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 «Brussels in Brief - Interface Europe’s Newsletter» - February 2009

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  General EU Information

  • European Parliament

    2009-02-09 - Strasbourg Plenary session

    There was no escaping the gravity of the issues present in February's Strasbourg session. Speaking to the Parliament, President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas addressed MEPs about hopes for peace in the area. Also discussed this week, MEPs tackled climate change, the situation with prisoners at Guantanamo, safer animal feed and the increasing problem of illegal labour across Europe.

    Further information

    2009-02-20 - Brussels Plenary Session

    As talks continue about the situation in the Middle East, MEPs in Brussels discussed the issue with Europe's foreign policy chief Javier Solana. MEP agreed that peace is the only solution. During their plenary session, MEPs approved sanctions against employers of illegal workers and heard a controversial address from Czech President Václav Klaus.

    Further information
• 

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

  • Research Policy

    • General points

      2009-02-02 - Science and political will: An interview with Euroscience president Dr Enric Banda

      Dr Enric Banda, a geophysicist and president of the 2,100-member-strong grassroots organisation Euroscience, spoke with CORDIS News about the importance of young scientists, the impact of economic crises on scientific careers and the challenge of building a strong science and technology base in Europe.

      Further information

    • European Research and Innovation projects

      • ICT

        2009-02-04 - New tool helps musicians improve technique through better posture

        A multimedia system developed by EU-funded scientists at the University of Leeds in the UK may allow musicians to significantly improve their performance. Since posture is critical to musical technique, the i-Maestro 3D Augmented Mirror (AMIR) first uses three-dimensional (3D) imaging to capture movement and posture during a performance, then provides results against optimal performance settings.

        Further information
        2009-02-09 - IPHOBAC taking the wireless world by storm

        High-frequency wireless communication is growing and a team of EU-funded researchers is combining radio and optics technologies to develop millimetre-wave photonic components and integrated functions. The IPHOBAC ('Integrated photonic mm-wave functions for broadband connectivity') project is funded under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to the tune of EUR 5.7 million.

        Further information
        2009-02-12 - Conserving heritage in the digital age

        Technology advances at lightning speed and while the industry may relish the developments that emerge, researchers are concerned about preserving access to digital material and protecting our cultural heritage. The KEEP ('Keeping emulation environments portable') project, funded under Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 3.15 million, aims to develop tools that will facilitate universal access to our increasingly digitised cultural heritage.

        Further information
        2009-02-20 - LUNA smooths out speech recognition

        'Say Accounts if you want to speak to someone about your account'; 'Say Credit if you want to speak to someone about your credit card'. Do these statements sound familiar? If you conduct your personal business via telephones, they should. Although it saves you time and effort, automated speech recognition has its limitations. Wouldn't it be great if you could tell the service exactly what you want quickly and succinctly?

        Further information
        2009-02-25 - IQ develops innovative mining patterns and models

        European researchers work diligently to develop and improve technology. Case in point is the EU-funded IQ ('Inductive queries for mining patterns and models') project, which has succeeded in generating new methods to analyse complex data from databases, and can then be used in real-life applications. IQ is supported under the Information and Society Technologies (IST) Theme of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) with EUR 1.5 million in funding.

        Further information

      • Health

        2009-02-03 - EU-funded project to develop tiny particles that can deliver drugs directly to disease sites

        The EU-funded SonoDrugs project is developing tiny, image-guided capsules that will convey drug doses through the bloodstream to the site of disease, where they will be activated by ultrasound pulses. The new technology, which focuses on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, is expected to vastly improve therapeutic efficiency. The project has been financed with EUR 10.9 million under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and brings together 15 academic and industrial partners from all over Europe.

        Further information
        2009-02-03 - New development for untested, performance-enhancing drugs

        Athletes who take non-tested performance-enhancing drugs are in for a big surprise. Until now, the tests developed by researchers to detect drugs were made when the drugs were already on the market. Now, a group of researchers in Germany is developing tests for a class of drugs that aren't yet available, but could be used in future. The findings were recently published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis.

