On 16 June 2016, the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) held the first CBSS Science Ministerial in Kraków, Poland. It was a gathering of CBSS Member States, which for the first time focused specifically on science, innovation and research across the Baltic Sea Region.
The Polish Chair´s Conclusions “Baltic Science: Renewing the Commitment to Science/Research Joint Actions in the Baltic Sea Region” specifically state support for Baltic TRAM. CBSS Member States appreciated that thematic priorities and recognition of relevant policies governing science and research nationally and on a macro-regional level were complemented by specific actions, namely, two Interreg-funded projects – Baltic Transnational Research Access in the Macroregion (Baltic TRAM) and the Baltic Science Network.
The Chair of the meeting, Ms Teresa Czerwińska, Deputy Minister of Science at the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, highlighted the importance of science and innovation in a wider policy context. Mr Illugi Gunnarsson, Icelandic Minister of Education, Science and Culture, presented the priorities of the upcoming Icelandic CBSS Presidency, as well as explained to other attendants Icelandic science- and research-related topicalities.
Mr Bernd Hemingway, Acting Director General of the CBSS Secretariat, highlighted latest developments of science and innovation in the Baltic Sea Region. Namely, he pointed out the importance of interconnections between research and business. He summed up Member States´ discussion on issues related to the human resources retention, by pointing out the necessity to jointly work towards the so-called ‘brain gain’, or in other words, attracting more researchers to the Baltic Sea Region.
Photo by CBSS
