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

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Noticias destacadas

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  General EU Information

  • Council of the EU

    2010-07-01 - Spain hands over EU Presidency reins to Belgium

    According to the Spanish government, it has succeeded in introducing, carrying out and achieving the objectives of its political agenda during its six-month term as the head of the Council of the European Union. Belgium, which will lead the Council from 1 July to 31 December of this year, is now in the driver's seat.

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    2010-07-19 - Remove obstacles and simplify, say EU ministers

    Research, development and innovation can drive a new European economy when obstacles, such as fragmentation, unnecessary competition between EU countries, patent flaws and researcher shortage, are identified and removed. This was one of several important messages delivered by research and industry leaders at the informal meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council held on 15 and 16 July 2010 under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency. The meeting fortified support for the Research and Innovation Plan, which will officially be presented by Commissioner for Research and Innovation Máire Geoghegan-Quinn in September this year.

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    2010-07-20 - EU scientists make virtual reality touchable

    It sounds like science fiction, but a team of European researchers has 'virtually' teleported real objects through cyberspace, 'touched' virtual reality (VR) and even felt the movements of a virtual dance partner thanks to advances in haptic technology and a new approach to generating VR content. EU support for the research came from the IMMERSENCE ('Immersive multi-modal interactive presence') project, which received EUR 5.5 million from the 'information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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    2010-07-22 - Melting DNA into barcode drives speedy genome mapping

    A team of EU-funded researchers has created a cheap, easy method to 'melt' DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules into a barcode in 1 or 2 hours - instead of the usual 24. This new technique, described in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, could be used for rapid genetic mapping and medical diagnosis. The READNA ('Revolutionary approaches and devices for nucleic acid analysis') project received close to EUR 12 million from the Health Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), which funds groundbreaking techniques for DNA sequencing and genotyping to revolutionise nucleic acid analysis methods.

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  • European Parliament

    2010-07-09 - Plenary Session - Brussels

    New steps to curb outlandish bonuses for bankers and regulate Europe's financial markets were decided by MEPs when they meet for their monthly sitting in Strasbourg, France. Also on the agenda is a new SWIFT data protection deal and rights for boat, bus and coach travellers which could bring them into line with air passengers. Industrial emissions, Iceland's EU aspirations and the future of the European External Action Service also featured during the sitting.

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• 

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

  • Research Policy

    • General points

      2010-07-02 - Commission to enhance in-house research capacity through new Joint Research Centre Strategy

      The European Commission's own research arm, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), has today published its new strategy for the period 2010-2020. It envisages reinforced scientific support to EU policy-making based on assessments of policy options identified in close collaboration with the Commission's policy Directorates-General.

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      2010-07-19 - €6.4 billion for smart growth and jobs – Europe's biggest ever investment in research and innovation

      Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announces today nearly € 6.4 billion of European Commission investment in research and innovation. The package, the biggest ever, covers a vast range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas and commercial sectors. This funding will advance scientific boundaries, increase European competitiveness and help solve societal challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population. Around 16,000 participants from research organisations, universities and industry, including about 3,000 SMEs, will receive funding. Grants will be awarded through "calls for proposals" (invitations to bid) and evaluations over the next 14 months. Many calls will be formally published on 20th July. This package is an economic stimulus expected to create more than 165.000 jobs. It is also a long-term investment in a smarter, sustainable and more inclusive Europe. It is a key element within the EU's Europe 2020 Strategy and in particular the Innovation Union Flagship, which will be launched in autumn 2010.

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    • European Research & Innovation projects

      • ICT

        2010-07-01 - LIFEWATCH: Swedish biodiversity internet database gets the go-ahead

        The first national node of the pan-European e-Science and Technology Infrastructure for biodiversity data and observatories, LIFEWATCH, will soon take up work in Sweden, preparing a freely accessible species database of the country. The Swedish Research Council has granted SEK 36 million (EUR 3.75 million) in funding to the scheme, and each of the 7 project participants will add another SEK 10 million (EUR 1 million). The wider pan-European LIFEWATCH project is currently in the final year of its preparatory phase. For the 3 years of its execution, it received EUR 5 million in funding under the Research Infrastructures action of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). It brings together 29 partners, including the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Museum of Natural History and the University of Gothenburg.

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        2010-07-08 - What are you looking at?

