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 «Brussels in Brief - Interface Europe’s Newsletter» - September 2008

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  General EU Information

  • Council of the EU

    2008-09-29 - Alzheimer's, researchers' careers and nanotechnologies on the agenda at Competitiveness Council

    Europe's research ministers adopted conclusions on Alzheimer's, the European partnership for researchers and responsible nanotechnology research at their Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels on 25 and 26 September. Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease, have been given a high priority under the French Presidency of the EU. During the council meeting, the ministers signed up to a commitment to combat these conditions, which are likely to become even more common as the population ages.

    Further information

    2008-09-29 - Competitiveness Council resolves to advance the European Space Policy

    On 26 September, the Competitiveness Council adopted a resolution to advance Europe's Space Policy. The resolution sets out four priority areas: space and climate change; space and security; space exploration; and the contribution of space to the Lisbon Strategy. The Member States highlighted in particular the importance of the rapid and successful implementation both of Galileo, the EU's satellite navigation system, and GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security).

    Further information

  • European Commission

    2008-09-04 - Commission puts forward marine and maritime research strategy

    The European Commission has set out its plans to strengthen links between the marine and maritime research communities. The Commission hopes its new European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research will enhance the conservation of the fragile marine environment while facilitating the development of maritime activities such as shipping and fisheries.

    Further information

  • European Parliament

    2008-09-04 - Brussels Plenary Session

    In the first session since the summer recess the Russia-Georgia crisis dominated the opening day of the September sitting of the European Parliament. It coincided with an EU summit and in a resolution MEPs called for Russia to honour the peace accord and withdraw its forces from Ossetia and Abkhazia. The week also saw MEPs debate proposals on judicial cooperation - especially with regard to mutual recognition of judicial decisions in abstentia between EU countries.

    Further information

    2008-09-22 - Brussels Plenary Session

    When MEPs met last week in Brussels terrorism, energy and access to healthcare were among the main debates. How to balance effective measures against terror whilst protecting data protection was considered Monday. The accessibility of healthcare in another country and who will pay for it was debated Thursday. The week also saw MEPs from all sides of the House call on national governments and the Commission to do more to bring down energy prices for the consumer. Reducing Europe's dependence on oil and gas was one such measure demanded. MEPs also looked at legislation to open up Europe's telecoms market with consumer protection and privacy being key points.

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

  • Research Policy

    • General points

      2008-09-03 - Several FP7 calls launched

      The European Commission has published a number of calls for proposals under the specific programmes Cooperation and Capacities of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).
      
      The calls address the following areas:
      
      Cooperation:
      - Security;
      - Space;
      - Health (two calls);
      - Environment (including climate change);
      - Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology;
      - Energy (three calls);
      - Socio-economic sciences and humanities (three calls);
      - Biorefinery joint call (two sections), including energy; environment (including climate change); food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology; and nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies.
      
      Capacities:
      - Research for the benefit of SMEs (three calls);
      - Activities of international cooperation (four calls);
      - Science in society;
      - Regions of knowledge.

      Further information

      2008-09-16 - ERC: supporting young researchers

      The European Research Council (ERC) is leading the way in the provision of financial support to some of Europe's finest researchers. Funding provided by the ERC, a total of EUR 7.5 billion, not only supports research but further stimulates pioneering research in groundbreaking new areas, areas that may not have been financially viable without ERC support. The ERC has increased their funding and is also funding junior scientists through the ERC Starting Grant Scheme.

      Further information

      2008-09-16 - A new face for CORDIS: new homepage now online

      CORDIS, the Community Research and Development Information Service, has given its homepage a new look. The previous homepage, online since mid-2005, is replaced with a new design to provide users with an easier means to understand the wide range of information available through CORDIS, and to track down the specific information they need more swiftly.

      Further information

      2008-09-16 - ERC Identification Committee named

      The European Commission has named the members of the European Research Council (ERC) Identification Committee. The newly formed group has two tasks: to identify three new members of the ERC's Scientific Council and establish a procedure for the replacement of members in the future.

      Further information

      2008-09-19 - EDCTP calls for proposals

      The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) has announced four calls for proposals.
      
