Rumbles for an Overreaching Change in Europe's Research System. (May 5, 2008)

Luke Georghiou is in the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, and he chairs the European Commission's European Research Area's Rationales Expert Group.

Professor Georghiou writes bluntly in his "Commentary" for the April 24, 2008 issue of Nature that the European Union has no time to waste in developing a functional European wide research initiative if it is to avoid relegation to the second division as regards "economic, social and environmental goals".

While much of his commentary is taken up with generalisations in dealing with a unified approach for European research, there are several points that are worth considering from the viewpoint of Australian research.

Neither the grand challenges nor the policy-focused research can be achieved through [Europe's] present research system. It must [instead] consist of reformed actors and better linkages between them to configure research around these interdisciplinary challenges. The long list of reforms that are overdue includes: giving greater strategic space and autonomy to universities; more trans-national peer review to raise quality levels; developing a true European market for applied research services ...and creating a market friendly to innovation through smart regulation and public procurement.

...member states, businesses and the scientific community must each play their part. The first challenge is one of leadership.

With Senator Carr's innovation summit now underway and submissions mounting up it is as well that some thought be given to what is going on in the rest of the world.

Whether or not views such as Professor Georghiou's regarding the giving [of] greater strategic space and autonomy to universities [and] more trans-national peer review to raise quality levels will be given serious consideration by Terry Cutler and his review team let alone the government is a moot point. The spectre of micromanagement appears to be a ubiquitous player regardless of whose in charge.