EU funds for corporate research in turmoil
The Education Ministry proposed that 53 companies terminate contracts on EU funds for corporate research. Last year, it ran two calls for such projects, each totaling €300m. It cancelled the first one, but signed contracts with successful applicants in the other one before Education Minister Peter Plavčan (SNS) was forced to resign due to the dubious ways the firms were selected. The ministry is concerned the EU will not reimburse the projects due to the shortcomings. Many small companies with no prior research experience had been selected. The ministry promises it will hold new calls for research projects and the firms will be allowed to re-apply. Some firms are refusing to terminate the contracts, though. The mess is slowing the use of EU funds for research.
