The former European Commission president who unveiled the first Horizon budget has defended the current leaders’ shift towards competitiveness, saying they need to justify the spending in a time of economic strain.
The commission plans to nearly double the budget for the next research framework programme, which will run from 2028 to 2034, while focusing on boosting Europe’s competitiveness to support financial growth.
This decision has been met with a backlash from some academics, who worry that the push could undermine universities’ broader social missions and damage the pursuit of scientific excellence.
Speaking to Times Higher Education at this week’s World Education Forum, José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission, said he understood the current commission’s focus.
“It’s a difficult environment,” he said because of “budget constraints at national level, including [in] some of the richest countries”.
