EU countries and the European Commission aren't experimenting enough with new ways to fund research, according to a member of the expert group advising the Commission on how to design the next Framework Programme."EU countries are lagging behind somewhat in adopting or understanding or applying novel approaches to science funding," said Sylvia Schwaag Serger, president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science, at a conference in London this week on the study of science, known as metascience. 

Europe's Clean Industrial Deal is making itself felt in Horizon Europe, according to a leaked early draft of the 2026-27 work programme for Cluster 4, which covers digital, industry and space research.

The European Research Council (ERC) Scientific Council wants the EU's fundamental research fund to become independent from the European Commission, with a stable long-term budget.In a surprise move on June 17, the council sent a proposal to create an independent ERC to Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and research commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva. So far, the letter has not been made public.

From today, all new submissions to Nature that are published will be accompanied by referees' reports and author responses - to illuminate the process of producing rigorous science.

The European Research Council (ERC) today announced the winners of its latest Advanced Grant competition. The funding, worth in total €721 million, will go to 281 leading researchers across Europe. The Advanced Grant competition is one of the most prestigious and competitive funding schemes in the EU. It gives senior researchers the opportunity to pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven projects that could lead to major scientific breakthroughs. The new grants are part of the EU's Horizon Europe programme.