German 'ivy league' plan stalled

More than a year after proposing a program designed to create an "Ivy League" of German universities and spur scientific research, Education and Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn is still struggling to garner the required political support necessary to launch the scheme.The latest setback for the €1.9 billion (USD $2.46 billion) plan, which needs unanimous approval from Germany's 16 states, came earlier this month from Roland Koch, prime minister of the state of Hesse.Bulmahn had succeeded in convincing 15 prime ministers to support her plan, but not Koch. The plan was to be officially approved at an April 14 meeting between Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and the 16 state prime ministers, but it was pulled from the agenda after Koch's public opposition.Koch objects to the plan because it would interfere in states' rights to determine higher education and because he believes the federal government will end up pulling money from other university projects to finance the elite program, according to newsweekly Der Spiegel. The politician outlined his objections in a column published in the daily Der Tagesspiegel.No one from Koch's office was available to speak with The Scientist before deadline.But others accuse Koch, a leading figure of the conservative opposition, of using the issue to raise his profile ahead of federal elections in autumn 2006, in order to be chosen as his party's nominee to challenge Schröder, who is expected to seek re-election.Florian Frank, spokesman for Bulmahn, said of Koch's opposition to the plan: "This gives him some headlines." Frank told The Scientist that Bulmahn is still hopeful that Koch will eventually end his opposition to the proposal, but that there is no deadline for final approval and the matter is now in Koch's hands.The prime minister's stance also triggered public criticism from German science and higher education officials, who normally do not publicly criticize powerful purse-string–holding politicians.Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, president of the German Research Foundation (DFG), which would help administer the program, issued a statement on April 15 saying that Germany risks losing its leading position in science unless universities are strengthened.Without naming Koch directly, Winnacker said in the statement: "Individual German politicians are damaging not only the international appearance of German science, but also are putting at risk the economic future of our country."DFG spokeswoman Eva-Maria Streier told The Scientist that Winnacker was referring to Koch. "If Mr. Koch had agreed to this plan, it would have been approved," she said. "He is the blocker." "I think some politicians are using this as a political issue," Streier added. "They are not looking at the idea, but are using it in a very short-sighted way for political effect."Streier said that the program would have to be approved by midsummer in order for funding to begin flowing to universities by autumn of 2006 as planned.The elite university proposal has evolved from the initial plan announced in January 2005 by Bulmahn. Her first proposal called for five elite universities to be named by early 2006, with each to receive €50 million (USD $64.8 million) a year for 5 years. That proposal drew immediate criticism from opposition politicians, who hold power in a majority of states.In order to win Christian Democratic Union political support, the number of elite universities was upped to 10, other programs were added, and the federal government agreed to cover 75% of the cost.Under the current proposal, up to 10 universities would be selected in various fields to receive a boost of €25 million (USD $32.4 million) a year for 5 years. Funding also would be provided for graduate schools and for creation of up to 30 "excellence centers" operated jointly by universities and private institutes or companies. Total annual spending for the plan would total €380 million over 5 years for a total of €1.9 billion.

German 'ivy league' plan stalled

A program designed to boost university research falls foul of politics once again

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