What's going on?

In 2023, Science Europe continues working with its Member Organisations to reinforce the collective capacity to communicate research more effectively and to enhance the communication of science to society. Science Communication emerged as a new priority area in itself in the framework of Science Europe’s Strategy Plan 2021–2026. 

On Tuesday 28 March, the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) took a big step forward by launching its call for Working Group proposals and national chapters. CoARA is a community initiative at its core, and therefore the working groups will be central to the success of the initiative and to the reform process more generally.

“Science can and shall contribute to improving our societies”. With these words, the new Science Europe study “Science–Policy in Action. Insights for the Green and Digital Transition” starts with the analysis and mapping of Science Europe member organisations’ science–policy interfaces.

In summer 2022 a group of mathematicians of Ukrainian origin initiated an ambitious project – a new Centre for mathematical sciences with a mission to support top-level research in mathematics and train younger generations of scientists. The International Centre for Mathematics in Ukraine was subsequently registered in Ukraine in autumn 2022.

The climate crisis calls all of us to act urgently. Reducing carbon emissions is a top priority to respect the Paris Agreement and keep the global temperature increase below +1.5˚. Everybody should play their role: Science Europe, in its Strategy Plan for 2021–2026, set the goal to “strengthen the role and contribution of science to tackle societal challenges”.

The Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission organised a workshop on ‘An EU copyright & data legislative framework fit for research: barriers, challenges and potential measures’ on 23 and 24 February 2023 in Brussels. Science Europe was present to voice the concerns of its public research funding and performing member organisations.

Today, 24 February 2023, marks the first anniversary of the Russian aggression and occupation of Ukraine. One year on, the invasion caused massive casualties, large-scale damage to essential infrastructures, and a major refugee crisis. 

Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe have been crucial instruments to boost European scientific excellence and collaboration, and to further develop the European Research Area (ERA).

Horizon Europe’s budget must be protected from any reduction or redirection. Its successor’s budget should be increased.

These are among the key messages of Science Europe's response to the Public Consultation on Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.