Scientists protest against new role for European Science Foundation

Science : Most funding for research in Europe—about 85%—comes from national research councils. A much smaller proportion—about 5%—comes from the European Science Foundation, which supports cross-border research and allocates funding through a competitive, pan-European grant system. Given that imbalance, some science managers in Europe want ESF to merge with an alliance of national research councils, to relinquish its role as a funding agency, and to become a lobbying and advisory group. The merger plan was announced in January, but has met with opposition. Now, as Science‘s Daniel Clery reports, a group of 37 prominent European scientists has released an open letter protesting against ESF’s new role. One of the group’s concerns is that in recent years ESF has been effective at supporting young scientists in curiosity-driven, bottom-up research.