SERV has various objections concerning the soon to be created Flemish Advisory council for Enterprise and Innovation (VARIO).
First SERV is concerned about the very broad area of activities for the council that carries a risk of overlapping. Therefor its activities and tasks should be better aligned with the other Flemish councils and committees. At the same time long term strategic framework for scientific research, technological development and innovation can remediate eventual duplication of work.
Next SERV claims that VARIO should become a transparent council with a year program, an annual report and public advices, composed by genuine independent national and international experts.
Finally, SERV appreciates the fact that an extra discussion platform might prove to be an asset in the relation between VARIO and the other institutional stakeholders such as VLIR, SERV…to maximize alignment and complementarity. On condition however that the discussion platform tries to seek a high level of consensus and that the responsible minister communicates in a transparent way in order to motivate the platform on how the advices politically are taken into account.