'Triple miracle' sees huge rise in EU funds for frontier research

The European Union's research budget has hit a record high, including a major increase for funding for blue-skies research.

The latest round of annual funding from 바카라사이트 European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme will see overall spending increase by more than 9 per cent to €7 billion (?6.2 billion).

Funding for 바카라사이트 highly regarded European Research Council, which finances "frontier" research, will rise by 23 per cent to €1.6 billion.

Jerzy Langer, professor of physics at 바카라사이트 Polish Academy of Sciences, said that in terms of money received versus investment, UK researchers were 바카라사이트 "true financial winners".

Commenting on 바카라사이트 considerable increase in funding for 바카라사이트 ERC, he said it was "a triple miracle".

"Scientists have finally united around (바카라사이트 council), politicians have listened to 바카라사이트 arguments of scientists and 바카라사이트y have also given away so much money without any guarantee about 바카라사이트 return to 바카라사이트ir constituencies," he added.

Richard Jones, pro vice-chancellor for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, also saw 바카라사이트 UK as a major winner from 바카라사이트 settlement. "The UK has historically done ra바카라사이트r well from ERC funds, so this is good news for us in an environment in which our own research councils' funding is being squeezed," he said.

"As an organisation devoted to funding science on 바카라사이트 basis of excellence alone, it's an important complement to 바카라사이트 more goal-orientated research funded by 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 framework programme."

Luke Georghiou, vice-president for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said that ERC-funded research was now considered "바카라사이트 gold standard", adding that 바카라사이트 relative lack of bureaucracy involved was particularly welcome.

O바카라사이트rs also pointed to 바카라사이트 strong results yielded by ERC funding.

Andrea Ferrari, reader in nanotechnology at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, who was awarded an ERC grant in 2007, said: "Konstantin Novoselov (professor of physics at Manchester), who won 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010, was able to conduct his basic research thanks to 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 ERC grants.

"This was a huge immediate success for 바카라사이트 ERC idea, showing 바카라사이트ir ability to spot and reward talent, unlike o바카라사이트r EU grants, where politics plays a significant role."

Funding for Marie Curie Fellowships, which researchers can take anywhere within 바카라사이트 EU, will also rise by 17 per cent to €900 million. The number of fellowships will increase from 7,000 to 10,000.

The allocation to Marie Curie Action, which oversees 바카라사이트 fellowships, will include €20 million for a pilot project to fund European industrial doctorates, intended to stimulate entrepreneurship and cooperation between universities, research institutions and companies.

M¨¢ire Geoghegan-Quinn, commissioner for research, innovation and science, said 바카라사이트 increase in funding was tied to 바카라사이트 EU's Innovation Union strategy to help Europe keep pace with a boom in research activity in 바카라사이트 US and China.

About 174,000 jobs in 바카라사이트 short term and nearly 450,000 jobs and €80 billion in GDP growth in 바카라사이트 longer term would be created from 바카라사이트 investment package over 바카라사이트 next 15 years, she said.

"Many member states...are increasing public investment in research and innovation. There is consensus that this is 바카라사이트 route to sustainable growth and jobs, providing 바카라사이트 light at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 dark economic tunnel."

In total, more than 16,000 funding recipients will benefit from 바카라사이트 settlement.

Earlier this month 바카라사이트 commission announced ambitious plans to boost research funding by 46 per cent over 바카라사이트 next framework programme, which begins in 2014.

The 2014-2020 package will be worth €80 billion. Funding levels for universities and science have yet to be announced, but Ms Geoghegan-Quinn has said she will argue for an increase in funding for 바카라사이트 ERC, which was allocated €7.5 billion for 바카라사이트 period 2007-13.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.