Following criticism of its role in indirectly funding Chinese research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the NIH is demanding foreign collaborators submit full data sets and lab notebooks every year. A red tape nightmare looms
A study of a no-strings-attached Danish research grant scheme shows that setting researchers free to explore their own ideas provides relief from the rat race and is good for science
A supply chain for cultivating meat from cells in bioreactors is emerging, as start-ups develop technologies that will make it easier and cheaper to scale up production
Although they can once again fully engage in the large-scale, cross sector projects, UK companies joining as the half-way point is reached may find it hard to become fully integrated – and doubts remain over funding
The race is on to be the first to launch a satellite from a base in Europe, but private space start-ups are finding it hard to get the investment they need for lift off - and to build a competitive EU sector
Details of the association agreement show the UK may only get a refund due to low participation in Horizon if it rolls over into the FP10 successor programme, due to start in 2028. And there are pending negotiations on the terms on which the UK rejoins the Copernicus earth observation system
Political decisions this year mean fuels derived from captured CO2 are classed as carbon neutral and now have a future on Europe’s roads. But will it be a highway or a just a byway for the start-ups currently building the e-fuel industry?
Delays in European legislation relating to green hydrogen have led energy companies to hold back research projects here and look to the US, where the Inflation Reduction Act is providing massive incentives
Without end users for clean hydrogen, Europe risks squandering its innovation advantage, according to a new analysis of patents. Unless technologies to switch from fossil fuel-based hydrogen are widely accessible the market won’t take off
Blanket subsidies to generate hydrogen in the US are already tempting European producers to set up manufacturing sites across the Atlantic. The issue became a flashpoint in recent negotiations between Washington and Brussels
During a Science|Business webcast last month, senior representatives from the European Commission and Europe’s top research labs convened for a public debate on how to stop an energy crisis becoming a science crisis
The rising cost of energy spells scaling back and temporary shut downs for vital research infrastructures, which are now looking for help from governments to pay their bills. ‘We are going to make ourselves heard,’ they say
Additional ‘flexibility’ is needed in the multiannual budget to allow the EU to make targeted investments in new energy and defence technologies. There is a suggestion funding could be diverted from agriculture and cohesion and towards such ‘strategic autonomy’ projects
The European Open Science Cloud is a giant effort to provide a single point of access to all scientific data. But getting all the infrastructures to integrate and engendering a culture of sharing is a daunting task, say those involved in its creation
Former head of Delft University of Technology, Karel Luyben, will set direction for EU’s cloud project, now formally underway on mission to provide access to all publicly funded research
As EU launches its cloud effort, a Science|Business group says defining relations with the rest of the world is among 10 top issues that need to be resolved
Challenge-driven programmes in cancer, climate change and smart cities are not working out as planned. To be successful they need to pull in outside funding, says new EU research head Marc Lemaître. A progress report is due out next week
Nodes in seven universities around the country will build bridges with materials science and life sciences companies that could benefit from advanced imaging facilities
Moves to ensure the EU’s economic independence and technology sovereignty are catching universities in the cross hairs. Institutions must strike a balance between protecting sensitive technologies and maintaining open science and autonomy
A small top-up for Horizon Europe allays fears the budget would be cut, but there’s growing unease about the EU’s research programme becoming too focused on innovation
Maria Leptin looks to how Horizon Europe’s successor programme can help bridge the east-west gap in research performance after visiting Croatia and Slovenia
A new report highlights structural problems and bottlenecks that are holding back progress in building up capacity and strengthening the scientific systems in eastern Europe
As the process of reforming research assessment gains momentum, representatives of Widening countries share concerns that their perspectives will not be properly accommodated
The money forms part of a proposed €10B package of investment in strategic technologies. But the Commission fails to deliver on much-requested increases for other parts of Horizon Europe
The EU and African Union will adopt a joint innovation roadmap later this month. A group of around 2,000 universities are calling for it to come with funding attached
After 11 years leading Germany’s biggest applied research organisation, Reimund Neugebauer leaves ‘by mutual agreement.’ Karlsruhe president named to succeed him
Science|Business finds five Marie Curie projects that include as participants some of China’s ‘Seven Sons of National Defence,’ risking aid to its military. This is what these projects involve
A Science|Business investigation finds five ongoing EU research projects that include China’s ‘Seven Sons of National Defence’ universities, in network security, heat transfer and drones. No comment from Brussels, but experts warn of danger
