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EU and US Hatch Transatlantic Plan to Rein in ChatGPT

EU and US Hatch Transatlantic Plan to Rein in ChatGPT

The EU is calling on companies to join an international push to self-regulate generative artificial intelligence (AI) products such as ChatGPT, the chatbot launched last November that can write essays, engage in philosophical conversations and write computer code.

Horizon Europe Was €34B Short in First Two Years According to Commission's New Analysis

Horizon Europe Was €34B Short in First Two Years According to Commission's New Analysis

A new European Commission report says the EU's €95.5 billion funding programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe, needed an extra €34 billion to fund all high-quality proposals received in 2021 to 2022.

The Ecosystem: The Race is on to Choose Europe's Regional Innovation Valleys

The Ecosystem: The Race is on to Choose Europe's Regional Innovation Valleys

The European Commission plans to designate 100 locations across Europe as Regional Innovation Valleys, in a bid to strengthen innovation in EU priority areas and encourage collaboration between more and less advanced regions. 

Switzerland Announces €625M in Backup Funding for Horizon Europe Applicants

Switzerland Announces €625M in Backup Funding for Horizon Europe Applicants

The Swiss Federal Council has announced €625 million in grants for researchers to participate this year in Horizon Europe and other EU programmes, such as Euratom, ITER and Digital Europe. Switzerland is not an associated country in Horizon Europe and is currently locked out of other EU programmes as well, which means Swiss researchers have no access to funding from the European Commission. However, they can participate in about two thirds of Horizon Europe calls, provided they have their own money.

European Commission Sets Up New European Innovation Council Unit in the Research Directorate

European Commission Sets Up New European Innovation Council Unit in the Research Directorate

The European Commission has reorganised its directorate general for research and innovation (RTD) in order to give it better oversight of the European Innovation Council (EIC), with a new organisation chart published last week showing management of the innovation funding programme has been moved to a new unit. The unit will sit in the directorate for the European Research Area and Innovation, which is led by Anna Panagopoulou.

Mixed Reception for Vestager As Temporary Stand-In at Research

Mixed Reception for Vestager As Temporary Stand-In at Research

The news that Commission vice president Margrethe Vestager will temporarily take over the innovation and research portfolio following the departure of commissioner Mariya Gabriel has been met with mixed feelings.

Despite Risks, EU Continues to Fund Research with Chinese Military-linked Universities

Despite Risks, EU Continues to Fund Research with Chinese Military-linked Universities

Despite efforts to prevent EU technology leaking to China's military, the European Commission is continuing to fund at least five research projects involving some of China's top military-linked universities.

London and Brussels Still Haggling over Horizon Europe Association

London and Brussels Still Haggling over Horizon Europe Association

With negotiations on the UK's association to Horizon Europe still ongoing, the UK government is looking for ways to ensure the smallest possible gap between how much money it will be putting into the programme and how much UK-based researchers get back.

Research Lobbies Cheer European Research Council Rollout of 'Inclusive' Evaluation Rules

Research Lobbies Cheer European Research Council Rollout of 'Inclusive' Evaluation Rules

The European Research Council is revamping its project evaluation process from 2024 in line with the EU-wide push for a less prescriptive approach to evaluating scientific impact.

Commission in Fresh Bid to Bolster Coordination Between National R&D Policies and EU Research Programmes

Commission in Fresh Bid to Bolster Coordination Between National R&D Policies and EU Research Programmes

A new initiative aims to replicate the concept underlying the European Semester with a similar forum for research, development and innovation policies.

Spain Adopts National Open Access Strategy

Spain Adopts National Open Access Strategy

Spain has approved a four-year national strategy for open science, under which all outputs of publicly financed research will made available free upon publication. Under the strategy open access will become the default mode for all research funded directly or indirectly, with public funds.

R&D Organisations Hit out at Proposed New EU Patent Rules

R&D Organisations Hit out at Proposed New EU Patent Rules

Industrial R&D organisation in Europe have hit out at new patent rules rolled out by the European Commission last week, calling for further consultations on proposals aimed at harmonising parts of European patent legislation that currently vary across member states.

All at Sea: Call for New Body to Bridge the Science - Policy Divide and Save the Oceans

All at Sea: Call for New Body to Bridge the Science - Policy Divide and Save the Oceans

An international initiative to establish a new body to protect the world's oceans is taking shape. The goal is to build a scientific consensus and shape policies to protect, conserve and restore them.

