The Research Matters campaign, of which YERUN is a proud member, is organising the event “Invest in the Future! A Call to Strengthen Research and Innovation in Europe”, that will take place on 2 October 2024 from 15.45 to 17.00 CEST, hosted by CSIC Brussels (Rue du Trône 62) with the collaboration of YERUN.
The event offers a platform for discussing the vital importance of investing in research and innovation in a way of addressing current and future geopolitical and societal challenges. The discussions will take place ahead of the publication of the first proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), expected in the first half of 2025.
Speakers:
- Enrico Letta – Former Italian Prime Minister, President of the Institut Jacques Delors and author of the Report “Much more than a market“ – will introduce his view on European R&I and why it is crucial to radically step up the investments in EU’s next budget
- Maria Leptin – President of the European Research Council (ERC) – will discuss the benefits of frontier research and innovation.
- Dr. Christian Ehler – Member of the European Parliament, ITRE Committee, and Rapporteur for Horizon Europe – will speak about the importance of R&I investments at national and EU level, in particular for the 10th framework programme for research and innovation FP10.
- Pascal Metivier – Head of Research and Innovation at Syensqo – will present the industry’s point of view, drawing on his experience from previous positions at Solvay and Rhodia.
Register here before 26 September 2024. Please note that places are limited and the organisers may decide to put some participants on a waiting list in order to ensure a diverse audience at the event.
The recording and report of the event can be accessed here.
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Background
Many organisations and political, academic, and business leaders have called for increased investments in research and innovation. In a world of major environmental, societal, and geopolitical crises, it is imperative that Europe invests in its future. Investing in our knowledge capital is the foundation for Europe’s competitiveness, wellbeing, and peace.
In its 2024 European Semester Spring Package, published in June, the European Commission provides policy guidance intended to shape the debate on research, innovation, and education policy at both the EU and national levels. The Commission highlights a slowdown in productivity growth since the early 2000s, attributing this trend, among other factors, to «a lack of investment in research and innovation and persistent skills shortages.
Science is a crucial factor to address and develop solutions for the complex challenges facing our societies: Climate change, AI, cybersecurity, environmental and energy crises, threats to democracy and security, pandemics, among others. Developing and enhancing excellent research and innovation with a long-term, multidisciplinary, and cross-sectoral perspective is key to our future.
The Research Matters campaign
The Research Matters campaign, launched by leading research and innovation (R&I) organisations, calls on the finance ministers of European countries, as well as the European Council, Commission, and Parliament, to act boldly and to support an increased share of R&I investment to exceed 3% of GDP in the coming years. This investment is crucial as a way to bolster the EU’s competitiveness in the current global landscape.
