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 «Brussels in Brief - Interface Europe’s Newsletter» - March 2010

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  General EU Information

  • Council of the EU

    2010-03-03 - Competitiveness Council focus on 2020 Strategy

    An exchange of views was held on the new 2020 Strategy for jobs and growth at the latest meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 1 and 2 March in Brussels, Belgium. The debate focused on the new strategy from the perspective of the internal market and will help contribute to the general framework of the new strategy.

    Further information

  • European Parliament

    2010-03-08 - 2010-03-11 - Plenary Session - Strasbourg

    At the opening of this week's Strasbourg plenary session, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek expressed sorrow for the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey, Chile and Haiti as well as the storms in France. He also congratulated Lithuania and Estonia on the 20th anniversaries of their independence (11 March) and, referring to the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan uprising, called on China to engage in dialogue with the people of Tibet.

    Further information

    2010-03-12 - MEPs demand extra funding for low carbon energy technologies

    The EU should invest a minimum of EUR 2 billion a year in low carbon technologies, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have said in a resolution adopted on 11 March. What's more, additional funds from other public and private resources will be needed if the EU is to reach its climate change targets for 2020, the MEPs add. The resolution on investing in the development of low carbon energy technologies (SET-Plan) [Strategic Energy Technology Plan] was adopted at the European Parliament's Plenary Session in Strasbourg, France with 444 votes in favour, 88 against and 32 abstentions.

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    2010-03-24 - 2010-03-25 - Plenary Session - Strasbourg

    At the start of Thursday's plenary sitting, Parliament's President Jerzy Buzek made statements to the House about two recent events. He condemned the killing of French policeman Jean-Serge Nerin by the Basque separatist group ETA on 16 March and expressed support for members of the Cuban opposition group Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) who have been arrested by the Cuban authorities. Ladies in White was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for human rights in 2005.

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  EU policies and funding programmes for Research, Innovation, Training and Competitiveness

  • Research Policy

    • General points

      2010-03-26 - Spain pledges progress on infrastructures

      Spain has promised to make progress on the European research infrastructure roadmap during its time in the EU Council Presidency. 'Major research infrastructures are fundamental for tackling the social and economic challenges which face European society in the 21st century, on a scientific and technological basis,' commented Spanish Science and Innovation Minister, Cristina Garmendia. Ms Garmendia was speaking to some 600 delegates at the opening of the sixth European Conference on Research Infrastructures (ECRI 2010), which was held in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 and 24 March.

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    • European Research and Innovation projects

      • ICT

        2010-03-04 - Europeans spotlight optimum energy consumption moment

        The EU counts nearly half a billion citizens: their impact on the environment, and on energy consumption in particular, is huge. Europeans must act to curb this impact and manage resources wisely in order to protect the environment. Enter the ENERSIP project which will design a graphic interface to provide key services helping consumers save energy but also maintaining their comfort levels. The upshot is efficient energy production and consumption based on user demand. ENERSIP ('Energy saving information platform for generation and consumption networks') has received EUR 4 million under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-04 - Bringing grid computing to the people

        Grid computing has changed the way people access and use information. But a team of European researchers has raised the bar by developing middleware - computer software that links software components or applications. The researchers from the KNOWARC ('Grid-enabled know-how sharing technology based on ARC services and open standards') project, which received almost EUR 3 million in funding under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), targeted better and bigger state-of-the-art technology.

        Further information
        2010-03-05 - EU project gives non-tech-savvy people a boost

        Advances in information and communication technologies have done people a world of good but not everyone has access to these innovations. The EU-funded I2HOME ('Intuitive interaction for everyone with home appliances based on industry standards') project, which received EUR 2.7 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), set out to solve this problem by designing and implementing such technologies in a 'Design for All' approach. Failure to provide innovative tools, such as mobile phones and remote controls, to people who are not technologically savvy impedes their participation in society, obliges them to depend on others and limits their potential. A research team studying the protective coatings on the byssal threads or 'beards' of mussels - the fibres by which mussels attach themselves to rocks - has found that they owe their strength and flexibility to their F protein and metal ion make-up. The findings, published in the journal Science, could prove highly useful for the future production of industrial materials. The threads which are usually removed before mussels are cooked, are covered with an outer coating of protein and then with metal ions which make them extremely hard-wearing - vital for mussels in their watery habitat, where they have to anchor themselves firmly to rocks while being battered by waves and other sea materials.

        Further information
        2010-03-11 - Kids do the math, the easy way

        If a student ever says mathematics isn't fun, tell them they're wrong. Thanks to the ingenuity of a team of EU-funded researchers, an integrated theoretical framework on the use of digital media has been developed, representing mathematical ideas and generating mathematical meaning. The REMATH ('Representing mathematics with digital media') project received over EUR 2.15 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2010-03-15 - Scientists stretch quantum scales

        A German-Spanish collaboration plans to use quantum mechanics (the study of small, inanimate objects such as single atoms) to identify quantum properties in larger and more complex objects made up of tens of millions of atoms, including the flu virus. Details of their unprecedented approach are published in the New Journal of Physics. The study is being supported by the SCALA ('Scalable quantum computing with light and atoms') project, which received EUR 9.36 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic Area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2010-03-15 - 3Plast makes an innovative splash

        The EU has granted researchers over EUR 2 million to establish innovative solutions for safety and security systems, as well as easy-to-use human-machine interfaces without burning huge holes in European pockets. The 3PLAST ('Pyroelectrical and piezoelectrical printable large area sensor technology') project, supported under Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), is providing new sensor concepts produced through high-throughput processes for high-volume markets.

