The Widening News

Hopes are that partnering with nearby neighbours in Poland and Slovakia will help all three border regions increase their potential

Regional competitiveness is above the EU average in all regions in Austria, Benelux, Germany and the Nordic member states. In contrast, most regions in eastern Europe score below the EU average

It provides a stop gap, but some researchers in Hungary have expressed concerns to Science|Business that this substitute fund is papering over cracks rather than solving underlying rule of law issues

Science|Business has analysed position papers submitted to the European Commission’s Horizon Europe consultation, to assess if the Widening programme is delivering on its aim of bridging the east-west research and innovation gap

With $200 million to invest in start-ups and scale-ups, Taiwan’s Central and Eastern Europe Investment Fund is becoming a significant force in the region

Probe starts after opposition MPs raise concerns over allocation of funds in a call for digital innovations co-financed with EU money. The National Centre for Research and Development promises full cooperation

Parliamentary approval is needed for the change, but it is hoped the move will help get projects from research to market - and give a much needed boost to the country’s start-up scene

As the EU is mulls over concessions the Hungarian government has made in a bid to unfreeze Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ funding to 21 universities, researchers and academics in the country say more fundamental change is needed

A new report highlights how the complexity of EU technology-related legislation impacts technology start-ups in the region, with data sharing and privacy laws - and the forthcoming artificial intelligence act - all causing concerns