Science Europe

Science Europe (SE) represents 40 major public organisations that fund and/or perform excellent, ground-breaking research in Europe. As bodies governed by public law, the directives on public procurement are of direct relevance to our members operations.

Science Europe (SE) represents 40 major public organisations that fund and/or perform excellent, ground-breaking research in Europe. As bodies governed by public law, the directives on public procurement are of direct relevance to our members operations.

Science Europe welcomes the opportunity to react to the European Commission’s (EC) Inception Impact Assessment for a ‘Proposal for a legal act laying down requirements for Artificial Intelligence’. Science Europe Member Organisations, major national research funding (RFOs) and performing organisations (RPOs), are important users and producers of data.

Research and Innovation are strongly interlinked. The Innovation Act should enable the effective valorisation of research into innovation, with excellence as a key criterion for research assessment. Therefore, the objectives of this act should be built build on the foundation of supporting excellent research activities and sound ethical values.

Access, interoperability, and the use of high-quality data are cornerstones of research and innovation. Science Europe, therefore, welcomes the initiative of the European Commission, as outlined in the European Strategy for Data from 19 February 2020, to create a single market for data that would enable the digital transformation of society through more and better access to data.

The free movement of people, knowledge, and expertise is a cornerstone of an effective and attractive European Research Area (ERA). A significant barrier to this mobility is the limited portability of qualifications and skills across the EU.

Science Europe welcomes that the European Commission consults stakeholders on its Inception Impact Assessment for a ‘Legislative framework for the governance of common European data spaces’. Science Europe Member Organisations, major national research funding and performing organisations, have a vast experience as users and producers of data.

Research Infrastructures (RIs) are of fundamental and strategic importance to the European Research Area. They are a vital component of both European and global research ecosystems, offering unique facilities and resources to the research community, supporting fundamental research on the basis of excellence and knowledge advancement.

Despite progress, many challenges still hinder progress towards equality, diversity, and inclusion in Europe, including in research and innovation. According to She Figures data, while women make up 47% of the graduate talent pool, they occupy only a third of senior research positions and a quarter of the positions of heads of Higher Education Institutions. This gap is even starker in STEM and business fields.

The new ERA governance has been characterised by more open and inclusive exchanges, including with stakeholders. This has led to increased ownership over EU policy and a successful Policy Agenda 202224. The ERA Act should build on the major developments driven by these policy interventions and the EUs Framework Programmes, as well as on support from the European Commission and Council, to further develop a coherent…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already widely used across all sectors and in all parts of society and it bears a lot of potential for research, innovation, and the economy. Science Europe, the representation of major national research funding and performing organisations, welcomes the fact that the European Commission (EC) intends to update its liability rules for AI.

The free movement of people, knowledge, and expertise is a core component of an effective and attractive European Research Area (ERA). It is vital that research professionals are provided with opportunities for mobility in an equitable and inclusive manner as a means of gaining expertise, experience, and new skills. Done effectively, this can boost the quality and impact of research across the ERA.