        Further information
        2009-02-04 - Scientists say control blood vessels, fight obesity

        Europeans spend millions of euro each year to fight obesity. Various foods, exercise equipment and diet pills are high on the lists of what consumers choose to help them lose weight. However, a team of scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has reported that controlling the development of blood vessels in fat tissue may hold the key to finding a new method to treat obesity. Their results were recently published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

        Further information
        2009-02-05 - New EU-funded research reveals how influenza virus hijacks human cells

        EU-funded scientists in France have defined an important drug target in the influenza virus. The study, published in the journal Nature, shows a high-resolution image of a crucial protein that allows the virus to 'hijack' human cells and multiply. The study is part of the FLUPOL ('Host-specific variants of the influenza virus replication machinery') project, funded with EUR 1.97 Million under the Policy support budget line of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2009-02-06 - Caffeine injection does the mind good

        Researchers are aware that caffeine stimulates the central nervous system on a short-term basis, but how is cognition affected in the long run? An investigation carried out by a team of European researchers has provided some interesting answers. The Finnish-Swedish group found that midlife coffee or tea drinking can decrease the risk of dementia and/or Alzheimer's disease (AD) later in life, as the caffeine-laced drinks give the human brain a boost. The results were recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

        Further information
        2009-02-09 - Mental workout alters brain biochemistry

        Actively training the working memory leads to demonstrable changes in the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, new Swedish research reveals. The study, published in the journal Science, is the first to demonstrate how mental activity can affect brain biochemistry in humans. The findings have implications for the treatment of conditions such as stroke and chronic fatigue syndrome, in which working memory is impaired.

        Further information
        2009-02-09 - 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 18 partners from the EU, Switzerland and the US. The partners include 14 leading research institutes and universities as well as 2 small- and medium-sized enterprises and 2 major industrial enterprises. The project has a total budget of EUR 8.5 million and is scheduled to run for 4 years.

        Further information
        2009-02-10 - EU project spotlights fruits-health connection

        The EU-funded project ISAFRUIT ('Increasing fruit consumption through a trans disciplinary approach leading to high quality produce from environmentally safe, sustainable methods'), in collaboration with the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), has released a volume of the Scripta Horticulturae series containing information based on the ISAFRUIT health forum 'Increasing Fruit Consumption to Improve Health'. The objective of the project is to encourage Europeans to eat more fruit. ISAFRUIT is funded under the Sixth Framework Programme with EUR 13.8 million.

        Further information
        2009-02-10 - Ragweed allergy on the rise in Europe

        Increasing numbers of Europeans are suffering from ragweed allergy, according to EU-funded research published in the journal Allergy. The surprising findings highlight the rapid spread of ragweed across Europe, and the scientists call for pan-European action to monitor trends in the spread of the problem. The study is an outcome of the GA2LEN ('Global allergy and asthma European network') project, which is financed under the 'Food quality and safety' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2009-02-10 - EU-funded researchers develop novel, economical blood test for hepatitis C

        An international team of scientists has developed a new, accurate and affordable blood test for hepatitis C that represents a major breakthrough in controlling the spread of this dangerous virus. The procedure is described in the journal PLoS Medicine, and is in part an outcome of the RiViGene ('Genomic inventory, forensic markers, and assessment of potential therapeutic and vaccine targets for viruses relevant in biological crime and terrorism') project, which was funded under the 'Policy support' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2009-02-13 - Gene therapy gives children a normal life

        A small group of children that underwent gene therapy for a rare, inherited immune disorder are living normal lives years after the treatment, according to new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The pioneering work was partly supported by the EU-funded CONSERT ('Concerted safety and efficiency evaluation of retroviral transgenesis in gene therapy of inherited diseases') and CLINIGENE ('European network for the advancement of clinical gene transfer and therapy') projects, both of which are financed under the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2009-02-18 - The JRC: tracking trends in preimplantation genetic diagnosis

        Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is increasingly being used by parents who want to avoid passing on genetic diseases to their children. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) organised a workshop on this often controversial topic at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago, US.

