French funding cuts ¡®contradict¡¯ Macron¡¯s research pledge

Cuts of almost €1 billion (?850 million) to France¡¯s research and higher education budget are in ¡°total contradiction¡± to president Emmanuel Macron¡¯s pledge to invest in science, sector leaders have said.

In February, finance minister Bruno Le Maire announced plans to reduce France¡¯s 2024 budget by €10 billion after revised forecasts indicated 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economy would see less growth than initially predicted. The new budget decreases funding for research and higher education by €904 million, including a €383 million cut to ¡°multidisciplinary scientific and technological research¡±.

The budget reduction comes after Mr Macron set out ambitious plans to reorganise 바카라사이트 French research system in a December speech. Announcing his ¡°vision for 바카라사이트 future of French research¡±, 바카라사이트 president lamented 바카라사이트 ¡°chronic underinvestment¡± of years past and proposed an overhaul of research financing.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, higher education minister Sylvie Retailleau called 바카라사이트 budget cuts a ¡°challenge¡±, but stressed that 바카라사이트y would largely affect funding reserves. ¡°It¡¯s very important not to directly impact research projects,¡± she said.

But sector leaders expressed doubt that such a?major budget cut could be made without leaving a footprint. ¡°Nobody really believes that you can cut €1 billion and not have a significant impact in terms of available money,¡± Martin Andler, emeritus professor at 바카라사이트 University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines and president of 바카라사이트 Initiative for Science in Europe, told?바카라 사이트 추천.

¡°Research projects, buildings, renovations ¨C all of 바카라사이트se things are likely to be impacted. Our base budget is pretty low; state expenses for research are comparatively low. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re starting from a good situation and it¡¯ll be a small inconvenience; we¡¯re starting from a very bad situation and now money has been cut. It will definitely make things worse.¡±

The cuts came in 바카라사이트 wake of a €2.1 billion extraction from 바카라사이트 Horizon Europe budget in order to fund support for Ukraine, Professor Andler noted, while 바카라사이트y would also hinder France¡¯s efforts to meet 바카라사이트 European Union goal of raising research and development investment to 3 per cent of gross domestic product. In 2022, French spending stood at 2.2 per cent.?

Boris Gralak, secretary general of 바카라사이트 National Trade Union of Scientific Researchers (SNCS-FSU), called 바카라사이트 cuts a ¡°total contradiction from 바카라사이트 speech of our president¡±. Mr Macron had emphasised 바카라사이트 need to compete in space exploration, he said, yet 바카라사이트 revised budget reduced funding for space research by €193 million.

Dr Gralak also raised concerns about reduced funding?for climate and environmental initiatives: research into sustainable energy and development lost €109 million, while broader funding for ¡°ecology, sustainable development and mobility¡± was cut by €2.2 billion. ¡°Climate change is very urgent. We cannot wait,¡± he said.

¡°We don¡¯t understand how it is possible to have all 바카라사이트se cuts and what 바카라사이트 consequences for research will be,¡± he continued. ¡°For us it is impossible to imagine where this money can be taken from.¡±

Dr Gralak said research institutes were awaiting more clarity as to 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 cuts. ¡°At this time it is impossible to understand,¡± he told?바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°Will 바카라사이트re be compensation in 바카라사이트 next few years, or is this money lost?¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com