The EU is currently below this threshold, which places it in a delicate situation compared to South Korea, the United States or Japan.
The European elections are fast approaching and, for the first time, EU scientists have joined forces to call on their candidates to invest more in science. “ It is essential to preserve the collaborative, open and international nature of scientific work “, declared the 27 EU science academies in a press release presented last week in Brussels.
For the sector, it is “ equally vital to invest in scientific research and education “. This is why one of their main demands is to increase the percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) devoted to research and development (R&D). “ At least 3% of GDP in research and education is the way to say that we are not just following emergencies, but working together to build a strong Europe, which is necessary in a world really unsure », explains Patrizio Bianchi, member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.
He highlights the importance of anticipating unexpected needs and calls for going further and “ decide together what we should invest in “. This would, according to him, avoid “ a long stagnation » and would, in the long term, allocate resources to “ deal with emergencies “.
A disadvantaged continent
The EU is far from having achieved the objective of 3% of GDP in terms of research spending. It is currently at 2.27%. There are currently large differences between Member States, from Belgium (3.43%) to the six EU countries spending less than 1%. Romania is at the bottom of the table with only 0.47%.
But the EU is no match for its international competitors. South Korea (4.93%), the United States (3.46%), Japan (3.34%) and China (2.41%) are doing better.
THE 2021 data show that the EU has invested 331 billion euros in research and development, or 6.9% more than the previous year. This figure has increased by 45% in the last ten years compared to 2011.
According to Marileen Dogterom, president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, growing competition between countries and increasingly complex challenges do not put the EU in a good position. “ We probably need science more than ever because of the complexity of the challenges we face “, she believes. This point of view is shared by the other signatories who, in the joint press release, call for “ ensure that scientific knowledge is used in the development of public policies “.
The low profile of science in the European elections
The scientific community is one of the great forgotten ones in the European electoral campaign. Only two parties are calling for an increase in GDP for research and development. The European People’s Party (EPP) calls on the EU and Member States to “ to achieve a combined investment of 4% of GDPfocusing on scientific excellence “. There European left demands that ” 7% of EU GDP is spent on education, research and innovation “.
The role of science is mentioned in several manifestos of other political parties, but mainly through the energy transition, industrial and digital transformation or support for women in research. The scientific community calls on Member States and EU institutions to “ systematically and informedly use scientific knowledge in policy making “.
They also call on European political decision-makers to “ respect and protect the principle of academic freedom, the autonomy of their institutions and the open international exchange of people and knowledge, while ensuring safe and stable working conditions “.