Inves�ng more in RD&I as a strategic move for Europe's

future prosperity
Open leter to Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innova�on,
Research, Culture, Educa�on and Youth

Dear Commissioner Ivanova,

Our organisa�ons, the European University Associa�on (EUA), the European Associa�on of Research
and Technology Organisa�ons (EARTO), and Science Europe, represent key research and innova�on
actors in Europe. With the design of the next EU R&I Framework Programme (FP10) on the horizon,
we stress the crucial role that EU research and innova�on investments play in addressing global
challenges, boos�ng the EU's global compe��veness, and reinforcing its strategic autonomy. In this
context, ensuring a strong and sustainable budget for FP10 is a necessary step towards realising these
ambi�ous goals.
Europe is confronted with mul�faceted and interdependent challenges such as climate change, health
crises, and rising geopoli�cal tensions. At the same �me, the global research, development and
innova�on (RD&I) landscape is becoming increasingly compe��ve. While the EU’s RD&I investments
have intensified over the past two decades, a no�ceable gap persists when compared to its main global
counterparts, par�cularly the United States and China.
In order to address these challenges effec�vely, ensuring strong and sustainable research and
innova�on investments in Europe is of paramount importance. As called for by the Members of the
European Parliament Chris�an Ehler and Maria da Graça Carvalho, increasing the budget for FP10 to
€200 billion is especially cri�cal to enable Europe to find solu�ons to pressing societal challenges. An
increased budget will not only bolster collabora�ve RD&I efforts across member states and leverage
private investments. It will also enhance the use of shared resources, exper�se, and infrastructures to
address challenges that are increasingly transna�onal in nature and exceed the capabili�es of
individual countries.
Beyond increasing the budget for FP10, it is important to address a number of pressing issues. This
notably includes the instability of the Framework Programme budget and budget shi�s to non-RD&I
purposes, which con�nue to threaten the role of the programme in strengthening societal and
economic impact and put at risk the long-term planning of ambi�ous RD&I policies and other sectorial
policies it supports.
Consequently, we highlight the need to ring-fence the programme’s budget to safeguard it from yearly
discussions in the context of the MFF nego�a�ons and shi�s between the different programme
components and EU priori�es. In addi�on, introducing any new priority to the programme should be
accompanied by addi�onal financial resources. These measures will ensure greater stability of the
programme budget and keep the programme atrac�ve to its par�cipants. In parallel, a degree of
budget flexibility should be maintained to address unforeseen crises. However, achieving this flexibility
will require crea�ng a larger budgetary envelope for RD&I within the MFF and collec�ng unused
pockets of EU financing, rather than re-distribu�ng the exis�ng budget.

1
Addi�onally, it is important to rebalance the support provided to various stages of the RD&I
con�nuum, including botom-up basic research, applied research, development, and innova�on.
These are not isolated ac�vi�es, but rather parts of a con�nuous, interconnected process. Only with a
well-balanced mix can Europe effec�vely address global societal and industrial challenges and respond
to emerging crises.
Furthermore, we stress the need to ensure greater synergies with other EU programmes – as well as
with na�onal and regional RD&I investments –- to leverage the impact of the Framework Programme.
While vast, untapped poten�al lies in strengthening synergies, their implementa�on is yet to be
achieved due to several challenges, notably including the growing complexity of the EU funding
landscape.
Finally, we emphasise that while increasing the budget of the Framework Programme remains a
priority, ensuring sufficient na�onal investments in RD&I, by mee�ng the agreed target of 3% of GDP,
is key to genera�ng solu�ons to address global challenges and fostering Europe’s compe��veness,
including by leveraging private investments. It is therefore crucial to counter the increasing lack of
commitment to RD&I spending from some EU member states and the trend to subs�tute na�onal
RD&I investments with EU RD&I funds.
In this context, we believe that a well-funded and strategically designed Framework Programme is
pivotal for boos�ng Europe’s compe��veness, fostering excellent pan-European RD&I collabora�on,
and achieving overarching EU policy objec�ves.
We are eager to con�nue our previously successful collabora�on with the European Commission in
shaping the next Framework Programme through the exper�se of our sectors. It is only through
collabora�ve efforts that we can achieve the ambi�ous goals set for the programme for the benefit of
our shared future.

Sincerely yours,

Josep M. Garrell An� Vasara Mari Sundli Tveit

EUA President EARTO President Science Europe President

2
 EARTO Inputs to ERAC on the next European Research & Innovation
Framework Programme (FP10)

8 September 2023

RTOs are very pleased with the opportunity offered by the EU Framework Programmes to contribute to the
European Research Area by developing pan-European excellent and impactful collaborative applied
research. In turn, EARTO Members have been very active participants in EU RD&I Framework Programmes
for the last decades (See our analysis for Horizon Europe). With this statement, EARTO brings 6 strategic
issues to the attention of the European Council, in its ERAC composition. EARTO offers a practical
perspective to refine ERAC’s position on the upcoming European Research & Innovation Framework
Programme (FP10):

Issue 1. Directionality: Encouraging a stronger and more integrated programming across EU

Policies and within the EU RD&I Programme
FP10 priorities need to be aligned with and supportive of the new EU political agenda following the recent
succession of crises in Europe. Europe’s recovery is linked to its technological and industrial capabilities, its
degree of autonomy and its production capacities to produce locally the essential goods and services for its
green and digital transitions, health care systems, etc. This will only be possible with massive efforts and
investments in RD&I. Consequently, FP10 should focus on a stronger and more integrated programming
across EU policies and within the EU RD&I programme, from basic research to applied R&D and innovation.

ERAC and the EC services should define FP10 priorities to effectively structure and manage the FPs to
align EU policies and RD&I programming by design. This would help avoid much of the FP’s budgetary
instability experienced under Horizon Europe as well as avoid the creation of multiple sectorial programmes
(See Issue 2 and Issue 3).

Issue 2. Tackling the Recurrent Instability of the RD&I Budget in the Multi-Financial Framework
The instability of this budget is three-fold: 1) annual re-discussion of the MFF budget, including the
consistent position of the Council to reduce the RD&I budget contradicting the European Parliament’s push
for an increase, 2) yearly changes in allocations within the FP budget, and 3) regular reallocation of the FP
budget to new top-down EU policies, which were not accounted for in the MFF and with no new additional
funding by Member States. This budget instability is detrimental to RD&I investments by beneficiaries like
RTOs and industry: these investments are largely co-funding EU RD&I programmes and are based on
medium to long-term investment strategies. The targets set for the European Research Area will not be
reached without the FP’s reliability and increased investments.

The Council recognised as early as 2000 that raising RD&I investment has a positive impact on long-term
economic growth and employment and set a target for RD&I investment of 3% of GDP. Continued efforts
to raise RD&I spending saw Member States set national RD&I investment targets. Despite those efforts,
the EU has consistently failed to reach the 3% target agreed by the Council. Although most Member States
have raised RD&I spending in the past decade, as of 2021, only four Member States have attained the 3%
target. In an era of increasing geopolitical tensions, it is crucial to not fall behind in central RD&I fields and
to further increase Europe’s research capabilities through substantial RD&I investments. Ongoing crises
notwithstanding, renewed and concerted efforts from Member States & EU Institutions are needed to
mobilise additional RD&I investments in Europe. Higher RD&I spending is not an end in itself, but the
prerequisite to provide innovative solutions to Europe’s most pressing industrial and societal challenges
securing EU’s productivity, competitiveness, and sovereignty for the years to come.

The European Council is a key actor in the EU budget negotiations. ERAC should have the ambitions to
set in stone key parameters supporting the EU RD&I budget to be enforced by their colleagues within the
European Council Budget Committee during the next EU budget negotiations.
Accordingly, ERAC should look at how to:
• Ringfence the RD&I budget lines within the MFF: the initial budget must be protected to ensure
stability, so that participation in FPs remains attractive to participants, academia and industry,
especially SMEs. In parallel, keeping a degree of budgetary flexibility to manage unforeseen crises

EARTO – European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Rue Joseph II 36-38, 1000 Brussels | +32-2 502 86 98 | earto@earto.eu | www.earto.eu | BE0465567732 - RPM Brussels
 must be feasible. However, this flexibility will only be achieved by creating a larger budgetary
envelope for RD&I within the MFF and by collecting unused pockets of EU financing.
• Reinforce the national targets for RD&I public spending by setting-up concrete national roadmaps
to achieve the 3% EU GDP R&D investment target with a clear impact-driven approach, as well as
having Member States effectively committing to the 1.25% EU GDP R&D public investment target
by 2030 already proposed under the new ERA.
• Create a proper annual Council’s review mechanism of current performance vs. the 3% and the
1.25% RD&I investments targets going beyond what the ‘soft’ ERA review mechanism is today.

Issue 3. Reflecting on the Overall Management Set-up of EU RD&I Related Programmes

Member States have delegated the management of EU RD&I-related programmes to the European
Commission. The Council should take a step back and look at two key issues:

• Coordination between EU Funding Programmes having RD&I Components: With the

creation of various new EU programmes in the current MFF, beneficiaries are now facing a multitude of
programmes each with their own rules for participation. There is a need for creating a streamlined pathway
from the research phase to close-to-market deployment across EU programmes and instruments.
For the current MFF, ERAC could promote the implementation of practical solutions by the EC services.
EARTO members already highlighted last February various tools that could be developed to support
beneficiaries such as: a Synergies Mapping Tool, a single participant portal and a database for all
programmes with RD&I-related activities (or at minimum access to the equivalent of eCorda database for
all programmes with harmonised metadata to allow beneficiaries proper compilation of the data collected
in the different databases), and the EC guidelines, training and support to national funding agencies to
facilitate comprehension of the coherence among the various requirements and processes for co-funding
(e.g. EC guidance for synergies with FP/ESIF).
For FP10, ERAC should support one all-encompassing EU RD&I programme and stop the trend of multiple
EC Directorate General(s) having their own targeted EU programme including an RD&I component. ERAC
should prevent the fragmentation of the FPs to the benefit of stand-alone sectorial programmes. Many
RD&I efforts such as ICT and enabling technologies are transversal to many policies/societal and industrial
challenges. Continued fragmentation poses a risk of losing momentum in key transversal technologies in
Europe.

