Politics of public research funding: the case of the European Union

This chapter examines the politics of public research funding by focusing on one of the most prominent international initiatives, namely the European Union’s Framework Programme. It investigates how over the years policy frames combining certain values and interests have contributed to the emergence and expansion of the EU public research funding. If the initial establishment EU research policy was largely driven by economic frame, then in recent decades its further expansion has been facilitated also by two additional - scientific excellence and societal challenges - frames. Although similar frames can be encountered at national level, specific feature of EU research policy is that the EU level cooperation, coordination, and competition are seen as solutions to economic competitiveness, scientific excellence, and societal challenges. While public research funding typically is analysed from technocratic perspective, this chapter highlights the need to examine the role of political priorities, values, and interests in research policy and funding.