        Further information
        2009-02-19 - Link between missing genes and psoriasis risk found

        Psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition, affects 1% to 5% of the population in each European country. Prevalence is higher in Scandinavia and northern Europe. Setting their sights on identifying who is more likely to suffer from this chronic condition, a group of genetics experts at the University of Nottingham in the UK found that people lacking the genes LCE3B and LCE3C have a greater chance of being affected. Their results were recently published in the journal Nature Genetics.

        Further information
        2009-02-23 - Understanding speech in context: an opportunistic, proactive brain at work

        Recent research has shown how the human brain makes efficient use of even the tiniest cue to interpret speech, anticipating what might be said, about whom, sometimes ignoring the rules of language and performing rapid experiments to arrive at the earliest possible interpretation. Professor Jos Van Berkum from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands discussed recent studies of brain waves and linguistic interpretation in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

        Further information
        2009-02-25 - Obesity in late teens 'as hazardous as heavy smoking'

        Obesity in late adolescence carries the same risk of premature death as smoking more than 10 cigarettes a day, according to new Swedish research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on 24 February. Meanwhile, those who are overweight in their late teens have a similar risk of dying early as a light smoker. The researchers conclude that public-health initiatives should continue to target smoking and obesity among adolescents.

        Further information
        2009-02-26 - HIV in arms race with human immune system, study reveals

        HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is evolving rapidly to get round the weaponry of the human immune system, according to new research by an international team of scientists. The findings highlight the difficulty of developing an effective vaccine against the fast-evolving virus. The study, which was partly funded by a Marie Curie grant from the EU, was published online by the journal Nature.

        Further information

      • Environment

        2009-02-17 - Scientists study the secret life of soil

        Most of us don't realise it, but the soil beneath our feet is a veritable treasure trove of life; just one teaspoon of soil can harbour millions of organisms. What's more, soil provides us with a range of vital services, including climate regulation and flood prevention. Yet even as scientists get to grips with the incredible diversity and functions of soil life, threats like erosion, pollution and urbanisation are damaging this vital resource. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is working hard to raise awareness of the importance of soil and provide policy makers with sound scientific advice on how best to protect it. On 15 February it organised a session on soil biodiversity at the prestigious Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr Arwyn Jones, who helped to organise the session, has been working on soil science with the JRC for over a decade.

        Further information
        2009-02-18 - New research rekindles debate about earliest traces of life on Earth

        A new study contradicts a controversial theory that places the earliest traces of life on Earth on an outcrop of rock on the small island of Akilia in South West Greenland. The team of Swedish, Australian and American scientists argues that previous interpretations of the rock's structure and geochronology are incorrect, and that it 'cannot host evidence of Earth's oldest life', erroneously dated back to 3.85 billion years ago.

        Further information
        2009-02-19 - African forests buffering climate change, but for how long?

        An international group of researchers has found that tropical trees in undisturbed forests are storing some 20% of carbon dioxide (CO2), turning them into a global carbon sink. Tropical forests hold more carbon per unit area than any other type of land cover. Growing trees take up carbon from the atmosphere that is released from burning fossil fuels. But when the trees fall, because of either natural or man-made disasters, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere. The findings of the 40-year study were published in the latest edition of the journal Nature.

        Further information

      • Agriculture

        2009-02-04 - EU-funded scientists develop new test to screen for steroid abuse in cattle

        An EU-funded team of researchers from the UK and Ireland has unveiled a new test to detect illegal steroid use in cattle. The Biocop ('New technologies to screen multiple chemical contaminants in foods') project, financed with EUR 9.6 million under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), has developed an innovative screening technique that is cost-effective, accurate and convenient. The results are published in the journal Analytical Chemistry.

