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Helmholtz Calls for More Attractive Widening Programme in Framework Programme 10

Helmholtz Calls for More Attractive Widening Programme in Framework Programme 10

The EU's next framework research programme should continue funding projects aimed at bridging Europe's research and innovation gap, Germany's largest research organisation said in a paper highlighting their priorities for the successor of Horizon Europe.

The European Research Council Has Changed How It Evaluates Applicants. Here's Why...

The European Research Council Has Changed How It Evaluates Applicants. Here's Why...

The European Research Council (ERC) introduced a more inclusive application form for applicants this year to give researchers on all career pathways a fair chance to demonstrate their excellence.

Europe Must Urgently Invest in Defence Technologies, Says Ursula Von Der Leyen

Europe Must Urgently Invest in Defence Technologies, Says Ursula Von Der Leyen

"There is no room for any more illusions," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said as she called for the bloc to get serious about its defence on Wednesday. Ongoing geopolitical tensions require "a new European defence mindset from institutions to industries to investors," she told MEPs in Strasbourg ahead of a debate on strengthening European defence.

Framework Programme 10 Should Have a Stable and Predictable Budget, French Research Minister Says

Framework Programme 10 Should Have a Stable and Predictable Budget, French Research Minister Says

France's research minister Sylvie Retailleau is joining a growing chorus of politicians asking for an ironclad commitment from EU member states that the next framework research programme, FP10, will not have its budget taken to pieces to fund emerging priorities. "Science needs a multiannual plan that is predictible and has budgetary stability," Retailleau told Science|Business.

Why Stakeholders Are Sceptical About Lump Sum Funding

Why Stakeholders Are Sceptical About Lump Sum Funding

The introduction of lump sum funding to the EU funding landscape is gathering pace, but research organisations still lack confidence in the new less-strings-attached funding approach, despite its motive of reducing bureaucracy.

UK Offers EU Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence Policy and Copyright

UK Offers EU Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence Policy and Copyright

The UK's artificial intelligence minister has offered to work with the EU on regulation, and said that London would likely take an approach to copyright in AI that was "reasonably close" to Brussels.

The Digital and Green Transitions Are Not Parallel Processes but Transformations that Affect Each Other Deeply

The Digital and Green Transitions Are Not Parallel Processes but Transformations that Affect Each Other Deeply

In her State of the Union speech of 2023, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen underlined the fact that the European Green Deal is at the centre of the European economy and "unmatched in ambition".

Joint Push by Ivanova and EU Research Ministers for 'Stable' Budget

Joint Push by Ivanova and EU Research Ministers for 'Stable' Budget

At an informal meeting in Belgium, EU research ministers and research commissioner Iliana Ivanova agreed on the need to safeguard research funding, after €2.1 billion was cut from Horizon Europe.

Munich Security Conference: Technologies Increasingly Part of Global Power Politics

Munich Security Conference: Technologies Increasingly Part of Global Power Politics

For the first time, technology has been singled out as a flashpoint for global security. German science minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger will tell the conference she wants ‘increased action’ on research security.

EU Launches Joint Call with South Korea for Chips Research

EU Launches Joint Call with South Korea for Chips Research

The Chips joint undertaking, the EU public-private partnership which funds semiconductor research, has launched a call for collaborative research projects with South Korea. The call is one of three launched this week with a total EU budget of €216 million. "We are very happy to see the first joint call launched by Chips JU and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)," said Woohyun Cho, director general of the Korea-EU Research Centre in Brussels.

Polish Science 'Out from Shadow of Education' with Creation of Separate Ministry

Polish Science 'Out from Shadow of Education' with Creation of Separate Ministry

Polish scientists have welcomed the government's move to separate the Ministry of Education and Science into a Ministry of Science and Higher Education and a Ministry of National Education, saying that science had been "hidden in the shadow of education".

CERN Moves Ahead with Plans for New Particle Collider

CERN Moves Ahead with Plans for New Particle Collider

The CERN Council has completed the midterm review of a feasibility study for a new particle accelerator that is set to replace the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), marking another step towards building the Future Circular Collider (FCC).

Horizon Europe Budget to Be Cut by €2.1B, As Defence Research Gets a €1.5B Boost

Horizon Europe Budget to Be Cut by €2.1B, As Defence Research Gets a €1.5B Boost

Horizon Europe will have its €95.5 billion budget cut by €2.1 billion, with €1.5 billion diverted to defence research, following an agreement by EU heads of state at a meeting in Brussels today. The raid on the research programme's funding is part of a €64.6 billion rejig of the EU's multiannual budget, to accommodate the growing costs of supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The Successes and Shortcomings of Horizon 2020

The Successes and Shortcomings of Horizon 2020

The  Horizon 2020  programme  had a huge impact on the European economy, its scientific output, and on society, but was short on budget, needed simplification and should have included better support for women researchers and entrepreneurs.

EU Commission Launches Bid to Expand Funding of Dual-Use Research in Horizon Europe's Successor

EU Commission Launches Bid to Expand Funding of Dual-Use Research in Horizon Europe's Successor

The European Commission is proposing to allow technologies with both civil and defence applications to be funded in Framework Programme 10, in order to boost the EU's strategic autonomy.

Research and Technology Organisations Call for Balanced EU Approach to Research Security

Research and Technology Organisations Call for Balanced EU Approach to Research Security

EU's upcoming recommendations for tackling foreign interference in research must walk a fine line between protecting security and enabling international collaboration, research and technology organisations say.

Politics and Protests Puts Europe's Academic Freedom Policies Under the Spotlight

Politics and Protests Puts Europe's Academic Freedom Policies Under the Spotlight

The pressure for EU legislation to protect academic freedom ramped up towards the end of 2023 when the European Parliament's STOA panel for the future of science and technology set out its plan of action.  Amongst other measures, STOA is calling for a formal definition of academic freedom and a monitoring system to ensure these principles are enforced.

How to Make a European Research Framework Programme

How to Make a European Research Framework Programme

As the year draws to a close and 2024 comes into view, we're here to brief you on the preparations underway to shape Framework Programme 10 (FP10). FP10 doesn't start until 2028, but 2024 is going to be a big year for the next seven-year research programme, with the European Commission starting to pencil in the outline ahead of a comprehensive proposal in 2025.

Swiss Researchers Should Be Able to Apply for European Research Council Grants in 2024

Swiss Researchers Should Be Able to Apply for European Research Council Grants in 2024

The EU and Switzerland have made further progress in talks about their relationship, opening the door for Swiss academics to apply for European Research Council (ERC) grants from next year. On 15 December, Switzerland's ruling Federal Council signed off a draft negotiating mandate with the EU, paving the way for formal negotiations to start next year. That followed on from 18 months of exploratory talks about everything from food safety to financial markets.