To boost capacity in China monitoring, the Commission is funding three Horizon Europe projects to support and connect EU-based China scholars. ‘We have to get our own feed’ of information independent of US, says one
A year ago, the National Science Foundation set out to promote translation of the basic research it funds, forming its first new directorate in 30 years to do so. On the first anniversary, Science|Business assesses progress
Spanish research is on the up, coming second in the value of grants won from Horizon Europe to date. Now a new scheme aims to build on these foundations, promoting capacity building and helping to explore new ideas
After an audit report found ‘numerous violations’ of financial controls at one of Europe’s top research institutions, the government has told it to shake up its governance
Just over a week after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank put start-up financing in a peril, the EU research commissioner leads a 50-strong delegation looking to attract US investment in the EU tech sector
Protecting the oceans that cover 70% of the earth is not getting enough attention in climate change policy. Now, scientists are pushing for a dedicated international body to coordinate research and inform policymakers
Without textiles, there is no fashion. But textile manufacturing is highly polluting and there is an urgent need to make it sustainable. The industry and EU policymakers must work together on harmonising different national rules to turn Europe’s catwalks green
As Brussels starts making sense of the Commission’s proposal for creating a homegrown net zero market, industry points to lack of understanding of how innovation works
As AI tools spread in the scientific world, we risk the tech giants coming to dominate the resulting ‘meta’ science. It’s time to ensure public research stays in the public sphere, argues Ramon Wyss of KTH
Five years after PLAN S set out to make research free at the point of publication there’s progress to report. But the work is not finished and the pressure must be maintained, says the EU’s former Open Access envoy
EU research funding is spread thinly across thousands of poorly aligned projects, while member states are vying with each other for dominance in AI. Overcoming national interests and working at scale are necessary to build a successful sector
EU initiatives have increased the number of young researchers and innovators, but without proper career structures and security of employment this talent pool drain could away
The EU’s concerns about economic security are legitimate, but protective measures must be proportionate and precise to ensure they respond to the actual risks. There should not be blanket bans on international research cooperation
Moves to ensure the EU’s economic independence and technology sovereignty are catching universities in the cross hairs. Institutions must strike a balance between protecting sensitive technologies and maintaining open science and autonomy
It’s likely the Commission will dip into the research programme’s budget for its new sovereignty fund – and this won’t be the first time money has been diverted to other causes. Flexibility to respond to changing circumstances is important, but when is enough, enough?
In the face of the challenges of the green and digital transition, the uncertainties caused by multiple crises and a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, the capacity of research and innovation to shape a better future has never been more important
The results of the largest ever public consultation on the past, present and future of the European research and innovation programmes are in. Here, research commissioner Mariya Gabriel sets out the highlights
Without textiles, there is no fashion. But textile manufacturing is highly polluting and there is an urgent need to make it sustainable. The industry and EU policymakers must work together on harmonising different national rules to turn Europe’s catwalks green
Delays in getting the CE mark for medical devices are stretching the resources of European start-ups and forcing some to turn their attention to the US
Few EIC grants have gone directly to early-stage companies in Widening Countries, but now an EIC-backed accelerator is providing mentoring to help 32 start-ups from the region to shape their business plans and access private capital
Platform ‘is not accessible anymore as of today, due to a contractual dispute’, the Commission announced on 2 June. Start-ups are happy to see the complex submission process go – but question closing it five days before a call deadline
Rising inflation, higher interest rates and a decoupling of ecosystems due to unstable geopolitics caused global investment in start-ups to plummet in the past year
EU research and regional funding streams will flow together into newly designated Innovation Valleys, helping align innovation spending with EU priorities such as semiconductors and renewable engery
Elon Musk may have gone off the idea of building an ultra-high-speed transport system, but Europe still believes. With testing infrastructure under construction and an EU regulatory framework on the cards, the ground is being prepared for the first pilot projects
The initiativebrings together partners from strong, moderate, and emerging innovator regions, to support women innovators and spread the entrepreneurial mindset. Women entrepreneurs in Widening countries give their views of what needs to change
The 2023 Regional Competitiveness Index placed Romania last, but those working to boost innovation in its regions believe the future could now be in their own hands