        Further information
        2009-02-05 - The SABRE project: bringing advanced genetics to the farmyard

        EU-funded scientists are applying the latest genetic techniques to aid in the development of profitable farming systems that produce safe, high-quality food while reducing their environmental impact and maintaining high animal-welfare standards. Almost 200 researchers from 33 organisations in 14 countries are involved in the SABRE ('Cutting edge genomics for sustainable animal breeding') project, which is financed under the 'Food quality and safety' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) with EUR 13.9 million.

        Further information

      • Transport

        2009-02-12 - HIRF-SE project tackles electromagnetic interference

        The EU-funded HIRF-SE ('High intensity radiated field synthetic environment') project is currently investigating ways to cut the risk to aircraft of electromagnetic interference. The project partners are considering ways to improve computer-based modelling that can spot interference from natural or synthetic electromagnetic sources which may be located on or off board. HIRF-SE is funded under the Seventh Framework Programme to the tune of EUR 17.8 million.

        Further information

      • Nanosciences

        2009-02-16 - EU project saves time and money with CUSTOM-FIT products

        Global competition for the creation and manufacture of products is strong and calls for innovative action. Europeans are showing their prowess in this area by progressing from resource-based manufacturing to knowledge-based manufacturing, as well as from mass produced, single-use goods to new added value, custom-made and sustainable products. The EU-funded project CUSTOM-FIT is supporting this endeavour by developing and integrating a new and innovative manufacturing process based on Rapid Manufacturing (RM). The project is funded under the Sixth Framework Programme to the tune of EUR 9.25 million.

        Further information
        2009-02-19 - The pros and cons of nanofoods

        Nanotechnology has the potential to improve the foods we eat, making them tastier, healthier and more nutritious. Yet little is known about how nanoparticles behave in the body, or what kind of toxic effects they could have. Hermann Stamm works on this issue for the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC); he gave a presentation on the topic of nanofoods at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Chicago, US.

        Further information
        2009-02-20 - Customised nanoelectronics as you need them

        The EU-funded NANOXIDE ('Novel Nanoscale Devices based on functional Oxide Interfaces') project is supporting European researchers and inspiring physicists from the US to jointly develop the next wave of nanoelectronic devices. This Specific Targeted Research Project is funded under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to the tune of EUR 2.97 million. The study's results were published in the journal Science.

        Further information
        2009-02-23 - Could gold-palladium nanoparticles revolutionise hydrogen peroxide production?

        EU-funded scientists have developed a simpler, cleaner method of producing hydrogen peroxide (H202), which is widely used as an antiseptic and disinfectant. The results could lead to the on-site production of hydrogen peroxide in smaller quantities and at weaker concentrations, thereby avoiding the risks associated with the transport and storage of large amounts of highly concentrated H2O2.

        Further information

      • Space

        2009-02-11 - Cosmic Dawn shows daybreak of universe

        EU-funded cosmologists in the UK have produced images detailing the 'Cosmic Dawn', the arrangement of the first big galaxies in the universe. The team of researchers, whose results were published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, hope the computer-simulated results will advance our understanding of dark matter, the material believed to make up most of the universe's mass.

        Further information

      • Energy

        2009-02-09 - EU-funded study opens the door to new innovations in biofuels

        An international team of scientists has provided major insights into the underlying genetics of Postia placenta, a brown-rot fungus known for its efficient break-down of cellulose, a structural component of plant cells. The results, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), are an outcome of the Biorenew ('White Biotechnology for added value products from renewable plant polymers: Design of tailor-made biocatalysts and new industrial bioprocesses') project, which is funded with EUR 9.5 million under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2009-02-23 - Turning corn stalks into electricity

        Scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) in Germany have succeeded in developing the first-ever pilot biogas plant which strictly uses organic waste instead of edible raw materials. Another highlight of their work is a fuel cell capable of converting the gas into electricity. A major boon for Europeans, the facility has 30% more generation capacity over its predecessors.

