Research Strategy
From The Embassy of Good Science
A
In 2011, the Austrian Federal Government launched the Strategy for Research, Technology and Innovation for the next decade '"`UNIQ--ref-000006F4-QINU`"'. The strategy’s aim is to strengthen national research structures, focusing on excellence, fostering innovative capacity of companies, raising the efficiency of governance and linking research, technology and innovation for societal and economic challenges '"`UNIQ--ref-000006F5-QINU`"'. It is intended to be “a guiding instrument” for Austria to advance towards the most innovative countries in Europe '"`UNIQ--ref-000006F6-QINU`"'. Following up on the RTI Strategy, the Action Plan for a Competitive Research Area was drawn up by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy and presented in 2015. It contains measures within the remit of the Ministry for an enhanced implementation of the RTI Strategy of the Federal Government, in selected fields '"`UNIQ--ref-000006F7-QINU`"'.
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B
Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science launched the National strategy for development of scientific research in the Republic of Bulgaria 2017-2030 (Better Science for better Bulgaria). One of the Strategy’s objectives is to transform Bulgaria into center for advanced research and development of new technologies, recover and raise its international status and prestige in science in order to keep talented scientists in the country. It also aims to achieve long-term economic growth and improve the quality of life in Bulgaria '"`UNIQ--ref-00000719-QINU`"'.
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C
The Strategy for Education, Science and Technology of the Parliament of the Republic of Croatia from 2014 is based on a series of Croatian documents and publications on education and science and aims to propose measures aligned with the European Union’s strategies and objectives by 2025. It emphasizes that education and science can provide social stability and economic development, protect the Croatian cultural identity and place Croatia at the level of highly developed countries. One of the aims is also to develop innovative society and economy, adaptable to future challenges, and foster lifelong learning, science and innovation '"`UNIQ--ref-0000073C-QINU`"'.
At the core of the Croatian research strategy '"`UNIQ--ref-0000073D-QINU`"' are universities which play an important role in the creation and implementation of the research and educational process as well as to foster diversity, interdisciplinarity, multidisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity. Universities are expected to assume an active role in transferring knowledge and innovations economy and society and life-long learning. This aim requires strengthening the links between the universities and the private sector.
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D
In 2018, Danish government launched the research strategy Denmark – Ready for the Future (Danmark - Klar til Fremtiden). The Strategy has two ambitious objectives. First objective, focused on enhancing the quality of research, emphasizes that Danish research must be of the highest quality (Nobel-prize level), attract talented researchers, participate in international research and innovation must be enhanced '"`UNIQ--ref-0000075F-QINU`"'. Second objective concerns research and society. It highlights development and use of the new technologies, translation of research to practice in the public sector and promotion of research with aim of building bridges between research and public '"`UNIQ--ref-00000760-QINU`"'.
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E
The Estonian Research and Development and Innovation Strategy 2014-2020 “Knowledge-based Estonia” was approved by the Estonian government in 2013 and Parliament in 2014 '"`UNIQ--ref-00000792-QINU`"'. The Strategy set four main goals for Estonia. First, research in Estonia should reach high level and be diverse. This means internationally competitive and visible research, covering higher education and culture. Second, research and development reflects the needs of the Estonian society and economy. Third, research and development investments should encourage the development of target growth areas (information and communication technology, health technologies and services and more effective use of resources). Fourth, Estonia should be active and visible in international research and development cooperation '"`UNIQ--ref-00000793-QINU`"'.
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F
In 2013, Finnish government launched the Finland’s Strategy and Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2014-2020. The Strategy’s main scope was to be recognized for its “internationally competitive science and high-quality research infrastructures” by renewing teaching, society and the business sector using following measures: long-term development of research infrastructures, improvements to the access to and collaborative use of research infrastructures, supporting of the funding base of research infrastructures, provision of a basis for the methodological development of research infrastructures and evaluation of the significance and impact of research infrastructures '"`UNIQ--ref-00000008-QINU`"'.
