Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Optimising the Research Climate: National and European Roles A macroclimate approach Charles H.C.M. Buys Vice-President NWO

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 2 An optimal research climate in Europe is all the more important since: –System changes towards a sustainable economy and society have become necessary in view of the global financial and economic crises –Under the new administration, the USA will recover as a major force of attraction for global talent –The new economies intensively investing in research and innovation are also becoming respectable competitors for global talent

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 3 The ERA concept, therefore, needs and deserves keen attention from the EU member states. It raises, however, the important questions: –What to do on a national level? –What to do on a European level?

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 4 –EC research investments should not be used by politicians as an argument to reduce public research investments on a national level –National and European efforts should reinforce each other

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 5 Talent Selection –National competitive schemes should serve as a breeding ground for the ERC grant schemes –Condition: ERC grants larger than national grants; lower success rate

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 6 CAREERS TALENT SCHEMES NWO Spinoza (nominations)Max 4 prizes per year € 2,5 M Vici (open for researchers from abroad)8-15y post PhD 30 grants € 1,5 M (5y) Vidi (open for researchers from abroad)3-8y post PhD 80 grants € 800 K (5y) Veni (open for researchers from abroad) Rubicon (open for researchers from abroad) 0-3y post PhD 150 grants max. 1y post PhD € 250 K (3y) € variable (max 2y) Toptalent Graduate Schools 45 PhD grants€ 180 K

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 7 € 3.5 M Spinoza Vici Vidi Veni Rubicon MOBILITYMOBILITY Advanced Grant Starting Grant Marie Curie € 2.5 M € 1.5 M € 800 K € 250 K

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 8 Do the NWO talent schemes serve as a breeding ground for the ERC schemes? –ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grantees 27 –Previous NWO talent grant holder 20 (74%) –ERC Advanced Investigator Grantees 19 –Previous NWO talent grant holder 18 (95%)

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10 In order not to lose our talented researchers, they must be given adequate tools : –Availability of appropriate research infrastructure is essential, both on a national and on a European level –The ESFRI roadmap represents an important step forward. Implementation? Linked mobility programmes necessary –National roadmaps for research infrastructure should be set up as well, with appropriate budgets –Money from structural funds is available to member states with R&D intensities below average, for them to come up to an advisable level

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 11 How to deal with big research proposals for which the costs exceed existing national and European funds ? –Big supranational research programmes will be necessary to find innovative solutions for the grand challenges of our present societies –Many significant innovations of great societal relevance came from fundamental research and serendipity, not from planned applied research –Still, relevance for industry and society is considered a criterion for research at least as important as excellence by most politicians –Not surprising that also the EC has always held that view, with the ERC being the important recent exception

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Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 13 Towards joint programming in Research: Working together to tackle common challenges more effectively EC Communication July 2008 –Consultation of national priorities (themes) –Determination of common denominators –Decision by Competitiveness Council –Formulation of common vision of Member States involved in selected themes –Translation into a strategic research agenda Government-driven, top-down processes on different levels

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 14 An alternative approach? (1) –European top scientists in the different research fields know each other, have regular contacts with each other, and often work and publish together. –They collaborate on projects of a budget size that is modest compared to what their ambitions deem necessary. –Progress therefore occurs in small steps

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 15 An alternative approach ? (2) –Why not create a science-driven, bottom-up process to tackle the common challenges posed by the great problems of our societies? –Wouldn’t that work more effectively than a government-driven, top-down process?

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 16 The EuroBioFund model –EuroBioFund: a project run from by the ESF in conjunction with and with financial support from the EC –Aim: to establish a strategic instrument for the dialogue and coordination of European life science funders and performers

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 17 The EuroBioFund method –Annual open call for cutting-edge research ideas of European scale and scope (necessitating a transnational approach) from European scientists –Selection of best proposals by steering committee –Annual brokerage event to provide the possibility of obtaining funding for the selected proposals via invited European funding bodies

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 18 Example –Metagenomics of the Human Intestinal Tract for Health –Aim: to enable modulation of the microbial populations of the human intestinal tract in order to optimise human health and well-being –Requested budget: €500 million for 5 yrs

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 19 Example (cont’d) –Status: started with 13 partners from academia and industry from 8 countries with a budget of €20 million (11.4 from EC) –European initiative has been an incentive for The Human Microbiome Project in the USA with a budget of $115 million –Further support sought to maintain a competitive edge in Europe –Preparation of a white paper on the potential of metagenomics in human health

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 20 An alternative approach! –Open call for transnational cutting-edge ideas of European or global scale challenges and scope –Selection of the best proposals by ERC panels for three domains (S & H; M, P, IC etc; LS) –Prioritisation by the ERC –Subscribing by interested EU and associated countries with specific budgets (cf. ESFRI Roadmap)

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