      The calls now open for application include two in the area of malaria treatment and vaccines, one senior fellowship and one for the establishment of ethics committees. More specifically, proposers are invited to apply for the following:
      - malaria vaccines: clinical trials, capacity development and networking (available funds EUR 6.5 million);
      - malaria treatment: clinical trials, capacity development and networking (available funds: EUR 6 million);
      - senior fellowship (available funds: EUR 1.2 million);
      - establishment and strengthening of African national ethics committees or institutional review boards (available funds: EUR 500,000).
      
      The EDCTP is an EU-funded partnership between European and sub-Saharan counties, joining forces in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

      Further information

      2008-09-24 - New CORDIS archive launched

      CORDIS, the Community Research and Development Information Service, now provides access to its archives via the new CORDIS Archive Index. The index makes it possible to surf older web pages on the CORDIS servers, which are no longer updated but may still contain useful information.
      
      The new service, which is easily reached through the CORDIS homepage, currently lists a number of sites including, for instance, a link to ACTS ('Advanced communications technologies and services'), a programme which was funded under the Fourth Framework Programme (FP4), the IMPROVING ('Improving human research potential & the socio-economic knowledge base') programme, which received funding from the EU under the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) and others. Further links will be added as the service evolves.

      Further information

    • European Research and Innovation projects

      • ICT

        2008-09-19 - New project paves the way for next generation optical networks

        A new EU-funded project to boost the capacity and efficiency of the next generation of optical networks has just got underway. The PHASORS ('Phase sensitive amplifier systems and optical regenerators and their applications') initiative is funded under the 'Information and communication technology' (ICT) Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 3.9 million.

        Further information

      • Health

        2008-09-03 - Using genetics to boost piglet survival

        EU-funded researchers have improved the survival rates of newborn piglets in just one generation by applying simple selective breeding techniques. The scientists hope their findings will lead to a reduction in use of the farrowing crate, a metal cage that has been widely criticised by animal welfare groups. Neonatal mortality is a serious problem for pig farmers: on average 20% of piglets per litter die. This is not just an animal welfare problem; at current prices, early piglet deaths would cost a farmer with 250 sows over €50,000 per year.

        Further information
        2008-09-05 - BrainNet Europe tackles brain tissue research

        Since the 19th century, scientists have performed autopsies on human brains to better understand the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. But while methodological advances in brain banking have made their mark in the research world, more work is needed. Clearly, the collection of human brain is key, and BrainNet Europe (Network of European Brain and Tissue Banks for Clinical and Basic Neuroscience) aims to provide the solutions. This Network of Excellence, funded by the EU in the Sixth Framework Programme's Life Science Programme with €7.74 million, is a consortium of brain banks active across Europe.

        Further information
        2008-09-08 - New project uses nanoparticles to tackle Alzheimer's disease

        A new EU-funded project is exploring the use of nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The five-year NAD ('Nanoparticles for the therapy and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease') initiative has a budget of €14.6 million and is financed by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). It brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines working in 19 organisations in 13 countries.

        Further information
        2008-09-17 - Study confirms link between paracetamol and asthma

        An EU-funded study has confirmed the link between regular paracetamol use and asthma in European adults. Over recent years, studies in the UK and US have uncovered evidence of a link between paracetamol and asthma, and research has also revealed that asthma is more common in countries with higher paracetamol sales. However, this latest study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, is the first to draw on data from across Europe.

        Further information
        2008-09-22 - Discovery of gene mutation in Down's syndrome-associated leukaemia could lead to new treatment

        In an EU-funded study, an international team of researchers has discovered a genetic mutation in people with Down's syndrome who also suffer from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. Their discovery, published online in the journal Lancet, could lead to the development of new drugs to treat this severe type of leukaemia.

        Further information
        2008-09-23 - EU-funded SmartCell to use plant cells as pharmaceutical factories

        SmartCell, an EU-funded project, has been awarded EUR 6 million to develop tools to synthesise valuable pharmaceutical products using plant cells. The project is a consortium of 14 leading European research institutes, 3 small- and medium-sized enterprises and 2 major industrial enterprises and has a total budget of EUR 8.5 million over the next 4 years.

        Further information

      • Environment

        2008-09-12 - Older forests are important carbon sinks, research reveals

        Old-growth forests are important global carbon sinks and should be recognised as such under the Kyoto Protocol, according to new EU-funded research published in the journal Nature. The international team of scientists found that old-growth forests in the northern hemisphere are responsible for up to 10% of the global net uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2). The discovery challenges the commonly held belief that these older woodlands are effectively carbon neutral.

