La ciencia europea alerta a la UE que está en peligro el I+D+i

[Google transl.] European science warns the EU that R&D&I is at risk if it does not allocate more resources

Research centres and universities consider the budget for the next framework programme to be insufficient

Unrest is rife in universities and research centres in Europe these days. The reason: the budgets presented last June for the European Union's next research and innovation framework programme, Horizon Europe... The proposal, which still has to be voted on in the European Parliament, means investing almost 100 billion euros in R+D+i between 2021 and 2027, a figure that the scientific community describes as insufficient and alarming and which must be increased to 160 billion if the European system of science excellence is not to be jeopardised. They also call for more transparency in the distribution of funding and for a focus on basic research.

The recently presented proposal represents a slight increase over the current Horizon 2020 framework programme: from the current EUR 70 billion it would be increased to EUR 100 billion. However, university associations and research centres consider that at least 160 billion euros are needed "to carry out this ambitious programme".

"The current proposal of 100 billion is a good effort as the current political situation stands, with issues on the table such as the Brexit or security concerns, but it is not enough," says Marta Agostinho, coordinator of the Alliance of Biomedical Research Centres of Excellence in Europe EU-LIFE.

"If we do not make an effort to increase the overall budget for Horizon Europe to 160 billion, the European Union's research and innovation potential will be at risk", he warns.