EU research boost

The EU has admitted that where Europe really falls down on research targets is in keeping science graduates in academic careers.

In a bid to legitimize research as a profession, the European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik and the Director General of the Centre national de la recherche scientifique will sign the ‘Charter of Conduct for Researchers’.

Potocnik, echoed that the EU needs to create more and better opportunities for researchers in order to create platforms where the scientific community and industry can come together.

“Without researchers, there is no science in Europe. That is why it is crucial to address the status of researchers,” said Potocnik.

“By setting out the roles and responsibilities of researchers, we are going some way to ensuring the researchers, wherever they work, are treated with the respect and esteem they deserve.”

In particular, the European Charter for Researchers addresses the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers and their employers.

The Charter aims at ensuring the relationships between employers and researchers adds to successful performance in the transfer and sharing of knowledge and to the career development of researchers.

The main idea is that career merit should be measured on a whole range of evaluation criteria, such as teaching, supervision, teamwork, knowledge transfer, management and public awareness.

In keeping with its Lisbon strategy goal of becoming ‘the most knowledge based economy’, the EU aims to promote science and research as a viable career for young people.

But, a young researcher participant, Sofia Calero, of the EU’s ‘Marie Currie’ scheme claims that the EU could make a career in EU research more accessible.

“I am happy to be a researcher, but not proud, Europe should help us more,” said Calero.

The EU aims to help the careers of it’s 500,000 strong young researchers by promoting mobility through the Marie Curie Actions which is funded by the EU’s research budget.

EU researchers mobility centres, 200 throughout the EU, help improve the quality and quantity of research training by offering the best available opportunities, regardless of where expertise is located.

Earlier this year, the European Commission also launched the ‘Code of recruitment of researchers’, which aim at making the recruitment process for researchers more transparent.

Four per cent of the EU’s budget is spent on research.

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