Research, applied research and fiscality

This discussion is a good opportunity for giving possible suggestions on the future of research and of course having a feedback on that. I am still a PhD student, so still there are plenty of things that I totally ignore and I will have to learn, but as Marie Curie ESR and furthermore as a European citizen I would like to express a comment not just on research but also on the general development of the EU, because I have lived and worked in three different European countries. Regarding the research, it will be really important increasing the exchange and collaborations between countries, because just in this way it is possible to share different experiences and knowledge, several times located in very specific areas of the EU. We already have something like that with international events and conferences and projects for Horizon 2020, but I think that what is really missing it is a production of technology and development of innovation and not just knowledge (academically speaking papers). Fundamental research several times can be linked to applied research. In this scenario will be possible to create direct benefits to the real economy, creating new jobs and in some cases even companies. A positive example is the Fraunhofer institute in Germany, where part of the funding is shared directly with the industry, but there are other examples of collaboration university/industry. This is generally true not just for Science and engineering but also human and social sciences, arts and all the disciplines. For example collaborating with the public sector for solving social problems or helping in the development of a common law and European infrastructures. Probably what will become really important it is a clear definition and integration of fiscality and taxes and debts. Now inside the Eu countries there are many disparities for taxes, debts and so many companies change and shift their headquarters and productions, law offices in different countries from the original one. This is something positive as long as they remain in the EU, but I think it is also important to avoid social conflicts with a warranty that people who were living in a certain location with the families will be able to continue to do so. A common European tax system would allow also the development of a better EU welfare, such as a common plan for the pensions, which I think it is still lacking, and social helps wherever a citizen will live. Putting together the fiscality, research and applied research would be really important to convert and develop some of the old economy still we have into the new IT one, with internet, artificial intelligence etc. Unfortunately many new big companies in the world are outside Europe and we will have to change and improve ourselves, teaching new subjects and creating new jobs. I guess that with those aspects the best scenario from the white book would become the number five, even though it is probably the most ambitious and hardest one to realise and there are not details on how to do it. Probably there are already some of those things, but I am sure they can be improved and they can become part of Europe. I hope you will comment and correct my thoughts and maybe they will be helpful for constructive discussions.