        Further information
        2008-09-17 - Cleaning up selenium

        An EU-funded project has found that selenium-contaminated water can be effectively cleaned by refining a technology that is already in use. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Quality by researchers from Switzerland and the Netherlands showed that technology normally used in the treatment of industrial wastewater can be adapted to remove elemental selenium from contaminated water. This technology could be transferred to aid the treatment of contaminated domestic water.

        Further information

      • Transport

        2008-09-12 - Smart technologies, smarter cars

        European funding is paving the way for the next generation of intelligent software that will be installed in everyday vehicles, increasing vehicle safety and saving lives. EuroFOT has received EUR 13.9 million in funding under FP7 and has brought together the brightest minds in the automotive industry and put them on the road to developing innovative safety systems.

        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.

        Further information

      • European Technology Platforms

        European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBFTP)Further information
        European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP)Further information
        Global Animal Health (GAH)Further information
        Waterborne ETP (Waterborne)

        21 May 2013, La Valletta Malta - SG47+MIRROR GROUP + GA
        26 September 2013, Brussels - SG48 + MG
        21 November 2013, Brussels - SG49 + MG

        Further information

      • Joint Technology Initiatives

        Aeronautics and Air Transport (Clean Sky)

        30 May 2013, Brussels - Clean Sky SME Day
        17-23 June 2013, Paris - International Paris Air Show 2013
        1-5 July 2013, Munich - EUCASS 2013: Fifth European Aerospace Conference

        Further information

  • Innovation policy

    2008-09-15 - European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) begins its work

    The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the EU's flagship initiative for boosting innovation in Europe, marks the launch of its activities with the first meeting of its recently appointed Governing Board. The meeting, which takes place today in the Institute's host city of Budapest, will be preceded by a ceremonial opening in the presence of Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány, Commission President José Manuel Barroso, and Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', among others.

    Further information

    2008-09-23 - 2009 to be the European Year of Creativity and Innovation

    The European Commission welcomes the news that today the European Parliament, meeting in plenary session in Brussels, has, by adopting its report, supported the Commission proposal that 2009 be designated as the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.

    Further information

  • Education policy

    2008-09-30 - No information related to the Lisbon strategy.

    Further information

  • Regional policy

    2008-09-30 - Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt launch debate on EU strategy for Baltic Sea Region

    Danuta Hübner, the European Commissioner responsible for regional policy, and the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, will launch a debate today on the EU's future strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Commissioner Hübner and Premier Reinfeldt will open a stakeholder conference in Stockholm, attended by representatives of Member States, NGOs, local authorities and financing institutions, with the aim of laying the foundations for a stronger and more coordinated Baltic Sea policy.

    Further information

  • Information society

    2008-09-04 - A European research and innovation strategy for ICT: time horizon 2020

    In search of the best strategies to boost Europe's leadership in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) research and innovation in the next decade, the European Commission today launched a public consultation. Contributions from industry, ICT experts, policy-makers and the wider public will be fed into a new strategy for ICT research and innovation, to be unveiled next year. The aim is to put European ICT industry, especially SMEs, to the fore of the race for global competitiveness. The public consultation is open until 7 November 2008.

    Further information

    2008-09-05 - Cut red tape for high-tech research, says Commission

    Urgent action is needed to cut red tape and create a more risk-tolerant environment for high-tech research in the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector, the European Commission has said. In a Communication released on 4 September, the Commission sets out its response to a recent evaluation of EU-funded ICT research that was carried out by innovation expert and former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho. The Aho report, which was published at the end of June, notes that EU-funded research has helped Europe to become a world leader in certain fields, such as nano-electronics and high-speed networking. However, it is critical of the fact that significant barriers to innovation are still preventing the full exploitation of research results. The report sets out 23 recommendations designed to improve the situation.

