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

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  General EU Information

  • European Parliament

    2009-11-11 - Plenary Session - Brussels

    The twentieth anniversary of the democratic revolutions behind the Iron Curtain was marked this week in a two day session of the European Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday (11-12 November). Czech dissident playwright turned President, Václav Havel, joined others to mark the occasion. Europe's climate change position ahead of the Copenhagen earth summit and the EU's top jobs were also debated in Brussels as MEPs considered the results of the last European summit.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-20 - Plenary Session - Strasbourg

    The EU membership hopes of countries like Croatia and Turkey were weighed up by MEPs Thursday (26 November) in a parliamentary resolution. The need to fight corruption and strengthen the rule of law were key considerations for the House. With the UN climate conference approaching Members called Wednesday for emissions cuts of 80% by 2050 and funding for developing countries. Tuesday saw MEPs back an overhaul of Europe's telecoms market, which should increase competition between phone companies.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-18 - Plenary Session - Strasbourg

    Europe's "Christmas capital" welcomed MEPs for their last plenary session in 2009. While MEPs prepared for the last push of the year, human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov chatted from an icy Moscow with EP Facebook fans on Russia's murky rights record. Friends were online anew on Wednesday with the EP Copenhagen delegation vice-chair as world leaders prepared for the decisive phase of climate talks in the Danish capital.

    Plus d'information
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  EU policies and funding programmes for Research, Innovation, Training and Competitiveness

  • Research Policy

    • European Research & Innovation projects

      • ICT

        2009-11-05 - 3D museum set to come to life

        An exciting new EU-funded project is using 3D (three-dimensional) computer graphics technology to digitally archive museum exhibits, which will allow people to see revolving 3D images of exhibits from all over the world.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-11 - Romania intensifies IT competitiveness

        Romania holds the 36th spot in this year's world classification on Information Technology (IT) competitiveness, according to a new study. Data from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) showed that Romania boasts a number of impressive performances in business, juridical and legal environments, and it has been instrumental in giving the IT industry a boost.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-16 - EU-funded researchers develop new plastic optical fibre technology

        Plastic optical fibre (POF) is making headway in the technology world and the EU-funded POLYCOM ('Plastic optical fibres with embedded active polymers for data communications') project has played a central role in its success. Backed with EUR 1.55 million under the 'Information Society Technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), POLYCOM has promoted the use of POF in optical computing, ultra-high-speed LANs (local area networks) and new sensing devices.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-17 - EU-funded researchers aim to speed up data processing

        EU-funded researchers are building a services development platform that, once complete, could combat credit card fraud, mobile telephone SIM card cloning and even fraudulent unpaid telephone calls in real time. The breakthrough is possible via a technological advance that would significantly increase the current speed of data processing.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-23 - EU project MESHes semantic search technologies for new platform

        EU-funded researchers have developed an integrated platform for the Internet by combining advanced semantic search technologies and necessary tools. The MESH ('Multimedia semantic syndication for enhanced news services') project partners have set the pace for what's in store for search engine technology. MESH received EUR 7.4 million under the 'Information Society Technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-24 - Bridging the gap in supply chain standards

        If products are not tracked from their place of origin to their point of sale, there is no way of locating when and how product problems occur. Tracking products throughout their journey to their final destination is essential if we are to ensure worldwide supply and demand chains that deliver excellent-quality products. The three-year BRIDGE ('Building radio frequency identification for the global environment') project received EUR 7.5 million in EU funding to take up this challenge and it delivered exciting new tracking techniques using radio wave technology.

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        2009-11-25 - Supporting semantics: EU-funded project to create open test platform

        EU-funded researchers have started work on a platform that will facilitate the evaluation of the technologies needed for the future Internet. Dubbed SEALS ('Semantic evaluation at large scale'), the project has been allocated EUR 3.5 million under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Plus d'information
        2009-12-09 - XTREEMOS project launches new grid operating system

        The use of computational grids, also known as 'grid computing', facilitates people's lives by combining computer resources from various domains for a common task. An EU-funded team of researchers has developed and launched its second Linux-based grid operating system. Under the motto 'Making Grid Computing Easier', the XTREEMOS project has released the second version of its Linux-based Grid operating system. XTREEMOS, which is scheduled to end in May 2010, has received over EUR 14 million in financial support.

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        2009-12-10 - SANY technology offers easy access to environmental data

        Researchers in Europe have worked out a new method to access and reuse environmental data from various sources. The SANY ('Sensors Anywhere') project, which received EUR 7 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), targeted better interoperability of in situ sensors and sensor networks, and faster and cost-efficient reuse of data and services from currently incompatible sources.

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        2009-12-27 - SCRATCHBOT could save lives

        A British team of researchers has designed a robot capable of reproducing the behaviour of rats by using whiskers to explore its environment. The SCRATCHBOT ('Spatial cognition and representation through active touch') project - an innovative initiative by Bristol Robotics Laboratory and the University of Sheffield in the UK - is part of the EU-funded ICEA ('Integrating cognition, emotion and autonomy') project, which received over EUR 6 million under the Sixth Framework Programme's 'Information society technologies' Thematic area. ICEA, which will end in December 2009, is targeting the development of biologically inspired artificial intelligence systems.

