Romania rebuilds research council after funding fiasco

The Romanian government is looking to replace its national research council after all 19 members quit in protest of retroactive cuts to research grants, ScienceInsider has reported.

The members of the national research council (CNCS), Romania’s main funding body, reportedly resigned following an announcement by the government that in 2013 it would award some researchers only around half of the grant money they were promised. 

Researchers who were awarded multiannual research grants by the CNCS in 2011 were told earlier this month that there was not enough money available to give them their full funding for 2013, the article says. One researcher said he was told he would get 45% less than expected, while some of his colleagues were told they would get 55% less, ScienceInsider reported.