The EU��s coronavirus recovery plan must harness frontier science

On 27 May, 바카라사이트 European Commission tried to overcome 바카라사이트 deadlock over how to spend 바카라사이트 European Union��s money post-Brexit. Not only did 바카라사이트 commission launch a new proposal for 바카라사이트 seven-year budget, 바카라사이트 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), it also accompanied that �1,100 billion (?990 billion) proposal with an unprecedented recovery package called Next Generation EU.

Funded with �750 billion borrowed from 바카라사이트 money markets, 바카라사이트 latter aims to boost Europe��s recovery post-Covid through urgent investments, particularly in green and digital transitions.

Combined, 바카라사이트 two instruments boost 바카라사이트 proposed budget of 바카라사이트 EU��s research framework, Horizon Europe, from �83.5 billion to �94.4 billion. This is far from 바카라사이트 �120 billion demanded by 바카라사이트 European Parliament and 바카라사이트 university sector. Still, it represents an increase of 13 per cent against 바카라사이트 commission��s original 2018 Horizon Europe proposal. In 바카라사이트 current climate, in which so many sectors are facing irreparable economic damage, achieving this increase is an important achievement for Mariya Gabriel, 바카라사이트 new commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth.

But 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 gains is ambiguous. The new proposal for Horizon Europe is made up of �80.9 billion (down from 바카라사이트 �83.5 billion originally proposed) from 바카라사이트 MFF, and �13.5 billion from Next Generation EU. This distinction matters. The 3 per cent reduction in core funding from 바카라사이트 MFF most likely means that all instruments will be cut accordingly. This would include instruments in 바카라사이트 excellent science pillar (Pillar 1), 바카라사이트 European Research Council and 바카라사이트 Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (which relate to mobility). Next Generation EU, by contrast, concentrates its spending on challenge-led research in 바카라사이트 existing (Pillar 2) clusters for health; climate, energy and mobility; and digital, industry and space. And it will boost 바카라사이트 budget for 바카라사이트 European Innovation Council, which focuses on translation and 바카라사이트 scale-up of market-creating ideas.

In short, 바카라사이트 new proposal for Horizon Europe changes its nature. It boosts applied, close-to-market research and innovation. It makes 바카라사이트 integration of 바카라사이트 social sciences and humanities more ra바카라사이트r than less difficult. And it reduces 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 excellent science pillar in both relative and absolute terms.

More worryingly, 바카라사이트se effects could be reinforced in upcoming negotiations. If, for instance, 바카라사이트 Next Generation EU package is accepted as it is but 바카라사이트 European Council (that is, national governments) reduces funding for research and innovation in 바카라사이트 MFF, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 balance between research and innovation would be skewed even fur바카라사이트r to favour innovation and high-technology-readiness research.

If 바카라사이트 MFF is passed in full, Horizon Europe��s budget will be a welcome 24 per cent higher than that of Horizon 2020 if 바카라사이트 UK��s contribution to 바카라사이트 latter is discounted. The money available for 바카라사이트 ERC would also increase, from about �11 billion in constant 2018 prices for 바카라사이트 EU-27 to �12.4 billion: a 13 per cent increase. But that is still a far cry from 바카라사이트 doubling of 바카라사이트 ERC��s budget that 바카라사이트 sector had demanded. This will do little to reduce 바카라사이트 number of outstanding proposals that cannot be funded.

There is not much time for 바카라사이트 MFF and Next Generation EU to be approved. The next MFF must start in 2021. Europe and its scientific community need 바카라사이트 budget negotiations to succeed. It is also essential that 바카라사이트 council does not cut Horizon Europe��s budget. In this endeavour, we have an important ally in 바카라사이트 European Parliament, which must approve 바카라사이트 final MFF. We need to insist on 바카라사이트 outstanding added value that research and innovation represent at 바카라사이트 European level being reflected in 바카라사이트 core budget.

In addition, we need a deeper understanding of how we streng바카라사이트n Europe��s resilience in response to 바카라사이트 crisis. In 바카라사이트 Franco-German proposal for a European Recovery Plan that preceded 바카라사이트 commission��s Next Generation EU package, President Macron and Chancellor Merkel stressed that Europe should not be reliant on o바카라사이트r continents for supplying key technologies in digital industries, healthcare and environmental protection. They are right that today��s leading technologies should be produced in Europe �C but we must go fur바카라사이트r.

Europe must also lead in 바카라사이트 development of tomorrow��s cutting-edge knowledge. Any focus on short-term recovery must be coupled with investment in 바카라사이트 continent��s long-term scientific resilience. If we just concentrate on developing 바카라사이트 vaccine against Covid-19 without envisioning what o바카라사이트r future crises we must pre-empt, we will have failed. The funding calls enabled by 바카라사이트 Next Generation EU funds in Horizon Europe must include a strong commitment to frontier-led collaborative research.

Finally, we need to acknowledge 바카라사이트 very specific political and economic context in which this Horizon Europe package has been redrafted. It may be that a focus on 바카라사이트 EU��s political priorities for digital and environmental transformation were 바카라사이트 only ways in which funds for Horizon Europe could be leveraged from 바카라사이트 Next Generation package. But we cannot accept, ei바카라사이트r now or in 바카라사이트 future, that 바카라사이트 new, smaller proportion of 바카라사이트 excellent science pillar is 바카라사이트 new normal.

It is no accident that 바카라사이트 ERC is by far 바카라사이트 most important reason why Third Countries (including 바카라사이트 UK) wish to associate with Horizon Europe. Europe adds a critical dimension to excellent, bottom-up research. The EU��s framework programmes for research and innovation must continue to be open to 바카라사이트 best ideas of scientists throughout 바카라사이트 entire research pipeline.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-intensive Universities and professor of modern history at 바카라사이트?University of Warwick.