SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY

Search headlines

Find the stories shaping the conversation.

Search mode
Refine results
Active filters Keyword All time

Results for " iceland " 41 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle

Commission announces plan for polar hub to step up research coordination

The European Commission plans to develop an EU polar research hub to strengthen coordination and improve the alignment between science and policy. The objective, according to a Commission official, is to “better connect research, observation and scientific infrastructure, improve access to research resources and strengthen coordination with stakeholders, including Indigenous people.”Announced in a new EU Arctic strategy on October 20, there is little detail yet on how the hub will be implemented, only that it will “reinforce and expand” the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO), which is hosted and managed by the European Polar Board (EPB) at Umeå University in Sweden. EPCO was born from the EU-PolarNet projects funded through Horizon 2020 and currently coordinates the EU Polar Cluster, a network of EU-funded collaborative polar projects.While the practical details remain to be defined, the decision sends “a clear and positive signal,” said Maria Grigoratou, head of EPCO and executive secretary of EPB. “By reinforcing EPCO, the Commission has an opportunity to build on the legacy of EU-PolarNet 2, strengthen European polar research coordination and expand cooperation with a broader range of Arctic stakeholders,” she told Science|Business.The move has been welcomed by the polar research community. “The polar research hub could play an important role in connecting existing research communities, observation systems and infrastructure, and in bringing scientific knowledge closer to policymaking, in cooperation with local communities and Indigenous people,” said Katrine Moland Hansen, director of operations at Norway’s Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center.But money will be an issue. “It is clear that EPCO will need more resources and structure to function well and to make research reach policymakers,” said Kati Lindström, vice-chair of the Polar Research Committee of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. “European polar research is big if we pool the resources, and it should not only be left to enthusiastic scientists to develop networks of strategic importance in their free time.”The Arctic strategy makes a point of saying that local communities should have a greater involvement in Arctic science. “All EU Arctic research consortia are mandated to invite Indigenous people representatives to participate in projects,” it reads. “The EU also supports research that is directly led by Indigenous communities and address their challenges.”It also underlines the importance of reinforcing collaboration with like-minded partners such as Norway, Iceland, Canada, the UK, Japan and South Korea, as well as deepening its engagement with NATO. This includes the US, with which “the EU is committed to continuing a pragmatic transatlantic engagement based on shared interests and values.”Related articlesViewpoint: Does Europe dare to invest in the Arctic?Anchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateFor Moland Hansen, this open and inclusive approach to cooperation is encouraging. “The Arctic is also a strong example of why equal participation of associated countries in EU funding instruments matters.”Overall, she finds the new Arctic strategy to be ambitious, timely and comprehensive. “We particularly welcome the recognition that climate change, environmental protection, security, resilience and competitiveness are closely interconnected,” she said. “Research, observations and forecasting capabilities are essential to understanding the rapid changes taking place in the Arctic and addressing these challenges together.”Security focusWhile the Arctic strategy foregrounds security, with pledges to protect undersea cables, boost satellite monitoring, deploy more icebreakers and improve military mobility, the polar community is satisfied that environmental concerns have not been forgotten.“It is inevitable that there is a strong security angle to the EU Arctic strategy, but the impact of climate change and need for climate mitigation and resilience is also strongly recognised and includes a pledge to stay the course on climate commitments,” said Sian Prior, lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, a coalition of campaigning non-profit organisations.“We need to remember that by the time the next Multiannual Financial Framework comes to an end, in 2034, the polar regions, especially the Arctic region, will be living under a new reality when it comes to ecosystem processes, when it comes to the climate,” Grigoratou went on. “And that will affect any ambition that humans may have in the region.”Lindström agreed. “All aspects of European security are dependent on climate change in the Arctic and consequently, on climate science,” she said. “We cannot close our eyes to issues like energy security, critical minerals, northern shipping routes, dual-use technologies and others. However, it remains to be seen how well the promises to protect the environment and Indigenous rights will hold when faced with critical mineral extraction under the Critical Minerals Act.”

sciencebusiness.net logo
Oct 21 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
China, Russia Deepen Arctic Ties as Japan, Iceland Boost Science Cooperation

Russia floats a rival Arctic framework while Japan and Iceland, marking 70 years of diplomatic ties, lean on polar research to deepen cooperation.

japan-forward.com logo
Oct 21 • 1:45 AM EDT • Science • japan-forward.com
Extratropical Cyclone Whips Past Iceland

The powerful low-pressure system formed over the North Atlantic out of the remnants of Hurricane Isaias.

science.nasa.gov logo
Oct 21 • 12:01 AM EDT • Science • science.nasa.gov
Researchers outline priorities for robust U.S. climate assessments

Five Cornellians join 175 global experts to outline research priorities that can inform future national and regional climate assessments in a new special collection of the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society.

news.cornell.edu logo
Oct 19 • 10:31 AM EDT • Science • news.cornell.edu
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (13%)
wow
67%
ahah
33%
After traveling to 100 countries, recommend these 5 to first-timers

After visiting over 100 countries on my own, I think the best countries for new solo travelers to visit include Iceland, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

businessinsider.com logo
Oct 12 • 11:25 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Iceland will tunnel into a volcano to tap into virtually unlimited geothermal power

Iceland's Krafla Magma Testbed project aims to transform renewable energy by tapping into a volcano's magma chamber.

zmescience.com logo
Oct 10 • 8:14 AM EDT • Science • zmescience.com
In Iceland, Rubio Dodges a Diplomatic Flap Over a Trump Map

President Trump had posted a map on his Truth Social account in September depicting Iceland as part of U.S. territory.

nytimes.com logo
Oct 6 • 6:42 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Rubio begins three-nation NATO tour in Iceland, which is wary of Trump’s Arctic intentions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has begun a three-nation tour of NATO allies with a stop in Iceland.

seattletimes.com logo
Oct 6 • 12:04 AM EDT • Politics • seattletimes.com
Iceland to broach defense cooperation as Rubio visits next week

Iceland plans to discuss closer cooperation with the U.S., including on defense, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives for a visit next week. That’s after the U.S. struck a

thederrick.com logo
Oct 2 • 10:54 PM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com
Kerecis Reimagines Fish-Skin for Deep Wounds with Launch of Compact

ARLINGTON, Virginia & REYKJAVIK, Iceland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 28, 2026--

timesargus.com logo
Sep 28 • 10:13 AM EDT • Business • timesargus.com
Hakon Valdimarsson Impresses for Iceland as Brentford Goalkeeper Earns Praise

Hakon Valdimarsson saved a penalty and earned praise from Iceland head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson following a 1-1 Nations League draw with Estonia.

sports.yahoo.com logo
Sep 27 • 10:07 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Germany’s Political Tailspin: Your Weekly SPIEGEL Recap

It might be tempting to dismiss the results of last Sunday’s state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party raked in 43.8 percent of the vote, as a rather unimportant extremist blip in a state that hardly anyone can find on the map. And you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong to do so. The state’s population – around 2.1 million – is a mere 2.5 percent of the German total. And while the state capital of Magdeburg was once the political heart of the Holy Roman Empire back when Otto the Great used to hang out there (more than a millenium … no … milennium … nope … millennium ago), it is today something of a backwater, albeit one with a ginormous cathedral in its center. We wanted to briefly interrupt this week’s newsletter to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our subscribers, both new and old. And to remind you all that a free subscription gets you access to this newsletter every Saturday. A paid subscription, by contrast, gets you one DER SPIEGEL article every weekday, delivered to your inbox. We strive to select pieces that both demonstrate what Europe’s leading newsmagazine has to offer and provide an international audience – namely, you – with an insight into how Germany and Europe view the world. If you haven’t already signed up for a paid subscription, please consider doing so if you can. Our Substack channel relies entirely on reader support and we are excited to continue offering you the best of DER SPIEGEL. Subscribe But even beyond the fact that a huge percentage of the voters in the state decided to place an X next to a party with an ideological lineage that runs rather directly back to the right-wing extremist soup out of which the Nazi Party was born, the results are a perfect example of a phenomenon that has been plaguing German elections in recent years: the lack of an obvious path to a majority. Call it the Balkanization of German politics. There are a number of developments driving the phenomenon, but for the purposes of this newsletter, here are two of the most salient: Persistent voter frustration with the country’s two (former) big-tent parties – the Christian Democrats (CDU) on the center-right (17.2 percent in Saxony-Anhalt last Sunday) and the Social Democrats (SPD) on the center-left (9.3 percent). The presence of parties on the far left (Left Party), the populist left (the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – BSW) and the far right (AfD) with which mainstream parties are reluctant to form coalitions. So what happens now? Stories of the Week A Lack of Leadership The answer for many people in the country, and particularly within the CDU, is clear: pin (some of) the blame on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a survey taken directly after the election in Saxony-Anhalt, 88 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that if the federal government in Berlin were doing a better job, the AfD wouldn’t be as strong. And it is true that the predominant impression of the federal government ever since Merz was sworn in on May 6, 2025, is one of ineffectiveness and bickering. His rather unique combination of bumbling-plus-bravado has also not exactly endeared him to the German public. Indeed, his standing in the country is so shaky that his popularity – according to recent polls – has now dropped even below the historic lows associated with his predecessor Olaf Scholz. The situation is such that the CDU even opted to keep him largely out of the campaign ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt vote. And since then, dissatisfied rumblings within the CDU have grown louder. DER SPIEGEL’s Swantje Karich notes that the problems with the CDU go much deeper than Merz. “The center-right has a trust problem. At a press appearance following the devastating election result in Saxony-Anhalt, Friedrich Merz said that the party wanted to ‘reach people more effectively’ through ‘emotional engagement.’ It sounded as though he were announcing a political program. On the basis of that statement, it is difficult to take his empathy seriously.” “The Chancellor’s chastened appearance did, at least, reveal where he stands: with his back to the wall. Elections will be held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania next week, and the CDU could fare even worse there. The party is polling at between 8 and 10 percent in the state.” “What is at stake is the political tradition that has lent stability to the Federal Republic since 1945: a democratic conservatism that understands what must be preserved, but also how to embrace progress and openness to the world. If the Union continues along its current path, it risks becoming politically irrelevant after the 2029 federal election – and Germany could soon find itself with a government of the far right.” The Trumpification of Political Debate? It is often said in Germany that to understand the political and social trends that will soon be dominant in Europe, one need only look across the Atlantic to the United States. When it comes to political debate, that has certainly proven true. Donald Trump understood early on that triggering mouth-foaming outrage among Democrats is an ideal way to both generate headlines and to secure loyalty among supporters. And he realized that far more quickly than the left side of the political spectrum understood that simply ignoring the old man might be the best recipe. To be sure, there have been signs recently that the US president may be over-relying on the strategy. Earlier this week, in an apparent grandpa-discovers-AI moment, Trump sent out 60 posts in the space of 10 hours, many of them AI-assisted images portraying him as a hero – or showing Iceland as part of the US (outrageous!!!). It was also during that slew of schlock that he explicitly backed the AfD with an “MGGA” post. In Germany, though, the outrage cycle remains in full swing, with much of the focus on those who would dare to vote for the AfD. They are alternately portrayed as being dim-witted, ungrateful, backward, racist or all of the above. That, argues DER SPIEGEL columnist Sabine Rennefanz, is not particularly helpful. “Everywhere on election night, people spoke of a watershed moment, a rupture, a turning point. But what is that supposed to mean in concrete terms? A watershed would imply an interruption, a moment of pause – perhaps even a willingness to rethink and learn. At first, there was little sign of that in the main television panels. Instead, the familiar rituals that had already shaped the election campaign continued: outrage, lecturing and abuse.” “That’s just the tone, one might object. They’re only talk shows. Given that the party’s state branch has been classified by domestic intelligence officials as confirmed right-wing extremist, there are more important problems than hurt feelings on television. Yet although the condescending tone is not the cause of the AfD’s success, it is an expression of the broader mood within the so-called political center – a kind of institutional blindness that too often treats material concerns as a communications problem.” “People have a pretty good sense of whether you like them – whether you approach them with curiosity or merely study, lecture and manage them as a problem group. They notice whether you genuinely want to understand their fears and pain, or whether you are simply waiting for the chance to correct them. They can also tell whether someone still has the energy to change things, or whether they have barricaded themselves behind platitudes and empty phrases.” “Anyone who wants an egalitarian democratic society cannot promise equality only to those whose language, tastes and moral convictions they share. They must also acknowledge the wounds, resentments and fears of those whose political conclusions they consider wrong. Acknowledging them does not mean agreeing with them. But a democracy that communicates with almost half its citizens only through warnings and labels gives up on political debate before it has even begun. An atmosphere must be created in which people can express their opinions without fearing that they will be canceled. We are currently a long way from that.” East-West? One of the clear undercurrents in the election last Sunday was, of course, Germany’s ongoing east-west divide, particularly as it pertains to the success of the AfD. Historically, the party has been far stronger in the former East German states than in former West German states. The fact that this generalization no longer reliably holds is certainly one of the primary concerns that many have about the party’s growth. And yet, there is still a distinct flavor of “stupid easterners, they don’t understand democracy” to the coverage. In the weeks before the vote, there was even a rather interesting back-and-forth in Germany’s culture pages about how ungrateful eastern Germans allegedly are for being pulled out of their pre-reunification backwardness and into the light of the West. DER SPIEGEL’s Jochen-Martin Gutsch has had enough. “Ten years ago, in 2016, elections were also held in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD won more than 20 percent, which at the time rightly provoked outrage and incomprehension in western Germany. Today, in 2026, the AfD is also polling at around 20 percent in western German states, but this no longer provokes outrage and incomprehension. Instead, it is now regarded as proof of democratic conviction and civilizational resistance. After all, in the east, it’s 40 percent!” “This allows people to continue feeling morally superior to the East, but the wiser course would be to admit: if something doesn’t happen soon, the West will turn AfD-blue too. Or bluish.” “But will anything happen? The truly depressing thing about election night was not so much the AfD leaders intoxicated by their own success. It was the representatives of the other parties, who once again said that they were utterly shocked, needed some time to digest the result and would, of course, not simply return to business as usual. The SPD, a former big-tent party, celebrated its ‘stable’ result of 9.3 percent. Congratulations!” “For 10 years, the AfD has gone from one electoral success to the next. And still, the established parties remain ‘shocked’ and scratch their heads in astonishment. How long can they keep being shocked? Friedrich Merz says he may need to communicate his reform ideas in a more ‘emotional’ way. So the CDU’s political professionals sit down together after the election, mull over a strategy, and in the end come up with this: Fritz, try to be a little more relaxed, charismatic and emotional – or something. Beyond that: no political plan, no defiance, no promise of a future. That is frightening.” What was good, what was bad for democracy? Good: Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt was 77.8 percent, the highest ever recorded in the state. Whatever one thinks of the result, that figure is encouraging. Democracy needs citizens to take an interest. Bad: Although a strong AfD result had been expected in Saxony-Anhalt, many politicians from the mainstream parties – including in Berlin – appeared confused, helpless and overwhelmed in their initial reactions. That is not how they will win back voters’ trust. Last Week’s Highlights: 🗳️ Meet the Germans Who Voted for the AfD: Why would voters in a country like Germany, with its Nazi past, vote for a right-wing party? It’s a question only an editor in Berlin could come up with. On the ground, the view is different. 🟦 How the AfD Wants to Expand Its Power Across Germany: The far-right AfD is planning to decimate public broadcasting in Saxony-Anhalt, revamp education and install extremists in positions of power. And it is eyeing victory on the national stage as well. 🕯️ The Continuing Reverberations of September 11: It was a generational shock, and the consequences can still be felt today - from massive surveillance and significant increases in presidential power to violent excesses at ICE. 🤝 “For Europe, Canada Is the Preferred Partner in Trans-Atlantic Relations”: In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne discusses his country’s failed trade deal with the US and why Canada is looking to Europe. 🏛️ The True Historical Roots of the AfD: During the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, there were numerous parties on the extreme right espousing “Germany first” nationalism. The Nazis may not be the best comparison for today’s AfD. 🌊 AfD in a Landslide: Merz Is the Wrong Leader for Germany: The right-wing Alternative for Germany won in a landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday. What does that mean for the country at large? Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful week! Subscribe Share Leave a comment Your SPIEGEL Substack Team Compiled and edited by Charles Hawley

derspiegel.substack.com logo
Sep 12 • 7:49 AM EDT • Politics • derspiegel.substack.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (7%)
ahah
63%
wow
37%
Iceland summons US ambassador after Trump post

The diplomatic spat comes only weeks after Icelanders rejected continued talks with Brussels

euractiv.com logo
Sep 8 • 9:22 AM EDT • Politics • euractiv.com
Iceland summons US ambassador over Trump’s map of island under US flag

Trump posted the image on his Truth Social platform without explanation.

tvpworld.com logo
Sep 8 • 2:50 AM EDT • Politics • tvpworld.com
1K views · 24 reactions | Fish make up just a tiny fraction of...

Fish make up just a tiny fraction of Europe's economy. But they play a big role in its politics. Most recently, the fishing industry dominated the referendum on whether Iceland should restart talks...

facebook.com logo
Sep 4 • 7:15 AM EDT • Politics • facebook.com
NATO drills highlight Iceland's role in Arctic defense

Iceland is at the heart of NATO monitoring activities in the North Atlantic and Arctic amid rising Russian and Chinese presence. DW reports from a NATO exercise practicing submarine attack scenarios.

dw.com logo
Sep 4 • 2:17 AM EDT • Politics • dw.com
Nearly 53% of Iceland's voters reject EU membership

In a close vote, voters in Iceland have rejected resuming talks on joining the European Union. EU membership talks were previously halted 13 years ago by a government that opposed closer ties with the bloc.

dw.com logo
Aug 30 • 12:33 PM EDT • Politics • dw.com
Iceland rejects EU

The 'no' campaign looks all but guaranteed to win the referendum, after wooing by Brussels

euractiv.com logo
Aug 30 • 4:41 AM EDT • Politics • euractiv.com
Scientists in Iceland drilled straight into 900°C magma by accident — so energy-dense was the well that resulted, it could produce nearly ten times the power of a conventional geothermal well

An accidental breakthrough in Iceland reveals how to tap into magma itself, potentially unlocking geothermal energy at scales previously thought impossible.

spacedaily.com logo
Aug 23 • 5:30 AM EDT • Science • spacedaily.com
Scientists in Iceland drilled straight into 900°C magma by accident — so energy-dense was the well that resulted, it could produce nearly ten times the power of a conventional geothermal well

An accidental breakthrough in Iceland reveals how to tap into magma itself, potentially unlocking geothermal energy at scales previously thought impossible.

spacedaily.com logo
Aug 23 • 5:30 AM EDT • Technology • spacedaily.com
In ‘The Brink of War,’ a Return to an Era of Razor-Edge Diplomacy

A new film depicts the 1986 nuclear arms summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, which both offered and dashed hopes of a dramatic breakthrough.

nytimes.com logo
Aug 16 • 5:02 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Laufey created a \'third space\' with her annual fan event, \'A Very Laufey Day.\' Then it exploded

The Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey has created a global fan event called “A Very Laufey Day.” It began in 2023 as a celebration of her second album, “Bewitched,” spurring fans to

lancasteronline.com logo
Aug 14 • 10:04 AM EDT • Entertainment • lancasteronline.com
Laufey created a ‘third space’ with her annual fan event, ‘A Very Laufey Day.’ Then it exploded

The Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey has created a global fan event called “A Very Laufey Day.”.

seattletimes.com logo
Aug 14 • 10:01 AM EDT • Entertainment • seattletimes.com
WATCH LIVE: Total solar eclipse darkens skies over Spain, Iceland
pbs.org logo
Aug 12 • 9:24 AM EDT • Science • pbs.org
How to spot the Perseid meteor shower, a summer light show that promises to dazzle

The meteor shower's peak Wednesday night into Thursday morning coincides with a total solar eclipse across Spain, Iceland and Greenland and a six-planet parade — though the best time to view the fireballs will come after totality.

pbs.org logo
Aug 9 • 6:05 PM EDT • Science • pbs.org
🙂 Positive (35%)
‘You’re hit with a slam of shadow’: Nasa’s air mission to capture rare eclipse data

Two aviators will take off from Iceland to take pictures of the sun while flying at high altitude along solar eclipse’s path

theguardian.com logo
Aug 9 • 10:00 AM EDT • Science • theguardian.com
Record breaker crosses Iceland in 'best-ever time'

Jack Pitcher smashed the British record for travelling across Australia by foot in 2024.

sports.yahoo.com logo
Jul 12 • 2:15 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
What it's like flying in premium class with Icelandair; upgrade worth it

My upgraded seat in Icelandair's Saga Premium class came with meals, a comfy seat, lounge access, and other perks that made the price worth it.

businessinsider.com logo
Jun 17 • 4:40 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
A mysterious ‘cold blob’ in the ocean has puzzled scientists. A new study says it’s an ominous sign

In the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland and Iceland, a swath of water is doing something very strange. While the rest of the ocean heats up; it’s been getting colder. A team of scientists say ...

yahoo.com logo
Jun 12 • 5:52 AM EDT • Science • yahoo.com
Argentina stroll to pre-World Cup win over Honduras

Argentina eased to a 2-0 victory against a lacklustre Honduras in the reigning champions' penultimate World Cup warm-up game in Texas on Saturday.Argentina face Iceland in their final friendly match in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday before the three-time winners begin their World Cup group games against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City.

sports.yahoo.com logo
Jun 6 • 10:13 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
A total solar eclipse will occur this summer. Everything you need to know

A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Portugal.

cnn.com logo
Jun 6 • 6:30 AM EDT • Science • cnn.com
📲 Big Sunday with Brazil, Brasileirão and more; see the schedule

Today's Highlights 🔥International Friendlies07:25 – Japan vs. Iceland – SporTV12:30 – Poland vs. Ukraine – SporTV15:45 – Germany vs. Finland – ESPN, Disney+ Premium16:30 – United Stat...

sports.yahoo.com logo
May 31 • 4:59 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Argentina vs Iceland match day advisory - City of Auburn News

International soccer is coming to Auburn on June 9.

openline.auburnalabama.org logo
May 29 • 2:57 PM EDT • Entertainment • openline.auburnalabama.org
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (9%)
ahah
55%
wow
45%
10 images of Iceland’s changing landscape

A new documentary uses archival photos to tell the story of the land of fire and ice.

popsci.com logo
May 23 • 9:00 AM EDT • Science • popsci.com
Viewpoint: FP10 should remain open, excellent and secure

Europe is right to worry about research security. Foreign interference is real. So is the misuse of sensitive knowledge. Universities working in sensitive areas such as AI, quantum, semiconductors and advanced materials cannot afford to ignore the geopolitical environment around them.But Europe is in danger of drawing the wrong conclusion, one that would increase, not reduce, its strategic vulnerabilities.If the EU applies an “EU preference” logic to the next Framework Programme for research and innovation (FP10), it will weaken one of its greatest strategic assets: a research system built on openness, excellence and international collaboration. In the name of security, Europe could end up advancing science more slowly, innovating less effectively and making itself less attractive to global talent and partners in advanced science and technology.That would be a serious mistake.The EU preference included in Article 10 of the proposed European Competitiveness Fund may make sense in some industrial or deployment contexts, but is far harder to justify when applied to collaborative research in advanced science and technology, where excellence and global connectivity are crucial. Research is not procurement. It does not thrive when isolated. It advances through access to the best ideas, the best people, the best facilities and the best data, wherever they are found. This is why FP10 should not simply absorb industrial policy logic by default. Doing so would risk importing instruments that are ill-suited to research and that ultimately increase vulnerability rather than resilience.For universities of science and technology, the issue is especially acute. These institutions sit at the frontier of knowledge and technology creation in the very fields Europe sees as critical for its future competitiveness and resilience. They know better than most that security risks are real. But they also know that openness and security are not opposites. In practice, they have to be made to work together. Research security is not about closing doors. It is about building resilience through collective responsibility, trust, proportionate safeguards and better governance. That is a fundamentally different approach from default restriction.The risks of non-collaborationThe real danger in the current debate is that Europe talks too much about the risks of collaboration and not enough about the risks of non-collaboration. Those risks are strategic too. Cut researchers off from international networks and Europe loses access to knowledge, data, infrastructures and talent. Slow down global collaboration in critical technologies and Europe slows down its own progress on cutting-edge science. Make participation rules unpredictable and Europe weakens its attractiveness to researchers and investors alike.In other words, over-restricting collaboration will create strategic vulnerabilities, particularly in advanced science and technologies.This point is often underestimated in policy discussions that frame openness mainly as a value to be defended. Europe’s scientific strength, technological development and long-term competitiveness depend on remaining connected to the best research ecosystems in the world. For a continent that wants to accelerate deep tech, strengthen industrial capacity and reduce strategic dependencies, weakening the excellence base would be self-defeating. That does not mean ignoring risk. Quite the opposite. Universities are already strengthening due diligence, internal governance, awareness-raising, screening procedures and compliance support. Across Europe, institutions are working to manage risks linked to foreign interference, sanctions, export controls and the misuse of research. The right response is not complacency. It is better risk management. But that means targeted, evidence-based and proportionate measures, not blunt top-down restrictions with wide spillover effects. In the daily reality of universities, openness and restriction often coexist. The real challenge is how to apply safeguards without sliding into securitisation that damages academic freedom, open science and international cooperation. Restrict partners, not nationsMore restrictive treatment of collaborators from European Economic Area members Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, or from Switzerland and the UK, is strategically very difficult to justify. These are deeply embedded partners in Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem. Beyond that, Europe should still resist default exclusion and instead rely on case-by-case assessment. The relevant question is not nationality in the abstract. It is the actual risk profile of a collaboration: the institution, the affiliations, the field, the knowledge involved, the intended use and the safeguards available. Screening should focus on institutions and affiliations rather than nationality alone. Related articlesParliament ‘misreads’ link between Horizon Europe and ECF, Commission official saysFrustration grows at governance gap in next Horizon EuropeIf EU preference logic is imported into research without careful calibration, the likely result is a chilling effect. Researchers may step back from legitimate and beneficial collaboration, even where risks are manageable. International partners may see Europe as less predictable. And Europe may end up undermining the very excellence base it needs to compete, scale up and lead in strategic technologies, thereby increasing its dependence on others.FP10 should do the opposite. It should remain open by default, with restrictions used only exceptionally, and then on the basis of clear evidence. It should integrate research security into open science and research integrity frameworks, not set them against each other. And it should recognise that academic freedom, scientific excellence and responsible international collaboration are not obstacles to Europe’s security, they are part of it. Europe needs stronger tools to protect itself. But it also needs the discipline to avoid measures that would weaken it and increase its strategic vulnerabilities in the process. In FP10, that means staying open, excellent and secure.Louise Drogoul is senior advisor for innovation and sustainability at the Cesaer university association.

sciencebusiness.net logo
Apr 7 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Scientists up in arms as flying lab has its wings clipped

Faam, the airborne laboratory deployed after the eruption of an Icelandic volcano shut airspace in 2010, will be grounded after government funding was cut

thetimes.com logo
Mar 9 • 2:55 AM EDT • Science • thetimes.com
Horse whinnies are weirder than they sound

Scientists may have finally solved this biological mystery—thanks to some horse larynges.

popsci.com logo
Mar 1 • 10:13 AM EST • Science • popsci.com
😐 Neutral (17%)
wow
52%
ahah
48%
🚨 Mexico’s starting XI for the friendly against Iceland

Everything is ready in Querétaro for the Tricolor to continue its preparation journey towards the 2026 World Cup. The Mexican territory has been in the eye of the storm due to the violent events that...

sports.yahoo.com logo
Feb 25 • 8:29 PM EST • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
😐 Neutral (3%)
ahah
50%
love
50%
EU Nordic expansion: why would Iceland and Norway want in?

Trump’s tariffs and threats to seize Nato ally Greenland are fuelling support for joining the bloc, with its implied security as well as economic benefits

theweek.com logo
Feb 25 • 9:24 AM EST • Politics • theweek.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (14%)
wow
51%
love
26%
ahah
23%
Thousands of Alien Species Could Invade the Arctic, Scientists Warn

More than 2,500 alien plant species could find suitable conditions in the Arctic, especially in northern Norway and Svalbard.

scitechdaily.com logo
Feb 18 • 3:37 PM EST • Science • scitechdaily.com
Marco Rubio admits Trump confused Iceland with Greenland

Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted during a Senate hearing on Jan. 28 that his boss confused Iceland with Greenland during a speech last week.

usatoday.com logo
Jan 28 • 12:45 PM EST • Politics • usatoday.com