About: research

Science could become collateral damage of Brexit

A no-deal Brexit at the end of the year, or even a minimal, thin-deal Brexit, with no provision for cooperation on science, innovation and other crucial fields, would deliver a serious blow to economic competitiveness in the UK and the EU, writes Sir Michael Leigh.

Italy welcomes bioeconomy, kisses agricultural runoff goodbye

In 2017, Italy’s entire bioeconomy sector had a total turnover of €300 billion and, within 13 years, employed two million people. The country’s Bioeconomy Strategy was taken up a notch and made even more ambitious at the start of 2019. EURACTIV’s partner Agronotizie reports.

Fairer EU research funding needed to halt brain drain: Croatia minister

Cash from the EU's research funds must be spread beyond the "old men's club" of prestigious institutions in richer member states to curb the brain drain exacerbating inequalities across the bloc, a Croatian minister said on Thursday (9 January).

Cancer fight requires optimism but also prudence, says top researcher

Any EU policy aimed at eradicating cancer must combine optimism, prudence and the realism of scientific evidence, the new boss of the EU research team on cancer, Walter Ricciardi, told EURACTIV in an interview.

Green MEP calls for EU action plan on alternatives to animal testing

All initiatives to promote alternatives to animal testing are welcome, but lawmakers should be bolder and impose some mandatory measures as well, Luxembourgish MEP Tilly Metz has said.

To target or not to target? That is the EU’s research and innovation question

There is a lot of money available to fund research and innovation in the EU, but it's not reaching the right people at the right time. Policymakers are debating whether more focused funding would make the situation better, or worse.

Europe’s ‘MIT’ wants to accelerate innovation and support creativity

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology often referred to as "Europe's MIT", is a little over ten years old and has already supported more than a hundred projects. It is now preparing to launch a branch to promote culture and the creative industries. EURACTIV France reports.

Faced with ‘dogmatic’ EU, Switzerland may turn to UK on research cooperation

Switzerland is unlikely to strike a deal with the European Union this year over a stalled partnership treaty, its economy minister said, extending an impasse that has hurt bilateral ties and disrupted cross-border share trading.

EU Commission documents reveal fund that pays coal lobby staff

Internal EU documents show that a European Commission fund invests €40 million per year into coal research projects. The money also goes towards personnel costs for Europe's main coal lobby organisation.

Paris draws inspiration from Yerevan to give teenagers digital education

With the support of European funding, Paris has started a school for digital creation called “Tumo”. This concept, which comes from Armenia, allows young people aged between 12 and 18 to learn about digital creation in an autonomous manner. EURACTIV France reports.  

Europe’s health sector worried about post-Brexit investment dearth

Fragmented, multilingual and over-regulated: Europe is currently not an attractive place for investors and things could get worse after Brexit, experts from the life sciences industry have warned.

Citizens and sustainable development are big losers in EU’s next research programme

The Commission has unveiled its proposal for Horizon Europe 2020 and this comes at a critical time for the EU. But there needs to be close monitoring of the research agenda set, as current proposals could have dire consequences for democracy and sustainable development, writes Jill McArdle

Return of the JEDI: European disruptive technology initiative ready to launch

When French President Emmanuel Macron proposed the creation of a European innovation body modelled on the US DARPA last September, few believed it possible. But the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI) is taking shape.

Countries prioritise research, education to avoid ‘lost decade’

Smart spending and a focus on future-oriented priorities, such as innovation and education, will be key to create more jobs the next decade in a more competitive environment.

New EU cybersecurity centres slated to research encryption

EU member states are expected to agree Monday (20 November) on a plan to set up new cybersecurity research centres that will focus partly on encryption technologies.

Bütikofer: ‘The priority to support additive manufacturing is financing research’

Reinhard Bütikofer is one of the most authoritative voices in the European Parliament on 3D printing. In his view, Europe will have to struggle over the next decade to be a leader in industry, and will get there only if it turns research efforts into innovative results.

March for Science: Is the basis of the knowledge society being eroded?

After years of sluggish advance, the house of world economics looks generally strong. However, those who ensure the knowledge base for growth, the scientists and researchers, face threats to their system, writes Thomas Jorgensen.

EU scientists ‘Trump-et’ need for evidence-based policies

It’s an age-old question: policy-based evidence, or evidence-based policy? While the answer has traditionally been left to policymakers, scientists and their supporters are marching around the world on Saturday 22 April to demand political leaders enact evidence-based policies.

Bulgaria risks losing EU funding for research infrastructure modernisation

EXCLUSIVE/ Documents seen by EURACTIV.com show that Bulgaria is set to lose millions of euros in EU funding aimed at modernising the country’s research infrastructure and stimulating its innovation potential, apparently due to its inability to select independent evaluators.

Drugmaker Novo Nordisk bets $145 mln on post-Brexit UK science

The world's largest producer of diabetes drugs has invested millions in a new research centre at the University of Oxford despite Brexit and a possible move of the European Medicines Agency from London.

Breweries, bakeries and brides: Where Italy spent its EU billions

The EU promised the south of Italy billions to promote research and innovation, but, as EURACTIV Germany reports, the money was spent on some strange projects...

Funding, staffing woes for UK science after Brexit vote

The Nobel Prize-winning head of Europe's biggest biomedical research centre in London said that Britain's vote to leave the EU is worrying his European employees and will hit "extremely important" funding.

The 2017 EU budget: How to tackle current crisis without endangering economic growth

The European budget is vital for research, SMEs, job creation and tackling the EU’s external challenges. The European Parliament must fight to ensure this budget is up to the task, writes Siegfried Muresan.