At the request of Portugal’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, EU research ministers will meet remotely on Wednesday, 3 February, for an informal meeting mainly focused on promoting research careers.
The informal meeting, which will be attended by European Commissioner for Innovation Mariya Gabriel, will notably include a (virtual) working lunch with ministers and heads of private foundations in Europe.
Discussions are expected to focus on private foundations’ potential increased collaboration with national agencies and the EU with the aim of promoting researchers’ careers in Europe in the coming years.
Portugal’s Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education Manuel Heitor believes that the EU “needs more scientists” (see EUROPE 12633/17).
In its programme, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council had thus committed to prioritising the professionalisation of research careers by including them in EQAVET—the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training.
“In this context, we will look at interconnection, mobility and the review of evaluation systems, in order to improve working conditions and salaries and reduce precarious employment. We will promote the balanced circulation of talent in Europe and beyond”, the Presidency promised. All these points are therefore expected to be raised this Wednesday. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)