Czech scientists might stage protests against planned budget cut

The cabinet decided to reduce the state subsidy to AV CR's by 1.03 billion crowns in 2010, compared to this year's 5.88 billion, and by 2012 the subsidy is to drop by a half.

In such situation protests would be a chance for scientists to remind the responsible bodies of the existence of science, basic research and the Academy of Sciences, Drahos told journalists during the AV CR's extraordinary conference focusing on financial matters.

The conference decided that Drahos and the Academy board would discuss the AV CR's situation with parties in parliament as well as lower and upper house committees, and inform European commissioners for science and research, Janez Potocnik, and for regional policy, Danuta Huebner, about it.

Education Minister Miroslava Kopicova said next year's decrease returns the subsidy to the level of 2006.

By no means is it a dramatic decline, and the Academy should cope with it, otherwise the government is ready to help it, Kopicova said.

She said the Academy can draw money from the EU programme Research and Development for Innovations, which, however, Drahos dismissed saying this money is designed for selected projects and its use is closely monitored by the EU and the Czech government.

Thousands of people would have to leave the Academy unless the government changed its decision, Drahos said.

None of the AV CR's institutes can cope with the budget reduction, perhaps except for the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, with its proceeds from licences ensured by Professor Antonin Holy, researcher in the area of medicines.

"If we reduced [our staff], we would also lose our chance to gain money through grants, as we would lack quality people," Drahos said.

The AV CR, which the state established for doing basic research, cannot survive without a certain level of revenues.

Under the pondered emergency scenario, the Academy will freeze all non-investment expenditures. Reconstruction of buildings will be stopped as well as further purchases of equipment.

The staff will have to be reduced. For example, a 500-million-crown cut in pay investments would mean the departure of up to 900 people, Drahos said.

The conference called on the government to reconsider raising investments in research and development as the best way to face economic crisis.