There is a big crisis going on at the moment regarding the funding of scientific research in the Czech Republic. According to the Czech Academy of Science, new policy on how funding will be allocated threatens the existence of fundamental or basic research in the Czech Republic. Nature reported on the controversy in July, if you have access you can read the full article, here is an excerpt:
“Scientists in the Czech Republic are up in arms over drastic changes in the national science-funding system that they say will damage basic research in the long term. Starting next year, core funding for Czech universities and research institutes will be allocated according to rigorous metrics. Institutes can obtain ‘points’ for a variety of publications and for patents, but also for any software, methods, samples, prototype devices and ‘validated technologies’ developed in-house. The government plan, drawn up over the past three years with the goal of increasing the efficiency of research and development, was approved by the Czech cabinet on 29 June. But critics say that the prescribed funding formula gives a grossly distorted picture of the real assets of Czech science, and threatens to destroy its best parts. Ill-defined criteria of ‘innovation’ will downgrade the merit of detailed work on books and peer-reviewed papers, they argue, while rewarding impressive sounding concepts and rushed patent applications”
The Czech Academy of Sciences have set up an “emergency website” where you can sign up and show your support for the continuation of basic research in the Czech Republic.
