European Research Area- The Wider Policy Context for EURAXESS

1. European Research Area- The Wider Policy Context for EURAXESS Brian Ditcham Senior Policy Advisor, International Knowledge and Innovation Unit

2. European Research Area • Aim of ERA is “single market for research” • Launched in 2000 - based on five “axes” • Joint Programming- getting national funding programmes to work more closely together in tackling major challenges. • Researcher careers and mobility- making research an attractive career for the best and brightest. • Research Infrastructures- new legal framework for European infrastructures adopted. • Intellectual Property rights- current focus on role of IP rights in knowledge transfer from universities. • Policy framework for International S&T collaboration-working together in relations with the wider world.

3. ERA progress • Heads of Government called for ERA to be completed by 2014 • New ERA provisions in the Lisbon treaty • UK ahead of the game (open recruitment, career development, focus on excellence)? • Consultation followed by Commission’s ERA Communication published July 2012 • Non-legislative approach but if insufficient progress legislation might be an option in future.

4. The ERA Communication • Five key priorities: • More effective national research systems • Optimal transnational co-operation and competition • An open labour market for researchers • Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research • Open access to scientific knowledge and data. • Sets out actions needed by MS, Commission and research stakeholders • ERA Monitoring System being developed to assess progress

5. ERA Axis on Researcher Careers and Mobility- “European Partnership on Researchers” • Structured round four themes- • Open and transparent recruitment procedures and grant portability • Meeting social security and supplementary pensions needs of mobile researchers • Attractive employment and working conditions • Enhancing the training, skills and experience of European researchers

6. UK Position • UK has a good story to tell on this agenda • Already have a very open research base- as Manchester University’s recent Nobel Laureates show • The UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers – and the support mechanisms which underpin it- have set a benchmark for Europe in promoting career development, skills training and professionalism for researchers • This good environment recognised by the success of UK universities in obtaining the “Human Resources Excellence in Research” logo- some 67 to date

7. EURAXESS Role • The EURAXESS portal and its national portals play a major role in delivering the European Partnership • Jobs advertising element particularly important to Commission at the moment • Act as source of information and advice for mobile researchers • Role in spreading information on researcher rights

8. EURAXESS- BIS role • BIS sees a high level of UK participation in EURAXESS at all levels as a crucial means to promote the UK as an attractive destination for the best researchers • We provide funding to the British Council in their excellent work on managing the UK EURAXESS portal • Would also encourage universities to consider becoming EURAXESS services centres as a good way of making established commitments to researchers even more visible