        Further information
        2010-03-23 - HAPTIMAP targets sense(ible) solutions

        Technological advances have done people a world of good, but they can also be nerve-wracking at times. Having to look at mobile device screens for information is not always a realistic or even safe thing to do, and poor eyesight can make it difficult for users to see key details. The HAPTIMAP ('Haptic, audio and visual interfaces for maps and location-based services') project, funded under the 'Information communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme, targets making maps and location-based services more accessible by using the body's senses including hearing, vision and touch. The project has received almost EUR 7 million in EU support.

        Further information
        2010-03-25 - Europeans use innovation to tackle money laundering

        The EU is taking a bite out of money laundering, which is estimated at EUR 1 trillion worldwide. Helping the EU to stamp out this criminal activity is the BEINGRID ('Business experiments in GRID') project, which received more than EUR 15 million to implement and deploy grid solutions for European business sectors and to create a toolset repository of grid service components and best practice to support businesses that want to adopt this new technology. BEINGRID was supported under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2010-03-29 - German scientists break world record with novel data processing system

        Computer scientists in Germany have become world record holders for a system they created that uses the least amount of energy to process huge volumes of data. The record is listed in the 'JouleSort' category of the Sort Benchmark, a series of measurement standards first defined, sponsored and administered by renowned US computer scientist Jim Gray in 1998. Securing top place in the Sort Benchmark signals a big win for small, power-efficient data processing systems.

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      • Health

        2010-03-02 - Research links immune system disturbance and coeliac disease

        A partially EU-funded international research team has identified four aspects of immune system disturbance that can lead to the development of coeliac disease. The findings could lead to new treatments for the condition as well as type 1 diabetes, which is related to it. The results are published in the journal Nature Genetics. The study received EU funding under the COPACETIC ('COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] pathology: addressing critical gaps, early treatment and innovative concepts') project, which received EUR 2.98 million of funding under the Health Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The study also received support from the Marie Curie Actions under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2010-03-02 - Viruses and the human genome: new perspectives on an old relation

        Viral infection susceptibility varies amongst individuals, with some people exposed to viruses for long periods of time but remaining uninfected nonetheless. The burning question is why? Italian researchers at the Scientific Institute for research, hospitalization and health care E. Medea (IRCCS), the University of Milan and the Politecnico di Milano have unlocked the mystery, and their work could lead to novel treatments to fight infection. The results of their study, funded in part by the EU, were published in the Public Library of Science (PLoS) Genetics journal.

        Further information
        2010-03-05 - EU-funded researchers sequence human gut microbe genome

        EU-funded researchers have sequenced the genome of the community of microbes that lives in our guts. The study sheds new light on the influence of these microbes on our health and could lead to the development of new treatments and diagnostic tests for a variety of diseases. Published in the journal Nature, the work represents the first major outcome of the EU-funded METAHIT ('Metagenomics of the human intestinal tract') project, which is funded to the tune of EUR 11.4 million under the Health theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-08 - More sun means a better immune system

        As the human body's defence against infection, T (thymus) cells help keep us healthy by finding and destroying traces of foreign pathogens. But new research from Denmark shows that T cells need healthy doses of vitamin D in the bloodstream so as to kick into action and perform their role properly. This latest breakthrough, details of which are published in the journal Nature Immunology, may help doctors deal with autoimmune reactions and even counteract transplant organ rejection.

        Further information
        2010-03-08 - 'Crowding' makes sense of our peripheral vision

        Although you may not realise it, an effect known as 'crowding' is allowing you to focus on each word in this sentence by blurring out everything else. Even though it affects 95% of the visual field, little is known about how crowding actually occurs. The phenomenon was thought to make recognising things more difficult, but a team of UK and US scientists now asserts that crowding, a condition that originates from the brain and not the eye, is far from random. Findings from their study are published in Current Biology.

        Further information
        2010-03-08 - EU and EECA push for better research ties

        Building better research relations between the EU and EECA (Eastern Europe and Central Asia) nations is an important objective for everyone, and the EECAlink project, which has received EUR 600,000 under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), is determined to make this happen. Launched in June 2009, the EECAlink ('Promotion and facilitation of international cooperation with Eastern European and Central Asian countries') project is identifying joint research priorities and bolstering scientific collaboration for three stakeholder groups: policymakers, university and academic partners, and the wider research public.

        Further information
        2010-03-09 - Picky cells may lead the way to more precise meds

        EU-funded researchers have used advanced screening tests to identify over 4,000 genes that are involved in endocytosis, the process that cells use to take in substances from the external environment. The findings, published in the journal Nature, could lead to the development of treatments and diagnostic tests for a range of diseases.

        Further information
        2010-03-09 - Europeans set to crack chronic kidney disease puzzle

        Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent disease that affects 1 in 10 Europeans. Despite research into CKD, early-stage diagnosis and personalised treatment need improvement. Another burning issue is the lack of information on the pathophysiology of the disease. Enter the SYSKID ('Systems biology towards novel chronic kidney disease diagnosis and treatment') project, which is determined to resolve these issues. The 60-month project is supported under the Health Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 11.8 million.

        Further information
        2010-03-10 - Scientists and SMEs join forces to fight influenza

        Researchers and industrialists from Europe and abroad have clinched EUR 18 million in EU support for their collaboration on projects targeting influenza. In total, 52 research institutes and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 18 European countries, as well as China, Israel and the US will work together on 4 projects to determine how influenza virus genes migrate, and how they pose a serious threat to the well-being of humans and animals. In less than a decade, the Commission has earmarked more than EUR 100 million for research on influenza.

        Further information
        2010-03-15 - EU-funded study yields disease-resistant crops

        Food security, the ability to produce the amount of food needed to sustain the ever-growing human population, is one of the priorities that drives the EU's research agenda. Through research, we are able to develop new ways to increase the amount of food we grow, while at the same time minimising the impact food production can have on the environment. A breakthrough by a UK-led research team is a case in point: these scientists have found a way to help crops defend themselves against disease, ultimately reducing yield loss and minimising pesticide usage. The research results are published in the journal Nature Biotechnology. The study was supported by the ERA-NET ('European Research Area Network') on Plant Genomics (ERA-PG), funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) with over EUR 2 million. ERA-PG's research programme consisted of a total of 41 transnational research projects.