• Ensuring a feedback loop between Implementing Agencies & Policymaking’s Services and
Quality of support from Agencies: EARTO is concerned that the feedback loop that should be established
between the executive agencies managing the implementation of the FP and the EC DG services responsible
for policymaking needs improvement. Services are getting further decoupled from implementation leading
to inadequate policy and programming development. Some agencies, focusing on their given
implementation targets, are now often reluctant to allow projects a minimum of flexibility to adapt to
change in policies (vs. following the fixed project’s administrative reporting planning). The elaboration of
future work programmes should better integrate the empirical evidence generated in successful projects.
In addition, there should be improved guidance/directionality during the projects’ implementation to
produce the expected impact and contribute to the policy objectives.
Currently, our members experience differences in skills and availability of support for project
implementation provided by agencies managing the implementation of different parts of the FP, rendering
project implementation, even for experienced coordinators, a difficult and daunting task. This is especially
true for projects with special features such as cascade funding grants or transnational access due to the
lack of knowledge in the agencies.
For FP10, ERAC could look further at what role the FPs’ Programme Committees could take in supporting
a better coordination between the EC services and agencies for an improved portfolio management
targeting the EU policies’ objectives.
For the current MFF and FP10, ERAC should look further at the evaluation of the various agencies
carrying out part of the FPs’ implementation and the necessary adjustment for a more adequate
management and support structure to EU policies’ objectives (vs administrative targets).

Issue 4. Improving FP’s Implementation

Lessons from past and current FPs should be used to plan the next FP. EARTO would like to point out
current issues that need tackling in the next transition period and programming:

• Transition between FPs: A successful transition between Horizon Europe and FP10 will require
proper funding and timing of calls from the current FP and the next one. The transition between Horizon
2020 and Horizon Europe was plagued by some calls being both oversubscribed and underfunded as well
as delays in Horizon Europe calls and key documentation.
ERAC should be the guardian of an efficient transition process with the EC services and ensure smooth
negotiations of the next EU budget by their Budget Committee’s colleagues.

EARTO – European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Rue Joseph II 36-38, 1000 Brussels | +32-2 502 86 98 | earto@earto.eu | www.earto.eu | BE0465567732 - RPM Brussels
2
 • FP’s Structure: The social and economic effect of the FP’s last structure change from input to
impact have not been fully analysed (i.e. merging ex-pillars 2 (industrial competitiveness) and 3 (societal
challenges) of Horizon 2020 in a single pillar with a very large scope and number of objectives, new pillars
and new instruments). Key technologies have been grouped together with societal challenges in the new
structure which raises some coherence issues in the current clusters.
ERAC should take the second half of Horizon Europe to analyse these effects and evaluate if new changes
are necessary for FP10. As a consequence of the change of structure, ERAC should also assess the impact
the mergers of the Programme Committees had on their effectiveness for having to oversee much larger
portfolios (e.g. SC2 and SC5 merged into CL6 or SC3 and SC4 into CL5).

• Improving or Stopping Non-Performing Instruments: One of the hardest efforts within EU

policy planning is to stop existing instruments that are underperforming. EARTO members have reported
key issues last February with a few instruments under Horizon Europe that need improvement: EU Missions,
European Institute of Technology vs/and the new European Innovation Council (the 1st wave of KICs have
changed their business models to be financially self-sustainable tending to resemble the EIC and issues
with EIC’s IP provisions), European Innovation Ecosystems and the Widening Activities.
For the current MFF as well as FP10, ERAC should analyse the interest in investing in such instruments
and request the necessary adjustments and/or stopping of those instruments when deemed as not
performing.

• Proper Portfolio Management within Work Programmes: this is a key issue for the next
Strategic Plan 2025-27.
For the current MFF and FP10, ERAC could look further at what role the FPs’ Programme Committees
take in support of a better portfolio management across the TRLs ladder within each work programme. This
requires some reflection on how Programme Committees can: 1) harmonise TRL levels for the same type
of action among clusters while ensuring the TRLs levels’ continuum, with special attention to TRLs 1 to 4
aiming at technology developments that are currently underfunded, 2) ensure the proportionality between
single beneficiary instruments vs. multi-beneficiaries (i.e. collaborative projects), 3) ensure the balance
between Smaller vs. Large Collaborative Projects (e.g. by reintroducing FP7 Specific Targeted Research
Projects’ type of projects so-called STREPs).

Issue 5. Launching new Pilots on Technology Infrastructures (TIs)

As highlighted in our joint Paper, EARTO would like to stress the importance of ERA Action 12 launched by
the Member States and the European Commission under the European Research Area’s framework. EARTO
is very much looking forward to the launch of new pilots by the upcoming Advisory Group on Technology
Infrastructures following the model developed by the Pilot on TIs on Aeronautics. The new TEFs’ Calls under
Digital Europe have already initiated further efforts in other industrial sectors. The next step is now to
coordinate the development of such pilots within the different clusters and partnerships within Horizon
Europe to prepare for a full-fledged EU strategy on TIs under FP10.

For FP10, ERAC should support ERA Action 12 further by using the second half of Horizon Europe to
launch new pilots to support the definition within FP10 of a dedicated funding line or “destination” in each
future cluster of Pillar 2 so that the different targeted industrial sectors would be able to access their
relevant Technology Infrastructures in Europe according to their RD&I needs as road mapped in each co-
programmed partnerships’ strategic agenda.

Issue 6. FPs’ Simplification for Beneficiaries

One significant change between Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe is the decreased role of the Council in
overseeing the EC services in formulating and implementing the FP’s participation rules. This has rendered
some of the implemented simplification actions to be more at the benefit of the EC services than the
beneficiaries. This came with delays of key documents such as the Annotated Model Grant Agreement
(AGA) and led to the extension of lump-sum funding under Horizon Europe without an evaluation covering
the whole lifecycle of projects (See EARTO along with EUA and CESAER various papers).

For FP10, ERAC should properly analyse, with the support of the European Court of Auditors, the impact
of current ‘simplification’ measures for the beneficiaries.
Additionally, ERAC should make the necessary preparations to revise the FP10 regulation’s text to
ensure better oversight of the Council on FP’s rules for participation and their implementation by EC
services.

EARTO remains ready to provide additional input on each topic mentioned above: our experts are available
for further discussion with ERAC and the other EU institutions to ensure the successful implementation of
Horizon Europe and a proper preparation of FP10.

EARTO – European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Rue Joseph II 36-38, 1000 Brussels | +32-2 502 86 98 | earto@earto.eu | www.earto.eu | BE0465567732 - RPM Brussels
3
 _____________________________

EARTO - European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Founded in 1999, EARTO promotes RTOs and represents their interest in Europe. EARTO network counts over 350 RTOs in more
than 31 countries. EARTO members represent 150,000 highly-skilled researchers and engineers managing a wide range of innovation
infrastructures.

RTOs - Research and Technology Organisations

From the lab to your everyday life. RTOs innovate to improve your health and well-being, your safety and security, your mobility and
connectivity. RTOs’ technologies cover all scientific fields. Their work ranges from basic research to new products and services’
development. RTOs are non-profit organisations whose core mission is to produce, combine and bridge various types of knowledge, skills
and infrastructures to deliver a range of research and development activities in collaboration with public and industrial partners of all
sizes. These activities aim to result in technological and social innovations and system solutions that contribute to and mutually reinforce
their economic, societal and policy impacts.

EARTO Working Group RD&I Programmes: is composed of more than 160 experts. This WG is looking at the implementation of the
EU RD&I Framework Programmes (Horizon 2020 & Horizon Europe), focusing on monitoring their elaboration, simplification and
evaluation. This WG is also looking at how RTOs can be involved in and benefit from projects under the European Digital Programme as
well as the European Structural and Investment Funds, but also the role of RTOs in Smart Specialisation Strategies as well as the synergies
between the Cohesion Policy and the EU RD&I Programmes.

EARTO Contact: www.earto.eu

EARTO – European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Rue Joseph II 36-38, 1000 Brussels | +32-2 502 86 98 | earto@earto.eu | www.earto.eu | BE0465567732 - RPM Brussels
4
 EARTO Recommendations regarding the Evaluation
& Pre-contractual Negotiations of Lump-sums
EU Funded RD&I Projects

8 January 2024

EARTO members are very active participants in the EU RD&I Frameworks Programmes (FPs), especially in
complex and large collaborative applied RD&I projects. In this context, EARTO Feedback on EARTO Members’
Experiences with Lump-Sums Projects within Horizon Europe addressed wider issues related to lump-sums
funding within Horizon Europe. With the recent announcements and discussions pointing to the possible
extension of the use of this funding principle, EARTO members wish to alert the EU Institutions on worrying
trends and signals regarding the evaluation and pre-contractual negotiations of lump-sums EU-funded RD&I
projects. Indeed, with many newly selected projects using the lump-sums funding scheme under Horizon
Europe, EARTO members have now proper feedback on their granting process and the issues that are rising.

Horizon Dashboard on Personnel Costs for Lump-sums Projects’ Evaluations

EARTO already made various feedback on this new dashboard: see our latest paper. After being updated in
June 2023, with an increase of around 20% to monthly personnel costs for Research Organisations, this
dashboard still gives a flawed picture of the reality of personnel costs today and in the near future. The
dashboard does not inform the evaluators of recent trends of increasing costs and hypothesises to evaluate
forecasted costs (e.g. trends on inflation, automatic inflation correction in some Member States, etc.). Even
considering the latest update, half of the EARTO members are still above the 80th percentile in the dashboard:
this is synonymous with an alert given to evaluators which brings issues.

Personnel Costs’ Calculation in RTOs

Before going into the further issues with the dashboard, we wish to note that:
• Our members all have time-tested expertise in calculating personnel costs in line with the FPs’ eligibility
rules: with an expertise rising from their large participation in the FPs since the early days.
• Our members wish to maintain a fair coverage of their personnel costs, a requirement for them to
keep engaging in EU projects within fair and realistic conditions.
• Thanks to the public mission of RTOs, EARTO members’ personnel costs are very often established in
collaboration with and audited/approved by their respective Member States’ funding authorities.

Personnel Costs Cuts & No Negotiation Policy being Installed

Several EARTO members flagged by the dashboard to evaluators as ‘expensive’, to be understood as being
above the 80th percentile in the dashboard have now experienced budget cuts to their personnel costs. EARTO
members also have been involved in contractual negotiations in which several participants of the consortium
received budget cuts following a positive evaluation. The following examples show how evaluators are using
the dashboard and how irremediable the budget cut may become during the Grant Agreement preparation
phase.

