Research

Over 800 scientists sign letter calling for a stronger focus on basic research

Researchers at the University of Warwick have won a £12 Million award to create a new Centre to develop advanced technologies in synthetic biology. This research will help drive advances in pharmaceuticals, high-value and commodity chemicals, innovative treatments for disease, environmental bioremediation, and food security. It will also play a major role in helping us achieve a much better understanding of some of the key principles underpinning living systems.

Europe’s leading scientific institutions will work with less-developed regions to start-up new research centres

While other social media networks for researchers are about showing off publications or keeping tabs on impact metrics, Piirus makes introductions. This is the way to find your perfect partner – for research, says Piirus founder Fiona Colligan

Imperial has the greatest concentration of high impact research of any major UK university, according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014.

Portugal-based Gulbenkian Foundation will join an established research team, active in 11 African countries, to help fight rampant diseases like malaria and AIDS

Three out of four Starting grants go to young researchers hosted by Germany, UK, France, the Netherlands, Israel and Spain. There are no grants going to Switzerland

From 2015, first-year undergraduates at TU Berlin will have an option to start studying without choosing a degree subject. A new “orientation year” will include a class in entrepreneurship, and coursework flexibility will give students more responsibility for their choices

A new EU data protection law risks killing some types of medical research, researchers at the Karolinska Institutet say. Their prescription: A law that regulates Big Data, but allows for research

The lack of innovation portfolios at the top of the new European Commission has a simple solution: name science and innovation advisors to each Vice President