        Further information

      • Maritime Affairs

        2009-02-26 - LIFECYCLE project targets competitive, sustainable fish farming

        Fish farming has been playing a significant role in the EU fisheries sector for the last two decades, and key actors are determined to sustain its production. The EU-funded LIFECYCLE ('Building a biological knowledge-base on fish lifecycles for competitive, sustainable European aquaculture') project is targeting the development of a knowledge-base on fish lifecycles for competitive, sustainable European aquaculture through a combination of question-problem driven approaches. LIFECYCLE is funded under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 6 million.

        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
        2009-02-27 - Leading experts to carry out the European Research Council review

        The European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik, today met the future members of a high level panel due to review the European Research Council (ERC). The aim of this review, which comes after two years of operations, will be to scrutinize the ERC’s structure and mechanisms, to take stock of its achievements and to give advice on the direction this pioneering research funding initiative should take for the future. The review will be conducted by eminent representatives of the science and policy domains from the EU and US.

        Further information

      • European Technology Platforms

        Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies (EuMaT)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for Wind Energy (TPWind)

        No events planned

        Further information
        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

        Further information
        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

      • 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

  • Regional policy

    2009-02-04 - Cohesion Policy in 2008: €38 billion paid to Member States is helping to sustain the economy, says Commissioner Danuta Hübner

    Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, announced today that more than €38 billion was paid out to Member States in 2008 through the European Union's Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund. This support co-financed thousands of regional development projects across the EU, ranging from major transport, environmental and energy infrastructure to investment in innovative SMEs and training.

    Further information

    2009-02-05 - European Urban Day: Commissioner Hübner highlights €30 billion boost for cities

    On 6 February, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner will address the “European Urban Day” conference in Prague. The event, backed by the Czech Presidency of the European Union, is an opportunity to evaluate the crucial urban dimension of the EU's Cohesion Policy, which provides €30 billion in support for European cities to invest in innovation, competitiveness and sustainable development. During her visit, the Commissioner will also hold talks with Cyril Svoboda, the Czech Minister for Regional Affairs.

    Further information

    2009-02-16 - "RegioStars Awards" for Europe's most innovative regional projects

    Tonight Wallonia, Wales, Réunion Island, North Rhine-Westphalia and Greece take centre stage in Europe as winners of the 2009 RegioStars Awards. Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, and the President of the RegioStars Jury, Mr Job Cohen, Mayor of Amsterdam, will award prizes to the most innovative projects which have been supported by European Cohesion Policy. The Awards take place during a two-day conference in Brussels entitled “Regions for Economic Change – Networking for Results”

    Further information

    2009-02-24 - Commission increases flexibility of structural funds in response to financial crisis

    In response to the financial and economic crisis, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner has announced a package of decisions by the European Commission aimed at giving Member States more flexibility in their use of the structural funds. The changes will extend the deadline for EU countries to use up their allocations from the 2000-2006 funding period and ensure that every available euro can be used to maximum effect.

    Further information

  • Information society

    2009-02-10 - Social Networking: Commission brokers agreement among major web companies

    17 leading web firms have signed for the first time a European agreement to improve the safety of under 18s who use social networking sites. These include Arto, Bebo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Giovani.it, Google/YouTube, Hyves, Microsoft Europe, Myspace, Nasza-klaza.pl, Netlog, One.lt, Skyrock, StudiVZ, Sulake/Habbo Hotel, Yahoo!Europe, and Zap.lu. Social networking sites are an emerging social and economic phenomenon, attracting 41.7 million regular users in Europe and changing the way we interact with each other on the Web. The use of social networks has grown over the past year by 35% in Europe and is expected to more than double to 107.4 million users by 2012. To make sure that social networks continue to grow, young users need to feel safe when expanding their networks or sharing any personal information. The agreement signed today in Luxembourg at the Safer Internet Day organised by the European Commission will empower teenagers to deal with potential risks they may face online, like cyberbullying or revealing personal information.