New Pharma Rules Risk 'Sabotaging' Life Sciences in Europe, Says the Industry

New Pharma Rules Risk 'Sabotaging' Life Sciences in Europe, Says the Industry

The European Commission has unveiled long-awaited proposals to reform EU's pharmaceutical legislation to enable better access to drugs and promote innovation, but industry doesn't like the look of it. The first revision of the legislation in over 20 years aims to make medicines more available, accessible and affordable, while boosting innovation and industrial competitiveness, by simplifying regulations and speeding up the scientific evaluation and authorisation of new drugs.

Strengthening Public Trust in Science

Strengthening Public Trust in Science

Funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe, the VERITY project seeks to increase trust in science and innovation by developing a set of guidelines to increase trust in science to engage stakeholders and citizens, which could have far-reaching implications in areas such as public health and the environment. Are citizens becoming more sceptical about science?

Get Horizon Europe Association Done, UK Academics Say in Parliament Hearing

Get Horizon Europe Association Done, UK Academics Say in Parliament Hearing

Academics in the UK have urged the government to get the Horizon Europe association deal over the line to limit the damage that the two-year delay - and counting - is having on research cooperation with peers in Europe. "The government should just get association done," said Paul Nurse, director of the Francis Crick Institute, echoing the infamous 'Get Brexit done' slogan used by the Conservative Party in the December 2019 election.

Stop Gap Measures Put in Place to Help Ukrainian Scientists Are Maturing into Closer Ties

Stop Gap Measures Put in Place to Help Ukrainian Scientists Are Maturing into Closer Ties

The Foundation for Polish Science recently extended its For Ukraine programme, launching a third call, open for proposals until 4 April from pairs of scientists working in tandem, one from Ukraine who can be living anywhere, and one employed in Poland.

Geopolitical Tensions Mean Joining the EU's €95.5B Research Programme Isn't Getting Any Easier

Geopolitical Tensions Mean Joining the EU's €95.5B Research Programme Isn't Getting Any Easier

The EU is making some progress towards adding international partners to its Horizon Europe research programme, but complaints about the proposed membership terms continue to stir controversy.

Spain to Pilot Flexible Open-ended Funding for Researchers

Spain to Pilot Flexible Open-ended Funding for Researchers

Spain is to trial a new science funding programme, which will provide researchers with stable funding for four years to explore new ideas and build capacity, without being tied to specific projects.

Ukrainian Government Calls on Science Diaspora to Help Strengthen Ties with the West

Ukrainian Government Calls on Science Diaspora to Help Strengthen Ties with the West

More than one year into a devastating war with Russia, Ukraine's scientists both at home or abroad are still struggling to carry on their work.

German Science Minister Tells Fraunhofer to Reform Amid Allegations of Misuse of Funds

German Science Minister Tells Fraunhofer to Reform Amid Allegations of Misuse of Funds

Germany's federal research minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is calling for sweeping reforms at the Fraunhofer Society, one of Europe's most prestigious applied research organisations, after auditors found "numerous violations" of financial rules, including members of the executive board exceeding spending limits for hotel stays and hiring luxury cars.

Hope That the Way Will Be Cleared for UK Horizon Europe Association, As Parliament Votes on Windsor Framework

Hope That the Way Will Be Cleared for UK Horizon Europe Association, As Parliament Votes on Windsor Framework

Tomorrow's vote on the Windsor framework in the UK parliament marks a crucial step on the country's potential path to associating to Horizon Europe, the EU's €95.5 billion research and innovation programme. 

Shifting Geopolitics Prompts Germany to Offer Researchers Extra Help on International Collaboration

Shifting Geopolitics Prompts Germany to Offer Researchers Extra Help on International Collaboration

In 2019 the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) set up a new service, the Competence Centre for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi). It's been hugely popular, and the DAAD believes it's time to give it a boost.

New Zealand Government Says Its Contribution to Horizon Europe could Be 'Adjusted' According to How Many Grants Its Researchers Win

New Zealand Government Says Its Contribution to Horizon Europe could Be 'Adjusted' According to How Many Grants Its Researchers Win

A transitional arrangement means researchers in New Zealand can apply for Horizon Europe grants as of now, even though Brussels and Wellington have yet to fix a budget following the agreement last December under which New Zealand became the first country to secure full association to the research programme.