A shared vision for the next European Funding Programme

The Babraham Institute together with its EU-LIFE partner research institutes have contributed to the development of Europe’s next research and innovation programme (FP9). In a recent policy paper they have emphasised the need to move away from the current demand for short-term impacts which reflect political timescales and have called for the recognition of the long-term and unpredictable nature of scientific research. Excellent collaborative science must be funded at all stages of the research pipeline and not just at the later stages as in the current work programmes.
 
The paper also highlights the need to increase the budget for research and innovation as at current funding levels, many excellent proposals are currently rejected. “H2020 has created a new paradigm in research and innovation. We are happy to support the drive for more and better impact of research and investment in Europe, but there still are key aspects to be improved if we want excellent research to address crucial societal challenges in fields such as health, environment or social equality,” states Marta Agostinho, EU-LIFE coordinator.
 
The Institute’s engagement with European science policy comes at a particularly critical time as the UK negotiates its departure from the European Union. Director Professor Michael Wakelam recently met with Stephen Metcalfe, chair of the Commons Science and Technology Committee, and emphasised the critical role of the current European funding programme Horizon 2020 in facilitating excellent research in the UK. Michael said: “The Institute currently benefits from over £7M of funding from the EU. In 2016 this facilitated collaborations at Babraham with 139 different research organisations and companies in 20 European countries as well as 18 organisations within the UK. It is essential that the UK continues to be part of the European research community. It is also critical that we remain open and welcoming to the best researchers irrespective of nationality – otherwise our competitiveness will be severely compromised”.
 

Related links:

EU-LIFE’s vision for the next European Programme FP9 : The next Horizon - Strategies to promote European competitiveness in innovation
Institute submits responses to Science and Technology Committee inquiries on Brexit
Comment from the Institute Director on the result of the EU referendum