european projects provide no easy solutions

The scanning tunnelling microscope developed in the 1980s at IBM's Zurich laboratory opened the way for nanotechnology. IBM

A Swiss researcher involved in pan-European projects warns that while these joint initiatives can be productive, they can threaten academic freedoms.

Philippe Renaud, a nanotechnology specialist at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, adds that focusing only on European Union targets could be counterproductive.

Swiss researchers have taken part in the fourth, fifth and sixth European framework programmes. These programmes have been the most important tools of the EU’s research and development policies.

swissinfo: What kinds of collaboration do you have with EU researchers ?

Philippe Renaud: There are two types. One is integrated research where we work on common projects; the other is the so-called networks of excellence. These networks are mainly aimed at improving contacts between research centres and involve 20-30 partners. There is very little funding for these networks and most of it goes to coordination activities and documenting

future prospects.

swissinfo: How difficult is it to get a foothold in these projects?

P.R.: Setting up a project involves a heavy bureaucratic process, so I am not interested in launching my own. If I am involved in EU research, it’s because I have good friends in Europe who are project leaders. What’s important is to be a part of these networks and do good research.

You need to have good publications with a strong impact to attract partners. It’s not about going to congresses or having flashy websites. You have to show that your research group is strong and that your presence is indispensable

for a major project.

swissinfo: Is there a downside to these projects?

P.R.: There is a risk of negative impact. The main risk is that these European projects are very focused on specific results. There is also a strong involvement of industry. So it is a real concern that we could lose our academic freedom and get bogged down with technical issues. This means we might have enough funding for research, but we might not be able to propose interesting work for our PhD students and post-doctoral staff.

Personally, I choose which projects I want to be involved in so I can pursue my own research interests. I don’t believe that science oriented

by companies is always the best solution.

swissinfo: So the biggest concern for you is the loss of academic freedom?

P.R.: Definitely. That’s why I limit the number of [EU] projects I’m involved in. There are plenty of opportunities. If I wanted to, I could probably increase the number of positions in my group that are funded by the EU from four to ten or more. But if I did that, my team would lose its scientific focus that makes our research interesting.

swissinfo: Within EU projects, is there still some scope for wider research?

P.R.: The projects I choose have a

broad perspective, and some, like one on nanobiotechnology, is part of a network of excellence. These networks are less focused and allow us to cover a field of research as well as establish links. What can come out of a network are a number of smaller projects that could become integrated EU research.

swissinfo: Do you feel these different kinds of cross-border projects will become the norm in the future?

P.R.: We have more and more work within networks. But the fact is that we can’t exist within these networks alone. We have to work at home on others problems as well. It is a fact though that since Switzerland is part of EU science research, some Swiss science funding will go to

Brussels and we have to recover part of it. That alone is reason to participate in EU projects.

It is also interesting to work with people outside Switzerland. The main positive point of these projects so far is that besides good results we have made many friends throughout Europe and this is a good long-term asset.

swissinfo: Do these collaborations make science more efficient?

P.R.: Within in a project, you might find one or two research groups that can help you with your own work.

But these one-on-one collaborations are important and give us the

opportunity to exchange staff. This means that we are using people in the right place.

swissinfo-interview: Scott Capper

In brief

Since 1987 Swiss partners have been able to participate on a project basis in the EU’s Framework Programmes.

In 2004, Switzerland signed an association agreement with the EU and consequently has unlimited access to all parts of the programme and funding instruments.

Swiss researchers are strongly represented in the fields of life sciences and information and communications technologies.

Key facts

A recent survey for the State Secretariat for Education and Research showed that:
70% of the projects supported would not have gone ahead without EU funding.
89% of participants said it sped up their project.
86% said it allowed them to extend their original proposal.