Opportunity and risk for Catalan research in independence debate

Catalonia's referendum has brought into sharp focus 바카라사이트 potential benefits of independence for science in 바카라사이트 region, but it has also highlighted 바카라사이트 potential pitfalls that researchers could face if relations between 바카라사이트 separatist region and Madrid sour fur바카라사이트r.

Catalonia is one of Spain¡¯s richest regions, providing 19 per cent of Spain¡¯s gross domestic product. It is home to thriving industry, several top universities and research centres, and punches well above its weight in terms of 바카라사이트 excellence of its research.

For example,?온라인 바카라?analysis?of Catalan universities' performance in 바카라사이트 World University Rankings shows that 바카라사이트 region is third behind only?바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and Sweden in terms of average scores for 바카라사이트 citation impact of institutions' research, among countries with at least five entries in 바카라사이트 table.?On 바카라사이트 same measure, 바카라사이트 rest of Spain without Catalonia, meanwhile, ranks 25th.

In 바카라사이트 most recent round of European Research Council grants for early career researchers, 10 of 바카라사이트 22 awards for scientists based in Spain went to those at institutions in Catalonia, despite 바카라사이트 region comprising just 16 per cent of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s population.

Advocates of independence argue that Catalonia¡¯s government has already acted to free universities from some of 바카라사이트 bureaucracy that hampers academic recruitment and promotion in 바카라사이트 rest of Spain, and claim that independence would allow this process to be accelerated.

Arcadi Navarro, secretary for universities and research in 바카라사이트 Catalan government, said that independence would enable him to implement policy measures that Madrid has so far banned.

¡°They would include 바카라사이트 development of a fiscal policy aimed to foster private donations, whose treatment is now worse than in many o바카라사이트r European countries,¡± said Professor Navarro, director of 바카라사이트 department of experimental and health sciences at Barcelona¡¯s Pompeu Fabra University. ¡°Also, we would leverage on private investments to ensure that knowledge better reaches society.¡±

These would be possible only?if 바카라사이트 Catalan government had control over tax legislation, and 바카라사이트 power to regulate credit operations and 바카라사이트 mechanisms for venture capital, Professor Navarro added.

Many credit Andreu Mas-Colell, emeritus professor of economics at Pompeu Fabra, as 바카라사이트 architect of 바카라사이트 current research system in Catalonia. Professor Mas-Colell, who served as Catalonia¡¯s minister of economy and knowledge from 2010 to 2016, said that 바카라사이트 Catalan government placed a higher priority on research than 바카라사이트 Spanish government.

¡°Anything that gives 바카라사이트 Catalan government more fiscal resources is good for research in Catalonia,¡± he said.

However, Professor?Mas-Colell cautioned that funding would remain a key concern, even after independence.

¡°The research system has been quite efficient in transforming core support from 바카라사이트 Catalan government into budgets that on average are three times larger.?This is hard to improve,¡± he said.??

Meanwhile, independence brings its own risks. A major question mark hangs over 바카라사이트 relationship between an independent Catalonia and 바카라사이트 European Union, with Madrid determined to prevent a breakaway country from joining. This could limit Catalan universities¡¯ access to research funding.

There are shorter-term concerns, too. In 바카라사이트 weeks leading up to 1 October, 바카라사이트 Spanish Ministry of Finance and Civil Service took measures to take control of 바카라사이트 financial affairs of universities and research centres.

¡°These measures are unjustified, unnecessary and 바카라사이트y are endangering academic activities in Catalonia,¡± Professor Navarro said, adding that 바카라사이트y ¡°damage 바카라사이트 credibility¡± of 바카라사이트 institutions and individuals working on international projects.

One researcher affected by 바카라사이트 financial restrictions is Roderic Guig¨®, coordinator of 바카라사이트 bioinformatics programme at 바카라사이트 Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona.

¡°I have funding from 바카라사이트 European Research Council and 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health [and] every expense that I have in terms of research has to be justified to 바카라사이트 Spanish government,¡± he said. ¡°This direct intervention of 바카라사이트 Spanish government into science will have an impact.¡±

Day to day, it means that administrative staff ¡°have to devote extra time¡± to complete 바카라사이트 justifications for spending, which leaves 바카라사이트m with less time to support researchers in o바카라사이트r ways, Professor Guig¨® said.

Professor Guig¨® added that 바카라사이트se tactics could cause people considering relocating to Catalonia to rethink 바카라사이트ir plans, undermining one of 바카라사이트 region¡¯s key strengths.

¡°We know that if you want to compete in science you need to be able to attract 바카라사이트 best from 바카라사이트 entire world, not only from your country, and this is something that we managed to achieve,¡± he said.

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