        Further information
        2010-03-16 - Research on fatty acids may lead to new diabetes treatment

        An EU-funded research team has discovered that blood vessels and muscles in the heart can regulate the uptake of fatty acids from our diet, and has worked out how they do this. The results, published in the journal Nature, could pave the way for new forms of treatment for fat accumulation in the muscles which can increase the risk of developing type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study was part of the 16-partner EU project LYMPHANGIOGENOMICS ('Genome-wide discovery and functional analysis of novel genes in lymphangiogenesis'), which received EUR 9 million under the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2010-03-18 - Lockdown on leukaemia cells' gene addiction

        New research targeting acute forms of leukaemia, led by the University of Vienna in Austria, spotlights a new drug target to inhibit the genes that help develop the diseased cells. Published in the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Molecular Medicine journal, the study's findings demonstrate how leukaemia cells become 'addicted' to genes, which if targeted could thwart the development of diseased cells.

        Further information
        2010-03-19 - Why cystic fibrosis patients live longer in some countries

        The largest study to date of cystic fibrosis (CF) says that people suffering from the disease live longer in some European countries than in others, mainly due to earlier mortality and differences in access to care and its quality. The research, which was supported under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), is published in The Lancet journal.

        Further information
        2010-03-22 - Gene 'on-off' switch gives us our individuality

        When the human genome was sequenced in 2001, scientists raced to discover the genes responsible for making us unique. A German-US team has now revealed that rather than the genes themselves, it's the way the genes are regulated (turned on or off, for example) that makes us different from one another. Findings from the study are published in the journal Science.

        Further information
        2010-03-23 - Worm research sheds light on rare genetic disorder

        Researchers at the University College Dublin (UCD) Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research in Ireland have discovered new information on a gene that is involved in the development of Joubert syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the brain stem. The team hopes that the results, which are published in the Journal of Cell Biology, will lead to a greater understanding of a range of cerebellar disorders.

        Further information
        2010-03-23 - New study highlights immune system's role in Alzheimer's

        The brain's immune cells may be behind the loss of neurons associated with Alzheimer's disease, new EU-funded research suggests. The findings, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, could lead to the development of new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. EU support for the work came from the NEURO.GSK3 ('GSK-3 [glycogen synthase kinase 3] in neuronal plasticity and neurodegeneration: basic mechanisms and pre-clinical assessment') project, which has been allocated EUR 3.57 million under the Health Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-25 - Study provides insights into early development of human voice processing

        Voice processing in the brains of infants develops at an early stage in a child's life. A study by British and German scientists identifies the age of between four and seven months as the period when infants start demonstrating a sensitivity to the human voice, and the emotions it communicates, that is similar to that of adults. The study has now been published in Cell Press's journal Neuron.

        Further information
        2010-03-26 - Why inflammation in body fat isn't always a bad thing

        Inflammation in body fat may not always be harmful, according to new EU-funded research which contrasts with earlier ideas that link inflammation in body fat to insulin resistance, and ultimately to type 2 diabetes. The findings may eventually lead to new treatments for type 2 diabetes. The results of the study, by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, are published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). EU support for the work came from two projects: HEPADIP ('Hepatic and adipose tissue and liver dysfunction in the metabolic syndrome'), which received EUR 11.7 million under the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), and ADAPT ('Adipokines as drug targets to combat adverse effects of excess adipose tissue'), which was funded under the Health Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 3 million.

        Further information
        2010-03-26 - Health system organisations under the microscope

        A new project funded by the EU will compare the health system organisations of the 27 Member States, and will examine the robustness of health outcomes that are currently being used by health technology assessment officials. With around EUR 1 million in support from the EU, the ECHOUTCOME ('European consortium in health care outcomes and cost-benefit research') project kicks off in March under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-29 - Tumours evade attack through mimicry

        EU-funded scientists have discovered that tumours can elude the immune system's radar by imitating lymph nodes' characteristics. The breakthrough gives the research world new insight into the role of the lymphatic system, and may even lead to new cancer treatments. Results from the project are published online in the journal Science. EU support for the work came from the European Research Council (ERC), which is financed under the Ideas Programme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-29 - New online resource to help sufferers of rare degenerative disease

        A new multilingual website will provide extensive information for people suffering from a devastating type of motor neurone disease called ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), which kills most sufferers within three to five years of diagnosis. The new online resource is part of the EU-funded project MITOTARGET, which is investigating the underlying causes of ALS. The team hope that the website will be the first port of call for anyone wishing to learn or share information about ALS, including doctors, nurses, patients and members of the public. MitoTarget received EUR 6 million under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-30 - Novel dual-action drug can tackle hypertension

        New international research shows that patients suffering from hypertension can tolerate and even significantly drop their blood pressure levels when treated with a new dual-action drug called LCZ696. Presented in The Lancet journal, the study compared this new drug to the established angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan. The discovery that LCZ696 may be superior to standard ARBs could lead to better treatment for patients with hypertension and heart disease.

        Further information
        2010-03-30 - 'Chemical cocktail' poses risk to humans and environment

        An EU-commissioned research team at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has looked at the risk factor of 'chemical cocktails' in the human body and the effect that such a mixture has on both humans and the environment. The team analysed current chemical risk assessment practices and it now proposes a number of measures that must be implemented. The report is published on the website of the European Commission's Directorate-General (DG) for the Environment.

        Further information
        2010-03-31 - EU-funded researchers to tackle food quality and safety genetically

        An international EU-funded partnership is leading the way in food quality and safety. Headed by the University of the West of England (UWE) in the UK, the project, which includes eight institutions from seven countries, will study the genetic aspects of food quality to improve safety standards. UWE's Dr Olena Doran, who is leading the research team, said: 'This project is a successful development of a previous EU project on food quality and food safety by UWE which involved 20 organisations from 12 countries.

