Gianluca Salvatori: Building Research Capacity : A perspective from Europe

Building Research CapacityA perspective from Europe

Gianluca Salvatori

ICA - Global Conference Cape Town, 3 Nov 2013

An Open Space for Knowledge

The European Research Area is composed of all research and development activities, programs and policies in Europe which involve a transnational perspective. Together, they enable researchers, research institutions and businesses to increasingly circulate, compete and co-operate across borders. The aim is to give them access to a Europe-wide open space for knowledge and technologies in which transnational synergies and complementarities are fully exploited.

Obstacles

From the very beginning this European flagship program was limited by the same three main obstacles that were the real ERA’s raison d'être:

1.Low level of investment and human resources.2.Fragmentation and poor coordination (among MS and single institutions).3.Difficulty in knowledge application (research rarely comes to be applied in real situation).

Facing these resistances European Parliament today is calling for a true Maastricht for research: a route to convergence and a binding common framework.

The Shift in Priorities

Since its inception in 2000 ERA has not paid much attention to studies on social economy and cooperatives. Socio-economic research was monopolized by mainstream approaches.But the economic downturn has stimulated a search for organizational and economic models that are different from those that predominated in recent decades, which were essentially based on market fundamentalism.

Today’s priority number one is changing existing rules on economic governance to better anticipate and address employment and social challenges.

The Change of Climate

Ageing societies, a shrinking working-age population, unemployment, inactivity, lack of skills, and poverty are a source of structural imbalances in Europe, impacting on growth and quality of life. One in five jobs in Europe is a low-quality job. These jobs pay little, and are characterised by poor working conditions and limited prospects.

The social dimension of any new economic governance in Europe must focus on redressing these imbalances.

Compared to other parts of the world, Europe still has high levels of spending on public services and social policy in general. It is unlikely that more money will be allocated in the current economic circumstances. We have to do more and better with the limited resources available.

The New Approach is Based on:1. increasing inability of the two-poles paradigm (State and Market) to

respond to growing and diversified needs arising in society;

2. progressive recognition of a need for different forms of enterprises (evidence shows that cooperatives survive crises better than other types of business, also in very competitive economies, and are relevant in several countries and sectors).

For a New Interpretative Framework1. the shortcomings of the predominant model of

economic organization shows the importance of entrepreneurial and organizational diversity;

2. enterprises differ according to the ownership structure, aim pursued, social orientation and incentive mix;

3. market exchanges are just one among the existing coordination mechanisms generating collective benefits.

Cooperative Competitive AdvantagesOn the economic side:

• reducing market failures and strengthening the competitiveness of markets• keeping the production of goods and services close to the needs of people• long-term perspective• more fair distribution of income

On the social side:

• addressing problems affecting local communities or stakeholders in need• strongly rooted in a “collective awareness”• enhancing social capital• involving disadvantaged people• solving problems that would be otherwise in charge of public sector

Translating into a Research Agenda1. The socio-economic role of cooperatives: theoretical interpretations and empirical analyses

2. Size and characteristics of the cooperative sector

3. The impact of cooperatives on economic development and on the accumulation of social capital

4. Legal forms and policies supporting the development of coops

5. International models of cooperative enterprises

6. Management and governance for cooperative enterprises

Research with academic standard

Research with policy impact

Research with collaborative approach

The Toolbox: Mobility and Networking1. Joint research projects

2. Joint PhD program

3. International networks of scholars (see Emes, Ciriec)

4. Study visits, mobility programs (see Marie-Curie)

5. Shared resources (databases, case-studies, …)

New Global300New Global300

And Finally…

Because of the increasing collaborative nature of research, we need a contact language, based on a translational approach.

Overcoming verticalized organizations, our effort of collaboration should benefit from the knowledge’s developments in the various sectors of specialization.

Research on cooperative should be more cooperative than ever…

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Thank you for your attention!

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