The Scientist: What are your immediate priorities for science in the EU?
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Sophie van Malleghem: Research will be specifically highlighted in the framework of Europe 2020, which was approved by the heads of state and government at the European Council in June. A flagship initiative of the 2020 strategy is "the Innovation Union," which aims to improve the conditions of access to funding for research, and permits industries to be more innovative. This includes facilitating access for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to EU research programs.
One of the major topics over the coming months relating to research is improving the free circulation of knowledge within the [European Research Area]. This will specifically require following up on the creation of the European partnership for researchers, to improve mobility and status of researchers in Europe. A major challenge is the simplification of procedures. Researchers need to be able to spend less time filling out forms and more time in the lab!
TS: How do you see these priorities changing over time?
SvM: The move towards a sustainable economy is one of the objectives of the EU2020 strategy: An economy based on innovation and knowledge must inevitably use resources more efficiently. Belgium can in fact take advantage of its practical experience in this matter since it is an important center of excellence in climate change research, notably through meteorological research (at the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium), the polar base in the Antarctic, and its involvement in IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), where Belgium is represented by its vice president, Jean-Pascal van Ypersele.
TS: Does science funding/policy have a role to play in recovery from the global recession?
SvM: Innovation policies will underpin the strategy for the economic recovery of Europe. The EU2020 strategy predicts good inroads in this direction.
SME access to research programs is in fact a particularly important issue. SMEs can help to strengthen the link between research and innovation. Currently, about 80 percent of SMEs that apply for European research funding are denied. This can be explained by the cumbersome application procedures, and criteria may be too strict. Besides the fact that SMEs constitute more than 90 percent of businesses, they are generally the most innovative and most dependent on public funds.
TS: What would you like to achieve during Belgium's presidency?
SvM: In addition to the above, various events and conferences are scheduled during the presidency. Among the most important, we can mention: a conference on research in the field of safety (with an emphasis on the role of SMEs in this matter); a conference on marine and maritime research; a consultation on careers and the mobility of researchers; a conference on excellence in universities, and so on. These conferences will fuel political debate in the Council.
For the general public, there is the "European Science Centre" exhibition, which will demonstrate the practical benefits of science and research in the prestigious Belgian Royal Palace. It is part of the Presidential framework this year and therefore has a special significance. I hope that many visitors from home and abroad will participate in this great event!
TS: You say on your website that you're committed to making policy for citizens, to represent them. Scientists are citizens like anybody else: what do you hope to achieve for them?
SvM: Improving the mobility and status of researchers, and reducing the bureaucratic load are priorities for the Belgian Presidency.
A petition signed by about 11,000 researchers advocated a simplification of administrative procedures at the European level. The European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, has already signaled the intention of the Commission to go further in this direction, and she can obviously count on the support of Belgium.
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