Momentum is building for the EU’s next research and innovation framework programme, FP10, to have a budget of €200 billion. But what place is there in the programme for Widening measures? This week, we delve into how Europe’s research community wants the scheme to change and evolve. We also look at why reforms of Poland’s Academy of Sciences are proving controversial, moves to fight back against predatory publishers in central and eastern Europe, and why Slovakia needs help to increase its participation in European Innovation Council calls. 

Former MEP, who was involved in the formation of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, rejects calls for it to be axed

The communist legacy leaves researchers exposed to fee-charging publishers who don’t do peer review or editing. But a fightback is underway

We analyse the views of 15 groups of stakeholders to see how they want measures designed to close the east – west research performance gap to change in FP10

The Academy and the government are pursuing separate reform agendas, raising concerns about independence

Deep tech champions from Widening countries must first be nurtured within their local ecosystems

The EU must grasp the opportunity to get Europe on the front foot in scientific and technological innovation