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European Universities Brace for Mountain of Bureaucracy After US National Institutes of Health Changes the Rules

European Universities Brace for Mountain of Bureaucracy After US National Institutes of Health Changes the Rules

European universities and research institutes say rule changes by the US's main health research funder will force them to hire staff to deal with vast amounts of new paperwork, potentially delaying projects and weakening transatlantic collaboration.

Swiss Expect to Wait Until at Least 2025 for Association After UK Horizon Europe Deal

Swiss Expect to Wait Until at Least 2025 for Association After UK Horizon Europe Deal

Swiss university leaders expect to have to wait until at least 2025 before associating to Horizon Europe after the UK struck a deal with Brussels last week. Switzerland, like the UK, has been excluded due to wider political disagreements with the EU. But while the UK solved its dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol in February this year, Switzerland hasn't even formally re-started talks with Brussels that could pave the way for association.

How the UK and EU Did a Deal over Horizon Europe

How the UK and EU Did a Deal over Horizon Europe

The UK now has guarantees that it won't have to make more than a 16% net contribution to Horizon Europe, according to UK and EU sources, a reassurance that has allowed today's deal to go ahead. Since February, negotiators have been locked in discussions over a technical part of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), agreed back in 2020 setting out post-Brexit relations, including what the UK will pay for association.

Ivanova's To-do List: Time to Lay the Foundations for the Next EU Research Programme

Ivanova's To-do List: Time to Lay the Foundations for the Next EU Research Programme

Pending Parliament's approval, Iliana Ivanova will take the reins as commissioner for research, innovation and education later this month. With European elections due in June 2024, interest groups in Brussels now want her to look beyond what will be a short tenure and focus on the first phases of shaping the next EU research framework programme, due to start in 2028.

US Extends Science and Technology Agreement with China, Buying Time to Renegotiate the Deal

US Extends Science and Technology Agreement with China, Buying Time to Renegotiate the Deal

The US has extended a historic science and technology agreement (STA) with China by six months, but now needs to renegotiate the deal to mollify concerns that it aids Beijing's technological and military rise and fails to ensure a reciprocal research relationship. 

Work on Creating a Single European Market for Research Enters the Next Phase

Work on Creating a Single European Market for Research Enters the Next Phase

Work has started on the 2025 - 2027 policy agenda of the European Commission's ERA Forum for Transition, the expert group set up to shape the European Research Area (ERA) and create a borderless, single market for research, science and technology.

Universities of Applied Sciences Are Shaping Up to Boost EU Research Outputs

Universities of Applied Sciences Are Shaping Up to Boost EU Research Outputs

There's a new player in Horizon Europe - the universities of applied sciences (UAS), a broad term for second tier higher education institutes such as polytechnics, regional colleges and institutes of technology that were set up as teaching-only bodies but which over time have moved into research. Given their roots, UAS were historically left out of the EU's research programmes but are slowly improving their standing as EU-funded research becomes more policy-heavy and market-oriented.

Commission's Research Directorate to Develop a New Artificial Intelligence in Science Policy

Commission's Research Directorate to Develop a New Artificial Intelligence in Science Policy

The European Commission is to add a new unit with a brief to set down guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in science, according to a leak on the upcoming restructuring of the research and innovation directorate general, DG RTD.

Back to School: What's on the European Research and Innovation Policy Agenda This Autumn

Back to School: What's on the European Research and Innovation Policy Agenda This Autumn

After a summer of fun, the EU research and policy bubble is back in business and bracing for a busy run up to Christmas: a new research commissioner, negotiations on the EU's ambitions to be a leader in critical technologies and (hopefully) a much-anticipated final sprint for UK association to Horizon Europe.

Bans, Flagships, and a Green Pivot: The State of EU-China Research Relations

Bans, Flagships, and a Green Pivot: The State of EU-China Research Relations

China's involvement in Horizon Europe is becoming increasingly restricted to environment-focused and basic research, but is still holding up despite geopolitical headwinds and the disruption to face-to-face contact caused by the pandemic.

Shortage of Funding and Lack of Scale Are Holding Back EU Industrial Policy

Shortage of Funding and Lack of Scale Are Holding Back EU Industrial Policy

Since March 2020 the European Commission has been making moves to improve Europe’s industrial competitiveness. Experts say things are moving in the right direction, but warn there is not enough money or enough focus on scaling up.

European Universities Need a Fine-grained Approach to Economic Security Risks

European Universities Need a Fine-grained Approach to Economic Security Risks

The newly launched European Economic Security Strategy aims to address Europe's economic vulnerabilities at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. Among other objectives it sets out to better define technologies that are critical for Europe, or which have potential dual civil and military use.

