A 12-person team will examine the potential benefits of introducing competition for basic research funding at a European level, writes Dick Ahlstrom.
The head of Science Foundation Ireland is to lead a high-level expert group that will advise the EU Commission on basic research funding. The Republic was invited to chair the pan-European group because of the success of research funding programmes here, according to SFI director general, Dr William Harris.
He links his new role, announced last week, directly to the "visibility Ireland gave to research during the EU presidency". Research was on the agenda in particular during the Search for Excellence in Basic Research meeting at Dublin Castle on February 16th and a few weeks later at the Competitiveness Council in March, attended by the Tánaiste, Mary Harney.
"The fact that his new body exists is a tribute to the Dublin Castle meeting and the Competitiveness Council in March," says Harris. It created "a bit of interest" in what the Republic was doing in relation to research funding and encouraged a closer look at how it was changing the research picture here, he suggests. They came here "because we can do things. Instead of talking about things we are doing things."
The high-level group will study new models for the funding of basic research. In particular the 12-person team will examine the potential benefits of introducing competition for basic research funding at an European level.
Such a move would have interested research centres right across the EU competing against one another for research funding. In effect it would be similar to the situation that already applies under programmes funded by the US National Science Foundation.
The Commission's move follows a decision it took back in March to look at the benefits that might flow from the creation of an European Research Council.
"What Europe needed was something like an SFI," suggests Harris. As a result the chairmanship came to the Republic given we already had an effective funding model. "They have asked Ireland to take the lead on this. I think Ireland is trusted in the community and the work that it does," says Harris.
"We are going to be advising them about the benefits of research to society," he explains.
The timing of the group's establishment is important given deliberations on the European Research Council and discussions about the next round of research spending under Framework Programme Seven. Then there is the new incoming research commissioner, Slovenian Dr Janez Potocnik, who takes office on November 1st.
"It gives us a chance to influence thinking on the directions for research in the future," says Harris.
The new group, the membership of which has yet to be named, held its first meeting last Friday. There is no decision on when it might issue a report or recommendations to the Commission, but Harris expects that the group will produce its report fairly quickly.
"I think it has to be done by early next year if you want to be able to influence what is being planned."
Awards made under SFI programmes are given only on the basis of research excellence, he says and this approach is likely to be adopted by the high-level group.
For this reason competition among research groups across the EU will be a key element of the group's deliberations. "It is based on merit and excellence of science and the performance of the individual researcher," Harris says.
It means that funds will go to the very best researchers rather than simply being shared out. "Then you also get to know across Europe where the talent is," adds Harris.
This will not work against Irish scientists here despite our lower historical State investment in research, he believes. "I think good people do well wherever they are. We are a small country but have some good footballers and golfers and some damn good scientists too."