The call for European Fund project applications in the sphere of long-term strategic research and development will be looked into by the European Commission based on the decision by the Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sport, Peter Plavčan (a Slovak National Party nominee). The results of the Ministry's call were first challenged by the rectors of the Slovak universities and the representatives of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, who were angered by the fact that none of their projects were approved for part of the 300 million euro funding. Instead, money to support innovation would have been given to private enterprises, such as small breweries or distilleries. As Peter Plavčan told the media on Wednesday, the call will be looked into also by the ministry committee of the structural funds department.
"I also asked the European Commission to look into the as-of-yet un-concluded call. This is not a standard procedure, but I did this already two weeks ago, way before some politicians or other individuals could urge me via the media to take action. It's already been done," said Plavčan.
At Wednesday's press conference, the minister also rejected the notion that resources of the call for long-term strategic research are to be allocated only to universities and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, stressing that the call was designed to support cooperation between both research and business sectors. However, the fund call is also being challenged by some representatives of the private sector, who despite having profound experience with foreign research companies were not awarded any of the funding.
