Indeed, it is time to act! The Covid pandemic and the general uncertainty we are experiencing is negatively impacting early career researchers, whose working conditions and job insecurity are not satisfactory. We must motivate and support the next generation to engage in research, to build and consolidate the future, enhancements, and peace of our continent, in a healthy world.

The Manifesto found a great echo in the scientific community as well as among political decision-makers and caught the attention of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel who made a point of expressing her support through an event organised by ISE together with her cabinet on January 10^th and which concluded by a ceremony during which the President of ISE, Martin Andler, handed over the document to her in person.

Mariya Gabriel was accompanied by the services directors-general from the two general directorates, EAC and RTD, under her responsibility, the JRC, and members of the cabinet. This event allowed her to express her commitment to education and careers of researchers and to announce her intention to launch a pilot project. This is to test how the European Commission and Member States, academia and companies could work together to better understand the situation, coordinate funding, and support career paths in research by promoting networking between universities and businesses. The aim is to open the prospect of a new partnership with Member States, public and private stakeholders, and leverage funding to combat the risk of a decline in excellent scientific research across the European Research Area.

The Manifesto calls for:

• Europe-wide monitoring young researchers’ situation
• Improving research careers and working conditions in Research Performing Organisations (RPOs), Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
• Enhancing research careers in the third sector, including NGOs and governmental organisations
• Involving national funding agencies in cooperation with the European Commission.

ISE intends to make sure that these four goals receive the same attention in future policies.

The number of individual and collective signatories of the Manifesto is continuously increasing. European and national associations and organisations such as Eurodoc, Marie Curie Alumni Association, Young Academy Europe, Association of ERC Grantees, League of European Research Universities, Coimbra Group, International Consortium of Research Staff Associations, Una Europa, European Educational Research Association, the Portuguese National Association of Researchers in Science and Technology, and many others are actively supporting. 

The Manifesto is the outcome of Jean-Pierre Bourguignon‘s call about Early Career researchers in the Covid crisis, and is actively supported by Manuel Heitor, former Minister of R&I in Portugal. ISE and Ciência Viva, with the support of the CNRS, co-organised the 4th Gago Conference on European Science Policy on June 13, 2022 “Europe supporting young researchers in times of uncertainty” where the Manifesto was decided.

The Manifesto is downloadable here.
Signatures are collected here.

Contact: Monica Dietl, ISE Executive Coordinator

Image credit: ISE