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In 2013, France launched the research strategy France Europe 2020 A Strategic Agenda for Research, Technology Transfer and Innovation. The scope of the Strategy is to enable all areas of research in France better tackling on the scientific, technological, economic and societal challenges. It proposed nine lines of actions to achieve this scope: mobilise the research community around major societal challenges, reforge the research coordination and guidance system in France, promote technological research, develop digital training and infrastructures, foster innovation and technology transfer, ensure uptake on the scientific culture, develop programming suited to the major priorities in research and innovation, build consistency between sites and heighten the presence of French research in Europe and abroad '"`UNIQ--ref-000007D3-QINU`"''"`UNIQ--ref-000007D4-QINU`"'.
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G
In 2013, General Secretariat for Research and Technology launched [http://www.gsrt.gr/Financing/Files/ProPeFiles19/Executive%20Summary-2015-09-17-v04.pdf National Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization 2014-2020]. The Strategy presented a SWOT analysis of the Greek RD&I system. Based on main challenges identified in the analysis, the main objective of the National Research & Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3) was a transformation of the productive sector through research, technological development and innovation while mitigating regional disparities and creating sustainable employment. Specific priorities were identified within these eight fields: Agrofood, Life Sciences & Health – Pharma, Information and Communication Technologies, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Transport and Logistics, Material – Construction, Culture – Tourism – Cultural & Creative Industries. +
I
The Irish Government launched the five-year strategy on research and development, science and technology, entitled Innovation 2020. The Strategy’s vision is for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader with a sustainable, high employment economy and “a better society enjoying a good quality of life” '"`UNIQ--ref-00000811-QINU`"'. The focus is on innovation as a focal point in driving productivity growth and encouraging competitiveness.
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L
The Lithuania’s Progress Strategy “Lithuania 2030” reflects a national vision and priorities for development and guidelines for their implementation by 2030. It emphasizes that the Strategy was built on the principles of sustainable development, tangible and intangible national resources and social development, but it also points out the significant problems Lithuania has been facing, such as “identity crisis, the power of stereotypes, emigration, closed society, lack of tolerance and trust, lack of concern for one another and the environment, as well as fragile faith in country’s success”. Therefore, the Strategy aims to address these issues. Some of the key issues concern public approval and participation, so the engagement of the public is necessary for the Strategy to reach its objectives '"`UNIQ--ref-00000830-QINU`"'. At the end of 2020 the Lithuanian government approved the National Progress Program for 2021-2030, which aims to identify the main changes to be achieved in the country in the next decade, ensuring progress in the science, social, economic and security fields, and to mobilize the sources of financing for the implementation of these changes. The program sets out 10 long-term strategic goals, progress targets and quantified indicators to measure progress with targets for 2030. The strategic goals are implemented in accordance with three horizontal principles: innovation, sustainable development and equal opportunities for all, which aim to consistently form the values important for the progress of society and to promote the desired changes in attitudes and behaviour '"`UNIQ--ref-00000831-QINU`"'.
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The Luxembourg Government has launched the “National Research and Innovation Strategy”. The Strategy aims to provide the general framework that will allow for a targeted development of Luxembourg’s research ecosystem in the future. In addition, the government intends to maximise the impact of research on the country’s progress, and to position Luxembourg as a major international player visible through its research activities '"`UNIQ--ref-00000856-QINU`"'.
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M
In 2018, the Moldovan Government approved the National Development Strategy “Moldova 2030”. The overall aim of the Strategy is to improve the quality of citizens’ lives based on the four basic pillars: sustainable and inclusive economy, strong human and social capital, fair and efficient institutions and healthy environment. In order to develop these areas, 10 sustainable development objectives at national level have been set up by 2030, including: guaranteeing quality education, ensuring effective governance, increasing people’s access to infrastructure and improving working conditions '"`UNIQ--ref-00000879-QINU`"'.
