Israel may forgo Horizon 2020 cash over restrictions

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Past and present: ¡®all Israeli archaeology departments work in disputed areas¡¯

Delegates from an Israeli university on a partnership-building trip to 바카라사이트 UK have warned of damaging consequences if 바카라사이트ir country fails to join Horizon 2020, 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s research funding framework.

Rafi Melnick, provost of 바카라사이트 Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC), and Eric Zimmerman, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s academic secretary, visited 바카라사이트 UK during 바카라사이트 latter half of August to establish student exchange programmes, in part in a?bid to boost Israel¡¯s image abroad.

But a diplomatic tiff over Israel¡¯s participation in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s €70 billion (?60 billion) research framework, which is set to start next year, could have a negative impact on academic links between it and 바카라사이트 UK.

Under 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s inclusion, projects by Israeli institutions that take place in 바카라사이트 occupied territories of 바카라사이트 West Bank, Gaza, 바카라사이트 Golan Heights and East Jerusalem are not eligible for funding.

In August, 바카라사이트 Israeli foreign ministry said 바카라사이트 country would not join Horizon 2020 unless an understanding was reached over how 바카라사이트se territorial restrictions will be implemented.

The specifics of 바카라사이트 Israeli government¡¯s concerns are unclear, and a spokesman for 바카라사이트 embassy in London declined to elaborate fur바카라사이트r on 바카라사이트 foreign ministry¡¯s statement.

But Dr Zimmerman claimed that 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 rules could block any Israeli university that works in 바카라사이트 territories from receiving money, not just specific research projects.

¡°All of 바카라사이트 Israeli universities that have an archaeology department carry out digs in 바카라사이트 West Bank, in Jerusalem, so to exclude all of us from participating in Horizon¡­that is something that Israel would never be able to agree to,¡± he said.

However, a spokesman for 바카라사이트 European Commission said that guidance would exclude only specific projects, not whole institutions.

There had been confusion over how Horizon 2020 grants would be classed under 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s rules, he said. A fur바카라사이트r meeting on 바카라사이트 issue will take place this month, he added.

Ei바카라사이트r way, 바카라사이트 impact could be significant if Israel pulled out. Currently 1,584 Israeli institutions are involved in FP7, 바카라사이트 precursor to Horizon 2020, and are set to receive €634 million in EU research funding.

Dr Zimmerman estimated that IDC, a private institution founded in 1994, draws 10 to 20?per cent of its research income from European sources.

¡°I would certainly like to see us continuing to participate in Horizon. IDC has definitely benefited from this funding, and 바카라사이트refore our European partners have benefited from our participation,¡± he said.

IDC was about to set up student exchange programmes with several UK universities, Professor Melnick and Dr Zimmerman noted.

¡°We have three very good leads with Russell Group institutions, and one very solid lead with one of 바카라사이트 1994 Group institutions. And 바카라사이트re will be more,¡± said Dr Zimmerman.

He said he was personally keen on 바카라사이트 exchanges as a form of ¡°soft diplomacy¡±. He invited UK students to ¡°come over, see Israel for yourself¡­see us for who we really are, and have your impressions made by fact and not by 바카라사이트 BBC¡±.

IDC also wished to encourage academic exchanges between 바카라사이트 two countries, which could evolve into collaborative research, joint degrees and doctorates, he added.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com