ACTIVITIES 2005 - European Academy of Sciences and Arts

Laibacher – Deklaration – Deklaration vom vom Herbstplenum
am am 21.10.2005
LISBON CRITERIA: OUTDREAMED?
The The Ljubljana Declaration
on Improving on Improving the the Intellectual, Social Social and and Economic Conditions for for Research
and and Development in Europe in Europe
The The European Academy of Sciences of Sciences and and Arts, Arts, the the Slovenian Academy of Sciences of Sciences
and and Arts, Arts, and and the the representatives of the of the Central Central and and Eastern Eastern European Academies,
assembled in Ljubljana in Ljubljana on October on October 21, 21, 2005, 2005, at the at the symposium »Natural »Natural Sciences Sciences in in
Contemporary Society« Society« are are addressing on behalf on behalf of participants of participants the the following DecDeclarationlaration to the to the public public and and the the European Union Union authorities:
The The European Union Union is, in is, spite in spite of numerous of numerous declarations and and other other measures for for
increasing the the economic efficiency, growth growth and and development to become to become the the most most
prosperous society, society, still still lagging lagging behind behind the the leading leading countries and and the the gap gap is even is even
widening. The The measures taken taken in the in the European Union Union to amplify to amplify scientific research,
development, innovativeness and and economic power, power, including the the framework proprogrammes and and various various declarations, have have demonstrated to be to unproductive be unproductive and and not not
efficient.
The The measures have have not not been been able able to prevent to prevent closing closing of numerous of numerous vital vital branches of of
the the industry industry and/or and/or moving moving their their research research and and production facilities facilities out out of Europe. of Europe.
This This is, for is, for example, especially the the case case in chemical in chemical and and pharmaceutical industries,
just just mentioning some some of the of the most most crucial crucial ones. ones. The The consequence is not is not only only frustrafrustrationtion and and lack lack of motivation, of motivation, but but also also losing losing jobs jobs and and prospects for for future. future. Because Because of of
that, that, the the most most creative creative and and talented talented brains brains are are migrating out out of Europe of Europe what what in the in the
long long term term will will have have negative negative effects effects in numerous in numerous fields, fields, including the the higher higher educaeducation.tion. There There should should be a be more a more open open and and transparent engagement between between policy policy makers makers
and and the the scientific community in developing in developing policy policy and and implementation of political of political
decisions, particularly those those relating relating to the to the research, structural and and cohesion cohesion funds funds
which which will will have have a significant a significant effect effect on on research research particularly in the in the new new member member
states. states.
The The intellectual, social social and and economic conditions must must be created be created which which will will attract attract
the the best best brains brains and and stimulate their their independent research research activity activity
1. 1. There There should should be be a more a more open open and and transparent dialogue dialogue between between policy policy
makers makers and and the the scientific community in developing in developing policy policy and and implementationtion
of political of political and and economic decisions, particularly those those relating relating to the to the
research, structural and and cohesion cohesion funds funds which which will will have have a significant a significant effect effect
on research on research particularly in the in the new new member member states states
2. 2. High High quality quality basic basic research, as a as source a source of break-through of break-through in knowledge in knowledge and and
technology must must be stimulated be stimulated by the by the European Research Council Council
3. 3. A more A more efficient efficient and and innovative system system for for research research must must be created be created ununderpinned by by the the combined efforts efforts of higher of higher education, research research instituinstitutions,tions, and and industry industry and and commerce.
4. 4. The The original original proposal proposal for for the the European FP7 FP7 budget budget must must represent the the
minimum.
5. 5. The The responsibility of scientists of scientists is first is first to ethics, to ethics, truth truth and and knowledge.
The The conditions for for early early stage stage researchers in Europe in Europe are are good good and and improving - the - the
Commission is encouraging is encouraging recognition of the of the contribution of early of early stage stage researchersers
(PhD (PhD students students and and postdocs) and and the the opportunities for for mobility mobility are are attractive.
However with with the the reduction of public of public sector sector laboratories around around Europe, Europe, the the reducreductiontion of corporate of corporate research research and and the the fragile fragile position position of the of the Universities across across Europe, Europe,
the the mid mid to long to long term term career career prospects are are not not very very good good and and we we believe believe this this is ais
a
significant element element in the in the recruitment problems.
Potential Potential solutions are: are:
a/ greater a/ greater emphasis on the on the acquisition and and recognition of skills of skills gained gained in re- in researchsearch
training training which which can can be used be used in other in other careers careers to encourage to encourage mobility mobility into into
and and out out of research of research careers careers - this - this is part is part of the of the third third cycle cycle Bologna Bologna proposals but but
could could be strengthened be strengthened
b/ less b/ less bureaucratic and and stronger stronger support support for for SMEs SMEs where where much much innovation is is
being being done done and and is a is major a major and and attractive source source of employment of employment for for researchers,
albeit albeit often often rather rather insecure insecure
c/ more c/ more flexible flexible career career structures in the in the Universities and and research research in general. in general.