News & Views item - July 2011

 

European Commission to up Spending on Research and Innovation ~45%, from €55 Billion Over Current 2007–13 period to €80 Billion for 2014–20. (July 6, 2011)

NatureNews reports: "Under a proposal released on 29 June by the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, spending on research and innovation would rise by about 45%, from €55 billion (US$80 billion) over the current 2007–13 period to €80 billion in 2014–20" while funding for agriculture (farm subsidies), and "economic development" would be significantly reduced. However, the proposed budget will require approval by the European Parliament as well as the 27-member states.

 

According to Peter Tindemans, head of the science-policy working group at Euroscience, EU's research commissioner, Mαire Geoghegan-Quinn: "managed to convince the other commissioners that where there's to be an increase at all, it should be in research."

 

Ms Geoghegan-Quinn told Nature that the proposal was "a big vote of confidence in science," but noted: "The farmers will be out there lobbying, and scientists and researchers need to do the same." For her part she promises "'quick decisions' this year on proposals for the management and structure of the European Research Council, the new and widely lauded component of FP7 [Framework Programme] that backs basic research, which will be released next week by a commission working group."

 

Colin Macilwain who writes the monthly "World View" column for Nature says: "The budget plan will now be scrutinized by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, representing the 27 EU member states, before emerging in final form by 2013. The parliament is widely expected to ask for even more funds for research and innovation, whereas many member states will seek cuts to this and other portions of the commission's proposal."