Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Interview with Fernando Cossío, president of Ikerbasque

Ikerbasque aims to promote scientific research in the Basque Country. As part of this activity, a diagnosis of the state of scientific research in the Basque Country was launched a few weeks ago. Many data were published, including an 8% increase in scientific production in the last year in the Basque Country. There has also been a significant increase in the number of researchers, by 6%. To analyse these data and talk about scientific research in the Basque Country, we are joined by Fernando Cossio, president of Ikerbasque.

Jungle Palace, Elhuyar Foundation: Hello, Fernando. First of all, thank you for joining us today. In addition, even if you are from Cantabria, you will answer our questions in Basque. When did you learn Russian?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque: Here in San Sebastian, in a Basque Country.

Jungle Palace, Elhuyar Foundation : And, when? During the student period?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque:If I'm not mistaken, I was 35 years old at the time.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation: If it’s OK we’ll keep the subject.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation: Ikerbasque has received a lot of data about scientific activity in the last year, which have also been positive. But, for a more general and broader perspective, tell us, Fernando, what is the current state of the system of scientific research in the Basque Country?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque: I would say that the current state of science and technology is acceptable, it is improving, but it is not as good as we would like it to be. This means that at this time we have a lot of work to do to improve the situation we are facing. So I don't think it's advisable to be too optimistic.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation: There are still improvements to be made, but you mentioned the improvement; and considering that today we are somehow involved in a crisis situation and we see the restrictions on a day-to-day basis – both in one area and another – how do you imagine the near future in the field of research?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque: In my opinion, it is not advisable to view the situation in this way: Despite the difficult, harsh situation, let’s do research to improve the situation. In my opinion, the best thing is to say this: especially at this time, because we have a crisis, let us do research to improve the situation.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation: How will research improve this situation?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque: On the one hand, making good use of the resources we have, but we also have to take into account that in this world, people are the most important, not infrastructures, tools and things like that. The most important are people.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation: And will research contribute to improving people’s quality of life, living conditions?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque:: Oh, yeah, yeah. Indeed, in order to improve the crisis or the economic situation, it is essential to create new things, to invent them; and to achieve this, it is essential to carry out innovation.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation :Ikerbasque, in order to promote scientific research, wants to attract the attention of foreign researchers on the one hand and, on the other, to boost the career and studies of Basque researchers on the other. But why is it so important for foreign researchers to develop their research here?

Fernando Cossío, president of Ikerbasque: On the one hand, it is important to take care of and encourage the people we have, but on the other hand, it is also important to be able to attract new people, new researchers. New perspectives, new experiences, new knowledge to exchange with us.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation: This does not mean that we bring researchers to fill the gaps here.

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque:For example, in the United States, there are scientists who are not American; this does not mean that their researchers are not competent, but that it is also interesting for them to attract new people.

Oihana Jauregi, Elhuyar Foundation: What are the weaknesses of scientific research in the Basque Country?

Fernando Cossío, president of Ikerbasque: It is difficult to give a concrete feature. The most important thing is the lack of tradition. In fact, technology, engineering, had already been sufficiently developed here in the Basque Country; but fundamental research and so on had not been so developed. We don’t have much tradition in this area. And I think that’s the biggest weakness we have right now.

Jungle Palace, Elhuyar Foundation :I will ask you a difficult question: you are a researcher yourself; how do you think vocations can be promoted?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque: I think the most important thing is to present science and science in a normal way. Scientists are not freaks or weird people. I can say that most of them are normal. In this sense, I believe that science, research, and technology are less rare or artificial. We all have that passion within us.

Jungle Palace, Elhuyar Foundation: A passion for learning, right?

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque:Yes, a passion for understanding, and a passion for introducing new things.

Jungle Palace, Elhuyar Foundation: Very good, Fernando. Thank you for providing this space. And until the next time.

Fernando Cossío, President of Ikerbasque: Thank you very much to you.