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      • Health

        2009-11-03 - New study sheds light on influenza outbreak dynamics

        An international team of scientists has developed a new model to help predict influenza outbreaks and the efficacy of vaccines in treating them. The partly EU-funded study, published in the journal Science, links the evolution of the virus to the immunisation rates needed to prevent an outbreak in the population. The findings could ultimately increase our understanding of the dynamics of a wide range of infectious diseases.

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        2009-11-04 - Research shows gene interaction can cause aggressive leukaemia

        A scientific research team from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has discovered that two genes, both of which are known to cause cancer individually, can lead to aggressive leukaemia if they interact. The unexpected results, published in the scientific journal Blood, may lead to new treatments for aggressive forms of leukaemia.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-10 - New findings challenge traditional memory theory

        British and German scientists observing patients with memory disorders have found that a section of the brain traditionally associated with long-term memory may also play a role in short-term memory. The researchers say the findings mean that classical thinking about the functional and anatomical differences between short- and long-term memory needs to be reconsidered.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-15 - Research shows the genetic base of fungal infections

        Two independent research studies, published together in the New England Journal of Medicine, used DNA sequencing and genetic mapping techniques to identify two proteins that when missing or mutated impair the body's ability to fight off the fungal Candida infection. The research findings, funded in part by the EU, could increase our understanding of the genetic basis of fungal infections and lead to new treatments not only for Candida but for other types of fungal infection too.

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        2009-11-16 - Researchers follow spread of HIV between cells

        A team of German researchers has successfully tracked a key protein in the HIV (human immuno-deficiency virus) intercellular infection and virus assembly process in real time. Their partly EU-funded research now published in the open-access journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Pathogens has improved our understanding of the Gag (group-specific antigen) protein's infectious route from cell to cell, and might lead to new treatments.

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        2009-11-18 - 'Happy hormone' crucial in preventing diabetes

        Diabetes is growing into one the biggest health problems in the world and is now responsible for nearly 4 million deaths a year. A team of researchers studied the role of the hormone serotonin, which is stored in the pancreas along with insulin, to see if its absence had any effect on insulin production. Their results showed that the absence of serotonin in the pancreas of mice led to their rapidly developing diabetes. The results, published in the journal Public Library of Science (PLoS) Biology, offer a promising new direction in diabetes research.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-19 - EU-funded researchers discover new immune cell

        EU-funded researchers have discovered a new type of immune cell that plays a role in certain chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and asthma. The team hopes that their discovery will eventually lead to the development of new drugs to treat these diseases.

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        2009-11-20 - Gamma waves give clue to information processing in brain

        A team of Norwegian and Dutch researchers has discovered a mechanism that allows the brain to differentiate between different kinds of information. In the journal Nature they describe how gamma waves - specific kinds of brain waves thought to contribute to conscious perception - operate on different frequencies, depending on the kind of information they carry.

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        2009-11-25 - High salt intake means more strokes and heart disease

        A high salt intake is linked with a significantly increased risk of both strokes and cardiovascular disease, according to a new EU-funded study published this week in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

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        2009-11-25 - EU-funded researchers use gene therapy to slow brain disease

        The brain disease X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) can be treated with a combination of gene therapy and blood stem cell therapy, new EU-funded research shows. The research is part of the X-ALD ('X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy: pathogenesis, animal models and therapy') project, which received EUR 1.8 million under the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The study's findings were published in the journal Science.

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        2009-11-27 - European researchers suggest school closure during pandemic will reduce transmission

        In the case of an infectious disease pandemic, closing schools could cut down transmission rates by up to 21%. This is the result of a mathematical modelling study by EU-funded researchers now published in the journal BioMed Central (BMC) Infectious Diseases.

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        2009-11-30 - Cancer death toll in Europe drops

        Cancer mortality in Europe has declined at a steady pace over recent years. New figures now published online in the journal Annals of Oncology show a drop of 9% between the first half of the 1990s and the period between 2000 and 2004 in the 27 EU Member States (EU-27). However, the researchers note differences between individual countries and also between the sexes.

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        2009-12-08 - European LeukemiaNet takes cancer research to new heights

        European researchers are steadfast in their efforts to improve the care of patients suffering from leukaemia. However, an EU-funded team of researchers is raising the bar by integrating the work of leading trial groups, their partner groups, industry and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe to establish a cooperative network for advancements in leukaemia-related research and healthcare. The ultimate objective of the 'European LeukemiaNet' (ELN) project, which is funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme to the tune of EUR 6 million, is the launching of the European Leukaemia Trial Registry. The project was recently presented in Cancerworld magazine.

