[{"command":"settings","settings":{"ajaxPageState":{"theme":"hm_theme","theme_token":"JEbpMkduWJB4BlNnPiPcXPbXyKy-ZSbinUSen0psfi8","libraries":"eJwDAAAAAAE"},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"form_action_p_pvdeGsVG5zNF_XLGPTvYSKCf43t8qZYSwcfZl2uzM":true},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"2af85631393b514cbde3779a1f71d92618d53b94b54ea1960d28b2e2d121ff12"}},"merge":true},{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/13074\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EDo Europeans trust science? New survey says \u201cyes, but\u201d\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA large majority of Europeans believe in the benefits of science, according to the\u0026nbsp;latest Eurobarometer survey on \u201cEuropean citizens\u2019 knowledge and attitudes towards science and technology\u201d.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey want to see those benefits more equitably distributed and are cautious about any potential negative impacts of science.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/europa.eu\/eurobarometer\/surveys\/detail\/3227\u0022\u003Esurvey\u003C\/a\u003E, conducted in 27 EU Member States, the Western Balkans, T\u00fcrkiye and the UK and released on 3 February, more than 8 in 10 citizens (83%) said they see the overall influence of science and technology as positive. Two thirds (67%) said that science and technology improve people\u2019s lives, making them easier, healthier and more comfortable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe overall positive attitude towards science and technology is reassuring, as this is essential for achieving our competitiveness goals,\u201d said Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt the same time, we need to respond to citizens\u2019 expectations for a more equitable distribution of the benefits of science and technology. We should also continue to promote openness, transparency and integrity, while enhancing public engagement of citizens and other stakeholders in research and innovation,\u201d she added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EThe overall positive attitude towards science and technology is reassuring, as this is essential for achieving our competitiveness goals.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EEkaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile almost two thirds of the survey respondents acknowledged that science and technology could help improve the environment and tackle climate change, they still felt that \u201cthey mostly help companies make money\u201d.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EU has supported a wide variety of research fields through its funding programmes, working with research and technology organisations, civil society organisations, private companies, etc.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn doing so, it focuses on strategic fields that can help research and innovation actors become more competitive and sustainable by advancing cutting-edge research that can benefit the economy and citizens.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt also funds important research that may not be profitable and is therefore not prioritised by companies, as is sometimes the case in health, for instance. Likewise, it supports research initiatives that foster international collaboration and help to reduce disparities between EU countries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ETechnology must benefit everyone\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResponses to several questions showed citizens\u2019 preference for science to be inclusive, benefitting the largest number of people, but also involving them in research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAsked about the importance of upholding gender equality in science and technology, 69% voiced their belief that it would help us live in a fairer and more equal society, and 63% said it would improve the outcomes of research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe majority of respondents also stressed the expected positive impact of science on young people: 68% said science will create more opportunities for future generations, while 61% said it prepares young people to act as well-informed citizens.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EAt the same time, we need to respond to citizens\u0026#039; expectations for a more equitable distribution of the benefits of science and technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EEkaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs many as 77% of those surveyed said research should consider the needs of all groups of people in its work, while 72% think their government should take responsibility to ensure that new technologies benefit everyone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a similar way, 63% said that \u201cinvolving non-scientists in research and technological development ensures that science and technology respond to the needs, values and expectations of society\u201d.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Horizon Europe Framework Programme devotes funds to citizen science research projects, as well as relevant policy support actions (e.g.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eu-citizen.science\/ecs_project\/\u0022\u003EEuropean Citizen Science\u003C\/a\u003E or\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu\/en\/horizon-magazine\/researchers-combine-citizens-help-and-cutting-edge-tech-track-biodiversity\u0022\u003Eongoing pan-European efforts to track biodiversity\u003C\/a\u003E).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong the same lines, the vast majority of respondents (80%) feel that results of publicly funded research should be made available online free of charge.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is in line with the concept of Open Science that the EU is championing, pressing for early and open sharing of knowledge and open access to scientific publications and research data for all publicly funded research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Horizon 2020, the share of published open-access papers surged from 65% in 2014 to 86% in 2019, according to an official evaluation report from 2023. Under Horizon Europe, beneficiaries must provide immediate open access to their scientific publications.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAI also in focus\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to the fast-growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), half of the respondents (50%) said they believe AI can advance scientific discoveries related to serious challenges like climate change and diseases.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust 38% of respondents said they trust scientific research and discoveries created with the help of AI, while a quarter (25%) distrust this type of research. Around 58% have also expressed some concern about the potential of scientific applications to threaten human rights.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe European Commission has\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu\/research-area\/industrial-research-and-innovation\/artificial-intelligence-ai-science_en#:~:text=AI\u0026apos;s%20role%20in%20science\u0026amp;text=EU%2Dfunded%20researchers%20are%20already,and%20improving%20earthquake\u0026apos;s%20impact%20predictions.\u0022\u003Erecognised the growing role of AI in research\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;but has stressed the need to tread carefully and safeguard fundamental rights.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEurobarometer conducts public opinion surveys across Europe on behalf of EU institutions, monitoring public sentiment on particular topics. This latest edition continues a long line of surveys on this topic stretching back decades, with the latest ones in 2021, 2013, 2010 and 2005.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-bg-bluelightest tw-p-12 tw-my-12 tw--mx-16\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ch3 class=\u0022tw-font-sans tw-font-bold tw-text-blue tw-uppercase tw-text-lg tw-mb-8\u0022\u003EScience and Technology\u003C\/h3\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-inline-block tw-w-1\/6 tw-h-1 tw-bg-blue tw-mb-8\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E83%\u003C\/strong\u003E think the overall influence of science and technology is positive.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E77%\u003C\/strong\u003E say science and technology should consider the needs of all groups of people when developing new solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E72% \u003C\/strong\u003Ethink their government should take responsibility to ensure that new technologies benefit everyone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E67% \u003C\/strong\u003Eagree science and technology make our lives easier, healthier and more comfortable.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-v7xc0iofhjip54bjgiwvzi3xc76zrkanexuh-wzuzb8\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-v7XC0iOfHJip54BjgiWvzI3xC76ZRKanEXUh-WZuzb8\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]