Multidisciplinary European Research Networks are key to FP9

Investment in research and innovation is key for the EU to realise its ambition of becoming a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy and to contribute to the well-being of society. Therefore, EU policy makers should attribute a significant share of the EU budget to the next Framework Programme, currently under development. The key position points that the COST Committee of Senior Officials takes:

• The next European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation should provide sufficient funding for open networks that are selected under a bottom-up and inclusive approach, ensure scientific and technological excellence, have a multidisciplinary character, and encourage involvement along the whole value chain of production and dissemination of knowledge. 
  
• The activities of these networks should create links and synergies between all European countries and enable the connection of various islands of excellence in Europe and beyond; and ensure the maximization of resources, the defragmentation of knowledge and effective leveraging of nationally funded research.
  
• Within these networks, there should be a special focus on young researchers allowing them to fully use their talent and encouraging ‘brain circulation’.
  

Background:

COST has the tools and experience to contribute to these objectives through activities that produce scientific results, propel careers, and use an inclusive approach to strengthen European scientific and technological development. It can become the leading open networking programme within the ERA through the critical impact it achieves by pooling national investment for research and innovation projects. COST addresses societal challenges by focusing on emerging topics of research and breakthrough knowledge that will provide relevant input for the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

Link to the article can be found here.