        When negotiating a curve, car drivers look at specific points on the road to steer the wheel. A group of German researchers scrutinised the eye movements of test drivers, elucidating the details of their instinctive strategies in different types of curves. Ultimately, this study could lead to the development of a warning system for safer driving on winding roads. These findings were published in the Journal of Vision by members of the EU-funded DRIVSCO ('Learning to emulate perception action cycles in a driving school scenario') research project. DRIVSCO received EUR 2.37 million from the Information Society Technologies Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-09 - Underwater communication made easy

        How can scientists monitor what's going on under the sea? For instance, to survey populations of fish in the Arctic, scientists generally gather data manually during expensive research cruises. A team of Norwegian researchers believes that setting up a network of wireless sensors is a much more effective solution. They have tested their concept in the Oslo fjord, and are now ready to take the idea to the next level: Norwegian organisations Kongsberg Maritime and SINTEF will take part in the new EU-funded CLAM ('Collaborative embedded networks for submarine surveillance') and UAN ('Underwater acoustic network) projects, both funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

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        2010-07-12 - Organic nanowires open up possibilities

        Swiss and German materials scientists have created simple networks of organic nanowires for future electronic and optoelectronic components. The successful approach synthesises the complex and incredibly thin nanowire structures, and joins them to electrically conducting links (essentially creating an electronic circuit). The result is a culmination of work that began in 2006 under the PHODYE ('New photonic systems on a chip based on dyes for sensor applications scalable at wafer fabrication') project, which was funded EUR 1.92 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-13 - Pictures in the dark: new project MISPIA gets underway

        A new EU-funded project on low-light imaging has just been launched in Milan, Italy. The MISPIA ('Microelectronic single-photon 3D imaging arrays for low-light high-speed safety and security applications') project, funded with EUR 2.6 million under the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), pools the expertise of scientists and engineers in 20 countries to develop advanced imaging devices with numerous applications, including the prevention of car crashes.

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        2010-07-14 - OSIRIS project to guide ICT research infrastructures

        A new consortium has started work on an international strategy for open and sustainable information and communications technology (ICT) research infrastructures. The OSIRIS ('Towards an open and sustainable ICT research infrastructure strategy) project, funded with EUR 818,367 from the 'Information and Communication Technologies' Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), will create a platform to develop cross-border public-private partnerships (PPPs), and will establish a model for future large-scale investment in these important networks, facilities and services.

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        2010-07-14 - Fighting cancer with greater accuracy

        Breast cancer is the most widespread form of cancer among women. Experts suggest that some 350,000 European women will be diagnosed with it this year. Researchers in the EU-funded HAMAM ('Highly accurate breast cancer diagnosis through integration of biological knowledge, novel imaging modalities, and modelling') project believe that early detection is currently the most effective defence against breast cancer, and are developing ways to make more accurate diagnoses. HAMAM has been funded EUR 3.6 million under the Information and communication technologies (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

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        2010-07-15 - How three-legged dogs improve robot design

        EU scientists working at the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena in Germany have examined how three-legged dogs move in order to develop robots that can help them continue functioning in the event of the loss of a limb. EU support for the research came from the LOCOMORPH ('Robust robot locomotion and movements through morphology and morphosis') project, which received EUR 2.7 million from the 'Embodied intelligence' Initiative within the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Thematic area of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

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        2010-07-19 - Become your own TV director

        Do you sometimes get frustrated while watching a sports game or a live concert on television? Have you ever wished you could pick your camera angles or zoom in on a player at will? A network of European researchers is working to make this science-fiction fantasy a reality - be it on a panoramic LCD (liquid crystal display) screen with surround sound, or on a mobile phone. The FASCINATE ('Format-agnostic script-based interactive experience') received EUR 9.35 million from the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to create a technologically advanced system for future immersive and interactive TV (television) services.

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        2010-07-22 - DustCart: the rubbish collecting robot

        Since 2006, an EU-funded team of researchers has been working on a project that would see an 'on-call' robot collect rubbish from your home without you lifting a finger. Well, perhaps just one finger to make the initial telephone call. For the last few months, the project's prototype robot, known as DustCart, has been servicing around 100 households in the village of Peccioli in Italy. After a series of pilots and demonstrations, the DUSTBOT ('Networked and Cooperating Robots for Urban Hygiene') team expects as many as 100,000 DustCarts to operate in Europe in the not-too-distant future. The project was funded EUR 1.9 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic Area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-23 - EU-funded technology helps rescue workers save lives

