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 «Brussels in Brief - Interface Europe’s Newsletter» - November 2008

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  General EU Information

  • European Commission

    2008-11-26 - The Commission launches a major Recovery Plan for growth and jobs, to boost demand and restore confidence in the European economy

    The European Commission has today presented a comprehensive plan to drive Europe's recovery from the current economic crisis. The Recovery Plan is based on two mutually reinforcing main elements. Firstly, short-term measures to boost demand, save jobs and help restore confidence. Secondly, "smart investment" to yield higher growth and sustainable prosperity in the longer-term. The Plan calls for a timely, targeted and temporary fiscal stimulus of around €200 billion or 1.5% of EU GDP, within both national budgets (around €170 billion, 1.2% of GDP) and EU and European Investment Bank budgets (around €30 billion, 0.3% of GDP). Every Member State is called upon to take major measures good for its own citizens and good for the rest of Europe. The Recovery Plan will reinforce and accelerate reforms already underway under the Lisbon Growth and Jobs Strategy. It includes extensive action at national and EU level to help households and industry and concentrate support on the most vulnerable. It puts forward concrete steps to promote entrepreneurship, research and innovation, including in the car and construction industries. The Recovery Plan aims to boost efforts to tackle climate change while creating much-needed jobs at the same time, through for example strategic investment in energy efficient buildings and technologies.

    Further information

  • European Parliament

    2008-11-24 - Strasbourg Plenary session

    The financial crisis, the Court of Auditor's report into the EU's accounts and renewed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo were just three issues debated when MEPs met in Strasbourg 17-20 November.

    Further information
• 

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

  • Research Policy

    • General points

      2008-11-11 - Animal Testing: Launch of a new website to inform about the development of alternative methods

      The European Commission has launched today a new website, the so-called 'Tracking System for Alternative test methods Review Validation and Approval (TSAR)', designed to track the development of new alternative test methods which should replace, reduce and refine current animal testing.

      Further information

      2008-11-14 - Young Europeans are enthusiastic about science – but still reluctant to pursue scientific careers

      Today, the EU Commissioner for science and research, Janez Potocnik, will be in Paris with a group of young Europeans who will propose how to get young people more involved in research and innovation. Science tops the table of young Europeans' interests, but that does not seem to be enough to make them consider a scientific career, indicates a new ‘Eurobarometer’, published today. Young people's recommendations will be given to Commissioner Janez Potocnik and French Minister for Higher Education and Research Valérie Pécresse during the "European City of Science", a public exhibition of 70 research projects, including 20 funded by the EU.

      Further information

    • European Research and Innovation projects

      • ICT

        2008-11-18 - Giving emergency relief efforts a boost, the EU way

        People recognise that insufficient communication and knowledge transfer between local and foreign bodies can impede humanitarian relief efforts. So a group of researchers has devised a new system that could overcome this problem. The STREAM project, funded by the EU with EUR 2.5 million, has established an IT platform supporting harmonised standards that provide key parties with the information and technologies needed.

        Further information
        2008-11-26 - EU project develops smart fabric to ease worker pain

        Do your muscles ache after clicking your mouse and staring at your computer screen for hours on end? Experts tell us that we must take short breaks throughout the day, but many of us often ignore the advice, at the risk of causing repetitive strain injury (RSI). This is about to change. Thanks to a group of European researchers, a smart fabric that can monitor muscular overload and help thwart RSI has been developed. The EU-funded Specific Targeted Research Project ConText initially sought to establish a system whereby various sensors are integrated into textiles to be used in continuous monitoring of individuals. Funding for the project amounted to EUR 2.3 million.

        Further information

      • Health

        2008-11-04 - EU study sheds light on production of biosynthetics

        EU-funded scientists in Germany and the US have gained insight into bacterial metabolism that greatly advances our understanding of how these microbes may be used in the production of biosynthetics. The researchers used computer models to calculate the genetic changes necessary to make the Pseudomonas putida bacterium increase its production of natural synthetics, and laboratory experiments validated their findings. The results, which have implications for medical biotechnology, have been published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. The study was funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme as part of the Marine Genomics and PROBACTYS projects.

