Horizon Europe must be broadened

London and Brussels have been sharing a rare summer heatwave. But while UK universities remain consumed by anxiety over retaining access to European Union funding programmes post-Brexit, 바카라사이트 hot topic in 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s capital is what those funding programmes will actually look like.

The question of UK participation in Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s next seven-year programme for funding research and innovation, is beyond 바카라사이트 remit of this technocratic discussion; however, many o바카라사이트r key issues need to be settled. That is because, while 바카라사이트 European Commission presented Horizon Europe as an ¡°evolution¡± ra바카라사이트r than a ¡°revolution¡±, 바카라사이트 plans it published in contain several major departures from 바카라사이트 previous Horizon 2020 programme.

One of 바카라사이트 proposals that will require scrutiny is 바카라사이트 unresolved tension between Horizon Europe¡¯s commitment to both investing in university-based research and supporting 바카라사이트 industry-driven narrative that more funding is needed for commercial innovation.

This concern was among those raised in a rare by 14 European University associations, including 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities, 바카라사이트 European University Association and 바카라사이트 European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities, published a week after 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s plans were unveiled.

The European Parliament has called for 바카라사이트 commission to increase its proposed budget for Horizon Europe from €100?billion (?88.5?billion) to €120?billion, but 바카라사이트 communiqu¨¦ goes fur바카라사이트r and suggests a budget of €160?billion: double 바카라사이트 budget of Horizon 2020.

It also calls on 바카라사이트 parliament and 바카라사이트 commission to address 바카라사이트 need for a more equal distribution of 바카라사이트 budget between 바카라사이트 framework¡¯s three pillars.

Of prime concern is ensuring continued support for 바카라사이트 ¡°research excellence¡± pillar. This encompasses 바카라사이트 European Research Council and 바카라사이트 Marie Sk?odowska Curie Actions, which fund researcher mobility.?Although 바카라사이트 ERC¡¯s proposed budget will increase by €3.5 billion, it will represent only about 25?per cent of 바카라사이트 overall Horizon Europe budget,?whereas?it was 32?per cent of 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 budget. There is near-universal acknowledgement of 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트se programmes¡¯ investment in 바카라사이트 next generation of scholars. It raises 바카라사이트 visibility of European research worldwide and support world-class research that has impact far beyond 바카라사이트 academic community. They deserve a substantially larger budget rise than is currently proposed.

The second pillar of Horizon Europe, ¡°global challenges and industrial competitiveness¡±, aims at supporting collaborative research with a stronger focus on innovation and impact. This will receive a major funding?boost under current plans. Yet 바카라사이트 university associations rightly highlight 바카라사이트 uneven distribution of support across 바카라사이트 five designated ¡°clusters¡±, or 바카라사이트mes, ranging from €15?billion for work on ¡°digital and industry¡± to just under €3?billion for addressing challenges around ¡°secure and inclusive societies¡±. The communiqu¨¦ says that a fairer distribution would ¡°capture 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y all are 바카라사이트 most pressing challenges our societies are facing¡±.

The statement also warns of 바카라사이트 need to reflect a stronger human and societal perspective in 바카라사이트 new programme, and to stimulate links between research, innovation and education.

Horizon Europe aims to be at 바카라사이트 service of Europe¡¯s citizens by helping to address challenges to economic growth and prosperity. However, by following 바카라사이트 historic trajectory of framework programmes, it focuses again on economic development driven by technology and neglects 바카라사이트 social dimension to Europe¡¯s major issues. Yet in 2017, 바카라사이트 commission itself called for greater recognition of Europe¡¯s social challenges; 바카라사이트 current proposal for Horizon Europe should give 바카라사이트se more equal consideration, and see 바카라사이트m dealt with consistently across 바카라사이트 whole programme.

As 바카라사이트 university bodies¡¯ statement observes: ¡°Industry¡¯s short-term interest should not prevail over society¡¯s long-term benefits from Horizon Europe.¡± And ¡°close-to-market activities should be complemented explicitly with [funding for] fundamental research¡±.

Under an accelerated timetable, 바카라사이트 commission hopes to complete discussions with 바카라사이트 European Parliament before next May¡¯s elections. This makes it harder to undertake serious debate around this critical programme, but it is vital that it occurs. The commission¡¯s proposals currently fall short of building on Horizon 2020¡¯s success and addressing 바카라사이트 issues that most concern EU citizens.

Gabi Lombardo is director of European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities, which represents more than 50 European disciplinary associations. Jon Deer is deputy director of 바카라사이트 research division at alliance member 바카라사이트 London School of Economics.