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On 30 January 2026, the German Science and Humanities Council (Wissenschaftsrat, WR) published its future agenda for Germany as a centre of science and research, entitled "Science in Germany - Perspectives until 2040". sets out a future agenda for Germany as a centre of science.
According to data from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the share of US basic and applied research funded by the federal government dropped from nearly 48% in 2009 to just over 34% in 2023. As that decline is likely to continue, some state governments are responding by boosting their research spending.
The higher education sector in the UK faces the prospect of a university going into administration. How have universities fallen so low and is change possible?
University-based science parks could become highly attractive sites for deeper engagement with industry, venture capitalists, and start-ups, and help procure government funding too, as proven in the UK, Singapore, and China.
After a year of Trump, a former US diplomat suggests what the EU can do to bring American science back from the brink
But restrictions will still be needed, making science “as open as possible, as closed as necessary,” Ehler says
Cutting-edge medicines and treatments exist, but widespread and equitable access to them does not. We can reverse this trend if we invest in health as a strategic asset. Acting earlier on diseases results in fewer hospitalizations; longer, healthier, more productive lives; and less demand on and costs for healthcare systems
Refusing to use AI won't protect society. Responsible resistance must include gaining knowledge about it.
As universities evolve to face a range of complex problems, leadership teams that all think in similar ways can limit institutional problem-solving capacities.
The EU must respond by strengthening scientific links with “like-minded” countries, Signe Ratso says
It's getting harder for scientists from around the world to work together. Researchers must find ways to adapt.
Artificial intelligence is helping to advance science, but it could also add to stress on the research system by generating ever more papers and grant applications, an AI expert at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned.
The European Commission could ban Ukraine from participating in Horizon Europe projects that are related to AI, quantum, communication and network technologies, and space, according to an internal memo circulated in the first week of November.
The Guardian's View on Animal Testing: New technologies can reduce our reliance on animal experiments. This isn't just morally right, it could have scientific and economic benefits too
While Open Science infrastructures are used a lot, their funding is precarious. TSOSI is a project that aims to improve this situation by making financial support for open infrastructure more visible.
