The Minister of Research prepares the „reorganization of the advisory bodies” under the authority of the ministry, which risks to undo „any effort made last year towards rebuilding trust and strengthening the Romanian scientific community,” warn the rectors of the four largest universities in Romania and the Ad Astra Association representing the Romanian researchers from the country and abroad.
Shortly after establishing the PSD-ALDE government, sources launched the information about the intention of the Ministry of Research to interfere in the activity of the subordinated entities.
A few days ago, the information became certain following a note of the Secretary General of the ministry, Dan Popescu, sent to the President of the National Research Council, Professor Alexandru Babe:
„Given the changes in the Government structure and decisions that need to be taken to fulfil the measures from the government program approved by the Parliament Decision 1/2017 for granting trust to the Government, we inform you that the Ministry of Research and Innovation is to issue the orders of the minister to reorganize the advisory bodies„.
We should note that Minister Mircea Dumitru organized last year complicated processes for electing the members of some of these entities, some of which were highly politicized:
– The Advisory Board for Research, Development and Innovation (CCCDI)
– The National Ethics Council of Scientific Research
– The Technological Development and Innovation (CNECSDTI)
– The National Council for Technology Transfer and Innovation (CNTTI)
– The National Scientific Research Council (CNCS)
Last year, Romanian researchers from the country and abroad have applied and a rigorous and transparent selection took place.
The current intention of the new Minister of Research, Serban Valeca, to cancel the reform of these entities triggered the reaction of the main universities and the Ad Astra Association.
The warnings from the rectors of the University of Bucharest, Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, the University of Timisoara and Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi:
„We show our deep concern over the manner in which the Ministry of Research and Innovation plans to change its composition, duties and the operation of the Advisory Councils, as announced at the addresses sent their presidents.
We draw attention to the fact that all these councils were established following extensive processes of consultation with the scientific community from the country and diaspora, conducted in line with the principles of transparency, meritocracy and integrity.
The advisory board members are not only reputable researchers in the country. Many of them represent the elite of the international research field.
Moreover, the role of these councils is essential now, in a time when the research and scientific community is facing multiple problems related not only to financing, but also the alignment with practices of the international community.
We, therefore, point out to that any change in the composition and duties of the councils, without an extensive consultation of the scientific community, risks of undoing any effort made last year towards rebuilding credibility and strengthening the Romanian scientific community.”
Ad Astra’s requests:
Preserving the composition of the advisory bodies already established by transparent means and based on public consultations
Urgently starting similar procedures to appoint members of the advisory bodies whose activities have not been operationalized and/or improved yet.
„Finally, we reiterate the request for the Government to resign as it failed to comply with the government programme based on which it has been established and which stipulated a 30% annual increase in the research budget, which is not reflected in the draft state budget that the executive has recently adopted. Paradoxically, the Ministry wishes to reorganize the advisory bodies „to fulfil the measures from the government program,” says a statement of the Ad Astra Association.
Sorin Grindeanu’s government does not intend to allocate 1% of GDP to scientific research even in 2020
The PSD government program mentioned the „increase in the research budget by about 30% annually, ensuring a balanced budget distribution for supporting both applied research and innovation, fundamental and frontier research, focusing on the areas of smart specialization / with growth potential”.
The draft budget for 2017 shows not only a violation of the party’s document but also that Romania will not reach even in 2020 to allocate 1% of GDP to this field, which is the target committed in relation to the EU.
The budget allocated to the Ministry of Research and Innovation for 2017 is 1.758 billion lei (1.25% higher than in 2016).
The draft budget also shows:
1.685 billion lei allocated in 2018, which means a decrease of 73 million lei
1.686 billion lei allocated in 2019
1.686 billion lei allocated in 2020
