15/11/2005

The new Bi-ministerial Committee that was recently set up by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Development is examining the re-evaluation of the legal and organisational framework for research, technology and education. The committee is composed of thirteen representatives of the academic community and the public sector related to research, with the General Secretary of the Ministry of Education, A. Karamanos, as co-ordinator and the General Secretary of Research and Technology, Prof. I. Tsoukalas, as deputy.

The Committee΄s target is the re-evaluation of the current legal framework, as well as the gathering of proposals in the running and funding of research, based on studies by the National Council of Research and Technology. A special emphasis is given on the incorporation of European policies and initiatives that concern, among others, the European Research Area, the European Union?s 7th Framework Programme and the role of universities in the Lisbon Strategy

In particular, the priorities within the framework for the re-evaluation are: the essential entry of research centres in the financial development of the country at a national and regional level, the promotion of partnerships between research centres and universities, the securing of scale economies by utilising the infrastructures of research centres and universities for research and education purposes, the utilization of research results and the strengthening of Greece's participation in international research activities

During the first meeting of the Bi-ministerial Committee, the Minister for Development D. Sioufas underlined the need for modernization, as well as the fact that the current research framework does no longer correspond to the needs of a new age and new knowledge. The Bi-ministerial Committee concentrates the best human capital and strengths in all levels, to enable Greece to follow European and International developments and to make good use of its resources based on merit, evaluation, quality and excellence.

The Minister of Education, M. Giannakou, highlighted that the new institutional framework will move according to the Lisbon and the Society of Knowledge standards, so that research and scientific knowledge can respond to better international levels.

The first proposals by the Committee are expected to be published in the coming months.

Source: Ministry of Development