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Work on Creating a Single European Market for Research Enters the Next Phase

Work on Creating a Single European Market for Research Enters the Next Phase

Work has started on the 2025 - 2027 policy agenda of the European Commission's ERA Forum for Transition, the expert group set up to shape the European Research Area (ERA) and create a borderless, single market for research, science and technology.

Universities of Applied Sciences Are Shaping Up to Boost EU Research Outputs

Universities of Applied Sciences Are Shaping Up to Boost EU Research Outputs

There's a new player in Horizon Europe - the universities of applied sciences (UAS), a broad term for second tier higher education institutes such as polytechnics, regional colleges and institutes of technology that were set up as teaching-only bodies but which over time have moved into research. Given their roots, UAS were historically left out of the EU's research programmes but are slowly improving their standing as EU-funded research becomes more policy-heavy and market-oriented.

Commission's Research Directorate to Develop a New Artificial Intelligence in Science Policy

Commission's Research Directorate to Develop a New Artificial Intelligence in Science Policy

The European Commission is to add a new unit with a brief to set down guidelines for the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in science, according to a leak on the upcoming restructuring of the research and innovation directorate general, DG RTD.

Evidence-based Politics:  WHO and the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Evidence-based Politics:  WHO and the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF) Sign Memorandum of Understanding

The MoU has three key areas: technical support to promote evidence-based laws and policies aligned to WHO normative guidance, advocacy to mobilize parliamentarians on awareness raising for sexual and reproductive health, with particular support to low- and middle-income countries, capacity building to strengthen the way WHO and parliamentarians work together.

If AI Becomes Conscious: Here's How Researchers Will Know

If AI Becomes Conscious: Here's How Researchers Will Know

Many researchers say that AI systems aren’t yet at the point of consciousness, but that the pace of AI evolution has got them pondering: how would we know if they were? A checklist derived from six neuroscience-based theories could aid in the assessment. 

Back to School: What's on the European Research and Innovation Policy Agenda This Autumn

Back to School: What's on the European Research and Innovation Policy Agenda This Autumn

After a summer of fun, the EU research and policy bubble is back in business and bracing for a busy run up to Christmas: a new research commissioner, negotiations on the EU's ambitions to be a leader in critical technologies and (hopefully) a much-anticipated final sprint for UK association to Horizon Europe.

Allow Patents on AI-generated Inventions - for the Good of Science

Allow Patents on AI-generated Inventions - for the Good of Science

The current global mishmash of rules on whether innovations made using artificial intelligence are patentable impedes AI-rich fields such as drug discovery.

Use of AI Is Seeping Academic Journals—and It’s Proving Difficult to Detect

Use of AI Is Seeping Academic Journals—and It’s Proving Difficult to Detect

Ethics watchdogs are looking out for potentially undisclosed use of generative AI in scientific writing. But there's no foolproof way to catch it all yet.

Recent Claims Cast Doubt on Legitimacy of Behavioral Science

Recent Claims Cast Doubt on Legitimacy of Behavioral Science

Assessing allegations of data manipulation in psychological studies involving a Harvard Business School professor, Paul Eccleson asks whether we can trust research on behavioral science.

Scientific Board to Advise UN on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology

Scientific Board to Advise UN on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the creation of a Scientific Advisory Board “to advise UN leaders on ... how to harness the benefits of these advances and mitigate potential risks.”

Shortage of Funding and Lack of Scale Are Holding Back EU Industrial Policy

Shortage of Funding and Lack of Scale Are Holding Back EU Industrial Policy

Since March 2020 the European Commission has been making moves to improve Europe’s industrial competitiveness. Experts say things are moving in the right direction, but warn there is not enough money or enough focus on scaling up.

Why Creativity in Science Matters and Three Ways to Achieve It

Why Creativity in Science Matters and Three Ways to Achieve It

Creativity is critical to the future of work. The Future of Jobs Report 2023 ranked analytical thinking and creative thinking as the first and second most important skills that workers will need to have in the future. 

Girls Have Overtaken Boys in Science Participation. In Workplaces, It's a Completely Different Story

Girls Have Overtaken Boys in Science Participation. In Workplaces, It's a Completely Different Story

Young women get better grades in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but progress on jobs for women in these industries has been painfully slow.

Commission acts to accelerate phasing out of animal testing in response to a European Citizens' Initiative

Commission acts to accelerate phasing out of animal testing in response to a European Citizens' Initiative

The Commission is responding to the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) ‘Save Cruelty-free Cosmetics - Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing'. The response provides a comprehensive overview of the EU's legislative and policy framework relevant to the use of animals for testing purposes. It also proposes additional actions to further reduce animal testing.

Science's Gender Gap: the Shocking Data That Reveal Its True Extent

Science's Gender Gap: the Shocking Data That Reveal Its True Extent

Analysis of which researchers publish, get credit, move around, get funding, collaborate and receive citations shows how deeply ingrained the bias against women is.

Congress weighs far-reaching disclosure rules for academics doing military research

Congress weighs far-reaching disclosure rules for academics doing military research

House defense bill would vastly expand information that must be disclosed and posted online.