The Young Academy Europe (YAE) along with the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (EURODOC), the International Consortium of Research Staff Organisations (ICoRSA), the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) and the Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE) which coordinates this project, has launched a survey to gather the views on research and innovation (R & I) of the candidate parties to the European Parliament on 6-9 June.
Whilst the European Union’s (EU) budget for R & I ranks as the 3rd largest item in the total EU budget, the R & I strategy of parties and candidates participating in the elections is very rarely discussed. This is evenmore important, because in the forthcoming years, R & I are poised to be paramount in preparing the EU to confront pressing societal challenges such as climate change, health crises, energy transition, as well as ensuring strategic autonomy and development.
Over twenty years ago, the Union established the ambitious goal of transitioning into a knowledge-based society, committing to allocate 3% of its GDP (at national and EU levels) towards R & I. However, this goal remains unmet, placing the EU behind its primary global competitors like the USA and China. Investing in and fostering groundbreaking R & I within the EU not only drive economic growth but also directly or indirectly impact the quality of higher education for Europe’s 18 million tertiary education students. Additionally, it plays a vital role in attracting and retaining talent, thereby influencing significant segments of the labor market in the long term.
The newly elected European Parliament will wield substantial influence in shaping the EU’s multiannual financial framework (MFF), especially concerning the next Framework Programme for R & I (2028-2034) and the overall balance among the financial framework’s different “pillars.” Given the gravity of these matters, the Initiative for Science in Europe, in collaboration with Eurodoc, ICoRSA, MCAA, and YAE alongside local organizations, has crafted a questionnaire for political parties.
We are keenly interested in the perspectives of the parties on issues related to R & I. The received responses will be made public on a dedicated website and disseminated to EU citizens, Higher Education Institutions, and the media prior to the election.
For the survey see this link, and for the official press release go here.
Organized by:
ISE, Eurodoc, ICoRSA, MCAA, YAE
