Science and Public Policy, Vol. 38, No. 3, April 2011, p. 185-198. Challenges for career and mobility of researchers in Europe Ludmila Ivancheva, Elisaveta Gourova Career development and mobility of highly-skilled people have been in the centre of several fora and actions in Europe. Research and policy representatives have investigated which are the motivating and inhibiting factors for international mobility, which are the conditions and problems that researchers face at their work and career development, and how to foster creativity, knowledge creation and innovation. This paper is based on a survey carried out within the FP7 project E*CARE in 8 European countries. It highlights some findings linked to the environment for career and mobility of researchers in Europe, and the awareness on EU initiatives for building the European Research Area. A special emphasis is given on the attractiveness of researchers‟ career, the remaining problems of researchers‟ mobility and its impact on further career development. Introduction Today as never before economy and social prosperity depend on the progress of scientific knowledge and its successful transformation in new innovative products and services, in healthy environment and improved living conditions. The only proper alternative to face successfully these new challenges is the intensive development of research and innovations, based on a high quality and well motivated human potential. The European Union (EU) policy stresses the availability of a critical mass of well-grounded researchers as a key factor for advancement of scientific knowledge and technology progress, as well as for improvement of the quality of life, and providing welfare of European citizens and raising the general competitiveness of Europe (European Commission, 2005a). The vision of “smart growth” or developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation is the core concept of the new EUROPE 2020 Strategy (European Commission, 2010a). The sustainability of European human resources in research remains, however, a crucial problem. The first challenge is linked to the demographic collapse, and the low interest of the young generation for starting a scientific career. Secondly, the USA continues to be an attractive destination for talented and skilled researchers from all over the world, including the European region. In 2004 25% of all 400 000 foreign scientists and engineers in USA are coming from EU (European Commission, 2008a). A negative influence has also the structural fragmentation of European labour market for researchers, which to a great extent is due to problems in field of social security and to differences in tax and pension systems among the European countries (European Commission, 2007). The skills development process of scientists does not prepare them for the knowledge economy, for moving between sectors and countries, as well as for working in competitive environment (Gourova et al , 2006; Nisheva et al , 2009). All these factors determine the need for special policy measures targeted at development of human capacity in research. Subsequently, the specificity of modern research should