A leading scientist has called on Europe's research community to speak out against proposals to substantially cut a planned increase in the European Union research budget for 2007–2013 ahead of a key EU summit on June 16.

Helga Nowotny, head of the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB), an independent body advising the European Commission, called on scientists to support a push to double the research budget for Framework Programme 7 (FP7), saying it was "an absolute minimum target to accomplish the challenges for European research."

Nowotny's appeal comes after Luxembourg, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, proposed slashing the planned doubling of the European Commission's research budget by between 69% and 45%.

Nowotny said the cuts would leave an increase that would be too small to help Europe catch up in science. In a statement on behalf of EURAB, she said that a lack of money already meant that...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member?