“The European Medicines Agency opened up its clinical trials database to the public today. Information on interventional trials run in all 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, will now be searchable via the EU Clinical Trials Register website …” (more)
[Daniel Cressey, The Great Beyond, 22 March]
“Further doubt has been cast on Scottish Government plans to charge European students up to £1700 a year to stave off the current crisis in university funding. Academics and student representatives argued that the proposals from Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, could be open to challenge on the grounds of discrimination …” (more)
[Andrew Denholm, Herald Scotland, 18 March]
“Students from other EU countries could be charged to study in Scotland, the education secretary has revealed. Mike Russell told the Scottish Parliament that, if re-elected, the SNP government would also increase fees to students from other parts of the UK …” (more)
[BBC News, 16 March]
“The European Commission has selected six futuristic proposals to compete for two huge flagship projects that will apply information and communication technologies to social problems …” (more)
[Alison Abbott, Nature, 8 March]
“Brussels suspects a cartel where publishers see a defence against distributors with the clout to drive down prices below cost …” (more)
[Benedicte Page and Leigh Phillips, Guardian, 4 March]
“Europe is just a few, short steps away from a system in which scientists, companies and lone inventors will be eligible to apply for a single patent that is applicable in all subscribing countries …” (more)
[Inga Vesper, Exquisite Life, 25 February]
“It was expected, but still a relief for promoters of European innovation. Yesterday, the European Parliament voted in favour of a common EU patent system, under a so-called enhanced cooperation procedure …” (more)
[Alison Abbott, The Great Beyond, 16 February]
“The European Union’s research commissioner has criticised British science and education spending cuts, saying they jeopardise future growth in the United Kingdom. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the research commissioner, told an audience at the Royal Society this week that it was essential to maintain investment in R&D and innovation to overcome the financial crisis …” (more)
[Inga Vesper, Exquisite Life, 11 February]
“The European Commission is asking for help designing – and renaming – its next research and innovation funding program. The current program, Framework Programme 7, will spend €53.3 billion over 7 years before it ends in 2013. The next program is due to start that year …” (more)
[Gretchen Vogel, Science Insider, 9 February]
“The appointment of Europe’s first chief scientist will hopefully happen this year, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, the research commissioner told reporters in London today …” (more)
[Brian Owens, The Great Beyond, 7 February]
“A group of innovation leaders called the outcome of a European Council discussion yesterday on innovation policy a good start – but urged continued pressure for reform …” (more)
[AlphaGalileo, 6 February]
“Lamenting the erosion of the rule of law in Italy, a European Voice editorial (3 February 2011) highlights Italy’s recent reform concerning its non-Italian teaching staff (lettori) as ‘a particularly flagrant breach of EU law’ …” (more)
[David Petrie, President of the Association of Foreign Lecturers in Italy, 6 February]
“If you take a look at the Times Higher Education world university rankings, you will see that, apart from the United Kingdom, only one European country has a university in the global top 20 – and that’s Switzerland, which isn’t even in the European Union …” (more)
[Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University Blog, 6 February]
“An application for €40 million worth of EU training funds for the construction sector has still not been completed by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan eight months after she announced the scheme in a blaze of publicity …” (more)
[Niamh Connolly, Sunday Business Post, 6 February]
“Norway and Switzerland are opposing a budget increase for the next Framework Programme, which starts in 2014, fearing that their contribution to its costs could grow out of all proportion. Both countries are outside the EU and would have to pay significantly more towards Framework 8 than previous Framework Programmes if its budget increases …” (more)
[Inga Vesper and John Fogarty, Research, 25 January]
“A leading academic has called for top European universities to be directly funded through the European Union in a bid to ensure that the Continent retains its competitiveness and economic power …” (more)
[Hannah Fearn, Times Higher Education, 20 January]
“The cost of European students studying in Scotland has quadrupled in nearly a decade, with the Holyrood government having to pick up the bill …” (more)
[BBC News, 13 January]
“The familiar challenges of funding and mobility – particularly in research – will dominate the agenda for European higher education in 2011. But this year will probably be much worse as public sector spending cuts bite into higher education budgets across the region …” (more)
[Alan Osborn, University World News, 9 January]
“EU GRANTS: For the sort of blue-sky research that funding agencies steadfastly avoid an EU grant scheme – with €580 million to offer – is ready to help and Irish projects are tapping into it with success …” (more)
[Claire O’Connell, Irish Times, 17 December]
“Innovation within the European Union is wanting for reasons cultural, historical and technical. It can best be strengthened by breaking down barriers and building a united research area …” (more)
[Nature, 28 October]
Ninth Level Ireland 