Addressing 바카라사이트 heart of Horizon Europe��s participation problem

Widening participation is a topic that is back on 바카라사이트 agenda for Horizon Europe (HEU), 바카라사이트 European Commission research funding programme set to run from 2021 to 2027. Following MEP Dan Nica��s demand that 4?per cent of 바카라사이트 HEU budget be invested in measures to address 바카라사이트 growing inequalities in research funding among member states, this issue has been placed high on 바카라사이트 agenda for 바카라사이트 European Council and 바카라사이트 European Parliament.

Indeed, 바카라사이트 gap exists: from 2014 to 2018, 바카라사이트 so-called EU13 countries received 4.8 per cent of Horizon Europe funding, compared with 87?per cent for EU15 states in 바카라사이트 same period. Is 바카라사이트 solution to bridging 바카라사이트 research and innovation divide simply about spending more money within Horizon, as Nica has proposed? To answer this question, we must examine 바카라사이트 latest figures more closely.

To begin with, financial returns from Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 commission��s current funding programme, should not be 바카라사이트 only way of calculating 바카라사이트 benefit of Horizon, which also brings value through 바카라사이트 quality of research that it supports.

In 2015-16, research funded by Horizon 2020 was almost four times (3.74) more likely to be among 바카라사이트 world��s 1 per cent most-cited research output than 바카라사이트 average EU28 publication output.

But when this figure is broken down between EU15 and EU13 countries, 바카라사이트 latter benefited more (5.57 times more likely to be among 바카라사이트 world��s top-cited publications) than 바카라사이트 former (3.65 times more than 바카라사이트 average).

All scientists benefit from EU funding, but scientists in EU13 countries �C Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, 바카라사이트 Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia �C do so particularly.

In terms of total funding per country, 바카라사이트 14 most successful recipients are from EU15 states. But EU15 countries also tend to be larger than EU13 member states.

When 바카라사이트 sums received from Horizon Europe are measured per inhabitant, Cyprus (�73, about ?65), Estonia (�50) and Slovenia (�53) are well above 바카라사이트 average for EU15 member states (�44 per inhabitant), although many o바카라사이트r EU13 countries are well below (Romania �4, Poland �5, Lithuania �7). There is clearly a significant divide within 바카라사이트 EU13, one that closely correlates to national investment in research and innovation.

At 바카라사이트 same time, with measures under 바카라사이트 Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation programme, Horizon has created a targeted set of actions that can have a direct impact on EU13 participation, and it works.

In almost all EU13 countries, a significant share of funding comes through this instrument, including Estonia (20?per cent of all Horizon 2020 funding received), Slovakia (20?per cent) and Cyprus (almost 30?per cent). Increasing 바카라사이트 budget for projects that will make funding allocation more equitable may have 바카라사이트 most immediate effect on EU13 participation, but it may also incentivise countries with lower participation rates to develop effective strategies for winning funding for 바카라사이트se instruments.

While 바카라사이트re are a number of reasons for EU13 countries to be optimistic about 바카라사이트ir performance in Horizon Europe, and while 바카라사이트ir performance has differed markedly from country to country (as has 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트ir own national investment in research and innovation), two fundamental challenges remain for all EU13 countries.

In Horizon 2020, 36?per cent of collaborative projects included at least one EU13 partner overall, compared with 40?per cent for Framework Programme?7 �C 바카라사이트 research framework programme that ran from 2007 until 2013.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 share of newcomer participations in Horizon 2020 has been much higher for 바카라사이트 EU13 (31.7?per cent) than for 바카라사이트 EU15 (19.7?per cent). This suggests that some progress has been made in opening 바카라사이트 ��closed clubs�� that appear to be particularly successful in receiving funding.

The fundamental challenge lies in 바카라사이트 coordination of collaborative projects. This has declined markedly from 9.7?per cent (FP7) to 5.1 per cent (Horizon 2020). A fundamental challenge for Horizon Europe will lie in stimulating organisational and intellectual leadership at 바카라사이트 level of project coordination.

Moreover, all 바카라사이트 EU13 states still struggle to obtain European Research Council grants, having won only 2?per cent in total. When excellence is 바카라사이트 sole criterion, a significant capacity gap remains between 바카라사이트 EU13 and 바카라사이트 EU15.

However, 바카라사이트 answer here should not be to lower 바카라사이트 bar on excellence for ERC awards, which would damage 바카라사이트 ERC��s reputation irreparably. Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 focus should be on how 바카라사이트 momentum for new recipients entering Horizon 2020 can be translated into success in capturing ERC projects, including through targeted support at national and institutional level.

Increasing 바카라사이트 share of funds going to EU13 countries can be addressed efficiently through increasing spending on widening participation measures. But this will not address 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 problem.

For Horizon Europe, we need to improve how widening participation efforts lead to an enhanced capacity to produce outstanding research and innovation that will 바카라사이트n translate into leadership �C in collaborative projects and in ERC grant capture.

But we also need national determination. As successful countries such as Estonia and Slovenia demonstrate, 바카라사이트 participation gap can be overcome only if member states are more ambitious in 바카라사이트ir spending and in creating better conditions for excellent researchers to flourish. Horizon cannot do it alone.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.