Examples of such undesirable effects of the dashboard are as follows:

• No negotiation and budget cuts: In the same project, 7 partners received personnel budget cuts due
to costs budgeted above the 80th percentile respectively, as reported by the evaluators in the Evaluation
Summary Report. Some of the participants accepted the cuts while others sent a justification. Some of
these justifications were not accepted.
• Example of budget cuts’ requests: In one project proposal, members were clearly asked to reduce their
costs as such:
o ‘for a senior scientist 9157,68 Euro and for a junior scientist 7,522.40 Euro is requested.
According to the Horizon Dashboard, should be decreased to 7,500 Euro for a senior scientist
and 5,500 Euro for a junior scientist”.
o “Please provide a JUSTIFICATION to rectify your higher personnel rates (direct costs) compared
to the Horizon Dashboard towards the Commission”.
o “In comparison with personnel costs previously accepted in the R&I programmes, the personnel
costs of partners xx [...] are excessive, even taking into account inflation. The proposal did not
justify why these rates are needed to implement the action. Therefore, it is recommended that

EARTO - European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Rue Joseph II 36-38, 1000 Brussels | +32-2 502 86 98 | earto@earto.eu | www.earto.eu | BE0465567732 - RPM Brussels
1
 the personnel costs of partners BExx [...] for senior scientists should be reduced by 30%, unless
the applicants explain sufficiently why these rates are needed”.

Even if the European Commission has made clear to evaluators that budget cuts should not be required based
on personnel cost analysis, beneficiaries still must submit explanations and justifications after the proposition
acceptance, but only if those costs are well above dashboard figures.

Looking at those examples, the dashboard should either become a more reliable source of information or be
a tool for general reference only allowing for proper negotiation with the Project Officer during the preparation
of the granting phase which would give further flexibility to verify if cuts are justified or not. Now cuts are
arbitrary according to a dashboard which is not a reliable source of comparison and adds a new pricing element
to the evaluation as an untold criterium.

In addition, the dashboard should only be used to assess the credibility of personnel costs submitted, not to
put into question their calculation or appropriateness. In general, it should therefore remain an orientational
tool rather than being used as a decision-making tool cutting any grant negotiation.

Personnel Costs Pricing: a New Issue in Consortia’s Making

Furthermore, the results of partners in the lump-sums dashboard are now also used during negotiations
between consortium members. If this trend is continued, it will bring, in the end, the same pricing issues in
EU RD&I-funded projects as done in EU tenders: cheaper wins. This is the wrong message to give to EU
Researchers and their employers while in parallel the EU is trying to level up the careers and salaries of
researchers in Europe via its ERA Action on research careers. This is a very contra-productive tool that will
bring the level down and will encourage organisations to keep ‘cheap’ labour to access EU funds. EU RD&I
funded lump-sums projects should not entail a cost-cutting approach that would put beneficiaries at odds with
the excellence of research.

Conclusion
There is a clear disconnect between the European Commission’s communication and guidance issued to
evaluators and the reality of budget reductions and consortium-making negotiations taking place already on
EU projects’ proposals based on this dashboard. To be able to insert valorisations in budgeting personnel costs,
the data in the dashboard must not be based on values from actual cost grants that are more than one year
old. Otherwise, the personnel costs will be levelled down in Europe if longer observation periods are used and
some participants will always end up above the 80th percentile with the issues it brings today. In addition,
more transparency on the calculation methods and the updating strategy of the dashboard would be welcomed
by beneficiaries.

EARTO once again recommends a better information for evaluators regarding the lump-sums dashboard, which
should not be a hard tool for measurement or a pretext to bring budget cuts targeted at beneficiaries with
duly justified costs. The development of lump-sums should only drive simplification and not compromise fair
compensation or the quality of scientific and technical work. Even if the European Commission must be
cautious, the disappearance of reimbursement of costs should not come with a severe underfinancing of
projects (like it happened for EU tenders over the years).

Moreover, as the ECA has indicated in its 2022 Annual reports, some uncertainty also remains regarding the
audits to be launched by the European Commission on lump-sums projects. As audits are still a real possibility
for those grants, we also look forward to obtaining precise guidance through the upcoming Indicative Audit
Programme.

EARTO remains ready to provide additional input: our WG Financial experts are available for further discussion
with EU institutions to ensure the successful implementation of lump-sums in Horizon Europe.
______________________________

EARTO - European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Founded in 1999, EARTO promotes RTOs and represents their interest in Europe. EARTO network counts over 350 RTOs in more
than 31 countries. EARTO members represent 150,000 highly-skilled researchers and engineers managing a wide range of
innovation infrastructures.
RTOs - Research and Technology Organisations
From the lab to your everyday life. RTOs innovate to improve your health and well-being, your safety and security, your mobility
and connectivity. RTOs’ technologies cover all scientific fields. Their work ranges from basic research to new products and services’
development. RTOs are non-profit organisations whose core mission is to produce, combine and bridge various types of knowledge,
skills and infrastructures to deliver a range of research and development activities in collaboration with public and industrial partners
of all sizes. These activities aim to result in technological and social innovations and system solutions that contribute to and mutually
reinforce their economic, societal and policy impacts.
EARTO Contact: www.earto.eu

EARTO - European Association of Research and Technology Organisations

Rue Joseph II 36-38, 1000 Brussels | +32-2 502 86 98 | earto@earto.eu | www.earto.eu | BE0465567732 - RPM Brussels

2
 December 2023

ALLEA STATEMENT ON THE

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR
FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME 10

In this statement, the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities (ALLEA)
reflects on the guiding principles for the upcoming 10 th European Union (EU) Framework
Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10). ALLEA calls for an FP10 that:
» Increases investment in Research and Innovation (R&I), thereby providing a vision for
fostering excellent research and fruitful collaboration across Europe;
» Achieves a truly inclusive and impactful European Research Area (ERA);
» Is guided by the goals of stimulating R&I, cultivating research collaboration, nurturing
talents, strengthening diversity and inclusion, and streamlining processes.

Stimulating research and innovation

Europe needs to invest in excellent R&I now more than ever, in order to address growing
challenges and create a European community that pursues both global leadership as well as open
collaboration. ALLEA echoes the call by Europe’s research community for European and national
R&I investments to be increased significantly, even beyond the current benchmark of 3% of GDP,
with a minimum budget of €200bn reserved for FP10.
The repeated cuts to current and previous programmes to solve evolving crises have been
detrimental to the advancement of many essential research endeavours. A clear, ring-fenced,
and reliable budget is essential to stimulate innovation and achieve security for researchers.
Furthermore, a supplemental contingency budget is needed to guarantee the necessary flexibility
of the research system to adapt to newly emerging crises and opportunities.
ALLEA also firmly endorses the reinforcement of fundamental and basic research across the
relevant parts of the programme. FP10 should continue substantial backing of the most successful
components of Horizon Europe (HE), especially funding curiosity-driven and bottom-up research.
The European Research Council (ERC) is highly regarded within the research community as the most
prized aspect of HE, and ought to be further boosted as the leading funding source for cutting-edge
international and competitive research in Europe. In addition, we call for a reorientation towards
more basic research at lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) within collaborative research
projects (i.e., so far mostly within Pillar II of HE), which ensure pre-competitive cooperation and
provide the basis for transformative innovation at later stages.

ALLEA Jägerstr. 22/23, www.allea.org secretariat@allea.org

10117 Berlin, Germany
 FP10 should also strongly commit to stimulating good research by promoting and protecting
academic freedom, research integrity, and Open Science. Academic freedom is an essential
prerequisite for genuine scientific progress as it encourages the pursuit of innovative
perspectives beyond the confines of mainstream or politically prioritised topics. In light of
several alarming legal and political measures enacted in some institutions or countries that
threaten academic freedom, it is imperative that funding schemes support the freedom of
scientific research.
Open Science refers, not just to open access to traditional publications, but to the FAIR
(findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) sharing, at all stages in the research
process, of a wider range of outputs.1 This should be reflected more in FP10 research calls to
enable better exchange and reuse of EU-funded research by civic society, small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs), and the wider research community. On open access to publications,
FP10 should support equitable publication models along the lines of Open Research Europe,
which do not place unreasonable financial burdens on either readers or authors.
ALLEA is dedicated to fostering, preserving, and promoting research integrity, and has recently
released a Revised Edition of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity in 2023.
This Code serves as the basis for grant agreements, and national and local policies, as well
as training curricula. The Code of Conduct also includes guidance on the use of generative
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research. Striking a balance between leveraging AI for efficiency
and ensuring robust ethical safeguards is crucial to harnessing its potentials while mitigating
risks, specifically in the realm of research grant applications within FP10. We hope the European
Commission (EC) will continue to recognise this document as a reference for future EU-funded
research projects in FP10.

Cultivating European research collaboration

In alignment with ALLEA’s mission and strategic priorities, we argue that FP10 should take
a global perspective, as well as action, to cultivate meaningful international scientific
cooperation. This includes a strong commitment to integrating partners from associated and
neighbouring countries within the ERA, as well as continuously improving and promoting wider
participation, and supporting excellence-driven international research projects to address
ongoing disparities.
The decision to allocate 3.3% of HE’s budget to specifically address networking disparities
among ERA stakeholders was a much-needed step. These measures should be stepped up to
support excellence-driven collaboration across borders, thus enhancing R&I performance in
Widening countries.
Existing Widening instruments, such as COST (European Cooperation in Science and
Technology) and Twinning that effectively catalyse micro-scale improvements through bottom-
up approaches, and Teaming that provides investment into centres of excellence, should
therefore be continued and expanded. This could further facilitate the convenient transfer
of research expertise from EU and associated countries to Widening partners. However, it
is crucial to strike the right balance in these instruments between networking activities,
training, and capacity measures on the one hand, and providing direct research support to

1 See, for instance, https://allea.org/portfolio-item/alleas-response-to-council-conclusions-on-research-assessment-

and-open-science/ (accessed on 04/12/2023)

2
involved partners on the other. Strengthening genuine research activities more within Widening
instruments will reinforce the positive outcomes of networking and curb the outflow (‘brain drain’)
of talent and ideas.
Nevertheless, most Widening countries still require additional capacity-building instruments
that support significant enhancements in their research strategies, as well as strengthen the
organisation and funding of their research institutions. While FP10 should focus primarily on
enabling excellence through research-based collaborations and by attracting talent, initiatives
operating at the institutional level should also be introduced and intensified, with a special
emphasis on engaging early- to mid-career researchers. In addition, the existing European Structural
and Investment (ESI) Funds should be used more expansively to fund research capacities.

