14/07/2006

The proposals of the Interministerial Committee on Research and Technology on the new Research and Technology Bill were presented on Wednesday 5 July at the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), by the National Education and Religious Affairs Minister Μ. Giannakou and Development Minister D. Sioufas. The proposals determine the scope of activity in the Research and Technology (R&T) field for the coming years, its administrative bodies and the way they will be formed and function.

The proposals, which are now in the process of public consultation so that the bill may then be drafted and submitted to Parliament by the end of the year, specify the financing method for scientific and research efforts and determine the methods for evaluating these efforts in order to ensure transparency and meritocracy.

The main focus of the proposed adjustments will be on cooperative research between universities, research centres, enterprises and large Greek and international organisations in fields of national priority, on excellence in R&D and on the promotion of entrepreneurship and technological innovation. These proposals are an attempt to outline an annual strategy for R&T, in order for Greece to actively participate in the international developments in the above fields.

As underlined by Development Minister Mr Sioufas, emphasis is being placed on dealing with difficulties encountered by innovative research and, if needed, on a closer cooperation between science and industry in order to achieve tangible, functional and measurable results, products and services. According to the Minister the proposals aim, among other things, to regulate issues concerning research centres’ administration and personnel and their cooperation with universities and technical educational institutes on the basis of scientific excellence and ranking.

Education Minister, Mrs Giannakou, explained that the main goal is the internationalisation of the system and the return of Greek scientists currently abroad. Moreover, she underlined that this effort is expected to contribute significantly to the upgrading of higher education in the country.

In his own comments, Mr. Papathanasiou, Development Deputy Minister, underlined that, through the proposals presented, they are seeking to establish the indispensable mechanisms for the proper and just evaluation of proposals for basic and applied research, based on the criteria of meritocracy, scientific excellence and innovation.

The proposals were presented by Research and Technology General Secretary, Professor I. Tsoukalas, and speeches were given by National Education and Religious Affairs General Secretary, Professor A. Karamanos and National Research and Technology Council (ESET) Chairman, Professor D. Nanopoulos.

National Education and Religious Affairs General Secretary, Professor A. Karamanos stressed that achieving the Lisbon goal for the production of new knowledge through research and the productive exploitation of this knowledge through the development of innovative products assumes the full use and harmonious cooperation of the scientific manpower in universities/technical educational institutes, research agencies and enterprises. He underlined, moreover, that the new scope differentiates basic from applied research in its financing as well as in its administration; with basic research supported mainly by national resources and applied research mainly by community resources.

ESET Chairman, Prof. D. Nanopoulos, explained that specific proposals or alternative positions from competent bodies are expected for submission instead of a simple expression of vague disagreements. He also noted that for the new legislative changes to bring about the desired result, they would have to be accompanied by a change in the mentality of the Greek population.

Finally, Research and Technology General Secretary, Professor Ioannis Tsoukalas underlined, among other things, that “the Committee’s proposals contribute to establishing a self-reliant, transparent and meritocratic research administration system, which would serve national goals and European policy, encourage excellence, mobilise research manpower and create a critical mass capable of competing at European and international level. Modification of the Institutional Framework in Research and Technology

The proposals cover three thematic areas: research and technology’s administrative bodies, the agencies conducting research and the international co-operations. The foreseen outcomes include the following:

- Three administrative bodies to be created:
a. The National Research and Technology Council (ESET) – an independent body which will report directly to the Prime minister and advise the government on the modification of national policy on research and technology.
b. The Interministerial Committee on Research and Technology, involving the participation of ten ministries (Economy, National Defence, Development, Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, Education, Employment, Health, Agricultural Development, Culture, Public Order), and responsible for outlining the policy for research and allocating the relevant funds.
c. The National Organisation for Research and Technology (EOET) - responsible for promoting, implementing and managing the National Programme for Research and Technology (announcing and managing individual programmes). Also foreseen is the creation of a General Audit Office, independent of the EOET, which will consult, verify and prevent legal errors and financial irregularities.

- A meritocratic evaluation system of all research proposals and programmes is to be introduced. Scientists from abroad, chosen by the Web of Sciences, will act as evaluators. Ethical regulations are being established in order to avoid conflicts of interests between evaluators and participants being evaluated. Moreover, the system maintains a “memory” regarding the successful or unsuccessful participation of researchers in programmes, based on the assessment by the evaluators.

- A yearly mandatory self-evaluation of research centres (based on public and external financing, scientific and technological publicity) is to be established along with an external assessment from international evaluators every five.

- Criteria and procedures for the nomination of the research centres’ administration boards and scientific councils, which also refer to the progress of the centre’s personnel, are to be adopted.

- Incentives for cooperation between universities/technological education institutes and research centres/production agencies are to be provided. Furthermore, cooperation between universities/technological education institutes and research centres in postgraduate programmes, life-long learning schemes and the supervision of doctoral studies are being promoted.

- Emphasis is to be given to international cooperation, with an increase of research team participation in international programmes and greater exploitation of opportunities in the European Research Area. Meanwhile, the opportunity for research financing by Greek resources abroad, as well as the financing of foreign researchers for research in Greece, is to be provided.

The proposals are presented on the website of GSRT (www.gsrt.gr), and comments or remarks can be sent to the following email address: diavouldeet@gsrt.gr.

Source: GSRT