Public funding for universities in some European countries has dropped precipitously from 2008 to 2012 as a result of the global recession, leading to weakened research capacity and risking a 'brain drain', says a report by the European University Association (EUA), released on 10 June. Of 20 nations studied, 13 had less funding for universities in 2012 than in 2008, with the greatest cuts affecting Greece, Ireland, Lithuania and Hungary. “The prospects are dim,” says Thomas Estermann, head of the EUA's governance, autonomy and funding unit. “If these trends continue, it will be much more difficult for researchers thinking about where they want to start their careers.”