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        2009-12-11 - Researchers develop mammalian cell cycle model

        The cell division process plays an important role for single-cell and multi-cell organisms, especially for transforming fertilised eggs into mature organisms. Failure to control the cell cycle can result in tumour proliferation and cancer development. Researchers from Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Belgium have developed a detailed dynamics model of the mammalian cell cycle. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, will help raise awareness of the cell cycle's role in the pathology and normal functioning of living organisms.

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        2009-12-11 - EU findings open door to better drugs for fight against heart attacks and strokes

        Researchers partially funded by the EU have made discoveries that could open the door to the development of new and better-targeted drugs for patients at risk of strokes or heart attacks. Writing this week in the journal Cell, the results are the first to show the reduction of levels of a specific blood clotting agent involved in the formation of harmful clots within blood vessels without a corresponding increase in the risk of excessive bleeding from surface wounds.

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        2009-12-15 - European researchers provide minimal cell blueprint

        A German-Spanish team of researchers has successfully provided the first comprehensive image of a minimal cell that triggers atypical pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Presented in the journal Science, the research is part of the projects 3D-REPERTOIRE and PROSPECTS, which received EUR 13 million and EUR 11.78 million in EU funding, respectively.

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        2009-12-17 - Cigarettes and sunlight leave their mark on cancer genomes

        Details of the first ever cancer genome sequences are released in two papers published online by the journal Nature. The studies reveal that the genetic sequence of the lung cancer cell line bears all the hallmarks of DNA damage caused by tobacco smoke, while many of the mutations in the melanoma tumour are characteristic of the kind of damage inflicted on DNA by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The sequences also contain traces of the cells' efforts to repair the damaged DNA.

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      • Environment

        2009-11-03 - ERC grant for frontier research on biodiversity

        A new five-year EU funded project is to investigate the composition of species-rich communities such as tropical forests with the aim of increasing the understanding of the processes that govern biodiversity.

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        2009-11-06 - Tracking the role of clouds in climate change

        The role clouds play in climate change remains a mystery, but the EUCLIPSE ('Cloud intercomparison, process study and evaluation project') project is set to shed light on this issue by using state-of- the-art technology to produce an accurate picture of the relation of clouds to changing weather patterns. The EU-funded project, backed to the tune of EUR 3.5 million, aims at helping meteorologists predict more accurately future worldwide patterns of climate change.

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        2009-11-11 - How bacteria can spontaneously adapt to environmental changes

         An international team of scientists has for the first time observed an evolutionary strategy called 'bet hedging' under laboratory conditions. The term bet hedging describes the way in which organisms ensure the survival of their species in rapidly changing environments by generating offspring suited to different living conditions. It is possibly one of the earliest evolutionary adaptation techniques.

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        2009-11-18 - CO2 emissions up, carbon sinks weakening - is Earth's carbon budget in the red?

        Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels have risen by 29% since 2000, and a growing body of evidence suggests that the ability of natural carbon sinks to absorb these emissions may be dwindling. These are just two of the main findings from a major international effort to calculate the Earth's 'carbon budget'.

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        2009-11-24 - Land use policy reform needed to combat greenhouse emissions

        New research suggests that methane emissions from feedstock and nitrous oxide emissions from European agriculture are fully compensated for by the carbon dioxide sink provided by Europe's forests, grasslands and peat bogs. However, the trend towards more intensive agriculture and logging is likely to make Europe's land surface a significant source of greenhouse gases, warn researchers in the journal Nature Geoscience. To combat this situation, the development of land management policies which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be a priority.

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        2009-11-26 - Climate feels the transport effect

        Transport is affecting the climate and experts say it's only going to get worse. Data show that transport was responsible for around 10% of the total net man-made warming nearly a decade ago; topping the list was carbon dioxide (CO2) followed by tropospheric ozone (O3). Researchers at the Oslo-based Centre for International Climate and Environment Research (CICERO) in Norway have calculated how transport will affect global warming in the coming years. The study's results, presented in the journal Atmospheric Environment, are part of the EU-funded QUANTIFY ('Quantifying the climate impact of global and European transport systems') project, which received EUR 8.39 million under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

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        2009-12-09 - Europe's plant communities losing uniqueness, study warns

        A combination of extinctions and alien invasions is causing Europe's plant communities to become less unique, according to new EU-funded research published online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

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        2009-12-10 - Experts urge research into mental health impacts of climate change

        Climate change is likely to have major mental health impacts worldwide, yet there is currently a dearth of research in this important area, write Lisa Page and Louise Howard of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, UK. In an editorial in the journal Psychological Medicine, they argue that this situation needs to be urgently addressed 'so that mental health policymakers can plan for the impact of climate change on mental health'.

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        2009-12-17 - Solid as a rock?

        Geologic fault weakening and hence earthquake potential strongly depend on the rock's make-up and the distribution of weak minerals in the material, a new partly EU-funded study in the journal Nature suggests. The researchers from Italy and the US conducted friction experiments on rocks from the Zuccale fault on the island of Elba, Italy.

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        2009-12-17 - Europe to feel economic crunch from climate change

        The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) recently issued a report outlining how the EU would lose between EUR 20 billion and EUR 65 billion if we were to experience the climate projected for the 2080s today, with a temperature rise of between 2.5°C to 5.4°C.

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      • Agriculture

        2009-11-10 - How plants regulate their water levels

        An EU-funded research team has discovered how a hormone regulates the response of plants to stressful situations such as drought. The study's findings, published this week in the journal Nature, could be used in the future for increasing the resistance of plants to water shortage or drought.

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        2009-11-23 - Gene linked to increased birth weight in cattle

        Researchers from Germany and Japan have identified a genetic mechanism in cattle that is linked to major differences in prenatal growth. The discovery will help breeders and scientists understand the reasons behind abnormally large foetal growth, an issue that significantly affects the cattle industry. Results from the study are published in the Genetics Society of America's journal Genetics.

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      • Transport

        2009-12-03 - Rail passengers on track for new rights across the European Union

        Rail passengers will from now on enjoy new rights that will protect them and their belongings when they travel by train anywhere within the European Union. EU Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007 on rail passengers' rights, which enters into force today, enshrines travellers' basic rights and imposes a number of obligations on rail companies concerning their responsibility towards their customers. Every year, almost 8 billion passengers use the train for their journeys.

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        2009-12-08 - Safer flights thanks to the SUPRA project

        A new EU-funded project will help to improve air safety by training pilots to deal with hazardous situations and extreme air conditions and studying how they become disoriented during dangerous situations while in flight.

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        2009-12-11 - Poland moves forward with electric cars

        A German-Polish partnership has got the first charging point for electric vehicles in Poland up and running. This EU-funded research project between the German integrated energy company RWE, the Polish group Green Stream Polska and the City of Warsaw targets the launching of 130 charging points by June 2010.

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      • Nanosciences

        2009-11-04 - EU setting the future in motion

        Electric vehicles are the future and researchers are working on developing such cars to fuel technology and protect the environment. Rising to meet this challenge head on is the E3CAR ('Energy efficient electrical car') project, funded in part by the EU and ENIAC (the European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council). Its objective is the development of nanoelectronics technologies, specifically for electrical and hybrid vehicles. E3CAR will boost the efficiency of electrical cars using advanced semiconductor components. The results will help Europe gain a solid foothold on such technologies.

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        2009-11-05 - ELI gears up for laser beam infrastructure launch

        Can an intense laser rip photons into electron-positron pairs? Seeking to shed light on this burning question is the ELI ('Extreme light infrastructure') project, which received EUR 6 million in funding under the 'Infrastructures' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The project partners have set their sights on making ELI the first infrastructure to approach this limit - over six orders of magnitude higher than today's laser intensity.

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        2009-11-06 - Give your opinion on the Nanotech Research Code of Conduct

        The European Commission has opened a public consultation in order to receive input from all people and organisations involved or interested in nanosciences and nanotechnologies research in Europe, and notably research, policy makers, industry, media and civil society organisations.

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        2009-11-12 - Research sparks bright new future for welding

        A new engineering research project called MINTWELD ('Modelling of interface evolution in advanced welding') has received EUR 3.5 million in EU funding to revolutionise the welding industry by using advanced technology. Funded under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and coordinated by the University of Leicester in the UK, the 4-year project involves 11 partners from 7 countries who will research ways of making welding simpler, safer and more economical by using new technologies including state-of-the-art computer-modelling techniques.

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        2009-11-16 - Top EU grant goes to nanotechnology

        The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious EUR 2.5 million Advanced Grant to the Institute of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands (TU Delft) for its work in bio-nano research.

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        2009-11-26 - Multi-million-euro commitment to nanomedicine

        The EU ERA-NET initiative EuroNanoMed will support eight transnational research projects with EUR 17 million based on the result of its first call for proposals, which was launched in May 2009 to promote collaborative and interdisciplinary research into nanomedicine - the application of nanotechnology to health.

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        2009-11-27 - Spintronics could mean big energy savings

        A research team has made a breakthrough in nanotechnology by discovering how to transfer magnetic information directly into a semiconductor. The new technique works by the generation and polarisation of spin control in a silicon-based device that works at room temperature - the first time this has been achieved. The results of the study are published in the journal Nature.

        Plus d'information

      • Space

        2009-11-03 - Mysterious 'ribbon' marks boundaries of solar system

        The first complete maps of our solar system produced by the IBEX space satellite have revealed a bright ribbon-like structure - composed of densely packed atoms - that runs around its edges. An international team of scientists is baffled by the presence of the ribbon, which was not seen by the two previous Voyager satellite missions, and further investigation into its role may lead to exciting new evidence on how the heliosphere really operates. The findings were published in the Science journal.

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        2009-12-10 - Move over St Bernard ... there's a new rescuer in town!

        Anyone who's brave enough to ski down an 80-degree vertical drop of pristine, virgin snow will tell you their greatest fear is being caught in an avalanche. Thanks to a team of researchers at the Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (Fraunhofer IML), they can rest assured that even if they do get buried in snow, they will be found. A new geolocation system makes use of signals from Galileo - the satellite navigation system being developed by the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA).

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      • Energy

        2009-11-19 - Europeans tackle wind turbine development

        Researchers at Risø DTU (the National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy at the Technical University of Denmark) and their European colleagues have discovered a way to develop a more reliable wind turbine design. By taking detailed measurements of the load distribution on a 10-metre-long wind turbine blade under natural wind conditions, the team can offer precise information concerning the wind flow over the wind turbine blade surface. The research is part of two EU-funded projects: UPWIND and TOPFARM, with support totalling EUR 14.6 million and EUR 1.7 million, respectively.

        Plus d'information

      • Maritime Affairs

        2009-11-04 - Project to deploy seismic monitoring system

        Researchers partially funded by the European Union will be using state-of-the-art technology to look into building underwater observatories that will monitor underwater seismic activity in the eastern Mediterranean. As populations grow in the region, scientists have been developing ways of looking for signs of earthquakes before they happen.

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        2009-11-06 - EU researchers call for more ambitious CO2 reduction targets for the sake of the world's oceans

        Scientists working on the EU-funded CARBOOCEAN project have reiterated calls for a greater reduction of man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Current targets are not strict enough, they argue, as contrary to popular belief, their findings show how the regional carbon sinks in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean that take up more CO2 than they release are not stable and have decreased in nearly a decade.

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        2009-11-06 - Deep-ocean ecosystems in the stranglehold of climate change

        The deep ocean and its ecosystems are vastly affected by climate change, a new study now published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) confirms. The UK-US team of researchers points out that the food supply found several thousand metres under the water surface is likely to be subject to large variation due to global warming.

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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.

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-18 - EU businesses investing in R&D despite economic crisis

        Corporate investment in research and development (R&D) increased by 8.1% in the EU in 2008 in spite of the economic crisis, according to new figures published this week in the 2009 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. The figures reveal that European companies outperformed their counterparts in the US and Japan, who increased their R&D spending by 5.7% and 4.4% respectively. Corporate R&D investment worldwide increased by 6.9%.

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        2009-11-30 - Máire Geoghegan-Quinn named new Research and Innovation Commissioner

        Irishwoman Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has been named European Commissioner for Research and Innovation by Commission President José Manuel Barroso. Before they can officially take office, the Commissioners-designate must appear in individual hearings before the European Parliament. These are scheduled to take place in mid-January, and the final vote on the new Commission as a whole is due to be held on 26 January.

        Plus d'information
        2009-12-08 - Experts call for new approach to research and innovation in Europe

        Research and industry experts have called on the European Commission and the European Parliament to initiate a radical change to research and innovation policy in Europe. In a joint statement presented on 7 December on the premises of the European Parliament, they emphasised the need not only for improvements, but also for better long-term planning so that the EU can maintain a competitive edge.

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        2009-12-15 - Europeans make best inventions list for 2009

        TIME magazine recently published its list for the top 50 innovations of 2009. Making the list at number 29 is Dandelion Rubber, the creation of scientists at the Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME).

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        2009-12-17 - New studies highlight role of research and development

        The European Commission has recently published two studies highlighting the future and sustainable development. Both reports touch on research and development (R&D) and the central part that it can play in addressing challenges facing modern society.

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        2009-12-18 - First EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities selected

        The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has selected its first three Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). The decision was made after the top two proposals for each KIC area had been presented to the EIT governing board at the EIT headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, on 16 December.

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      • European Technology Plateformes

        Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies (EuMaT)

        No events planned

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        Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE)

        No events planned

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        European Technology Platform for Wind Energy (TPWind)

        No events planned

        Plus d'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

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        European Technology Platform Food for Life (Food)

        No events planned

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        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

        Plus d'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

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        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

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        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

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        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

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        European Space Technology Platform (ESTP)

        No events planned

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        European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP)

        No events planned

        Plus d'information
        European Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks of the Future (SmartGrids)

        No events planned

        Plus d'information
        Future Manufacturing Technologies (MANUFUTURE)

        No events planned

        Plus d'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"

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'information
        Industrial Safety ETP (IndustrialSafety)

        No events planned

        Plus d'information
        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'information
        Networked European Software and Services Initiative (NESSI)

        No events planned

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'information
        Photovoltaics (PV Platform)

        No events planned

        Plus d'information
        Plants for the Future (Plants)

        No events planned.

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'information
        European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem)

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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'information
        Water Supply and Sanitation Platform (WSSTP)

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

        Plus d'information
        Waterborne ETP (Waterborne)

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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'information

      • Joint Technology Initiatives

        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'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

        Plus d'information
        2009-11-23 - Clean Sky JTI takes to the skies

        The Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (JU) is now 'flying solo'. On 19 November, the European Commission granted the 'greening aeronautics' initiative administrative and operational autonomy, so that it can implement its own budget and execute its own work plan from now on.

