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European Research Area- The Wider Policy Context for EURAXESS Brian Ditcham Senior Policy Advisor, International Knowledge and Innovation Unit 2 European Research Area • Aim of ERA is “single market for research” • Based on five “axes” • Joint Programming- getting national funding programmes to work more closely together in tackling major challenges. • Researcher careers and mobility- making research an attractive career for the best and brightest. • Research Infrastructures- new legal framework for European infrastructures adopted. • Intellectual Property rights- current focus on role of IP rights in knowledge transfer from universities. • Policy framework for International S&T collaborationworking together in relations with the wider world. 3 European Research Area Framework (ERAF) • Heads of Government called for ERA to be completed by 2014 • New ERA provisions in the Lisbon treaty • UK ahead of the game (open recruitment, career development, focus on excellence)? • Consultation followed by Commission proposals mid-2012 • Commissioner stated that hard legislation is not on the table at the moment but might be an option in future. 4 ERA Axis on Researcher Careers and Mobility- “European Partnership on Researchers” • Structured round four themes• Open and transparent recruitment procedures and grant portability • Meeting social security and supplementary pensions needs of mobile researchers • Attractive employment and working conditions • Enhancing the training, skills and experience of European researchers 5 UK Position • UK has a good story to tell on this agenda • Already have a very open research base- as Manchester University’s recent Nobel Laureates show • The UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers – and the support mechanisms which underpin it- have set a benchmark for Europe in promoting career development, skills training and professionalism for researchers • This good environment recognised by the success of UK universities in obtaining the “Human Resources Excellence in Research” logo- some 50 to date 6 EURAXESS Role • The EURAXESS portal and its national portals play a major role in delivering the European Partnership • Jobs advertising element particularly important to Commission at the moment • Act as source of information and advice for mobile researchers • Role in spreading information on researcher rights 7 EURAXESS- BIS role • BIS sees a high level of UK participation in EURAXESS at all levels as a crucial means to promote the UK as an attractive destination for the best researchers • We provide funding to the British Council in their excellent work on managing the UK EURAXESS portal • Would also encourage universities to consider becoming EURAXESS services centres as a good way of making established commitments to researchers even more visible