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Broadband Internet for all Europeans: Commission launches debate on future of universal service

    How can the EU achieve that all Europeans – from the North of Finland to the South of Italy, from the Western Ireland to Eastern Romania – have access to broadband Internet? This is the main question raised in a Commission report today. From 2003-2007 broadband use in the EU tripled to 36% of households. However, 7% of the EU's population are still not connected (30% in rural areas). There are striking gaps in the EU: 100% of the population is covered in Denmark, Luxembourg and Belgium, but more than 60% in Romania (75% in rural areas) do not have broadband access. Even in strong economies such as Italy and Germany, 18% and 12% respectively of the rural population are not covered. With broadband increasingly important in daily life, policy tools like radio spectrum management and mobile satellite services should accompany a broad debate about the universal service in telecoms – a safety net guaranteeing a minimum level of services, such as connection to a phone network and basic Internet access, filling basic needs that the market does not.

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Commission consults on how to put Europe into the lead of the transition to Web 3.0

    Europe could take the lead in the next generation of the Internet. The European Commission today outlined the main steps that Europe has to take to respond to the next wave of the Information Revolution that will intensify in the coming years due to trends such as social networking, the decisive shift to on-line business services, nomadic services based on GPS and mobile TV and the growth of smart tags. The report shows that Europe is well placed to exploit these trends because of its policies to support open and pro-competitive telecom networks as well as privacy and security. A public consultation has been launched today by the Commission on the policy and private sector responses to these opportunities. The Commission report also unveils a new Broadband Performance Index (BPI) that compares national performance on key measures such as broadband speed, price, competition and coverage. Sweden and the Netherlands top this European broadband league, which complements the more traditional broadband penetration index used so far by telecoms regulators.

    Further information

  • Enterprises

    2008-09-30 - No information related to the Lisbon strategy.

    Further information
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  Other EU Policies and funding programmes supporting the Lisbon Strategy

  • Employment and social affairs

    2008-09-30 - Summit puts equality at heart of EU social agenda

    400 high-ranking delegates will today discuss the next steps in the EU's strategy to tackle discrimination at the second annual European Equality Summit in Paris. A key element of the discussions will be the European Commission's proposal from July 2008 to extend existing EU protection from discrimination to areas like access to goods and services, education and healthcare. Equality ministers and stakeholders – NGOs, social partners, companies and independent equality bodies from around Europe – will be able to give their views on the proposal, and also follow up on the commitments made by EU countries as part of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All in 2007.

    Further information

  • Internal Market

    2008-09-30 - No information related to the Lisbon strategy.

    Further information

  • Environment

    2008-09-11 - Climate change: Strong public support for EU targets on climate change

    Europeans are highly concerned about climate change and clearly willing to take action against it. A majority of Europeans believes that the European Union's targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and increasing the share of renewable energy by 2020 are about right or even too modest. However, a significant proportion of people feel poorly informed about climate change and ways to help fight it. These are the main conclusions of a special Eurobarometer survey of public attitudes about climate change commissioned by the European Parliament and the European Commission which was published today.

    Further information

    2008-09-24 - Media accountability in climate change reporting

    In 2002, British scientist David King made the bold declaration that climate change is a greater threat to civilisation than terrorism (implying also that global warming has killed more people). The media frenzy that ensued was a turning point in the public face of the agenda, providing an injection of visibility that could be measured simply by the number of newspaper headlines it generated around the world.
    
    It is unusual to see scientists making these kinds of statements, commented Dr Anabela Carvalho of Portugal's University of Minho at a recent conference in Paris, France on how the social sciences and humanities deal with the climate change questions. Few scientists, she explained, want to be accused of making sensationalist claims that may never be proven.

    Further information

    2008-09-26 - Ten billion tonnes of carbon released in 2007

    A new Global Carbon Budget has been released by the Global Carbon Project. The updated report shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion and land use change reached 10 billion tonnes of carbon in 2007, that the rate of atmospheric CO2 growth is approximately four times faster since 2000 than in the previous decade, and that the efficiency of natural carbon sinks has declined.
    
    The new report concluded that: 'All of these changes characterise a carbon cycle that is generating stronger climate forcing and sooner than expected'.

    Further information

    2008-09-26 - Environment: new EU legislation requiring collection and recycling of spent batteries applies from today

    Revised EU legislation that aims to protect human health and the environment by ensuring waste batteries are properly collected and recycled applies from today. The directive also makes producers responsible for the management of batteries once they become waste. Adopted by the European Parliament and Council in 2006, the revised Batteries Directive should be transposed by Member States into national law by today. So far seven Member States have communicated to the Commission national legislation which fully transposes the directive.