        Plus d'information

  • Innovation policy

    2009-12-04 - Patents: EU achieves political breakthrough on an enhanced patent system

    The Council has today unanimously adopted conclusions on an enhanced patent system in Europe. The package agreed covers major elements to bring about a single EU patent and establish a new patent court in the EU. Both together will make it less costly for businesses to protect innovative technology and make litigation more accessible and predictable. Today's agreement will pave the way for solving the outstanding issues to achieve a major reform of the EU patent system in the near future.

    Plus d'information

  • Education policy

    2009-11-19 - Start technology education young, EU-funded team recommends

    Including technology in the curriculum in early childhood could help to raise the interest of both girls and boys in science and technology, according to recently published, EU-funded research.

    Plus d'information

  • Information society

    2009-11-19 - EU ministers: accessible, interactive and customised online public services in Europe by 2015

    EU ministers have committed to developing smarter online public services for citizens and businesses by 2015. The Commission has welcomed this step forward in making eGovernment more accessible, interactive and customised. At the fifth Ministerial eGovernment Conference in Malmö (Sweden) today, EU ministers outlined a joint vision and policy priorities on how this should be delivered. eGovernment is a key step towards boosting Europe's competitiveness, benefiting from time and cost savings for citizens and businesses across Europe.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-30 - Simulation technology could help prevent future financial crises

    How will economic policies adapt in 2020 when a quarter of the EU population is over 65? Can economics better predict how banks will react to credit crunches in the future, and what their impact will be on the wider economy? How will the economy work when dwindling natural resources make it harder to satisfy our energy needs? The European Commission today unveiled breakthrough research that could help economists answer questions like these by using economic simulation software. Produced by an EU-backed research project worth €2.5 million that came to a successful end today, the software applies simulation technology also used for computer generated images (CGI) in movies. It predicts the interaction between large populations of different economic actors, like households and companies, banks and borrowers or employers and job-seekers, who trade, and compete like real people. By giving each simulated agent individual and realistic behaviour and interactions that show how markets will evolve, these massive scale simulations can better test new policies tackling future societal challenges.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-18 - New Telecoms Rules enter into force

    New EU telecoms rules will officially become EU law tomorrow following their publication in today's Official Journal of the European Union. The new rules composed of the Better Regulation Directive and the Citizens’ Rights Directive will need to be transposed into national laws of the 27 EU Member States by June 2011. The new Regulation establishing the new European Telecoms Authority called "Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)" is directly applicable and will enter into force in 20 days. BEREC will provide a force for consistent regulation across Europe strengthening the single telecoms market. This final step in the EU legislative process follows the final agreement between the European Parliament and Council in November ( IP/09/1812 ) .

    Plus d'information

  • Enterprises

    2009-12-15 - EU and its Member States committed to make life easier for small companies

    The European Commission reports good progress in the implementation of the Small Business Act (SBA) in 2009. The consensus on the SBA and the adoption of an Action plan to better assist SMEs in coping with the economic and financial crises has triggered impressive progress on the EU level as well as in the Member States. A broad range of measures have been taken to implement the Leitmotiv of the SBA - the "Think Small First" principle. ( see MEMO/09/556 )

    Plus d'information
• 

  Other EU Policies and funding programmes supporting the Lisbon Strategy

  • Environment

    2009-11-09 - Pollution: new European register gives public access to information on emissions from European industrial facilities

    The European Commission and the European Environment Agency today launched a comprehensive new European pollutant release and transfer register – E-PRTR. The register contains information about the emissions of pollutants to air, water and land by industrial facilities throughout Europe. It includes annual data for 91 substances and covers more than 24 000 facilities in 65 economic activities. It also provides additional information, such as the amount and types of waste transferred from facilities to waste handlers both inside and outside each country.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-19 - Commission rewards European organisations for outstanding environmental management

    The European Commission will tonight present awards to European companies and public authorities for outstanding achievements in environmental management. The annual European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Awards celebrate and promote best practice in managing the environment. More than 7,400 sites are now registered under the scheme. This year, thirty-two organisations from 12 European countries have been nominated for awards. The nominees include a cooperative of olive farmers, a glass recycling company and a hotel. Prizes are given in five categories. The award ceremony will take place at the National Museum of Sweden in Stockholm

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-20 - Waste management: Commission calls for better implementation of EU waste law by Member States

    The European Commission today adopted two reports which reveal that EU waste law is being poorly implemented and enforced in many Member States. The assessment highlights the need for significant efforts by Member States to ensure that waste management meets the standards set by EU legislation. These efforts are crucial to protect the environment and human health.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-09 - Global warming a constant upward trend, WMO figures reveal

    As governments meeting in the Danish capital of Copenhagen work to hammer out a global deal to tackle climate change, new figures from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) place 2009 among the top 10 hottest years since records began in 1850. The figures show that temperatures are rising steadily, with the years from 2000 to 2009 hotter than the 1990s, which were in turn hotter than the 1980s. Meanwhile, scientists have developed a new tool that demonstrates the scale of the impacts of climate change.

    Plus d'information

  • Health

    2009-11-09 - EU continues fight to reduce animal testing

    At a conference in Brussels, Belgium on 6 November, European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, and Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik restated the EU's commitment to the reduction of animal testing.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-13 - Parliament urges joint EU action on neurodegenerative diseases

    The European Parliament (EP) on 12 November adopted a resolution supporting the pan-European coordination of research on neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The ultimate goal is to combine funding, skills and knowledge, and to capitalise on the efforts being carried out across the EU.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-26 - Commission approves €275 million for the eradication, monitoring and control of animal diseases

    Today, the European Commission adopted a financial package of €275 million to support programmes to eradicate, control and monitor animal diseases in 2010. The 224 annual or multi-annual programmes which were selected for EU funding will tackle animal diseases that impact both human and animal health. The large EU contribution towards these programmes reflects the high level of importance attached to disease eradication measures, for the protection of both animal and public health.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-30 - Hungary maintains firm hold on biotechnology

    A recent survey by EuropaBio and Ventura Valuation shows how Hungary's development of the region's biotechnology sector remains strong. Included in the survey were 12 new EU Member States, along with Croatia and Turkey.

    Plus d'information

  • Transport

    2009-12-02 - Road safety in Europe: a priority for the coming decade

    In 2008, 39 000 European citizens died in road accidents. The EU objective to halve the number of deaths in road accidents by 2010 (i.e. 27 000 deaths) will be a difficult target to achieve. The European Commission is hosting today a conference on the results of the public consultation preceding the drafting of the European Road Safety Action Programme 2011-2020. More than 400 stakeholders with different backgrounds will discuss the problems and the state of play in road safety in the European Union.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-02 - Inauguration of key transport infrastructure project in Maastricht underlines the importance of European mobility

    European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani today attended the start of works for an urban highway tunnel in Maastricht (The Netherlands) that removes the last traffic lights on a vital trans-European north-south road link. The works are co-funded by the European Commission under the European Economic Recovery Plan 1 (EERP) Call launched on 30 March 2009. The EERP's TEN-T projects, such as the Maastricht tunnel, aim to boost the European economy following the financial and economic crisis by increasing Community investment in strategic sectors such as infrastructure – giving a positive after-effect on European mobility as a whole.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-04 - New road transport rules will lead to fairer competition and less red tape

    New regulations modernising the rules governing road transport come into force today and are expected to generate administrative savings of €190 million a year. The so-called road package simplifies and clarifies the legal framework for the 900,000 European road transport undertakings engaged in the transport of goods or passengers.

    Plus d'information

  • Agriculture and fisheries

    2009-11-20 - CAP simplification: Commission to take on further simplification projects

    Today, the European Commission's Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development issued a report with the reactions to the 39 simplification suggestions which Member States jointly submitted to the Commission in April. The working document provides information on the outcome of the assessment process and a state-of-play on the progress made since March 2009.The report will be discussed during the Agriculture Council in December.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-24 - Rural development: latest approvals of proposals for using funding from CAP Health Check and European Economic Recovery Plan

    The Rural Development Committee approved a second wave of proposals from Member States/regions for using EU Recovery Plan and CAP Health Check funding for addressing through rural development policy crucial issues such as fast EU recovery from the economic crisis and climate change. This saw almost half of the rural development programmes being already modified and ready to support and/or re-enforce investments in broadband, climate change, renewable energies and dairy restructuring. The decisions taken so far will put about € 1.6 billion of fresh EU money into the rural development budget of more than € 90 billion for the period 2007 - 2013. The remaining additional budget is to be programmed in the following months.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-07 - Commission launches on-line vote for the new EU Organic Logo

    Starting today, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development invites all Europeans to cast their vote in the final stage of the EU organic logo competition. The website http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/logo/index.htm will host the online vote where the three final logos will be displayed until 31 January. The new logo aims to enhance consumer protection and promote organic farming. Unlike the current logo, the winning entry will be obligatory for all pre-packaged organic products that derive from the 27 Member States and meet the labelling standards.

