MEPs told EU13 should focus on R&D spending and excellence

Over half of Horizon 2020 funds went to just 25 institutions, according to briefing

The EU’s newer 13 member states should focus on the governance of their national R&D systems if they want to increase the share of funding they win from the bloc’s R&D programme, a briefing for the European Parliament has recommended.

Governments of the EU13 countries should increase their national research and innovation funding, “and use it explicitly, together with [EU regional funds] as leverage to attract funding” from the EU R&D programme, said Michal Pazour, head of the department of strategic studies at the Czechia-based ASCR technology centre, in his briefing published on 11 January.