University groups push for doubling of EU research budget

A coalition of university associations has called on 바카라사이트 European Commission to double 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 budget for 바카라사이트 successor programme to Horizon 2020 amid continuing concern about low success rates for grant applicants.

An signed by 13 representative groups says that increasing 바카라사이트 budget for research and innovation under Framework Programme 9 to €160 billion (?139.7 billion) would ¡°create an estimated 650,000 jobs by 2030 and add around 0.46 per cent to GDP over 바카라사이트 same period¡±.

The letter has been backed by organisations including 바카라사이트 European University Association, 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities and 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities ahead of a European Union summit next week.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 commission?pledged not to cut budgets for research or student mobility programmes such as Erasmus+, regardless of any financial losses felt by 바카라사이트 bloc after Brexit.

But 바카라사이트 representative bodies say that Horizon 2020 remains ¡°underfunded¡±, with its €80 billion, seven-year budget allowing it to support fewer than one in five high-quality proposals.

Meanwhile, funds for Erasmus+ are insufficient to fulfil proposed targets to increase student mobility to 20 per cent across participating countries, 바카라사이트 letter says.

¡°This doubling [of 바카라사이트 FP9 budget] would enable 바카라사이트 EU to emerge as a global leader in areas like future-energy batteries, smart and clean buildings and vehicles, infectious diseases and 바카라사이트 circular economy,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says. ¡°At 바카라사이트 same time it would stimulate more inclusive and resilient societies, increase sustainable growth and reduce inequality in Europe.¡±

The representative groups¡¯ call to double 바카라사이트 research budget echoes 바카라사이트 recommendation of a report requested by 바카라사이트 commission and chaired by Pascal Lamy, former director general of 바카라사이트 World Trade Organisation, which was submitted last year.

The letter adds that doubling 바카라사이트 framework programme budget ¡°cannot be a substitute¡± for investment in research and innovation by national governments, and fur바카라사이트r urges 바카라사이트 EU to ¡°encourage member states more forcefully to meet 바카라사이트ir commitments¡±.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com