EU allocates €55m for Slovak university research

The European Commission (EC) announced on Tuesday that the European Union (EU) will invest €55.6 million to modernize research programs and facilities at the top two Slovak universities. The funds, which are drawn from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), will go to the Slovak University of Technology (STU) and Comenius University (UK) in Bratislava, under a programme entitled "Increasing the capacities and competence of universities in research, development and innovation" (ACCORD). The programme aims to increase cooperation between universities and industry, focusing on biotechnology, biomedicine, advanced materials and digital technologies. According to European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas, the aim of this particular investment is to help attract and retain talented students and researchers in Slovakia so that "the country's excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can shine on the global scene."