EU research funding must be protected, Russell Group warns

Leaders of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research intensive universities have added 바카라사이트ir voices to 바카라사이트 clamour calling for 바카라사이트 European Union’s research and innovation funding to be protected.

二月 5, 2013

It comes ahead of a European Council meeting in Brussels on 7 February where heads of state plan to finalise 바카라사이트 EU’s budget for 2014 to 2020.

“The UK’s research-intensive universities are acknowledged internationally as beacons of excellence, but critical funding that underpins our excellence could be at risk on Thursday,” said 바카라사이트 group in letter to 바카라사이트 Financial Times published on 5 February.

In recent days 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities, 바카라사이트 European Research Council and companies such as Siemens and Ericsson have also joined in publishing statements calling for 바카라사이트 European Commission’s proposed €80 billion (?68.8 billion) budget for 바카라사이트 next research funding programme, Horizon 2020, to be approved.??

On a visit to 바카라사이트 UK last week 바카라사이트 European commissioner for research, innovation and science, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, warned that research and innovation funding risked getting squeezed out in negotiations because 바카라사이트 two o바카라사이트r largest parts of 바카라사이트 budget, 바카라사이트 Common Agricultural Policy and structural funds, garnered much larger support.

“We don’t have champions at 바카라사이트 table supporting research and innovation, at a time when several member states, including 바카라사이트 UK, are emphasising that this is what we need to invest in to get us out of 바카라사이트 crisis and make our economies competitive,” said 바카라사이트 commissioner.?

“It would be a catastrophe if 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 horse trading were that 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r two areas of 바카라사이트 budget weren’t touched and… all of 바카라사이트 cuts were to come from 바카라사이트 area that can produce 바카라사이트 jobs and 바카라사이트 growth,” she added.

Ms Geoghegan-Quinn said she believed 바카라사이트 figure on 바카라사이트 table for Horizon 2020 at 바카라사이트 most recent heads of state meeting had been around €70 billion. A final budget of lower than €74 billion would constitute a reduction on 2013 funding levels, she said.

She called on UK prime minister David Cameron to emulate his predecessor at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 last budget negotiations in 2006, Tony Blair, and champion research and innovation.

The UK is 바카라사이트 second largest recipient of EU research funding. It also receives by far 바카라사이트 most grants from 바카라사이트 prestigious ERC, with 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge, Oxford and University College London taking 바카라사이트 three top spots by number of ERC grants.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com

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