        Tragic crises, such as the recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, prove how crucial the coordination of relief work is for saving lives. The EU-funded WORKPAD ('An adaptive peer-to-peer software infrastructure for supporting collaborative work of human operators in emergency and disaster scenarios') project rose to the challenge of giving relief work a boost by developing innovative software, models and services to enhance collaboration between disaster workers. Rescue teams can communicate on the ground with handheld devices, enhancing the efficiency of complex relief operations. WORKPAD was supported with EUR 1.85 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-23 - Grid computing tackles Alzheimer's

        Technological advances have taken the medical world to a whole new level, as digital infrastructure and state-of-the-art software offer doctors and patients the right tools for diagnosis and treatment. Helping to advance the technology further is the NEUGRID ('A grid-based e-infrastructure for data archiving/communication and computationally intensive applications in the medical sciences') project, which is backed with EUR 2.8 million in financial support under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

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        2010-07-26 - Plug-ins to cut back on energy waste

        Two percent of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are attributed to the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector. This figure represents 1 billion kilowatts of electricity required to keep 3 billion PCs and mobile devices and over 500 million host computers running! The EU-funded team under FIT4Green ('Federated IT for a sustainable environmental impact') has set itself the ambitious goal of tackling this overconsumption. The project is funded with EUR 3.18 million under the ICT Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

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      • Health

        2010-07-05 - What are the symptoms of male menopause?

        EU-funded scientists have identified the symptoms behind late-onset hypogonadism or 'male menopause', a rare condition that affects 2% of men. Nine symptoms were linked for the first time to low testosterone production, the key factor in male menopause. The seven-year study was part of the EMAS ('European male ageing study') project, which received over EUR 6 million under the 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources' Thematic programme of the EU's Fifth Framework Programme (FP5). The findings, which are published in the New England Journal of Medicine, are expected to better gauge the need for male testosterone therapy.

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        2010-07-09 - Shedding light on the evolution of multicellular life

        The evolution of multicellular life may not have required as much genetic modification as was previously thought, new research suggests. Writing in the journal Science, an international team of researchers explains how it compared the genomes of two closely related species of algae: the multicellular Volvox carteri and the single-celled Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Multicellular life has arisen more than once, in animals, plants and fungi, as well as in red and brown seaweeds. However, in most cases this happened so long ago that teasing out the genetic changes behind the switch from a single-celled to a multicellular way of life is extremely tricky.

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        2010-07-12 - Brain disease may be transmittable through surgery, study suggests

        Spanish scientists have discovered that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) could be transmitted through general surgery. The EU-funded team believes that the fatal brain disorder may remain latent for several decades before symptoms become apparent. The findings, which are published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, suggest that surgery could be to blame for the contraction of other neurological diseases. The study was part of the NEUROPRION ('Prevention, control and management of prion diseases') project, which was funded EUR 14.4 million under the Food Quality and Safety Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-15 - New advances in stem cell treatment for heart damage

        Using bone marrow stem cells has already led to huge advances in treating heart attacks and cardiomyopathy. But a new approach, research into which has been partially funded under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), is looking even more promising.

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        2010-07-15 - Cells' 'protein factory' filmed in action

        EU-funded researchers have made a film showing cells' protein factories, ribosomes, in action. The work offers an unprecedented glimpse of the workings of these essential pieces of cellular machinery and could aid the development of new drugs. The study, published in the journal Nature, received EU support through the 3D-REPERTOIRE ('A multidisciplinary approach to determine the structures of protein complexes in a model organism') project, which was funded under the Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-16 - HIV patients may need to start treatment earlier, study suggests

        Even HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) patients with relatively high CD4 counts are at an increased risk of death compared to people in the general population, according to a new EU-funded study published in the journal The Lancet. Although the increased risk is relatively small, the findings underline the importance of carrying out further studies into the risks and benefits of starting anti-retroviral therapy (ART) at higher cell counts. EU support for the work came from the NEAT ('European AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) treatment network') project, which was funded under the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-20 - Portuguese scientists clinch ERC Starting Grants

        Portuguese scientists are gaining a stronger foothold in the research world, as exemplified by five young group leaders who have successfully secured European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants. It is the largest yield ever for Portuguese researchers in this major EU funding programme. The 5 researchers (3 women and 2 men) will receive between EUR 1-1.5 million to conduct research over a period of 5 years. They are all in their 30s, and 4 of the 5 scientists have established their own research groups. Their investigative efforts will focus primarily on how cells divide, move and age; how bacteria adapt to the environment; and inflammatory responses to disease.

