On June the 7th, in the context of the European Commission’s new proposal on the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP9), we followed the event ‘Research and public policy: transparent, responsible and impartial’ organised by Politico, to discuss the future of research and ways to guarantee the transparency of the research used to inform policy-making. As patient representatives we are keen not only on producing patient-driven evidence to help patients meet their needs, but also to have the guarantee that the decisions affecting our health are based on valid, imparcial, science.
Transparency is one core aspect of the new FP9, as it includes an open science policy that will oblige for publications and research generated under the programme to be open. “One thing is knowledge and another thing is ideas. You should share knowledge and protect your ideas” the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas said while he was interviewed in the event. Projects receiving public money should publish results and evidence in open access journals to enable European professionals and citizens access that knowledge in a free and easy way.
The event also covered how to improve transparency in the Commission’s legislative processes and policy making. “Politicians don’t do legislations without scientific input” reminded Commissioner Carlos Moedas, so the FP9 enshrines the involvement of the Chief Scientific Advisors as a means to keep conflicting interests aside of science.
More information about the event is available here.