Thousands protest across Austria and Poland calling for governments to back science

Academics, students and staff across Austria have been protesting over the government’s proposed plans to cut university funding by €1 billion (£860 million) over the next three years. At the same time, people have been calling for the Polish government to triple R&D spending to 3% of GDP. Those at the demonstrations say that increasing funding would help science in these countries to remain competitive.

Over 28,000 people took to the streets in Vienna, Austria on 27 May in response to the government’s proposed budget cuts. There were also several other protests throughout the rest of the country the following day in Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Klagenfurt.