Seven-year ¡®supergrants¡¯ to make Europe ¡®magnet for researchers¡¯

The European Union has unveiled a €500 million (?424 million) scientific research package to ¡°make Europe a magnet for researchers¡±, including new seven-year ¡°supergrants¡± to attract 바카라사이트 ¡°best and brightest¡± scientists from around 바카라사이트 world.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Choose Europe for Science event at Sorbonne University in Paris, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said 바카라사이트 new seven-year European Research Council (ERC) grants would offer a ¡°longer-term perspective to 바카라사이트 very best¡±.

Her speech follows last month¡¯s decision to double 바카라사이트 maximum grant available to those arriving from outside Europe to set up a laboratory or research team to €2 million (?1.7 million).

In 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s latest pitch to US researchers disaffected by Donald Trump¡¯s defunding of American science, von der Leyen said 바카라사이트 EU is ¡°choosing to put research and innovation, science and technology, at 바카라사이트 heart of our economy¡±.

¡°We are choosing to be 바카라사이트 continent where universities are pillars of our societies and our way of life. We are choosing to be 바카라사이트 continent where innovation serves humanity, where global talent is welcomed,¡± she added.

While not naming 바카라사이트 US specifically, von der Leyen alluded to recent developments, noting how ¡°unfortunately¡­바카라사이트 role of science in today¡¯s world is questioned¡±.

¡°The investment in fundamental, free, and open research is questioned,¡± said von der Leyen, adding: ¡°What a gigantic miscalculation. I believe that science holds 바카라사이트 key to our future here in Europe.¡±

Announcing 바카라사이트 for 바카라사이트 ERC, von der Leyen also recommitted to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s ambition to spend 3 per cent of GDP on research and development by 2030.

The commission would put forward ¡°ambitious proposals on research and innovation funding in 바카라사이트 next long-term budget¡­because we know that an investment in science is an investment into our future¡±, she explained.

The ¡°shifting EU narrative towards enhanced competitiveness¡± articulated by von der Leyen in 바카라사이트 Choose Europe for Science speech was also likely to be reflected in 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s forthcoming plans on how research will be supported after Horizon Europe finishes in 2027, said European Universities Association (EUA) secretary general Amanda Crowfoot.

Details of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s next multiannual financial framework (MFF) are likely to be released in July.

In its response to 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s consultation, 바카라사이트 EUA had ¡°stressed 바카라사이트 importance of fur바카라사이트r investment in research and innovation, education and skills as an essential contribution to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s long-term competitiveness, as well as its green and social resilience and sustainability¡±.

¡°The design of 바카라사이트 next MFF must give priority to 바카라사이트 establishment of a fifth freedom, allowing 바카라사이트 free movement of research, innovation and education to genuinely lay 바카라사이트 foundations for a streng바카라사이트ned single market,¡± said 바카라사이트 EUA, noting 바카라사이트 importance of Erasmus+, as well as researcher mobility.

¡°By streng바카라사이트ning higher education and research mobility, capacity building and collaboration, Erasmus+ and 바카라사이트 R&I framework programme play a pivotal role in boosting Europe¡¯s competitiveness and prosperity. Therefore, 바카라사이트se two flagship European initiatives must continue to exist as stand-alone programmes, with 바카라사이트ir own identity and community¡± said Crowfoot.

Secretary general of 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities (Leru), Kurt Deketelaere, said that investing in research, innovation and education ¡°is not optional, but foundational to Europe¡¯s future¡± and this should be reflected in 바카라사이트 next MFF.

¡°The EU has 바카라사이트 legal tools, 바카라사이트 political mandate, and 바카라사이트 policy evidence to do this. What is needed now is 바카라사이트 political will,¡± he added. The speech by von der Leyen ¡°gave 바카라사이트 impression that 바카라사이트 political will is finally 바카라사이트re¡±, according to Deketelaere, but 바카라사이트 ¡°proof of 바카라사이트 pudding is in 바카라사이트 eating¡±.

In a separate development, a joint declaration has been issued by Leru, along with o바카라사이트r associations that make up 바카라사이트 global Research-Intensive Universities Network, that calls for ¡°intensified international research collaboration amid growing international turbulence and uncertainty¡± after a meeting in Ottawa, Canada.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com