        Further information

      • Environment

        2010-03-10 - Geophysicists study how atmosphere affects Earth

        A new cross-disciplinary research project backed by the Austrian Science Fund has been established so that geophysicists can develop a better understanding of how the Earth's atmosphere operates. Researchers at the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics at Vienna University of Technology (TU) in Austria will study the ways in which the Earth's atmosphere supports life on the planet, as well as how it affects it in many other ways including its gravitational field, its shape and its rotation.

        Further information
        2010-03-12 - Weaker Sun would not slow global warming, say researchers

        A research team from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) in Germany has found that decreased solar activity until the end of this century would only slightly scale down the global temperature rise caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The results of the study are published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The researchers found that the projected fall in solar activity until the end of the present century would bring down the Earth's temperature by only 0.3°C This figure is less than 10% of the projected temperature rise if we continue with the 'business as usual' scenario posited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

        Further information
        2010-03-16 - Researchers unlock mystery of sulphuric acid concentration in atmosphere

        Groundbreaking research from Europe and the US shows how sulphuric acid and water react at fast enough rates to explain the high concentration of sulphuric acid in the atmosphere. The study's findings are part of the EUCARRI ('European integrated project on aerosol cloud climate and air quality interactions') project, funded under the 'Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to the tune of EUR 10 million. The results are published in the journal Science. The scientists from the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Sweden and the US said their findings could have implications for global climate modelling, effectively giving researchers the means to assuage any doubts related to what impact aerosols have on their predictions.

        Further information
        2010-03-17 - Researchers warn of how methane leaks affect planet

        An international team of researchers has discovered some alarming news: a section of the Arctic Ocean seabed holding extensive stores of frozen methane is displaying signs of instability and widespread greenhouse gas leaks. The study's findings were recently published in the journal Science. The researchers from Russia, Sweden and the US observed perforations in the permafrost under the East Siberian Arctic Shelf that are allowing substantial amounts of methane to escape into the atmosphere. The release of even just a small amount of the methane stored in the shelf could result in further climate warming.

        Further information

      • Agriculture

        2010-03-26 - Scientists investigate physical traits in plant inbred lines

        Geneticists have given the plant world a boost by developing a new method to locate genes behind physical traits in plants. Funded in part by the EU, the scientists believe this first extensive use of genome-wide association (GWA) in a plant species could help scientists determine important agricultural traits including disease resistance and biomass production. The findings of this groundbreaking study are presented in the journal Nature. The research is part of the ANAVACO ('Analysis of natural variation for cold tolerance in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana') project, which has received more than EUR 236,000 under the People Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). ANAVACO, which kicked off in 2008 and is schedule to end in 2011, aims to identify the genes underlying variation for cold tolerance in A. thaliana.

        Further information
        2010-03-30 - Scientists reap bumper tomato harvest

        EU-funded researchers have identified a mutation that can make tomatoes tastier and boost yields by up to 60%. The findings, published online in the journal Nature Genetics, could have exciting implications for the agricultural industry. The research, carried out by scientists in Israel and the US, received EU support via the EU-SOL ('High quality solanaceous crops for consumers, processors and producers by exploration of natural biodiversity') project, which is funded under the 'Food quality and safety' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to the tune of EUR 18.7 million.

        Further information

      • Nanosciences

        2010-03-05 - Getting to grips with mussel technology

        A research team studying the protective coatings on the byssal threads or 'beards' of mussels - the fibres by which mussels attach themselves to rocks - has found that they owe their strength and flexibility to their F protein and metal ion make-up. The findings, published in the journal Science, could prove highly useful for the future production of industrial materials. The threads which are usually removed before mussels are cooked, are covered with an outer coating of protein and then with metal ions which make them extremely hard-wearing - vital for mussels in their watery habitat, where they have to anchor themselves firmly to rocks while being battered by waves and other sea materials.

        Further information
        2010-03-12 - EU project reinforces construction sector

        The construction sector has benefited immensely from technological advances made to materials over the years. Curtain wall facade in particular has benefitted from light and easy to assemble materials, but this wall is mostly composed of aluminium and steel which trigger headaches in terms of supply and recycling, and have bad thermal behaviour. The FACOMP ('Polymeric nanocomposite profiles for curtain walls') project, backed by the EU with EUR 954,000 under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), is determined to define a novel system and a nanomaterial to replace steel and aluminium for structural profiles.

        Further information
        2010-03-19 - The invisibility cloak: one dimension closer to reality

        EU-funded researchers have created the first three-dimensional (3D) invisibility cloak and used it to successfully hide a small bump on a gold surface. The findings represent a major advance in the field of transformation optics, which uses a special type of materials called 'metamaterials' that can guide and control light in new ways.

        Further information
        2010-03-22 - 23 steps for a quantum walk

        A team of scientists led by the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences has successfully performed a quantum walk in a quantum system with up to 23 steps. The study's findings, funded in part by the EU, were published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

        Further information

      • Space

        2010-03-17 - Giant supernovae raise new questions for astronomers

        An international research team has made a breakthrough discovery in astronomical research: the mass of a particular type of supernova exceeds what was previously believed to be its limit. Their findings, soon to be published in The Astrophysical Journal, could change the way that cosmologists measure how the universe is expanding and may provide a new structural model to better understand supernovae. The research was supported in part by a Marie Curie grant from the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-22 - Introducing Earth's distant new neighbour

        A planet the size of Jupiter has been discovered 1,500 light-years from Earth. Named Corot-9b after the telescope operated by the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) in France, the planet orbits a star located in the 'snake' constellation, Serpens Cauda. Details of the discovery are published in Nature. A European-led team of 60 international astronomers identified the planet after 145 days of observations during the summer of 2008 using COROT ('Convection, rotation and planetary transits'), a space telescope satellite constructed with support from four EU Member States, Brazil and the European Space Agency (ESA).