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        2010-07-23 - Tracking down neuromuscular diseases

        Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) are chronic and so far incurable conditions that gradually affect patients' muscles, leading to potentially severe disabilities. Biomedical researchers are busy looking for the diseases' Achilles' heel. Rising to meet this challenge head on are scientists from the EU-funded BIO-NMD ('Identifying and validating preclinical biomarkers for diagnostics and therapeutics of NMDs)' project, which was granted more than EUR 5.6 million under the Health Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to identify new biological markers for future clinical trials.

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        2010-07-27 - Back to school, Gran: more education lowers risk of dementia

        Researchers in Finland and the UK have established that people who continue their education have a lower risk of developing dementia in the future. The results, published in the journal Brain, are an outcome of the ECLIPSE ('Epidemiological clinicopathological studies in Europe) collaboration, which is supported in part by a Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship.

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        2010-07-28 - Cardiac death risk increases with common ECG pattern

        EU-funded researchers in Germany have discovered that unexpectedly high numbers of people in the 35 to 54 age group show an early repolarisation pattern (ERP) on their electrocardiogram (ECG). Furthermore, people with ERP, especially men, appear to be at a higher risk of cardiac death. ECGs pick up the tiny electrical waves generated by the beating heart via electrodes on the skin and so provide information about the health of a heart. ERP is a type of wave pattern that is often seen on ECGs, and previous studies have suggested that it may be associated with a raised risk of cardiac death. Presented in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine, the study's results are part of the CARDIOGENICS ('Identification of genetic roots of coronary artery disease by combining stepwise genome-wide association studies with transcriptomic and functional genomic investigation of relevant genetic variants') project, funded to the tune of EUR 10 million under the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-28 - Rewarding research excellence

        Two young scientists have received the first ever Excellent Paper in Neuroscience Award, an initiative of the ERA-NET NEURON project (Network for European Funding for Neuroscience Research). NEURON received EUR 2.7 million under the ERA-NET scheme of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to better coordinate national research funding programmes and funding activities in Europe in the field of disease-related neurosciences.

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      • Environment

        2010-07-05 - Do I know you?

        Both humans and macaque monkeys are able to recognise the faces of family and friends immediately by using holistic processing mechanisms. Scientists from Germany, Korea and the UK have discovered, however, that these mechanisms are significantly hindered when faces of the same species are inverted and when observing a different species. Findings from the study are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences.

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        2010-07-13 - Plant pores give up their secrets

        EU-funded research is set to trigger a rethink of the way plants release water vapour into the atmosphere in a process called transpiration. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has implications for fields as diverse as weather forecasting, climate change, agriculture and hydrology. EU support for the work came from the LIFT ('Laser-induced fluorescence transient: a remote sensing approach to scale and quantify photosynthetic light use efficiency in ecosystems') project, a 3-year Marie Curie Outgoing International Fellowship which received EUR 250,000 from the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-14 - Getting to grips with gorillas' games

        Just like human children, gorillas playing games of 'tag' will run away after hitting a playmate, new European research reveals. Furthermore, they run away for the same reason as humans do - to maintain their competitive advantage. The study, published in the journal Biology Letters, is the first to investigate whether animals respond to unfair situations in natural social settings.

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        2010-07-26 - Earth systems scientists highlight biogeochemical feedbacks

        The impacts of biogeochemical feedbacks should not to be ignored in climate change studies, say EU-funded scientists. In order to understand how the Earth is likely to evolve in this century and beyond, the team believes greater emphasis must be placed on the feedbacks that exist between the terrestrial biosphere and the Earth's atmosphere. Results from the study, published in Nature Geoscience, suggest that biogeochemical feedbacks could be important in modulating future climate change. The research was supported by the GREENCYCLES ('Biogeochemistry and climate change research and training network') project, which received EUR 2.84 million under the Marie Curie Actions - Human resources and mobility activity of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The four-year project, which ended in 2008, fostered new developments in the multidisciplinary field of biogeochemical cycles research including training for a new generation of Earth system scientists.

        Más información

      • Environment

        2010-07-05 - Do I know you?

        Both humans and macaque monkeys are able to recognise the faces of family and friends immediately by using holistic processing mechanisms. Scientists from Germany, Korea and the UK have discovered, however, that these mechanisms are significantly hindered when faces of the same species are inverted and when observing a different species. Findings from the study are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences.

