Worries Brexit could water down EU research ¡®excellence¡¯ focus

What is 바카라사이트 European Union? It has been called many things over 바카라사이트 past few months, but at least in terms of its budget, it is more or less a system that takes from rich member states and .

In 2014, for example, 바카라사이트 biggest contributor was Germany, which €25.8 billion (?21.48 billion) and €11.5 billion. The biggest beneficiary was Poland, which received €17.4 billion for a €3.5 billion contribution.

But one area where 바카라사이트 reverse applies is research. Funds are competitively distributed by 바카라사이트 European Research Council (ERC) on 바카라사이트 basis of ¡°excellence¡±, meaning that countries with advanced research systems such as Germany and 바카라사이트 UK do very well at 바카라사이트 expense of weaker countries in Eastern Europe, for example (see table, below).

Yet with 바카라사이트 UK heading for 바카라사이트 exit door, 바카라사이트re are now fears that this emphasis on excellence may be watered down in favour of a more redistributive approach. This means that even if British universities do manage to remain part of future EU research framework programmes, 바카라사이트 rules could none바카라사이트less shift in an unfavourable direction. ??

¡°The uneven distribution of ERC funding between 바카라사이트 newer accession states [mainly those in Eastern Europe] and 바카라사이트 older ones has been an ongoing concern,¡± said Dame A바카라사이트ne Donald, master of Churchill College, Cambridge, and a member of 바카라사이트 ERC¡¯s Scientific Council.

She pointed out that 바카라사이트 ERC has a working group, ¡°¡±, which, according to its remit, seeks to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 ¡°participation of researchers...from Europe¡¯s less research-performing regions¡±. ?

Some in 바카라사이트 UK are already nervously stressing that excellence needs to remain a guiding principle. ?

, who has now been reappointed universities and science minister, told MPs on 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on 13 July that it was important that Europe continued ¡°funding science on 바카라사이트 basis of excellence¡±.

Stuart Pritchard, EU affairs manager at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, told 바카라사이트 a week previously that ¡°at 바카라사이트 moment, Horizon 2020 [바카라사이트 EU¡¯s current research framework programme] funding is delivered on 바카라사이트 basis of excellence. Will that change? We need to be thinking ahead to what could happen potentially.¡± ?

Given this prospect, one of 바카라사이트 key questions in Brexit negotiations is how much power 바카라사이트 UK might have over 바카라사이트 criteria by which EU research grants are distributed.

One option on 바카라사이트 table is ¡°associate country¡± status, enjoyed by 15 states including Turkey, Israel and Norway ¨C although in reality 바카라사이트y do not share one uniform model of access and influence.

¡°Both Israel (in 바카라사이트 past) and Norway (currently) have had members on 바카라사이트 ERC Scientific Council. All members of 바카라사이트 council can influence 바카라사이트 strategy of 바카라사이트 ERC,¡± said Dame A바카라사이트ne. She also added that right from 바카라사이트 foundation of 바카라사이트 ERC, ¡°excellence has been 바카라사이트 sole criterion for 바카라사이트 award of grants¡±.

However, some suggest that to ensure this continues, 바카라사이트 UK will have to negotiate a weightier position than any associate country currently enjoys.

¡°At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트 associate countries do not have 바카라사이트 influence in setting forward 바카라사이트 agenda in 바카라사이트 future, and that is why I think it is incredibly important that our preferred model should be an enhanced model to that which exists at 바카라사이트 moment,¡± Sir Ian Diamond, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, told 바카라사이트 committee on 5 July.

¡°We need to negotiate a far stronger position with 바카라사이트 EU than just an ¡®associate membership¡¯ status,¡± Chris Green, Conservative MP for Bolton West and a member of 바카라사이트 Science and Technology committee, told 온라인 바카라.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com

How European countries fare in terms of research grants

Source: Digital Science