In the beginning there was a researcher

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23 januari 2012 | The forming of the European Research Area should first focus on the persons doing the exploration: the researchers. The main concern of the Brussels’ League of European Research Universities (LERU) is that the European Research Area (ERA) will not become an abstract ‘animal’ caring for nothing but ‘productivity growth’.

“It is all too easy to talk about theoretical notions ofproductivity, or innovation, but where do these stem from?”,Katrien Meas (chief policy officer of LERU) asks rhetorically. “Inthe opinion of LERU, there is basic research at the source ofall innovation. And basic research requires highly skilled people.So it always boils down to people in the end.”

In their policy paper, LERU expands on this point:”Attracting talented individuals from anywhere in the world to aresearch career in Europe is the single most crucial factor indeveloping a globally competitive ERA. The EU should step up itsefforts to increase interaction with and attract top talent fromestablished and strong emerging competitors to institutions inEurope at all stages of a research career. Obstacles to researchermobility need to be addressed.”

Katrien Maes knows already that the European Commission will aimfor the introduction of EU-wide open recruitment for universities.”Right now universities are often bound to cumbersome recruitmentprocedures, or national governments pose restrictions with regardto remuneration of scientists. We want to move toward moreopenness.”