Research policy

Commissioner Ján Figel has named the people charged with recommending the governing board of the European Institute of Technology.

As Framework Programme 7 fires up, Europe’s auditors throw on some cold water. Nuala Moran wonders how we will assess whether it has all been worthwhile.

Over half of the students entering European universities are women – but the higher one goes in the research hierarchies, the more women seem to disappear.

The European Commission has selected six areas of pioneering research for its long-awaited lead markets initiative.

Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik called for Europe to adopt a global culture of entrepreneurship in the face of the challenge from China and India.

The European Parliament has given the thumbs up to the first ever Europe-wide public–private research partnerships, approving programmes in miniaturisation, embedded computers, medicines and aviation.

The European Research Council unveiled its first-ever grant programme for ambitious, far-reaching research projects this week, earmarking €4 billion over the next six years.

Want to improve R&D policy? The European Commission is creating a new advisory panel. Send in your nominations.

Efforts to stem Europe’s scientific brain drain could be undermined by pay, as purchasing power dips below India and the EU–US gap widens further.

Tax breaks are becoming an increasing popular way for governments to encourage innovation, as direct public spending on corporate R&D declines, according to a new report by the OECD.