EU ministers in charge of science launched at Brdo pri Kranju on Tuesday the "Ljubljana Process", which would lead to the formation of a single and efficient European research area through better coordination of all stakeholders at all levels of decision-making.
"You will be hearing a lot about the Ljubljana Process for many years to come," European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik told the press after the first day of proceedings at the informal meeting of EU ministers in charge of research.
Slovenian Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Mojca Kucler Dolinar, who chaired the meeting, labelled the launch of the process a "small revolution" in efforts to bolster the European research area.
The initiative arose from the conviction that more cooperation and synergy are needed to improve research in order to create a globally competitive Europe able of competing with the likes of the US and Japan, as well as the rising powers of India and China.
"A fully realised European research area that will create an environment conductive to research is a key in the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, which addresses these challenges," said Kucler Dolinar, who highlighted the "knowledge triangle" of research, innovation and education.
The Ljubljana Process involves a long-term vision for the European Research Area which is based on the free movement of knowledge (researchers moving freely across Europe) and modern universities and research organisations, according to the minister.
Moreover, all actors in research and the private sector should enjoy conditions favourable to investing in research and have access to world-class research infrastructure, whereas citizens should benefit from the contribution of large-scale R&D to tackle major societal challenges.
The ministers also stressed the need for better political governance to steer and promote the development of the European research area and to build links with education, innovation and cohesion policies. This also calls for a more effective information system to monitor progress.
The Slovenian EU presidency hopes the vision will be endorsed by the EU Council by the end of 2008. Kucler Dolinar said this was an "ambitious yet realistic target".
The efforts to improve governance will meanwhile proceed through the next three presidencies of France, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
"We have set the compass with this vision, but as far as governance goes, we are talking about which sails it is appropriate to lift at certain winds to move in the direction that the compass is pointing - this is the more difficult part," Potocnik said.
Overall, two of the major obstacles that the EU is facing in its efforts to bolster research are brain drain and the failure to raise spending on research and development. However, Commissioner Potocnik is upbeat about both issues.
He said the EU was trying to change brain drain into the positive concept of "brain circulation", which is essential to the functioning of research. He said there were a number of policies to attract researchers who have left Europe and policies aimed at making Europe more attractive.
As for the target of raising R&D spending to 3% of GDP by 2010, Potocnik said the goal was probably unattainable, but its very existence has changed many things for the better.
Moreover, figures show that European companies are increasing R&D spending, but not necessarily in Europe, which keeps official figures low.
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