Davos 2014 - A press conference organised by the European Research Council: (Re)search for growth

TL;DR

European Research Council promoting innovation and research for growth with notable speakers.

Transcript

okay so foreign yeah um okay well good afternoon everybody thank you for joining us taking time out of your schedule here to uh join us for the the second press conference of the 44th annual meeting thank you all for joining us thank you to our audience who are watching us over our web channel as well the um the theme of this press conference is ac... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 The ERC supports frontier research with unpredictable outcomes, fostering radical innovation.
• 🧠 Encouraging brain circulation among young scientists can facilitate knowledge exchange and retention.
• 👨‍🔬 Belgium invests in R&D to retain top researchers through tax incentives and research funding.
• 👨‍🔬 Collaboration with China offers potential for global research partnerships and knowledge sharing.
• 😀 Southern European countries face challenges retaining talent due to austerity, risking scientific progress.
• 👨‍🔬 ERC's focus on individual researchers promotes excellence and diversity in research fields.
• 🧠 Brain drain poses a threat to scientific progress and innovation, necessitating measures to retain talent.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the European Research Council support frontier research?

The ERC funds top researchers engaged in pushing the boundaries of knowledge, leading to technological and therapeutic breakthroughs despite uncertain outcomes.

Q: What role does collaboration with China play in the ERC's agenda?

While the ERC primarily focuses on individual principal investigators, it welcomes cooperation globally, exemplified by agreements with the US and Korea, showcasing potential for partnerships with China.

Q: How does Belgium address brain drain in scientific fields?

Belgium invests heavily in research, offering tax incentives and measures to retain researchers, aiming to prevent talent loss and emphasizing brain circulation to encourage knowledge sharing.

Q: What are the challenges Southern European countries face in retaining young scientists?

Southern European countries witness a significant loss of young talent due to austerity measures, risking a lost generation of researchers, underlining the critical need for sustained support in the scientific community.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The European Research Council focuses on funding frontier research with potential for radical innovation.

• The press conference emphasized the importance of long-term investment in science for sustainable solutions and economic growth.

• Discussion included European competitiveness, collaboration with China, and efforts to retain top researchers.