Point of impact: What is the true value of science to society?

With Horizon Europe now under way, the European Commission and other leading research and innovation (R&I) funders can focus on the collective impact that science and scientists will make to key policy goals over the next decade, and how to assess it. The Commission’s Strategic Plan for Horizon has already set out 32 expected impacts to be achieved in four strategic areas. Meanwhile, the European Council has called for a more qualitative approach to understand “what researchers deliver and how” in the European Research Area (ERA), placing more emphasis on talent, diversity, skills and contributions to societal progress.

This invites an in-depth reflection on what these new models, indicators and metrics will mean for researchers and research organisations, and the boundary conditions for evaluating future scientific work. Important decisions await – on defining new impact factors and areas, on striking a fair balance between inputs, outputs and outcomes, on increasing “brain circulation” while retaining domestic talent, and more.  This in turn gives rise to a number of vital questions:

• Can Europe agree on what to assess, and why? Which national or regional models might underpin an equitable, inclusive system with impact at its heart?
• What benefits will a new approach bring to industry, RTOs and other non-academic stakeholders? 
• How can research and innovation organisations most effectively engage with policy makers to provide fresh ideas and evidence of what works?    

In this invitation-only, online roundtable, Science|Business – in partnership with Elsevier – will convene a select group of senior figures and experts from across the European R&I spectrum to debate these issues and more, and to develop concrete recommendations for action.