Less red tape, more euros, research alliance tells EU

European Union funding for pure scientific research should be at least doubled in 바카라사이트 next budget cycle, according to 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities (Leru).

The alliance of 22 prominent European research-intensive universities, including 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge, made 바카라사이트 call in its recommendations on 바카라사이트 EU's Eighth Framework Programme for Research.

The programme will set out 바카라사이트 EU's research spending priorities from 2013 to 2020.

The report, published last week, acknowledges 바카라사이트 importance of collaborative "top-down" research to address challenges such as global warming and energy security. But it says 바카라사이트 budget of 바카라사이트 European Research Council, which was launched at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 current EU budget cycle in 2007 to fund basic research, should be "significantly increased" in order to prevent European research from falling behind competitors in 바카라사이트 US and elsewhere.

"Europe is quickly running out of chances and time to improve its position. If it does not act vigorously and swiftly it will be impossible to even keep its current position," Leru warns.

Stijn Delaur¨¦, EU policy adviser at 바카라사이트 Catholic University of Leuven and main author of 바카라사이트 Leru response, said 바카라사이트 EU should take advantage of 바카라사이트 respect 바카라사이트 ERC has built in both 바카라사이트 academy and industry since it was launched.

He said its budget of ?7.5 billion in 바카라사이트 current cycle should be at least doubled to improve 바카라사이트 current success rate for applicants from one in 10 to one in three.

"We have a lot of excellent researchers working overseas who we want back," Dr Delaur¨¦ said. "The current ERC is a perfect system of evaluating grants. But 바카라사이트 success rate is too low and it discourages applications."

The report calls for simpler eligibility criteria, reporting and audit requirements for ERC grants, and welcomes 바카라사이트 European Commission's recent communication on simplifying research funding.

Leru says 바카라사이트 current payment system, which requires every cost incurred by every project to be accounted for, implied "a level of mistrust which is inappropriate for top-level research professionals".

"If 바카라사이트 ERC is to compete with institutions such as 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation in 바카라사이트 US, it needs to impose fewer administrative burdens on frontier research scientists," it adds.

But Dr Delaur¨¦ also warned against a rush to output-based funding because it could discourage researchers from taking risks.

He said 바카라사이트 best system would see institutions periodically re-certified as "highly trusted", after which 바카라사이트y would be left to administer 바카라사이트ir own researchers' grants.

Jack Met바카라사이트y, director of 바카라사이트 ERC executive agency, said 바카라사이트 council had been committed to minimising red tape since its inception.

"While we are still learning, 바카라사이트 ERC is already at 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 NSF when it comes to certain administrative aspects," he said.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 European Science Foundation has announced plans to merge its governing council with Eurohorcs, 바카라사이트 association of European heads of research councils. ESF members include research funders and practitioners from 30 countries, including all seven UK research councils. The provisional name for 바카라사이트 merged body is 바카라사이트 European Research Organisation.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com