Latest Science|Business news & analysis

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Welcome to the weekly Science|Business roundup of the most significant news in R&D policy and funding, tailored for our LinkedIn audience.?

In this week’s main R&D policy news we take a closer look at UK signalling interest in joining FP10, as the government in London releases a position paper on its role in the next EU programme for research and innovation.??

On this side of the Channel, EU ministers lobby commissioner-designate Ekaterina Zaharieva to keep the Widening funding schemes going in FP10. A letter by research ministers from 15 member states signals the start of yet another east-west political battle over research and innovation funding. Meanwhile, Hungary wants to bypass Brussels in bid to ‘resolve the silence’ over the Horizon Europe funding ban.?

Also in Brussels, Martin Greenacre interviewed MEP Ester Lakos to hear her views on the Draghi report and its implications for striking the right balance between basic research and big collaborative projects in FP10.??

Last, but not least, two AI researchers wrote a viewpoint telling the European Commission why it should amplify its plans to build a big research organisation for artificial intelligence modelled on CERN?.??

In funding news, we look at how much added value Horizon Europe’s innovation arms are generating, as an independent report praises the European Innovation Council and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, but also points to potential overlaps.?

In the Ecosystem Column, Ian Mundell explains how Lithuania’s laser companies are punching above their weight and looking for new growth opportunities. We also analyse the upcoming rollout of new regional innovation hubs across Europe’s less innovative regions, with plans to add eleven more by the end of the year and six more in early 2025.?

In the Funding Radar, Eleonora Francica takes a look at sustainability-related calls, with funding opportunities in the EU, UK, Japan, India, and the US.??

In the Data Corner a Science|Business analysis shows Widening countries are getting a funding boost, increasing their share of money from 9% in Horizon 2020 to 13% in Horizon Europe.??

Policy Bulletin

UK signals interest in joining FP10

London wants “evolution not revolution” in the EU’s next research and innovation programme, set to start in 2028. Click here to read more

EU ministers lobby Zaharieva to keep Widening going in FP10

A letter by research ministers from 15 member states signals start of political battle over research and innovation funding. Click here to read more

Public-private partnerships should be preserved in FP10, says Eszter Lakos

New MEP agrees with Draghi’s call for more money for basic research, but not at the expense of big collaborative projects. Click here to read more

Hungary to bypass Brussels in bid to ‘resolve the silence’ over funding ban

Orbán’s government is moving ahead with a proposal to end the deadlock over the EU research funding ban - without Brussels. Click here to read more

Viewpoint: Why the Commission must think bigger on CERN for AI.

The EU’s joint AI body can’t just focus on science. Here’s how it should be designed. Click here to read more

Funding Newswire

Horizon Europe’s innovation arms are generating substantial added value

An independent report into the EIC and EIT praises their contribution to fostering innovation, but points to potential overlaps. Click here to read more

EIT to kick off more regional innovation hubs

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s network of one-stop-shops will cover 23 countries by early in 2025. Here’s what they do. Click here to read more

The Ecosystem: Lithuania’s laser companies look to the future

Already punching above its weight, Lithuania’s laser sector is looking for new avenues to growth. Click here to read more

Funding Radar: This week’s round-up of sustainability-related calls

Here’s a list of funding opportunities in the EU, the UK, Japan, India, and the US. Click here to read more

Data Corner: Widening countries get a funding boost in Horizon Europe

The latest data shows lower-performers have increased their share of funding from 9% in Horizon 2020, to 13% in Horizon Europe. Click here to read more

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Funding Newswire , sent out every Tuesday to help you follow where the public and private R&I money is going and which collaborative opportunities you can pursue.

Our weekly Policy Bulletin , released every Thursday, brings you crucial R&D policy updates from Europe and around the world, with a focus on the EU Horizon programme.

The Widening newsletter tracks R&D growth and challenges in central and eastern Europe, science and technology (S&T) investment opportunities in the region, and the people, policies and programmes behind it all.

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