        Further information

      • Energy

        2010-03-02 - New biorefinery project gets underway

        Work has begun on a new EU-funded project to dramatically improve the performance of Europe's biorefineries. Dubbed EUROBIOREF ('European multilevel integrated biorefinery design for sustainable biomass processing'), the project aims to improve cost efficiency by 30%, cut energy use by 30% and reduce feedstock consumption by 10%. The 4-year project has a total budget of EUR 37 million, EUR 23 million of which comes from the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2010-03-16 - New EU-funded project targets 'home-made energy'

        EU-funded researchers have embarked on a project to develop mini solar power systems that will allow homes and workplaces alike to generate their own electricity and meet their heating and cooling requirements. Called DIGESPO ('Distributed CHP [combined heat and power] generation from small size concentrated solar power'), the 3-year project has been allocated EUR 3.2 million in funding under the Energy Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Its aim is to create a prototype system capable of converting 60% to 70% of harnessed solar radiation into heat and electricity.

        Further information
        2010-03-19 - Scientists discover new heavy antimatter

        A global team of scientists has discovered the heaviest known antinucleus and the first-ever antinucleus containing an anti-strange quark by investigating high-energy collisions of gold ions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) located at the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory. The findings of the study were presented in the journal Science. The scientists said this new antinucleus, found at the RHIC's STAR detector, is a negatively charged state of antimatter containing an antiproton, an antineutron, and an anti-Lambda particle.

        Further information

    • Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development 2007- 2013 (FP7)

      • News

        Become an expert evaluator for FP7

        The website to register as an expert for research activities is available on CORDIS. The call for experts is open both for individuals and for organisations.

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      • European Technology Platforms

        Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies (EuMaT)

        No events planned

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        Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE)

        No events planned

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        European Technology Platform for Wind Energy (TPWind)

        No events planned

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        European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration (EPoSS)

        2-3 February 2012, Besancon - dMEMS 2012
        20 March 2012, Zurich - MEMS Executive Congress Europe
        20-21 March 2012, Berlin - Microsys Berlin - micro-optics and micro-optical systems convention
        21-22 March 2012, Zurich - SSI 2012: International Conference & Exhibition on Integration Issues of Miniaturized Systems
        10-13 April 2012, Brussels - Graphene Conference 2012
        8-10 May 2012, Nuremberg - SMT Hybrid Packaging - System Integration in Micro Electronics
        30-31 May 2012, Berlin - AMAA 2012
        10-14 June 2012, Montecatini Terme - 4th International Conference "Smart Materials, Structures and Systems"
        13-15 June 2012, Graz - EURIPIDES Annual Forum 2012
        26-28 September 2012, Paris - EPoSS General Assembly & Annual Forum 2012

        Further information
        European Technology Platform Food for Life (Food)

        No events planned

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        Forest Based Sector Technology Platform (Forestry)

        7-8 February 2012, Helsinki - 4th WoodWisdom-Net Research Programme Seminar
        22 February 2012, Basque Country - ROK-FOR Conference: Innovative and Sustainable Wood Arquitecture and Construction
        28 February 2012, Brussels - PROsumer.NET workshop on innovation
        21 March 2012, Copenhagen - International Conference on Research Infrastructures - ICRI2012
        26-29 March 2011, London - Planet Under Pressure 2012 conference
        15 May 2012, place tbc - FTP joint Partnering Event together with COST
        21-24 May 2012, Tours - Tackling climate change: the contribution of forest scientific knowledge
        18 June 2012, Milan - 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
        8-13 July 2012, Lisbon - 2012 IUFRO Conference
        23 October 2012, Helsinki - 4th Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference

        Further information
        Embedded Computing Systems (ARTEMIS)

        1-2 February 2012, Madrid - ITEA 2 PO Preparations Days 2012
        1-3 February 2012, Toulouse - ERTS2 2012
        1-4 February 2012, Vilamoura - HEALTINF 2012
        22-23 February 2012, Stockholm - CELTIC-PLUS EVENT 2012
        28 February-1 March 2012, Nuremberg - ARTEMIS Spring Event 2012
        6-10 March 2012, Hannover - CEBIT 2012

        Further information
        Nanoelectronics Technologies 2020 (ENIAC)

        7-8 February 2012, Frankfurt - Common Brokerage Event
        26-28 February 2012, Munich - ISS Europe 2012 - 25th Anniversary
        12-16 March 2012, Dresden - DATE Conference
        9-11 October 2012, Dresden - SEMICON Europa
        20-21 November 2012, Munich - European Nanoelectronics Forum 2012

        Further information
        European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC)

        17-19 April 2012, Dubai - GulfRail 2012
        23-26 April 2012, Athens - TRA (Transport Arena)
        24-26 April 2012, Stockholm - 10th UIC ERTMS World Conference "ERTMS - Global Dimensions"
        10-13 July 2012, Philadelphia - UIC HIGHSPEED 2012, 8th World Congress on High-Speed Rail
        18-21 September 2012, Berlin - INNOTRANS

        Further information
        European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC)

        14 February 2012, Brussels - Electrification Roadmap workshop
        15 February 2012, Brussels - Steering Group meeting
        15 March 2012, Brussels - ERTRAC Plenary

        Further information
        European Space Technology Platform (ESTP)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks of the Future (SmartGrids)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Future Manufacturing Technologies (MANUFUTURE)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Euratex)

        29-30 March 2012, Brussels - 7TH ANNUAL PUBLIC CONFERENCE: "FROM FP7 TO HORIZON 2020"

        Further information
        Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH)

        9 February 2012, Brussels - FCH public information session and Brokerage event
        24 April 2012, Paris - Workshop of the International Energy Agency on On-site H2 supply

