The "Universitaria" Consortium, which brings together the largest and best performing comprehensive universities and economic studies in Romania (Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University in Iași, "Babeș-Bolyai" University in Cluj-Napoca, University of Bucharest and the Western University of Timișoara), welcomes and supports the initiative of the Ad Astra Association to propose a National Pact for Research.
The content of the pact, centered on five points expressed explicitly and clearly, identifies the major, structural and system problems of the Romanian research - development - innovation (CDI) sector and proposes solutions aimed at the professionalization, internationalization and transparency of the evaluation processes (institutional, competition projects), the progressive increase of the budget allocated to R&D but, very importantly, also the provision of basic funding for institutions that carry out research activities.
The "Universitaria" consortium has proposed, since 2018, a National Pact for higher education and research, with strategic objectives fixed for at least 20 years. I was saying then that, in a globalized, constantly changing world, the lack of a strategic approach means a bankrupt policy, especially for such a competitive sector as the research-development-innovation sector.
In the absence of the implementation of the measures proposed by this Research Pact, Romania will be condemned to be an increasingly less competitive country on a globalized labor market, a country that is losing its scientific elite and a country in which future generations will be less connected to science and scientific research.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Marilen Gabriel Pirtea
Acting President of the "Universitaria" Consortium
