[In Depth] A lifeline for Greek science—or living on borrowed time?
The Greek government is trying to stop the nationwide brain drain stemming from global financial crisis. This week, the parliament was expected to take up legislation to create the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI), modeled after the German Research Foundation and the U.S. National Science Foundation, and funded mostly with a loan from the European Investment Bank. Over the next 3 years, HFRI will distribute about €225 million in peer-reviewed grants. HFRI will regularly schedule calls for proposals—a longstanding wish of Greek scientists. The science ministry plans to spend €18 million of the funds immediately on graduate and postdoctoral research projects. Although many Greek researchers welcome the new foundation, they say that much more funding is required to revitalize science in their country. Author: Erik Stokstad