David Matthews

The Commission has set out proposals to fund more research with military as well as civil applications in Framework Programme 10, but universities want to see safeguards put in place

The foreign affairs committee has joined in criticism of the Commission, with MEPs saying they are being locked out of politically sensitive association talks with countries outside Europe

The proposed directive on Transparency of Interest Representation, designed to prevent malign foreign lobbying, could force universities to register any foreign-funded research, observers fear

During a debate at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the research commissioner called for EU programmes to be more SME-friendly. Separately, she was also grilled on Swiss association to Horizon Europe

Italy’s share of grants plummeted, while Belgium, Estonia and Lithuania had an excellent year. Excluded from much of the programme, UK participation fell further, and so did that of China as geopolitical tensions grew

Michel Claessens, who turned whistleblower against the megaproject in 2021, claims it deceived the public by ‘overselling’ fusion. More recently, ITER has dialled down its claims, and Claessens now says it is a ‘worthwhile project’  

Phages that kill bacteria are seen as a possible solution to the waning power of antibiotics. But research funding is lacking and existing routes to approval and commercialisation are not suitable for these therapies, say UK MPs

Leading AI expert Holger Hoos says Europe needs it own Manhattan Project to create a leading AI system and avoid dependence on the US or China. Other experts are supportive, but the cost and politics of such a project are tricky

The latest step in negotiations between Brussels and Bern opens the door for Switzerland to finally start participating in part of Horizon Europe. But there are still political hurdles to clear

With EU relations patched up, UK researchers and policymakers are planning the next moves. There are no firm plans for AI legislation, but an international collaboration fund set up during the wilderness years will continue, and there will be a focus on South American links