Viewpoint

The EU policy of putting excellence before cohesion - funding the best researchers rather than helping the laggards to catch up - has paid off in two important breakthroughs, writes Nuala Moran.

The Gulf countries have a unique opportunity to become the world’s centre of eco-innovation, says Sami Mahroum.

Excellence - not geography - should determine where Europe spends its research budget, Greek MEP and professor Ioannis Tsouklas tells Science|Business.

Companies need to look beyond their own sectors if they want to be truly innovative, says Dr. Christian Garbe, Managing Director of FIZ Frankfurt Biotechnology Innovation Centre.

Don’t punish companies that fail to deliver risky projects. Help them do better next time, says David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes at the Technology Strategy Board.

Limiting the number of languages used by a unified patent court is not an affront to Europe’s cultural diversity, but a pragmatic move to increase its competitiveness.

Public spending on research has to stand up to rigorous economic scrutiny said the UK’s new Science Minister David Willetts, in a recent speech.

Genomics is turbo-charging traditional plant and animal breeding. But can new varieties get patent protection, ask Nicholas Jones and Rachel Wallis of Withers & Rogers LLP.

GE’s $200M call for entrepreneurs to bring their smart grid technologies is also a challenge to the whole system of research, development and innovation in Europe.

Large scientific projects with contributions from many governments could be run more like multinationals says Hervé Pero.