Science|Business Widening Newsletter No.44 | Sign up here
11/12/2024
“The Widening” is a product of Science|Business and is not related to EU institutions or programmes.

Focus on central and eastern Europe

Welcome to a new edition of The Widening newsletter, a roundup of news and analysis of research and innovation policy and investments in central and eastern Europe, delivered to your inbox twice a month. Sign up here.

Edited by Florin Zubașcu

This week we take a closer look at how several countries in central and eastern Europe have taken a lead in the small modular reactor (SMR) sector, and we recap the political row over the government’s  proposed reorganisation of Hungary’s research network Hun-Ren. Last, we have an opinion piece from the rector of the University of Ljubljana on artificial intelligence in science.

The latest news

SMALL MODULAR REACTORS: Widening countries look to steal a lead in next generation nuclear power stations. Poland, Czech Republic and Romania are racing to deploy SMR technology, but they face workforce and regulatory hurdles. Mădălina Cocea has the story.

AI IN SCIENCE - THE VIEW FROM SLOVENIA: In a post truth age, academics must step up and ensure the reliability of the information fed into AI models, says Gregor Majdič, rector of the University of Ljubljana. The rapid advance of AI raises “the fundamental question of what role universities play when powerful and wealthy private entities dominate the direction of digital innovation”. Read the full opinion piece here. 

THE ECOSYSTEM: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has put its weight behind a new agrifood accelerator in Warsaw, promising increased support for start-ups in this sector across central and eastern Europe. The Future Resilient Agriculture hub extends a network of accelerator hubs run by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food community, and marks a rare collaboration between the two institutions. Ian Mundell has the story. 

HUNGARY IN THE SPOTLIGHT AGAIN: A plan to privatise Hungarian research centres in the Hun-Ren network raises fears that will mean they are not longer eligible to access Horizon Europe funding. MEPs and academics say the reforms are a power grab, like those that led to universities being barred from EU funds. “These amendments are worrisome, as the research network may not be able to be a beneficiary of Horizon Europe,” said Eszter Lakos MEP, of Hungary’s opposition Respect and Freedom Party.

(IM)PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY: The president of the Hun-Ren network of research centres has defended the reorganisation. Balázs Gulyás insists the changes, which as they currently stand would allow Orbán and Hungary’s science minister to appoint the inaugural governing board, are not a political takeover. “We have nothing to do with politics,” he told Science|Business.

BUILDINGS FOR SALE? The Hun-Ren network is composed of the former research institutes of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, which were reorganised in 2019 at the behest of Orbán. Since then, Hun-Ren institutes have continued operations in the same buildings, but now the Academy wants to sell some of them. Members are discussing the issue at an extraordinary general assembly today.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? We welcome opinion pieces and other contributions on R&I policy in central and eastern Europe. Send yours to news@sciencebusiness.net.

In other news

EU PARLIAMENT PUSH FOR WIDENING REFORMS: MEPs in the industry and research committee (ITRE) recommend that Widening countries start implementing national reforms in research and innovation, saying that otherwise the performance gap between east and west “cannot be closed regardless of efforts made at the EU level”. MEPs admit that the east-west innovation gap is bad for the competitiveness of the EU, and with talent left untapped, economic disparities could grow. The Commission should ensure that upcoming legislation on the European Research Area (ERA) imposes R&I reforms so member states can “eliminate subpar performance”, MEPs say. The comments were made in response to a draft report presented by German conservative MEP Christian Ehler ahead of negotiations on the next framework programme for research and innovation, FP10.

NEW GRANTS ANNOUNCED: The European Commission has €315 million to award for 63 new projects under three Horizon Europe actions: Teaming for Excellence; Excellence Hubs; and ERA Chairs. The three funding opportunities were launched in 2023, and all projects are due to start between the end of the year and the first quarter of 2025. More details about the projects and future funding opportunities are available here.

SLOVAKIAN STRATEGY: The government in Bratislava has announced a new strategy for research, development and innovation. The plan includes a whopping 91 specific measures, including a review of public expenditure and a new system for supporting science and research. The government also plans to increase the budget for research and innovation, hoping to boost public and private spending up to 2% of GDP by 2030. More details here. 

RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES: Poland has announced €328 million from EU pandemic recovery funds to develop research infrastructures. "We are aware of the financial needs of Polish science and we are striving to increase this funding,” said science minister Dariusz Wieczorek.

NEW PRESIDENT: The Czech Academy of Sciences has nominated physicist Radomír Pánek to become president for the 2025-2029 term. “I promise that over the next four years, I will do everything possible to move the Czech Academy of Sciences significantly forward,” Pánek said after a vote this week.

APPOINTMENT: Anu Noorma, director general of the Estonian Research Council, has joined the governing board of Science Europe, an association of research performing and funding organisations. Noorma hopes to contribute to debates on the upcoming EU programme for research and innovation FP10. “I am delighted to have been accepted as a member of the Science Europe Governing Board,” she said in a statement.

Mark your calendars 

BRNO, 10-12 JUNE 2025: The Czech city will be the host of next year’s conference on core technologies for life sciences. The event is aimed at facility administrators, managers, researchers and professionals, who will discuss cross-facility workflows, professional development of facility staff, open science in core facilities, building of a national core facility community, and engagement with industry. Registration is now open. Early bird fees are available until 28 February 2025.

Science|Business Widening group

Did you know that we host a meeting of the founding members of our Widening initiative once a month, during which we discuss the latest progress and the future of the community? You can find out more about becoming a member at this link.

UPCOMING EVENTS