European policies for researchers & European policies for researchers & EURAXESS – Researchers in MotionEURAXESS – Researchers in Motion

Researchers’ Mobility Day, Kopaonik, 7 March 2011Researchers’ Mobility Day, Kopaonik, 7 March 2011

Dimitris SanopoulosDimitris SanopoulosCentre for Research and Technology HellasCentre for Research and Technology Hellas

Outline presentationOutline presentation

A. Policy frame - Researchers in the European Research Area: the beginning

B. Actions undertaken and results obtained so far:

EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion

A. Policy frame - Researchers in the European Research Area NOW

A.A. Policy frame – Researchers in the European Research Area Policy frame – Researchers in the European Research Area (ERA): the beginning(ERA): the beginning

B. Actions undertaken and results obtained:

EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion

A. Policy frame - Researchers in the European Research Area NOW

The European Research Area (ERA)The European Research Area (ERA)

In 20002000, the EU decided to create the European Research Area (ERA).European Research Area (ERA).This meant creating a unified area all across Europeunified area all across Europe, in which we

should:

◦ Enable researchersresearchers to move and interactto move and interact seamlessly, benefit from world-class infrastructures and work with excellent networks of research institutions;

◦ Share, teach, value and use knowledgeShare, teach, value and use knowledge effectively for social, business and policy purposes;

◦ Optimise and openOptimise and open European, national and regional research programmes in order to support the best researchto support the best research throughout Europe and coordinatecoordinate these programmes to address major challenges together;

◦ Develop strong links with partners around the worldstrong links with partners around the world so that Europe benefits from the worldwide progress of knowledge, contributes to global development and takes a leading role in international initiatives to solve global issues

WhyWhy researchers in the ERAresearchers in the ERAChallengesChallenges

Researchers are at the heart of knowledge creation, Researchers are at the heart of knowledge creation,

transfer and exploitation: they are transfer and exploitation: they are knowledge vectorsknowledge vectors..

Without them, no research.Without them, no research.

Europe’s challengeschallenges on human resourceson human resources in research:• Strong and rising competitioncompetition, globally and with other economic

sectors

• Demographic challenges in the form of a higher retirement ratehigher retirement rate for researchers

• Europe’s goal of increased public and private investments in R&Dincreased public and private investments in R&D

• Need to mainstream mobilityNeed to mainstream mobility, based on the paradigm of “brain “brain circulation”,circulation”, between institutions, between sectors and across borders

EU has a deficit of researchersdeficit of researchers and therefore needs:

• To attract, train and retainTo attract, train and retain an increasing number of talented people

undertaking the profession of researcher;

• To convinceTo convince the EU public opinionpublic opinion and the EU GovernmentsGovernments to

invest on researchers

A. Policy frame – Researchers in the European Research Area (ERA): the beginning

B.B. Actions undertaken and results obtained: Actions undertaken and results obtained:

EURAXESS – Researchers in MotionEURAXESS – Researchers in Motion

C. Policy frame - Researchers in the European Research Area NOW

… … the long way to EURAXESSthe long way to EURAXESS

• Activities started around 2003 / 20042003 / 2004, but developed differently

• A study with Deloitte/TEP in 2007 2007 proofed that the ERA-MORE ERA-MORE Network and the ERMPortal were not sufficiently knownNetwork and the ERMPortal were not sufficiently known among the researcher community

• Branding launch on 24 June 2008Branding launch on 24 June 2008 under a new umbrella in presence of former RTD Commissioner Potocnik

5th Anniversary of the European Researcher’s 5th Anniversary of the European Researcher’s Mobility Portal Mobility Portal

& launch event of EURAXESS& launch event of EURAXESS24 June 2008, Brussels24 June 2008, Brussels

EURAXESS – Researchers in MotionEURAXESS – Researchers in Motion

EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion: 4 initiatives that, by EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion: 4 initiatives that, by

supporting the mobility and career of researcherssupporting the mobility and career of researchers, assist in , assist in

establishing Europe as an area of excellence in scientific researchestablishing Europe as an area of excellence in scientific research

3 reference pillars3 reference pillars:

◦ MobilityMobility issues◦ European dimension in research careersresearch careers◦ Making Europe more attractiveEurope more attractive

EURAXESS – Researchers in MotionEURAXESS – Researchers in Motion4 activities4 activities

RecruitmentRecruitment tool with job vacancies, funding opportunities, grants, employment, etc.

