Nobel prize-winning scientist Harald zur Hausen steps down as chair, citing personal reasons. He is replaced by Walter Ricciardi. Bettina Ryll, founder of a patients’ group that has transformed access to novel skin cancer treatments, joins the board

Slim chances for MEP Dan Nica to become Romania’s next EU commissioner for transport

Call for bigger budgets for the European Research Council and culture-related research comes ahead of rocky budget negotiations

EU research programme needs simpler rules for paying staff costs, while payments to SMEs are a major source of error and need additional checks

An EU-wide coalition of cities and regions urges commissioner-designate Elisa Ferreira to defend cohesion policy

At confirmation hearings, Johannes Hahn told MEPs a ‘compromise’ on agriculture and cohesion is needed to divert funds to research, while proposed new head of energy, Kadri Simson said the EU will not meet carbon targets unless it invests more in R&I

Romanian prime minister says she stands by Dan Nica but also ‘has a woman, if required’, after Rovana Plumb was rejected by parliament

Mariya Gabriel tells European Parliament she supports new policies to tackle systemic issues, such as pay gaps and brain drain

In written Q&A for her upcoming confirmation hearing, Bulgarian nominee lays out a few of her priorities - and a puzzle for the Swiss

Negotiations for 24-plus countries have to wait until EU leaders agree among themselves on Horizon legislation – which won’t be until next year