EPS responds to consultation on European research funding
The European Physical Society has submitted a response to the European Commission’s consultation on the Green Paper entitled ‘Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU research and innovation funding’.
The Green Paper proposes major changes to EU research and innovation funding in order to make participation easier, to increase the scientific and economic impact and provide better value for money.
The EPS reply highlighted:
- the role of curiosity-driven research in physics and its impact on technological development;
- how physics research underpins many advances in other fields – such as biology, information technology and medicine;
- that European Commission research funding should place a high priority on curiosity driven, fundamental research;
- the need to facilitate the mobility of researchers from academia to industry, for more effective agenda-driven research;
- how economic incentives for industry to engage in research should be considered;
- that scientific excellence should be the main criteria for selection of research projects for EU funding;
- the need for scientific training and education at all levels;
- the need to develop and implement quality assurance methods for the selection of the experts used to review funding applications;
- how the application and reporting procedures for projects may need to be simplified.
In total, the European Commission received more than 1,300 replies to their questionnaire and more than 750 written responses.
The full response submitted by the EPS – along with the replies from other organisations – can be seen on the European Commission website.
