all of the key players in this field.' To this end, the French research minister will gather together European experts in October to discuss the possibilities of establishing a European academy of science and technology, which includes the humanities and social sciences. Also to be discussed at this meeting, will be the establishment of a benchmarking system for European innovation, in order to improve the transformation of research into technological innovations. The rapid implementation of the Community patent, proposals for which were revealed by the Commission on 5 July, should oil the wheels of this process. Mr Schwartzenberg also revealed several initiatives that will improve the dissemination of European research successes. He has drawn up plans to broaden the scope of European science weeks, and will convene an international forum on developing the public knowledge of science in December. He intends to establish an agency to alert the media and businesses to the findings of European research. To reach further afield, Mr Schwartzenberg also proposes the creation of European houses of research outside the EU. The French Presidency also intends to breathe life into the eEurope action plan, which will take its first steps in the coming months. The life sciences, the drafting of a European space strategy by the Commission, the development phase of the Galileo satellite programme and the GMES (global monitoring for environment and security) programme were also areas singled out for support. ment of the h
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