    Further information

    2009-02-10 - Safer Internet Day 2009: Commission starts campaign against cyber-bullying

    More than half of Polish teenagers and 34% of Belgian and UK youngsters have been the target of cyberbullying – harassment over internet sites or mobile messages. That is why the European Commission launches at Safer Internet Day 2009, a campaign including a short video, empowering teenagers to keep control when online. Young people bullied online must be able to report such abuse quickly and easily at the click of a button. The pan-European campaign encompasses all EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. It is part of the Commission's Safer Internet programme, which, among other things, works with the social networking companies to fight cyberbullying.

    Further information

    2009-02-16 - EU Member States on course for analogue terrestrial TV switch-off

    Europe is leading the world in switching from analogue to digital television. The European Commission is driving a coordinated approach to the freeing up and future use of the radio spectrum because it wants to ensure that EU citizens can enjoy the benefits of digital television, including a growing range of interactive TV services (such as high definition TV or video on demand), available on multiple transmission platforms including terrestrial, cable, satellite, TV on internet and mobile TV networks. For that to happen, Member States are gradually closing down spectrum-hungry analogue transmissions and moving to digital broadcasting. Overall, the switch-off of analogue terrestrial TV transmission in Europe is well on track. Switch-off has already been completed in five Member States (Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Sweden and the Netherlands) and by 2010 the process should be well advanced in the whole EU. The 2012 EU target for switch-off is expected to be met by almost all Member States.

    Further information

  • Enterprises

    2009-02-19 - Strategy for a strong and competitive EU chemicals industry

    The European Chemicals industry employs around 1,2 million people and is a world trade leader. Today the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the European Chemicals industry has met for the last time and adopted its report. The report analyses the key challenges this sector is facing in the medium to long term and makes recommendations on how they can be successfully addressed. The Group has looked into a number of areas, which are strategically relevant for the future of this important industrial sector such as innovation, energy, climate change and trade. It developed some forty recommendations which aim at fostering the competitiveness of the European chemicals industry while contributing to sustainable development. They confirm the need for setting stable and foreseeable framework conditions and orientations, notwithstanding the current economic crisis which has also hit the chemicals sector.

    Further information

    2009-02-26 - EU support to fight the crisis in the automotive sector

    The automotive sector with its 12 million jobs depending on this strategic industry has been hit particularly hard by the current economic crisis with new registrations down by 20% and gloomy expectations for 2009. Due to its close links to other sectors and the wide spread of supply industry and vehicle trade, the negative economic effects reaches out to millions of employees in all Member States. In today's communication, the European Commission defends a proactive stance to support industry in their efforts to withstand the crisis, soften negative effects and ensure long-term competitiveness. Building on the European Economic Recovery Plan of 2008, it sets various measures to improve access to credit, to clarify the rules for granting state aid in the particular circumstances, to boost the demand for new vehicles through coordinated national action, to minimise social costs and retain the skilled workforce and to defend fair competition in open markets. The Commission suggests a new partnership with industry, trade unions and Member States in the context of the CARS 21 process to accompany the common crisis response.

    Further information
• 

  Other EU Policies and funding programmes supporting the Lisbon Strategy

  • Environment

    2009-02-06 - 'The future begins today': European Parliament adopts resolution on climate change

    On 4 February, the European Parliament passed a resolution setting out clear objectives for EU climate-change policy. The report, entitled '2050: The future begins today - recommendations for the EU's future integrated policy on climate change', underlines the importance of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries from 1990 levels: by 25% to 40% for 2020, and by 80% for 2050. The resolution was adopted with 570 votes in favour, 78 against and 24 abstentions.

