David Matthews

Ultra-rare tritium is needed to jump start fusion reactors. But global supplies are tiny, and most is produced as a byproduct of specific nuclear fission plants concentrated in Canada - a shortage with geopolitical implications

Two years on from the invasion of Ukraine, the war has exacerbated Russian academic isolation from Europe and North America. Ukraine, meanwhile, has seen a surge of collaboration with the west – and with Poland in particular

Brussels and London still have very different approaches to regulating the technology, but the UK’s AI minister struck a collaborative tone on a recent visit to Brussels, part of a wider détente on science and technology

At the Munich Security Conference, Bettina Stark-Watzinger made the case that research is now at the centre of geopolitical rivalry. But changing the German research system remains difficult

Research director general says ‘everything is on the table’. Leading MEP tells Science|Business conference the European Institute of Innovation & Technology could have 'common structure' with European Innovation Council

With the UK finally associated to the framework programme after a three year hiatus, both sides are seeking to re-engage and build British participation. But on the EU side there are concerns about UK visa fees

Several EU-Canada projects already exist, but joining Horizon should ease the path to many more. However, Canadians are wary of application paperwork - and may be disappointed to find they cannot apply to the European Research Council on equal terms

Otmar Wiestler wants the next framework programme to include EU-wide efforts to take industrial leadership in new technologies. He’s also not in “fundamental opposition” to military dual use research calls in Horizon Europe’s successor

The prohibitive cost of computing is a big barrier for AI SMEs trying to enter the market. A new Commission proposal aims to ease the way, but questions over access, budget and an ethics requirement remain

Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager takes aim at thousands of joint research projects with Chinese military universities. But Brussels’ plans are still only recommendations, and it will be left to academics and member states to implement them