Mobility of researchers: the EU proposes new prospects and opportunities

Brussels, 30 June 2004

At the conference "Brain drain, brain gain: new challenges" held today in Paris, Philippe Busquin, the European Research Commissioner, launched the new European network of mobility centres for researchers ERA-MORE. Bringing together 200 centres in 33 countries, this new instrument, supplementing the European web portal for the mobility of researchers, should help to improve information and practical assistance for researchers in Europe. This event was one of the highlights of two days (29-30 June) devoted to the mobility of researchers, and was attended by Mr François d’Aubert, the French Minister for Research, and over 700 scientists and representatives of local authorities, research bodies, industry and the media. Yesterday the ARTE TV station devoted an evening to the mobility of researchers, showing documentaries on the profession of researcher and women at the top, co produced by ARTE and the European Commission.

Commissioner Busquin said that it was urgent to find concrete solutions making it possible to overcome the current obstacles to geographical and intersectoral mobility, optimise scientific careers and increase Europe's attractiveness. We are now deploying a genuine mobility strategy, but it is necessary to go further. I have therefore proposed that mobility should be one of the priorities in the context of the new financial perspective for Europe but also at the centre of a vast awareness raising campaign aimed at the general public on researchers in Europe which will be launched by the European Commission next year.

700 000 new researchers

The political undertakings entered into at the European Councils in Lisbon in March 2000 and Barcelona in March 2002 have major implications for the situation of researchers in Europe, since to achieve the objective of 3% of GDP to be spent on research, the EU will need to recruit no fewer than 700 000 researchers by 2010.

New initiatives

In this connection, the European Commission, in close collaboration with the Member States has launched a series of initiatives aimed at improving the EU's attractiveness for researchers from all over the world, removing the obstacles to the mobility of researchers in Europe and promoting the profession of researcher at European level. These projects include:

• The launching of a European network of mobility centres (ERA-MORE). Bringing together 200 centres in 33 countries in Europe and outside the EU, the network provides customised assistance for researchers and their families.
• A new web mobility portal ERA-Careers designed to help researchers find jobs and provide comprehensive, up to date information about financial possibilities and legislation in force:

• The “Researchers in Europe 2005” initiative, a vast awareness-raising campaign at European level aimed at improving the social recognition of the profession of researcher in

  Item source: IP/04/824 Date: 30/06/2004 =>=>=>=>=>