A “fifth freedom”, consisting of freedom of knowledge, research and innovation was discussed at the European Research Area (ERA)’s stakeholder conference as well as at the “Invest in the future” event by Research Matters.
The stakeholder conference of the ERA was held on 18-19 September in Brussels, featuring prestigious speakers, such as Director General for Research, and innovation Marc Lemaitre, Former European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
Janez Potocnik and European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova. The conference covered a wide range of topics that connect to freedom of knowledge, including but not limited to the dilemma between research security & research freedom, inclusion and diversity in research and the new “Research and Innovation Careers Observatory” initiative, which is still under development. The event also evaluated the current 2022-24 Era Policy Agenda, which is nearing its end, and provided outlooks towards its 2025-27 counterpart.
The “Invest in the future” event, also held in Brussels, on 2 October featured Enrico Letta, author of the high-impact “Report on the Future of the Single Market”, which is often mentioned alongside the recently released Draghi Report. MEP Christian Ehler, who is active on science-policy topics in the parliament was also present. It was organised by “Research Matters” – an initiative with the stated goal of lobbying for increasing the EU’s research funding. At the event, Letta highlighted the role of ERA, and a related act proposed by the President of the European Commission in delivering the “fifth freedom”.
“Freedom of knowledge, Innovation and research” would serve as an addition to the European Union’s foundational “four freedoms” of the single market: the free movement of goods, capital, services and labour.
