Human Resources and Mobility
in the European Research Area
Georges Bingen
European Commission, DG Research
Europe needs researchers
The European Research Area (1/2000)
The Lisbon European Council (3/2000)
• The Commission together with the Member
States must take the necessary steps to
remove obstacles to mobility of researchers in
Europe
The Barcelona European Council (3/2002)
• Devote 3% of GDP to research by 2010
Weakness?
is not the number
and quality of PhD …
But the number
of researchers…
and the percentage of female researchers
Europe needs researchers
An integrated strategy for the
development of Human Resources in
R&D in Europe
1. Reinforcing funding
2. Fostering career prospects at all career stages
3. Promoting gender equality
4. Improving a favourable environment for
researchers in Europe
A Mobility Strategy for the ERA
June 2001 – now
• A Mobility Strategy for the European
Research Area (COM(2001) 331 final)
• Resolution from the Council
• Decision to create a “Steering Group” in
February 2002
• First Implementation Report 2/2003
• Second implementation report 4/2004
• Third implementation report 4/2005
Progress made so far
• The European Researcher‘s Mobility Portal
• The European Network of Mobility Centres
ERA-MORE
• Commission Recommendation on the European
Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for
the Recruitment of Researchers
• Proposal for a Directive on the “scientific visa“
• 2005 Researchers in Europe Initiative
The European Researcher’s
Mobility Portal
Access to already existing national and
international web-sources throughout Europe
• fellowships/grants/research jobs
• information about issues related to a move from
one country to another
• information about research policies/other career
resources for European researchers
The European Researcher’s
Mobility Portal
A Portal which offers many services such as:
• Organisations can advertise directly their vacancies
or transfer their own data
• Researchers can post their CV
• Personalised assistance through
ERA-MORE
The European Researcher’s
Mobility Portal
http://europa.eu.int/eracareers
The ERA-MORE Network
Offers researchers and their families
comprehensive and up-to-date information,
tailor-made and personalised assistance
in all matters relating to their professional and
daily lives:
entry conditions (visa requirements), work permits, job
opportunities, salaries and taxation, pension rights, health
care, social security, accommodation, day care and schooling,
language courses, general culture of the host country,
intellectual property rights, recognition of diploma etc.
The ERA-MORE Network
Each Mobility Centre
• acts as a point of entry for researchers
looking for practical information and
guidance
• fulfils its information and assistance task
either by direct proximity assistance or
by directing the person(s) concerned to the
appropriate specialised centre
The ERA-MORE Network
• Launch of ERA-MORE: June 2004
• 200 Mobility Centres in Europe
• Mapping exercise at national level to identify the
Mobility Centres and “bridgehead organisations”
• EC contribution for the start-up phase on the basis
of national work programmes
• First Annual conference: December 2004
• Networking activities at European level
A strategy for enhancing
careers of researchers in Europe
Communication “Researchers in the ERA – one
profession, multiple careers” (July 2003)
Council Resolution on the profession and careers of
researchers (Nov. 2003)
Recommendation on the European Charter for
Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the
Recruitment of Researchers
(March 2005)
European Charter for researchers and Code
of conduct for the recruitment of researchers
• Recommendation from the Commission to
the Member States, employers, funders,
researchers
• Fruit of broad consultation process
• To be implemented on a voluntary basis
European Charter for researchers and Code
of conduct for the recruitment of researchers
Why such instruments?
• Differences of career structures in Europe
• Fragmentation at local/regional/national level
• Close, non transparent and local recrutiment
procedures
• Lack of career development prospects
European Charter for Researchers
Reference point for the career
management
Enhancing and maintaining a supportive
research environment and working culture
within which researchers act as
professionals
and employers/funders recognise
researchers as professionals
European Charter for Researchers
RESEARCHERS: EMPLOYERS/FUNDERS:
• Research freedom/ethical • Working conditions, stability
principles of employment, salaries
• Professional responsibility • Value of mobility
and contractual obligation • Career development
• Accountability • Gender issues
• Dissemination, exploitation • Intellectual Property Rights
of results • Co-authorship
• Supervision/managerial • Teaching
duties • Appraisal systems
• Continuing professional • Participation in decision
development making bodies
Code of Conduct for the recruitment
Reference point for transparency in
recruitment processes
• Recruitment and Selection
• Judging merit
• Recognition of the mobility experience
• Recognition of qualifications
• Postdoctoral appointment
European Charter for researchers and Code of
conduct for the recruitment of researchers
Member States are invited:
• To take principles/requirements into account for
their HRM strategies, for their institutional quality
assurance mechanisms
• To continue efforts to overcome obstacles to
mobility
• To put in place monitoring structures
• To inform Commission about measures taken for
the application of the Recommendation
The 2005 Researcher’s
in Europe Initiative
Awareness-raising campaign:
• Promote a better public understanding of the
contribution of researchers to society
• Encourage more young people to embark on
careers in R&D
• Contribute to the overall attractiveness of the
EU as a reference area for research talent from
all over the world
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/researchersineurope
Attracting researchers
to Europe – “scientific visa”
Proposal for a Directive and two Recommendations
aiming at the improvement of condition of
admission of Third Country Researchers in
Europe (16 March 2004)
• Fast track procedure for researchers
• Involvement of research organisations (“hosting
agreement”)
Towards FP7 – “People” programme
Suggested priorities:
• Marie Curie Networks for early stage researchers
• Individual Fellowships for life-long training &
Career development
• International dimension
• Industry involvement
• Women
~10% of total budget
Thank you for your attention.
Commission Contact Person :
Annegret Ziller
European Commission
The Human Factor, Mobility and Marie Curie Actions
Strategy and Policy Aspects
Tel. +32/2/2991822
annegret.ziller@cec.eu.int
