the european charter & code for researchers in view of current eu policy developments - fnp...

The European Charter & Code for Researchers in view of current EU policy developments

Dr. Dagmar Meyer, European Commission

“The European Charter for Researchers in Poland”

Warsaw, 15 June 2011

Background / History• COM Communication (2001) “A Mobility Strategy for the

European Research Area”

• COM Communication (2003) “Researchers in the ERA: One profession, multiple careers”

• COM Recommendation to Member States (2005) on a “European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment” – based on broad stakeholder consultation process

• Follow-up activities focusing on implementation: EU Presidency Conferences London (2005), Vienna (2006), and in a broader context: Rennes (2008), Brussels (2010), Budapest (2011)

Charter & CodeReference framework for rights and obligations of researchers, their employers and funders

Key topics addressed:

• Ethical & professional aspects, incl. research freedom and accountability, non-discrimination, evaluation/appraisal

• Recruitment, incl. transparency of the process, judging merit, recognition of value of mobility and of qualifications

• Working conditions & social security, incl. research environment, stability of employment, gender issues, career development, and representation in governance

• Training, incl. supervision, continued professional development and access to training

State of play - Charter & Code

• More than 300 individual endorsements from 31 Member States & Associated Countries, plus various International/European organizations (increase of more than 100 during 2010)

• Representing more than 1000 individual institutions, including universities, research institutes, funding bodies, umbrella organisations and professional associations

• First endorsement from country outside EU MS/AC (Tomsk Polytechnic University, Russia)

• But still some Member States and Associated Countries without any endorsements…

Endorsements from Poland

• The Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland with 107 member institutions plus 7 associated members – 12/05/2006

• The Independent Academic Forum – 14/06/2006

• The Polish Academy of Sciences with 79 research establishments – 28/07/2008

• International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology – 09/09/2010

• Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences – 29/09/2010

• Foundation for Polish Science – 09/02/2011

European Partnership for Researchers

• ERA Green paper – Expert Group report (2008) on “Realising a single labour market for researchers”

• COM Communication (2008) “Better careers and more mobility: a European partnership for researchers” Four main themes:

Open recruitment and portability of grants

Meeting the social security and supplementary pension needs of mobile researchers

Providing attractive employment and working conditions

Enhancing the training, skills and experience of researchers

EPR monitoring

• EPR implementation monitored by the Steering Group Human Resources and Mobility (SGHRM)

• Work in dedicated subgroups on concrete topics

Open Method of Coordination successful tool to reach consensus and a common approach on concrete (soft) measures (examples: European Framework for Research Careers, Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training)…

… but progress remains slow and fragmented

• Need to look again at the bigger picture!

Europe 2020 and the Innovation Union• COM Communication (03/2010) “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 Flagship Initiatives: Innovation Union, Agenda for New Skills and Jobs, Digital Agenda, Youth on the Move, etc.

• COM Communication (10/2010) “Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative - Innovation Union”

Innovation overarching policy objective

Main obstacles: unfavorable framework conditions & fragmentation of effort

The Innovation Union Commitments (1/3)

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

#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. Gender and dual career considerations should be fully taken into account in these strategies.


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

- to ensure that leading academics, researchers and innovators reside and work in Europe and

- to attract a sufficient number of highly skilled third country nationals to stay in Europe.


#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.

What are we already doing? (1/2)

• “Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training” (including adherence to principles of Charter & Code, “triple i”: international, innovative, intersectoral)

• “European Framework for Research Careers” to provide researcher competency classification independent of a particular career path or sector

• Support for the creation of “Pan-European Pension Funds for Researchers” (pilot schemes) by employers of researchers (e.g. universities, research centres)

• Assessment of implementation and impact of the “Scientific Visa Package” (report August 2011)

What are we already doing? (2/2)• Tool to support the implementation of Charter & Code:

“HR Strategy for Researchers” Voluntary, based on self-assessment and mutual learning

Open to all research organisations and funders - more than 130 institutions taking part (PL: FNP, IIMCB, Nencki)

Aim: include all major public employers and funders of researchers in Europe (critical mass, spill-over effects)

“HR Excellence in Research” logo awarded for significant progress in the process (47 awardees so far):

EURAXESS “Researchers in Motion” initiative

• Job & funding opportunities across Europe

Innovation Union Commitments #4 and #30

• Information on practical issues related to mobility


• Information regarding Charter & Code, Social Security coordination, Scientific Visa Package

Innovation Union Commitments #1, #4 and #30

• Infrastructure to maintain the link with European researchers abroad


Thank you for your attention!

[email protected]

Dr. Dagmar Meyer

European Commission - DG Research and Innovation

Unit B2 - “Skills”