SECURE Deliverable 5.1: Initial Policy Brief

SCOPE OF THE POLICY BRIEF In this policy brief, the Sustainable Careers for Researcher Empowerment (SECURE) project reports on the progress made through cooperation of 18 consortium partners that seeks to strengthen Sustainable Careers for Researchers in the European Union (EU) and beyond and provide a first set of policy insights to the European Commission (EC) for further policy development. Policy Background Ever since the launch of the European Research Area (ERA) in 2000, researchers have been at the core of its development as drivers of innovation, science, and technology, contributing to knowledge generation in Europe. However, there is a lack of recognition of the research profession and a need to strengthen research careers and make them more attractive. Policy measures are required to ensure increased recognition of the researcher occupation and promote a range of career opportunities, both in academia and beyond. In this respect, targeted training and professional development of researchers’ transferable skills is necessary. The ERA Communication, referred to a toolbox of measures to be developed by 2024 with the aim of fostering more attractive research careers and reducing precarity as well as supporting intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility and targeted training. The SECURE project has a key role in supporting the implementation of these policy measures as well as forproviding specific feedback for adaptations and additional measures.