MORE THAN 2'500 scientists have now signed this letter to European Commission President
A copy of this letter has been shared with Members of the European Parliament and the European Council.
Thank you for your support, and please continue to share with your colleagues
A copy of this letter has been shared with Members of the European Parliament and the European Council.
Thank you for your support, and please continue to share with your colleagues
RESEARCH IN EUROPE – A UNION THAT STRIVES FOR MORE
Founded to prevent the massive cuts to the “Horizon Europe” Budget in 2020, the RescueHorizonEurope Initiative is a grassroot campaign of researchers from all over Europe ranging from graduate students to Nobel laureates and supported by numerous, prestigious Universities, University networks and science organisations as well as over 100 Members of the European Parliament.
RescueHorizonEurope aims to maintain Europe competitive as place of scientific excellence so that we can tackle current and future crises from Covid-19 over the climate change to multi-resistant bacteria or the next pandemic through the solid foundation of open research. The development of not one but many vaccines against Covid-19 would have been impossible if the scientists had not been able to base their work on decades of basic research. Yet, the massive cuts to European research funding agreed to by European Leaders in 2020 will diminish Europe’s research and innovation capabilities with implications that are likely to extend far beyond Europe’s borders.
We call on the EU Council, the head of governments of each member state, the European Parliament, and the European Commission to finally commit to the 3% goal of GDP for Research – it was published in 2002 to reach by 2020 – and build a task force on how to reach it by 2035.
If you would like to help us making Europe competitive as place of scientific excellence and Innovation, please sign and spread the word to your fellow researchers to support our campaign as well!
RescueHorizonEurope aims to maintain Europe competitive as place of scientific excellence so that we can tackle current and future crises from Covid-19 over the climate change to multi-resistant bacteria or the next pandemic through the solid foundation of open research. The development of not one but many vaccines against Covid-19 would have been impossible if the scientists had not been able to base their work on decades of basic research. Yet, the massive cuts to European research funding agreed to by European Leaders in 2020 will diminish Europe’s research and innovation capabilities with implications that are likely to extend far beyond Europe’s borders.
We call on the EU Council, the head of governments of each member state, the European Parliament, and the European Commission to finally commit to the 3% goal of GDP for Research – it was published in 2002 to reach by 2020 – and build a task force on how to reach it by 2035.
If you would like to help us making Europe competitive as place of scientific excellence and Innovation, please sign and spread the word to your fellow researchers to support our campaign as well!
Our initial letter to EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen from November 2020 with the original list of signees is found below.
Dear Dr. Von der Leyen,
Your agenda for Europe bears the title “A Union that strives for more”. You envisioned a Europe that takes the global lead on the major challenges of our times. A Europe that leads the transition to a healthy planet and a new digital world. A Commission who listens to the people of Europe and who matches aspiration with action.
We are writing to you today to say: Now is the time to strive for more. Now is the time to listen. Now is the time to act.
All of us are scientists. We work in an array of different disciplines and different countries. Some of us are PhD students. Others Nobel Prize Laureates. Most of us have never met. What unites us is the passion for science. The passion for Europe. And the devastation to see European ambitions slashed to save what represents less than 0.8% of total European spending.
The drastic cuts to European research will have devastating effects on our ability to address major challenges of our times – including climate change, pandemics, quantum technology, artificial intelligence or personal medicine. It will inevitably lead to exodus of scientific excellence, technological dependencies, and diminished patient care. It will limit Europe’s ability to innovate and to develop a more prosperous and sustainable economy.
But you know this already. We are not the first ones to express our concerns. Many have done so before us – including the most experienced and respected policy advisers. Including almost every single research organisation in Europe. Including 25,000 citizens and scientists via an online petition. Including a former European Commission President.
So, what more can we say? We want to remind you that behind political discussions and budget decisions arranged behind closed doors, there are real people, exceptionally talented scientists, who will leave Europe; real scientific questions that will not be answered; real progress that will not happen. All of that to the detriment of the people whom you have sworn to serve.
As of today, we have collected letters from over 50 scientists in 17 different countries. Please read these letters. They are from European scientists who consider relocating their labs to places where outstanding research is encouraged and matched with ambitious funding schemes. Scientists in low-income countries write how cuts to European research will affect intercontinental scientific collaborations and their ability to train and grow. Clinicians tell you how less basic science research will directly impact the care they can provide to their patients. Experienced scientists, many of whom have achieved breakthroughs that have revolutionised the world as we know it today, express their concern that future generations will not be given the chance to follow in their footsteps. Nobel Prize Laureates who have witnessed the establishment of EU 'framework programs' speak about how these have transformed the world map of scientific research. Young scientists feel that Europe is stealing their generation the chance of discovering great things and making the world a better place.