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Europe must act now to adapt to climate change, says new report

    A new report warns that Europe must take urgent action to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The report, 'Impacts of Europe's changing climate', is published jointly by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It recommends wide-ranging adaptation and preventive measures in the areas of economy, health and the environment.

    Further information

  • Health

    2008-09-15 - Study links small stretch of DNA to wide range of disorders

    An international team of researchers has linked errors in a small stretch of DNA to a wide range of developmental disorders in children. The findings highlight the complicated nature of the links between genes and disease. The work, which was partly financed by the EU, is published online in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

    Further information

  • Transport

    2008-09-03 - More hydrogen cars on EU roads

    The European Commission welcomes today’s support of the European Parliament for its proposal to simplify the approval of hydrogen powered vehicles. This will mark a step forward in the development and marketing of clean and safe hydrogen vehicles. As a result, they will be seen more often on Europe's streets and the European automotive industry could become more competitive by taking the lead in hydrogen technology. The EP vote is based on a compromise reached with the Member States, which is expected to adopt the package shortly.

    Further information

  • Space

    2008-09-16 - Kopernikus: Observing our planet for a safer world

    Kopernikus is the new name of the European Commission’s earth observation activities previously known as GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) so far. The name Kopernikus was announced by Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, today at a dedicated conference in Lille, organised in cooperation with the French presidency of the EU. The objective of Kopernikus is to monitor the state of the environment on land, at sea and in the atmosphere and to improve the security of the citizens in a world facing an increased risk of natural and other disasters.

    Further information

    2008-09-22 - Meteorites could be source of world's precious metals, study finds

    Rare and precious metals such as platinum, gold and iridium could have been brought to Earth by iron meteorites, according to new research by Dr Gerhard Schmidt of the University of Mainz in Germany.
    
    Gold, platinum, iridium, palladium and rhodium are examples of Highly Siderophile Elements (HSEs), metals that tend to bond with solid or molten metallic iron. When the Earth was still forming, it heated up, and the HSEs and other heavy elements were stripped from the surface of the young planet into its iron- and nickel-rich core.
    
    This raises the question of where the HSEs found in the crust came from. One theory is that meteorite impacts delivered these elements to the earth's surface after the core had formed.

    Further information

  • Agriculture and fisheries

    2008-09-03 - Seas and Oceans: European Research and Innovation in support of protecting marine eco-systems and developing sustainable maritime activities

    Research and Innovation hold a key to reconciling sometimes competing goals of sustainable economic growth and environmental preservation in sea-based activities. Within the context of the overall new integrated maritime policy and to take up on this challenge, the European Commission today adopted "A European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research". The Strategy's objective is to overcome fragmentation of the European marine and maritime research landscape by capacity building, increased integration across traditional research sectors and increased cooperation of all actors in this area.

    Further information

    2008-09-16 - Insect pollination worth EUR 153 billion a year

    Pollination services provided by insects, mainly bees, are worth EUR 153 billion a year, according to new EU-funded research. This figure is equivalent to almost a tenth of the total value of world agricultural food production. Scientists warn that without these pollination services, the supply of fruits, vegetables and stimulants such as coffee and cocoa would no longer meet the current demand.

    Further information

    2008-09-17 - Common Fisheries Policy: Commission launches a mid-term review

    The European Commission today endorsed a paper put forward by Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg containing an analysis of the achievements and shortcomings of the functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy further to its reform in 2002 . While Commissioners agreed that the 2002 Reform package had done much to improve the way EU fisheries are managed, a number of challenges continue to exist. Short-term decision-making coupled with irresponsible behaviour by certain parts of the industry, continued to penalise those fishermen who act for the common good. The result is a vicious circle which has undermined both the ecological balance of our oceans and the economic profitability of the sector. The Commission therefore proposes that a full review of the CFP should be launched immediately, in order to prepare the ground for a major reform of the institutional framework of European fisheries management.

    Further information

  • Energy

    2008-09-04 - First International Energy Agency (IEA) Review of the EU's Energy Policy now published

    President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso and Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs today received the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Nobuo Tanaka who presented the main findings of IEA Review of the EU's Energy Policy. This is the first time that the IEA has made an in-depth analysis of European Energy Policy. The Review strongly endorses the broad outlines of the Commission's energy proposals tabled during the last year.

