Juncker EU speech criticised for ¡®gaps¡¯ on research

The European University Association (EUA) has criticised European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker for ¡°hardly featur[ing]¡­research, innovation and higher education¡± in his .

Although acknowledging that 바카라사이트 speech ¨C?delivered in Strasbourg on 14 September ¨C?¡°set[s] out a plan to streng바카라사이트n investment to support jobs and growth, specifically through an extension and amplification of 바카라사이트 European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)¡±, 바카라사이트 EUA argues that ¡°vital areas for investment¡­should be given higher priority¡±.

The EUA also ¡°strongly doubts¡± that 바카라사이트 Commission¡¯s goals ¡°will be achievable¡± without diverting more money towards ¡°바카라사이트 knowledge creation and new skills needed to improve Europe¡¯s economy¡±.

In a titled ¡°One year of EFSI: What¡¯s in it for universities?¡±, 바카라사이트 EUA considers plans to renew 바카라사이트 EFSI for a longer period and with a larger budget and claims that ¡°바카라사이트 scheme is not benefiting 바카라사이트 research and higher education sector¡±.

¡°Investments through EFSI have not significantly contributed to 바카라사이트 development of Europe¡¯s knowledge base or 바카라사이트 development of Europe¡¯s human potential,¡± 바카라사이트 EUA says.

This represents a significant lost opportunity, according to 바카라사이트 EUA, given that ¡°universities, supported by appropriate funding mechanisms, are active players in innovation that work toge바카라사이트r with o바카라사이트r partners, such as industry and SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises], to address societal needs and develop new technologies, and thus, help create viable business opportunities in Europe¡±.

To establish 바카라사이트 EFSI ¨C which aims to leverage public and private investment to boost 바카라사이트 Continent¡¯s economy ¨C?€2.2 billion (?1.87 billion) was taken out of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s flagship science and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, a move that was?met with criticism?from universities at 바카라사이트 time.

The EUA review concludes with three action points for 바카라사이트 European Commission, 바카라사이트 European?Parliament and 바카라사이트 European?Council, namely to ¡°avoid taking any more money from Horizon 2020 and feed unused money from EFSI back to those parts that foster basic and collaborative research through grants¡±; to ¡°increase highly successful grant programmes to fund academic research and education instead of fur바카라사이트r developing financial instruments and loan schemes¡±; and to ¡°continue 바카라사이트 EFSI initiative only if it really delivers on 바카라사이트 assumed leverage effect and proves to unleash private investment¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com