We continue to receive more letters every day and will continue to share them with you as we receive them.
All of us have united here today to ask you to stand up to the ambitions you have set out in your Agenda for Europe – the promise you have made to the people of Europe. It is time to keep it. Strive for more. Listen. Act.
Your agenda for Europe bears the title “A Union that strives for more”. You envisioned a Europe that takes the global lead on the major challenges of our times. A Europe that leads the transition to a healthy planet and a new digital world. A Commission who listens to the people of Europe and who matches aspiration with action.
We are writing to you today to say: Now is the time to strive for more. Now is the time to listen. Now is the time to act.
All of us are scientists. We work in an array of different disciplines and different countries. Some of us are PhD students. Others Nobel Prize Laureates. Most of us have never met. What unites us is the passion for science. The passion for Europe. And the devastation to see European ambitions slashed to save what represents less than 0.8% of total European spending.
The drastic cuts to European research will have devastating effects on our ability to address major challenges of our times – including climate change, pandemics, quantum technology, artificial intelligence or personal medicine. It will inevitably lead to exodus of scientific excellence, technological dependencies, and diminished patient care. It will limit Europe’s ability to innovate and to develop a more prosperous and sustainable economy.
But you know this already. We are not the first ones to express our concerns. Many have done so before us – including the most experienced and respected policy advisers. Including almost every single research organisation in Europe. Including 25,000 citizens and scientists via an online petition. Including a former European Commission President.
So, what more can we say? We want to remind you that behind political discussions and budget decisions arranged behind closed doors, there are real people, exceptionally talented scientists, who will leave Europe; real scientific questions that will not be answered; real progress that will not happen. All of that to the detriment of the people whom you have sworn to serve.
As of today, we have collected letters from over 50 scientists in 17 different countries. Please read these letters. They are from European scientists who consider relocating their labs to places where outstanding research is encouraged and matched with ambitious funding schemes. Scientists in low-income countries write how cuts to European research will affect intercontinental scientific collaborations and their ability to train and grow. Clinicians tell you how less basic science research will directly impact the care they can provide to their patients. Experienced scientists, many of whom have achieved breakthroughs that have revolutionised the world as we know it today, express their concern that future generations will not be given the chance to follow in their footsteps. Nobel Prize Laureates who have witnessed the establishment of EU 'framework programs' speak about how these have transformed the world map of scientific research. Young scientists feel that Europe is stealing their generation the chance of discovering great things and making the world a better place.
We continue to receive more letters every day and will continue to share them with you as we receive them.
All of us have united here today to ask you to stand up to the ambitions you have set out in your Agenda for Europe – the promise you have made to the people of Europe. It is time to keep it. Strive for more. Listen. Act.
SIGNATORIES
The first 60 signatories are listed here. For the full list of signatories, please consult the Signatories page.
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M.Sc. Antonia Weberling
MSCA-ITN PhD Fellow, PhD Student, University of Cambridge, UK |
Dr. Nathalie Conrad
Marie Sklodowska Curie Research Fellow, Catholic University of Leuven - KU Leuven, Belgium |
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Prof. Michel Mayor
Nobel Laureate in Physics 2019, Emeritus Professor, University of Geneva, Switzerland Prof. Serge Haroche Nobel Laureate in Physics 2012, Emeritus Professor, Collège de France Paris, France Prof. Jean-Pierre Sauvage Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2016, University of Strasbourg, France Sir Paul Nurse FRS Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2001, Director of the Francis Crick Institute, UK Prof. John O'Keefe Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2014, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, UK |
Prof. Edvard Moser
Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2014, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway Prof. May-Britt Moser Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2014, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway Prof. Erwin Neher Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 1991, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 1987, University of Strasbourg, France Prof. Thomas Coudreau Professor, President Réseau National de Collèges Doctoraux, University of Paris, France |
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Prof. Alexander Bartelt