    Further information

    2008-09-22 - Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes McKinsey CCS report as a valuable input in the Carbon Capture and Storage debate

    Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, welcomed today the report "CCS: Assessing the Economics" which was presented to him today by its authors, McKinsey & Company. "Early effective demonstration of technological viability of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in power generation, both in Europe and internationally, is essential to move rapidly to economically viable, near free carbon electricity generation. This report is a valuable contribution to the discussions currently ongoing to find the best way to push this technology forward", said Commissioner Piebalgs after the presentation.

    Further information

    2008-09-26 - Member States endorse Commission proposals to reduce electricity consumption

    Today at the meeting of the Ecodesign Regulatory Committee EU Member States endorsed the European Commission's proposals for two regulations aimed at reducing the electricity consumption in Europe. The first one targets office, industrial and street lighting products while the second affects the devices that convert digital TV signals to analogue signals, known as simple set-top boxes for televisions. "These measures are concrete contributions to reach the EU's energy efficiency targets. Once they are in place they will significantly reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions and foreign dependency in a cost effective manner", said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

    Further information

  • Security

    2008-09-29 - Security research for a safer world

    Making Europe more secure for its citizens while maintaining civil rights and liberties is the goal of European Security Research. By co-operating and coordinating efforts on a Europe-wide scale, the EU can better understand and adequately respond to risks in a constantly changing world and enhance its competitiveness at the same time. Innovative technological solutions such as advanced video surveillance in public stadium areas facilitate the action of security authorities. This is a new common research project involving 23 European security administrations and one United Nations agency to benefit from each others experience, to avoid duplication and to obtain a critical mass of resources. The research network, called EU-SEC II, is funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme for Research. It is one, among many, concrete action that will be presented today at the third European Security Research Conference

    Further information

  • Culture

    2008-09-30 - No information related to the Lisbon strategy.

    Further information

  • External relations – Enlargement

    2008-09-25 - Potocnik: ERA must be open to the world

    The EU and its Member States must 'transform Europe's research labyrinth into a European Research Area open to the world, attracting the best brains and contributing to address global challenges', said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. Mr Potocnik was speaking at the launch of a new European strategy for international cooperation in science and technology.

    Further information

    2008-09-29 - Commission adopts multi-annual planning of financial assistance to the Western Balkans and Turkey

    The Commission has completed today the strategic planning of EU financial support for 2008-2010 to the candidate countries and potential candidates: Croatia, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo. This financial assistance aims to enhance political and economic reform and development to realise their European perspective. For 2008-2010, the overall indicative amount of EU financial assistance under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is €4.471 billion.

    Further information
• 

  Research, Innovation, Training and Competitiveness related EU events

  • Announcements

    2008-09-30 - General events

    7 October 2008, Paris: ERC Starting Grant conference Link

    29 October 2008, Aarhus: Workshop on the instrumentation at the European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility Link

    14 November 2008, Paris: European City of Science Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - ICT events

    6 October 2008, Brussels: Euro-Southeast Asia cooperation forum on ICT Link

    13 October 2008, Cracow: Cracow Grid Workshop Link

    14-15 October 2008, Brussels: Conference: Next Generation Telecommunications Link

    22–24 October 2008, Stockholm: eChallenges e-2008 conference Link

    23 October 2008, Brussels: ICT bio-medical sciences 2008 conference Link

    20-24 October 2008, Venice: 2nd International Conference on Self-adaptive and Self-organizing Systems Link

     27 October 2008, Karlsruhe: Workshop on incentives for the semantic web Link

    30–31 October 2008, Barcelona: Workshop on advances in nanophotonics Link

    06-07 November 2008, Agia Napa: 7th European Conference on e-Learning Link     

    25-27 November 2008, Lyon: ICT 2008: "I"s TO THE FUTURE Link

    09-12 December 2008, Chalon sur Saone: ASSET in Imaging (Analysis of Sensors Signals and Emerging Techniques in IMAGING) - international event Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Energy events

    08-10 October 2008, Paris: International Gas Union Research Conference Link

    14-15 October 2008, Brussels: European General Stakeholders Assembly (GA'08) for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Link     

    20–23 October 2008, Luxembourg: Euradwaste '08 Link

    05-09 October 2009, Buenos Aires: 24th World Gas Conference Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Innovation events

