Craig Nicholson

ERC president warns of ‘passive suppression’ of research freedom - Research Professional News Precarious working conditions and political steering of funding can erode science, Maria Leptin cautions

Free to read: ERC president warns of ‘passive suppression’ of research freedom

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Universities ‘must adjust to support competitiveness’ - Research Professional News European University Association secretary-general calls on institutions and partners to “make the future we want”

Universities ‘must adjust to support competitiveness’

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EUA's @kamilakozirog.bsky.social said the risk of concentrating funding in only a few countries is a legitimate concern. The ECF should include measures like simplification, stronger advisory support and practical capacity-building tools so that more actors can compete successfully on merit.

Parliament president: academic freedom ‘in interest of all Europe’ - Research Professional News Europe cannot “lower our guard” in defence of principle, warns research commissioner

Parliament president: academic freedom ‘in interest of all Europe’

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Are some funding calls a waste of time and money? - Research Professional News Diagnosing wasted effort in research funding is harder than it looks, says Tom Stafford

Opinion: Are some funding calls a waste of time and money?

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Lessons from Kyiv on linking civilian and dual-use research - Research Professional News Europe should design FP10 and defence funding around project-level rules rather than institutional labels, says Andrii Shysholin

Free-to-read opinion: A Ukrainian university has found, in hosting civil, dual-use and defence work, that "openness and security are not opposites but variables calibrated at project level"

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ECF funding should focus on excellence, sector leaders say - Research Professional News Research and innovation representatives reject MEPs’ calls for European Competitiveness Fund to have geographical allocations

From our latest issue: The planned European Competitiveness should focus on excellence and avoid national allocations, sector leaders say

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Why research impact is so important—and hard to show - Research Professional News Five specialists discuss the benefits and challenges around research impact

From our latest issue: Why research impact is so important—and hard to show

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EU ‘approaching pivotal moment’ on researcher conditions - Research Professional News Researcher networks say ERA Act must set minimum employment standards or risk loss of capacity

From our latest issue: EU ‘approaching pivotal moment’ on researcher conditions

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French digital and agricultural research agencies grow closer - Research Professional News Inrae-Inria deal furthers collaborations on AI and data science and includes research support

France news: Digital and agricultural research agencies grow closer

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France celebrates improved openness on clinical trial data - Research Professional News Open Science Barometer publishes 2025 results as Japan adopts French model

France news: Improved openness on clinical trial data celebrated

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After months of wrangling and an epic list of delays, the Commission has finally released its Industrial Accelerator Act.

This could turn into one of the EU’s most consequential industrial policy files in years - and the proposal is honestly not a bad place to start.

Some quick thoughts:

Portugal launches national debate to find new R&I priorities - Research Professional News Country and Europe need “more and better science”, says research minister

Free to read: Portugal launches national debate to find new R&I priorities

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How can the EU hit its 3 per cent R&D spending target? - Research Professional News Experts advocate creating right conditions for industry and getting taxpayers on board with public spending

How can the EU hit its 3 per cent R&D spending target?

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‘Persistent gender gaps’ remain in European innovation system - Research Professional News European Patent Office report calls for increased focus on key issues and joined-up policy interventions

Free to read: ‘Persistent gender gaps’ remain in European innovation system

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Germany news: Female professorship scheme ‘bringing profound shift’

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Germany news: Bavaria strikes €2bn-plus deal for commercial fusion facilities

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Researcher ethics differences ‘pose questions for policy’ - Research Professional News Large-scale survey finds discipline-related differences in views on “grey zone” practices

Differences between disciplines regarding research ethics views pose questions for policy, study suggests

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Government appoints National Science Advice Forum members - Research Professional News Ireland's research minister praises “exceptionally high” calibre of candidates

Ireland news: Government appoints National Science Advice Forum members

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Plan to boost Irish firms’ Horizon Europe participation unveiled - Research Professional News Essential for Ireland’s enterprise base to fully benefit from the EU scheme, says research minister

Ireland news: Plan to boost Irish firms’ Horizon Europe participation unveiled

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Use science diplomacy to boost competitiveness, EU advised - Research Professional News Member states should position EU as “global champion” of academic freedom, Commission recommends to Council

Use science diplomacy to boost competitiveness, Commission advises EU member states

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Sweden aims to become a top 10 country for artificial intelligence - Research Professional News Strategy envisages Nordic hub with Swedes leading world in AI’s public administration applications

Nordic news: Sweden aims to become a top 10 country for artificial intelligence

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Danish National Research Foundation to boost ‘rising stars’ - Research Professional News New initiative aims to help early career scientists transition into leadership roles

Nordic news: Danish National Research Foundation to boost ‘rising stars’

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EU urged to boost support for university greening efforts - Research Professional News University sustainability networks underscore that funding pressures are limiting progress on decarbonisation

EU urged to boost support for university greening efforts

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Ministers want more work on the design of the EU's next research and innovation programme before they'll agree to back it

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Industry body ‘strongly backs’ European Competitiveness Fund

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Netherlands news: Funder signs sustainability manifesto

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Netherlands news: Government spending plans ‘offer limited gains for R&D’

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The Commission proposal for the next EU research and innovation programme is the "minimum" needed, said ERC president Maria Leptin - adding that the EU commissioner has agreed to discuss firming up the funder's operations

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EU defence research funding ‘on risky legal ground’ - Research Professional News University group leader warns proposal for future support could have “far-reaching budgetary and institutional consequences”

EU defence research funding ‘on risky legal ground’

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