Research and innovation in central Europe is held back by the emigration of scientists and engineers. Rather than framing policies around encouraging their permanent return, the EU should help universities establish brain networks, in which modern communications enable scientists in the diaspora to contribute to research at home.

Disagreement over the objectives of the next R&D programme and the criteria for funding research is engaging MEPs as they work on successive drafts of the law

There is still ‘a huge gap’ between outputs of research projects and uptake down on the farm. So how can farmers extract value from €10B the EU proposes to spend on agri-R&D in Horizon Europe?

European Commission proposal marks latest battlefield in contentious fight for control of Horizon Europe planning

European Commission puts more flesh on the bones of Horizon Europe 

Oettinger says newer EU members ‘don’t see how they can benefit’ from Horizon Europe plan

Romanian MEP Dan Nica, rapporteur on Horizon Europe, wants to make it harder for non-EU scientists to win grants. “We don’t have enough money to send around the world,” he says. Many argue his ideas would damage science

Committee of the Regions throws some weight behind the proposal to use quotas to bridge the west - east research and innovation gap under Horizon Europe

Amendment seeking to bridge west – east divide through regional quotas for research funding is roundly rejected. Member states should increase national R&D spending instead

It now falls to Romania as next holder of the EU Presidency to try resolve sticking point bedevilling negotiations, and allay concerns the next EU research programme will be delayed