        Further information
        2008-11-04 - Transplant experts set out plans for future research

        Recent years have seen huge advances in transplant medicine, but more research is urgently needed to improve the long-term prospects of transplant patients, according to researchers, doctors and patient representatives at a meeting in Brussels, Belgium organised by the EU-funded TRIE ('Transplantation research integration in Europe') project. Approximately 250,000 people in Europe are living with a functional organ transplant and every year some 15,000 kidney transplants, 5,000 liver transplants, 2,000 heart transplants and 1,000 lung transplants as well as thousands of bone-marrow transplants are carried out.

        Further information
        2008-11-12 - Brain mechanisms behind simple decisions less complex than previously thought

        Simple decision-making tasks are not processed in the part of the brain responsible for higher aspects of cognition such as self awareness as was once thought, according to new EU-funded research. Instead, they are processed in the brain regions that receive relevant stimuli and control the body's response to it. The work, which is published online by the journal Nature Neuroscience, was partly financed through the EU-funded project 'Investigations in Brain Sciences Education Network', which is supported through the Marie Curie scheme under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2008-11-13 - A revolution for the science of diagnosis

        A team of scientists at the University of Leeds in the UK has invented a biosensor device that can identify disease using nanotechnology. The device, which may revolutionise the science of diagnosis, uses antibodies to detect biomarkers, molecules in the body used to identify disease. The aim of the ambitious ELISHA project, backed by the EU with EUR 2.7 million in funding, is to reduce diagnosis time to 15 minutes. The new invention may be on sale in just three years.

        Further information
        2008-11-13 - Europe-wide study finds waistline over 120 cm raises risk of premature death

        An EU-funded study of approximately 360,000 individuals in 9 European countries has shown that having a very large waistline almost doubles the risk of premature death, even in individuals with a 'normal' body mass index. The results are published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers recommend that, given the fact that storing excess fat around the waist poses a significant health risk, routine health check-ups should include waist and hip measurements. The results, they conclude, 'support the use of waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio in addition to BMI in the assessment of the risk of death, particularly among persons with a low BMI.'

        Further information
        2008-11-17 - EU project targets MRSA infections

        Hospitals and other healthcare facilities house Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (i.e. 'staph') that trigger MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections. The problem is that not only is MRSA resistant to antibiotics, but it can also be fatal. A team of European researchers is ready to tackle the problem by finding ways to reduce MRSA infection rates in hospitals worldwide. The project is supported by the EU under the Seventh Framework Research Programme (FP7) with EUR 5 million in funding.

        Further information
        2008-11-17 - New EU project AEROPATH takes on 'superbugs'

        A new EU-funded project, AEROPATH, brings together scientists in the UK, Sweden and Germany to develop antibiotics to combat highly drug-resistant bacteria, the 'superbugs' that plague hospitals. The project has received EUR 4.6 million under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and is coordinated by the University of Dundee in the UK.

        Further information

      • Environment

        2008-11-05 - Commission proposes to strengthen the protection of animals used in scientific experiments

        The European Commission today presented a proposal that aims to strengthen the protection of animals still used in scientific procedures in line with the European Union's Protocol on Animal Welfare, ensure a level playing field throughout the EU for industry and enhance the quality of research conducted in the EU. The new provisions will also contribute to minimising as far as possible the number of animals used in experiments.

        Further information
        2008-11-06 - Seeding the deep sea

        An EU-funded study by researchers in the UK has shed light on the evolution of very small creatures living in the high-pressure depths of the world's oceans. The researchers studied the temperature and pressure tolerance of embryonic blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to better understand their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The research was funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) as part of the projects MOMARNET ('Monitoring deep seafloor hydrothermal environments on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge') and MARBEF (Marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning). The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

        Further information
        2008-11-26 - EU-funded study models the collective landing of bird flocks

        A researcher from Hungary has developed a mathematical model that accurately reflects the collective landing of starling flocks. The study was part of the EU-funded STARFLAG project ('Starlings in flight: understanding patterns of animal group movements') under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), and is published online in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

        Further information

      • Agriculture

        2008-11-04 - European researchers seek alternatives to sulphur dioxide in wine

        Biotechnology researchers in Portugal, Spain and Switzerland have joined forces in a project that aims to reduce or eliminate the amount of sulphur dioxide (SO2) used in making wines. SO2, an effective antimicrobial, antioxidant and preservative agent, is a potential allergen and can exacerbate asthmatic symptoms. The current project, called 'WineSulfree', is supported by the Eureka intergovernmental initiative.

