EuCheMS calls for planned research cutbacks to be reversed

EuCheMS, the federation of European chemical societies, today called for the planned cuts in the Framework 7 research budget to be reversed. The recent European Council meeting discussed cuts of 45-69% in the European Commission's proposed research budget for 2007 onwards.

"EuCheMS emphatically rejects talk of reducing the planned expenditure. European chemistry, along with all other scientific and engineering disciplines, urgently needs the support of research funding if it is to enliven the economy and secure the long term prosperity of Europe. Without the planned expenditure the Lisbon agenda will never be realised" said Dr Simon Campbell, President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the largest organisation within EuCheMS.

The planned 7th Research Framework Programme was welcomed by scientific societies and organisations across Europe. It aims to support sustainable research and to establish a European research council. Any reduction in funding would mean drastic cut-backs in the research programme, slowing technological development in Europe, further exacerbating competitive disadvantages with North America and Asia. 

"Europe needs more investment in top-class research and development not less" said Simon Campbell. "We need to redress a balance in funding that sees Research and development receiving only four percent of the total European budget, whilst agricultural subsidies make up 50 percent."

Note to editor: 

EuCheMS is the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences, a federation of non-profit-making chemical societies from over 35 European countries representing over 150,000 chemical scientists.