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Investments in Research and Growth

League of European Research Universities Publishes Position Paper on European Union Program “Horizon 2020”

Freiburg, Nov 20, 2012

No budget cuts for the European Union research program “Horizon 2020”: The League of European Research Universities (LERU) has published a position paper calling for 80 million euros in funding for the program from 2014 to 2020. This is sum originally earmarked for the program in the European Union’s medium-term financial planning, but it has again come under discussion among the union’s member states. The resolution is a result of the Rectors’ Assembly, hosted by Rector Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Jochen Schiewer at the University of Freiburg on 16 and 17 November 2012, where the rectors of the LERU member universities met to discuss current topics concerning the European higher education landscape. The paper warns that sustained investments in research and innovation are crucial for ensuring economic growth and competitiveness in Europe.

LERU is an alliance of 21 leading European research universities. Freiburg has been a member of the network since 2006 along with institutions like the University of Cambridge, England, the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. The goal of LERU is to influence higher education and research policy on the European level with position papers, analyses, and recommendations.

The position paper is available here.

Click here for a printable version (pdf) of the press release.