        Más información
        2010-07-13 - Plant pores give up their secrets

        EU-funded research is set to trigger a rethink of the way plants release water vapour into the atmosphere in a process called transpiration. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has implications for fields as diverse as weather forecasting, climate change, agriculture and hydrology. EU support for the work came from the LIFT ('Laser-induced fluorescence transient: a remote sensing approach to scale and quantify photosynthetic light use efficiency in ecosystems') project, a 3-year Marie Curie Outgoing International Fellowship which received EUR 250,000 from the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Más información
        2010-07-14 - Getting to grips with gorillas' games

        Just like human children, gorillas playing games of 'tag' will run away after hitting a playmate, new European research reveals. Furthermore, they run away for the same reason as humans do - to maintain their competitive advantage. The study, published in the journal Biology Letters, is the first to investigate whether animals respond to unfair situations in natural social settings.

        Más información
        2010-07-26 - Earth systems scientists highlight biogeochemical feedbacks

        The impacts of biogeochemical feedbacks should not to be ignored in climate change studies, say EU-funded scientists. In order to understand how the Earth is likely to evolve in this century and beyond, the team believes greater emphasis must be placed on the feedbacks that exist between the terrestrial biosphere and the Earth's atmosphere. Results from the study, published in Nature Geoscience, suggest that biogeochemical feedbacks could be important in modulating future climate change. The research was supported by the GREENCYCLES ('Biogeochemistry and climate change research and training network') project, which received EUR 2.84 million under the Marie Curie Actions - Human resources and mobility activity of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The four-year project, which ended in 2008, fostered new developments in the multidisciplinary field of biogeochemical cycles research including training for a new generation of Earth system scientists.

        Más información

      • Agriculture

        2010-07-13 - Bluefin tuna, naturally

        EU-funded scientists have harnessed Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) eggs without hormonal induction. This has never happened at an aquaculture facility, far away from the fish's natural spawning habitat. The result is part of the SELFDOTT ('From capture based to self-sustained aquaculture and domestication of bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus') project, which received EUR 2.98 million under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

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      • Transport

        2010-07-16 - EU research cuts train delays

        Train passengers across Europe are benefiting from new EU-funded research on algorithms. Waiting times for underground trains in Germany have been halved and there have been huge impacts in Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland as well. The ARRIVAL ('Algorithms for robust and online railway optimisation: improving the validity and reliability of large scale systems) project developed advanced software that allows network operators to schedule trains more efficiently while also proposing solutions in real time to unforeseen disruptions.

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      • Space

        2010-07-08 - Was young Venus ever habitable?

        Nowadays, Venus looks like our idea of Hell: temperatures 2 or 3 times that of a kitchen oven, a noxious atmosphere and surface pressures about 100 times that on Earth - and therefore very little water. However, in the past, the planet may have been much more similar to our Earth, and may even have had oceans. Four years into the European mission Venus Express, leading space scientists are unlocking the mystery of this planet.

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      • Socio-economic sciences and Humanities

        2010-07-08 - Earliest north Europeans called British coast home

        Ancient humans were living in northern Europe 780,000 years ago, far earlier than was previously thought, according to new research published in the journal Nature. Evidence of the ancient humans comes in the form of over 70 flint tools and flakes uncovered at Happisburgh, a small village on the north-eastern coast of Norfolk in the UK. As well as pushing back the date of the earliest known occupation of the UK, the new findings represent the first evidence of ancient humans surviving in a relatively harsh climate. The research may therefore trigger a re-evaluation of the history of the colonisation of Europe and the ability of early humans to adapt to harsh environments.

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        2010-07-19 - Want to paint like da Vinci? Here's how...

        EU-funded scientists have discovered the secret techniques used by Leonardo da Vinci to create seven of his masterpieces including the renowned Mona Lisa. Their study represents the first time that a quantitative chemical analysis has ever been conducted on the paintings, revealing the way in which da Vinci composed and layered each of his works of art. The research results are published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. The EU-ARTECH ('Access, research and technology for the conservation of the European cultural heritage') project was funded to the tune of EUR 4.37 million under the Research Infrastructures budget line of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2010-07-22 - The friend of my enemy is really my enemy

        Researchers in Austria, the UK and the US have proved an important social theory using a massive multiplayer online game (MMOG). The findings provide the first quantitative evidence for the Structural Balance Theory, which holds that some networks of relationships are more stable than others in a society. Structural Balance Theory focuses on the positive and negative links between three individuals, and supports the idea that people are more likely to believe that 'the friend of my enemy is my enemy' than to make an enemy of a friend of a friend. The work, presented in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, also paves the way for scientists to develop more realistic models of complex human networks.

