By Bruno Waterfield - 12th September 2006
Less research bureaucracy is needed if the EU is to “repatriate” European scientists working outside Europe, Günter Verhuegen has said.
The European enterprise commissioner is concerned that the EU lacks the “innovation culture” needed to win the battle for brains as global competition steps up
Rows over stem cell research and biotechnology coupled with a tight regulatory framework on cutting edge research are seen as a turn off for scientists – many end up in the US.
“We urgently need a programme of repatriating researchers and scientists, of getting them back again,” he said on Wedensday.
“This is an issue we have to get to grips with. We have no objections if people who did their training in Europe go elsewhere. But we have to pay the costs, what is learned by these people becomes acquired by others.”
EU surveys show Europe produces more PhD science graduates than the US but has fewer people working in research than America or Japan – five per 1000 compared to nine per 1000 in the US and ten in Japan.
Verheugen raised the issue during European commission discussions on innovation and urged an EU focus on creating a research-friendly culture in Europe.
He argues that the brain drain is not fuelled by high income offers from the US or Asia but bureaucracy and top down academic hierarchies.
“That sort of thing is better in the US than here, we need to create the same culture in Europe,” he said.
Culture rather than legislation is key for Verhuegen as Brussels racks up pressure on national governments ahead of an EU summit dedicated to innovation next month.
The German commission vice-president counts, often unpopular, structural reforms to welfare, pensions and healthcare systems as part of the required new culture.
“We are not saying it is about bundles of legislation. We want a real innovation culture,” he said.
“What we need is more political determination, more leadership, to urn words into action. Of course structural change will accompany this action.”
“Structural change must not be seen as a threat, but as an opportunity to become more competitive. Europe needs to become a truly knowledge-based and innovation-friendly society, where innovation is not feared but welcomed.”
Europe’s leaders asked Verheugen for ideas in the spring and the proposals, requested by the Finnish EU presidency, will be discussed at an informal EU summit on October 20.
EU institutions and governments are struggling to adapt to intense worldwide competition investment as new global competitors emerged, such as China, India and Brazil.
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