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Leaked Commission Memo Lays out Plan for European Competitiveness Fund

Leaked Commission Memo Lays out Plan for European Competitiveness Fund

EU Commissioners have discussed the possibility of bundling the next Framework Programme for research and innovation with other funding instruments under the European Competitiveness Fund, according to a leaked briefing note presented by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at a preparatory meeting on the EU's multiannual budget.

What Have the EU's Research Framework Programmes Actually Invented?

What Have the EU's Research Framework Programmes Actually Invented?

Last year, when visiting Germany's Sprind innovation agency, I was asked a question that had me stumped: do the EU's research Framework Programmes, the current one being Horizon Europe, actually "work"? 

'Self-standing' FP10 Will Be 'Tightly Connected' to European Competitiveness Fund, Von Der Leyen Says

'Self-standing' FP10 Will Be 'Tightly Connected' to European Competitiveness Fund, Von Der Leyen Says

The next Framework Programme for research and innovation is set to remain independent but would still contribute to the European Competitiveness Fund, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said during a speech on May 20.

Budget First, Impact Later: Academic Community Reacts to Horizon Europe Analysis

Budget First, Impact Later: Academic Community Reacts to Horizon Europe Analysis

The academic community has pushed back against conclusions drawn from an interim evaluation of Horizon Europe, published on April 30. Where the European Commission sees evidence of sound investment, with every euro spent so far yielding up to €11 in GDP gains by 2045, university groups find the unfunded 70% of excellent research proposals as sign of limited ambition.

Dual-use Innovation, a Strategic Choice for Europe

Dual-use Innovation, a Strategic Choice for Europe

For decades, Europe's innovation ecosystem has operated under a self-imposed constraint: a firewall between civilian and defence research. This was born of understandable post-war caution. But in today's world, it has become a strategic liability. 

Trump Halts New NIH Grants to International Health-research Partners

Trump Halts New NIH Grants to International Health-research Partners

Stepping up its America-first campaign, the Trump administration has started to cut funding for medical-research projects that involve foreign labs. The move will disrupt clinical trials for new medicines now underway, critics warned. 

UK and Switzerland to Gain Access to 'Strategic' Horizon Europe Calls

UK and Switzerland to Gain Access to 'Strategic' Horizon Europe Calls

Researchers and companies in the UK, Switzerland and other countries associated to Horizon Europe are set to have access to a greater number of calls in strategic areas like quantum and space, under the 2025 Horizon work programmes pre-published last week.

US Set to Close Office Responsible for Global Science and Technology Deals

US Set to Close Office Responsible for Global Science and Technology Deals

Cuts at the US Department of State could eliminate the office that negotiates science and technology agreements, including with Europe, throwing into confusion the future of global research cooperation with Washington and access for US scientists to international facilities. Three people who work for the State Department have told Science|Business that the office, which oversees nearly 60 agreements and more than 2,000 sub agreements, is set to be eliminated. 

Horizon Work Programmes for 2025 Show Clear Shift to Competitiveness

Horizon Work Programmes for 2025 Show Clear Shift to Competitiveness

Starting this year, Horizon Europe will double down on the EU's competitiveness agenda and pivot towards simpler administration rules, according to draft work programmes pre-published this week by the European Commission.

Germany Could Spend Part of Its €500B Stimulus Package Attracting US Scientists

Germany Could Spend Part of Its €500B Stimulus Package Attracting US Scientists

Germany could spend some of its €500 billion infrastructure and climate package attracting US scientists, according to a leading figure in its incoming government. Meanwhile, the country is pondering if and how it could poach disaffected researchers.

Serbia's Academics Outraged over Limits to Research, Disappointed by EU Response

Serbia's Academics Outraged over Limits to Research, Disappointed by EU Response

Academics in Serbia are up in arms over a sudden move by the government to limit the time university lecturers can spend on research. Previously allowed to spend 20 hours a week on research, they will now be limited to just five hours.Critics of the new regulation point out that the move effectively invalidates the official accreditation of all public universities in Serbia, since this requires university staff to reserve half their working hours for research.

China Leads EU and US on Using Artificial Intelligence in Science

China Leads EU and US on Using Artificial Intelligence in Science

Chinese scientists have incorporated artificial intelligence into their work more rapidly than their EU or US counterparts, a European Commission analysis has found, bolstering the case for the bloc to speed up adoption. 

Commission Pushes to Water Down Gender Mainstreaming in Horizon Europe

Commission Pushes to Water Down Gender Mainstreaming in Horizon Europe

The European Commission wants to water down gender mainstreaming requirements in Horizon Europe despite facing resistance from member states and research stakeholders. The changes proposed by the Commission are set to come into effect in 2025, with member states invited to endorse the revamped rules in a vote on the whole Horizon Europe work programme for the year.

Swiss Take Further Step Towards Horizon Europe Association

Swiss Take Further Step Towards Horizon Europe Association

Switzerland's Federal Council has signed off an agreement that will allow the country to join Horizon Europe, another step towards ending a diplomatic stalemate over association that has dragged on since 2021. On April 9, the council approved the EU Programmes Agreement, which allows association to Horizon Europe, the Euratom atomic research programme and the Digital Europe Programme. 

Trump's Attack on US Universities is an Attack on All Universities

Trump's Attack on US Universities is an Attack on All Universities

This year marks the 80th anniversary of one of the most influential science policy papers ever published: "Science: the Endless Frontier," a report by presidential advisor Vannevar Bush that served as the blueprint for the post-WWII rise of the US as the world's leader in scientific research, innovation and education. Bush famously wrote: 

New Widening Tools to Target Research Collaboration and Management

New Widening Tools to Target Research Collaboration and Management

Further details have emerged about measures intended to boost the research and innovation performance of lagging member states in the final years of Horizon Europe. These tools will be deployed in parallel with a review of the Widening programme.

Director Angelika Kalt Steps Down After 17 Years at the SNSF

Director Angelika Kalt Steps Down After 17 Years at the SNSF

A new chapter has begun at the SNSF with the retirement of its Director, Angelika Kalt. Over the past 17 years, she has played a central role in developing the institution and tackling the challenges it faces.

EU Should Attract More US Scientists, MEPs Say

EU Should Attract More US Scientists, MEPs Say

Many MEPs have called on the Commission to increase efforts to attract US scientists affected by budget cuts and political interference in academia and research. They see the current geopolitical context as a chance for the EU to present itself as an international beacon for academic freedom.

CSC: International Projects Push New Ways of Monitoring Progress of Open Science

CSC: International Projects Push New Ways of Monitoring Progress of Open Science

Open science thrives on transparency, accessibility, and responsible research assessment. To support these goals, CSC is actively contributing to three EU-funded projects: FAIRCORE4EOSC, FAIR-IMPACT, and GraspOS. These initiatives aim to improve research findability, streamline data management, and promote a more inclusive evaluation of scientific contributions.

Europe Scrambles to Help Researchers Escape Trump

Europe Scrambles to Help Researchers Escape Trump

EU science ministers are calling on the European Commission to stand ready to welcome US researchers threatened by Donald Trump's ongoing tightening of restrictions on US science and provide them with concrete opportunities to pursue their work.