Towards Strengthened Research and Innovation Systems Across Europe: Science Europe Recommendations to Reduce Research and Innovation Disparities and Foster Brain Circulation

Substantial discrepancies exist between European research and innovation (R&I) capacities. (i.e. there is a gap of 3% between the highest and the lowest expenditure; OECD 2021). Moreover, new societal and economic challenges, a rapidly evolving global R&I landscape with a fierce competition for R&I leadership and, the consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine, risk expanding the existing gaps between different areas of Europe. Moreover, the non-association of UK and Switzerland in Horizon Europe is also a risk factor for the entire EU.

Leveraging the potential of Europe’s existing talent, developing new capacities, and optimising and spreading the benefits of research and innovation throughout the Union, is therefore more important than ever. Europe must reinforce its position as a top knowledge hub and enhance its competitiveness and ability to address societal challenges. Moreover, urgent action is necessary to reinforce and facilitate mobility of researchers between European countries.

A strict distinction is often made between the countries sometimes called ‘widening’ and ‘non-widening’. This must be nuanced: there are high quality research and researchers in all European countries, and there can be large R&I performance discrepancies within ‘non-widening’ countries. As major European organisations that fund or perform ground-breaking research, Science Europe Member Organisations are committed to support capacity building across Europe. They have developed or supported initiatives to reinforce their national R&I systems, using both national and EU funding such as the ‘Widening participation and spreading excellence’ instruments of Horizon Europe, and the European Structural and Investment Funds. They have shared their activities and experience in a series of workshops and exchanges in 2022.