The Inspireurope submission to the EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027 was focused on the integration and inclusion of migrants and people with a migrant background, with a particiular focus on researchers at risk.
It proposed two key actions that could be taken at EU level to promote the integration and social inclusion of researchers at risk with a migrant background:
- Establish a dedicated EU fellowship scheme for researchers at risk with three track options: 1) for refugee researchers, 2) those who are outside the refugee process and 3) establishment of co-funded national fellowship programmes.
- Develop and support placement schemes for researchers at risk and other highly-skilled migrants within companies
Researchers at Risk: Mapping Europe’s Response was launched in November 2020 and identifies the excellent work already underway in Europe for researchers at risk, as well as gaps and opportunities for future support. The data in the report includes publicly available information on existing support measures in Europe along with new quantitative and qualitative data compiled by the Inspireurope project from September 2019 to September 2020.
The report is the result of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including: researchers at risk; higher education institutions and research organisations with experience in hosting or employing researchers at risk; and NGOs, networks and other projects dedicated to supporting researchers at risk.
The findings of the mapping report will inform the next stage of the project’s work, which will continue until August 2022. Further consultations with a wide range of stakeholders will help to arrive at detailed policy recommendations and a roadmap on future support in Europe for researchers at risk.
The DRAFT Inspireurope Recommendation for an EU Fellowship Programme for Researchers at Risk aims to address a serious shortfall in support for researchers at risk by recommending the establishment of a dedicated EU fellowship scheme. The draft provides background on the need for such a scheme and proposes a preliminary outline of a future fellowhip programme. The Inspireurope project partners welcome an opportunity to discuss these ideas further with interested parties.
The Inspireurope submission to EC’s Communication on the Global Approach to Research, Innovation, Education, and Youth outlines that academic freedom and support for researchers at risk should be clear and visible priorities within the EU’s approach to research and innovation activities with global partners. In the submission, Inspireurope proposes one concrete way for the European Union to demonstrate commitment to academic freedom and related core values: an EU fellowship scheme for researchers at risk.