EU Proposal on Research Careers Seen As a Step in Right Direction, but Falling Short on Ambition

EU Proposal on Research Careers Seen As a Step in Right Direction, but Falling Short on Ambition

The European Commission's long-awaited proposal to improve career pathways for researchers put forward last week is viewed an important step in the right direction, but advocates want to see more ambition and political pressure to usher in change.

EU Commission Announces Plan to Improve Working Conditions for Young Researchers

EU Commission Announces Plan to Improve Working Conditions for Young Researchers

The European Commission has announced three new measures aimed at improving career paths and working conditions for young researchers in the European Research Area (ERA). The proposal, put forward today by the Commission, includes a new European framework for research careers, a new charter for researchers and a new European competence framework for researchers.

Researching the Future: Head of the EU Research Directorate Has a Plan for Shaping the 2028 - 2034 Framework Programme 10

Researching the Future: Head of the EU Research Directorate Has a Plan for Shaping the 2028 - 2034 Framework Programme 10

Marc Lemaître, recently installed as head of the EU research directorate, is ready to lead the charge as the European Commission starts laying the foundations for the next Framework research programme. 

Spanish EU Presidency to Spearhead Strategic Direction for Research and Innovation Policy

Spanish EU Presidency to Spearhead Strategic Direction for Research and Innovation Policy

Europe, closer: with that statement of intent Spain has kicked off its six-month stint leading the EU. For science this means a focus on expanding the reach of research and innovation and at the same time advancing with North Africa and Latin America.

The Security Crackdown by Canadian Government is Hampering Research Collaboration with China

The Security Crackdown by Canadian Government is Hampering Research Collaboration with China

The Canadian government's stepped up security for foreign research collaborations has created a climate of fear in which some scientists have stopped submitting grant applications and others have quietly severed ties with collaborators in China.

Brussels' Research Bubble Has High Hopes for New Commissioner Nominee

Brussels' Research Bubble Has High Hopes for New Commissioner Nominee

Research policy experts are breathing a sigh of relief that Brussels is about to get a new research commissioner who has credentials suggesting she's up to the task, after the European Commission president picked Iliana Ivanova to take over the running of the EU's €95.5 billion Horizon Europe R&D programme. Ivanova is a Bulgarian member of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) and a former member of the European Parliament. Her experience as an EU auditor is seen as a positive sign.

European Research Integrity Code Updated to Reflect Advances in Artificial Intelligence

European Research Integrity Code Updated to Reflect Advances in Artificial Intelligence

A new version of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity has been published that includes guidance on artificial intelligence (AI), navigating EU data protection laws and how to approach changes to research impact assessments.

Head of ERC: "Put More Money into Basic Research to Stop the Brain Drain from Eastern Europe"

Head of ERC: "Put More Money into Basic Research to Stop the Brain Drain from Eastern Europe"

The EU should double its budget for research to increase the scientific capital of the EU13 countries in the east and stop Europe from falling further behind the US and China, European Research Council (ERC) president Maria Leptin tells Science|Business after a visit to Slovenia and Croatia. The aim should be to help countries in eastern Europe to attract talent to emerging research clusters, helping to bridge the divide with the world class research systems in western Europe.

Horizon Europe Can Only Flex So Far Before It Reaches Breaking Point

Horizon Europe Can Only Flex So Far Before It Reaches Breaking Point

It’s likely the European Commission will dip into the research programme’s budget for its new sovereignty fund – and this won’t be the first time money has been diverted to other causes. Flexibility to respond to changing circumstances is important, but when is enough, enough?

Commission Puts Forward €13.6B Research Budget for 2024, with €12.8B for Horizon Europe

Commission Puts Forward €13.6B Research Budget for 2024, with €12.8B for Horizon Europe

The European Commission wants the EU to spend a total €13.6 billion on research and innovation next year, with €12.8 billion going to Horizon Europe. That is €400M more for the research programme than 2023, but in the face of rampant inflation the European Parliament doesn't see this as a major increase.

CNRS: Research Sets Sail for the Ocean

CNRS: Research Sets Sail for the Ocean

Oceans, which cover 70% of the planet, are in peril. Global research is mobilising to study and rescue it, and the CNRS is on the front lines, with over 1,000 scientists and 50 laboratories involved. An overview of the actions underway and the major challenges ahead, from the coasts to the depths of the sea.

Fight Against Insecurity of Research Careers is About to Enter the Spotlight

Fight Against Insecurity of Research Careers is About to Enter the Spotlight

Half of postdocs say they don’t have access to social security and many don’t have permanent contracts either. Now campaigners are putting pressure on the EU to lean on member states to improve working conditions for Europe’s young scientists.