    Further information

    2009-02-23 - Commission focuses on disaster prevention and reduction of risks at home and abroad

    The European Commission today adopted two Communications related to disasters: a Community approach to reducing the impact of natural and man-made disasters within the EU, and a strategy for supporting disaster risk reduction in developing countries. The Communications, adopted as a package, represent a first attempt to establish a more strategic approach. Proposed action at Community level focuses on areas where a common approach is more effective than separate national approaches, such as developing knowledge, linking actors and policies, and improving the performance of existing Community disaster prevention instruments. With regard to developing countries, the Commission is setting out an EU strategy to help reduce the impact of natural disasters on countries considered to be high-risk. Both Communications contribute to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for action 2005-2015, adopted at the world conference on disaster reduction.

    Further information

  • Transport

    2009-02-04 - Trans-European transport networks: towards a new policy for meeting future challenges

    The European Commission adopted today a Green Paper setting out the future challenges of its policy for a trans-European transport network (TEN-T). TEN-T policy needs to be realigned to contribute more effectively to objectives aimed at combating climate change and to support Europe's increasing international role through better infrastructure connections with its neighbours and the wider world. Importantly TEN-T policy also needs to be adapted to strengthen its supporting role for economic and social development within the framework of the Lisbon strategy. The integration of all transport modes and intelligent transport systems can be strengthened if TEN-T policy provided a basis guaranteeing efficient and safe transport services reflecting the future demands of citizens and economic operators. In the light of these challenges and lessons drawn from previous TEN-T policy implementation, the Commission sets out future objectives and proposes three options for TEN-T development, while stressing the need for coherence between planning ambitions and instruments for their implementation.

    Further information

    2009-02-10 - Marco Polo: third call for proposals to fight road congestion and improve performance of freight transport

    The European Commission has today published the third call for proposals for the creation and update of freight transport services under the second Marco Polo programme. Successful projects should fight congestion on European roads and improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system, two main objectives of the EU transport policy. Companies across the European Union and beyond are invited to submit proposals.

    Further information

    2009-02-10 - Commission rewards Europe’s most pioneering Sustainable Energy Projects

    The winners of the third edition of the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards 2009 were announced at a ceremony in the Albert Hall in Brussels on February 10th, 2009. The awards are an integral part of the EU’s Sustainable Energy Week, and its overall Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign. They aim to showcase examples of the most outstanding, ambitious and innovative initiatives in sustainable energy, and reward those projects most worthy of recognition. They also seek to inspire the development of Europe’s newest energy initiatives. These awards can recognise EU projects but also include international both participants and beneficiaries.

    Further information

  • Space

    2009-02-10 - GALILEO: the European Commission and the European Space Agency look forward to first-rate cooperation to bring the European satellite radio navigation project to a successful conclusion

    The Commission Vice-President responsible for transport, Antonio Tajani, today met Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency, in order to give official endorsement to their continued cooperation in the Galileo programme. This meeting comes after the signing of a delegation agreement covering Galileo's deployment phase by the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) on 19 December 2008.

    Further information

  • Energy

    2009-02-10 - 400 cities commit to go beyond the 20% EU's energy objectives through the Commission's led Covenant of Mayors

    In a solemn ceremony that has taken place today on in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament, more that 350 cities across Europe have committed, by signing the Covenant of Mayors, to go beyond the EU's energy objective of reducing 20% CO2 emissions by 2020. With this initiative of the European Commission in partnership with the Committee of Regions, the representatives of over 60 million citizens will work together to achieve the common goal of changing our environment and using energy more wisely.

    Further information

  • Maritime Affairs

    2009-02-26 - Maritime spatial planning needs common European approach

    Today Joe Borg, Commissioner in charge of maritime affairs and fisheries, opens an EU-wide debate on how to improve maritime spatial planning across the European Union. The European Commission is promoting the use of maritime spatial planning to facilitate offshore investments. Maritime spatial planning also helps to monitor and evaluate the impact of activities at sea on each other and on the marine environment. It is an essential tool for ensuring a rational use of the sea and reconciling the interests of different maritime sectors. The Commission believes that a common approach across the EU and closer coordination between Member States could cut administrative procedures and provide a stable legal framework for investors.

    Further information
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  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