A new European science-policy body, ScienceEurope, was launched in October to give a stronger voice in Brussels to the major national research-funding agencies. Likely casualties of this effort include some of the most successful activities of the venerated European Science Foundation, causing major concern among many scientists.

For example, the future of the Research Networking Programmes is under threat. These have been fostering cost-effective collaborations and networking between scientists from European countries in all fields for almost 20 years.

Ninety such programmes are currently in operation. They rely on minimal bureaucracy, simple rules and very modest funding — €80,000 (US$107,000) per year and per network on average (covered by participating member organizations). This combination allows them to react swiftly to new scientific challenges.

Our Research Networking Programmes in electronic-structure theory and molecular simulation, for example, have made Europe a leader in computational materials and molecular sciences, thanks to the sustained support of the European Science Foundation.

It is not clear whether ScienceEurope, or the European Commission's Horizon 2020 programme, will make a long-term commitment to research networks. However, we consider it of utmost importance that this type of funding instrument should survive, along with its nimble and flexible administration.