        Further information
        Industrial Safety ETP (IndustrialSafety)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

        27 February 2012, Brussels - Open Info Day: 5th Call for proposals

        Further information
        Integral Satcom Initiative (ISI)

        22-23 March 2012, Bradford - PSATS 2012
        10 April 2012, Brussels - 15th ISI General Assembly
        11 April 2012, Brussels - 5th SatCom Event
        18-20 April 2012, Poznana - European Wireless Conference

        Further information
        Mobile and Wireless Communications (eMobility)

        10-11 May 2012, Aalborg - Future Internet Assembly (FIA)
        4-6 July 2012, Berlin - Future Network & Mobile Summit 2012

        Further information
        Nanotechnologies for Medical Applications (NanoMedicine)

        27 February-2 March 2012, Dublin - NanoImpactNet – QNano conference
        29 February-9 March 2012, Saarbrücken - Biological Barriers 2012
        3 April 2012, Brighton - Tissue Regeneration Strategies and Innovative Biomaterials in Orthopaedic Surgery
        16 April 2012, Brussels - Innovation in Healthcare without borders
        19-20 April 2012, Berlin - Spring Conference “Nanomedicine: Visions, Risks, Potential”
        7 May 2012, Basel - European Summit for Clinical Nanomedicine 2012
        18 June 2012, Varese - Nanobio-Europe 2012
        30 June 2012, Thessaloniki - ISSON12 Summer School on Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies:Organic Electronics & Nanomedicine
        3 July 2012, Thessaloniki - NN12 - 9th International Conference on Nanosciences & Nanotechnologies
        15 July 2012, Amsterdam - Colloids and Nanomedicine 2012
        13-15 November 2012, Grenoble - Nanosafe 2012

        Further information
        Networked and Electronic Media (NEM)

        22-23 February 2012, Stockholm - Celtic-Plus-Towards a Smart Connected World
        20 March 2012, Brussels - 13th NEM General Assembly
        10-11 May 2012, Aalborg - Future Internet Assembly
        4-6 July 2012, Berlin - Future Network and MobileSummit 2012

        Further information
        Networked European Software and Services Initiative (NESSI)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Photonics21 (Photonics)

        4-9 February 2012, San Diego - SPIE Medical Imaging 2012
        14-16 February 2012, Munich - FTTH Council Europe 2012
        16 February 2012, London - The Smart Building of the Future
        4-8 March 2012, Los Angeles - OFC/NFOEC 2012
        5 March 2012, Brussels - Intensive Training on Entrepreneurship in Photonics
        27-28 March 2012, Brussels - Photonics21 Annual Meeting 2012
        31 March-3 April 2012, Tunis - 1st EOS Topical Meeting on Photonics for Sustainable Development – Focus on the Mediterranean (PSDM 2012)
        2-4 April 2012, Eindhoven - Photonics PhD Event 2012
        16-20 April 2012, Brussels - SPIE Photonics Europe 2012
        17-20 April 2012, Moscow - Photonics. World of Lasers and Optics 2012
        23-27 April 2012, Baltimore - SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing 2012
        15-17 May 2012, Florence - Fotonica 2012
        5-7 June 2012, Lyon - LumiBat - The international indoor lighting trade fair
        19-21 June 2012, Jena - ICOB 2012
        2-4 July 2012, Amsterdam - SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012
        2-6 July 2012, Thessaloniki - 2nd International Exhibition on Nanotechnologies & Organic Electronics
        4-6 July 2012, Berlin - Future Networks and Mobile Summit
        12-16 August 2012, San Diego - SPIE Optics + Photonics 2012
        17-22 September 2012, St Petersburg - Sixth International Congress on Advanced Electromagnetic Materials in Microwaves and Optics – Metamaterials 2012
        24-27 September 2012, Edinburgh - SPIE Security and Defence + Remote Sensing
        21-22 November 2012, Paris - ForumLED Europe 2012

        Further information
        Photovoltaics (PV Platform)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Plants for the Future (Plants)

        No events planned.

        Further information
        Robotics (EUROP)

        22-23 February 2012, Vienna - CogSys 2012
        5-7 March 2012, Odense - European Robotics Forum 2012
        5-8 March 2012, Boston - HRI 2012
        8-9 March 2012, Megève - The third Augmented Human International Conference (AH 2012)
        19-21 March 2012, Island of Kos - IEEE-ICIT'12 International Conference on Industrial Technology
        11 April 2012, Guimarães - Robotica 2012
        14-18 May 2012, St Paul - ICRA 2012
        22-25 May 2012, Munich - Automatica 2012 - International Trade Fair for Automation and Mechatronics
        4-8 June 2012, Valencia - AAMAS 2012
        18-24 June 2012, Mexico City - RoboCup 2012
        24-28 June 2012, Puerto Vallarta - International Symposium on Robotics and Applications (ISORA 2012)
        24-28 September 2012, Thun - ELROB 2012

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem)

        17-18 April 2012, Brussels - SusChem's 10th Annual Stakeholder Event

        Further information
        Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNE-TP)

        11–12 January 2012, Paris - NUGENIA Executive Committee n. 1
        30–31 January 2012, Karlsruhe - Executive Committee n. 13
        20 March 2012, Brussels - NUGENIA General Assembly n. 1
        21 March 2012, Brussels - Governing Board n. 9

        Further information
        Water Supply and Sanitation Platform (WSSTP)

        15-16 May 2012, Brussels - “Water Innovation Europe” event

        Further information
        Waterborne ETP (Waterborne)

        22 February 2012, Brussels - SG 42 + Mirror Group
        11 April 2012, Athens - TRA 2012

        Further information
        Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants Technology Platform (ETP ZEP)

