On 3 February, from 09h30 (Lisbon time), there will be an informal conference of European Union Ministers responsible for Research and Innovation, chaired by the Portuguese Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor.
The meeting will take place on the day after the official launch of the Horizon Europe programme for 2021-2027 and will be aimed at further discussion in the ongoing debate on reinforcing the European Research Area (ERA), particularly on the development of scientific careers in Europe. The aim is to prepare the conclusions to be adopted at the formal meeting of ministers, which will take place in Brussels in late May.
The Ministers will also have the opportunity to exchange views on the priorities identified by the Portuguese Presidency in this area, namely:
1 – The relationship between research and innovation and the creation of new jobs in the European Union, particularly through the synergies to be created between the Horizon Europe programme for 2021-2027, the national economic recovery programmes (Next Generation EU, 2021-2027) and the structural funds for the coming years.
2 – The need to encourage open cooperation, to generate new skills and expertise in the European Union, based on inter-institutional cooperation and on innovative observation methods, at the same time as opening up new horizons for research and innovation.
3 – Stimulus for attracting, increasing and promoting qualified human resources in the area of European research, in public and private institutions, including strengthening the synergies between national research agencies and the European Commission.
The European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, will also be taking part in the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, at 14h45 (Lisbon time), the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, and the German Federal Minister of Education and Research, Thomas Rachel, will make statements to the press.