EU must invest more in research and innovation

Since 2014, the European Union has given subsidies to ground-breaking research and innovation in its 28 Member States through the Horizon 2020 programme. The European Parliament want to see an increased sense of ambition in this regard and is calling in a new resolution that would see a substantial increase to the budget for the next research programme starting in 2021. “A call that is justified,” says MEP Anneleen Van Bossuyt, who co-wrote the resolution. “However, that means Europe will also have to have the wherewithal to make clear choices. Today, less than 10% of the European budget goes to research and innovation, while almost 40% goes to agriculture. Europe has to focus on the problems that keep citizens awake at night, such as security. Indeed, research plays a crucial role in this regard too.”

A controversial section of the resolution deals with European defence research. “The groups on the left think that Europe shouldn’t concern itself with such things. Nevertheless, our security has to be a priority,” says Anneleen Van Bossuyt. “While we see China, the USA and a few Arab countries significantly increasing their research budgets for defence, Europe continues to flounder in the distance. For example, Europe is forced to purchase its equipment in those countries. This can be done much more efficiently by focusing on more coordination between the Member States here in Europe too. Thanks to a far-reaching cooperation with our neighbours, such as the Netherlands, we can significantly reduce the costs.”

A worrying development

We are now halfway through Horizon 2020, which has received quite a positive assessment thus far. “The programme has a record number of new participants, the budget has never been so high and company shareholdings have increased significantly as well,” says a satisfied Anneleen Van Bossuyt in summary. But the overwhelming success also has a darker side: “It ensures that only 10% of the submitted research projects are approved, which is a worrying development. An increasing number of researchers are becoming discouraged when it comes to continuing to participate in the terribly burdensome admission procedure. In this way we risk missing important opportunities,” Anneleen Van Bossuyt warns.