National university groups unite to protect Horizon 2020 funding

The heads of French, German and British universities have asked the European Commission to alter its plan to spend Horizon 2020 funding on an EU investment fund.

France’s association of university presidents the CPU, the German Rectors’ Conference HRK and the UK vice-chancellors group Universities UK published a joint statement on 23 February. The groups urge MEPs and national governments to protect Horizon 2020 against the loss of €2.7 billion, which is planned to be spent on an economic stimulus package to create jobs and growth.

The groups said policymakers should find an alternative source of funding for the initiative, to protect Horizon 2020 funding from cuts. They also asked for at least 30 per cent of the proposed European Fund for Strategic Investments to be spent on research and innovation projects.