JRC Implementation Review 2017 – Request for a detailed discussion after the COCO-JRC meeting
Dear Mr Šucha,
At the recent
COCO-JRC meeting with staff representatives you expressed your great
satisfaction with the positive JRC Implementation Review 2017, and invited us
to pass this positive message to staff. Indeed, staff representatives were also
pleased to find the JRC being seen in such a positive light externally, and are
also ready to publicly make such recognition.
At the same
time, the review must be read in its entirety. In the context of the COCO-JRC,
time was too limited to allow for an in-depth discussion of concerns contained
in the report that are also shared by us and many staff members. The overall
concern may be summarised in a fear of losing scientific credibility in JRC's
core business in the rush to Knowledge Management. This is aggravated by an
excess of 'micro-management' and stifling bureaucracy.
The promises of
the Strategy 2030 document are not being fully met. R&D representatives, amongst others, drew
your attention to parts of the Implementation Review that should not be brushed
aside. In particular, staff continue to be confused about Knowledge Management
(c.f. p.14 paragraph 4 of the review), and the JRC risks losing credibility as
a world-class scientific institution (c.f. p.14 paragraph 6). The target for
the subdivision between research projects in the Strategy aims for a 80/15/5
breakdown (core business, improvement of core business, and exploratory
research) which still adds up to 100% research.
As the panel also observes, "Unless
the JRC maintains its credibility as a world-class scientific institution, its
mission as the science-for-policy service of the Commission will be
compromised."
The report also says
"The JRC can be complimented on
maintaining this good record in producing scientific results that are highly
ranked for their science as well as being relevant to policy". It
should however be noted that the bibliometric analysis on which this excellent
result is based refers to the period before the reorganisation. Due to the
concerns above, there may be a risk that we will not be able to maintain the same
or a better level in the future.
We kindly request
a further opportunity to address these issues with you, for an open and constructive
exchange, before the JRC gives its formal reply to the review panel.
Gianfranco Selvagio
President R&D Ispra
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