FCT hosts the 12th Meeting of the Research Policy Group

Today, October 14, FCT hosted the 12th Meeting of the Research Policy Group (RPG), an informal biannual meeting of senior European leaders responsible for research, on the theme of 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 topics covered at this meeting are priorities 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, which will take place on October 20th, under the aegis of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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

The President of the FCT welcomes the outcome of the discussions, which have strengthened the convergence of ideas and motivation on these issues, 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", 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 part of strengthening the scientific and technological system".

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

See the Meeting Program.