‘More reforms needed’ say top researchers

Leading researchers at two top UK universities are calling on the European Commission to introduce further reforms to Horizon 2020.

In a fresh report on the EU’s next research and innovation framework programme, Dr Michael Galsworthy of University College London and Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine say more changes are needed, including  further reducing red tape and increased investment in Eastern Europe.

Speaking about the report, ‘Europe’s ‘Horizon 2020’ science funding programme: How is it shaping up?’, Galsworthy said: “After many years of often painful and bureaucratic development, the EU science model of international collaboration and researcher mobility is clearly starting to work. Science is now increasingly viewed as a cornerstone of Europe’s future as an integral part of quality of life, sustainability and business innovation. In preparation for Horizon 2020, some solid steps have been made on levels of both practicality and vision, but a few key innovative changes at the central administration level would revolutionise the dynamism and productivity of European science.”

The paper, published in the Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, calls on the Commission to remove compulsory tendering, therefore allowing research projects and SMEs to work more easily together. The researchers also ask for a better distribution of Horizon 2020 funding in Eastern European member states, citing that the original 15 EU member states have received 34 times more health research funding under FP7 than the 12 newest member states.

Other recommendations include changes to informatics and database access as well as improved central categorisation and transparency so analysis and debate is more open.