Minister of Education and Research Daniel David on Wednesday said that the government programme is one of crisis management, not austerity, stressing that there will be no layoffs or salary changes in the research area.
„The government programme is clearly not an austerity programme. Anyone saying that it is, is mistaken. It is a crisis programme, and the measures to be taken, as outlined, are very complex. We could choose not to take them, and in a month we might find the country at a standstill. (…) We are trying to increase efficiency in our areas. By efficiency, I mean making better use of the funds we already have. I don’t think we can expect more money this year for Education and Research than what we received at the start of the year. (…) We need to understand that we must manage with the resources we have. (…) If anyone is expecting major budget rectifications, I believe they don’t fully grasp the country’s situation. (…) In Research, we have long been underfunded. We do not have surplus staff to lay off,” said Daniel David at the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, during the launch of the project „Romanian Artificial Intelligence Hub – HRIA.”
He explained that Romania has far too few researchers compared to the European average.
„We have too few researchers. We must retain them and, when resources allow, hire more so we can at least approach the European average. (…) My message is that we should not fear this evaluation. (…) In Research, there are no people to be dismissed, no salaries to be cut, and that is an important point. (…) In the medium term, the new salary law will need to include the equivalences established… in other laws between CS1, CS2 and associate professor, professor positions,” the Minister of Education and Research added.
Daniel David also mentioned that an evaluation process of all research, development and innovation units began in June, which will lead to a restructuring of the national research system.
„It is true that we need to restructure the architecture of the national research system, because in some areas we have too many institutions, sometimes too small, which occasionally overlap in terms of activity. (…) That is why we launched the evaluation project of all R&D&I units, which started in June. (…) Some of these institutions will be given options: a remedial programme if they don’t meet expected standards, and after that period they can choose to merge, consolidate or form consortia with other institutes or universities. If they choose not to – as there is no obligation – they will have to become self-financing, because the state does not have the resources to be spread across too many actors,” he said.
AGERPRES