Nurturing talents

In order to attract and retain the best young talents in academia, measures have to be taken at the
European level to decrease precarity and improve the attractiveness of academic research careers.
Where the EU provides funding, we advocate for the implementation of long-term institutional
funding models in place of project-based financing, which has a demonstrably pronounced and
detrimental effect on the job security and mental health of, especially early- and mid-career,
researchers. Salaries in academia should be competitive when compared with industry salaries
and those available in other R&I-intensive regions or sectors.
To better engage and empower under-represented and underprivileged stakeholders, such as
early- to mid-career researchers, more workshops and webinars focused on the various EU-funding
schemes, their administration, and evaluation should be provided. Useful training, support,
and mentoring should be made available to researchers and research managers from less R&I-
intensive regions and countries, who – in most cases – cannot rely on the support of experienced
institutional administrative help. Such measures will enable them to participate more effectively
and achieve success in their research pursuits.
Raising awareness about the European Competence Framework for Researchers, for example, may
help to refine and redefine research assessment (at the institutional, individual, and project level),
leading to the retention of more diverse talents across disciplines and countries.

Strengthening diversity and inclusion

Inclusivity is key to the future of European R&I. A stronger focus on inclusion, as opposed to
excluding certain segments of society whether intentional or not, will also provide more legitimacy
for research and the ERA. Focusing exclusively on narrow definitions of excellence and innovation
can be problematic as they can create division, and run the risk of losing creative and original
research that does not map neatly onto such indicators. Similarly, innovation should involve all
forms of knowledge and not focus narrowly on technological innovation.
Ensuring gender balance in FP10 is crucial for creating a more equitable scientific landscape.
Promoting gender diversity fosters a supportive working environment that encourages innovation.
The next EU Framework Programme should therefore integrate policies that promote gender
balance, foster an inclusive research community, and reflect talent diversity.

3
 Genuine inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary collaboration across diverse research fields and
domains remains a fundamental principle in EU-funded research. This principle also extends
to fostering partnerships that involve stakeholders from all segments of society, and across
various regions, within the EU and associated countries, and beyond. It is imperative that
these partnerships emphasise equality, diversity, and true inclusion, with a special focus on
institutions and individuals from less R&I-intensive countries.

Streamlining processes

It is necessary to enhance the grant proposal process by radically simplifying its format,
submission, and evaluation procedures. When it comes to grant management, we welcome
lump sum funding as an effective mechanism to support beneficiaries. However, as it shifts
the burden from the post-award stage to proposal preparation, adequate mechanisms must
be in place to provide researchers, particularly first-time applicants, with the necessary
guidance and support.
We suggest having a range of grants sizes within the new Framework Programme, from small
to medium to large, with those of shorter duration having quicker and leaner application
processes. A range of smaller grant sizes will also help to support early-career researchers,
reach a greater range of participants, and provide a broader scope for building excellence.
Improvements are needed for the Funding & Tenders Portal as its current functionality issues
pose challenges for users, which include the inability to collaborate simultaneously on the
same proposal, or incorrect or entirely missing historical and statistical data for beneficiaries.
It would be prudent to avoid setting deadlines for calls for proposals right after the summer
and winter breaks. This period coincides with the most intense phase of proposal writing,
making access to partners, their researchers, administrators, as well as EC and NCP (National
Contact Points) consultations quite limited. This situation is further exacerbated by summer
vacations and closures, launch of the school year for parents and of the academic year for
university lecturers, along with field research activities in some cases.
Additionally, it is essential to offer a more comprehensive description of the overall context
and the inter-relationship between various programmes. The new EU Framework Programme
should strive for synergy both within and beyond FP10, thereby avoiding redundancies and
fragmentation.

4
Conclusion

In envisioning a better future by elevating European R&I, ALLEA advocates for a transformative
Framework Programme that propels Europe towards global competitiveness and leadership in R&I.
This statement underscores the critical role of R&I in addressing pressing global challenges, and
emphasises the need for increased investment. ALLEA’s vision spans stimulating R&I, cultivating
collaborations, nurturing talent, fostering diversity and inclusion, and streamlining processes,
thereby endorsing fundamental research and supporting Open Science, research integrity, and
academic freedom. The focus on widening participation, talent retention, and fostering excellence
through diversity realises the commitment to inclusivity, thereby ensuring that the benefits of
research extend across regions and disciplines. As we navigate the path to a sustainable future,
we need to invest ambitiously, collaborate fervently, nurture talents diligently, embrace diversity
wholeheartedly, and streamline processes effectively to pave the way for a future where European
R&I can shine on the global stage. We need a robust, competitive, and world-leading ERA fuelled
by a strong Framework Programme for R&I that is committed to delivering knowledge to elevate
European societies for a better tomorrow.

About ALLEA
ALLEA is the European Federation of Academies of Sciences and Humanities, representing more than 50
academies from about 40 EU and non-EU countries. Since its foundation in 1994, ALLEA speaks out on
behalf of its members on European and international stages, promotes science as a global public good, and
facilitates scientific collaboration across borders and disciplines. Learn more here: http://www.allea.org.

About this statement

This ALLEA Statement has been drafted by the ALLEA Working Group on the European Research Area (ERA),
with input from the ALLEA Permanent Working Group on Science and Ethics (PWGSE) and the ALLEA Open
Science Task Force. The ALLEA Working Group on the ERA provides input on behalf of the European academies
and contributes to developing the EU’s framework for research funding and the underlying legislation. The
working group seeks to ensure that European research funding programmes are developed with the interests
of the research community in mind and strives to provide for full representation of all academic disciplines
and researchers. More information on the activities of the ALLEA Working Group on the ERA can be found
here: https://allea.org/european-research-area/.

Support to the drafting group: Daniel Kaiser (ALLEA Secretariat)

The text of this work is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence which permits
unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
The licence is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

DOI: 10.26356/STATEMENT-FP10

5
White Paper

The Future of
European Research

17–19 APRIL 2023

Castle Ringberg · Reitrain, Germany
CONTENTS 04 Outlook on FP10

06 Enabling International Co-operation

08 Committing to Excellence
10 Catalysing the Fundamental Energy Transition
12 Spurring Disruptive Innovation
14 Nurturing Effective Public Policies
16 Strengthening Research Infrastructures

Appendix
20 Participants
34 Imprint

2
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

The Future of European Research

Facing a wide range of geo­ Upon the invitation of six major European
political, socioeconomic, and research organisations – the G6 –,
environmental challenges, members of the scientific community and
Europe finds itself in a world of distinguished representatives from the
increasingly fierce competition between national governments of France, Germany,
regions and sociopolitical paradigms. Italy, and Spain as well as from the European
More than ever before, science, innovation, Commission for the first time reflected
and international co-operation are crucial together on the strategic imperatives for
assets in this state of affairs. How can the European research landscape and,
Europe position itself as a driving force in particular, for the next EU Framework
for breakthrough innovation in challenging Programme (FP10).
research fields? How well is European science
organised, and what is required to train and Mirroring six thematic sessions on crucial
to attract the brightest minds worldwide? aspects of European competitiveness, this
How can we, as scientists and innovators, booklet brings together some of the main
best contribute to the wealth and well-being ideas and proposals explored at the Ringberg
of Europe and of humankind as a whole? symposium, as well as providing an outlook
with key recommendations for the process of
The future of European research was at the shaping FP10 in the years to come.
heart of a high-level symposium held at Castle
Ringberg in Bavaria on April 17 and 18, 2023. The G6 Presidents

3
The G6 network’s outlook on the
next EU Framework Programme
on Research and Innovation (FP10)

4 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

1 The EU should embrace research as 4 Europe is home to highly competitive

research infrastructures. As the
a top priority to reach its objectives in
backbone of excellence, European research
tackling today’s grand challenges and become
infrastructures are real magnets for talent
a global leader in disruptive innovation for
and co-operation worldwide. Ambitious
the benefit of society. This ambition has to be
efforts are needed to align national and
reflected in a strong and future-oriented EU
European roadmaps as well as international
budget for R&I with balanced support of both
agreements. The EU should take further
frontier basic research and targeted research
responsibility in this regard and provide a
while further promoting the transformation
sustainable budget.
towards Open Science.

2 Europe should reinforce its commit- 5 To put Europe at the forefront of the
fundamental energy transition, the EU
ment to excellence throughout the
needs to exploit its full potential in cutting-
continuum of research and innovation as
edge energy research by scaling-up its
an imperative to drive Europe’s wealth,
innovation in crucial technological areas. The
competitiveness, and autonomy. FP10 has
G6 strongly advocates for comprehensive and
to be built around the most creative minds,
aligned agendas on national and European
bringing together the best researchers,
levels as well as for new formats to promote
networks, and institutions in Europe and
entrepreneurial spirit and public-private part­
attracting talent worldwide. Nuclei of
nerships in strategic sectors, such as energy.
excellence integrating less research-intensive
regions are required to strengthen the
European Research Area as a whole.
6 Europe’s risk-averse structures are
hindering talents from capitalising on
their outstanding research results. The G6
3 Geopolitical tensions and fierce
global competition require Europe to
recommends that the Commission develops
interfaces to strengthen the culture of bold
be bold in setting up new efficient tools to
research in Europe and further empower its
create alliances of excellent partners around
pool of talents to achieve disruptive innovation.
strategic topics. Stable networks between
powerhouses of research inside and outside
the EU, including the United Kingdom and
Switzerland, are a must to solve global
7 In times of multiple crises and rapid
technological transition, the role of
complex challenges. researchers as scientific advisers for public
policy-making has become indispensable.
Building on Europe‘s capacity in social
sciences and interdisciplinary research, FP10
should develop tools further promoting the
input of scientific expertise into policy-making.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 5

17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

Enabling International Co-operation

Facing increasingly fierce competition in a world

of rising geopolitical tensions, Europe needs
to unleash its full potential in research and
innovation in order to meet the grand challenges
of the future. This requires more ambitious and
more efficient co-operation both within the ERA
and on a global scale.

6
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

» Europe needs to be bold in setting up

international networks of excellence
involving the best scientists worldwide.

On one level, the EU needs to strengthen best partners worldwide, especially to meet
research networks and infrastructures in joint challenges, such as the green and
the ERA with a focus on excellence while digital transitions. Above all, this applies
at the same time reinforcing interfaces to countries that share our core values.
with industry and SMEs, thus generating More broadly, Europe should open up
additional synergies. More scientific towards the Global South as well as redefine
lighthouses should be created, especially in modalities for collaboration with China,
less research-intensive regions, in order to which will remain an important partner as
overcome the existing performance gap and well as a competitor. Openness must go
to strengthen the ERA as a whole. along with safeguarding European interests
and with developing a strategy to achieve
On another level, the EU needs to reach out technological sovereignty.
to international partners beyond the ERA:
new tools are required to establish long-
term stable networks in key areas such as
artificial intelligence and quantum science.
CH A IR
In this respect, the highly successful model
Martin Stratmann
of EMBL may serve as an inspiration. Such President, Max Planck Society (MPG), Germany
initiatives should involve, most notably, the
United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Israel
as powerhouses of the European research
landscape.

