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The Ecosystem: The Race is on to Choose Europe's Regional Innovation Valleys
The European Commission plans to designate 100 locations across Europe as Regional Innovation Valleys, in a bid to strengthen innovation in EU priority areas and encourage collaboration between more and less advanced regions.
Switzerland Announces €625M in Backup Funding for Horizon Europe Applicants
Switzerland Announces €625M in Backup Funding for Horizon Europe Applicants
The Swiss Federal Council has announced €625 million in grants for researchers to participate this year in Horizon Europe and other EU programmes, such as Euratom, ITER and Digital Europe. Switzerland is not an associated country in Horizon Europe and is currently locked out of other EU programmes as well, which means Swiss researchers have no access to funding from the European Commission. However, they can participate in about two thirds of Horizon Europe calls, provided they have their own money.
European Commission Sets Up New European Innovation Council Unit in the Research Directorate
European Commission Sets Up New European Innovation Council Unit in the Research Directorate
The European Commission has reorganised its directorate general for research and innovation (RTD) in order to give it better oversight of the European Innovation Council (EIC), with a new organisation chart published last week showing management of the innovation funding programme has been moved to a new unit. The unit will sit in the directorate for the European Research Area and Innovation, which is led by Anna Panagopoulou.
Improving Mentoring in Academia Requires a ‘Collective Effort’
Sarvenaz Sarabipour is tired of academics understanding mentorship through anecdotes. The scientific community “needs a minimum set of standards for good mentorship,” says the Johns Hopkins University systems biologist, which can only be achieved by studying it systematically.
The Science of Passion: Why Do We Kiss?
Humans exchange millions of disease-spreading bacteria when we kiss. Scientists believe that kissing tests the compatibility of mates ― that it all comes down to swapping spit. But where does the behavior come from?
What Will We Eat in a Post-1.5C World? Podcast
We now know that global temperatures are likely to temporarily exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial levels in the next five years. Breaching this crucial threshold will have serious consequences, including on our food. In the second of a special series of episodes looking at what a future world might look like, science editor Ian Sample explores how our diets could change as the world heats up, exploring climate-resilient vegetables, trying out mealworms, and discovering how to make flour out of microbes
Thousands Protest Mexico's New Science Law
Researchers are preparing to march against legislation that some say could harm basic science.
China Overtakes United States on Contribution to Research in Nature Index
Data on affiliations suggest that authors from China made the largest contribution to high-quality natural-science research in 2022.
Mixed Reception for Vestager As Temporary Stand-In at Research
The news that Commission vice president Margrethe Vestager will temporarily take over the innovation and research portfolio following the departure of commissioner Mariya Gabriel has been met with mixed feelings.
Despite Risks, EU Continues to Fund Research with Chinese Military-linked Universities
Despite Risks, EU Continues to Fund Research with Chinese Military-linked Universities
Despite efforts to prevent EU technology leaking to China's military, the European Commission is continuing to fund at least five research projects involving some of China's top military-linked universities.
Plastic-eating Fungi Discovered in Swiss Alps
Bacteria and fungi recently discovered in the Swiss Alps can digest biodegradable plastics at low temperatures. This ability, if upscaled to an industrial scale, will save money and energy during recycling, say scientists.
London and Brussels Still Haggling over Horizon Europe Association
With negotiations on the UK's association to Horizon Europe still ongoing, the UK government is looking for ways to ensure the smallest possible gap between how much money it will be putting into the programme and how much UK-based researchers get back.
Human Embryo Science: Can the World's Regulators Keep Pace?
Concerned by the speed of research, policymakers are looking for alternative ways to establish rules on genome editing and other technologies.
Research Lobbies Cheer European Research Council Rollout of 'Inclusive' Evaluation Rules
Research Lobbies Cheer European Research Council Rollout of 'Inclusive' Evaluation Rules
The European Research Council is revamping its project evaluation process from 2024 in line with the EU-wide push for a less prescriptive approach to evaluating scientific impact.
Meeting of Joint Swiss-British Committee for Science and Innovation
On 2 May 2023, State Secretary Martina Hirayama and British Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman, opened the first meeting of the Joint Swiss-British Committee for Science and Innovation. This meeting between the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the British Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was mainly centred on bilateral cooperation in research and innovation.
'Too Greedy': Mass Walkout at Global Science Journal over 'Unethical' Fees
Entire board resigns over actions of academic publisher whose profit margins outstrip even Google and Amazon
University Strikes: How the Marking Boycott Affects Cambridge
University Strikes: How the Marking Boycott Affects Cambridge
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are continuing a marking and assessment boycott over pay and working conditions. The BBC spoke to students and staff at the University of Cambridge about how the situation is being handled there.
Spain Adopts National Open Access Strategy
Spain has approved a four-year national strategy for open science, under which all outputs of publicly financed research will made available free upon publication. Under the strategy open access will become the default mode for all research funded directly or indirectly, with public funds.
Integrating STEM Majors Won't End Gender Segregation at Work
Increasing women's representation in science, technology, engineering, and math majors will reduce-but not nearly eliminate-gender disparities in STEM occupations, Cornell University sociologists report in new research.
Advancing Climate Policy: Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge at the Science-Policy Interface
Advancing Climate Policy: Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge at the Science-Policy Interface
This working paper shows the need for the active engagement of Indigenous knowledge holders in climate policy processes.
Pressure Mounts for European Law to Protect Academic Freedom
The European Parliament's industry, research and energy committee (ITRE) wants to kickstart the process of creating a European regulation to protect academic freedom.
R&D Organisations Hit out at Proposed New EU Patent Rules
Industrial R&D organisation in Europe have hit out at new patent rules rolled out by the European Commission last week, calling for further consultations on proposals aimed at harmonising parts of European patent legislation that currently vary across member states.
CERN Celebrates 30 Years of Free and Open World Wide Web
Exactly 30 years ago, CERN publicly released the tool that allowed scientists and institutes working on CERN data all over the globe to share information accurately and quickly.
Female Students Avoid Science-related Fields
Women are less likely than men to pursue maths-related subjects due to preconceived notions about these fields, despite having comparable mathematical aptitude to men, according to a sociological study by the University of Zurich (UZH).
New Pharma Rules Risk 'Sabotaging' Life Sciences in Europe, Says the Industry
New Pharma Rules Risk 'Sabotaging' Life Sciences in Europe, Says the Industry
The European Commission has unveiled long-awaited proposals to reform EU's pharmaceutical legislation to enable better access to drugs and promote innovation, but industry doesn't like the look of it. The first revision of the legislation in over 20 years aims to make medicines more available, accessible and affordable, while boosting innovation and industrial competitiveness, by simplifying regulations and speeding up the scientific evaluation and authorisation of new drugs.
China - Not The US - Is Now The Global Leader In Science & Tech
The United States and its Western neighbors are gradually losing ground to China in the race to develop advanced technologies and attract top talent.
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