French research and education survive austerity budget

Nature : Despite the widespread budget cuts proposed for 2013 by French president François Hollande, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research managed to receive a spending increase of 2.2%. As a result, 1000 new university posts will be created, none of the approximately 70â000 publicly funded research jobs will be cut, and funding for research grants will be increased. Minister Geneviève Fioraso believes that the budget increase indicates recognition of “the role of training and qualifications in reducing unemployment,” writes Barbara Casassus for Nature. However, Parliament can still make changes to the bill before it becomes law in December.