– Short-term thinking is very dangerous for the future of research
Maria Leptin manages NOK 160 billion for research. She believes that one thing in particular is harmful to research.
Norwegian research environments are holding their breath. Norwegian research into the monetary crisis competes with the energy crisis, inflation and notices of cuts in spending.
It can get even worse if nothing is done. But it is not a matter of course that it is research that will get away with extra money in the national budget this year.
The contrast to what is happening in Oslo and Trondheim this week could not be greater. There, the world of research is gathered for a party and celebration of long-term, basic research.
On Tuesday, the king honored 18 foreign prizewinners with the Kavli Prize, for their research into the universe, atoms and the brain.
One of those who is also present during the celebration is Maria Leptin. She is not just anyone.
One big danger
As president of the European Research Council (ERC), she manages NOK 160 billion which will go towards basic, curiosity-driven research until 2027.
Several of the researchers who received on Tuesday refer to some of their findings almost as coincidences after a long period of research. At the same time, the Norwegian Research Council must release one year’s payments to basic research.
ERC president Leptin does not know the situation in the Norwegian Research Council in detail. She says she also refrains from commenting on the European countries’ internal affairs.
But Aftenposten tells her about this summer’s interview with top researcher Jan Terje Andersen at the University of Oslo and Rikshospitalet. He described the scramble to seek external, short-term funding in order to pay 13 of 15 researchers in his research group.
Leptin recognizes that reality – and she warns of what it can lead to.
– I spoke to some of those who are really the cream of the crop among young researchers, about what enables them to do research. They said the most difficult thing is short-term funding for the research, says Leptin to Aftenposten.
Constantly having to think about funding can mean that researchers do not have time to develop their ideas, believes the ERC manager. It is the thing that can damage research the most, she believes.
– Short-term thinking is very dangerous for the future of research, states Leptin.
– Do politicians understand that?
– Some do it, some don’t.
Always have to fight for the money
The EU is to distribute NOK 1,000 billion for research until 2027. So far, Norway’s has been successful and the EU finances a lot of Norwegian research.
However, those who collect the most money from the EU, Sintef, are afraid that the Norwegian authorities will not provide enough for Norwegian researchers to participate in international research.
They are afraid that networks in Europe will be lost.
– Is there room in Europe for Norway to take a short break from the European arena and come back later?
– In some places, you might be able to have people do something else for a couple of years, but it certainly doesn’t work in my laboratory. I have PhD students working on specific projects. I can’t tell them to turn around and drop their research. They must complete their projects, and then they must be able to apply for funding, says Leptin.
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They participate in EU research worth 6.7 billion. Now they are warning Norway against tightening the purse strings.
Europe is characterized by war, energy crisis, heat waves and dried up rivers. That makes it important to invest in basic research now, Leptin believes. The countries that lower its priority are doing worse, says the ERC chief.
– Researchers are also citizens. They and their children are also affected by this. Therefore, they continue to look for solutions politicians do not yet know about. What they find out will enable others to solve problems.
– Do you feel that basic research is under pressure in today’s Europe?
– Yes, it always is. It is about tax money. We always have to fight for the government’s money. It is normal. But it has been proven time and time again that these investments really pay off.