ERA Progress Report 2013

ERA Progress ReportDraft ERAC Opinion

Key Messages 2013Draft ERAC Opinion

Ad-hoc group on European Semester and ERA MonitoringWard Ziarko – ERAC, December 2013.

A few words on what the group has been doing in the

last two months

Update (1) : 3th Ad-hoc meeting Vilnius

• AU, BE, DK, GE, LI, ME, NL, UK• Main conclusions :

– Discussion on opinion – Discussion on data collection :

• Agreement on simplified questionnaire• Key to discuss indicators• Commission would send tables with some first

assessment on questionnaires• Need of new methodological note

Update (2) : 4th Ad-hoc meeting (BXL - 4 nov)

• BE, DE, DK, NL, SP, UK + AT (skype) + NO (video) + ….

• Main conclusions :– Table : linking actions with indicators and

questions (general results per country; results for the EU-average) : input was asked on indicators

– Methodology : discussed way forward– Key messages/Draft opinion : work by mail

Update (3) : 5th Ad-hoc meeting (BXL – 11 dec)

• BE, DE, DK, LT, NL, NO, SP, SW, UK,• Main conclusions :

– Key messages/Draft opinion :– Next data collection– Indicators (– European Semester : AGS, guidance note – Next agenda (ERA roadmap, when is ERA

“achieved” and consequence for monitoring, country studies, …)

Key Messages

• A few introductory words• General messages• Recommendations by field

Before we start…

• Text is ± summary from “Draft Opinion”• Could be a first step to a “road map”

– depending on a policy discussion with involvement of a much wider audience (ERA-related groups, stakeholders, etc…);

– additional results by next data collection and other data sources;

– partnerships with stakeholder organisations.• Crucial that recommendations are always

clearly addressed to an owner

Key Messages - general messages addressed to the Commission

and to Member States -

1. Take account of the diversity in National Research Systems when developing roadmaps

Uneven progress between countries; between priority fields; in policy implementation,…

2. ERA Progress Report is first but important monitoring step of a process that will go beyond 2014

Key Messages - general messages (2) -

3. ERA monitoring needs sound data collection in partnership with Member States

For reliable (and accepted) evidence as well as to increase the participation of RPO’s and RFO’s in surveys : discussion needed of indicators (= policy questions), data collection methods (and data sources), reference frameworks, registers,…

Key Messages - general messages (3) -

4. Use “mutual learning” based on diversity as main instrument; little support for legislative process

ERA Progress Report and ERAC Opinion gives a first orientation of future areas

5. The reporting on “National Reform Programs” should also include new and most relevant ERA-related measures

Recommendations by main policy field

Effectiveness of National Research systems

ERA Report underlines the importance of funding that is competitive; performance based; “open”; peer reviewed. ERAC reminds that this depends on national context, hence importance subsidiarityERAC recommends the Commission (EC) and Member States to organize mutual learning seminars on issues above, complemented with indicators.

Optimal transnational co-operation; jointly addressing grand challenges

ERA Report acknowledges FP as most powerful instrument to support cooperation; better alignment needed national programmes (level and interoperability) ERAC recommends MS to better align national agendas with FP and to dedicate sufficient resources to JPI.ERAC invites MS, EC and AC to discuss the level of adequate commitment.

Research InfrastructureERA Report : need for more transparency regarding access conditions; need to address financial, manag. and political barriers; need to align roadmapsERAC recommends• MS and EC to elaborate guidelines for

reporting on RI (including financial commitment);

• MS to step up their joint investments in global RI (in conjunction with structural funds)

Open labour market for researchersERA Report recommends open-merit based recruitment; removal of barriers to access and portability of grants; wider uptake of innovative doctoral training principles.ERAC recommends MS and AC :• to formalize open recruitment in

institutional practices;• to support the implementation of

SGHRM reports, such as the one on access and portability of grants

Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research

ERA Report points to the inefficient incorporation of highly skilled women in the research system and of a lack of gender dimension in research content.ERAC recommends :• MS, SH and EC to step up its efforts (cfr

recommendations Helsinki group)ERAC invites MS and EC :• to identify a set of indicators to evaluate the

results of measures and policies• to elaborate a document on best practices to

foster policy learning

Optimal circulation, access to and transfer of scientific knowledge

Open Access : ERAC invites EC and MS to continue supporting Open Access as principle for EU-funded projects; for research data to develop a flexible approach taking into account scientific areas Trends and digital ERA : ERAC recommends MS to align access to e-infrastructure; to implement national strategies for electronic identity for researchersKnowledge Transfer and open innovation : ERAC invites MS to ensure that public research contributes to Open Innovation; MS are invited to professionalise KT activities and offices; MS are invited to develop strategic partnerships and joint research agendas between academia and industry

International Cooperation in ERAERAC recommends that the international dimension should be much more elaborated in the ERA Progress Report 2014 both at EU-level and MS-level, notably by moving towards the integration of the “International Cooperation monitoring system” into the ERA monitoring system.

Conclusion

Draft Opinion/Key messages : • Comments received from most of the

ERA-related groups (rich) and many delegations

• Some last minute comments still have to be incorporated (aligning between two doc might be necessary

• It is time to conclude (comp. council) let us adopt the documents now (Monday evening last comments ?)

Conclusion

Seize the momentum !• Start working on road map and think about

the post 2014 agenda : what do you expect from the ad-hoc group ?

• Improve the monitoring process (link NRP)• Road map : partnership Member States,

Commission, stakeholders = key• Road map : what about a workshop ERAC

+ all ERA related groups, stakeholders ?

Thanks to all the contributors