German private, non-profit research organisations, co-lead by Ecologic, have collaborated to draft comments on the forthcoming Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission, and in particular on the proposed rules for participation. The resulting paper calls for measures to ease the participation of non-profit organisations, including an increase in funding.
In view of the present, predominantly unsustainable trends, research for sustainable development has to focus on the transformation of society, its patterns of production and consumption, its technological foundations, and the capacities and capabilities of different actor groups. Research cannot limit itself to the scientific exploration of the natural environment and changes in it. Research should prepare and support social and political change, without prejudicing decision processes.
Research of this kind has to criticise and be able to take criticism, as well as being constructive and able to identify new approaches. Researchers have to work with those affected, and make the results – also preliminary ones – openly available for discussion; research has to be results-oriented and not stick too close to theory. The promotion of socio-economic and social-ecological research constitutes a beginning in this respect.
In the preparation of the 7th Framework Programme, the Directorate-General Research of the European Commission requested suggestions and experiences regarding research policy. The present paper by German institutes focuses on two aspects:
- The general need for more Trans-disciplinary Research
- The improvement of the Rules of Participation
The European Commission, through CORDIS, issued a news release in response, giving the comments high visibility.
Further Links:
- Comments on the Rules of Participation and Design of the 7th EU Research Framework Programme from Private Non-Profit Research Organisations in Germany
- The earlier Position Paper by Ecologic (in German)
Key words: European research policy, sustainability research, financial conditions, public interest research, charities, non-profit, not for profit, environmental policy research, science-policy interface