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    • 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.

        Más información
        2010-07-01 - Europe gets electro safe

        Electromagnetic research and development (R&D) in Europe is set to get a boost with the launch of the one-of-a-kind platform known as Phéline. With key support from the EU, this new, industry-led European Technology Platform (ETP) will help define priorities, action plans and deadlines for electromagnetic research. New ways of improving electronic technologies to make sure they are safe and meet public health standards will be explored.

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        2010-07-05 - A new decade brings a new JRC

        From now until 2020, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) will scale up its focus on policy by providing more options to key customers. As the EU's own in-house research arm with seven institutes located in five countries, the strategy for the coming decade is expected to further strengthen policy and research ties both within the European Commission and other clients. The new plan was presented recently by JRC Director-General Roland Schenkel at the Euro-Science Open Forum (ESOF) held in Italy.

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        2010-07-20 - Building bridges between researchers and policymakers

        Many EU policy areas, such as climate change and the environment, benefit immensely from the results of research. Yet research could contribute far more to policymaking than it currently does. The problem is that there are still relatively few links between the research and policymaking communities.

        Más información

      • European Technology Plateformes

        Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies (EuMaT)

        No events planned

        Más información
        Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE)

        No events planned

        Más información
        European Technology Platform for Wind Energy (TPWind)

        No events planned

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        European Technology Platform Food for Life (Food)

        No events planned

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        European Space Technology Platform (ESTP)

        No events planned

        Más información
        European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP)

        No events planned

        Más información
        European Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks of the Future (SmartGrids)

        No events planned

        Más información
        Future Manufacturing Technologies (MANUFUTURE)

        No events planned

        Más información
        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"

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        Industrial Safety ETP (IndustrialSafety)

        No events planned

        Más información
        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        Mobile and Wireless Communications (eMobility)

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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        Networked European Software and Services Initiative (NESSI)

        No events planned

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        Photovoltaics (PV Platform)

        No events planned

        Más información
        Plants for the Future (Plants)

        No events planned.

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem)

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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        Water Supply and Sanitation Platform (WSSTP)

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

        Más información
        Waterborne ETP (Waterborne)

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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating & Cooling (RHC)

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

        Más información

      • Joint Technology Initiatives

        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información
        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

        Más información

  • Education policy

    2010-07-19 - EU supports higher education cooperation with its neighbours

    Today, the European Commission has decided to allocate €30.4 million to support higher education projects in the European Neighbourhood countries and Russia. This will enable enhanced networking and joint projects and partnerships between higher education institutions in EU and ENPI countries.

    Más información

  • Enterprises

    2010-07-06 - Internationally active SMEs yield better results

    25% of EU 27 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) export or have exported at some point during the last 3 years. This is revealed in a new European Commission study available on line. Internationally active SMEs report an employment growth of 7% whereas the figure stood at 1% for those  without any international activities. There is also a strong relationship between internationalisation and innovation. 26% of internationally active SMEs introduced products or services that were new for their sector in their country; for other small businesses this is only 8%. However, international activities are mostly geared towards other countries inside the internal market and only about 13% of EU SMEs are active in markets outside the EU. European firms are more internationally active, compared with US and Japanese SMEs. These are some of the findings of the study “Internationalisation of European SMEs”. It maps the level of internationalisation of European SMEs and identifies the main barriers and advantages of internationalisation.

    Más información

    2010-07-13 - Enabling our future: experts to advise Commission on upcoming technologies

    Hardly anybody would have forecast 10 years ago that the business world would look as it does today. We use no typewriters any more and most information is available and exchanged electronically. How will the industrial world look in 10 years time? Which products and technologies will we use to produce goods, to do business, to learn, to live and to communicate? To better explore the potential that these technologies can offer, European Commission Vice-Presidents Antonio Tajani, Neelie Kroes and Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn launched today the high-level expert group on key enabling technologies. Key enabling technologies, such as nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics including semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and photonics are of exceptional importance for shaping the industrial future of the EU. The work of this group will eventually contribute to a European strategy for the industrial deployment of such technologies.

