Policy

Open access to scientific publications must become a reality by 2020 – Robert-Jan Smits

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Imagine if all the billions we are now putting into these expensive subscription journals could be put into research, says Robert-Jan Smits.

A lot of lip service is being paid to making scientific papers free to access but when it comes to action there is a lot of hypocrisy, according to Robert-Jan Smits, the EU’s outgoing director-general for research, science and innovation. He has recently been appointed the EU’s special envoy on open access, tasked with helping … Read more

Missions could make Europe cool again – Prof. Mariana Mazzucato

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Major missions such as putting a man on the moon generate a lot of spillover innovations along the way.

Missions modelled on the 1960s ‘moonshot’ programme to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade could help make Europe a cool place to do business and unite the public behind European science and innovation, according to Professor Mariana Mazzucato, founder and director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College … Read more