        Further information
        2008-11-20 - How they grow and where they go: fishermen and scientists track cod in the Celtic Sea

        Fishermen and scientists in Ireland are working together to study cod in the Celtic Sea using a high-tech tagging device. Cod that were tagged in spring 2007 are now being re-captured by fishermen who, together with researchers at the Marine Institute, are studying the growth and behaviour of these important fish. The project is funded indirectly by the EU's Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG).

        Further information
        2008-11-24 - Selfish gene drives social cooperation in yeast

        EU-funded scientists have identified a single gene that drives social behaviour in yeast. Yeast cells that have the gene FLO1 will literally stick together to protect each other from threats such as antibiotics or alcohol. Meanwhile, yeast cells lacking the FLO1 gene are excluded from the group. As well as shedding new light on the evolution of social behaviour and the workings of selfish genes, the findings could prove useful in the brewing industry and in hospitals, where many disease-causing types of yeast also clump together, making them extremely difficult to treat. The work, which is published in the journal Cell, was partly supported through the EU-funded FUNGWALL ('The fungal cell wall as a target for antifungal therapies') project, which is financed through the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information

      • Space

        2008-11-21 - Scientists in quest to map boreal forest

        The European Space Agency (ESA) recently kicked off a project targeting how to best map the boreal (i.e. northern) forest in northern Sweden. This goal is one of several outlined in the candidate Earth Explorer BIOMASS mission, ESA sources said. Through this mission, the scientists will obtain global measurements of forest biomass to assess terrestrial carbon stocks and fluxes.

        Further information
        2008-11-26 - Roadmap presents the next 20 years of European astronomy

        The EU's ASTRONET project ('Coordinating strategic planning for European astronomy') presented its infrastructure roadmap for the future of European astronomy this week. The roadmap sets out research priorities over the next 20 years and presents a cost-effective approach to addressing them. The plan is supported by astronomers in 28 Member and Associated States of the EU, and reflects a high level of scientific cooperation in the European Research Area (ERA).

        Further information

      • Energy

        2008-11-18 - Renewable energy industry sets out roadmap for 2020

        Europe's renewable energy industries have launched a roadmap setting out how the EU could achieve its goal of meeting 20% of the union's energy needs with renewable energy sources by 2020. The 'Renewable Energy Technology Roadmap - 20% by 2020' was produced by the RESTMAC ('Creating markets for renewable energy technologies - an EU RES technology marketing campaign') project, which was funded to the tune of EUR 1,098,748 under the 'Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2008-11-20 - Scientists set new record for solar cell efficiency

        Researchers at the Germany-based Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) announced that they have succeeded in improving the efficiency of solar cells, which are designed to convert available light into electricity. The quantum electronic phenomenon called the photovoltaic (PV) effect makes this possible. The team said the effectiveness of III-V semiconductor multi-junction solar cells, used in PV concentrator technology for solar power stations, has been increased by 2.1% to 39.7% - a new European record. The work is funded to the tune of EUR 8.34 million by the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) project FULLSPECTRUM, under the Thematic area 'Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems'.

        Further information

    • Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development 2007- 2013 (FP7)

      • News

        Become an expert evaluator for FP7

        The website to register as an expert for research activities is available on CORDIS. The call for experts is open both for individuals and for organisations.

        Further information
        2008-11-19 - Several calls for proposals published

        The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has launched a number of calls for proposals under the 2008 and 2009 work programmes of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and under the 2009 work programme of the Seventh Euratom Framework Programme for Nuclear Research and Training Activities.
        
        The calls address the following areas:
        - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT); - Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;
        - European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Investigators Grant;
        - Marie Curie Co-Funding of Regional, National and International Programmes;
        - Nuclear Fission and Radiation Protection;
        - ERA-NET coordinated call (themes: Health; Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology; Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies; Environment (including climate change); Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities).
        
        There are also two joint calls, combining the following themes:
        - Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies/Environment (including climate change);
        - Information and Communication Technologies/Energy.
        
        To see the full details of the calls, please consult the following web address:
        http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls/

        Further information

      • European Technology Platforms

        Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies (EuMaT)

        No events planned

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

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for Wind Energy (TPWind)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration (EPoSS)

        9 September 2010, Berlin - EPoSS Proposers' Day 2010 "New ICT Work Programme 2011-2012"
        10 September 2010, Berlin - Joint Strategy and Networking Event 2010 "Thinking Ahead the PPP European Green Cars Initiative"
        13-16 September 2010, Berlin - 3rd Electronic System Integration Technology Conference
        26-28 September 2010, Enschede - Micromechanics and Micro systems Europe Workshop
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - Info ICT 2010: Digitally Driven
        28 September 2010, Besançon - MICRONORA
        29 September 2010, Brussels - InfoDay about Cooperation Opportunities with Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC) in the 2011 work programmes of FP7
        7-8 October 2010, Lisbon - EPoSS General Assembly & Annual Forum
        18-20 October 2010, Wisla - International Multiconference on Computer Science and Information Technology
        19-20 October 2010, Coventry - MM Live 2010
        19-21 October 2010, Dresden - SEMICON Europa 2010
        20-21 October 2010, Brussels - 2nd European Conference SmartGrids and E-Mobility
        23 November 2010, Brussels - SciTech Europe 2010
        30-31 March 2011, Nancy - World Materials Perspectives Summit
        11-14 April 2011, Bilbao - ImagineNano

        Further information
        European Technology Platform Food for Life (Food)

        No events planned.

        Further information
        Forest Based Sector Technology Platform (Forestry)

        7-9 September 2010, Brussels - Industrial Technologies 2010 Conference
        22 September 2010, Brussels - FTP Advisory Committee
        6-8 October 2010, Salzburg - International Conference on Processing Technologies for the Forest and Bio-based Products Industries
        16-18 November 2010, Brussels - European Paper Week - at the core of green growth

        Further information
        Embedded Computing Systems (ARTEMIS)

        7-9 September 2010, Brussels - European Industrial Technologies Conference
        23-25 September 2010, Novosibirsk - Siberian International Innovative Business Congress
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT 2010
        19-21 October 2010, London - Embedded Live
        26-27 October 2010, Ghent - Co-summit 2010
        16-17 November 2010, Madrid - CATRENE Forum

        Further information
        European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBFTP)

        22 January 2009, Brussels - 2nd Stakeholder Plenary Meeting of the European Biofuels Technology Platform
        6-7 May 2009, London - Biomass to Liquids Conference
        10-12 June 2009, Buenos Aries - Biofuels Summit and Expo - For Sustainable Biofuels
        29 June -3 July 2009, Hamburg - 17th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

        Further information
        European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Nanoelectronics Technologies 2020 (ENIAC)

        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICTO 2010
        7 October 2010, Lisbon - EPoSS General Assembly
        8 October 2010, Lisbon - EPoSS Annual Forum
        19-21 October 2010, Dresden - Semicon Europa
        26-27 October 2010, Ghent - ARTEMIS & ITEA 2 Co-Summit 2010
        16-17 November 2010, Madrid - European Nanoelectronics Forum 2010 (by invitation only)

        Further information
        European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC)

        19 September 2010, Brussels - UITP 125 Years
        21-24 September 2010, Berlin - INNOTRANS
        3-9 October 2010, Hong-Kong - International Rail Safety Conference (IRSC)
        5-7 October 2010, St Petersburg - TRANSTEC 2010
        18-22 October 2010, Nagahama - 10th International Workshop on Railway Noise
        25-29 October 2010, Busan - 17th ITS World Congress
        26-29 October 2010, Tokyo - 11th Global Level Crossing Symposium
        2 November 2010, Brussels - CREAM Final Conference
        14-16 November 2010, Fort Lauderdale - IANA Intermodal Expo & NITL TransComp Exhibition
        15 November 2010, Beijing - 7th UIC High Speed 2010
        25 November 2010, Brussels - Rail Energy Final Conference
        30 November-2 December 2010, Amsterdam - Intermodal Europe 2010
        29-31 March 2011, Utrecht - 8th International Conference & Exhibition on Rail Technology
        6-8 April 2011, Brussels - World Congress on Railway Training
        10-14 April 2011, Dubaï - 59th UITP World Congress & Mobility & City Transport Exhibition
        22-26 May 2011, Lille - 9th World Congress WCRR
        6-9 September 2011, Bern - Suisse Traffic

        Further information
        European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC)

        29 September 2010, Brussels - ERTRAC Steering Group
        4 October 2010, Aachen - ERTRAC-EAGAR workshop at Aachen Colloquium
        13 October 2010, Brussels - Member States Representatives meeting
        14 October 2010, Brussels - ERTRAC Plenary

