La Hulpe hosted today the informal meeting of European ministers responsible for research and innovation, under the Belgian presidency. The Belgian Minister who chaired the meeting pointed out that research should become more autonomous and make better use of its results.
Indeed, the Minister set three priorities for the Belgian presidency in terms of research and innovation:
- Strategic autonomy
- Promotion of knowledge
- Strengthening the role of Research
Strategic autonomy
Belgium is committed to promoting open strategic autonomy within the European Union. This requires a balance between security and competitiveness, strengthening the Union’s future ability to act autonomously while at the same time collaborating with its global partners.
Knowledge enhancement
Another priority of the Belgian presidency is to enhance the promotion of knowledge. Translating research results into societal and economic value is essential to fostering European re-industrialisation and open strategic autonomy.
Strengthening the role of research
Finally, Belgium aims to strengthen the role of research and innovation in meeting major societal challenges. Technological research is a crucial lever for meeting challenges such as healthcare, digitisation and climate change.
The informal meeting provided a unique platform for exchanging ideas and visions on the future of research and innovation in Europe. Ministers, experts and stakeholders discussed ways of consolidating the EU’s position as a world leader in research and innovation.
They discussed the following topics:
- The transformative nature of the European framework for research and innovation;
- Encouraging intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration at every level: universities, research centres, companies, policymakers and citizens;
- Technological development to accelerate industrial decarbonisation and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness.