Joanne O'Dea

Defeated in the budget and costing stakes, MEPs Christian Ehler and Maria da Graça Carvalho remain hopeful that a bottom-up approach and support for SMEs can open up Europe’s latest R&D programme to new participants

Making sure the technology works is only part of the formula for a successful spin-out. Business sense and collaboration with potential customers are also critical

Improved access to finance and markets, better support services and less red tape will allow SMEs to generate an extra €1.1B per annum of EU GDP

After marathon negotiations slog, key MEPs and interest groups welcome deal and hope for timely start to the European Union’s next R&D programme

There’s been progress under the Irish Presidency, but with a key vote postponed until October, there is still no consensus on much-needed new data protection rules

Warwick University built its reputation on its close ties with local manufacturing companies. Now it is looking to global connections with partner universities. This makes it possible to attract the best academics and do the best research, says Stuart Croft, pro-vice chancellor

Political agreement on simplified funding model, specific instrument for SMEs and increase for Marie Curie and European Research Council

The Medical University of Warsaw has eyes on becoming a leading university at the heart of a high tech cluster. The route to this future is through partnership with industry – and with peers - says Slawomir Majewski

The League of European Research Universities has once again hit out at IP rules and funding levels in the EU’s Innovative Medicines Initiative, saying academics will be discouraged from taking part in the €2B collaborative research programme

Support at EU institution-level will not be enough to secure the digital single market. It’s time for public administration to "make the digital switchover" says Pilar del Castillo Vera, MEP and Rapporteur for the Report on a New Digital Agenda for Europe