ICT News

After long and hard negotiations, science ministers have given their approval to the proposal to reconfigure EU research around seven Grand Challenges

Under-investing in R&D is not a symptom of the economic crisis, but lies at its root cause. Horizon 2020 must be fuelled with sufficient funding to become Europe’s development engine for the future, says Ioannis Tsoukalas, MEP

Key MEPs are calling for specific measures to widen the horizon of the EU’s flagship research programme and ensure there is more participation from member states with less-developed R&D systems

Increasing investments in research should not be considered as making the debt or deficit higher - they are essential to generate more wealth and competitiveness. This will provide rapid returns and contribute to a better balance sheet, says Antonio Tajani.

Scientific breakthroughs arise when excellent researchers are given the freedom to explore beyond the bounds of formulaic R&D programmes. A Howard Hughes-type grant scheme for Europe would promote this, says Gunnar Öquist

As France’s new President Francois Hollande visits Berlin for key talks on the economic crisis, MEPs tell Science|Business he must shift the emphasis from austerity to innovation-fuelled growth - and deliver on his promise to boost R&D

The European Commission should shift funding towards smaller enterprises that cannot participate in Horizon 2020, says the European Parliament’s rapporteur on a new SME initiative

The debate over Horizon 2020 funding heats up, with publication of a Danish ‘declaration’ on the importance of funding excellent science

Bigger, and simpler – those are among the promised virtues of the proposed Horizon 2020 programme. But are the changes sufficient to tempt industry back into the fold? And will universities like what they get? A Science|Business meeting in Brussels heard from some of the key architects of the plan

Science|Business polled some of the main stakeholders of the EU’s next research funding programme about the proposed simplifications. The verdict: Nice try, but let’s work on the details