Cuts in France’s 2011 budget were recently announced, and the only two ministries to dodge the cuts were the ministry of science and education and the justice ministry. In the wake of the budget announcement, Minister for Research and Higher Education Valérie Pécresse announced that her ministry’s budget will be €4.7 billion ($6.5 billion) more than last year’s. The amount includes €3.5 billion ($4.8 billion) from last year’s €35 billion ($48.7 billion) economic stimulus package, much of which is earmarked for universities, mainly as endowments. The scientist trade union SNCS claims that the €508 million ($706.7 million) designated for refurbishing campuses includes a €182 million ($253.2 million) loan. The ministry said the cash available for research will increase by 1.9% to €25.2 billion ($35.1 billion). The amount includes a €145 million ($201.7 million) increase in tax credits. The National Center for Scientific Research budget will increase just 0.8%, and funding for several agencies, like the marine research agency IFREMER, which faces 0.5% cuts, will decrease. Biomedical agency Inserm is among the few agencies to benefit from the budget, with a 4.3% increase. The accuracy of the French research budget has always been difficult, due to its mix of crédits de paiement (guaranteed cash) and autorisations d’engagements (promises of cash).

Source: Nature