Beyond this, the EU needs to be open to

the world: the best European scientists
and institutions should team up with the

7
17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

Committing to Excellence

Research excellence is a long-proven enabler

of economic wealth, competitive­ness,
and autonomy. It is an essential driver of
technological innovations that change our
lives and protect people. It also serves the
interests of citizens by providing high-quality
scientific knowledge for decision-making.
In a world of rapid evolution and fierce
competition, Europe should keep setting its
research standards high by strengthening its
commitment to excellence.

8
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

» Research excellence is not a luxury; it is

an absolute necessity to address pressing
global, social, and industrial challenges,
for the benefit of all European citizens.

By funding curiosity-driven frontier research, excellence for PhD students and post-docs to
the European Research Council is a unique train next generations of creative scientists
driver of research excellence in Europe. Yet on emerging topics.
the diversity of European talent needs to be
further leveraged. It is absolutely necessary to Overall, research excellence is a vision that G6
ensure the continued strength of the ERC by institutions strongly support by conforming
preserving its values and empowering it with to high standards of research practices like
greater funding capacities. The ERC should freedom of research, peer review and teaming
be a reference model to promote excellence capacity. We urge policy-makers at both
beyond fundamental science, transcending European and national levels to empower
the whole European Framework Programmes. European research stakeholders and design
policies setting research excellence as their
Against the backdrop of pressing global main guiding principle.
challenges and future crises, excellence
requires to team up with the best talent. It is
essential that Europe fosters co-operation
between cutting-edge research partners that
CH A IR
commit to excellence. Strong partnerships Antoine Petit
with historic and emerging powerhouses of President, Centre national de la recherche scientifique
research inside and outside Europe, including (CNRS), France
the United Kingdom and Switzerland, are
indispensable.

Sustaining critical masses and ensuring the

balance of talent global mobility is also crucial
to ensure the future of European research.
Europe should promote agile networks of
excellence to attract and aggregate compe­
tences, including interdisciplinary compe­tences.
Europe should also invest in schools of

9
17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

Catalysing the Fundamental

Energy Transition

Europe is well positioned in many fields of

cutting-edge research, and the continent has a lot
to offer in terms of green technologies. However,
there is an urgent need for Europe to position
itself as driving force for the fundamental energy
transition and address the challenges posed by
geopolitical changes and by climate change.

10
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

» Europe needs to position itself as a key

player in the fundamental energy transition.

Europe can play a key role at a global scale to also needs to reorganise its processes for
develop a new generation of green, fossil-free transfer, implementation, and innovation.
technologies. This will also help international The G6 institutions urge Europe to develop
partners, including African countries, to comprehensive agendas to integrate and
meet their energy needs, and enable them to unite an ecosystem that fosters collaboration
export green energy to Europe. The potential between industry and academia, as well as
of the EU photovoltaic and hydrogen systems between different regions and countries. Only
should be strengthened through international in such a setting will Europe take a leadership
partnerships. role in the energy transition to secure our
future.
In addition, there is a need to develop rules
for licensing power plants and highlight the
importance of public-private partnerships.
Fusion is a prime example of European
collaboration, where 25 member states
work jointly to develop key technologies and
exploit European research infrastructures
CH A IR
to demonstrate that energy can be obtained Otmar D. Wiestler
through fusion-based technologies. President, Helmholtz Association (HGF), Germany

Transformational energy research has to be

promoted at the European level. The creation
of a European Institute of Energy Research
with freedom and autonomy would attract
talent from all over the world and help to
unite research at the European level. In order
to master the energy transition, Europe

11
17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

Spurring Disruptive Innovation

Disruptive innovation depends on fundamental

research, which is the seed of tomorrow‘s
innovation. This is why scientists must feel
free to be driven by their own curiosity, the
courage to explore unusual ideas and even
unusual paths. In this landscape, a balanced
combination of bottom-up and top-down
approaches is recommended to strengthen
fundamental research. In parallel, project
evaluation, to stimulate innovation, should
focus more on process than on impact, as
focusing on the latter reduces creativity.

12
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

» What we call science is our ability to imagine

the future, shaping possibilities, in a responsible
and sustainable way. European research should
drive this challenging ability.

In ‚blue sky‘ thinking, small teams can The EIC and the ERC represent an excellent
often be more effective, so a proper balance system for innovation based on free
between small and large teams should fundamental research. While preserving
be considered essential for a flourishing their distinction of roles and independence,
S&T ecology. However, it is frequently an their interface should be strengthened. It
innovative business model that enables is also necessary to continue developing
the application of a new technology in a collaboration with non-European countries
disruptive way, and this is what we really and to continue working for academic
need in Europe. Here, greater flexibility and freedom and independence.
a smarter legal framework for innovation
are needed to facilitate the quick scalability
of innovative ideas.

A stronger hybrid research and innovation

ecosystem needs to be built to protect
and support new start-ups and companies
when they leave the protected scientific
CH A IR
environment. The transition from the Maria Chiara Carrozza
laboratory to the market is often very difficult President, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy
due to the scarcity of European funds and
sometimes a complex and fragmented
regulatory framework. The risk is to hand
over excellent innovative ideas to markets
outside Europe.

13
17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

Nurturing Effective Public Policies

Recent crises remind us that many fundamental

scientific challenges are simultaneously central
policy issues, important enough for citizens
to consider that public administrations must
address them through public policies.

14
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

» The difficulty to combine the need for long-term

strategies, inherent to research, with short-term
political agendas highlights the complex equation
of science for policy. The need for interfaces
between science and policy-making should be
emphasised at the EU level.

There appears to be a growing consensus and advice are admissible, or how evidence
among those who believe that policies might be incorporated into decisions.
need to be informed by scientific evidence.
Citizens’ confidence in science as an input to Adequate knowledge brokerage skills and
solve problems is progressively increasing, training are thus essential for effective
while politicians in many countries have exchange across communities and for the
called for the help of scientists. Advisory functioning of science for policy interfaces.
mechanisms have proliferated, and many The need for these interfaces capable of
scientists have been willing to contribute with supporting mutual trust and knowledge
their work to respond to social and policy brokerage should be emphasised at the
problems. EU level.

However, the relationship between Science

and Policy is complex. The difficulty to
combine the need for long-term strategies,
inherent to research, with short-term political CH A IR
Eloísa del Pino Matute
agendas highlights the complex equation
President, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
of science for policy. Science and policy- Científicas (CSIC), Spain
making processes operate according to
different logics, values, and languages. Their
effective connection and dialogue require
institutionalised transparent structures and
procedures to establish on which issues
evidence is required, what kind of evidence

15
17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

Strengthening Research
Infrastructures

The EU is looking back on 20 years of

strategic development of a European research
infrastructure (RI) landscape. RIs enable
researchers to conduct excellent research that
goes beyond the state of the art, they are a
successful means of attracting talent to Europe
and sought-after partners at international
level. The G6 is convinced that Europe should
strengthen its strategically important role in
this area even more in the future.

16
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

» Sustainable EU funding for excellent research

infrastructures is essential to promote out­
standing science, foster collaboration across
disciplines and countries, and advance the
European Research Area.

Essential RIs include large-scale infra­struc­ Public perception and acknowledgment

tures as well as information infrastructures, of RI is crucial as it helps to demonstrate
such as computer systems, archives, data their value particularly in times of crises. By
infrastructures, or scientific collections. showcasing their contributions to society, RI
The latter’s importance and the need for a can build trust and support from the public,
skilled workforce have increased con­sider­ which in turn can lead to increased funding
ably over the last 20 years with the digital and investment. This ultimately strengthens
transformation and the establish­ment of their capacity to tackle challenges and drive
open science principles. Also, increasing progress in science and technology.
cyber­attacks, including on research organi­
sa­tions, have illustrated the importance
of vigilance and qualified staff, such as IT
security experts.

One of the priorities should be to better co-

ordinate funding mechanisms at national
CH A IR
and EU levels to ensure sustainable funding
Martina Brockmeier
and planning security for RI. To underpin President, Leibniz Association, Germany
their importance for the European Research
Area, special consideration should be given
to the provision for transnational access
to RI as well as to the alignment of the
general framework conditions for access.
An integrated system would bring together
national roadmaps, the ESFRI roadmap as
well as international agreements.

17
18
 THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH

In the inspiring setting of Castle Ringberg,

scientists and decision-makers reflected
on the future of European research.

19
APPENDIX

Jens Brandenburg
Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany

Dr Jens Brandenburg has been a Member of Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal
the German Bundestag representing the Rhine- Minister of Education and Research.
Neckar region since 2017. In the Parliamentary He studied political science and economics at
Group of the Free Democratic Party, he was the University of Mannheim and completed his
spokesperson on study, vocational training PhD at the Graduate School of Economic and
and lifelong learning as well as spokesperson Social Sciences. Prior to becoming a Member
on the Study Commission „Vocational of the German Bundestag, he worked for a
Training in the Digital Work Environment“ until global management consulting firm.
2021. In December 2021, he was appointed

Martina Brockmeier
President, Leibniz Association, Germany

Martina Brockmeier is president of the Leibniz in Giessen (Germany), spent time abroad in
Association since July 1, 2022. She was the USA (Purdue University) and Australia
Chairperson of the German Council of Science (University of Adelaide) as part of a DFG
and Humanities from 2017 to 2020. habilitation fellowship and completed her
She has served as member of the DFG Review habilitation (2002). She was Director of the
Board (2008-2016), the Senate Evaluation Institute for Market Analysis and Agricultural
Committee of the Leibniz Association (2001- Trade Policy at the Thuenen Institute,
2009), the National Academy of Science Braunschweig (1999–2009).
and Engineering (Acatech, since 2018), the Holder of the W3 professorship for
Academic Advisory Council (AAC, since 2020) International Agricultural Trade and Food
of the University of Heidelberg and the Senate Security at University of Hohenheim (2009).
Strategic Committee of the Leibniz Association She is currently on leave of absence to assume
(2020-2021). Since 1999 Martina Brockmeier the presidency of the Leibniz Association.
has been a member of the Global Trade Her main research interests are agricultural
Analysis Project (GTAP) Advisory Board of economics and policy, international trade in
Purdue University (USA). As Dean she headed agricultural products and food. She focuses
the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the on regional and multilateral trade agreements
University of Hohenheim from 2012 to 2014. and their impact on developing countries and
Brockmeier studied Agricultural and Food global food security.
Economics and was awarded her doctorate

20 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 PARTICIPANTS

Maria Chiara Carrozza

President, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy

Maria Chiara Carrozza graduated in Physics She was member of the Steering Committee of
and obtained her Ph.D. in Engineering at Scuola Quantum Tech FET Flagship, DG Communica­
Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa) in 1994. tion Networks, Content and Technology and
She is the President of the National Research Chair of the Expert Group responsible for the
Council since 2021. interim evaluation of FET Flagship.