        7 February 2012, London - Carbon Capture and Storage: demonstration programmes and the 2050 roadmap
        14-16 February 2012, Warsaw - COAL: Here to Stay. The Reality of Europe’s Energy Mix
        15 February 2012, Edinburgh - Carbon Capture and Storage Club
        27-28 February 2012, London - Platts 6th Annual European Carbon Capture and Storage Conference
        12-18 March 2012, Leszcze - CGS Europe Spring School on CO2 geological storage
        22-23 March 2012, Shanghai - Asia Green Fossil Power Plant Summit 2012
        26-27 March 2012, Edinburgh - Third EAGE CO2 Geological Storage Workshop: Understanding the Behaviour of CO2 in Geological Storage
        29-30 March 2012, Beijing - 8th Annual Clean Coal Forum 2012
        17 April 2012, Abu Dhabi - Higher Technology Conference
        17-19 April 2012, Venice - 7th CO2GeoNet Open Forum and CGS Europe Workshop
        26-27 April 2012, Brussels - European Business Summit
        15 May 2012, Brussels - 3rd Annual Brussels Carbon Capture and Storage Summit
        15-17 May 2012, Bali - Clean Power Asia 2012
        4-5 June 2012, Malta - Eurelectric Annual Conference
        12-18 August 2012, Beijing - 6th IEAGHG International CCS Summer School
        2 October 2012, Brussels - ZEP General Assembly
        9-10 October 2012, Copenhagen - Global Green Growth Forum
        18-22 October 2012, Pittsburgh - One Young World Summit 2012
        22-26 October 2012, Perth - CSLF Annual Meeting

        Further information
        European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating & Cooling (RHC)

        13 February 2012, Brussels - Meeting of the HWG on Shared SRA
        13 February 2012, Brussels - Steering Committee meeting of the Cross-cutting Technology Panel
        14 February 2012, Brussels - Board Meeting of the RHC-Platform.
        15 February 2012, Brussels - Meeting of the Biomass Technology Panel  Steering Committee
        1 March 2012, Offenburg - Meeting of the Geothermal Technology Panel
        26-27 April 2012, Copenhagen - 3rd Annual conference of the RHC-Platform

        Further information

      • Joint Technology Initiatives

        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

        27 February 2012, Brussels - Open Info Day: 5th Call for proposals

        Further information
        Embedded Computing Systems (ARTEMISA)

        1-2 February 2012, Madrid - ITEA 2 PO Preparations Days 2012
        1-3 February 2012, Toulouse - ERTS2 2012
        1-4 February 2012, Vilamoura - HEALTINF 2012
        22-23 February 2012, Stockholm - CELTIC-PLUS EVENT 2012
        6-10 March 2012, Hannover - CEBIT 2012

        Further information
        Nanoelectronics Technologies 2020 (ENIAC)

        7-8 February 2012, Frankfurt - Common Brokerage Event
        26-28 February 2012, Munich - ISS Europe 2012 - 25th Anniversary
        12-16 March 2012, Dresden - DATE Conference
        9-11 October 2012, Dresden - SEMICON Europa
        20-21 November 2012, Munich - European Nanoelectronics Forum 2012

        Further information
        Aeronautics and Air Transport (Clean Sky)

        29 February 2012, Madrid - Clean Sky Info Day - presentation of 2012 work programme
        13 March 2012, Amsterdam - Clean Sky Symposium
        11-16 September 2012, Berlin - ILA Berlin

        Further information
        Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH)

        9 February 2012, Brussels - FCH public information session and Brokerage event
        24 April 2012, Paris - Workshop of the International Energy Agency on On-site H2 supply

        Further information

  • Innovation policy

    2010-03-17 - Scoreboard shows more innovation needed in Europe

    Most EU Member States until 2008 were steadily improving their innovation performance. The economic crisis may, however, be hampering this progress, according to the 2009 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) published today. Early indications show that the worst hit are Member States with lower levels of innovation performance, potentially reversing the convergence process witnessed over recent years. Meanwhile, the latest statistics show that the EU is having difficulty in catching up with the US in innovation performance, although it maintains a clear lead over the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, despite rapid improvements in China.

    Further information

    2010-03-18 - Norway and the EU see eye to eye on ERA's 2020 vision

    The EU and Norway must redouble efforts to overcome remaining hurdles to achieving the European Research Area's (ERA) vision for the next decade of more mobility for researchers, knowledge and technology, according to a news report by the Research Council of Norway. Speaking at the recent Norwegian ERA Forum, high-ranking officials from both European Commission and Norway's Research Council underlined the importance of Europe's so-called 'fifth freedom', promoting more collaboration and mobility for researchers across ERA.

    Further information

  • Education policy

    2010-03-08 - Focus on higher education in Europe 2010: New report on the impact of the Bologna Process

    A new report, produced for the European Commission by the Eurydice network presents an overview of the progress on higher education reform made in the 46 countries in the Bologna Process. It is based on authoritative evidence from each country, and provides a clear comparative view of how the issues have been addressed at national level.

    Further information

    2010-03-08 - Higher education reforms: Europe must continue to modernise and increase quality, says Vassiliou

    A report presented today by the European Commission shows that countries still face challenges in modernising higher education, a decade after the launch of a blueprint for reform known as the 'Bologna Process'. The report, based on data provided by the 46 countries participating in the Process, shows that the economic crisis has affected higher education in different ways, with some countries investing more and others making radical cutbacks in spending. The report will be discussed at the Conference of European Higher Education Ministers, which takes place in Budapest on 11 March and in Vienna on 12 March.

    Further information

  • Regional policy

    2010-03-17 - Malaga ministerial focuses on Committee of the Regions' EU governance proposals

    For the first time in EU history, national ministers in charge of territorial policies dedicated a meeting to multilevel governance. Committee of the Regions (CoR) proposals on how to involve cities and regions in European policymaking took centre stage at this informal ministerial meeting organised by the Spanish EU presidency in Malaga today. Michel Delebarre (FR/PES), mayor of Dunkirk and co-rapporteur of the CoR on multilevel governance, joined national ministers to present the requests of Europe's regional and local authorities.

    Further information
• 

  Other EU Policies and funding programmes supporting the Lisbon Strategy

  • Environment

    2010-03-01 - European Commission launches public debate on protecting Europe's forests against climate change

    The European Commission today adopted a Green Paper which sets out options for a European Union approach to the protection of forests and to information about forest resources and their condition. Responses to the Green Paper from the public, Member States, EU institutions and other stakeholders will guide the Commission on whether additional action is needed at EU level.

    Further information

    2010-03-09 - Climate change: European Commission sets out strategy to reinvigorate global action after Copenhagen

    The European Commission today set out a strategy to help maintain the momentum of global efforts to tackle climate change. The Communication proposes that the EU swiftly begin implementing last December's Copenhagen Accord, in particular 'fast start' financial assistance to developing countries. In parallel the EU should continue to press for a robust and legally binding global agreement that involves all countries in real climate action. This will require integrating the Copenhagen Accord into the UN negotiations and addressing the weaknesses in the Kyoto Protocol. Active outreach by the EU will be key to promoting support for the UN negotiations and the Commission will undertake this effort in close contact with the Council and with the support of the European Parliament.

    Further information

    2010-03-12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production: Commission launches handbook on how to assess the environmental impact of products

    European Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik today launched an authoritative guide for policy-makers and business on how to assess the environmental impact of products. The guidance is part of the Commission's drive to promote more sustainable consumption and production patterns and reduce Europe's environmental footprint.

    Further information

    2010-03-22 - EU seas under threat from human activities, report warns

    A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) spotlights the current state of the oceans and offers a cautionary note: they are under increasing threat from various sources including pollution, overexploitation and climate change. Because ocean activity is submerged, we tend to forget that ocean degradation has been ongoing for many decades now. Oceans cover more than half of the combined territory of the EU Member States, but in EU territory only a small percentage of marine waters are protected, far less than the amount of protected land.

    Further information

    2010-03-23 - The European Commission launches environmental flagship project under the Eastern Partnership

    The flagship project aims to strengthen environmental governance and develop a regional Shared Environmental Information System to strengthen the collection, storage and monitoring of reliable data. It was unveiled at the first meeting of the Eastern Partnership's (EaP) Panel on the Environment and Climate Change. The meeting was attended by representatives from the six partner countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, EU Member States, as well as representatives from EU institutions and civil society. The project has received EU funding of around €13 million.

    Further information

  • Transport

    2010-03-15 - Companies are invited to apply for Marco Polo funding to fight road congestion and make freight transport greener

    The European Commission has published the fourth call for proposals for the creation and upgrade of freight transport services under the second Marco Polo programme. The projects to be chosen will fight congestion on European roads and improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system, which are two main objectives of the EU transport policy. Companies across the European Union and beyond are invited to submit proposals as from today.

    Further information

    2010-03-18 - EESC calls for a green and competitive transport sector

    European transport policy needs to face the challenge of maintaining the sector's competitiveness whilst curbing emissions of greenhouse gases. This can be achieved through steps having a rapid, direct and tangible effect on costs, argues the opinion adopted by the EESC plenary on 17 March 2010.

    Further information

  • Agriculture and fisheries

    2010-03-18 - Common Agriculture Policy after 2013: free market will not save European agriculture

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), as the first EU institution, rose to the challenge of providing a comprehensive vision for the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), in advance of the European Commission's papers on the matter, due to be issued later this year and in 2011. The EESC's opinion on this divisive and highly controversial issue was adopted with near-unanimity, a move that EESC Vice-President Seppo Kallio called "historical".

    Further information

    2010-03-30 - Management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea

    Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Mrs Maria Damanaki made clear yesterday that there will be no postponement in the implementation of the Mediterranean Regulation no. 1967/2006. Speaking at yesterday's Council meeting of EU Fisheries Ministers, the Commissioner recalled that the Member States have had three years to implement the rules they had unanimously agreed to and that the Commission will, therefore, not permit a further delay.

    Further information

  • Energy

    2010-03-04 - Economic Recovery: Second batch of 4-billion-euro package goes to 43 pipeline and electricity projects

    The European Commission selected today 43 major energy projects, which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery in the EU, while increasing our security of energy supply by creating cross-border infrastructure. With today's decision, the Commission grants € 2.3 billion to 31 gas and 12 electricity projects. This is the second financial decision under the Economic Recovery Package which amounts to almost 4 billion Euros. It is the largest amount the EU has ever spent on energy infrastructure.

    Further information

    2010-03-11 - Renewable energy: forecasts show EU on track to meet 20% target

    The EU will surpass its target to consume 20 per cent of its energy from renewable energy by 2020, according to national forecasts submitted to the European Commission. In its summary published today, the Commission finds that the EU will reach an overall share of 20,3 per cent renewables.

    Further information

    2010-03-24 - European Commission, EIB support EUR 1 bn investment by cities, regions in energy efficiency, renewables

    The European Commission and European Investment Bank (EIB) expect the European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) facility launched in December to support more than EUR 1 billion of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in 2010. A first agreement with the province of Barcelona will be signed in April, it was announced at the launch of the EU’s Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels. The EIB is currently in detailed discussions with 16 other cities or regions about their investment plans to increase energy efficiency and develop renewable energy.

    Further information
• 

  Research, Innovation, Training and Competitiveness related EU events

  • List of opened calls for proposals launched by the European Commission

    To consult our updated table of calls, click on our dedicated webpage below

    Further information

Special chapter on training opportunities

Next Sessions in English in Brussels

Prochaines sessions en français à Paris et Bruxelles

Próximas sesiones en español a Madrid