European Research Area- The Wider Policy Context for EURAXESS

Brian DitchamSenior Policy Advisor, International Knowledge and Innovation

Unit

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European Research Area

• Aim of ERA is “single market for research” • Launched in 2000 - based on five “axes”• Joint Programming- getting national funding programmes to

work more closely together in tackling major challenges. • Researcher careers and mobility- making research an

attractive career for the best and brightest. • Research Infrastructures- new legal framework for European

infrastructures adopted.• Intellectual Property rights- current focus on role of IP rights in

knowledge transfer from universities.• Policy framework for International S&T collaboration-working

together in relations with the wider world.

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ERA progress

• Heads of Government called for ERA to be completed by 2014

• New ERA provisions in the Lisbon treaty• UK ahead of the game (open recruitment, career

development, focus on excellence)?• Consultation followed by Commission’s ERA

Communication published July 2012• Non-legislative approach but if insufficient

progress legislation might be an option in future.

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The ERA Communication

• Five key priorities:– More effective national research systems

– Optimal transnational co-operation and competition

– An open labour market for researchers

– Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research

– Open access to scientific knowledge and data.

• Sets out actions needed by MS, Commission and research stakeholders

• ERA Monitoring System being developed to assess progress

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ERA Axis on Researcher Careers and Mobility- “European Partnership on Researchers”

• Structured round four themes-• Open and transparent recruitment procedures

and grant portability• Meeting social security and supplementary

pensions needs of mobile researchers• Attractive employment and working conditions• Enhancing the training, skills and experience of

European researchers

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UK Position

• UK has a good story to tell on this agenda• Already have a very open research base- as Manchester

University’s recent Nobel Laureates show• The UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of

Researchers – and the support mechanisms which underpin it- have set a benchmark for Europe in promoting career development, skills training and professionalism for researchers

• This good environment recognised by the success of UK universities in obtaining the “Human Resources Excellence in Research” logo- some 67 to date

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EURAXESS Role

• The EURAXESS portal and its national portals play a major role in delivering the European Partnership

• Jobs advertising element particularly important to Commission at the moment

• Act as source of information and advice for mobile researchers

• Role in spreading information on

researcher rights

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EURAXESS- BIS role

• BIS sees a high level of UK participation in EURAXESS at all levels as a crucial means to promote the UK as an attractive destination for the best researchers

• We provide funding to the British Council in their excellent work on managing the UK EURAXESS portal

• Would also encourage universities to consider becoming EURAXESS services centres as a good way of making established commitments to researchers even more visible