Innovation 0 Technology PUBLISHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION INNOVATION PROGRAMME · MAY 1997 CONTENTS European Research Policy The future shape of European research policy has become clearer with the adoption by the European Commission on 9 April of its draft proposal for the next research Framework Programme. This, the Fifth Framework Programme, will cover the period from 1998 to 2002. In announcing the adoption of the proposal, the Commission said it marks a break in apYour Window on European Innovation proach to European research policy, by concentrating on the Innovation Relay Centres, page 8. fewer topics and by changing the way the programme operates. POLICY NEWS 37 This includes more coordination between the various acInnovationintheFifthFramework Programmetivities within the programme, as well as with other Euro■ TheCommission'sProposal in Brief ■ BangemannChallengegoesGlobal■Dutch Focus on Innovationpean policies, to ensure that research responds to the EU's ■ ERDF:GettingSMEsConnected needs. The programme also has builtin flexibility so that it can react to emerging priorities. DOSSIER: INNOVATION RELAY CENTRES 813 The proposal includes a number of the recommendations made in the report from the Davignon Panel, which asN PROGRAMME NEWS 1417 Awareness Actions ■ Innovation Programmesessed the experience gained from previous programmes.