EU Research

News, background information and web links about the research and technology areas, policies and activities promoted by the European Union.

European Research Council presents its first conclusions — 08 October 2008, 23:38 CET

On 7 October, the European Research Council (ERC) presented a selection of its first starting grant winners at a meeting in Paris, France, and reflected on its successes and challenges over the past three years. The ERC's achievements, especially in fostering pan-European competitiveness, have been significant.

EU - Africa science partnership presents flagship projects — 06 October 2008, 23:14 CET

Commissioners of the European Union and the African Union have released a joint statement on the need to strengthen African research capacity and presented 19 flagship projects that will form the basis of the EU/AU thematic partnership in science, information and communication technology and space.

EU - Africa research partnership presents flagship projects — 03 October 2008, 19:19 CET

The Commissioners of the European Union and the African Union have released a joint statement on the need to strengthen African research capacity and presented 19 flagship projects that will form the basis of the EU/AU thematic partnership in science, information and communication technology and space.

European Technology Platforms evaluated — 02 October 2008, 22:27 CET

European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik has welcomed the results of a recent evaluation of the 34 European Technology Platforms (ETPs). At a meeting of industrial leaders of European Technology Platforms on 30 September, Commissioner Potocnik praised the ETPs, calling them 'unique and exceptional', and welcomed the results of the survey as overwhelmingly positive.

Competitiveness Council resolves to advance European Space Policy — 29 September 2008, 18:12 CET

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).

ERC Identification Committee named — 24 September 2008, 22:15 CET

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.

Facilitating access to EU funding: a new practical guide — 15 September 2008, 22:52 CET

The European Commission has published a new 'Practical Guide to EU funding opportunities for Research and Innovation'.

'A fantastic moment': first beam fired at CERN's large hadron collider — 10 September 2008, 23:07 CET

The world's largest-ever physics experiment has got underway at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Switzerland. The first beam of protons successfully made its way around the 27 km particle accelerator on the morning of 10 September, to rounds of applause in the LHC Control Room and the great relief of the scientists, some of whom have been waiting for this day for years.

eChallenges e-2008 conference (Stockholm, from 22 October 2008, 00:00 CET to 24 October 2008, 00:00 CET) —

The eChallenges e-2008 Conference will take place from 22 to 24 October in Stockholm, Sweden.

European City of Science (Paris, from 14 November 2008, 00:00 CET to 16 November 2008, 00:00 CET) —

The European City of Science will open its gates from 14 to 16 November in Paris, France.

ERC Advanced Grant recipients announced — 08 August 2008, 00:14 CET

The European Research Council (ERC) has released details of the first round of recipients of its Advanced Grants in the physical sciences and engineering fields. Some 105 of the almost 1,000 applicants from these disciplines have been allocated funding.

ESA spacecraft snaps best pictures yet of Martian moon — 06 August 2008, 23:31 CET

The European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft has taken the most detailed images ever of the Martian moon Phobos. The pictures, which ESA describes as 'the best images of Phobos ever', reveal previously unseen details of the moon's surface.

EIT Governing Board appointed — 06 August 2008, 23:30 CET

The European Commission has officially appointed the Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), paving the way for the launch of the first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) under the new initiative. The board will hold its first meeting on 15 September in Budapest, Hungary, the new home of the EIT.

'Ideas' calls for proposals published — 27 July 2008, 10:17 CET

The European Commission has published two calls for proposals for the Ideas programme under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

EU satellite back on track for lift-off — 27 July 2008, 10:08 CET

The European Space Agency's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) is back on track for its launch into space on September 10 2008 after its first launch date was postponed.

EU doing its share to ensure a successful Olympics — 24 July 2008, 23:26 CET

In the run up to the Olympics, China's authorities now have the resources to monitor air pollution and overall help in the battle to keep it under control; all thanks to the efforts of the European Space Agency (ESA).

The EU strengthens bonds with Gulf States — 23 July 2008, 23:21 CET

The European Commission has entered into a research project agreement with the Gulf Research Center (GRC) think tank targeting stronger relations and supporting the policy-making process between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This is the first agreement of its kind to be signed between the two regional blocs.

Commission unveils plans for cooperation between national research programmes — 17 July 2008, 19:53 CET

The European Commission has set out its plans for boosting cooperation between national research funding programmes. The new 'Joint Programming' scheme is designed to ensure that public research funds are used as efficiently as possible, and help Europe tackle shared problems more effectively. The first Joint Programming Initiatives should be launched by 2010.

Industrial Property — 16 July 2008, 18:02 CET

The importance of protection of Industrial Property rights (in particular the protection of inventions, industrial design and trade marks) for innovation, employment, competition and thus economic growth, cannot be underestimated. The European Commission focuses in particular on these "knowledge-based" aspects of the Single Market. Its work is partly concerned with traditional instruments regulating the market, such as harmonising the laws of the Member States relating to industrial property rights to avoid barriers to trade. The aim is also to create unitary systems for the protection of such rights with EU-wide effect through the filing of one single application for protection (Community trade marks, designs and patents). The Commission is also increasingly concerned with ensuring that the Single Market functions properly in the Information Society and the fight against Counterfeiting. A fundamental discussion on the principle of Community exhaustion of trade mark rights and its economic effects on innovation, employment and prices are also handled by the Commission, as well as the discussions on Enlargement.

Proposal for a legal framework for European Research Infrastructures - guide — 16 July 2008, 11:43 CET

News, background information and web links about the research and technology areas, policies and activities promoted by the European Union.

ERC receives over 2,000 applications for Advanced Grants — 01 July 2008, 00:01 CET

The European Research Council (ERC) has received 2,167 applications for its Advanced Grants. These included 766 proposals in the area of life sciences and medicine, 997 in physical sciences and engineering, and 404 proposals for social sciences and humanities research.

Slovenia looks back on a successful presidency — 27 June 2008, 22:43 CET

'We were warned that our programme is too ambitious; however, today we are proud to say we have succeeded.' With these words, Slovenia's Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mojca Kucler Dolinar, summed up her country's achievements in the field of research policy during its presidency of the EU.

EU Research - Technology Marketplace — 27 June 2008, 22:30 CET

In association with Cordis, the European Union's Community Research and Development Information Service, Technology Marketplace is a free on line service where you can find research and technological development results and search for innovative business opportunities on emerging technologies. Technology Marketplace includes: All exploitable research results stored in the Results Service; A showcase of best results displayed as technology offers; Additional information on innovation news, events, useful links, local support.

Europe's Science Cities set out their stalls — 26 June 2008, 17:51 CET

Across Europe, growing numbers of cities are actively promoting science and innovation activities to drive their economic growth and improve the quality of life of their inhabitants. At an event in Brussels on 25 June, three of these 'science cities' (Birmingham, UK; Lyon, France; and Jena, Germany) explained what the science city concept means to them, and the challenges and opportunities they face.

ETUC wants precautionary principle applied to nanotechnologies — 26 June 2008, 17:11 CET

News, background information and web links about the research and technology areas, policies and activities promoted by the European Union.