Professor of Cardiovascular Metabolism, Universität München, Germany Prof. Herbert Schreiber Apl. Prof. of Neurology, Ulm University, Neurological Practice Centre & Neuropoint Academy, Germany Dr. Loren Andreas Emmy Noether Group Leader, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany Prof. Dr. Christian von Coelln Professor of Law, University of Cologne, Germany Dr. Alejandro Manzano Marín MSCA Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Austria Dr. Marine Petit Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California Davis, USA Dr. Benjamin Pingault Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Fellow, Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, USA; and QuTech, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands Dr. Viljami Sairanen Hospital Physicist & Senior Scientist, HUS Medical Imaging Center & Baby Brain Activity Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland Dr. Keti Zeka Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, UK Dr. Theo Van den Broek Clinical Resident Medical Microbiology, Postdoctoral Scholar, University Medical Center Utrecht and Boston Children's Hospital, Netherlands and USA Dr. Brian Cahill Member of Governing Board, EuroScience, Germany Dr. Piotr Bragoszewski Principal Investigator, Laboratory of Protein Homeostasis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland Dr. Carlotta Olivero Research associate, Cardiff University, UK Dr. Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri University Lecturer, Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine Fellow, Dept of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK Prof. Marco Sgarbi Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy Dr. Mostafa Shawrav Chair Marie Curie Alumni Association, Austria Dr. Ainara Sistiaga Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Dr. Jan Stanek Research associate, University of Warsaw (Faculty of Chemistry and Biological and Chemical Research Centre), Warsaw, Poland Dr. Morena Tartari Marie Sklodowska Curie Research Fellow, University of Antwerp, Belgium Dr. Elsa Abs Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Global Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory for Sciences of Climate and Environment, University of California Irvine, USA, France M.Sc. Akorede Kalejaiye Nigeria Dr. Sonja Zitzelsberger Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Kassel, Germany Prof. Joseph Moran Professor, ISIS, University of Strasbourg and CNRS, France Dr. Pawel Dydio Assistant Professor, Institute of Science and Supramolecular Engineering, University of Strasbourg and CNRS, France Dr. Nina Lueck Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellow , University College Dublin, Sutherland School of Law, Ireland |
Prof. Patrick, Lemaire
Group leader, Centre of Cell Research Montpellier (CRBM), CNRS senior researcher, EMBO member, President, French Society for Developmental Biology (SFBD) Prof. Thomas Hermans Professor, University of Strasbourg and CNRS, France M.Sc. Priscila Borba Borges PhD student, University of Porto, Portugal Dr. Ester Comellas Sanfeliu Marie Sklodowska Curie Global Fellow, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain Prof. Enrica De Cian Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy Dr. Magdalena Djordjevic Principal Research Fellow, Institute of Physics Belgrade, Serbia Dr. Torstein Fjermenstad MSCA Postdoctoral researcher, Politecnico di Milano, Italy Prof. Dr. Liesbet Geris Full Professor, University of Liège and KU Leuven, Belgium Dr. Marie Górna Group Leader, University of Warsaw, Poland Dr. Almer Gungor Marie Sklodowska Curie Research Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Belgium Dr. Katerina Danae Kandylaki Postdoctoral researcher, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience Maastricht University, Netherlands Dr. Gabor Kismihók Head of Learning and Skills Analytics Research Group, Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology (TIB), Germany Prof. Lorenzo Moroni Professor in Biofabrication for Regenerative Medicine, Vice-Director MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Netherlands Dr. Gaëlle Offranc Piret Permanent researcher, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), France Dr. Patricia Altea Manzano Postdoctoral researcher, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Belgium Dr. Siobhán Airey Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University College Dublin, Ireland Dr Matteo Barbone Humboldt Fellow, Technical University of Munich, Germany M.Sc. Markus Schliffka PhD Student, Institut Curie, Paris, France Fg. Off Connor Ross PhD Student, Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, UK Prof Johannes Weberling Professor of Media Law, European University Viadrina Frankfurt Oder, Germany M.Sc. Svetlana Jovanic MSCA-ITN PhD Fellow, PhD student, University Paris Sud, France Dr. Matteo Molè Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Associate Clare College, University of Cambridge, UK M.Sc. Tanja Verena Matheis Doctoral candidate, Department of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Germany Dr. Carsten Schulte Researcher, Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces, Department of Physics, University of Milan, Italy Dr. Julian Klein Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT, USA |
SIGN THIS LETTER
To express your support for an ambitious European research budget.
We vet every signature, so it may take 72 hours for your name to appear.
If you represent an organisation that would like to show your support for the safeguard of European research, please email [email protected]
To express your support for an ambitious European research budget.
We vet every signature, so it may take 72 hours for your name to appear.
If you represent an organisation that would like to show your support for the safeguard of European research, please email [email protected]
