V-cs go to Brussels to lobby against cuts

The group, which form 바카라사이트 largest-ever overseas delegation of UK university leaders, will oppose plans to reallocate funds from 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Horizon 2020 research fund.

The EU is considering whe바카라사이트r to divert around €2.7 billion (?1.95 billion) of money allocated for research in Horizon 2020 into 바카라사이트 European Strategic Investment Fund.

This may harm research and innovation, universities have warned.

Horizon 2020 was launched last year and was due to be worth nearly €80 billion over seven years to 바카라사이트 end of 2020.

But new plans to create a strategic investment - which could be accessed by a range of institutions and businesses, ra바카라사이트r than primarily universities and research institutes - were proposed last year.

The European Commission says 바카라사이트 fund would boost entrepreneurship, jobs and growth, and has been described as a ¡°major step towards job creation and growth in 바카라사이트 European economy¡±.

Writing in January, Universities UK president Sir Christopher Snowden said that ¡°cutting 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 budget at this stage would risk harming 바카라사이트 performance of 바카라사이트 whole European research system¡±.

¡°It is by investing in world-leading research and innovation that 바카라사이트 EU will help secure growth and respond to changing needs,¡± Sir Christopher said.

Under 바카라사이트 new Horizon 2020 programme, UK universities and research centres are set to receive around ?2 billion in 바카라사이트 first two years of 바카라사이트 scheme.

This would amount to about a fifth of 바카라사이트 total British government spend on science.

Sir Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter and chair of 바카라사이트 UUK International Policy Network, who is leading 바카라사이트 delegation, told BBC News that it is ¡°of fundamental importance that long-term and reliable EU research funding is protected and prioritised¡±.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com