Relocation assistanceRelocation assistance for researchers and their family

Information on the Charter and CodeCharter and Code (i.e. rights and obligations in the research profession) and their implementation mechanism: the HRS4Rthe HRS4R

A networking toolnetworking tool for European researchers abroad

A. Policy frame – Researchers in the European Research Area (ERA): the beginning

B. Actions undertaken and results obtained so far:

EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion

C. Researchers in the European Research Area Researchers in the European Research Area NOWNOW

1st milestone: May 281st milestone: May 28thth 2008 2008

Communication from the EC to the Council and the EU Parliament:

Better careers and more mobility: Better careers and more mobility: A EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP FOR A EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCHERS RESEARCHERS

(EPR)(EPR)

The European Partnership for ResearchersThe European Partnership for Researchers

◦ Decisive measuresDecisive measures are needed for Europe’s researchers, and progress progress should be made in a comprehensive and coordinated comprehensive and coordinated wayway

◦ Partnership = framework for MS to direct their efforts at national Partnership = framework for MS to direct their efforts at national level (National Action Plans) level (National Action Plans) based on common, agreed objectives common, agreed objectives in 4 key areas:in 4 key areas:

1. Systematically open recruitment open recruitment ((specific specific ref. to EURAXESS Jobs and ref. to EURAXESS Jobs and ServicesServices));

2. Meet social security and supplementary pension needssocial security and supplementary pension needs of mobile researchers ((specific ref. to specific ref. to EURAXESS ServicesEURAXESS Services)); ;

3. Provide attractive employment and working conditions attractive employment and working conditions ((EURAXESS RightsEURAXESS Rights));4. Enhance the training, skills and experiencetraining, skills and experience of researchers

• 3 year initiative3 year initiative building upon reforms and actions already underway

• Member StatesMember States to set out national action plans national action plans ((5 MS & 3 AC have submitted NAPs)

• Commission helps in mutual learning, good practices and where appropriate establishing common guidelines on specific issues

• European level action to support Member StatesEuropean level action to support Member States in areas where coordination and financial incentives advance progress;

• Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and reporting on agreed indicators and evaluation after 3 after 3 yearsyears

EURAXESS and the EPREURAXESS and the EPR

1) EURAXESS Jobs1) EURAXESS Jobs

Ref. EPR/Axe 1 „Open Ref. EPR/Axe 1 „Open recruitment“/recruitment“/Proposed Proposed priority action n° 2:priority action n° 2:

“MS and EC to ensure that all publicly funded researchers' positions are openly advertised online, in particular EURAXESS”

EURAXESS and the EPREURAXESS and the EPR

2) EURAXESS Services2) EURAXESS Services

Ref. EPR/Axe 1 „Open Ref. EPR/Axe 1 „Open recruitment“/recruitment“/Proposed Proposed priority action n°3:priority action n°3:

“MS and EC to ensure adequate information and assistance services for researchers moving between institutions, sectors and countries including through EURAXESS “

Around 130,000 queries in 2010 queries in 2010

EURAXESS and the EPREURAXESS and the EPR

3) EURAXESS Rights3) EURAXESS Rights

Ref. EPR/Axe 3 „Attractive Ref. EPR/Axe 3 „Attractive employment and working employment and working conditions“conditions“

i.e. leaning on the concrete implementation of the Charter and Code

◦ Over Over 1,0001,000 institutions from 30 European countries and beyond have expressed their support to C/C

◦ 42 42 already awarded the „„HR HR Excellence in Research” Excellence in Research” logologo (more in the pipeline)

2nd milestone: 2nd milestone: September 30th 2008

Council Conclusions on the European Partnership for Researchers and the SGHRM Mandate

“…the "Human Resources and Mobility" Steering Groupthe "Human Resources and Mobility" Steering Group, the

mandate of which will have to be adapted, is the most the most

appropriate forumappropriate forum for conducting this partnership in a flexible

manner…"

3rd Milestone: Communication (2010) “Europe 2020 - A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”

Big Societal Challenges - Climate, Energy, Health, Security, Resource Efficiency… Need an integrated and strategic approach 7 7 Flagship InitiativesFlagship Initiatives: Innovation Union, Agenda for New Skills and Jobs, Digital Agenda, Youth on the Move, etc.

4th Milestone: Communication (2010) “Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative - Innovation Union”

Innovation overarching policy objective Main obstacles: unfavorable framework conditions & fragmentation of effort

The Innovation Union Commitment (1)The Innovation Union Commitment (1)

Over 30 30 Action Points (“CommitmentsCommitments”) proposing initiatives in initiatives in key areaskey areas, including:

#1#1: By the end of 2011, MS should have strategies in

place to train enough researchers to meet their national

R&D targets and to promote attractive employment

conditions in public research institutions. GenderGender and dualdual

careercareer considerations should be fully taken into account in

these strategies.

#4#4: Completing the ERA: In 2012, COM will propose an ERA

framework and supporting measures to remove obstacles to

mobility and cross-border cooperation (to be in force by

end 2014), addressing among others:

quality of doctoral training, attractive employment conditions and gender balance in research careers;

mobility of researchers across countries and sectors, including through open recruitment in public research institutions and comparable research career structures and by facilitating the creation of European supplementary pension funds.

The Innovation Union Commitment (4)The Innovation Union Commitment (4)

#30#30: By 2012, EU and MS to put into place integrated

policies: to ensure that leading academics, researchers and leading academics, researchers and innovators innovators reside and work in Europereside and work in Europe and to attract a sufficient number of highly skilled attract a sufficient number of highly skilled third third country nationalscountry nationals to stay in Europe.

The Innovation Union Commitment The Innovation Union Commitment (30)(30)

That’s all, for now: stay tuned!

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Dimitris SanopoulosCentre for Research and Technology Hellas

Head of Implementation of Horizontal Projects UnitTel: +30 2310 498155Fax: +30 2310 498410

E-mail: sanopoul@certh.gr