    14-17 December 2008, Singapore: 1st ISPIM Innovation Symposium - “Managing Innovation in a Connected World” Link

    21–24 June 2009, Vienna: ISPIM 2009 Conference -“The Future of Innovation” Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Environment events

    01 October 2008, Sibiu: International conference on the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive Link

    03 October 2008, Acquafredda di Maratea: Conference on systems chemistry Link

    05 October 2008, Barcelona: IUCN World Conservation Congress Link

    06 October 2008, Sofia: Conference on climate change in the Black Sea Link

    13 October 2008, Wageningen : ORBIT 2008 conference Link

    15-16 October 2008, Brussels: Infoday on the FP7 3rd Call for proposals under the "Environment (including climate change)" Theme Link

    20–22 October 2008, Madrid: International Public Health Symposium on environment and health research Link

    20–24 October 2008, Marseille and Toulon : Le forum Biomarine Link

    10–14 November 2008, Ljubljana: The 8th European Conference on Research for Protection, Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - NMP events

    30 October 2008, Barcelona: Workshop on advances in nanophotonics Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Transport events

    13 November 2008, Istanbul: International Conference on Automotive Technologie Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Space events

    30 October 2008, Matera: Conference on Earth observation Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Regional policy events

    02-03 October 2008, Cáceres: First European Municipalities Meeting Link     

    06- 09 October 2008, Brussels: OPEN DAYS 2008 Link

    09 October 2008, Brussels: Regions of knowledge: Synergies in EU funding opportunities for research, developpement and innovation Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Education and training events

    02–04 October 2008, Naples: OrientaSud - International Education Exhibition Link

    23 October 2008, Rotterdam: EUA Autumn conference Link

    11 November 2008, Florence: Workshop on university autonomy and the globalisation of academic careers Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Food, agriculture, fisheries events

    01–03 October 2008, Paris: The future prospects for aquaculture breeding in Europe Link

    01-03 October 2008, Saint Malo: IDF / INRA First International Symposium on Minerals and Dairy Products Link

    02- 04 October 2008, Reykjavik: 9th Icelandic Fisheries Exhibition Link

    06-07 October 2008, London: Healthy Foods European Summit Link

    08 October 2008, Brussels: Workshop on the Food Cluster Initiative Link                 

    13 October 2008, Treviso: Workshop on quality assurance in freshwater aquaculture Link

    04- 05 November 2008, Montpellier: Conference "Biodiversity and Agricultures :Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Research for More Sustainable Farming" Link

    Further information

    2008-09-30 - Health events

    01 October 2008, London: Gender identity disorder in adolescents Link

    01.10.2008 – 04 October 2008, Salzburg: 11th European Health Forum Gastein, Values in Health: From Visions to Reality Link

    01 October 2008, Milan: Bioforum 2008 Link

    01 October 2008, Innsbruck: ESF conference on functional genomics and disease Link     

    02 October 2008, Brussels: CASCADE Open Forum Link     

    02- 05 October 2008, Radenci: Promoting Health Through Physical Activity and Nutrition Link

    04 October 2008; Berlin: European Respiratory Society annual congress Link

    06- 07 October 2008, Paris: 2nd annual Tech Transfer Summit ­ Getting Science off the Bench & Creating Value Link

    07 October 2008, Paris: EuroBIO 2008 Link

    07- 09 October 2008, Hannover: EU BIOTECH DAYS Link

    20- 23 October 2008, Ljubljana: 2nd Annual Clinical Forum - Data Driven Drug Development Decisions Link

    24 October 2008, Leipzig: Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium Link

    24 October 2008, Cluj: Workshop on pathobiology Link     

    01 November 2008, Sant Feliu de Guixols: Conference on biobanks Link

    03 November 2008, Berlin: Course in reproductive and developmental toxicology Link

    03 November 2008, Brussels: International symposium on RNAi in vivo applications Link     

    09 November 2008, Lisbon: Symposium on RNAi in human therapy Link

    13- 14 November 2008, Brussels: Challenges for the future: research on HIV/Aids Malaria and Tuberculosis Link

    13 November 2008, Brussels: International conference on poverty-related diseases Link     

    25 November 2008, London: GA2LEN-EAACI Allergy School Link

    10 December 2008, Munich: International conference on human brain tissue research Link

    Further information

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

    2008-09-30 - 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