Busquin calls for large scale cooperation
Researchers from all Member States should have increased access to major research installations that have been built and operated by the individual Member State concerned, according to European Research Commissioner, Philippe Busquin. Concluding a two day conference on the future funding and operation of large research installations, organised jointly with the European Science Foundation (ESF) and supported by the French Presidency of the European Union, the Commissioner said: 'Large research installations such as earthquake simulators, supercomputers and particle accelerators have so far been built and operated by individual Member States but they should be more accessible to researchers from other countries as well', He added that more close cooperation was required to make sure that 'we are making the best use of our resources for the benefit of top-quality science in Europe'. This view was also endorsed by representatives of the so-called Presidency troika, Mr Schwartzenberg, Mr Gago and Mr Oestros, the French, Portuguese and Swedish research ministers respectively, who were also in favour of flexible solutions to financing and operating installations where interested states could join together to build and operate key facilities. Commissioner Busquin claimed that the conference is a concrete step in creating a European Research Area - the objective is to bring all stakeholders from public and private research organisations together to advise policy-makers on how to use available resources more efficiently.
Kraje
France