Today, the Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with the support from the Horizon Europe programme, launched the Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO). This initiative will provide reliable data on research and innovation careers in EU and OECD countries. Providing researchers and innovators with attractive and sustainable careers is key to boosting European competitiveness and retaining talent. A better understanding of career paths is key in designing policies, improving their careers, while bringing economic benefits to the EU economy. The signing ceremony for the official start of the project took place in Brussels at the conference “European Research Area: Fostering Greater Integration. Advancing Competitiveness”.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said,
”Europe must attract and retain research talent to underpin its prosperity and competitiveness. Sound policies aiming to achieve this goal need to be based on reliable data. This is where the Research and Innovation Careers Observatory comes in – it will fill data gaps on research careers in Europe and provide information to policymakers as well as researchers themselves and their organisations. It is an important step forward in our efforts to strengthen research careers in the European Research Area.”
ReICO will build on the expertise of the OECD, delivering data and insights that enable policy makers to develop evidence-based policies to strengthen research careers. This will be of key importance in areas such as researchers’ precarity, skills, or mobility. The observatory will also benefit the wider research and innovation community, including research organisations and individuals, allowing informed choices. The first set of data is expected in the first half of 2025, and it will be updated on an annual basis.
Acknowledging the importance of filling data gaps, the ReICO project will also work with decision makers and data providers to ensure a regular and consistent provision of relevant indicators.
Background
Following the call to develop an observatory on research careers in the Council Conclusions of 28 May 2021 on “Deepening the European Research Area: Providing researchers with attractive and sustainable careers and working conditions and making brain circulation a reality”, and in the Council Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe, Horizon Europe support was decided for the project. The OECD was identified as the best partner, in light of their knowledge and expertise.
The Commission and the OECD are now joining forces, in line with the Declaration on Transformative Science, Technology and Innovation Policies for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future. ReICO will deliver data and analyses on a yearly basis, starting from 2025 and will be accessible from the ERA Talent Platform.
More information
European Research Area
Press contact:
EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation
