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EU budget: Universities condemn plans to cut investment in research

EU budget: Universities condemn plans to cut investment in research

Last week, the finance ministers of the EU member states met to discuss the European Union budget for the coming year in Brussels. Among others, they called for investments in research and innovation to be cut by €491.47 million next year. HRK-President Horst Hippler criticised the decision, calling it a “step in completely the wrong direction”. “It is tragically ironic that the finance ministers want to cut future investments in research within Europe by around €0.5 billion just as the EU Commission publishes a report that points out just how important research is for prosperity in Europe and calls for increased investment,” explains Hippler.

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HRK President on copyright law reform: Digitalisation without compromise

HRK President on copyright law reform: Digitalisation without compromise

“If Members of the Bundestag genuinely want to advance digitalisation and promote German research, they must not cross the red lines drawn by the universities,” said HRK President Horst Hippler, referring to the planned passage of the Urheberrechts-Wissensgesellschafts-Gesetz (Copyright Knowledge Society Act). “I once more call on them most emphatically to pass the legislation in the version tabled by the Government.” For the universities, there are two “no-go areas” in relation to the draft legislation, Hippler said.

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Federal Cartel Office does not act on objection to Project DEAL HRK President: Ball is in publishers’ court

Federal Cartel Office does not act on objection to Project DEAL HRK President: Ball is in publishers’ court

As early as the end of May, the German Federal Cartel Office made the decision not to initiate proceedings against Project DEAL. This means the authority has decided against pursuing a complaint by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association. The association had accused DEAL of misusing its market power over subscriptions to electronic journals. “The decision of the Federal Cartel Office strengthens the hand of the research community,” declared Horst Hippler, HRK President and lead negotiator of Project DEAL. “I call on the publishers to finally give serious consideration to the demands of the research community, instead of attempting to delay the negotiations or trying to push through outdated business models,” said the HRK President.

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