Greek scientists are calling on the government to revise the way research proposals are evaluated and funded, pressing for a framework that meets international standards of transparency, objectivity, and meritocracy.

In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki, 875 scientists protested the evaluation process used in the ministry’s “Trust Your Stars” project. They argue that flaws in the system undermine credibility and risk damaging the country’s research landscape.

The signatories highlight several concerns, including:

– insufficient staffing of the evaluation committee

– lack of scientific expertise in key thematic areas

– conflicts of interest and weak oversight mechanisms

– poorly documented assessments

– arbitrary application of evaluation criteria

– signs of reliance on artificial intelligence tools (LLMs).

The controversy has triggered widespread backlash among academics in Greece and abroad, reigniting debate over how research funding is allocated.

The scientists are demanding the annulment of the current provisional evaluation results and the creation of new, independent committees with international participation to re-examine proposals in each scientific field. They are also seeking a meeting with Zacharaki to present their proposals directly.

“Our goal is to establish an evaluation framework aligned with global standards—one that ensures transparency, objectivity, and meritocracy,” the group said in their letter.