The global financial crisis has beaten down science budgets everywhere. So it's no surprise that science-spending forecasts for Europe are grim.

Italian electrical engineer Cinzia Casiraghi has won €1.65 million to set up her own lab in Germany.

As nations compete for scientific recognition, Germany is boosting its fight. Over the past few years, the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)—Germany's ministry of education and research—has upped the science budget and encouraged initiatives that require universities and scientists to be more innovative. The intention is to promote competition to improve the nation's science reputation.

With major boosts in science funding, Europe hopes to become a hot spot of innovative science and technology.