Abstract
International cooperation in research and innovation is crucial to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and maximising their societal and economic impact. It is also of geopolitical and strategic importance and contributes to potential solutions to climate change, health, and food security challenges. Research collaboration contributes to a more open and peaceful world.
Science Europe and the Research Council of Norway (RCN) are organising this session to explore how reciprocal and equitable scientific partnerships can build mutual trust and cooperation – within and outside the lab. It builds on Science Europe’s 2023 High-Level Workshop on the ERA. It promoted dialogue on the conditions and policies for boosting international scientific collaboration between Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Based on the outcomes of the session and the resulting statement, Science Europe will bring together partners from the Global North and South.
Science Europe seeks to support international collaboration based on reciprocity and inclusion, which benefits all parties involved. This aligns with the UN Policy Briefs, the New Agenda for Peace, and the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. The session at the Science Summit will underline cross-cutting issues, such as the critical importance of Open Science, Diamond Open Access, and safeguarding knowledge security. Our dedication to ensuring free, unrestricted access to research resonates with the broader goals of international collaboration and the advancement of science for the public good.
09.00–09.10 Welcome address
Mari Sundli Tveit, Chief Executive of the Norwegian Research Council (RCN), President of Science Europe
09.20 Introduction to Science Europe and context of the event
Lidia Borrell-Damián, Secretary General, Science Europe
Declan Kirrane, Chairman, Science Summit at UNGA79
09.20–10.40 Delivering Academic Freedom, Scientific Integrity, and Equity for Inclusive Scientific Collaboration
Keynote speaker
Alejandro Adem, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Chair of Global Research Council (GRC) Governing Board
Panel
Matthias Koenig, Vice-President of the German Research Foundation (DFG), Member of the Science Europe Governing Board
(online)Tolullah Oni, Clinical Professor of Global Public Health & Sustainable Urban Development, Cambridge University, UK
Carlos Batthyány, Executive Director of Pasteur Institute, Montevideo, Uruguay
Jacqueline Ottmann, President of the First Nations University of Canada
Moderator
Dorothy Ngila, Director of Knowledge Networks and Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI); Strategy, Planning and Partnerships (SPP) at the National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa
Guiding questions for discussionHow can we develop policies to better integrate academic freedom into multilateral collaborations? What are the boundary conditions?
How can we design effective mechanisms to counter-balance brain drain and facilitate brain circulation?
How can inclusive spaces for dialogue involving scientists and policymakers be facilitated?
What are the best practices emerging for co-design, co-creation, and co-learning in scientific research?
10.40–11.10
Coffee Break11.10–12.40 Addressing challenges for reciprocity and equitable multilateralism in scientific collaboration towards achieving SDGs
Keynote speaker
Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO
(online)Panel
Gagandeep Kang, Director of Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US
Thandi Mgwebi, Group Executive: Business Advancement, National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa
Eduardo Ortega, Panama's National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation
Amna Baloch, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the European Union
Osamu Kobayashi, Director of the Department of International Affairs at the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Moderator
Javier Moreno Fuentes, Vice-President for International Affairs of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Vice-President of Science Europe
Guiding questions for discussionHow can we address global challenges to improve the synergies between international cooperation, programmes, projects, and initiatives?
How can we ensure equal access to research infrastructures and incentives to encourage scientists and policymakers to conduct high-quality research and minimise bias in research assessment?
What are practical opportunities to measure and capture the impacts of reciprocity and equity when building, implementing, and sustaining multilateral scientific collaborations?
What are the ways to share and leverage lessons from inter-regional exchanges to escalate bilateral good practices towards the global dimension?
12.40–13.00 Conclusions and next steps
Lidia Borrell-Damián, Secretary General of Science Europe
Declan Kirrane, Chairman, Science Summit 2024
18.00–19.30 Reception
Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States
More details about the programme of the session and speakers are available on the
Science Europe website.
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