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Boffins bothered by EU prez's proposed science funding cut

Domestic research? Nah. Research in Ukraine? Ooh

Lobby group Science Europe has added its voice to the growing outcry over European Commission plans to do away with a large chunk of scientific research funding.

In a statement on Thursday night, the group said that proposals to remove €2.7bn from the €80bn budget of nano-science project Horizon 2020 were a mistake and would undermine Europe’s capacity for research and innovation.

The plan, put forward by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, would cut science funding in order to boost the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). Among the biggest losers would be the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Research Council (ERC), which gives grants to individual researchers.

Juncker said that the EFSI investments will also benefit research. Science Europe disagreed, saying in a statement: “Horizon 2020 funding is allocated through grants awarded on the basis of robust evaluation of the scientific quality of proposals. EFSI, on the other hand, is not designed to allow for this. In fact, because it is based on a system of loans, most public research entities will be unable to participate in EFSI projects.”

Horizon 2020 has seen more than 45,000 applications since its launch, with, on average, 14 per cent of applications approved. Projects range from developing practical applications of graphene to replacing iridium in magnetic storage devices, as well as areas such as aerostructure manufacturing, biosensors and supercapacitors.

Other organizations that have also complained about Juncker’s plan include the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences, the League of European Research Universities and the European University Association.

EPS, the European Physical Society, which represents the interests of 130,000 physicists, said the plan ignores the “importance of research and development as key drivers of prosperity [and] is sending the wrong message to the scientific communities who are essential for Europe's future.”

Despite wanting his gradual cuts to Horizon 2020 to start soon, Juncker must also secure the approval of the European Parliament and national ministers.

Meanwhile, competition for the remaining funding may get even fiercer. The Commission announced on Friday that researchers, businesses and innovators from Ukraine will now be able to fully participate in Horizon 2020 on equal terms with EU countries.

The agreement was signed in Kiev by Research, Science and Innovation Commissioner, Carlos Moedas.

“Ukraine's great research and innovation potential offers promising partnerships for Europe,” said Moedas. ®

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