The European Commission, in concert with key research organizations and funding agencies in the European Union (EU), yesterday (July 17) signed a statement and memorandum of understanding pledging to help EU researchers cross European borders to conduct research—a long-standing goal of many EU organizations that have pushed for the creation of the European Research Area (ERA).
“Today marks an important milestone and a basis for a new era," Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, EU commissioner for research, innovation, and science, declared at yesterday’s ceremony in Brussels. "The ERA is an idea whose time has come."
“Almost 80 percent of the research community has indicated that a lack of open and transparent recruitment hinders international mobility,” Robert-Jan Smits, the European director general for research, added at a press conference. “We are asking member states to step up the pursuit of joint research agendas, enhance competitive funding for institutions and projects and invest efficiently in ...