She is Full Professor of Industrial Bioenginee­ From 2019 to 2022 she was Chair of the
ring at the BioRobotics Institute of Scuola European Commission Expert Group for the de­
Superiore Sant’Anna, where she was Rector velopment of impact evaluation methodologies
from 2007 to 2013. of Partnerships in Research and Innovation.

Member of the Italian Parliament from 2013 She is author of several scientific publications
to 2018, she served as Minister of Education, and 15 international patents, and involved in
University and Research. research and academic projects with Japan,
Korea, and China.
From 2018 to 2021 she was Scientific Director
of Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation. From 2015 to Research interests: Neurorobotics, Bionics,
2021 she was independent director in the Board Biorobotics, Rehabilitation Bioengineering,
of Directors of the Piaggio SpA (2015-2021) Exoskeletons, Robotic Prostheses, Microen­
and Partner of the start-up IUVO Srl since 2015. gineering, Sensing for Biorobotics.
She was founder and President of the Italian
Scientific Association of Biomedical Engineers.

Gianluigi Consoli
Director-General, Direction General for Internationalization and Communication, Ministry of Universities and Research, Italy

Gianluigi Consoli was born in 1979. Appointed in 2015 as Head of the Office
He studied law at the University of Rome for the planning and the promotion of
„Sapienza“ and completed his doctoral studies international research and coordination of
in History and Doctrine of Institutions at the aerospace research, in 2021 Consoli became
University of Insubria in Como. Director General for Internationalization and
Communication of the Ministry of Universities
After previous experiences as a Technologist and Research.
at ENEA, since 2014 he has been a manager
of the Ministry of University and Research, He deals with activities such as the national
following attendance of the specific position in the scientific programmes of the
management course at the National School European Union, international relationships –
of Administration and after having carried out bilateral and multilateral – in the field of
an internship at the Scientific Office of the scientific research, and the Italian participation
Permanent Representation to the International in international organizations such as OECD,
Organizations in Geneva, dealing mainly CERN, ECMWF, EMBL and IAEA. Furthermore,
with CERN and other international scientific he coordinates the Italian participation in the
organizations. main European research partnerships.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 21

 APPENDIX

Patrick Cramer
Director, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, President elect Max Planck Society, Germany

Born on February 3, 1969 in Stuttgart. Study University (USA) from 1999 to 2001. Tenure-
of chemistry at the Universities of Stuttgart track professor of biochemistry at the University
and Heidelberg. Research student at the of Munich from 2001 to 2003. Professor of
University of Bristol (UK) and Cambridge (UK). biochemistry at the University of Munich from
Diploma in chemistry in 1995 at the University 2004 to 2014. Director of the Gene Center of
of Heidelberg, doctorate at the University of the University of Munich (LMU) from 2004 to
Heidelberg/EMBL Grenoble (France) in 1998. 2013. Director at the Max Planck Institute of
Predoctoral fellow in Grenoble (France) from Biophysical Chemistry, since 2022 Max Planck
1995 to 1998, postdoctoral fellow at Stanford Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences.

Eloísa del Pino Matute

President, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain

PhD in Political Science, Instituto Universitario She has been visiting researcher or fellow at
de Investigación Ortega y Gasset (IUIOG), the Latin American Centre, University of Oxford,
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). (2016-2017); at the Centre d´Études et de la
B. A. Degree in Political Sciences and Public Recherche sur la Vie Locale (CNRS), Institut d‘
Administration (UCM) and B. A. Degree in Etudes Politiques in Bordeaux (2004); at the
Law (UNED). Master’s Degree in Human School of Social Policy and Social Research
Resources and Organization (ESIC). She has at the University of Kent (2008), and at the
held teaching positions at the Universidad Rey School of Political Studies at the University of
Juan Carlos (URJC, 1995-2007) and at the Ottawa (2014).
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (2007-2008). Much of her recent research has dealt with
She has been the Chief of Staff of the Minister the political conditions for reform of the
of Healthcare, Consume Affairs and Social welfare state and social policies in comparative
Welfare (2018-2020), and she is the President perspective.
of the Spanish National Research Council
(CSIC) since June 2022.

22 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 PARTICIPANTS

Bérengère Dubrulle
Director, Research in Turbulence Flow Physics, CNRS, France

Bérengère Dubrulle is currently director of atmospheric physics and climate change

research at CNRS. Former student at École related issues.
Normale Supérieure, she holds a PhD degree in Since 2020, Bérengère Dubrulle is the director
astrophysics from the University of Toulouse. of the international School of Physics in Les
After her postdoc at the Tsukuba Meteoro­ Houches. Acting as an incubator of Nobel
logical Research Institute in Japan, she became physics Prizes and Field medalists over 70
a research fellow at the CNRS. In 2000, she years, this school is a flagship of research
became a CNRS director of research at the training excellence in Europe.
Condensed Matter Physics laboratory in Saclay.
Bérengère Dubrulle has received several
Throughout her career, Bérengère Dubrulle awards including the Prize Madame Victor
developed research excellence across various Noury from the French Academy of science in
fields of turbulence flow physics, ranging from 2008, the CNRS silver medal in 2017 and the
quantum turbulence to astrophysics. Along Lewis Fry Richardson medal from the European
a visiting fellowship in 1999 at the National Geosciences Union in 2021. In 2022, Bérengère
Center for Atmospherical Research in Boulder Dubrulle was named French “Female scientist
(Colorado, USA) she became acutely aware of the year”, receiving the Irène Joliot-Curie
of climate issues and initiated research on award from the French Academy of sciences.

Giuseppe Gigli
Director, CNR Institute of Nanotechnology, Italy

Giuseppe Gigli took the Degree in Physics at the Nonlinear Spectroscopy (LENS) Scientific Board,
University of Rome (IT) “La Sapienza” in 1996 coordinator of the National Energy Platform of
and the PhD in Physics in 1999 at the University the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and of
of Lecce (IT). In 1999 he joined the Optoelec­ the CNR National Project EFOR on Renewable
tronics group in the Cavendish Laboratory of Energies.
the University of Cambridge (UK), working on His main research activities involve: organic/hybrid
Polymer Optoelectronic Devices. In 2000 he photonic devices, microfluidic laboratories on chip,
joined the Organic and Biomolecular electronics liquid biopsy and drug delivery systems for advan­
group in the Department of Physics, Chemistry ced Theranostics, 3D in vitro models on chips.
and Biology of the University of Linköping (Swe­
den), working on Nanotechnology of molecular He is author of more than 450 publications
materials. Since 2001 he is Lecturer in Physics (h-index=71) with more than 19000 citations,
in the Engineering Dep. of the University of 20 patents and more than 60 Invited talks in
Salento, where he is full Professor since 2010. International Conferences. GG is and has been
GG is founder and Director of the CNR Institute coordinator of several research projects funded
of Nanotechnology, where he is also coordinator by the Italian Ministry of Research (MIUR) and
of the Molecular Nanotechnology group. GG is European Community (EU), as well as respon­
President of the Puglia High-Tech District (DHI­ sible of several industrial projects with Italian
TECH), coordinator of the Precision Medicine and international companies. Giuseppe Gigli is
Technopole in Lecce and Director of the CNR In­ co-founder of spin off and start-up aiming at the
terdepartmental Research Center in Taranto. GG developing of new organic systems for optoelec­
has been member of the European Laboratory of tronic and medical applications.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 23

APPENDIX

Claire Giry
Director-General, Research and Innovation, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, France

Claire Giry has been appointed Director General between 2007 and 2009. She then became
of Research and Innovation at the Ministry of head of the joint department of the General
Higher Education, Research and Innovation in Directorate for Higher Education and
June 2021. Professional Integration (Dgesip) and the
A doctor in molecular and cellular biology, General Directorate for Research and Innovation
trained at the Ecole Normale Supérieure (DGRI) of the Ministry of Higher Education and
in Lyon, Claire Giry was responsible for Research. She was in charge of territorial issues
developing national, European and international and the implementation of the first Programme
partnerships at the French Alternative Energies d‘investissements d‘avenir (PIA).
and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and Claire Giry then directed the „Centers of
the French National Institute for Health and Excellence“ program of the French General
Medical Research (Inserm). Commission for Investment, before joining
She was also technical advisor to the Prime Inserm in 2012 where she held various
Minister for higher education and research positions before being appointed Vice-CEO.

Sibylle Günter
Scientific Director, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), Germany

Sibylle Günter graduated in physics from the she headed the „Tokamak Theory“ department
University of Rostock in 1987. Three years until 2011. Her research focuses on the
later she completed her PhD at the Department stability of magnetically confined fusion
of Theoretical Physics. From 1990 to 1996 plasmas. Since February 2011, she has been
she was a research assistant at the chair Scientific Director and Chair of the Directorate
„Theoretical Physics I“. Her research at the of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics.
University of Rostock was deepened by stays She has been an adjunct professor at the
abroad at the University of Maryland and as University of Rostock since 2001 and an
a visiting scientist at the National Institute of honorary professor at the Technical University
Standards and Technology (NIST). In 1996, of Munich since 2006. She is an elected
Sibylle Günter habilitated at the University of member of the National Academy of Sciences
Rostock with a thesis on „Optical Properties Leopoldina, the German Academy of Science
of Dense Plasmas“. In February 1996, she and Engineering (Acatech), the Academia
went to the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Europaea and the Swiss Academy of Science
Physics. In 2000, at the age of 36, she became and Engineering (SATW). Since 2014, Sibylle
the youngest woman in the history of the Günter has been a member of the Senate of
Max Planck Society to be appointed Scientific the Max Planck Society.
Member and Director of the Institute. At IPP,

24 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 PARTICIPANTS

Maria Leptin
President, European Research Council

Professor Maria Leptin is the President of the her research on the embryonic development
European Research Council (took office from of Drosophila. This laid the foundations
1 November 2021). for her future work in the field of molecular
Prior to that, Professor Leptin served as Director morphogenesis. As visiting scientists at the
of EMBO from 2010. She also established a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF),
research group in Heidelberg at the European Professor Leptin began her work on gastrulation
Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The group which became the core of her research interests
studies the mechanics of shape determination at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental
during development. Biology in Tübingen, Germany, where she worked
as group leader (1989-1994).
After completing her studies in mathematics
and biology at the University of Bonn and the In 1994, Maria Leptin became Professor at the
University of Heidelberg, Professor Leptin Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne,
obtained her PhD at the Basel Institute for Germany, where she still leads a research group.
Immunology, Switzerland (1979-1983) studying Professor Leptin is an elected member of
B-lymphocyte activation under the supervision of EMBO, the Academia Europaea and the German
Fritz Melchers. National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina), and
In 1984, she became a post-doctoral fellow an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Medical
(1984-1987) at the Laboratory of Molecular Sciences. She is also Foreign Member of the
Biology (LMB), Cambridge, UK, where she started Royal Society since May 2022.

