Mr Philippe Busquin wants to see a new breed of researcher-entrepreneur criss-crossing the continent, sharing ideas and stimulating scientific progress.
Newly appointed as EU Commissioner for Scientific Research, Mr Busquin aims to clear away the red tape tying up European researchers.
"The most important role for me is to try to create a space for European research. Researchers should have the right to move freely and work in other countries," he said during an interview in his Brussels office.
"There are currently problems with differences in the financial, tax and educational systems. We have to get the conditions right so that good researchers are available everywhere in Europe."
The creation of a new European patent is another priority for Mr Busquin. It currently costs four times as much to take out a patent in Europe than in the US, and the procedures are long and complicated.
In his new role as research commissioner, Mr Busquin is going back to his scientific roots. The 58-year-old Belgian spent nine years as a science professor before entering politics full-time.
He has just stepped down after seven turbulent years as president of the francophone Socialist Party in Belgium.
He wants to stem the flow of top European researchers to the United States.
"There are lots of centres of excellence in Europe comparable with, and often better than, the US. But Americans have greater accessibility to certain information and opportunities than Europeans," he said.
"A European researcher can often get easier access to an American research centre than a centre in another member-state. If we create more mobility for European researchers, it will help with this problem."
Mr Busquin conjures up the image of a "virtual laboratory", in which European researchers can benefit from each other's expertise. "We need to create a much larger network of information exchange between universities," he explained.
"Now with the existence of the Internet system, universities, research centres and certain industries must be given the technological means to connect up to each other. Big research centres should use new technology to disperse their ideas."
The Commissioner hopes to convince all sectors of European society that both basic and applied research is essential to the future of the EU. "We have to foster a new mentality everywhere that research is valuable and is seen as essential," he said.
Mr Busquin will take charge of the European Commission's framework budget for research which is worth €15 billion (£11.8 billion) over four years (1999-2002).
Europe spends around €64 billion (£50 billion) on scientific research annually. This figure includes the overall money invested by the EU, national governments, industry and universities.
"No one ever has enough funding for science and research," said Mr Busquin. "The Commission's budget is just 4 to 5 per cent of the overall spending on research in Europe. But the value of the budget lies in encouraging collective research."
The US is far ahead of Europe when it comes to the widespread use of the Internet and conducting business over computer networks through electronic commerce. The Commissioner forecasts an explosion in e-commerce over the next few years.
"European companies, like their American counterparts, are already engaged in e-commerce, but consumers here are not so involved."
The Commissioner believes that one sector in which Europe has the potential to do ground-breaking work is biotechnology.
Mr Busquin is concerned that in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe biotechnology is often viewed with suspicion by the public. Test sites for GM crops have become the target of protests.
"The problem is a certain fear of progress. Science can bring the best and the worst of things to humanity," he said. "It is an ongoing debate. But I believe in progress and the future."