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"I want to make sure we make full use of Europe's research excellence, Europe's talent and Europe's entrepreneurial spirit. Those qualities will be decisive in creating the green, hi-tech economy of the future and in making the 21st century a European century." – Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Europe has a long tradition of excellence in research and innovation. Two centuries ago it launched the industrial revolution. Today, the EU is at the cutting edge of leading technology: be it mobile telephones or aircraft, all the flagship products of European endeavor and imagination. Through cooperation among Member States and with other nations and through the continued work of the EU's independent Joint Research Centre (JRC), the EU has established itself as a leading force in the movement to use cross-border collaboration and the sharing of ideas to drive innovation to even greater heights. Since the 2000 adoption of the Lisbon Strategy, the EU has committed itself to building a European Research Area (ERA) to overcome outdated geographical, institutional, disciplinary and sectoral boundaries. The ERA extends the single European market to the world of research and technological development—ensuring open and transparent trade in scientific and technical skills, ideas and know-how. The goal is to create a space free from boundaries in which open discussion and research can benefit the entire European community. In addition, the globalization of trade and knowledge—and the emergence of new global threats to the environment, human health and international security—demands that European research look outward. International cooperation forms an integral part of EU scientific policy, which includes programs that enhance Europe’s access to worldwide scientific expertise, attract top scientists to work in Europe, contribute to international responses to shared problems and put research at the service of EU external and development policies. How is research funded in the European Union? Most European research is funded on the national level, by private and public sources, in the 27 EU Member States. However there is also a European-level approach to research to strengthen the scientific and technological bases of European industry and ensure competitiveness at an international level. While there are several Directorates General in the EU’s European Commission that have direct links to issues of research, the Framework Program (FP) is the European Union's main instrument for funding research and development and fostering the ERA's growth. FPs have been implemented since 1984 and up to now have each covered a period of 5 years. The 7th Research Framework Program (FP-7), starting in 2007, continues for 7 years. It was designed as a cornerstone in the EU’s knowledge and growth policy and plays a fundamental role in stimulating sustainable competitiveness and welfare in Europe. What are the key research areas defined by the European Commission? FP-7 comprises 4 programs: The cooperation program accounts for over 60% of the available funding and allows European researchers to work together on collaborative research projects to advance knowledge, to propose solutions to some of the major issues facing us today and to develop new technologies for the future. It promotes cooperation among universities, industry and research centers across the European Union, as well as with the rest of the world. This program focuses on research in: health; food, agriculture and biotechnology; information and communication technologies; nanosciences, materials and production technologies; energy; environment; transport; social and economic sciences; space; and security. The ideas program is implemented through a new body, the European Research Council (ERC), and provides on average 1 billion Euro per year for investigator-driven frontier research in cutting-edge, “risky” areas. The first call for proposals focuses on early-stage independent investigators – those ready to set up their own team for the first time. Future calls will cater to all experience levels. Applicants do not have to be in Europe to submit a proposal – but the work must be done in Europe if selected. The people program provides increased funding for Marie Curie actions, which promote the training and mobility of researchers at all research career stages. This includes fellowships for Europeans wanting to work in another European country; specific international activities to fund non-European researchers to work in Europe and to fund Europeans to work outside Europe; and reintegration grants for European researchers to return to Europe from abroad. European researchers in the US will be eligible for most actions. The capacities program enhances research and innovation capacity in Europe through activities such as funding access for researchers to major European infrastructures; support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop their research potential or to outsource their research; international cooperation and science and society. European Union Delegation, Washington, DC, Staff USEFUL Links: European Commission Websites
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 22:11 |
