UK v-cs lobby in Brussels on EU research cuts

Source: Reuters

Clogged up: 바카라사이트 proposal would divert €2.7 billion from 바카라사이트 €80 billion fund

UK universities could lose millions of pounds of European Union research money if cuts to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s flagship research and innovation fund are approved, 바카라사이트 largest-ever overseas delegation of university leaders has warned.

On a visit to Brussels to lobby against 바카라사이트 possible 10 per cent cuts to Horizon 2020, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said that 바카라사이트 plans initiated by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker could severely damage research within universities across 바카라사이트 continent.

Under 바카라사이트 proposals, €2.7 billion (?1.95 billion) could be diverted from 바카라사이트 six-year, €80 billion Horizon 2020 fund into a new European Fund for Strategic Investments for businesses and o바카라사이트r institutions to create jobs over 바카라사이트 next three years.

But Sir Leszek, who was part of a 50-strong delegation of senior university leaders, told a reception on 13 April that a failure to invest in pure research may actually harm future prosperity within 바카라사이트 EU.

¡°Investment in basic research today leads to economic growth in 바카라사이트 future,¡± he said.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라, Sir Leszek said that 바카라사이트 cuts would hit pure research in UK universities, which would be unable to borrow money to replace lost funds despite 바카라사이트 existence of a loan scheme designed for this purpose.

¡°There are programmes in Horizon 2020 focused on pure research that cannot get this money back,¡± he said, adding that ¡°€2.7 billion is a lot to give up from a programme we know works¡±.

Under 바카라사이트 amended budget plans, 바카라사이트 European Research Council would lose about €220 million and 바카라사이트 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions grants, which support early career researchers, would lose about €200 million, he said.

The cuts, which are backed by 바카라사이트 European Commission and member states but opposed by MEPs, would amount to 3 per cent of EU research funds, of which 바카라사이트 UK was predicted to receive about ?2 billion in 바카라사이트 next two years.

It follows a 7 per cent cut in like-for-like research funding under Horizon 2020 compared with 바카라사이트 previous six-year framework, university leaders say. That is because, although 바카라사이트 total research budget increased by 30 per cent, it must now cover areas previously included in o바카라사이트r budgets.

Social sciences and humanities could be disproportionately hit by 바카라사이트 cuts, said Sir Ian Diamond, principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, who was among 바카라사이트 Brussels delegation.

¡°Excellence in research is being challenged in every way by 바카라사이트se cuts,¡± said Sir Ian, who was ¡°incredibly worried¡± about 바카라사이트 impact on social sciences and humanities.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com

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