Why it's better to have the EU funding R&D
So tell me again why it's better to have a central political government like the EU controlling R&D? Apart from a large unaccountable taxpayer-funded budget, I suppose.
Firstly, the EU isn't a 'government'.
Secondly it doesn't 'control' R&D. It funds some projects and not others, within a general framework that is a consensus between the 28 EU governments. This is a good thing, because it avoids duplication and encourages broad, diverse research teams, which are well known to be more effective than inward-looking local teams.
Thirdly, it isn't unaccountable. Actually the EU auditors are much more nosy than any national R&D auditors, in my experience. They claw back inappropriate expenditure.
And finally, as someone else noted, the total EU R&D budget is a drop in the ocean compared to national R&D budgets.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
