“Involve Switzerland and UK in European research again”
Switzerland and the United Kingdom should rejoin the European Horizon research program as soon as possible, Dutch universities, colleges, and research institutions believe.
The European Union cannot afford to exclude Switzerland and the United Kingdom from the research program, says a position paper by Neth-ER, the outpost of Dutch education and research in Brussels. This position paper is a brochure of views on European research that was launched today. It is the vision that Neth-ER will advocate on behalf of its member organizations.
Heavyweights
Switzerland and the UK are two heavyweights in the world of scientific research. It is important for Europe to include those countries in international research, Neth-ER believes. After Brexit, the UK cannot simply continue its research program; talks on participation are ongoing. Switzerland was not allowed to participate after negotiations with the EU on free trade and migration broke down.
This situation should therefore not last too long, the Dutch research institutions feel. In addition, other “like-minded” countries should also have access to the program. This would not be unusual. There are currently 16 non-EU countries participating in the research program, including Norway, Turkey, Israel, and Ukraine. Talks are ongoing with Morocco and, a little farther down the road, New Zealand.
Knowledge or cows
Neth-ER is enthusiastic about the Horizon Europe program, in which researchers can apply for funding. The Netherlands usually performs well in the program: for every euro spent, we get back €1.70 in funding.
Some countries see less back from their own contribution and would rather spend the money on agricultural subsidies and other funds. In Europe, as it is sometimes called, a battle for “knowledge or cows” rages.
Perhaps the Netherlands is too successful, mused Vice President Eveline Crone of the European research funder ERC (also part of the Horizon program). The distribution of knowledge and money among member states should be better, she believes.
Measures were indeed taken to that end, with researchers from certain countries being taken along with the other groups so that they could learn from each other.
Superfluous
But according to Neth-ER, money should ultimately continue to go to the best researchers, regardless of their country of origin. The weaker science countries
would be better off working on reform and investment, is the view. The "widening instrument" should eventually become redundant.
Neth-ER includes not only Dutch universities, colleges, and research institutes, but also, for example, student organizations ISO and LSVb, science society KNAW, research financier NWO and the MBO Council.
