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How will scientific policy position itself on a European scale in the long term? What “The ERC is a great
CADEMY’S POINT OF VIEW
are the stakes it will be faced with in the years to come? And where is Belgium in all
that? We asked these questions to two eminent members (one an associate member,
the other a titular member) of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts European success”
of Belgium.
“Europe needs more with Marc Henneaux

I think that you
Europe” with Philippe Busquin Professor Marc Henneaux, theoretical physicist, won the Francqui shouldn’t put
Award in 2000, as well as the FNRS Quinquennial “Dr A. De Leeuw-
Damry-Bourlart” Award in Fundamental Exact Sciences in 2015. applied research and
an innovation can take up to 30 years to fundamental research
Philippe Busquin is a well-known figure. The grey eminence emerge from fundamental research. He has been a professor at the Collège de France since 2017 and up against each other,
of the Socialist Party, he was a minister six times between What are the challenges of funding is a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium. He has received
1980 and 1992, before heading towards European politics and research in the current context? two ERC Advanced Grants since 2011. For Professor Henneaux, because each feeds off
exercising the mandate of European Commissioner, with the European funding programme is without doubt a success, the other. I’m afraid
responsibility for Scientific Research between 1999 and 2004. It It’s a problem of public funding that is providing tranquillity and independence for research. that if we reduce
not only linked to research. Of course the
was under his guidance that the European Research Area (ERA) current economic crisis has a role to play fundamental research,
and ERC grants came into being. here. At the moment, our state of health
involves significant research funding, How would you summarise the path Despite everything, are you worried applied research will
you have taken?
about the current trend in terms of
dry up.
directed towards life sciences.
THE A of research during your mandate Did the ERC grants first see the light of But in the future, I believe that many In a few words, I would simply say that for fundamental research and redirect
You worked a great deal on behalf
European budgets to reduce funding
day from the European Research Area?
I enjoy doing research. I’ve been lucky.
as European Commissioner and as
governments will head for economic
it more towards applied research?
The distinctions I have received are
That’s right, it was fertile ground. I am
President of the Panel for the Future
recovery, with major business and social
proud to have paid the foundations of the
of Science and Technology (STOA).
launched petitions and I have signed
of gravity, which has an impact on our
ERC. In reality, the idea came from some support, which no doubt will be to the linked to my work on Einstein’s theory Yes. It does worry me. Researchers have What are the challenges for funding
detriment of research. So we have to be
I hope so, in any case. These ten years Danish biologists who were finding it understanding of black holes, on the them with both hands. science in the current context?
of European experience enabled me to difficult to get into the European research vigilant. one hand, and on the construction of a The first challenge is a political one,
be behind the European Research Area. programmes, and it wasn’t about The positive thing is that everyone is coherent theory of quantum gravity, on First of all, I think that you shouldn’t because – as we have just said – our
This area came into being from the desire excellence, but political balance. They aware of the importance of research the other. put fundamental research and applied leaders do not always understand the
to transform the European landscape. weren’t wrong at all. for ensuring Europe’s competitiveness. research up against each other, because importance of fundamental research.
At the time, the research programmes Clearly, we need more from Europe. Have these grants from the ERC each feeds off the other. Then I’m afraid Then, research itself is not popular
were non-structural and merely To highlight the excellence factor, It won’t be simple, but in spite of played a major role in your career as a that is we reduce fundamental research, enough among the general public. We
complementary to national programmes. researchers needed to be selected by everything, progress is being made. For researcher? applied research will dry up. Many need to communicate better so that we
Links were held between European their peers. A place was also required example, the events we are going through Yes, I think the ERC is a great European current applications are derived from can convince people of the interest of
researchers, who at the time were for fundamental research in this Europe now show the value of a united Europe success. Having significant funding results achieved in fundamental research. science.
turning more towards their American that was tilted more towards industry. on health. We need to highlight more the allows you to recruit people to work with What do you think is the reasoning
colleagues. The ERA has made it possible The ERA made it possible to favour positives of what Europe brings. you. It is also an individual grant, which behind this change of direction? Laurent Zanella
to allocate more financial resources to fundamental research, and from there gives you great freedom in the way you
research, as well as to bring the best came the array of ERC grants that Laurent Zanella conduct your research. Obviously, there are budgetary problems
European researchers back to the old enabled excellence to become the only in the light of the health crisis. I also think
continent. selection criterion. It was a welcome One of the drawbacks of the way that our leaders, except for people such
change of mind-set. research funding has evolved is that as Philippe Busquin, for example, who
we have to keep asking for money has done a great deal for fundamental
Has the development of the ERC met because funding has become reduced research on a European level, do not
your expectations?
and fragmented. As a result, researchers properly understand the importance de
Yes. I am pleased to see that the spend a large part of their time applying of fundamental research.
programmes are still better funded. I for loans and writing reports. This results A very fine speech by King Albert I
- FNRS.NEWS 121 - FEBRUARY 2021 to allocate more What do you think of the decision the funding itself is major and it is over fundamental research: “The public here Marc Henneaux, Titular - FNRS.NEWS 121 - FEBRUARY 2021
The ERA has
in an administrative workload that is to
think that the scientific community has
of Belgium given at Seraing in 1927,
the detriment of research.
been delighted with the ERC so far.
made it possible
which also marks the beginnings of the
So, the ERC provides a dual benefit:
FNRS, summarises the importance of
to reduce European budgets for
financial resources
does not sufficiently understand that pure
a long period of time (five years). This
fundamental research in favour of
science is the indispensable condition for
is extremely precious to us, because
to research, as well
more applied research?
applied science and that the fate of nations
it releases us from this cumbersome
as to bring back
I think it’s a pity. You need to retain a
that neglect science and scientists is marked
administrative work and allows us to
high proportion of fundamental research
for decadence.”
spend more time on research.
the best European
because it is a key element for innovation.
Sciences of the Royal
Philippe Busquin, Associate emeritus
They want a rapid transition between
old continent.
Academy of Sciences,
research and development, but the
Letters and Fine Arts of
Class of the Royal Academy of Sciences,
reality of research demonstrates that
26 researchers to the A lot of people don’t understand that. member of the Technology and Society member of the Class of 27
Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium.
Belgium.