EU: New Forum launched to promote support for research

The European Commission has announced the creation of a new forum to increase philanthropic contributions for research.

The European Forum on Philanthropy and Research Funding will be initially established for a period of three years and will examine issues such as: the research funding policies of existing philanthropic organisation; legal, fiscal and regulatory issues; and governance and ethical issues.

The idea was raised by a group of experts in charge by the Commission to make suggestions to how Europe should make better use of charitable and private donations to advance research. They had presented their report in 2006 at the first ever conference on "Strengthening the role of philanthropy in the financing of research?. Since then the Commission has undertaken a series of initiatives, e.g. studies on the feasibility of a European Foundation Statute and the role of philanthropy in universities research funding.

"Research should be supported from many sides, including the philanthropic sector," said European Science and Research Commissioner, Janez Potočnik, present at the launch. "But this is a sector that is under-developed and under-valued in Europe, particularly when we compare ourselves with the US. The establishment of this Forum should be a first step in a more coherent and strategic approach to encouraging philanthropists to support research."

Although there is no precise figure for the support to research from the philanthropic sector, it is certainly less than 3% of total research spending, compared with a figure of 4-5% in the US. The potential is certainly there, but it requires an effort from public authorities to improve framework conditions and incentives.

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