ESF comment on Infrastructures

Since its establishment in 1974, the European Science Foundation (ESF) has had a mandate to facilitate cooperation in the use of existing facilities and in the planning and provision of new facilities. Over the years, ESF has carried out many studies and assessments. It is therefore no surprise that ESF regards the provision of research infrastructures within Europe as a key factor in the development of the European Research Area (ERA) and especially in providing a robust, up to date and attractive research environment which will retain and attract the best brains from Europe and the rest of the World. The ESF was pleased to be able to be a co organiser , with the European Commission and the Ministry of Education, Research and Technology in France, which currently holds the Presidency of the EU, of the major conference held in Strasbourg on 18 to 20 September 2000. (click here for the conference report).

This meeting, bringing together over 400 infrastructure providers and users from the research community alongside policy makers from national research agencies (for the most part ESF Member Organisations) and officials from Ministries achieved a remarkable consensus as to the way ahead. The meeting was also addressed by Philippe Busquin, EU Commissioner for Research, and the Ministers or their representatives from France, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Hungary and Austria as well as from the European Investment Bank. The meeting was based on the work of six Preparatory Panels covering: the role of infrastructures in research; industrial and socio-economic aspects; the international dimension; evaluation process and impact monitoring; infrastructure networking; and towards a European policy on research infrastructures   .The Conference was held in the context of the recognition by the European Council and the EU Council of Research Ministers that infrastructures for research was of prime importance europa.eu.int/council/off/conclu/index.htm and ue.eu.int/newsroom/main.cfm

The general consensus re-stated the importance of research infrastructures to the European research project and emphasised that this meant not only large facilities of the type with which most people are familiar but also the high bandwidth computer networking provision for research in Europe and facilities such as museum collections and databases which are vital not only for the natural sciences but especially for the humanities and social sciences. The meeting also concluded that there was a need for increased investment in research infrastructures with new methods for its funding and for a clearer and better defined method for the provision of scientific advice and decision-making.

These conclusions are set out in the declaration of the Conference Steering Committee, comprising the Chairpersons and rapporteurs of the six Preparatory Panels 

ESF, in its official response, warmly welcomes and endorses this Declaration which covers all the main points of agreement from the Conference. Enric Banda, ESF’s Secretary General and Chairman of the policy Preparatory Panel F, says " The recognition, at the highest political level in Europe, that research infrastructure is one of the keystones of the successful implementation of the European Research Area is a significant achievement for European science. I am particularly pleased that the role of ESF has also been recognised and I wish to emphasise that we see this as one of providing the highest quality scientific advice, working with all the main organisations and ‘players’ in this field. I believe that what is now needed from the scientific community is to seize this opportunity to strengthen the science base in Europe by working in partnership. In ESF, we are committed to the development of this partnership approach".

Reinder van Duinen, the President of ESF and also President of the Netherlands Research Organisations (NWO), emphasised that many of the decisions on research infrastructures are matters for national and other research organisations and that only the very large facilities involve inter-governmental decisions. He said " I not only welcome a major role for ESF and its Member Organisations but also the recognition that there is a need for a new method for Governments and the European Commission to receive the advice from the scientific community. At the same time, we must not overload the political system but accept that, within the national research agencies, we have a responsibility to devote adequate resources to infrastructures and the science base. Naturally, this cannot be done without a realistic funding provision at all levels".

The ESF looks forward, in partnership with other major European science groupings, to be able to provide an ongoing system of high quality science advice on research infrastructure needs across the whole science spectrum.

Press contacts:

Mr. Jens Degett 
Head of Communication and Information, ESF
+33 (0)3 88 76 71 32

Notes for editors:

Issued 11.10.2000

For further information contact: Jens Degett

Category: Media Centre, Press Releases 2000