Because this:
nanne:
but especially the issue of private sector funding is very sensitive
is certainly debilitating capacities of the EU universities.
Can I also cajole you to this recent comment of mine regarding the same subject(s)?
Even while there is a lot to be done in education, the EU is getting there - and is in absolute numbers still ahead of Japan and the USA.
Research is the different beast - and for Europe I think currently the most urgent one.
I agree with you that research funding should be a separate stream. I think this should be done through direct transfers from the central government/EU. Private sector participation should be encouraged, possibly through a central fund, possibly through agreements between individual companies and universities and possibly through hybrids. Depending upon sensitivities...
