The promise comes in a speech by von der Leyen at the Sorbonne University in Paris.
We must stand up for science. Priority number one is to ensure that research in Europe continues to be open and free, she says.
She therefore promises both more money and legislative guarantees of free research. 500 million euros – 5.4 Swedish kronor – are offered in an extra support package for the years 2025 to 2027. Furthermore, a new seven-year "super-support" will be established to provide long-term stability for researchers.
Von der Leyen also promises to address bureaucracy and other obstacles that hinder research within the EU.
We know that the path from basic research to entrepreneurship and markets is not sufficiently straight and fast in Europe, acknowledges von der Leyen>