    Más información
• 

  Other EU Policies and funding programmes supporting the Lisbon Strategy

  • Environment

    2010-07-06 - Environment: Commission asks for views on revamping environmental impact assessments

    The European Commission has launched a wide public consultation in relation to the review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation. The consultation covers issues, such as the screening of projects for EIA, the quality of the EIA process, the harmonisation of assessment requirements among Member States, cross-border difficulties when projects affect more than one Member State, the role of the environmental authorities, and development of synergies with other EU policies, such as climate change and biodiversity. The findings of the consultation will feed into a Commission review next year. All interested parties – citizens, stakeholders and organisations involved in environmental assessments – are invited to respond to the public consultation by 24 September 2010. The questionnaire is available in all 22 Community languages.

    Más información

    2010-07-13 - Biodiversity: new report highlights win-win business practices that do more for the planet

    A new report funded by the European Commission makes a strong case for integrating biodiversity into private sector business plans and core activities around the globe. The report reveals considerable recent growth in eco-certified products and services, growing consumer concerns for sustainable production, and shows how biodiversity can provide a substantial business opportunity in a market that could be worth US$ 2-6 trillion by 2050. It makes seven key recommendations for businesses, and calls on accounting professions and financial reporting bodies to develop common standards to assess biodiversity impacts, and develop new tools for this purpose. “TEEB for Business” will form part of the TEEB synthesis report to be launched at a meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010

    Más información

    2010-07-14 - Emissions trading: Member States back unanimously Commission proposed rules for auctioning of allowances

    The European Commission welcomes today's vote by the Climate Change Committee in support of the Commission's proposal for a Regulation governing the auctioning of emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The draft Regulation lays down the rules for auctioning emission allowances valid for the third trading period of the EU ETS starting in 2013 as well as allowances to be used by aircraft operators already as from 2012. The Commission will now submit the draft Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council for a three-month scrutiny period.

    Más información

    2010-07-16 - EU-funded conservation halts decline of threatened Maltese Shearwaters

    EU-funded conservation work has halted the decline of the Yelkouan Shearwaters, one of Europe's most threatened bird species on the Rdum tal-Madonna peninsula in Malta. EU support for the research came from the LIFE Nature Programme that provides funding for projects contributing to the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. The programme provided 50% of the research's funding to the tune of nearly EUR 500,000.

    Más información

    2010-07-23 - Commission to provide €250 million for more than 200 new LIFE+ projects

    The European Commission has approved funding for 210 new projects under the third call for the LIFE+ programme (2007-2013), the European fund for the environment. The projects are from across the EU and cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, environmental policy, and information and communication. Overall, they represent a total investment of €515 million, of which the EU will provide €249.8 million.

    Más información

  • Health

    2010-07-02 - Food safety: EU experts confirm production of milk-products can resume only if they are safe

    The European Commission is closely monitoring the situation as regards altered mozzarella cheese, and production of milk products at the affected establishment in Germany can resume only when it is verified that these products will be safe for consumption. This is the two-fold message that emerged from yesterday's meeting of EU experts (Member States and Commission) at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH). The German food safety authorities informed the other Member States and the Commission in detail about the controls carried out by its competent authorities and the corrective measures taken by the establishment. The Committee also discussed protection of laying hens, Aujeszky's disease in pigs and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheatis (IBR).

    Más información

    2010-07-16 - Following achievements of 1st Roadmap, Commission outlines future steps regarding BSE/TSE in the TSE Roadmap 2

    The success of the European Union's efforts in combating Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs), such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle or scrapie in sheep and goats, allows the EU to contemplate changes in some of its rules. Today the European Commission adopted a Communication to the European Parliament and the Council, which outlines areas where future possible changes to EU TSE-related measures could be made. The document –"The TSE Road Map 2 – A strategy paper on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies for 2010-2015" – underlines that any amendment should maintain the EU's high level of protection of human and animal health and of food safety and should be backed by solid science. The Road Map is a reflection paper that opens up dialogue on the issue.

    Más información

  • Transport

    2010-07-20 - Europeans call for more action on road safety in survey

    Europeans are calling on Member States to boost their efforts to improve road safety, according to a survey published by the European Commission today. Nine out of ten Europeans (94%) considered driving under the influence of alcohol to be the most significant road safety problem, while eight out of ten (78%) called speeding a major safety problem. A majority of respondents (52%) said Member States should focus on improving road infrastructure as a first or second priority, while 42% said the same for improving the enforcement of traffic laws and 36% for dealing equally forcefully with resident and foreign traffic offenders. The Eurobarometer survey was commissioned by the Commission as part of its ongoing campaign to cut road fatalities across the EU. The results are published today together with new plans to make our roads even safer.