Francisco Javier Moreno-Fuentes

Vicepresident, International Affairs CSIC, Spain

Francisco Javier Moreno-Fuentes is Senior Commission since 2014. He led a significant

Researcher at the Institute of Public Goods number of research projects on welfare
and Policies of the Spanish National Research policies and immigration in Spain and in the
Council (IPP-CSIC). BA in Sociology from the EU based on a combination of quantitative and
Universidad Complutense, Master in Social qualitative methods, the last one of which was
Sciences from the Juan March Institute, MSc in “Deep dive analysis of policies, programmes,
Social Policy from the LSE, and PhD in Political services, budgets, and mechanisms addressing
Science from the Universidad Autónoma of child poverty and social exclusion in Spain”,
Madrid. Between July 2018 and September funded by UNICEF on behalf of the European
2019 he was Deputy Director of the Spanish Commission.
High Commissionate against child poverty. He is the author or co-author of 10 books, 40
He has been a researcher for the European articles in peer-reviewed journals, 37 chapters
Social Policy Network (ESPN) of independent in edited books, and more than 50 Reports
experts on social protection and inclusion related to his areas of specialisation. Since July
of the Directorate-General for Employment, 2022, he is the Vicepresident for International
Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Affairs of CSIC.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 25

APPENDIX

Graziano Pesole
Full professor of Molecular Biology and Former director, CNR Institute of “Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular
Biotechnologies”, Italy

Graziano Pesole is full professor of Molecular algorithms which are available as standalone
Biology in the University of Bari A. Moro and software or through the web.
Associate Researcher of CNR-IBIOM, Director He leads a large interdisciplinary research
of Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie group including molecular biologists, bioinfor­
(Trieste), Head of the Italian Node of ELIXIR, maticians and computer scientists.
the European Research Infrastructure for Life
He has been PI for several research projects
Science, Director of Consorzio Interuniversita­
funded by national (MIUR, CNR, Telethon,
rio Biotecnologie.
AIRC, AISM, ARISLA) and international (EU,
Bibliometric facts: h-index: 78 (Google scholar), NIH) agencies and currently leading several
72 (ResearchGate), 64 (Scopus); peer-reviewed research projects funded by the Italian PNRR
publications: >360; sum of Times Cited without including the leadership of the Biocomputing
self-citations: >25,000. spoke of the National Center for Gene Therapy
Graziano Pesole has since long carried out and Drugs based on RNA technology (Total
research activity in the fields of bioinfor­ budget of the last 10 years: >10M€). He also
matics, comparative genomics and molecular filed several international patents.
evolution. His current research interests are He is member of the Editorial Board of several
focused on bioinformatics application for the high-profile journals, and co-author of books on
management and analysis of next generation Bioinformatics, Genomics and Molecular Biology
sequencing data, also at single-cell resolution. published by Italian (Zanichelli, Ambrosiana,
He has developed several specialized data­ Gnocchi) and international (Wiley) editors.
bases and widely used analysis software and

Antoine Petit
President, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), France

Antoine Petit is Chairman and CEO of the From 2001 to 2003, Antoine Petit was
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique appointed deputy director of the Research
(CNRS) since 2018. Department at the French ministry of research,
Holding a PhD in computer science from in charge of mathematics, information and
Université Paris Diderot, he specialized in communication sciences and technologies. In
formal methods, mostly based on transition 2004, he joined CNRS as scientific director of
systems, for the specification and verification the Information and communication science
of parallel systems in real time. An academic and technologies department and as inter-
from 1984 to 2004, he consecutively served regional director for southwestern France. In
as assistant professor at Université d‘Orléans, 2006, Antoine Petit joined the French National
lecturer at Université Paris-Sud and professor Institute for Computer Science and Applied
at Ecole Normale Supérieure in Cachan from Mathematics (INRIA) as head of the Paris-
1994 where he headed the department of Rocquencourt research center and further
computer science. as deputy CEO of the institute. In 2014, he
became Chairman and CEO of INRIA where he
served until 2018.

26 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 PARTICIPANTS

Covadonga Pevida García

Group Leader, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono, INCAR-CSIC, Spain

Dr Covadonga Pevida is a Research Scientist current research interests focus on biomass

at the Institute of Carbon Science and utilization for energy and value-added products.
Technology, INCAR-CSIC (Spain), where she In particular, the production of H2 from
leads the Energy Processes and Emission renewable bioresources and the development
Reduction (PrEM) Group. MEng and PhD in of adsorption processes and materials for gas
Chemical Engineering from the University separation (e.g., CO2 capture).
of Oviedo, she received the Young PhD Covadonga is a member of the Technical
Researcher Award from the Spanish Carbon Group of Experts on ‘Environmental, technical
Group in 2005. She was a postdoc fellow at and economic issues related to coal treatment
IRCELyon (CNRS-Université de Lyon 1) and and use‘ (TGK2) of the Research Fund for
the University of Nottingham. In 2017 she was Coal and Steel (RFCS) at the European
a visiting researcher at the Research Centre Commission, member of the Board of Directors
for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), Heriot-Watt of the Spanish Carbon Group (GEC), and the
University (Edinburgh). She has co-authored leader of the Capture Group at the Spanish
more than 130 publications, an invention CO2 Technology Platform (PTECO2). She is
patent (ES252625) about the production of CO2 a member of the Editorial Advisory Board
adsorbents from biowastes, has supervised 11 of several JCR Journals (e.g., Chemical
PhDs to successful completion (5 have received Engineering Journal) and Specialty Chief Editor
awards), and has led and participated in more of Advanced Clean Fuel Technologies-Frontiers
than 25 research projects at the national in Energy Research. She is also Chief Editor of
and European level in the Energy theme. Her the Spanish Carbon Group Bulletin.

Signe Ratso
Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission

Signe Ratso is Deputy Director-General and As a member of the Management Board she
a member of the Management Board of oversees some of the priority areas of the
the Directorate-General for Research and Commission in DG R&I.
Innovation of the European Commission. She Before joining DG R&I she worked in different
is Chief negotiator, responsible for negotiations senior management positions in DG TRADE
of association agreements with third countries since 2006.
associated and future potential associated
countries to the EU R&I programmes Horizon Signe Ratso has always been involved in inter­
Europe and Euratom, association policy and national affairs. Before joining the Commission
its interlinkages with EU R&I international she worked as Deputy Secretary General (from
cooperation strategy. 1994 to 2005) at the Ministry of Economic
Affairs and Communications of the Republic
She is also responsible for Open Innovation of Estonia.
and for citizens’ engagement and social
innovation in research and innovation policy. She has two University degrees from Tartu
University in Estonia.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 27

 APPENDIX

Bernd Rech
Scientific Director, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin, Germany

Bernd Rech is the Scientific Director of combinations for tandem solar cells. From
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien 2008 to 2020, he was the spokesperson for the
und Energie (HZB) and professor in the Helmholtz Association‘s Renewable Energies
Photovoltaics Department of the Faculty of program. Bernd Rech studied physics at
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Heidelberg University and RWTH Aachen and
at Technische Universität Berlin. received his doctorate from RWTH Aachen.
He was co-initiator of the Energy Materials in- Bernd Rech also serves on numerous
situ Laboratory EMIL at the Berlin storage ring committees, such as the supervisory board
BESSY II. Together with Prof. Robert Schlögl of the Institute for Solar Energy Research
(Fritz Haber Institute) he leads the joint project in Hameln and the board of trustees of the
CatLab, which uses BESSY II specifically for Baden-Württemberg Center for Solar Energy
applications in catalysis and green hydrogen and Hydrogen Research. He is a member
technologies. of the board of the Energy Working Group
Previously, he headed the Silicon Photovoltaics of the German Physical Society, and since
Institute at HZB from 2006 to 2017. The focus 2017 he has been an elected member of the
of his research has been on the development German Academy of Science and Engineering
of both high-efficiency and low-cost thin- (acatech). In 2018, he received the Apple
film silicon solar cells and new material of Inspiration, an award of the President of
Slovenia.

Georg Schütte
Secretary General, VolkswagenStiftung, Germany

Since 1 January 2020 Dr. Georg Schütte has University of Dortmund, Germany, as well
been Secretary General of the Volkswagen as a Masters Degree of the City University
Foundation. Prior to this, he served as State of New York, USA. He conducted research
Secretary in the German Federal Ministry of at Harvard University and at the University
Education and Research for ten years. of Siegen. Before he entered government
Dr. Schütte was born in Rheine, Germany, in service, Georg Schütte was Secretary General
1962 and holds a doctoral degree in media and of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
communication research from the Technical He has worked in research and foundation
management for more than 30 years.

