Brussels, 18/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Funding of €12 million is being earmarked under the European Research Area (ERA) pilot initiative to enhance research facilities in the less-developed regions. Universities and research institutions in those areas will be subsidised in order to attract academics with a view to turning those areas into Europe's new platform for research.
The €12 million in question is being drawn from the budget of the current seventh framework programme for research (2007-2013) and other European funds. Johannes Hahn, European Regional Policy Commissioner, explains that: “By pooling our resources in these regions, we can make sure this is a lasting and sustainable initiative. If we combine EU research funding with EU regional funds, we can provide laboratories and equipment for these academics and their teams. Supported in this way, we will close the research and innovation gap and help translate these ideas in concrete opportunities for growth”. Grants of up to €2.4 million will therefore be awarded to universities or research institutions selected on the basis of their installations or ability to achieve excellence. For now, this is a pilot stage to test the concept. If it proves successful, then it may be renewed according to the budget allocated to research for the financial programming period 2014-2020. European Commissioner for Research Maire Geoghegan-Quinn explains for her part that: “Many regions in Europe are underperforming on research, both in terms of their overall output and in terms of their participation in EU funded research. I want to make sure that no one is left behind, not out of charity but because it makes good research sense and economic sense to have wide participation in our programmes”. (MD/transl.jl)