The debate over shortage of engineers (and scientists) in Europe is being summarized in one question: do we need "more" University places in science and engineering, or more demand from the labor market?

Alison Wolf's answer is: "create demand and supply will follow." Wolf's  article in the Financial Times Comment, Monday June 21, focuses on the UK, but  similar, broader remarks come from  the head of the European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT), Leif Johansson. The debate over dearth of engineers in Europe is framed by ERC as the result of a "false model" of competitiveness adopted by Europe -- Europe can't "live off knowledge and have manufacturing elsewhere."

• Defence research must be protected from cuts, by Alison Wolf, FT
• European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT)