CORDIS focus

European Commission Directorate-General For Enterprise And Industry

Description

Issue number 237, 26 January 2004
Scientific and technical research
Target audience: Specialised/Technical

Sujets

• Periodical publication
• RE/Search
• Research and development
• Sciences et techniques

Informations

• Publié par: EUROPEAN-COMMISSION-DIRECTORATE-GENERAL-FOR-ENTERPRISE-AND-INDUSTRY
• Nombre de lectures: 33
• Langue: English

Extrait

IN THIS ISSUE

Busquin targets twofold increase of EU research budget Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has confirmed that he intends to call on the EU’s Member States to double the Community budget for research in an enlarged Union page 2 TRAIN-IT project drives commercial exploitation of IST results The core aim of the Framework Programme’s Information Society Technologies (IST) priority is to carry out research to identify those future technologies that will enhance the lives of European citizens page 6 Call for proposals - Descartes Prize The European Commission has published a call for proposals for the René Descartes prizes, funded under the ‘science and society’ activity of the ‘structuring the European Research Area (ERA)’ specific programme of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) page 12 Harney outlines Irish Presidency’s Competitiveness Council p r o g r a m m e As its incoming president, Irish Minister for Enterprise,Trade and Employment Mary Harney, has set the agenda for the Competitiveness Council under the Irish Presidency, with a focus on achieving the goals of the Lisbon strategy page 14 Over 4,000 French researchers threaten resignation over budgetary situation French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has denied claims that his country is cutting research expenditure page 17 Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Innovation: Policy and Practice . . . 6 Programme Implementation . . . . . . 9 Publication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Result . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calls and Tenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 General Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Inside Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 New on CORDIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

B a s e d

o n i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m C O R D I S N e w s a v a i l a b l e

ISSN 1022-6559

o n t h e W e b a th t t p : / / w w w . c o r d i s . l u / n e w s

Research must be considered a key priority, Prodi tells Presidency and Parliament

While the new President of the European Council, Bertie Ahern, touched only briefly on research when outlining his country’s agendafor its six month stint at the helm of the EU, knowledge and innovation were highlighted by Commission President Romano Prodi as the Union’s ‘key priorities’, as he responded to the presentation. Mr Prodi called for a more proactive approach their significance for European competitive- to the issue by Member State governments, ness. saying that ‘The Commis-  ‘Our young people must be sion will make its propos-  able to find in Europe the als and the Council will  oppor tunities to study, take its decisions. How-  work and be successful ... ever, nothing will actually  that is their right. I must happen until these deci-  stress that I am not speak- sions become policies at  ing only in their interests; national level.’ s th u i r s v   i i v s  a t l, h ’  e h   e k  s e a y i   d t . o our very The Commission Presi- Outlining the Presiden- dent deplored the fact  c ’s that there are 400,000 ‘top  AiertBend arnhena oR mo © i A  rPdo visuudioibraal L ,yroruEnaepmoC nimuesti y nobsiL eadnegA  n- te e co f thxt o  klpw ro nhtnai  EU researchers’ currently working in the US,  - the EU’s goal of becoming the world’s most and stressed that Europe must create re-  competitive economy by 2010 - Mr Ahern said search centres of excellence that are the best  s laced sustainable in the world. ‘They must become the vital sym- that the Presiden l  c c y o   h h e a sio p n ‘at the v bol of our belief in the future, and that here t g r r e o   w of t   h it   s a   n w d o  s r o k  c p ia rogramme’. ery cen- in Europe we are capable of planning for the future and making it happen,’ he said.  ‘We have achieved a great deal already,’ he said, citing progress in areas such as research, Echoing previous calls for a ‘new European telecommunications and environmental pro- Renaissance’, Mr Prodi called for Europe to  tecti but added th um is ‘become what it was for centuries: the point incre o as n, e   d, the target w a il t l     u n n o l t e  b ss e     m me o t. m  M en r  t Ahern of reference for young researchers through-  therefore pledged to use the Spring European out the world.’  Council to give ‘renewed focus and impetus Emphasising the urgency of the situation, he  to the Lisbon Agenda.’ claimed that investment in education and re- pseeda2na401/ECH/SPEdonBaseiertBeybch search is not an abstract problem’, but an is- erAhn ‘ sue to be addressed now, as international 54412NCR competitors are already overtaking Europe. hensrIsieyoutlisoHarnlaeeS PresidencysCompetitivenessCouncil He concluded his address with a few words  programme,page14 about Europe’s researchers of the future, and

PUBLISHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION  INNOVATION

2

Busquin targets twofold increase of EU research budget Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has confirmed that he intends to call on the EU’ s Member States to double the Commu- nity budget for research in an enlarged Union. Mr Busquin made the statement in an in- If Mr Busquin gets his way, EU research terview with the French newspaper Le funds will increase from the current€5 Monde, although his spokesperson has billion per annum, to€10 billion by the since told CORDIS News that ‘this may be beginning of the next decade. Such a fig- a conservative estimate - we will prob- ure would represent 10% of public re- ably aim for more.’ search spending within the EU. Exact figures cannot be discussed until the The spokesperson added that Budget Member States agree on the global EU Commissioner Michaele Schreyer is be- budget for the period 2007 until 2013. lieved to be in favour of such a substantial While some are hoping to see national increase to EU research funding, and that contributions rise to 1.24% of GDP, six a recent report by German MEP Ralph Member States have already made clear Linkohr illustrates the Parliament’s back- that they wish to see contributions remain- ing for such a redistribution of funds. ing at the current level of 1%. seBanfiondroamitnoformrpesssources(Le

publisyb:eh d EUROPEAN COMMISSION Enterprise Directorate-General Communication and Awareness Unit L-2920 Luxembourg Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] CORDISfcosu also available at: is http://www.co rdis.lu/focus/en/ B a s e d o n i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m C O R D I S N e w s availableon theWeb at:  http://www.cordis.lu/news

CORDISfocus is published every two weeks by the Communication and Awareness Unit of the Enterprise Directorate-General as part of the Eu r o m m Co p e a nun i t y ’ e s e a r i x t h Rs Sch F r a m e w o r kP r o gr a m m e ,a n dp r es e n t s the latest news on European Union research and innovation and related p r o g r a m m e s a n d p o l i c i e s .

CORDIS FOCUS - NUMBER 237

© PhotoDisc

Monde)andcommentsfromaCommission spokesperson RCN21437

US supports Japanese bid to host ITER as France urges Europe to go it alone

The US Secretary ofState forEnergy, Spencer Abraham, has declared the strong supportof his country for the Japanese bid to host the international thermonuclear site (ITER). Governments in- said to support the volved in the ITER ini- French candidate, tiative are being asked while the US, Japan to choose between and South Korea are the European Union’s believed to be backing candidate to host the the Japanese applica- site, Cadarache in tion to host the site. France, and the Japa- nese site at Rokkasho-  Indeed, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Mura. Mr Abraham  Raffarin, raised the told an audience of  stakes by suggesting Japanese business  that Europe should leaders in Tokyo on 9  build its own thermo- January:‘I am proud to © ITER nuclear site if the say the United States  French candidate is s b t u r il o d n i g n l g y     ITE s R u   p in p   o Ja rt p s an. From a technical not selected for the international project. standpoint you have offered the superior  However, a spokesperson for EU Research site.’ Commissioner Philippe Busquin said that while this might be feasible, it was undesir- With the next intergovernmental meeting able and did not fit with Europe’s approach on ITER due to take place in mid February, to the issue to date. It would be matter for two blocs are emerging in support of the the Council of Ministers to decide, he added. two rival sites. The EU, Russia and China are continued on page 3

26 JANUARY 2004