REDUCING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SCIENCE AND POLICY: Redefining the role of the Ispra Site as a Research for Policy Hub
On 6 May 2024, Commissioner Ivanova invited a delegation from R&D to meet her personally for a dedicated meeting in Brussels in which we shared our vision for the future of the Ispra site. Our proposals were greeted with great interest and Commissioner Ivanova requested that the concept be included in the briefing documents the at the JRC will prepare for the incoming Commissioner. In a nutshell, we believe that building on the invaluable work of the JRC our site could become fitter and stronger by hosting staff of a range of policy DGs enabling closer interactions between policy and science.
Our proposed scenario is the progressive evolution of the Ispra site towards the hosting of a range of policy DG entities (e.g., antennae, teams, units, etc.) that have a strong need for evidence and scientific data for their policy development. The site could be rebranded as a Research for Policy Hub, becoming a fully integrated European Commission workplace.
The JRC is the Commission's in-house science service, providing independent, evidence-based science and knowledge, supporting EU policies to positively impact society. The JRC’s contributions to EU policy are affected by a number of factors, including the nature of the policy issues being addressed, the specific expertise needed, and the level of collaboration between JRC and policy DGs. Indeed, the JRC already collaborates with nearly all Commission DGs and services
As stated in Commissioner Ivanova’s Mission Letter, research and policy go hand in hand. In this context, we believe that the policy-making process would benefit from a more effective integration and use of the research capabilities based on the Ispra site.
The Ispra site is the largest JRC site and the third largest Commission site. The Ispra site is located in the heart of the European Union, on a unique site that provides strategic advantages in terms of location, infrastructure, modern facilities, and buildings geared towards fostering innovation, collaboration, and employee well-being (medical service, large canteen, residences for newcomers, crèche, garderie and clubhouse). The Ispra site currently hosts over 2,000 personnel, and about 200 of these are from DGs and services other than the JRC (namely, HR, OIB, PMO). The Ispra site has a huge untapped capacity that, if fully exploited, would provide additional benefits for the whole European Commission. In practical terms, the site could host at least 500 additional staff without further significant infrastructure changes, and modest investments could enable the addition of multiples of this number.
A close connection to the JRC's technical expertise and infrastructure could maximize its utilization by DGs. Research environments where scientists and policymakers continuously interact can lead to new insights and knowledge creation, helping to define and adjust the science demand. Researchers and policymakers need to work together to define and refine research questions so that robust and nuanced analyses reflect the complexities of real-world policy issues.
Implementing this approach will result in significant cost reductions for the Commission by optimising the existing infrastructure, resources, and administrative services. The infrastructure at Ispra is owned by the Commission, thus avoiding the rental costs of premises that are incurred in other Commission locations such as Brussels and Luxembourg.
The presence of a significant number of permanent Commission services at the Ispra site would represent a tangible increase in mobility opportunities. It would make possible voluntary transfers of staff between different DGs and entities, supporting the recent HR strategy to increase mobility and diversity across the Commission as a natural part of career development.
The Ispra site already hosts a very advanced crisis management infrastructure and has the potential to enhance the resilience of vital Commission services through their decentralisation and geo-distribution, thus guaranteeing business continuity in case of extreme events impeding their normal functioning at other locations.
The JRC is a key provider of technical assistance and scientific support to the European Commission's DGs, but this role can be further developed through enhanced collaboration and integration. This can be accomplished by transferring EU policy processes to the research environment and ensuring that the Ispra site plays a key role in the EU institutional framework. Thus, the JRC becomes a central point for European Union policy where the Ispra site could serve as the EU's Hub for Science and Evidence for EU Policy. The proposed scenario will strengthen the Commission’s capacity to attain its objectives.
The complete proposal may be found here : FULL DOSSIER
Don't miss the opportunity, give your support and trust to...
