Two of Europe’s leading scientific bodies, the European Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCs) and the European Science Foundation (ESF) have published their vision of the European Research Area and have joined forces to draw up a road map of proposed actions to achieve it.
“EUROHORCs and ESF are committed to play a key role in shaping ERA and the road map is the proof of that commitment. This policy briefing is a result of our analysis of what is needed and how our members, together with other partners, could contribute.” said ESF the two bodies said in a joint statement.
Building ERA requires the involvement of a variety of organisations including national and European research organisations, national governments, the EU and the private sector.
In their latest briefing the EUROHORCs and ESF list 10 essential criteria or Vision Points that need to be met:
An effective European research policy, capitalising on cultural, geographic and scientific diversity
A stimulating education system
A single European labour market for researchers
Adequate funding for top quality curiosity-driven research
Cross-national funding, benchmarking of quality and shared scientific priorities for strategic research and bottom up researcher-driven programmes
Excellent research institutions
World-class research infrastructures
Open access to the output of publicly funded research and permanent access to primary quality assured research data
Effective and trusted bridges between science, society and the private sector
Openness to the world.
EUROHORCs and ESF pledged to take action to help construct ERA. More details of the Action Plan are at www.esf.org/spb33.
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