Author: Agnieszka Cudek
Europe’s competitiveness and technological sovereignty were particularly relevant at the 35th Economic Forum in Karpacz-one of the most important platforms for socio-economic and political debate in Central and Eastern Europe. The Forum brings together not only representatives of science and business, but also high-level politicians, government representatives and public policymakers from across the region to discuss the challenges that will shape Europe’s future.
From the LEAPS perspective, these issues are closely connected to the role that research infrastructures play in Europe.
At the stand of the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, we spoke with Forum participants about the European research infrastructures brought together within LEAPS and their importance for scientific excellence, innovation, and technological development. These conversations provided an opportunity to bring the research infrastructure perspective into a broader debate on Europe’s competitiveness, energy, emerging technologies and its capacity to develop and advance solutions of its own.
We also presented the LEAPS publication “World-class research for our daily lives”, which demonstrates why this matters. Research carried out at European photon sources contributes to progress in areas ranging from energy and advanced materials to health, the environment and information technologies.
During discussions in Karpacz, the LEAPS Communication Team highlighted an important point: the significance of European research infrastructures should be understood not only by the scientists who use them, but also by those shaping national and European policies. Their decisions influence whether Europe will be able to maintain the scientific capabilities, expertise and infrastructure needed to remain competitive in the decades ahead.
For LEAPS, dialogue with political leaders and public administration representatives is therefore an important part of building this understanding. Research infrastructures may not always be in the spotlight, but they provide the capabilities Europe needs to address many of the challenges that are now at the heart of political and economic debate.
