07 Oct 2024
Slovakia publishes preliminary position on FP10
The Slovak Ministry of Education has published its preliminary position on FP10. In the paper, Slovakia highlights the importance of FP10 in fostering EU competitiveness and addressing global challenges. The paper emphasises the necessity of investing in high-quality research to build a knowledge-based economy. Therefore, the “blind evaluation” process should be stengthened to increase trust and transparency, and avoid various biases while incorporating a new assessment policy, Slovakia claims.
Slovakia supports the continuation of the current pillar and cluster structure. The country advocates for a balanced approach incorporating both top-down and bottom-up approaches within FP10, focusing on academic and industrial collaboration, and ensuring the programme remains aligned with the European Research Area.
The document calls for simplifying the complex structure of the FP, for improving cross-border collaboration, and for boosting funding for innovation and start-ups. Slovakia highlights the importance of retaining talents, promoting research careers, and ensuring ethical research practices. The position also stresses the significance of societal trust in science, and the need for a robust communication strategy.
Slovakia considers the Widening measures as a step in the right direction to narrow the persisting innovation gap between the Member States. The Widening measures should be primarily focused on supporting research excellence through targeted assistance to high-quality researchers from less experienced Member States. Widening must be mainstreamed across all pillars reflecting the structure of the next FP, the paper states, and its measures should be increased even financially to enable newcomers and less experienced applicants to take a more active role, the paper says.
Lastly, Slovakia suggests enhancing gender equality in research and improving the FP’s impact on society, addressing social determinants of health, and prioritising Open Science and research integrity.
The position paper can be downloaded here: