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Sebastian Stan Interview on 'Fjord' Politics, 'Batman: Part II'
Sebastian Stan talks about playing a religious Romanian father trying to get his kids back in "Fjord" and his roles in "Batman: Part II" and the MCU.
The director of Fjord takes the ‘risky position’ of moderator
With his new film about a Romanian family’s life in Norway, Cristian Mungiu wants you to consider the limits of your tolerance
🚨 Breaking: Ratiu ruled out of Rayo-Athletic
Rayo Vallecano head into their match against Athletic Club with a significant late withdrawal. Full-back Andrei Rațiu will not be available for the game.The Romanian international had been playing th...
Viktor Gyokeres Extends Nations League Scoring Record With Romania Goal
Viktor Gyokeres has scored in a seventh consecutive Nations League game, extending the competition record he set for Sweden against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Romania's political stalemate intensifies rating pressure before S&P review
Romania's failure to install a new government on Wednesday has intensified pressure on its investment-grade credit rating, as a five-month political impasse collides with a rapid build-up of public debt that is testing the limits of fiscal sustainability.
Romanian lawmakers reject a new center-right Cabinet as political crisis deepens
Romanian lawmakers have rejected a new center-right Cabinet proposed by Siegfried Muresan, deepening the country's political crisis
Romanian political crisis deepens as parliament rejects PM nominee
A snap election is now possible but centrist President Nicușor Dan does not want a vote that would risk handing power to the far right.
Romanian parliament to vote on third PM pick amid political deadlock
The Romanian parliament was due on Wednesday to vote on a third nominee for prime minister, although analysts said chances of him being confirmed appear slim, bringing closer...
Romanian lawmakers set to vote on new center-right Cabinet as political crisis drags on
Romanian lawmakers are set to vote on a new center-right Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Muresan
Romanian lawmakers set to vote on new center-right Cabinet as political crisis drags on
Romanian lawmakers are set to vote on a new center-right Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Muresan
Romanian lawmakers set to vote on new center-right Cabinet as political crisis drags on
Lawmakers in Romania are set to vote Wednesday on a new center-right Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister-designate Siegfried Muresan, who seeks to end a monthslong political crisis. Muresan, 45, has p...
Isak returns to Liverpool after sustaining knock in Sweden game
Alexander Isak is returning to Liverpool after sustaining a “minor injury” on international duty. The striker scored and played the full 90 minutes in Sweden’s 2-1 victory over Romania in the Nations League on Friday.
Gyokeres scores for Sweden, still looks miserable
Viktor Gyokeres got the minutes and the goal he needed for Sweden against Romania, but his reaction suggested there is still more to come from the Arsenal forward.Photo by Luke Hales/Getty ImagesVikto...
Svensson, Bellingham, Nwaneri and Bensebaini win for their countries
Daniel Svensson and the Swedish national team faced Romania in the UEFA Nations League. Svensson was not initially in the starting lineup, but came on in the 63rd minute with the score at 2-1 and help...
Romania’s political deadlock risks handing power to far right, PM nominee warns
A partnership between the socialists and the far right would set a dangerous precedent for the EU, Siegfried Mureșan told POLITICO.
Temu Strengthens Support for Romanian Businesses in Collaboration with ABSL
/PRNewswire/ -- Temu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Business Service Leaders in Romania (ABSL), the country's leading...
Zelenskyy welcomes leaders from 7 countries for a regional summit
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted leaders and representatives from seven regional countries for talks on deepening cooperation on Friday, as overnight Russian strikes in multiple regions sparked fires and caused several deaths and injuries. The inaugural summit of the so-called “Carpathian Eight” brings together Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech […]
Romania's president nominates a new prime minister to break a political deadlock
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanian President Nicusor Dan nominated Liberal European lawmaker Siegfried Muresan on Thursday to be prime minister as he seeks to end a monthslong political crisis after his previous two picks failed.
EU membership bid gives boost to Moldova’s fledgling R&D landscape
Moldova’s push to join the EU is having the spillover effect of helping to improve the country’s R&D landscape, which in recent years has suffered from fragmentation, decreasing personnel and a lack of research infrastructure.The country became an EU candidate country in 2022, alongside Ukraine, and officially began accession negotiations in 2024. With a pro-EU government, Moldova has been actively carrying out reforms to align with EU standards. This has helped accelerate the development of R&D, said Igor Chiosa, acting head of the Research and Innovation Policy Directorate at Moldova’s Ministry of Education and Research. “Our R&D landscape is moving up, and we are more and more involved in the European Research Area,” he said. “The support we receive from the EU is very important, not only financially, but also because of incentives, consultation and capacity building.”The R&D landscape in the former Soviet republic is still relatively underdeveloped, despite attempts at improvement going back to a 2004 law on science and innovation and later reforms in 2017 and 2018. But the system remains in a “precarious situation” and “in the process of contraction,” according to an assessment carried out by the government for the current National Programme for Research and Innovation, which runs from 2024 to 2027. The analysis highlights in particular the declining number of researchers and PhDs, which has been continuously falling, as well as limited research funding. This is around 10 times lower than the EU average and “insufficient to maintain a level of research activity that supports higher education and meets the needs of the economy.” The mechanisms for allocating research funds are also described as inefficient, as well as the general fragmentation of the landscape, with research and innovation activities being carried out in 67 different places. The lack of strategic vision for research infrastructure is also noted. The strategy sets out to address these issues and is being fuelled by reforms linked to EU accession. Moldova now has a regulation on open science and gender equality. There is also a new support mechanism for technology transfer offices and a business-academia roadmap. In 2025, the country also became the first Eastern Partnership country to approve a Smart Specialisation strategy, which will coordinate its R&D efforts to focus on strengths, within a European context. “We’ve done a lot in terms of normative acts,” Chiosa said. Horizon Europe successMoldova is also seeing more success in the EU’s flagship R&D programme, Horizon Europe. The country has now won nearly €15 million in funding, already double the amount won under the previous programme, Horizon 2020, and more than the €10 million target set by the government. Chiosa said the priority has shifted now to winning more research-centred projects, rather than those related to support and capacity. Moldova is also targeting further involvement in large European projects. Last year, it joined the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking giving Moldovans access to Europe's supercomputing network. The country is also a member of Danubius-RI, a European research infrastructure focused on river and sea research. Despite these efforts, Moldova’s research capacity is still shackled by its limited R&D budget, which equates to 0.23% of its GDP. This is around half of what its neighbour Romania spends, which is the lowest in the EU. According to Chiosa, the research budget is increasing year-on-year, jumping by €6.34 million between 2024 and 2025. But this doesn’t show up when looking at it as a proportion of GDP. “Of course, it’s difficult,” he said. “That is why we are putting more emphasis on collaboration between business and academia, as well as participation in Horizon Europe, to try to diversify our sources of funding.”A World Bank loan of €30 million, plus a grant of €7.8 million, was agreed in 2025 to support the modernisation of Moldova’s universities. As part of this, a call was launched this year to provide universities grants of up to €900,000 to develop their research infrastructure. Moldova is also collaborating closely with Romania, with which it shares a common language, funding 100 joint projects in 2023 and 2024. This support has been instrumental. “They are helping with sharing their expertise, inviting us into consortia, and lots more,” Chiosa said. Looking forward, Moldova is eagerly anticipating joining the EU. “We are looking closely at what the EU is doing and will shape our future national programme in research innovation accordingly.”EU accession “blocked at a technical level”Moldova is aiming to join the EU by 2028, but despite its swift and eager efforts to meet the accession criteria, there remain obstacles outside of the country’s control. For a country to join the EU, it must have certain legislation in place and meet specific standards in various areas. This is categorised into six thematic clusters containing 33 chapters. Moldova and the EU have so far opened two of the clusters, numbers one and six. The first covers fundamental laws, such as the judiciary, security and financial legislation. The sixth covers external relations. The remaining four clusters are still unopened. This includes the third cluster, on competitiveness and growth, which contains the chapter on science and research.Related articlesQ&A: Albania’s ambition to become a ‘moderate innovator’Data corner: Horizon success rates are droppingThe European Commission has confirmed that these clusters are ready to be opened, with an official saying that the Commission is encouraging EU governments, who have the final say, to move forward on the matter. However, both clusters two and three remain blocked by the EU Council’s working party on enlargement and countries negotiating accession to the EU, a different official, representing the Council, confirmed.This working party is set to meet several times in the coming weeks, with a Council meeting scheduled for mid-October in which enlargement, and Moldova’s bid, will be discussed. But there is no certainty that these talks will lead to progress. According to the Council source, it is “completely impossible to foresee if and when the file will be unblocked,” citing the sensitivity of the matter. Moldova’s situation is particularly complicated. One factor is that it borders Ukraine and is increasingly embroiled in Russia’s war, with drone incursions occurring more often on its territory. Another is Transnistria, a Russian-backed breakaway state that lies within the territory of Moldova. It is unclear how the EU would be able to accept Moldova into the bloc while this situation remains unchanged. While there is no direct reason to delay opening cluster three with Moldova, as it covers matters unrelated to security, it could be that the EU is reluctant to speed through accession negotiations without first resolving broader, geopolitical issues.Chiosa is confident that, if and when the chapter on science and research is opened, Moldova will be able to finalise it quickly. It doesn’t require any legislative changes and is only a matter of proving certain standards, which Chiosa believes Moldova is well prepared to do. “We hope that chapter 25 on science and research will be one of the first chapters opened and closed,” he said.
Pegula tops Cirstea to reach US Open quarter-finals
Former US Open finalist Jessica Pegula defeated Sorana Cirstea of Romania in straight sets Sunday to advance to the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.World number two Elena Rybakina is assured of ascending if she reaches the quarter-finals, even if Sabalenka wins he third straight US Open crown. jmb/bb
Telluride: Cristian Mungiu Is Glad You’re Arguing About ‘Fjord.’
The Romanian auteur is on the cusp of his Oscars breakthrough for his Cannes-winning social drama, which has already been hotly debated on social media for months: "People...assume that what the film says is the opinion of the filmmaker, and what the characters say is the truth. Come on."
Character test awaits Dundee Utd after Hearts humbling
What will we learn a lot about this newly assembled Dundee United squad over the next few weeks? Romanian left-back Kevin Ciubotaru last week became manager Jim Goodwin's 11th summer signing. While a lot of United's transfer business was done earlier in the window, given the size of the player overhaul it is still fair to assume it could take this new-look squad time to gel.
Israel's tech employees cost more than US counterparts
Tech workers in Israel are currently 2.4 times more expensive than their counterparts in Poland, Lithuania, Romania, and Ukraine
Accesa Hosts 5th Edition of Tech in Motion with the Theme Engineering in the Age of Uncertainty
CLUJ-NAPOCA, Romania, June 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Accesa hosted the 5th edition of Tech in Motion, its annual tech conference, bringing to...
Romanian parliament rejects PM nominee, deepening political deadlock
Adrian Veștea's coalition fell short of a parliamentary majority after the far-right AUR withheld support
Romania’s Political Turmoil Deepens After PM Hopeful Loses Vote
Romania’s prime minister nominee failed to win parliamentary approval for his proposed cabinet, prolonging a political deadlock that risks stalling key reforms for crucial European Union recovery funding.
Romania's president nominates Adrian Vestea as prime minister after his previous pick withdraws
Romanian President Nicusor Dan has nominated Adrian Vestea as prime minister to resolve a political crisis.
Romania president taps new PM to form government
Adrian Vestea, 52, is a leader of the Liberal party
Political Gridlock Saps Romania’s Fight Against Stagflation
When Mihai Bordeanu, the head of Renault’s Dacia car plant in Romania met with former prime minister Ilie Bolojan last month, he had bad news about the country’s flagship export: sales were dropping and the company needed to lay off workers.
'Leeds want to become that established Premier League team'
Leeds' Daniel James says it has been "really big" for him to play the minutes he has in what was a "brilliant season" for the Whites. Despite missing two months with a hamstring problem, the 28-year-old made 19 appearances in the Premier League as Daniel Farke's side finished 14th in their top-flight return. "It's been a brilliant season," said James before Wales' summer friendlies against Ghana and Romania.
Will Russia expand the war to Europe as its Ukraine push falters?
Romanian drone strike is the latest warning sign
Romania's political crisis deepens
After Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s government fell in early May, Romania's moderate parties have struggled to chart a new course — opening the door for the far right to gain ground.
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for 3% funding target
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for better conditions
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Semnox Powers new entertainment venue with Scalable Solutions
BACĂU, Romania — Semnox Solutions, a global provider of integrated technology solutions for the entertainment and leisure industry, has partnered with Funzy Playground, a new indoor family entertai…
Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival
In a squeaker race for Cannes' top prize, Romanian director Cristian Mungiu prevailed on Saturday, taking the Palme d'Or for his tense community drama "Fjord." The movie, a widely admired
The 10 best performances at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna has showcased acts from 25 countries. But not all songs are created equal. The 10 best on Saturday night included Romania's entry,
The 10 best performances at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest final in Vienna has showcased acts from 25 countries. But not all songs are created equal. The 10 best on Saturday night included Romania's entry,
Political Drama Returns to Romania and Sinks Its Currency
Is the country becoming ungovernable?