28 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 PARTICIPANTS

Simone Schwanitz
Secretary General, Max Planck Society, Germany

Dr. Simone Schwanitz, born 1968, studied „Research, Technology Transfer, Digitalisation,
political science and economics at the European Union“ in the Ministry of Science,
universities of Marburg and Hamburg. She Research and the Arts of the State. She was
completed her doctorate in the field of research member of the Board of Trustees of several
on Eastern Europe at the Free University of Max Planck Institutes. Dr. Schwanitz has been
Berlin. For the last 20 years she held various Secretary General of the Max Planck Society
positions in research and science management since February 2022.
at federal and state level – last in Baden-
Württemberg as Head of the Department

Martin Stratmann
President, Max Planck Society (MPG), Germany

Martin Stratmann was born in 1954 in Essen Chemistry and Surface Engineering. From
and grew up in Traben-Trarbach. He studied 2006 to 2008, Stratmann took over the Chair of
chemistry at Ruhr-Universität Bochum the Chemistry, Physics and Technology Section
and completed his doctoral studies at the of the Max Planck Society, becoming Vice
Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung in President in 2008.
Düsseldorf in 1982. In 2014, he assumed the office of President of
From 1994 to 1999, Stratmann took over the the Max Planck Society.
chair for Corrosion and Surface Engineering at The Senate re-elected him for a second term of
the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen- office as President in June 2020. He received
Nürnberg. In 2000, he returned to the MPI an honorary doctor of the University of Buenos
as Director of the Department of Interface Aires in March 2023.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 29

APPENDIX

Jean-Marie Tarascon
Professor, Solid-State Chemistry and Energy, Collège de France, France

Jean-Marie Tarascon is Professor at Collège Along his career, Jean-Marie Tarascon has
de France, holding the permanent chair of cultivated research excellence, initiating
Chemistry of Solids and Energy since 2013. important international networks devoted to
A specialist in materials and electrochemical electrochemistry and materials for renewable
energy storage, Jean-Marie Tarascon began energy storage, as well as training a large
his career in the United States, first at Cornell number of students and researchers.
University (1980), then at Bell Laboratory Member of the French Academy of sciences
and Bellcore until 1994, where he discovered since 2004, Jean-Marie Tarascon received
numerous materials with varied functionalities; many prestigious prizes for his scientific
he then developed the lithium-ion battery contributions including the Centenary prize
based on a new all-plastic system, which of the Royal Chemical Society in 2015, the
is currently on the market. In 1995, he was CNRS innovation medal in 2017 and the Balzan
appointed professor at the University of prize for environmental challenges in 2020. In
Picardie-Jules Verne and became director 2022, Jean-Marie Tarascon was awarded the
of the Laboratory of Reactivity and Solid- CNRS gold medal for his pioneering research
State Chemistry until 2009. He created in on understanding and discovering new lithium
2003 the still existing European battery reactivity concepts, synthesizing new electrode
Research Institute (ALISTORE-ERI) and in materials and electrolytes for batteries, and
2011, he founded the French Network on developing new battery chemistries.
Electrochemical Energy Storage.

Klaus Tochtermann
Director, Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, Germany

Klaus Tochtermann studied computer Klaus Tochtermann is involved in national

science in Kiel, Dortmund (Germany) and at and European committees and initiatives on
Texas A&M (USA). From 2004 to 2010 Klaus the topic of Open Science and research data
Tochtermann was full professor for knowledge management. These include the GO FAIR
management and knowledge technologies at initiative, which Germany launched together
the Graz University of Technology (Austria). with the Netherlands and France to establish
Since 2010, Klaus Tochtermann has been the FAIR principles for research data. Among
Director of the ZBW - Leibniz Information others, he is also a member of the scientific
Centre for Economics in Kiel and Hamburg and senate of the National Research Data
holds a professorship for Digital Information Infrastructure in Germany and a member of
Infrastructures at Kiel University. The ZBW is the Board of Directors of the European Open
the world‘s largest information infrastructure Science Cloud Association.
for scientific information in economics, both
online and offline.

30 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 PARTICIPANTS

Klement Tockner
Director-General, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Germany

Klement Tockner is the Director General of the Sciences (2005–2014) and is a technical editor
Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung of the journal Ecosystems. He has published
(www.senckenberg.de) and a Professor of about 250 scientific papers, including more
Ecosystem Sciences at Goethe University, than 180 ISI articles. In 2009, he published
Frankfurt am Main (since 2021). He served as a comprehensive book on European rivers
President of the Austrian Science Fund FWF (Rivers of Europe, Elsevier; 2nd edition in 2022).
(2016–2020), Professor of Aquatic Ecology at Klement Tockner successfully led large inter-
the Free University of Berlin (2007–2020), and and transdisciplinary projects such as the
Director of the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater “BioFresh” project funded by the European
Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin Commission. He is a member of several
(2007–2016). He received his PhD from scientific committees and advisory boards,
the University of Vienna (1993) and a titular including the National Institute of Environmental
professorship at ETH Zurich (2005). Studies, Japan (NIES), and the Biology Centre,
Klement Tockner is an internationally Czech Republic. He is an elected member of
renowned freshwater scientist, particularly in the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the German
the research fields of biodiversity, ecosystem Academy of Sciences Leopoldina - National
science, and environmental management. Academy of Sciences, and the Mainz Academy
He was editor-in-chief of the journal Aquatic of Sciences and Literature.

Luis Valdés Santurio

Director, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander, IEO-CSIC, Spain

Professor Dr. Luis Valdés Santurio is the observatories which is maintained by Spain in
current Director of the Centro Oceanográfico the North Atlantic. He has a long experience
de Santander (Centro Nacional Instituto in science management and has advised
Español de Oceanografía-SCIC); before he various governmental, intergovernmental
was the Head of Ocean Sciences at the and international organizations as well as
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission research funding agencies. He also served as
of UNESCO during seven years (from 2009- Spanish Delegate at the IOC-UNESCO and ICES
2015), and formerly (2000-2008) he was the (International Council for the Exploration of
Director of the Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón the Sea) where he chaired different Working
(IEO-CSIC). With almost 40 years of experience Groups and Committees including the
in marine research and field studies related Oceanographic Committee. At the IOC he has
with marine ecology and climate change, he launched and coordinated the Global Ocean
established in 1990 the time series programme Science Report „The current status of Ocean
based on ocean sampling sites and marine Science around the World“.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 31

APPENDIX

Peter Wasserscheid
Director, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Germany

Peter Wasserscheid is head of the Institute The key research interests of the Wasserscheid
of Chemical Reaction Engineering at the research group centre on catalyst material
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen- development and reaction engineering aspects
Nuremberg (FAU) and director of the Helmholtz of multiphase catalytic processes. Worldwide,
Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable the team belongs to the top research teams
Energy, a part of Forschungszentrum Jülich. in developing chemical hydrogen storage
Peter studied chemistry at the RWTH Aachen using Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC)
and finished his PhD in 1998. After a six- systems. The group develops this technology for
month industrial postdoc with BP Chemicals stationary and mobile applications. These efforts
in Sunbury (UK) he returned to the RWTH include catalyst and reactor developments,
Aachen where he completed his habilitation systems design and engineering as well as the
in 2002. In 2003, Peter took up his current development of larger scale demonstrators.
position at the FAU, the director position for His research efforts have earned him a number
the Helmholtz Institute added in 2014 to his of awards including the Leibniz Award of the
duties. Since 11/2021, Peter acts in addition German Science Foundation and two Advanced
as founding director of the new Institute for Investigator Grants of the European Research
a Sustainable Hydrogen Economy (INW) at Council in 2010 and 2018.
Forschungszentrum Jülich.

Otmar D. Wiestler
President, Helmholtz Association (HGF), Germany

After completing his medical studies at the Otmar D. Wiestler has served on many
University of Freiburg, he obtained his Doctorate scientific and professional boards, as Head
in Medicine in 1984 (summa cum laude). of the German Brain Tumor Reference Center
Between 1984 and 1987 he was a postdoctoral in Bonn, Chairman of the BONFOR research
researcher at the Department of Pathology at committee at the University of Bonn, President
the University of California, San Diego, USA. He of the German Society of Neuropathology
then changed to the University Hospital Zurich and Neuroanatomy, Head of the Review
in Switzerland, where he qualified as University Board Theoretical Medicine of the Deutsche
Lecturer in Pathology. In 1992 the University Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), and as CEO of
of Bonn appointed him as Professor for the Life & Brain Neuroscience platform in Bonn.
Neuropathology and Director of the Institute for Since 2001 he is an elected member of the
Neuropathology where he helped to establish a German Life Science Academy LEOPOLDINA.
large neuroscientific research centre. Between In 2004, he received the German Federal Cross
January 2004 and August 2015 Professor of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz). The honorary
Wiestler led, as Chairman of the Executive Board doctoral degrees (Dr. h. c.) were awarded to
and Scientific Director, the German Cancer him in 2012 by the University of Tuebingen, in
Research Center in Heidelberg (DKFZ), which 2014 by the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of
is one of the leading institutions in cancer Munich, in 2016 by the University of Duisburg-
Research in the world. Since September 2015 Essen, in 2017 by the University of Wuerzburg
he serves as the President of the Helmholtz and in 2021 by the Weizmann Institute of
Association in Berlin. Science in Israel.

32 17–19 APRIL 2023 · CASTLE RINGBERG

 PARTICIPANTS

Raquel Yotti
Secretary General, Research, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain

Raquel Yotti is the Secretary General for interest focuses on cardiac imaging inherited
Research at the Spanish Ministry of Science heart diseases. Among previous positions,
and Innovation. Until her appointment, she was the head of the Clinical Cardiology
during the period 2018-2021, she has been Department at the Gregorio Marañon General
Director General at the Spanish Institute of University Hospital, and associated professor
Health “Carlos III”, the main public funding of the Department of Bioengineering at the
organization for biomedical research in Spain. Carlos III University of Madrid.
She is a clinical cardiologist and her research

Anton Zensus
Director, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Germany

Anton Zensus is Director of the Max Planck (EHT) collaboration, of which he served as
Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn and its founding Chair of the Board. This EHT
Professor at the University of Cologne. His collaboration, in 2019, presented the first image
research focus as an astrophysicist is on of a Black Hole, in the Galaxy Messier 87.
the active central regions of galaxies in Prof. Zensus has led several EC Infrastructure
the Universe, which he investigates with Projects (RADIONET) and helped found the
unprecedented angular resolution. This JIV-ERIC in the Netherlands. He currently holds
requires combining radio telescopes and an Advanced Grant of the European Research
other infrastructures around the World. Council and he is the scientific coordinator of
The pioneering technical developments of the infrastructure pilot program ORP in Horizon
Anton Zensus’ group have paved the way for Europe. He also serves as a member of the G6
the international Event Horizon Telescope Task Force on Research Infrastructures.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN RESEARCH 33

IMPRINT

PUBLISHER (ON BEHALF OF THE G6 NETWORK)

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.

Hofgartenstraße 8
D–80539 Munich
Phone: +49 89 2108-0
www.mpg.de

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

Thomas Benz, www.fineresult.de

PHOTOGRAPHER (PAGES 18–19)

Axel Griesch
The G6 network unites six large multidisciplinary
European Research Performing Organisations
with a total annual budget of 15.6 billion euros and
over 140,000 employees: the Consiglio Nazionale
delle Ricerche, the Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique, the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas, the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher
Forschungszentren, the Leibniz-Gemeinschaft, and
the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft.