Increased cooperation needed to end fragmentation of Europe's marine research infrastructure, says report
A report published by the European strategy forum for research infrastructure has suggested that new forms of cooperation need to be found in order to solder the highly fragmented marine research area in Europe. The report reviews current cooperation types and practices and makes recommendations as how to create new opportunities for the shared use of the existing marine research infrastructure in Europe. One recommendation made by the report refers to increasing cooperation, particularly between national funding agencies in order to provide a better basis for carrying out research in Europe. 'Ninety-five per cent of research funding still comes from national sources, and only five per cent from the EU, which is why we should consider how we could increase cooperation within national research funding,' explained Kaisa Konen, chair of the ad hoc working group that compiled the report. 'Marine research in particular was highlighted as a field that is highly fragmented and where the maintenance of the infrastructure accounts for as much as half of the research funds,' he added. Indeed the report reveals the level of fragmentation and notes that while some Member States show scientific excellence in marine research, they may not have the best research facilities or possibilities of supporting this research financially. 'These areas do not always meet, and we would like change this. Marine research is global research, and Europe's competitiveness should be supported, noted Dr Konen. Dr Konen believes that the report's recommendations can be seen within the context of the European Research Area (ERA) and its goal to increase Europe's competitiveness in research by creating a so-called internal research market, where the mobility of researchers and research funding would be unrestricted, and the research infrastructure would be utilised as efficiently as possible. In this vein, the report proposes that research teams in different Member States should have access to each others' resources in the future, for example through joint use of marine vessels and laboratory facilities, which often remain unused for a significant part of the year. 'Through common agreements they could be utilised much more efficiently than at present,' said Dr Konen. The report also suggests that, when acquiring new research equipment, the acquisitions could be selected so that they would complement the existing European research facilities.
Kraje
Finland