RICERCA ITALIANA     

European network needed to communicate the value of Research and Innovation, directly to citizens, youth, investors, businesses and the press.

The experience of the Italian Research Portal, (Ricerca Italiana) was presented at the European Parliament in Brussels on October 15. The Italian portal was proposed as a model of excellence that other EU countries can follow and eventually lead to a creation of a single European Portal Network aimed at citizens, youth, businesses, investors and the press.

Entitled, “Towards a new ERA - Presentation of the Italian National Research Portal. Best Practices,” the event, composed of multiple presentations, was warmly received by the close to 100 participants made-up of various research organizations, universities and researchers.

The event, sponsored by Vittorio Prodi, Member of the European parliament and supporter of the initiative, highlighted the experience of the Italian National Research portal, a best practice capable of stimulating research communication and improving ties between public research centres and third parties.

The event was especially significant since it fell-in-line with the launch of the second round of the Lisbon Strategy, which aims to develop the European Research Area (ERA) – an area where EU countries can share their research experiences. The aim of ERA is to motivate talented youth to enter research careers in Europe, incite industry to invest more in European research and strongly contribute to the creation of sustainable growth and jobs.

In the opening address, the Honourable Prodi stressed the importance of strengthening Europe’s research system, and how ERA can play a key role in bringing it to same levels as other advanced nations.

Illustrating the experience of the Italian research portal were
Mario Rinaldi President of CINECA Interuniversity Consortium and Antonio Storino, Project Manager of the Italian Research Portal.

Mr. Storino, stressed the mission and results of the portal, he also proposed features that a PanEuropean communication network of Research and Innovation can one-day contain.

Other conference speakers included Raffaele Liberali, Director for Energy, Directorate General for Research, European Commission, who spoke of promoting scientific excellence, without limits. He also addressed the issue of getting EU countries to collaborate together, rather than each country continuing to do work separately.

Frans De Bruïne, Director of the ICT spoke of the challenges facing Europe that require research and innovation to resolve. As an example, he cited healthcare which currently costs 9% of the GDP and by 2020 could rise to 16%.

De Bruïne remarked, “Science brings new solutions.” He then spoke of a triple win that research and innovation can provide, including: improving the quality of life of many elderly people, helping make health and social services more efficient and creating new business opportunities for European industries.

With the proposed project, Europe would be able to involve and better express to citizens the importance of research. Furthermore, it would bring youths closer to research issues and get them interested in science. Lastly, a European network would directly communicate the value of research to investors and the press.

The following is a list of event participants.

European Institutions represented:

European Commission - General Direction for Research(DG Research)
European Commission - General Direction for Information Society (DG Infso)
European Parliament
Publication Office of the Commission(OPOCE)
CORDIS

European institutions represented:

Suisse Core - Contact Office for European Research, Innovation and Education
Fundacion Adeuropa – Funds Advisor on FP7
European Plant Science Organization
National Contact Point – Finland
Agency for Technological Stimulation – Belgium
DANRO - Danish EU Research Office
University Paris7
S&T Information service (STIS)- Belgium Government
European Investment Bank
Mastricht University
Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Eurogia
Eureka - pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial R&D
EWI Flemish Government
ST – Microelectronics
CZELO – Czech Liaison office for Research and Development
COST – European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research
United Kingdom Research Office (UKRO)
European Schoolnet
YES – Young Entrepreneurs for Europe

Italian Organizations represented:

CNR
Italian Ministry of the Environment
Region of Veneto - University of Padua
Calabria University
Finmeccanica
Region of Calabria
Confesercenti
Milan City Hall
Region of Campania
Region of Emilia Romagna
Autonomous Province of Bolzano
SOGEI
National Institute of Nuclear Physics Istituto
APRE
Italian Ministry of University and Research
Luiss University
Chamber of Commerce - Piemont