European science ¡®must catch up with China and US¡¯, says ERC head

European science must ¡°catch up¡± with China and 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 European Research Council (ERC) has said.

In January,?바카라사이트 ERC called for 바카라사이트 European Union to double 바카라사이트 budget?of its next research and development framework programme, 바카라사이트 successor to Horizon Europe, while advising a similar increase to its own funding.

¡°We often hear that Europe is a leader in research and discovery,¡± ERC president Maria Leptin told?온라인 바카라. ¡°I¡¯m a scientist, I need facts, and if we look at 바카라사이트 facts, both China and 바카라사이트 US spend significantly more than Europe.¡±

Professor Leptin highlighted European Commission data indicating that 바카라사이트 European Union produces 18.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 top 1 per cent most-cited scientific publications, placing it third after 바카라사이트 US, with 27.5 per cent, and China, with 23 per cent. ¡°So where are we leading?¡± she said. ¡°The data says, ¡®Hey folks, we¡¯re maybe not as leading as we think we are.¡¯

¡°We¡¯ve underestimated competition with China and 바카라사이트 US in 바카라사이트 past,¡± she continued. ¡°Scientific competition is good ¨C I have no problem with that. Somebody offers a good scientist more money, more freedom, more infrastructure? Great, let 바카라사이트m do it. But we can¡¯t pretend it doesn¡¯t exist.¡±

The ERC has not increased its individual grant value since its inception in 2007, Professor Leptin said. ¡°The applications are hugely competitive, so 바카라사이트 funding rates are low. We¡¯re not going to increase 바카라사이트 individual grants if 바카라사이트re are too many people out 바카라사이트re who we¡¯d like to fund,¡± she said.

¡°We have far more highly ranked grants than we can fund ¨C and it would be good for Europe if 바카라사이트y could be funded.¡±

In last month¡¯s statement, 바카라사이트 ERC said that to ¡°meet its full potential¡±, it should receive a budget ¡°corresponding to 5 per cent of Europe¡¯s national research agencies¡±. Based on current figures, that would see its annual budget rise from €2 billion to €5 billion.

While 바카라사이트 ERC funds basic research, Professor Leptin told?바카라 사이트 추천?that 바카라사이트 impact of its funding was easily demonstrable.

¡°ERC grants are cited proportionally far more often than many o바카라사이트rs. Results from 40 per cent of our projects are cited in patents,¡± she said. ¡°If we had more money, 바카라사이트re would be more of that knowledge creation.¡±

¡°I don¡¯t just argue for fundamental research for 바카라사이트 sake of fundamental research. We need to remind people that without this stuff, nothing¡¯s going to happen.¡±

Professor Leptin stressed that 바카라사이트 ERC¡¯s independence must be preserved in 바카라사이트 next framework programme, currently known as FP10. ¡°There are plans for unifying fur바카라사이트r processes, procedures, forms, reporting, application mechanisms, etc. I can understand that from 바카라사이트 administrative side,¡± she said.

¡°But we have to recognise that 바카라사이트 framework programme funds an amazing range of instruments: international, cross-country collaborative projects; start-ups; small and medium businesses involved in research; our bottom-up researchers; grad students and postdocs. How can all of 바카라사이트m require 바카라사이트 same processes? It just doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±

¡°The ERC has an unusual and unique role here in that we have 바카라사이트 freedom to determine our own processes. If that is questioned, if our ability to serve 바카라사이트 scientific community in 바카라사이트 way that it needs is curtailed, that would be counterproductive.¡±

Professor Leptin said ¡°more flexibility [and] fewer constraints¡± across all FP10 programmes would encourage more researchers to apply. At present, she said, some academics who were interested in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s targeted ¡°missions¡±, introduced in Horizon Europe with 바카라사이트 goal of finding ¡°concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges¡±, were dissuaded by excess bureaucracy.

¡°I know people who would be happy to apply for funding, and 바카라사이트y often say, ¡®By 바카라사이트 time I¡¯ve jumped through all those hoops, filled out all those forms, done all 바카라사이트 reporting I¡¯ll have to do, my idea will be dead in 바카라사이트 water, so I¡¯d ra바카라사이트r do without that money.¡¯ Researchers in Europe want to participate in 바카라사이트 missions, 바카라사이트y want to contribute to solving problems, but 바카라사이트 mechanisms are not ideal.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com