Fabienne Gautier was nominated Head of Unit of the European Research Area (ERA) Policy and Reform Unit in the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation) in June 2014. From September 2012 she was Acting Head of the Unit, and before that was Deputy Head of Unit. She supports the coordination and development of an ERA policy Framework as part of the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative of the EU’s Europe 2020 Strategy.
From 2008 to 2011 she was Deputy Head of the Administration and Finance Unit of the Directorate in charge of Science, Economy and Society.
From 2006 to 2008 she worked as a policy and legal officer in charge of the implementation of Article 185 of the Treaty for the 7th Framework Programme (FP7).
From 2003 to 2006 she was a project officer responsible for several ERA-NET projects for the 7th Framework Programme and contributed to the definition of the legal framework of ERA-NET and ERA-NET Plus activities.
From 1995 to 2003, she worked as legal officer in the Legal Unit of the Directorate General for Research and contributed to the drafting of the regulatory decisions and contracts related to the Framework Programmes.
She has a Master degree in Law (France), a certificate in European Law from the European Institute in Saarbrücken (Germany) and Advanced Master in Law of Information and Communication Technologies from the University of Namur (Belgium).
Summary of Presentation 1
In 2012 the European Union decided to step up efforts on research and innovation aiming at increasing Europe’s scientific excellence and research and innovation contributing more to Europe’s competitiveness.
Five ERA priorities had been identified in the 2012 ERA Communication on which Member States, Stakeholders and the European Commission should concentrate efforts on to increase Europe’s research performance and effectiveness:
- More effective national research systems;
- Optimal transnational cooperation and competition;
- Open labour market for researchers;
- Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research; and
- Optimal circulation, access to and transfer of scientific knowledge including via digital ERA.
and “Enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation in research and innovation: a strategic approach” as cross cutting priority.
Each ERA priority will briefly be presented with a particular focus on Actions 1 and 2.
Since 2012 the Commission is closely monitoring progress made by Member States. At the Competitiveness Council in Brussels on 29 May 2015, Member States have endorsed an ERA Roadmap for the period 2015-2020 to guide the implementation of the ERA priorities nationally. The aim is to have the national ERA action plans adopted by mid – 2016. Turkey is encouraged to take actions in line with ERA and prepare a National Roadmap.
Summary of Presentation 2
The EU Research and Innovation Framework Programme Horizon 2020 (2014 – 2020) – with about € 80 billion budget- is designed to support the Innovation Union and further consolidate the European Research Area.
Under Horizon 2020 there are several actions aimed at supporting and facilitation the ERA priorities.
Entities from Turkey are eligible to participate in all these actions and are encouraged to do so to speed up its integration into ERA.
The current Horizon 2020 actions in support of ERA will be briefly presented.
