Presidency priorities: linkages, the ERA, mobility and SRAs
Forging links between the public and private sectors, strengthening the European Research Area (ERA), increasing inter-sectoral mobility and starting work on the strategic research agendas (SRAs) drawn up by European Technology Platforms are Slovenia's priorities in the area of research for the next six months, while the country holds the EU Presidency. With a Slovenian occupying the position of EU Science and Research Commissioner, the country was expected to have clear ambitions for its term at the helm of the EU. It has not disappointed. Slovenia will start by investigating ways to encourage companies to cooperate in their research and development (R&D) activities with what it refers to as 'knowledge institutions'. Slovenia also hopes to stimulate those companies that develop products and services of high technological complexity to embrace new products or technologies. This should increase added value per employee for each company. When seeking to strengthen the ERA, Slovenia will focus in particular on industrial research. The Presidency would like to move forward with the Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs), the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and various initiatives under Article 169 of the Treaty. In this area, the final phase of the codecision procedure for the first initiatives ('Ambient Assisted Living' and 'EUROSTARS') is ongoing, and the European Commission announced its plans to contribute ¿30 million to a further two initiatives (in the fields of Baltic Sea research and metrology) on 4 January. Slovenia's priorities document also outlines an intention to increase the transition of highly educated personnel between the private and public sectors, and to support European Technology Platforms in the implementation of their SRAs. Additional concerns for Slovenia include ensuring the more effective involvement of the Western Balkans in EU activities, boosting the number of women working in science, and developing research infrastructures, particularly at a regional level. A conference on this topic will take place in March.
Countries
Slovenia