🇪🇺 The Symposium “European emergency: invest in european research and science to reindustrialize Europe” brought together leading minds in science, technology, and policy to shape the future of European innovation. Here are the highlights and key insights shared by our distinguished speakers.
🗣️ Welcome Address
- Thierry Coulhon (Institut Polytechnique de Paris): « Now is the time to convince the Commission to invest in European research. Together, we can pave the way for a reindustrialized Europe at the forefront of innovation and growth. »
- Guillaume Klossa (EuropaNova & T-Life): « Europe must transform into a global, sustainable, and responsible power. We need to connect research with the market and develop a European startup ecosystem to remain competitive. »
- Jean-Pierre Bourguignon (former President of the European Council on Research): « Building a strong alliance between academia and industry is crucial for achieving our goals and defending global interests. »
🔬 Keynote 1: Challenges for European Research
Agnieszka Wykowska (Istituto Italiano di Technologia, Genoa): « Promoting a scientific, technological, and industrial continuum is essential for competitiveness, growth, and well-being. We must reduce bureaucratic burdens and enhance the mobility of researchers across Europe. »
💡Round Table 1: Consolidating a Continuum between Fundamental Research and Technological Innovation
Moderated by Anna Fontcuberta I Morral (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne).
- Edith Heard (EMBL, Collège de France): « We need an integrated ecosystem where research seeds innovation. Europe must appreciate its leadership in science to remain at the forefront. »
- Mohammed Sijelmassi (Sopra Steria): « AI can boost creativity, but we must ensure trustworthy models. Stronger connections between academia and industry are necessary. Bringing the lab to the shop floor is vital. We need a quantum leap in how research translates to industry. »
🚀 Keynote 2: Challenges for European Innovation
Jean Tirole (Toulouse School of Economics): « Europe is losing the global innovation race. We need to support disruptive innovation and reform governance to escape the middle technology trap. »
🗣️ Round Table 2: Structuring a Research-Innovation Continuum at the European Level
Moderated by Vivek Badrinath (EuropaNova) and Isabelle Négrier (EuropaNova)
- Maureen Clerc (Inria centre at Université Côte d’Azur): « Establishing an AI office is a good start. We need fewer bureaucratic constraints and more focus on impact-related projects. »
- André Loesekrug-Pietri (JEDI Joint European Disruptive Initiative): « We need to create hotspots in Europe and address PhD researchers’ salaries to attract the best talent. »
- Jane Hvolbæk Nielsen (Technical University of Denmark): « Balancing academia and industry is key. We need excellent universities and supportive structures for innovation. »
- Antoine Petit (CNRS): « Fundamental research is done by people. We need sponsors and a European excellence framework that includes all member states. »
🎬 Closing Remarks
Moderated by Isabelle Négrier (EuropaNova)
- Manuel Heitor (former Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education of Portugal): « Active participation in these discussions in Europe is essential. We need to build a research and innovation union with faster funding schemes and a focus on people, planet, prosperity, and peace. »
- Jean-Pierre Vidal (Cabinet of the President of the European Council): « The time is right to prioritize science, research, and innovation. We need a vibrant economy and strategic autonomy to navigate the new global landscape. »
- Guillaume Klossa (EuropaNova & T-Life): « The current funding system is not working. We need public and private sectors to work together, increase citizen awareness, and develop independent research and industrial policies. »
This symposium marked a crucial step towards a more innovative and competitive Europe. Let’s continue working together for a better future!
Thank you to all participants (you were 1,200 online!) and to the speakers for their outstanding contributions. A special thank you to @polytechnique and @jedi for contributing to the organization of this event with us!
🔗 To watch the symposium :
Part 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDC1JuzFyns&t=7s
Part 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zc0MiAn0Ig
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