EU budget would be ’disastrous’ for research

The European Union risks implementing a ”disastrous” budget for science, according to researchers. Sixteenth thousand academics have written an open letter calling on the EU to draw back from current financial proposals, which they claim could lead to a damaging brain drain. Above all, they want the European Research Council (ERC) to be protected. The ERC is the Union’s premier funding agency, supporting ”blue skies” investigations.

The EU is in the process of agreeing its next seven-year multiannual financial framework (MFF), which would come into play in January. An initial proposal from the European Commission (the EU’s executive arm) of €94bn is being resisted by the European Council (the heads of member state governments) who want a lower figure of €86bn. If the drop is confirmed it would essentially mean a flat budget for research, with the ERC’s position within this framework similarly constrained.

The bloc hitherto has always increased its research spend from one MFF to the next. The petition, produced by the Friends of the ERC, is signed by more than 16,000 scholars worldwide, including 14 Nobel Laureates, many laureates of other prestigious scientific awards, as well as over 50 leading universities in Europe. Addressees on the letter include the three EU presidents – Ursula von der Leyen (Commission), Charles Michel (Council) and David Sassoli (Parliament) – in addition to the science ministers in the individual member states.

The budget now being thrashed out by the Commission, the Council and European Parliament does not include a UK contribution. Britain left the EU at the beginning of this year. But, as part of the London-Brussels trade negotiations, the United Kingdom is seeking some sort of association to the next MFF research programme, called Horizon Europe. This would involve Britain signing up to a multi-billion-euro subscription. UK researchers have been major beneficiaries of the EU grant process in the past, especially the funds attached to the ERC. Something approaching a fifth of all European Research Council monies have gone to UK-based grantees during its 14-year history.

Source: BBC