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The European Research Advisory Board: 3 years of successful work

June 08, 2004

EURAB, the high level advisory board set up in 2001 on the initiative of European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, has completed its first three years of operation. "EURAB has greatly contributed to the higher profile of European research policy on the European Union's agenda", said Philippe Busquin. The 45 members, coming from 19 countries and including 13 women, have worked in full autonomy and independence and have tackled numerous issues, the most important being the realisation of the European Research Area and the use of policy instruments such as the Sixth Community Framework Program for Research and Technological Development.

"During these three years, I have felt that the diversity of the Board, bringing together the "know" of the academic world and the "how" in industry to a European "know-how", has been most beneficial in allowing EURAB to develop ambitious, but realistic and robust recommendations to the Commission", said Helga Nowotny, who chaired EURAB. "We have been able to develop an excellent working relation with the Commission services based on trust and mutual understanding."

This assembly is the first of its kind bringing together academia and industry to advise the Commission on research policy. EURAB developed a range of working methods including working groups, study visits and workshops. It presented recommendations to the Commission on topics ranging from the creation of a European Research Council, the role of university research and university-industry relationships, the impact of enlargement on research and the interdisciplinarity in research to the link between research policy and the structural funds, technological platforms, small-and medium sized enterprises and social sciences and humanities. The Commission responded to EURAB on all of the recommendations and its majority was taken into account in policy formulations.

EURAB contributed to fundamental issues such as the drafting of the Convention on the Future of Europe, calling for taking advantage of the revision of the Treaty, in order to "build the vision of a knowledge-based society into a legal framework". At the same time, the experts gave valuable advice on administrative issues like for instance the criteria for the evaluation of research project proposals.

The first term of EURAB has surely been most productive. The new assembly, which will meet for the first time on 15 June 2004, welcomes 21 new members and will continue to strive for a higher profile and quality of research in the European Union, not only for the scientific and economic community, but also for all European citizens.

European Commission, Research Directorate