    Plus d'information

  • Energy

    2009-11-05 - EU-US Energy Council ready to tackle energy woes

    The EU-US Energy Council convened for the first time in Washington DC on 4 November, providing a new framework for bilateral talks on energy issues. The EU Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, led a delegation to the US capital to discuss the framework that focuses on intensified cooperation for energy supply security, low carbon energy sources and energy technologies.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-16 - The EU and Russia reinforce the Early Warning Mechanism to improve prevention and management in case of an energy crisis

    As agreed by the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso and the President of the Russian Federation Dimitri Medvedev during the last EU-Russia Summit in Khabarovsk, the EU and Russia have strengthened the current dispositions under the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue to prevent and manage potential energy crises, with an enhanced Early Warning Mechanism. Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and the Russian Minister for Energy, Sergei Shmatko, have signed today in Moscow the Memorandum on an Early Warning Mechanism that includes a clear definition of the circumstances that would trigger the activation of the mechanism, in terms of what constitutes a "significant disruption of supplies", be it due to maintenance of relevant infrastructure, accidents, or commercial disputes. On the same occasion, both parties also signed the 10th progress report of the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-18 - Commissioner Piebalgs welcomes political agreement on energy performance of buildings

    Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs welcomes the political agreement on energy performance of buildings reached yesterday by representatives of the European Parliament and the Council. The agreement will greatly contribute to achieving EU Climate and Energy objectives for 2020 and to boost European economy. The agreement will strengthen the building codes and energy performance requirements for buildings across the EU and fixes 2020 as deadline for all new buildings to be nearly zero energy buildings.

    Plus d'information

    2009-11-18 - Commission paper lays foundations of discussion to tackle the problem of anti-microbial resistance

    The European Commission presents today a staff working paper that aims to be the basis of discussion on the ways to better tackle the growing health problem of anti-microbial resistance (AMR). Each year about 25,000 patients die in the EU from infections caused by micro-organisms that have developed resistance to antimicrobial medicines. It is also estimated that every year AMR costs 1.5 billion euros in healthcare expenses and productivity losses. The Commission's document provides an overview of the activities already undertaken by the European Union to address the AMR problem and identifies areas where further reflection could help the efforts to come up with solutions. It concludes that, although progress has been made in certain areas, further actions are needed to improve the assessment and management of AMR.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-06 - Ljubljana designated as seat of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators

    Member States decided today that the new Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) will have its seat in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs welcomed this decision as it paves the way for the timely setting up of the Agency and thus the effective implementation of the Third Legislative Package on the Liberalisation of the Energy Markets. According to the founding regulation of ACER, the Agency needs to be fully operational as of 3 March 2011. ACER will then complement and coordinate the work of National Regulatory Authorities. Its competences will include the participation in the creation of European network rules, taking binding individual decisions on cross border energy infrastructure and giving advice on various energy related issues to the European institutions.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-07 - Number of signatories to Covenant of Mayors reaches 1000!

    As the COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) starts today in Copenhagen, the European Union is again showing its leadership in tackling climate change with the European Commission announcement that the number of signatories to the Covenant of Mayors on sustainable energy has reached 1000. The German city of Rostock today became the 1000 th signatory and is now fully committed to going beyond the EU 20% reduction target for CO 2 emissions.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-09 - List of 15 energy projects for European economic recovery

    The Commission approved today 15 energy projects which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery of the EU. This decision grants €1 billion to six CO 2 capture and storage projects and €565 million to nine offshore wind energy projects.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-15 - European Commission and European Investment Bank launch European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) facility

    The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB), the bank of the EU Member States, have launched a grant aid initiative to help local and regional authorities make investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The global fight against climate change is a top priority for the European Union and it is acknowledged that local actors will play a significant role in meeting this challenge. The European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) facility is designed to help cities and regions, through the provision of technical assistance, structure and implement projects in the most efficient way so they can attract outside finance.

    Plus d'information

  • Maritime Affairs

    2009-11-17 - Council ready to see the Integrated Maritime Policy step up a gear

    The Commission welcomes the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 16/17 November, , which acknowledge the progress achieved in the field of the Integrated Maritime Policy over the past two years and endorse the integrated approach to maritime affairs. In its conclusions, the Council referred both to last month's IMP progress report submitted by the Commission and to the recent Communication on the integration of maritime surveillance.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-15 - Fisheries Council gives further fillip to environmental, social and economic sustainability

    At their last Council meeting of 2009, Europe's fisheries ministers reached political agreement on the Commission's proposal for fishing opportunities for 2010. With this key building block in place, the European Union can continue pursuing its environmental, economic and social sustainability agenda for the benefit of its fishing and maritime industries, citizens and marine environment.

    Plus d'information

  • Maritime Affairs

    2009-11-17 - Council ready to see the Integrated Maritime Policy step up a gear

    The Commission welcomes the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 16/17 November, , which acknowledge the progress achieved in the field of the Integrated Maritime Policy over the past two years and endorse the integrated approach to maritime affairs. In its conclusions, the Council referred both to last month's IMP progress report submitted by the Commission and to the recent Communication on the integration of maritime surveillance.

    Plus d'information

    2009-12-15 - Fisheries Council gives further fillip to environmental, social and economic sustainability

    At their last Council meeting of 2009, Europe's fisheries ministers reached political agreement on the Commission's proposal for fishing opportunities for 2010. With this key building block in place, the European Union can continue pursuing its environmental, economic and social sustainability agenda for the benefit of its fishing and maritime industries, citizens and marine environment.

    Plus d'information
• 

  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

    Plus d'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