Brussels, 26 Apr 2004
Today European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin welcomed more than 1000 participants from Europe and beyond to a conference on "The Europe of Knowledge 2020: A vision for university-based research and innovation", in Liège (Belgium). Participants include Ministers, National and European Parliament Members, heads of universities, top-level scientists and industry leaders. The aim of the event, that will run to April 28, is to define the role of universities and prepare a European vision for university-based research and innovation for the next 15-20 years. The Commission will also present a study on the "Financing of University-based Research and Innovation". As competitiveness and mobility top the political agenda, there is a clear need to support and foster the contribution of universities in helping Europe meet the objectives set out by the March 2000 Lisbon European Council to turn Europe into the most dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. The conference will not only help to fully understand the European dimension of the challenges faced by universities in research, but it will also stimulate further debate on the Commission's Communication on "The role of universities in the Europe of Knowledge", ref. COM(2003)58 final.
"Are European universities under-funded, under-equipped or just unprepared to meet Europe's needs and aspirations in becoming the most competitive knowledge-based society in the world?" asked Commissioner Busquin. "Although European universities are playing a central role in achieving Europe's ambitious target of becoming "the most competitive knowledge-based society worldwide, we can no longer count on our haphazard funding of universities. Our future economic prosperity will largely depend on how our universities find resources to meet their future training and research needs. The conference will help define a comprehensive strategy on how to make the most of European universities' potential over the next 20 years."
Strong, well funded research-oriented universities
The conference will address all the main issues facing European universities today and those hampering their contribution to EU growth, job creation and quality of life. One of the shortcomings of the present system is the lack of strong well-funded research-oriented universities, not only in natural sciences but also in social sciences and humanities. Multi-disciplinary research depends on the concentration of research. Big companies locate their corporate laboratories close to strong research-oriented universities. Europe requires new schemes to support fundamental research on a competitive basis.
Research closely linked to teaching
Strong links between research and teaching are needed, particularly regarding the training of post-graduate students but also for undergraduate studies. This requires close co-operation between the different institutions and a greater mobility of people across the higher education/research system. All players are to be encouraged to co-operate so as to ensure that Europe has an adequate supply of labour to sustain its needs across all the R&D sectors.
Innovation, teaching and basic research
Innovation is to be promoted, while also striking a balance with the more traditional activities such as teaching and basic research. The creation of new knowledge and the training of high-level scientists must remain a key priority. The conference will foster dialogue between industry and universities to help strike that balance.
Keep learning
The conference will also address the increasing demand for people with university, or higher, degrees and the need for them to keep improving their professional profiles throughout their careers. This demands life-long learning, training opportunities, increased research co-operation leading to the creation of knowledge-intensive networks and the better dissemination of knowledge into the local industrial community.
Flexibility vs job security for researchers?
Across Europe, higher education systems are more and more decentralised. This has an impact on the employment and working conditions of academics. Participants will examine how higher education institutions can achieve a more diversified professional profile of researchers, while the current career path of researchers is often influenced by a system of scholarships, fellowships, short term contracts and periods of tenure.
Common rules for universities across Europe
University systems are very different across Europe and this lack of consistency and co-ordination can sometimes operate to the disadvantage of some. Although Member States are in charge of higher education/research policy, there is a need for a set of common rules that can be applied to the local context. The conference will study the issue of governance for public authorities and universities alike, with a view to establishing a level playing field across Europe in higher education and research based on shared guidelines and a common approach at the European level.
The need for more facts and figures
In order to have a better picture of the state of play in the financing of university-based research, the European Commission has commissioned a new study by the European University Association. The preliminary results will be released and discussed during the conference. Some extracts of the executive summary:
- Considerable institutional differences in methods of data collection, management and budget allocation, which poses major challenges in comparing the research environments of universities across Europe.
- While national R&I expenditure has not greatly increased between 1995 and 2001, total institutional expenditure on R&I in this period has significantly increased.
- Even if at the moment innovation remains a relatively marginal issue in comprehensive universities, many institutions perceive a danger that over-reliance upon external funds for short term applied research projects may be detrimental to basic research in the long term.
- There is a general expectation that funding sources will diversify in the future, thus slowly creating a culture change in many parts of the universities.
- Particular challenges face accession countries. However, in these countries academic staff development initiatives are at the forefront of institutional strategy.
- Universities are increasingly placing emphasis on the European level to develop their research activities, despite the relatively small amount of funding received from this source compared to national sources.
For further information please visit http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/univ. html
For additional information on this press event, please contact
Boris Kandziora, Press and Information Officer
DG Research, European Commission
Tel: +32 2 296 96 29; Fax: +32 2 295 82 20
E-mail: boris.kandziora @ cec.eu.int
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Programme: Spread over three days, the conference will address a number of key issues through the medium of plenary and parallel sessions. See annex.
Media Highlights: The programme will provide the media with a unique opportunity to gain a thorough and comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the university debate. In addition, there are ample opportunities for one-to-one interviews and participation in the full programme. The media is specifically invited to the following events:
Sunday 25th April 18:00
Welcome Cocktail & Buffet (participation is limited and media registration required)
Monday 26th April 09:00
Conference Opening in the presence of European Research Commissioner Philippe BUSQUIN and several European Ministers for Education
One-to-one interview opportunities
Monday 26th April 10:00
Press Conference: "The Role of Universities in building the Europe of Knowledge 2020" with key university representatives
One-to-one interview opportunities
Wednesday 28th April 13:00
Press Conference: "Europe of Knowledge 2020 – The way forward" with Philippe BUSQUIN, European Research Commissioner
One-to-one interview opportunities
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/research/i ndex_en.html
Item source: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/press /2004/pr2604en.cfm