With over 154’000 signatories, the support of 50 Nobel Laureates and Fields medalists and industry, and meetings with the three EU presidents, the “No-Cuts-On-Research.EU” campaign in late 2012 and 2013 has been the largest campaign on a science issue in Europe so far.

The success and all the positive feedback received is a mandate for us, the Initiative for Science in Europe and its partners, to continue work on spin-off activities, prepare for new campaigns and provide a platfrom for science advocacy at EU level and prepare for new campaigns.

• We launched the “No-Cuts-On-Research.EU Newsletter” to keep signatories and researchers updated about the most important developments in research policy in Europe and about upcoming science advocacy campaigns. Sign up here!

• At a session at the Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) 2014, entitled “Science advocacy and campaigning: Mobilising the research communities to stand up for an increased research budget and better science policies” we will reflect both successes and limits of campaigning for the future. The session on 24 June 2014 in Copenhagen is open to the public.

• Read about history and background, achievements & outcomes, statistics on the “No-Cuts-On-Research.EU” campaign in late 2012 and 2013. Other direct spin-offs that were concluded recently include a national budget campaign in Austria and the video contest “Invest in Science – Invest in Our Future”.

Milestones:

28/05/2014: We would like to invite you to the session Science advocacy and campaigning – Mobilising the research communities to stand up for an increased research budget and better science policies at the Euroscience Open Forum in Copenhagen on 24 June 2014 at 13:30

21/10/2013: Congratulations to the winners of the video contest ‘Invest in Science – Invest in Our Future’ A group of researchers from the  Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon has joined us with a video contest and  for short videos about why investment in science is important. Have a look and share the videos!

17/05/2013:We just sent out the first newsletter to all who have signed and explictly agreed to be kept updated. Read it here or sign up if you have not received it.

08/02/2013: The heads of states or government achieved an agreement and — a sentence was added to save research from the worst cuts!  “[T]he funding for Horizon 2020 and ERASMUS for all programmes will represent a real growth compared to 2013 level.”

The fact that a specific sentence was added is also a clear indication that the efforts taken by the Initiative for Science in Europe, the Young Academy of Europe and other groups in the last weeks had impact on the decisions.

04/02/2013: Today a delegation of scientists met with François Hollande, President of France and Jean-Yves Mérindol, advisor to the President, to remind them of the importance solid research funding has for the future and prosperity of France and Europe.

In the course of the meeting which took place at a reception in honour of Serge Haroche, France’s newest Nobel laureate, Mérindol received the list of signatures and the joint letter from ERC and major European industry leaders. For more information, please see the press text in English and French.

01/02/2013: The major European industry leaders support the EU research budget in a joint letter with the European Research Council (ERC). The joint letter, published in the Financial Times, followed by a press release of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT) which is a forum for chief executives or chairmen of around 50 major European companies with a combined turnover of about 1 Billion Euro, thereby sustaining around 6.6 million jobs in Europe.

15/11/2012: A delegation of Nobel laureates and representatives of the Initiative for Science in Europe and the Young Academy of Europe met with Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission to deliver the open letter and report about the success of the petition. Photos are now available.

23/10/2012: Petition launched: ERC Starting Grant holder and Nobel Laureate Konstantin Novoselov is first to sign: “Europe needs to adapt a forward-looking approach that promotes risky though thoughtful and challenging research. The ERC provides the most adequate support for research in Europe and the scope of its activities should be broadened.“