RESEARCH REFORM GOES AHEAD AND CNR PRESIDENT

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KSCA TBIO TPHY IT
SUBJECT: RESEARCH REFORM GOES AHEAD AND CNR PRESIDENT
RESIGNS


1. ON MAY 13, LUCIO BIANCO, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL
RESEARCH COUNCIL (CNR) RESIGNED. DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE,
BIANCO UNDERLINED THAT HE DECIDED TO QUIT "AFTER MANY MONTHS
OF CONFRONTATIONS WITH RESEARCH AND UNIVERSITY MINISTER
LETIZIA MORATTI AND HER RESEARCH REFORM PROPOSAL". IN A
"OPEN LETTER" TO THE RESEARCHERS, HE STATED THAT "THE
CURRENT GOVERNMENT DENIES THE IMPORTANCE OF BASIC RESEARCH
AND SUPPORTS ONLY APPLIED RESEARCH". HOWEVER, THE LETTER
DOES NOT DEFEND THE RESEARCHERS, WHO DID NOT REACT PROMPTLY
AND ACTIVELY AGAINST THE RESEARCH REFORM AND THUS "WILL BE
CO-RESPONSIBLE OF THE DISMANTLMENT OF A RESEARCH SYSTEM,
WHICH IS STRUCTURALLY WEAK BUT STILL COMPETITIVE CONSIDERING
THE FUNDS".


2. BIANCO BECAME CNR PRESIDENT ON APRIL 30, 1997 AND WAS
REELECTED IN MAY 2001. HE HAD STARTED HIS CAREER AS CNR
RESEARCHER IN 1970. BIANCO DECIDED TO RESIGN WHEN HE LEARNT
THAT THE RESEARCH REFORM PROPOSAL HAD BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE
TECHNICAL ADVISORS OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND THUS
WOULD HAVE BEEN DEFINITIVELY APPROVED VERY SOON. PROF.
ADRIANO DE MAJO, CURRENT RECTOR OF LUISS, A ROME-BASED
PRIVATE UNIVERSITY, WILL BE APPOINTED AS CNR COMMISSIONER TO
OVERSEE THE REFORM (SEPTEL). SEMBLER

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2003ROME02080 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED