EU sees science as part of solution to the crisis and vows to boost investment in R&D

European research ministers have made a commitment in San Sebastián to increase investment in R&D and to promote a culture of trust in scientists, without forgetting that research must be accountable to the public.

Speaking at a press conference following the working forum, which had three plenary sessions, the Spanish Minister of Science, Cristina Garmendia, read out the Donostia-San Sebastián Declaration, a document she said was “very timely” and supported “unanimously” by all the countries.

In the text, the EU states its belief that science “is part of the solution” to the economic crisis and its commitment to researchers playing an active role in recovery and growth.

“All science, ranging from the humanities and social sciences to natural sciences, and from basic research to technological development, have something to contribute here and now”, stressed Garmendia, expressing her pleasure with the results of the meeting.

The Spanish minister detailed the results of the informal meeting along with her Belgian and Hungarian counterparts, Benoit Cerexhe and Istual Varga.

“We see the European innovation plan and the launching of the 2020 Strategy as opportunities to place science and innovation firmly at the heart of Europe's future”, said the minister, setting out some of the actions with which this could be achieved.

She said there was agreement on promoting thematic conferences and evaluating the EU's commitment to R&D by means of specific indicators on investment and researcher mobility. This would give a detailed picture about the effectiveness and free movement of knowledge.
 
Garmendia added that the Spanish Presidency had achieved “a new and strong consensus” about the need to progress towards a culture of trust in scientists, while reinforcing accountability.

In relation to the electric vehicle, which will be the topic for discussion during the meeting of industry ministers on Tuesday, the European Commission's Director General of Research, José Manuel Silva, said it was important not only to consider the innovation possibilities of this initiative, but also other aspects such as credit facilities and the existence of a public market.

Another of the subjects for discussion among the delegates was the battle against poverty.

“The area between science and poverty must be more actively explored”, said the minister, announcing that the European Commission is looking into the possibility of Haitian citizens taking part in Commission programmes.

There was an intense working agenda at the research meeting in San Sebastián, with three plenary sessions attended by 10 ministers and more than 30 delegations.

The Spanish Presidency will now start to consolidate the results of these discussions into conclusions that it will present to the formal meeting to be held on 1 and 2 March in Brussels.

The informal meeting on competitiveness will conclude on Tuesday with the industry ministers focusing on developing a common strategy for the electric vehicle.