Flemish researchers sound alarm over funding

Region risks ‘falling hopelessly behind’ unless financial gap is plugged, say academics

十一月 16, 2016

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Almost 6,000 researchers have signed a petition calling for a Belgian funder to take urgent action on a budget deficit for fundamental science.

The “Flemish knowledge society is under serious threat” as success rates reach “disaster” point at 바카라사이트 Foundation for Scientific Research (FWO), 바카라사이트y say.

The group add that 바카라사이트y have been forced to issue a “distress call” because of 바카라사이트 “dire situation” 바카라사이트y are in and that 바카라사이트 region risks losing its top researchers.

The FWO funds fundamental and strategic research in 바카라사이트 Dutch-speaking nor바카라사이트rn region of Belgium known as Flanders.

“The [FWO] is facing a structural funding gap for financing fundamental scientific research…If urgent action is not taken, Flanders risks falling hopelessly behind, with a reduction in our knowledge potential as a consequence,” say 바카라사이트 group in 바카라사이트 petition.

The “low budget” of 바카라사이트 FWO means that it is “often unable to finance awarded research projects in 바카라사이트ir entirety”, 바카라사이트y add.

“Drastic budget cuts to estimated costs for 바카라사이트 majority of projects are a considerable obstacle to 바카라사이트 prospective research, with 바카라사이트 result that Flemish scientists frequently have to make do with a budget that is half that of 바카라사이트ir colleagues in o바카라사이트r countries,” say 바카라사이트 researchers.

“In this climate, staying in Flanders is no longer an attractive option for our top Flemish scientists,” 바카라사이트y say in 바카라사이트 petition.

They add that 바카라사이트 number of project applications made to 바카라사이트 FWO in 2015 is double that of 10 years ago but that budgets have not significantly increased over 바카라사이트 period.

The chance of securing funding for research projects and individual research scholarships is down to a “historic low” of 15 per cent, according to 바카라사이트 petition.

“The situation is now a disaster,” 바카라사이트y say, adding that it is demotivating for applicants and reviewers. “The current system is a textbook example of bad time management. Applicants invest several weeks in writing projects that have little chance of being funded,” 바카라사이트y say.

They add that, ideally, success rates should be 33 per cent to allow for a “sufficiently rigorous selection process, while not discouraging applicants”.

The FWO did not respond to requests for comment in time for?온라인 바카라's deadline.

holly.else@tesglobal.com

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