Germany and Portugal move to reopen for research, while UK sages urge a rethink
Europe
Some German states have made moves to partially open their universities for research or teaching as the country eases social distancing measures designed to combat coronavirus.
Portugal’s minister for science and higher education, Manuel Heitor, has called on universities and polytechnics to begin resuming face-to-face activities this month, following campus closures due to Covid-19.
Eight projects to develop diagnostics and treatments for Covid-19 are to receive a total of €117 million from the EU’s Innovative Medicines Initiative public-private partnership.
UK
An “independent” Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies has urged the government to rethink its “dangerous” Covid-19 recovery strategy.
Twenty science and technology organisations have joined forces with the campaign group Women in Science and Engineering to promote and protect women in the sector during the Covid-19 crisis.
A UK-Dutch biotech has secured financial backing to develop a fast and portable coronavirus test that could detect the virus within seconds.