Research funding

Planning cuts of more than €1 billion (£840 million), ministers opt to save academic positions and instead target ‘starter’ grants

‘Without ending funding for projects, it would be impossible to fund new and innovative projects,’ says Stian Westlake

Future is ‘uncertain’ for UK in a Changing Europe, says director

Former White House science chief Tom Kalil argues higher budget would help ‘non-consensus’ research projects achieve ‘critical mass’

September and January deadlines disadvantage some and consume time off, academics say

Improved fortunes of UK-based researchers follows return to Horizon Europe, but grantee numbers are still much below pre-Brexit levels

New role backed by cement company at Trinity College Dublin has prompted protests, but can institutions – and the planet – realistically afford to spurn such funding?

New Labour government believes decade-long budgets will lead to more industry investment in science and fewer precariously employed researchers, but not everyone is so convinced

Difficult conversations about how the REF’s post-2029 open access books mandate will be financed cannot be avoided, say experts

Australian stakeholders applaud indigenous focus but stress need for planning and resourcing

Analysis shows public investment in research generates private spending at more than double the level previously thought

But formation of Research Ireland must be accompanied by funding increase, researchers say, as questions over leadership remain

University had already built £31 million home for exascale supercomputer now targeted by spending cuts

Go8 report outlines 10-year ‘roadmap’ to boost investment, arguing ‘substantial’ change needed

Without increased support, many RAs may choose to leave for other opportunities that provide more job security and benefits, says Bre-Anne Fifield

Ministry support will be vital, but a lack of political imperative could limit motivation, say Hyejin Kim, Erik Mobrand and Sylvia Schwaag Serger 

Annual Transparent Approach to Costing data shows returns on international students fell again last year

All eyes are on Tohoku University and its grandiose future plans as excellence initiative gets under way, but critics question whether goals are achievable

Commission says the continent needs to boost its research spend to ensure ‘long-term competitiveness’

Lawmakers promise ‘robust conversation’ on future of top science agency, but accompanying limits on funding and research freedom raise suspicions about ultimate intention

Eye-catching R&D commitments like those seen in previous manifestos influence strongly only a small group of voters, polling shows

University leaders anticipate financial challenges as government invests elsewhere, with job losses and course cuts expected

Canberra quietly scrapped plans to join world’s biggest research collaboration scheme in mid-2023

After decade-long suspension due to perceived overuse, federal budget set-asides by individual lawmakers again disproportionately bolstering academia and its science

Top US research funding agency, while unsure about proposed change to mission statement, swings back at partisan attempts to limit an equity-focused agenda

Shift to lump-sum funding model for key European Research Council awards could backfire, universities fear

International student caps will endanger research funding just as a leisurely R&D review considers how to fix it, Senate committee hears

Postdocs risk being ruled ineligible after biding their time to optimise prospects of success

Labour’s official science slate is dull but radical moves to reform research funding and engage industry could be close, experts believe

Coalition agreement involves major cuts to research and university funding alongside harsh new measures for students

Members of US House issue bipartisan demand for details of private foundation giving $1 million annually using controversial Chinese company’s donations

Royal Society and British Academy back increase in education research spending after study reveals funding gap compared to health

Number of black principal investigators applying to UK research councils halves year-on-year

No projects are funded because nobody has the expertise to appraise them, letter claims

British Heart Foundation says cardiovascular disease research faces shortfall of more than £250 million to 2035

We should improve the system while we’re examining it, critics argue

Bringing the UK’s research budget closer to Alphabet’s spending levels is vital for fixing sluggish economic growth, says economist

Research and education ‘absolutely decisive’ in turbulent times, French president says in Sorbonne speech

Biomedical research charity asking applicants to submit sustainability plans in funding bids as UK institutions launch new green research code

After flat research funding drew complaints last year from universities, new plan warmly welcomed

As part of annual budget, lawmakers also call for focus on fraud, new funding models and peer review

Stirling principal warns against repeat of post-Brexit inclusion but concedes ministers will need to see details of next framework programme

Jobs chopped at universities, government agencies and crown research institutes

UK-based recipients of Advanced Grants will still have to move institution to secure Brussels funding, despite Horizon Europe association deal

US’ biggest charitable foundation, with focus on global health, abandons APCs in favour of preprint repositories

Further government investment is needed to ensure UK is a ‘leading country in the G7 on R&D’, say universities, research charities and learned societies

Association agreement will be signed later this year, European Commission says, with Korea joining framework programme in 2025

Changes to funding body’s act end its term as ‘political plaything’

Changing funding rules could shift the dial on open science, Australian paper argues

European Commission announces launch of EU-Switzerland negotiations with Horizon Europe association on the table

Central investment might go some way to mitigate declining spending by local government and industry

Improved settlement for UK’s ‘biggest-ever’ doctoral training investment will deliver fewer funded PhD places than in previous years, UKRI confirms

In another edition of gloomy research indicators, major NSF tally finds companies nearing the basic science spending of the federal government

In fiscal 2025 budget plan constrained by his shutdown concession, president again seeks free-college deal while letting science agencies struggle

In global survey, barely one in 10 academic leaders say they feel well prepared to address the challenges of providing competitive compensation

Minister argues €900 million will have limited impact on science, but sector leaders are unconvinced

Year after a strong boost, agency’s gamble on translational division gets knocked down as part of wider election-year retreat by Congress from federal science spending

Rectors question how Macron can live up to promise to end underfunding of science

Scientists question whether abolition of major sector agencies is justified

Monica Bertagnolli hopes for new era of research that sets the stage for essential societal change