FCT hosts the 12th Meeting of the Research Policy Group

FCT hosted today, October 14th, the 12th Meeting of the Research Policy Group (RPG), a biannual informal meeting of European senior officials responsible for research, which was held under the theme The Future of Research Careers in the European Research Area. The discussion focused on the future of the European Research Area (ERA), following the recent Communication A new ERA for Research and Innovation by the European Commission, with a focus on the European dimension of research careers and the mobility of researchers and circulation of talent.

The issues addressed at this meeting are a priority for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in the first half of 2021, and the conclusions of this meeting should contribute to the inter-ministerial meeting on the European Research Area, to be held on October 20, under the aegis of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The meeting, chaired by Helena Pereira, President of FCT, and by the Co-Chairs of ERAC, Jean-Eric Paquet and Fulvio Esposito, brought together Directors of the European Commission, senior officials from European Member States and associated countries responsible for Research, and also invited members of the scientific community. The three sessions of the meeting focused on the discussion of research careers as the basis of the ERA, challenges and opportunities for a fair promotion of brain circulation and intersectoral mobility and career paths.

The President of FCT welcomes the outcome of the discussions, which strengthened the convergence of ideas and motivation on these matters, stating that "researchers are a pillar for scientific development and this is a unique opportunity to take the necessary steps so that researchers can have a European career and exercise it freely across borders and different systems", and adding that "the role of funding agencies is essential in this challenge and programs such as the Stimulus to Scientific Employment developed in Portugal are a key piece to strengthen the scientific and technological system".

The meeting was closed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, who stressed that the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council will seek to strengthen science/employment/resilience relationships, promoting new frontiers for European science through open collaborative R&I, and "researchers for Europe".

See the Meeting's Program.