Austrian budget places research in 'best hands'
'Research is in the best hands, a sufficient budget is there,' said Austrian Science Minister Johannes Hahn in response to a presentation of the 2007 budget by Finance Minister Wilhelm Molterer. The budget for science and research will climb by €420.8 million in 2007 - a rise of more than 13.7% - to €3.501 billion. In 2008, a further increase of €457million is planned, taking funding up to €3.538 billion. This is the biggest increase since 1991, and was welcomed by Mr Hahn, the Science Council, the Association of Professors, and the Rectors' Conference alike. Mr Hahn described the budget speech as 'a true declaration about the future of our society'. 'And what is more the future than science and research?' he asked. Universities are also set to benefit from the new budget - to the tune of over €500 million over the coming three years. This equates to a 10% funding increase. The minister pledged that more money will be made available to support students at a later stage - time constraints had meant that only an across-the-board increase in funding was possible for this budget. Mr Hahn indicated that more targeted funding will be made available at a later stage, once discussions on objectives have taken place.
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