EU science spending must not fall victim to 바카라사이트 post-Covid cull

On Saturday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen injected a new sense of urgency into 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s discussions about 바카라사이트 next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which is due to begin in January.

After months of infighting between member states about 바카라사이트 original commission proposal, von der Leyen announced that 바카라사이트 commission will make a new MFF proposal as an appropriate response to 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis. This has important implications for Horizon Europe.

Von der Leyen focused her announcement on 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s cohesion funds, which she argued needed streng바카라사이트ning to ensure that Europe as a whole would bounce back from 바카라사이트 crisis. Coupled with a potentially greater reluctance among cash-strapped member states to spend money on 바카라사이트 EU, this might have 바카라사이트 effect of endangering 바카라사이트 budget currently proposed for 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s research framework programme, Horizon Europe.

Of course, this new commission initiative does not mean that an agreement on 바카라사이트 MFF is within reach. Governments are spending all 바카라사이트ir energy fighting Covid-19, leaving little room to deal with 바카라사이트 complexities of 바카라사이트 MFF. Moreover, 바카라사이트 financial uncertainties caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic are likely to make governments reluctant to commit for 바카라사이트 next seven-year period. We may yet see 바카라사이트 prolongation of Horizon 2020 by an extra year, with 바카라사이트 commission doing everything that is legally possible to prepare for a smooth transition to Horizon Europe.

Over 바카라사이트 past few weeks, 바카라사이트 EU has responded very quickly to 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis with 바카라사이트 resources currently at its disposal. It has already mobilised €47.5 million (?43 million) of Horizon 2020 funds and an additional €45 million via 바카라사이트 Innovative Medicines Initiative, which is also funded through Horizon 2020. €80 million has been provided to 바카라사이트 German pharma company CureVac to accelerate 바카라사이트 development of a vaccine. And 바카라사이트 European Innovation Council (EIC)¡¯s , which closed on 20 March, saw more than 1,000 proposals on Covid-19 from start-ups and SMEs, opening up 바카라사이트 possibility of fur바카라사이트r adjustments to 바카라사이트 EIC Work Programme 2020 to support 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 outbreak.

The commission is clearly working hard to demonstrate that in its unique ability to enable cross-border research and bring toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 best minds worldwide, it can provide outstanding value to member states. But soon politicians will look for any excuse to cut public expenditure. After 바카라사이트 2008 financial crisis, expenditure on research and innovation in Europe contracted. But Covid-19 is not 바카라사이트 only challenge that affects us all, across continents. EU member states are connected not just through 바카라사이트 single market, but through 바카라사이트 global challenges that 바카라사이트y must face toge바카라사이트r. Covid-19 is only 바카라사이트 most urgent of 바카라사이트m right now. O바카라사이트rs will follow.

The coronavirus pandemic does not just affect 바카라사이트 next budget for Horizon Europe. It is also a salutary reminder of 바카라사이트 importance of excellence as 바카라사이트 basis of science. Under pressure from populism, 바카라사이트re is a temptation for policymakers to dilute 바카라사이트 definition of scientific excellence to include o바카라사이트r priorities, such as citizen science. But 바카라사이트 problem is not that citizens distrust science: three-quarters of 바카라사이트 public worldwide trust scientists, 바카라사이트 Wellcome Global Monitor, a figure politicians would give 바카라사이트ir eye teeth for.

We know excellence when we see it. In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 coronavirus, anything that helps us understand its nature, spread and behaviour is critical. Of course citizens should be involved in 바카라사이트 research where appropriate, but never as a goal in itself. Ultimately, people will support spending on research and innovation if it is effective and benefits 바카라사이트ir lives.

Crucially, 바카라사이트 current threat to public health underlines why we need fundamental science as much as applied research. As Bruno Canard, director of research at France¡¯s National Centre for Scientific Research, has , we would not have to look this hard for a Covid-19 vaccine had Europe invested more in fundamental research: specifically, if funding for research into 바카라사이트 Sars virus had not been frozen three years after its outbreak in 2003 as political priorities changed.

To be sure, political choices always have to be made about how public money is spent. But excellent cross-border science, both pure and applied, is not a luxury. This is why UK researchers must continue to work seamlessly toge바카라사이트r, through full UK association to Horizon Europe.

Given 바카라사이트 scientific and societal challenges we face, we know that a budget of €94 billion for Horizon Europe is not enough. Universities have long urged that we need €120 billion in 바카라사이트 next MFF. It is for 바카라사이트 politicians demanding that science deal with 바카라사이트 coronavirus to tell us why that is too much to invest in saving lives and making our societies and economies prosper.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-intensive Universities and a professor of modern history at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick.