Recent News
Joint statement concerning Marie Curie Actions in Horizon 2020
12 December 2011
Eurodoc and the Marie Curie Fellows Associations have jointly issued a response to the ‘Horizon 2020’ framework. We warmly welcome the European Commission’s affirmation that ‘Excellent Science’ should be given high priority in the EU’s research and innovation funding for 2014-2020. At the same time, we are very concerned that the Marie Curie Actions (MCA) does not reflect the EU’s aspiration. We note that there has been a significant decrease in the overall share of MCA budget in the Horizon 2020 framework ~7% in comparison to its actual allocation in FP7 ~9%. Such a significant decrease in funding will create an unfavourable situation, especially for southern as well as new member states.
We urge member states and the members of the European Parliament to ensure that the overall ‘Excellent Science’ budget will be increased, but particularly the Marie Curie Actions. Creative solutions should be sought, such as creating a mechanism to make extra money available when the broader economic situation improves. You can download the press release here.
ERA Consultation Contribution (5): Statement concerning the role of the Arts and Humanities
30 November 2011
The European Research Area is designed to improve quality of life by making Europe a place where scientific research, technological development, and innovation thrive and address the major challenges of our times. However, the major challenges of our times cannot all be solved by science or the pursuit of technological innovations and the input of researchers representing the arts and humanities should be consulted. The humanities consider the problematic questions of a “scientific” approach towards progress and development. The role of the arts must also be taken seriously as a creative force which transforms the world, constructing new visions of Europe and humanity at large.
You can download the file here and contact the Interdisciplinarity Working Group for more information at interdisciplinary@council.eurodoc.net.
ERA Consultation Contribution (4): Intersectoral Boundary Spanning
26 November 2011
In this fourth contribution to the European Research Area consultation, we address the issue of intersectoral transfer possibilities for PhDs between the academic and non-academic sectors. Here, ‘intersectoral boundary spanning’ constitutes an important strategy in the attempt to increase the research intensity of European economies. By facilitating mobility of junior researchers across sectors and fostering the development of transferable skills of doctoral candidates, ties between academic and non-academic sectors will be strengthened. This enables an intensified knowledge transfer, promotes future cooperation and boosts the reputation of doctorate holders in industry and other non-academic sectors. As intersectoral boundary spanning remains under-discussed so far, we point to two exemplary action fields which should be approached.
You can download the file here
ERA contribution brief on Nature
23 November 2011
On 16 November 2011, Sverre Lundemo (coordinator of the Mobility Working Group) spoke with Nature regarding Eurodoc’s contribution to the European Research Area (ERA) public consultation. He discussed the second ERA paper on ‘Recognising PhDs as professionals’ and the brief can be found here. The brief focussed on how could be accomplished at the EU-level. Following up on this, Eurodoc will be issuing a statement on the use of the terms of ‘doctoral candidates’ versus ‘doctoral students’ shortly.
ERA Consultation Contribution (3): Lifting Barriers and Moving Researchers in the European Union
21 November 2011
At the heart of the European Research Area is a very simple idea: the free movement of knowledge. Although the notion of ‘free movement’ is as old as the European Union (EU) itself, the fifth freedom is new. We give attention to researcher mobility because, according to the Innovation Union targets, the EU needs at least one million researchers by 2020. We show that mobility is a very risky undertaking
for most researchers if these barriers are not removed. In this third contribution from Eurodoc to the ERA consultation, we highlight several key barriers still in place and suggest ways of lifting them.
You can download the file here
