Science Funding: the European Dimension

Nation states support scientific research as a contribution to culture and in the expectation of achieving economic benefit.

European collaboration is essential for the largest of the "big science" projects and, as demonstrated for example by particle physics, can be highly successful.

There is, however, a growing tendency towards the funding of a wider range of science at the European Union level rather than the Nation State level.

This work examines developments in science funding in the European Union, looks at the problems which arise, and the benefits which are sought and achieved by countries within Europe.