The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee launched an inquiry this week because of growing concerns that British researchers may not be getting their fair share of research funding from the European Union.

The move follows the announcement earlier this month of the Sixth Framework Programme, the EU's latest four-year research strategy, which is financed to the tune of £11 billion.

But significant changes in the rules and regulations governing the framework have raised doubts about whether British academics are in a position to take full advantage of the system.

"We are a bit concerned that a lot of people are put off accessing EU money because of the need to find matching funds," Labour MP Dr Ian Gibson, who chairs the committee, told The Scientist.

"We want to find out if people are really up to speed in terms of knowing how to get...

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