The possibilities of increasing Europe’s competitiveness through pioneering research and innovation were discussed by participants in one of the panels at the Belgium House in Davos, including Prof. Piotr Sankowski from the UW. A representation of the University of Warsaw headed by the UW Rector met the Belgian Prime Minister, Nobel Prize winners in medicine or physiology, and economics, and the President of the European Research Council.
Events accompanying the 55th edition of the World Economic Forum took place, i.a. at the so-called Belgium House.
The UW delegation headed by Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the UW Rector, met with Alexander De Croo, Belgian Prime Minister and two Nobel laureates: Prof. Michael Spence, winner of the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, and Prof. Ardem Patapoutian, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology, as well as Prof. Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC).
Competitiveness of science
“Boosting European Competitiveness through Pioneering Science and Innovation – with the European Research Council” was the title of one of the panels at Belgium House. It was attended by the Belgian Prime Minister, two Nobel Prize winners, the ERC President, as well as Solveigh Hieronimus from McKinsey & Company and moderator Ana Rovzar. The University of Warsaw was represented by Prof. Piotr Sankowski from the UW’s Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics.
“Increasing ERC funding is very important to support young researchers. It is also important to increase funding for research into artificial intelligence, as this will accelerate research into other technologies – AI itself will soon change the way research is conducted,” Prof. Sankowski said.
Panellists discussed also how appropriate investment in science and innovation can increase Europe’s competitiveness.
Talks with Nobel Prize winners
“The Belgian House hosted an excellent debate on the sources of research funding in the European Union and the United States with the participation of the Belgian Prime Minister, two Nobel laureates in economics and medicine, the head of the ERC and Piotr Sankowski from our University. Such discussions are important, particularly after President Donald Trump’s recent proposals to fund, together with large corporations, $500 billion of infrastructure for the development of artificial intelligence on the territory of the US,” Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the Rector of the UW said, adding: “The panel was followed by a short discussion with the panellists, during which I had the opportunity to talk to both the head of the ERC and the two Nobel laureates. As a result of this conversation, there is a good chance that they would both visit the University of Warsaw and deliver their lectures.”
Referring to the theme of the panel, Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor, added: “To maintain Europe’s competitiveness, it is essential to increase investment in science and innovation, to simplify commercialisation processes and to intensify collaboration between scientists and VC investors. Adapting to rapidly evolving technologies, such as AI, requires a common strategic approach and commitment at the highest political and business levels, which should be the key to a better future for Europe.”
Prof. Michael Spence is an American economist from Stanford University. In 2001, together with Prof. George A. Akerlof and Prof. Joseph E. Stiglitz, he was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, for his work on the analysis of market situations when some participants are better informed (so-called information asymmetry).
Prof. Ardem Patapoutian is an American molecular biologist at the Scripps Research Institute. In 2021, he and Prof. David Julius were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of temperature and touch receptors.