Finland: EU competitiveness ministers discuss promotion of research careers

NordenBladet — EU competitiveness ministers will discuss research and innovation policy at an informal videoconference on 3 February 2021. The meeting will focus on how the EU can promote attractive research careers in public and private sectors as part of the European Research Area (ERA). Finland will be represented by Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä.

“Research and innovation, researchers and their career opportunities are key factors for strengthening Europe’s competitiveness. Green transition and digitalisation need new investments, in particular. This calls for broad cooperation of experts from different sectors,” Lintilä says.

Promoting research careers is one of the ERA’s objectives. In September 2020, the European Commission published a Communication on renewing the ERA. The objective is to improve the European research and innovation environment, promote the EU’s transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership, and support Europe’s recovery from the social and economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic.

In December 2020, the Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on the future of the ERA in response to the Commission Communication. The initiative to this informal meeting, where no decisions will be made, came from the Portuguese Presidency.