PM Victor Ponta inaugurates works on CAMPUS Research Centre of Polytechnic University of Bucharest

Prime Minister Victor Ponta, National Education Minister Remus Pricopie, Minister Delegate Mihnea Costoiu and Minister for European Funds Eugen Teodorovici participated late on Wednesday in the opening of the construction works on the Advanced Research for Materials, Products and Innovative Processes Institute - CAMPUS UPB, located on the premises of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest (UPB).

"I am very glad that investments in research are being made. The largest investments come from European funds because the budget manages only to a very small extent [to cover them]. It is a very clear message to young people and to those less young that research will continue in Romania. I congratulate those who have made the programme, firstly because they have managed to draw it up and secondly because they have not lost hope, as in 2009 it was declared eligible and it has been unblocked as late as 2014. I am sure that next year we will be there to cut the ribbon. I am glad this project will be done, eventually," said Ponta.

He said that after 1990 the idea of research in Romania has suffered "very big blows."

"Not only the constant reduction in budgets and allocated money, not only the impossible competition with other countries, the U.S., the western countries that have basically taken our most talented and best researchers, but also the system, on the whole.
Countless research institutes became after 2000 only a target and a prey for real estate deals (...)," said the Premier.

According to him, the future of the Romanian research is closely linked to universities, and the idea of doing research elsewhere than in higher education institutions was not viable.

"The inauguration of the works on the research...