The Bayer Life Talks series is designed as a platform for open and public discussion on how innovations in life sciences should play a role in modern economies, and the contribution they can make to overcoming societal challenges.
The first of the sessions took place on 9 September and focused on gene editing, following the European Commission’s recent study on new genomic techniques. The second of the sessions will look at the fault lines and opportunities in the relationship between policymakers, business, and the scientific community. It will take place on 8 December at 15:00 – 16:15 CET.
If you are interested in learning more about the series, please contact us here.
A trusted relationship between science, business, and policymaking is essential for the proper functioning of our democracies. Science and academia play a necessary role in policymaking, offering evidence-based research to guide the formulation and direction of the rules that govern. We are, however, living in a period of increased distrust in traditional institutions, with the organisations and experts that were once valued and relied upon, now subject to growing skepticism.
In the context of the recent strengthening of transparency rules for those seeking to influence policymaking in Europe and following the public consultation on developing a fit for purpose European innovation ecosystem to boost innovation cohesion, this second session in the Bayer Life Talks will look at the fault lines and opportunities in the relationship between policymakers, business, and the scientific community. It will debate the role of business in funding academic and scientific research and what tools are available to ensure transparency and accountability in the process. What guard rails currently exist to ensure that evidence-based policymaking can thrive?
With the European Union undertaking several initiatives to reinforce the ambition and global competitiveness of its European Research Area, and while the demand for insight and future proof policymaking increases, how is the business community working to ensure that it continues to play a positive role in science and research, and what are the implications for the innovation agenda in Europe?
All session timings are in CET
Paul Adamson, Chairman, Forum Europe
Stephan Schraff, Head Public Affairs European Union, Bayer AG
Maria da Graça Carvalho, Member, European Parliament
Dr. Monika Lessl, SVP, Head Corporate R&D and Social Innovation, Bayer AG
Paul Adamson, Chairman, Forum Europe Paul Adamson is chairman of Forum Europe and founder and editor of Encompass, an online magazine dedicated to covering the European Union and Europe’s place in the world.
Paul is a member of the Centre for European Reform’s advisory board and Rand Europe’s Council of Advisors. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Policy Institute, King’s College London, a patron of the University Association of Contemporary European Studies (UACES) and a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences.
In 2012, Paul was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to promoting understanding of the European Union” and in 2016 he was made a Chevalier in the Ordre national du Mérite by the French government.
Maria da Graça Carvalho, Member, European Parliament Maria da Graça Carvalho is currently a member of the European Parliament. She was a senior advisor of Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, from November 2014 to December 2015. Previously, she was a member of the European Parliament, between July 2009 and May 2014. In that capacity, she was one of the rapporteurs of Horizon 2020. She was also Principal Adviser to President Barroso in the fields of Science, Higher Education, Innovation, Research Policy, Energy, Environment and Climate Change from 2006 to 2009. She served as a Minister of Science and Higher Education of the XV Constitutional Government of Portugal and Minister of Science, Innovation and Higher Education of the XVI Constitutional Government. She is a Full Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico (University of Lisbon).
Dr Anna-Maija Mertens, Executive Director, Transparency International Germany Dr Anna-Maija Mertens is a political scientist with a focus on European Politics. Since December 1st 2014 Dr. Anna-Maija Mertens has been the Executive Director of Transparency International Germany e. V. The German Chapter of Transparency International initiates and promotes the formation of coalitions between politics, the private sector and civil society in order to fight corruption effectively in the society. The non-governmental organization is a non-profit and politically independent body. The basic principles of Transparency Germany are integrity, accountability, transparency and the civil society participation. Before joining Transparency Germany Dr. Anna-Maija Mertens was Head of the Finnish Institute in Germany identifying and initiating new fields of cooperation between Germany and Finland.
Lidia Borrell-Damián, Secretary General, Science Europe Lidia Borrell-Damián is the Secretary General of Science Europe, the
association representing major public organisations that fund or perform
excellent, ground-breaking research in Europe. She holds overall
responsibility for the strategy and functioning of the organisation. Prior
to this she worked for the European University Association (EUA)
between 2006 and 2014. During the last five years in EUA she served
as its Director for Research and Innovation (R&I), holding responsible
for the overall strategy and activities of EUA in the area, working with
EUA individual universities as well as the National Rectors’
Conferences.
Her areas of experience cover a wide range of EU R&I priorities,
including the EU Framework Programme; European Research Area;
research infrastructures; research ethics and integrity; research
assessment processes; university-business cooperation; regional innovation; gender issues in
research; Digital Agenda and Open Science. She also worked on doctoral education through the
EUA-Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE), and coordinated scientific policy input to the
European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) through the European Platform of
Universities in Energy (EUA-EPUE).
Lidia Borrell-Damian holds a Doctorate in Chemistry (Chemical Engineering Specialty; Solar Energy)
from the University of Barcelona. Prior to joining EUA, she was Director of Research at Universitat
Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona from 2003-2005. Before then she was Visiting Scholar at the University
of Western Ontario (1999-2001) and at the North Carolina State University (1997-1998).
Stephan Schraff, Head Public Affairs European Union, Bayer AG Stephan Schraff has been heading the EU Public Affairs Office of Bayer AG since June 1, 2020. The 51-year-old lawyer has a strong background in German and EU innovation and sustainability policy as well as environmental and chemical regulation. Before taking over the position as Head of Bayer’s EU Public Affairs Office, he was heading the companies Berlin Public Affairs Office for eight years (2012-2020) and worked for the company in Brussels from 2010 to 2012 as Manager Europe for Public & Governmental Affairs at Bayer CropScience. Prior to that his work experience include governmental affairs responsibility for a European trade association in the chemical sector (2006-2010) as well as several years of work for a German consultancy specialized in national and EU Public Affairs (2000-2006).
Dr. Monika Lessl, SVP, Head Corporate R&D and Social Innovation, Bayer AG 
For more information on any aspect of the Bayer Life Talks series, please contact us using the details below:
