S&D MEP Soledad Cabezón calls for a bigger role of society in FP9, after Horizon 2020
Date
Sections
Brussels, 27 September 2017
The EU is currently implementing its biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever, the Horizon 2020 programme, with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020). However, new steps must be taken to ensure the continuity of the programme after 2020.
Today at the European Parliament experts and policy makers analysed the future of research and innovation with the upcoming Ninth Framework Programme for Research (FP9). Three main topics were addressed: the return of public investment and the public interest; excellence in science, and the need for economic development and competitiveness of Europe.
S&D MEP Soledad Cabezón, who was the author of the parliamentary report on the Horizon 2020 evaluation and the FP9 proposal, said:
“The aim should be that Science and research will be developed with and for society. The next FP9 must be closer to citizens, both in knowledge and in approaching results to society. This is the way of getting a stronger, more united and equitable Europe.”
“Science is the solution to social challenges and the solutions must be equitable for all. Public institutions must guarantee, as far as possible, a fair public return to society. Any research financed with public money should respect the equity principle.
“Scientific breakthroughs should improve people’s lives. We need to measure the effectiveness of Research programs from the point of view of economic results but we cannot forget that we also need to do it from the social point of view. This is why measurement criteria and social impact assessment should be reinforced in FP9.
“We hope to have the proposals on the Ninth Framework Programme for Research (FP9) as soon as possible next year so that the EP can participate in the decision-making process on the future research program as stipulated in the Treaties.”
MEPs INVOLVED
soledad.cabezonruiz@ep.europa.eu
+32 2 284 55 96
+33 3 88 17 55 96
S&D PRESS CONTACT
victoria.martindelatorre@ep.europa.eu
+33 3 88 16 42 98
+32 2 284 30 81