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The ministers for scientific research in the European Union aremeeting in Luxembourg on June 15 to discuss changes in the EuropeanUnion's policy for science and technology. The plans proposed byEuropean Commissioner for science and technology Philippe Busquinwould involve drastic changes in scientific research, heraldingEuropean institutes for advanced studies called "centers ofexcellence". There are also plans to link up national researchprograms, in order to allow external applicants to compete forgrants. The Commissioner also wants to create a single Europeanpatent office. Inventions currently have to go through patentprocedures in all the separate EU states. The main thrust ofBusquin's policy is getting support from all the EU ministers withresponsibility for scientific research, including the Dutchministers. As far as ministers Annemarie Jorritsma (EconomicAffairs) and Loek Hermans are concerned, the plans proposed by theEuropean Commissioner fit in perfectly with their own science andtechnology policies. However, they warn against too much emphasison fundamental research. Busquin, in their opinion, is paying toolittle attention to the commercial aspects of scientific knowledge,or to the interests of trade and industry.

'Guest workers'

The battle for scientific talent is becoming more globalized.Both the technical and traditional universities are accepting moreand more foreign students with qualifications in science subjects.A Dutch university place appears an attractive option forSouth-East Asian and Eastern European researchers, who have fewprospects in their own countries. "There's no conscious policyhere," says C.A. Bosboom, the secretary to the Faculty of EarthScience at Utrecht University. "It's simply the way it happens." Inearth science 18 per cent of the staff (excluding post-graduateteachers) are from abroad. "Earth science is a small discipline. Ifyou don't try to attract international applicants you're bound tocreate a form of academic inbreeding," says Bosboom. However, thereis a flipside to this particular coin. As European CommissionerPhilippe Busquin warned at the beginning of this year, there may bea kind of brain drain in the area. PhD candidates and otherpostgraduates often leave as quickly as they arrive. ParticularlyJapan and the Unites States have much more to offer than Europe."Normally, we can't beat the States", Bosboom admits. "But we cankeep up with the rest of Europe."