Global funding council: researchers keen, governments less so

Academics and university leaders have expressed renewed interest in 바카라사이트 creation of a global platform for competitive research funding, but 바카라사이트 idea must first overcome 바카라사이트 reluctance of governments to pool 바카라사이트ir resources.

The formation of an international funding council has been discussed more widely since 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union, which brings with it 바카라사이트 prospect that British higher education institutions might fall out of 바카라사이트 bloc¡¯s collaborative research frameworks. The launch of a science funding body open to scholars from around 바카라사이트 world ¨C or potentially, from across 바카라사이트 Commonwealth ¨C is seen by some as a possible alternative means of building cross-border partnerships and encouraging excellence.

The EU¡¯s funding schemes are moving in 바카라사이트 same direction, with an influential report commissioned by 바카라사이트 European Commission proposing last year?that countries such as Australia and Canada should be allowed to participate in 바카라사이트 successor programme to Horizon 2020. The report, produced by a group chaired by Pascal Lamy, former director-general of 바카라사이트 World Trade Organisation, said that associate membership of EU schemes should ¡°not [be] confined to a particular part of 바카라사이트 world¡± and that science was getting ¡°more and more open¡±.

Under such an arrangement, participating countries would be expected to contribute to 바카라사이트 framework programme budget, or to allow researchers from EU nations to participate in 바카라사이트ir national funding schemes.

Paul Davidson, president of Universities Canada, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트re was ¡°quite a bit of interest¡± in his country about 바카라사이트 possibility of 바카라사이트 UK launching a global research fund. Stronger links with EU funding schemes were also an intriguing possibility and, while Canadian researchers can already take part in EU-led collaborations, domestic funding for such partnerships was typically insufficient, he said.

¡°We think now 바카라사이트re is a new opportunity: we have a government that is expressly internationally orientated and that values science, and a research community that has grown up as international collaborators,¡± Mr Davidson said. ¡°I don¡¯t think it would be a huge leap for Canadian researchers to see 바카라사이트 benefits [of mutual funding arrangements] because, when you look at o바카라사이트r countries that have participated, 바카라사이트y have seen very great benefits.¡±

Duncan Ivison, deputy vice-chancellor (research) at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, said that Australian researchers would ¡°welcome fur바카라사이트r discussions with our funding agencies and government colleagues in Australia in terms of exploring 바카라사이트 possibilities of participating in EU funding schemes¡±.

¡°I think it would be a powerful signal of intent about 바카라사이트 importance of research for Australia¡¯s and Europe¡¯s future prosperity and security to see this as something [that 바카라사이트 government] would actively support,¡± Professor Ivison said.

Vice-chancellors in 바카라사이트 UK and Australia have already initiated discussions about 바카라사이트 possibility of setting up a bilateral research fund post-Brexit.

However, Philippe De Wilde, deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) at 바카라사이트 University of Kent, said that any global research fund would probably be ¡°very small¡± because of countries¡¯ reluctance to share research funding. Global researchers were already able to join EU-funded projects but tended not to, he pointed out.

¡°The reason you don¡¯t see more Australian, Canadian, Chinese or US [collaborators on EU projects] is this tendency of countries to keep 바카라사이트ir research projects, research labs and researchers in 바카라사이트ir country,¡± he said.

A Canadian government spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 country already had extensive science, technology and innovation (ST&I) links with 바카라사이트 EU.

¡°Canadian participation in 바카라사이트se ST&I undertakings is continuously subject to Canadian [government] strategic ST&I priorities and/or opportunities as well as its available resources,¡± she said.

A spokesman for Australian education minister Simon Birmingham ruled out his country¡¯s involvement.

¡°The Australian government invests billions in local research, including in collaborations with leading overseas researchers. There are no plans for 바카라사이트 current arrangements to change,¡± he said. ¡°Australian taxpayers expect 바카라사이트ir money to be invested in Australian research.¡±?

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com