In June, Simon Zemp, scientific and policy officer at swissuniversities, joined SwissCore to follow EU policy on open science and research security.
“How will the EU’s growing focus on security and competitiveness shape the future of open science and international collaboration within the European Research Area?
The EU policy agendas on research security and open science are both highly relevant for Switzerland. Yet, they have so far largely evolved separately, raising the question of how they will interact once put into practice. A one-month job placement at SwissCore gave me the opportunity to explore this and other timely questions on EU research policy from the heart of Europe. At the same time, it served as a valuable professional development opportunity, giving me first-hand insight into how research policy is shaped in Brussels.
The placement was organised so that I could continue my daily work for swissuniversities while temporarily relocating my workplace to Brussels. This arrangement not only offers practical insights into SwissCore’s work but also creates opportunities for informal exchanges with people who work on EU research and innovation policy every day – an especially beneficial aspect of the placement.
A big thank you to the SwissCore team for making me feel part of the team, for putting together such an extensive programme, and for the many enriching encounters throughout my stay. I would also like to thank swissuniversities for the flexibility and trust that made the placement possible.
For me, the placement was a highly valuable experience, and I look forward to bringing the perspectives I gained back into my work for the Swiss higher education sector.”