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N
Research and higher education are central to the development of a sustainable society, where knowledge is the key to new, green and profitable jobs and a better and more efficient public sector. Technological development, with digitalisation as a pervasive element, offers great opportunities, but also offers challenges with regard to, among other things, privacy and social security. Inequalities in society are increasing, and contradictions are polarizing. At the same time, we face major challenges in terms of climate and environment, which can only be met in cooperation with other countries. This forms the framework for the government's long-term plan for research and higher education. The overall goals of the plan are to strengthen Norway's competitiveness and ability to innovate, meet major societal challenges and develop professional environments of outstanding quality. The plan has a ten-year perspective, with a specification of goals and focus areas for the coming four-year period. The government presented the first long-term plan for research and higher education in 2014. The long-term plan is revised every 4 years '"`UNIQ--ref-000008A7-QINU`"'.
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S
The Spanish Strategy on Science, Technology and Innovation 2013-2020 was launched by the General State Administration and the Regional Administrations in 2012. Since it was created at the time when country was experiencing serious economic difficulties which led to decreasing of funding with respect to public and company investment, the Strategy promotes the capacities of the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System and enables collaboration between all the stakeholders of the System while increasing the social and economic returns from investment in Research Development and Innovation (RDI). With regard to this, the Strategy defends the importance of scientific and technological progress as an indisputable element of social progress '"`UNIQ--ref-000008D3-QINU`"'. One of the Strategy’s aims is to define a strategic framework for RDI policies to promote structural reforms, establish incentives and determine the objectives and efforts required to create the RDI capacities that will make Spain a country of innovation, contribute to social and economic progress and reinforce their international leadership in a global setting '"`UNIQ--ref-000008D4-QINU`"'.
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This national strategy aims to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Sweden as a life sciences nation. It aims to create a functional ecosystem and the best conditions for life sciences. The strategy will provide the conditions for improved health by increasing innovation and advancing health and social care, making Swedish strengths visible globally. This roadmap will serve as a basis for discussion and support in this goal. It highlights three priorities of Sweden’s life sciences sector and high-quality, equitable, gender-equal and efficient health care '"`UNIQ--ref-000008F1-QINU`"'.
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T
What distinguishes Dutch science today can be explained by several factors: its external orientation, its non-hierarchical, open culture, the long track of record of successful research evaluations, and the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by institutes and individual researchers. To promote innovation and the development of new knowledge, there is active and close cooperation between government, the private sector, universities and the research institutions. The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has come up with a Science Strategy called: 2025 – Vision for Science choices for the future.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000092C-QINU`"' The government formulated a broad-based National Science Agenda where scientific strengths are directly linked to the social challenges. This strategic action aims to create or improve large-scale infrastructure and the development of a more responsive and dynamic system of institutions. Measures to promote scientific excellence, diversity and equality are part of talks with VSNU (The Association of Universities in the Netherlands). The agreement on a new framework also include other aspects, such as an updating of the current career paths structure, opportunities for young talent, more attention for teaching and the preparation of PhD students to pursue career opportunities in other sectors.
<u>Women in science</u>
Women in science are still underrepresented in the Netherlands. In 2010, the female-to-male ratio was 20%. The intent in the Dutch strategy is to rebalance this ratio to at least that of the European average by 2025. It also intends to promote the appointment of more women professors. Initiatives include for example the University of Groningen’s Rosalind Franklin Fellowship, which seeks to increase the number of women in senior tenured positions and which resulted in 65% of the Fellows in previous rounds to now hold an associate or full professorship.
<u>Funding</u>
The acquisition of indirect funding involves a high workload in preparing detailed research proposals while the percentage of proposals which are actually approved is relatively low. The government wishes to see less pressure to publish and acquire funding and keep the science of high quality. '"`UNIQ--references-0000092D-QINU`"'
