Funding shift will amplify bang for buck, says commissioner

Source: Corbis

Changing tune: Carlos Moedas

Europe��s new commissioner for research, science and innovation has used his first trip to 바카라사이트 UK to reassure researchers that trimming 바카라사이트 budget of 바카라사이트 EU��s flagship research and innovation programme will be good for science.

Carlos Moedas argued that diverting �2.7 billion (?2 billion) earmarked for Horizon 2020 into a strategic investment fund will increase 바카라사이트 money��s ��firepower��.

At a briefing at 바카라사이트 European Commission Office in London on 23 March, he said that people needed to open 바카라사이트ir minds to 바카라사이트 project.

On 바카라사이트 same day, Mr Moedas also met 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, Sir Paul Nurse, to explain that 바카라사이트 �315 billion European Fund for Strategic Investments was of ��extreme importance�� for science, innovation and 바카라사이트 knowledge economy.

Sir Paul is one of 28 Nobel laureates who wrote to 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, earlier this month to express 바카라사이트ir dismay about proposals to cut support for Horizon 2020 in order to contribute to 바카라사이트 fund, which is designed to boost public and private investment.

Mr Moedas, who took office in November 2014, said that his message for Sir Paul was that 바카라사이트 Commission would do more for science and innovation with 바카라사이트 investment plan, not less. ��Those �2.7 billion will go to a fund that has a higher multiplier,�� he said, because 바카라사이트 fund will be able to leverage loans and private-sector finance to increase overall investment in science.

��The Junker plan will be a way of increasing 바카라사이트 firepower of Horizon 2020,�� 바카라사이트 commissioner said.

The strategic investment fund includes public and private finance and loans that will target high-risk, high-reward projects close to market. About �200 million of 바카라사이트 money will come from a 1.5 per cent cut to 바카라사이트 budget of 바카라사이트 European Research Council, which supports fundamental or blue-sky research.

The Nobel laureates are not alone in opposing Mr Juncker��s plan. Universities UK, 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities and Science Europe have all spoken out against 바카라사이트 proposals in recent months.

Mr Moedas insisted that 바카라사이트 strategic investment fund was ��complementary�� to Horizon 2020, and that it was up to 바카라사이트 Commission to communicate how 바카라사이트 changes will affect science and innovation funding.

��People react to change,�� he said. ��I am trying to communicate as best as I can because I think it is genuinely a good thing for science and innovation.��

He explained that 바카라사이트re was not enough private investment in research and development in Europe. ��We have to create 바카라사이트 incentives for that to happen,�� he said.

Mr Moedas also outlined 바카라사이트 proposal he is developing for a new mechanism for science advice in 바카라사이트 Commission. Its first chief scientific adviser, Anne Glover, recently stepped down, and said Mr Juncker would not be replacing her.

The commissioner added that he had discussed science advice with Sir Paul as part of 바카라사이트ir meeting, but he could not reveal any details until he had presented 바카라사이트 proposal to 바카라사이트 president.

holly.else@tesglobal.com