    Más información

  • Space

    2010-07-09 - Jean Lilensten wins first Europlanet prize for excellence

    Dr Jean Lilensten of the Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble in France has won the first Europlanet prize for excellence in public engagement with planetary science. The Europlanet Research Infrastructure is a EUR 6 million programme partially funded by the EU under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Among other things, it is helping drive the EU's quest to raise awareness of science and improve science education in Europe.

    Más información

  • Agriculture and fisheries

    2010-07-07 - Two apples a day keep cholesterol away: EU-funded food research results showcased at EP on 8 July

    Eight EU-funded research projects on food quality and safety will be presented on 8 July at a conference at the European Parliament. This is part of Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn's overall initiative to communicate better on the practical benefits EU research is bringing to the EU's Europe 2020 strategy in terms of improved quality of life and as a key driver of economic growth and high quality jobs. For example, one project, ISAFRUIT, has found that eating two apples (300gr) a day can help reduce cholesterol by 10% and that dipping apples and peaches in hot water at precise temperatures can reduce brown rot by 80% and remove e-coli and salmonella bacteria. The other projects to be presented cover: tackling epizootic animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease; how diet and hereditary factors can influence the risk of cancer; setting up a Europe-wide food and nutrition information web-based service; alternative fish feeds for healthier and greener seafood; improving the freshness of industrially pre-baked bread; cereals as a weapon against metabolic disorders; and a sustainable network integrating international food research institutions.

    Más información

    2010-07-13 - GMOs: Member States to be given full responsibility on cultivation in their territories

    Today the Commission proposed to confer to Member States the freedom to allow, restrict or ban the cultivation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) on part or all of their territory. While keeping unchanged the EU's science-based GM authorisation system, the adopted package consists of a Communication, a new Recommendation on co-existence of GM crops with conventional and/or organic crops and a draft Regulation proposing a change to the GMO legislation. The new Recommendation on co-existence allows more flexibility to Member States taking into account their local, regional and national conditions when adopting co-existence measures. The proposed regulation amends Directive 2001/18/EC to allow Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory.

    Más información

    2010-07-30 - High Level Forum to take on challenges of food sector

    The European Commission has decided today to extend the mandate of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry, upgrading it to a High Level Forum to improve the functioning of the food supply chain as regards contractual relations, logistics and competitiveness. The agro-food industry represents 2% of Europe's GDP and 13.5% of total employment in the EU’s manufacturing sector. It consists of approximately 310 000 enterprises, including some global leaders. It continues to play a fundamental role in satisfying the needs of consumers and contributes an annual production of more than € 600 billion to the EU economy. However, the entire European food supply chain has entered a period of adjustment. Consumer preferences are changing as a result of income and lifestyle developments as well as shifts in population. Customer concerns about food safety, health and prices have also imposed stringent requirements on the sector.

    Más información

  • Energy

    2010-07-05 - Renewables account for 62% of the new electricity generation capacity installed in the EU in 2009

    The "Renewable Energy Snapshots" report, published today by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), shows that renewable energy sources accounted for 62% (17GW) of the new electricity generation capacity installed in the EU27 in 2009. The share rose from 57% in 2008. For the second year running, wind energy accounted for the largest share of the new capacity: 10.2 GW out of the 27.5 GW built, representing 38% of the total. In absolute terms, renewables produced 19.9% of Europe's electricity consumption last year.

    Más información

    2010-07-12 - New JRC methodology to verify biofuel sustainability

    How does Europe measure the success of its environmental measures? Part of the answer lies in an important new tool developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) to ensure that European biofuels and bioliquids meet top global standards. The methodology is in line with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations for national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and is a key factor in Europe's overall sustainability scorecard.

    Más información

    2010-07-20 - Commission proposes plan for financing ITER

    The Commission has adopted a proposal for funding the construction of the fusion demonstration reactor ITER. This proposal responds to the conclusions of the Council of 12 July 2010 and aims to secure the financing of this international project as it goes forward. The Commission proposes redeployment of €100 million in 2012 and €360 million in 2013 from the 7th Framework Programme for Research. It is also proposing today an initial transfer of unused funds of €400 million from other EU budgets to the budget financing ITER. A further such transfer will be specified later, with that process beginning in the context of the budgetary conciliation in November. The revision has been necessary because of substantial overall cost increases for ITER, which have more than doubled the costs for Europe from the initially expected € 2.7 billion.

    Más información
• 

  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

    Más información

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