War, energy and politics hamper Eastern Europe's efforts to keep deficits in check
The Romanian government's political implosion this week in a no-confidence vote has cast a shadow over a region grappling with rising debt, defence spending and energy costs that are unsettling investors and ratings agencies alike.
Romania Lets Leu Weaken as Politics Again Tests Managed Float
A Romanian political crisis is once again testing the country’s managed float currency regime, with the central bank allowing the leu to weaken to record lows this week.
Romanian Government Collapses, Sowing Doubts Over Fiscal Reforms
Romania’s minority government collapsed after losing a no-confidence vote, throwing the country into renewed political turmoil and potentially stalling reforms needed to narrow the widest budget shortfall in the European Union.
Romania Prepares to Oust Premier Without Plan for the Day After
Romanian lawmakers will vote on ousting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in a move that could plunge the country into a renewed political crisis and imperil efforts to narrow the widest budget deficit in the European Union.
How to watch Romania’s political chaos like a pro
As the coalition breaks apart, can centrist President Nicușor Dan find a way to contain the far right and keep the critical NATO member on a path to stability?
Romania Finance Chief Urges Continued Reforms to Avert Junk Risk
Romania’s finance minister warned that the current political turmoil is increasing funding costs and may raise the risk of the country losing its investment grade credit score.
Geneva College of Longevity Science Launches the World’s First PhD in Longevity Sciences
GENEVA and CONSTANȚA, Romania, April 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Geneva College of Longevity Science (GCLS) today
Romanian Cabinet Loses Parliamentary Majority as Top Party Quits
Romania’s biggest political party quit the government after disagreements over unpopular austerity measures, leaving Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in charge of a minority cabinet.
Romanian President Holds Talks to Save Government From Collapse
Romanian President Nicusor Dan is holding talks with coalition parties to salvage the country’s teetering pro-European government, with the nation’s investment grade and billions of euros in European Union funding potentially hinging on the outcome.
Romania plunges back into political turmoil as Social Democrats move to topple PM
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s coalition partners accuse him of destroying “our social base” with austerity program.
Romania Coalition Nears Collapse as Top Party Spurns Premier
Romania’s government has been thrown into turmoil after the top ruling party withdrew its support for Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, whose own bloc is now rallying to salvage his control of the four-way coalition.
Biggest party in Romanian coalition set to demand PM's resignation, political crisis looms
Romania's Social Democrats are widely expected to withdraw their support for Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Monday, likely ushering in months of political instability that will pressure debt, credit ratings and the receipt of EU funds.
Romania Faces Fresh Political Crisis With Premier Under Fire
Romania is bracing for fresh political turbulence with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan poised to defy a call by the biggest ruling party to resign in a showdown that may lead to a collapse of the ruling alliance.
BBVA to Sell Romania Business to Raiffeisen for $680 Million
The deal is set to make Raiffeisen’s Romanian subsidiary the third-largest bank in the country by total assets, the Austrian lender said Saturday.
Romanian Ruling Coalition Faces Rift Over Higher Social Spending
Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan faced renewed pressure as the largest party in the ruling coalition blasted his leadership as “unacceptable” days before a critical budget vote.
Ancient bacteria found frozen in ice may help scientists in fight against superbugs
In a cave in Romania, scientists found a bacterial strain entombed in ice that is resistant to 10 modern antibiotics. But it may also help fight superbugs.
Dispute over the Olympic medal stripped from US gymnast Jordan Chiles goes back to Swiss court
A gymnastics medal disputed by the United States and Romania at the 2024 Paris Olympics is heading for a fresh legal review in a Swiss court.
Romanian Inflation Ends Tumultuous Year in Politics Close to 10%
Romanian inflation remained at nearly three times the upper band of the central bank’s target range after government action to curb the budget deficit helped fuel price growth.
Bitdefender Achieves Exceptional Results in Latest AV-Comparatives Business Security Test
BUCHAREST, Romania & SAN ANTONIO, December 17, 2025--Bitdefender announced outstanding results in the AV-Comparatives Business Security Test.
Superbet Group becomes Super Technologies, shaping the future of digital entertainment ecosystems
BUCHAREST, Romania, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Superbet Group, a leading company in the global technology and entertainment space, announces its rebrand as Super Technologies. The new identity, which will be simply known as Super, reflects the company’s evolution, its expanded vision for the future, and its commitment to building innovative solutions for a rapidly changing world. At the same time, the company will continue to operate its commercial brands across existing territories, with