ERA Portal Austria – Science Europe publishes reaction to Pact for Research and Innovation

On 23 July 2021, Science Europe published a reaction to the Commission Proposal for a Council Recommendation on a Pact for Research and Innovation. The organsiation of 38 European public research funders and performers welcomes the inclusion of a common set of values and principles in the EC’s proposals that it also shares, as well as the Pact’s emphasis on research and scientific knowledge. Science Europe supports the reaffirmation of the investment target of 3% of EU GDP dedicated to research and development, as well as the new 1.25% EU GDP public effort target to be achieved by Member States by 2030. It also advocates for a systematic inclusion of stakeholders. The Pact must be implemented in a relevant way for the research activity in the ERA, meaningfully involving research communities and R&I stakeholders in the development and implementation of ERA policies, Science Europe says. Last but not least, Science Europe welcomes the emphasis on global outreach and cooperation with third countries and calls for the countries associated to the EU Framework Programmes, in particular the UK and Switzerland, to be included in ERA’s development process.