Se non ora, quando

Lisbon December 11, 2014

Challenges for Europe in S&T

Giorgio Sirilligiorgio.sirilli@cnr.it

OutlineOutline

Science, technology and higher education in EuropeFour-speed EuropeSome countriesConclusions

Return On Academic ReSearchReturn On Academic ReSearch

Editorial board: 10 academics10 million contacts since November 2011A record: 38,747 contacts on December 4, 20131,878 articles published27,000 comments received13,800 registered users

Manifesto “They have chosen ignorance”Manifesto “They have chosen ignorance”

In Europe:budget cutsresearch does not follow political cyclespublic attract private investmentbrain drainapplied researchexcellence and the tip of the icebergsynergy between research and educationresearch for social welfare

The myth of excellenceThe myth of excellence

Why evaluation?Why evaluation?

From the carrot to the stick

Four European Four European areasareas

Teutonic (Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Austria, Switzerland)

Anglo-French (France, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland)Mediterranean (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, Cyprus)Oriental (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ceck Rep.,

Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia)

Four-speed EuropeFour-speed Europe

Area PopulationGDP per

capita(million) (1,000 $ ppp)

Teutonic 140 42Anglo-French 147 36Mediterranean 129 29Oriental 104 16

Four-speed EuropeFour-speed Europe

Area

(billion $ ppp) % of GDP$ ppp per inhabitant (million $ ppp) % of GDP

Teutonic 89 1.5 635 162 2.8

Anglo-French 72 1.3 489 106 2.0

Mediterranean 44 1.0 340 47 1.2

Oriental 21 1.0 202 15 0.9

R&D expenditureHigher education expenditure

Four-speed EuropeFour-speed Europe

Area

(thous)per million inhabitants (thous)

per million inhabitants

Teutonic 335 2530 35 254

Anglo-French 316 2146 15 105

Mediterranean 212 1635 6 47

Oriental 104 998 1 11

Journal articles EPO patents

The entrepreneurial StateThe entrepreneurial State

The book comprehensively debunks the myth of a lumbering, bureaucratic state versus a dynamic, innovative private sector.

The opposite is true: the private sector only finds the courage to invest after an entrepreneurial state has made the high-risk investments - from the green revolution to biotech and from pharmaceuticals to Silicon Valley.

Not admitting the State’s role we are socializing only the risks, while privatizing the rewards

AppleApple

Mobile phonesMobile phones

All basic technologies that make our mobile phones “smart” can be traced back to governmental initiative and funding. Just a few: microprocessors; RAM memory; hard disk drives; liquid-crystal displays; lithium batteries; the Internet; cellular technology and networks; global positioning system (GPS); multi-touch screens.

Reharsing?Reharsing?

ItalyItaly

R&D/GDP = 1.25%Budget of universities: -19% since 2008The scientific system is productive: but until when?ERC conditional grants: more than half chose abroad (Germany: 30%; UK: 10%)Turnover: virtually non existentEvaluation of ANVUR

Established in 2011A government agencyANVUR activities:

◦Evaluation of the Quality of Research (EQR)◦Habilitation of university professors and researchers◦Accreditation of university courses and organisations

FranceFrance

Researchers in strain emigrate or quit scienceMore public money to industry and less to public researchFor getting the same amount of money researchers devote

much more time to red tapeIndividualismYoung researchers without permanent position

Sciencs en marcheSciencs en marche

SpainSpain

Public civil R%D dropped by 42% since 2009Delay in transfer of moneyPrograms with short-term market impactHiring opportunities almost disappeared (turnover 10%)Young graduates’ options: low quality employment, short term contracts, abandon R&D, emigrateAcute brain drain

GermanyGermany

UnderfundingLack of permanent positionsInsecurity and mature scientists may live science and the

countryFederal government and landers

PortugalPortugal

Cuts in Phd and post-doctoral grantsFCT evaluation and the role of the ESFClosing of 50% of research units

ConclusionsConclusions

Woody Allen “God is dead, Marx is dead and I’m not feeling that good myself”More (and better) EuropeNeed of a new socio-economic paradigm

Primo LeviPrimo Levi

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when?“

Thank you for your attention