WIKIMEDIA, TIM BEKAERTGreek researchers have something to cheer about for the first time in a while. Last week (July 15), the country’s debt-beleaguered government announced a boost to establishing a science funding agency, the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI): a US $200 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The massive loan represents a departure for the EIB, which typically only foots up to 50 percent of the bill for development projects. In this case, however, the 28 member states of the European Union voted unanimously to float the cash to the Greek government, which would contribute more than US $66 million of its own to the agency over the next two-and-a-half years.
“Given the key issues around fundamental research in Greece, 75 percent was seen as justified,” EIB spokesperson Richard Willis told Nature. “It is about competitiveness, forward-thinking and the future.”
The HFRI will function in much the same way as US science funding agencies, with researchers submitting grant proposals and the agency awarding fellowships for young scientists.
Greek scientists have had to ...
