EC funding changes prove unpopular with experts

The EC's research funding program, Fifth Framework, has been plunged into disrepute this week, as unit head Roberto Cencioni failed to explain the new guidelines to UK technology experts.

Almost E4m is up for grabs over the next three years, as part of the Fifth Framework's technology research programs.

Getting funding has, until now, been a matter of submitting a proposal that tallied with the EC's lengthy, fixed criteria. But the Commission has cut down its 40 pages of rules to a simpler description of the types of 'innovative' programs it wants to fund.

Cencioni, who heads up the Human Language Technology Unit at DG XIII, told a language technology forum in Cambridge that the change will streamline the funding process. But the audience clearly disagreed with the changes, telling Cencioni they wanted clear guidelines on getting funds for their research projects.

Fiery questions from Ruslan Mitkov of Wolverhampton University and Yorick Wilks of Sheffield University, met with a blank wall. Cencioni insisted: "The important thing now is the spirit of innovation and creativity. I want to see your ideas."

In particular, delegates wanted to know whether the EC would favour Eastern European projects and industrial consortia over UK universities.

Rose Lockwood, founder and MD of research agency Equipe, who organised the conference, supported her chief guest. "The aim is to improve the quality of proposals, not judge them against a fixed specification," she said.

Lockwood advised researchers to submit their proposals on a single A4 sheet for feedback, before embarking on their full application.