        Further information
        European Space Technology Platform (ESTP)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks of the Future (SmartGrids)

        6-10 December 2010, Albuquerque - 4th Internacional Conference on Integration of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources

        Further information
        Future Manufacturing Technologies (MANUFUTURE)

        No events planned

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (Euratex)

        24 September 2010, Brussels - FP7 project brokerage event
        1-2 February 2011, Brussels - PPE Lead Market Conference

        Further information
        Global Animal Health (GAH)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH)

        15-16 September 2010, Berlin - CLEAN MOBILITY INSIGHTS Conference
        9-10 November 2010, Brussels - FCH JU Stakeholders General Assembly
        15-16 November 2010, Brussels - Strategic Energy Technology Plan conference 2010

        Further information
        Industrial Safety ETP (IndustrialSafety)

        5-9 September 2010, Rhodes - ESREL 2010
        7 September 2010, Brussels - ‘Industrial Technologies’ conference
        14-15 September 2010, Warsaw - E-MRS Fall Meeting 2010
        29-30 September 2010, Gothenburg - The first FIVE (Fires In VEhicles) Conference
        16-18 November 2010, Grenoble - Nanosafe 2010 Conference
        14-16 December 2010, Mumbai - The International Conference on Reliability, Safety and Hazards 2010
        11-15 September 2011, Istanbul - 19th World Congress on Occupational Health and Safety at Work

        Further information
        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Integral Satcom Initiative (ISI)

        3-8 September 2010, Berlin - IFA
        9-14 September 2010, Amsterdam - IBC 2010
        13-15 September 2010, Cagliari - 5th Advanced Satellite Multimedia Systems Conferences
        13-15 September 2010, Cagliari - 11th Signal Processing for Space Communications Workshop
        22-24 September 2010, Ostend - 5th EU Security Research Conference
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT 2010
        28-30 October 2010, Cartagena de Indias - Cooperation EU-LatAm on Future Internet (Andicom 2010)
        30 November-1 December 2010, Amsterdam - PSCE Europe

        Further information
        Mobile and Wireless Communications (eMobility)

        16 September 2010, Venice - eMobility GA6
        17 September 2010, Venice - Joint EX-FI - eMobility meeting to help interested organisations develop proposals for Call 1 of the FI-PPP
        22 September 2010, Brussels - Growing GALILEO 2010 - Information Day
        26 September 2010, Istanbul - Full-Day Workshop on W-GREEN (in conjunction with PIMRC 2010)
        26-30 September 2010, Istanbul - PIMRC 2010 21st Annual IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT 2010
        16-18 November 2010, Newbury - WWRF Meeting 25
        29 November-1 December 2010, Tokyo - Internet of Things
        13-15 December 2010, Pune - Beyond the Internet? Innovations for future networks and services
        16-17 December 2010, Ghent - Future Internet Assembly 2010
        6-9 June 2011, Kyoto - IEEE ICC 2011

        Further information
        Nanotechnologies for Medical Applications (NanoMedicine)

        7-9 September 2010, Brussels - Industrial Technologies 2010 Conference
        9-10 September 2010, Twente - IGS conference: Governing Responsible Nanomedical Innovation
        15-17 September 2010, Oslo - The oncology partnering event for biotechs, pharma, investors and academia
        3-6 October 2010, Antalya - International Academy on Nanomedicine
        14-15 October 2010, Milan - ETP Nanomedicine General Assembly & Annual Forum 2010
        18-19 October 2010, Cleveland - 2010 Cleveland NanoMedicine Summit
        23-28 October 2010, Sant Feliu de Guixols - ESF-UB Conference in Biomedicine Nanomedicine: Reality Now and Soon
        2-3 December 2010, Berlin - 7th International Conference on Biomedical Applications of Nanotechnology
        20-25 February 2011, Muenster - Winter school on Concept and application of the Precautionary principle in Nanobiotechnology
        11-14 April 2011, Bilbao - ImagineNano
        19-24 June 2011, Lutherstadt Wittenberg - 3rd European Science Foundation Summer School in Nanomedicine 2011

        Further information
        Networked and Electronic Media (NEM)

        3-8 September 2010, Berlin - IFA 2010
        9-14 September 2010, Amsterdam - IBC 2010
        20-23 September 2010, Brisbane - IFIP - International Conference Network of the Future
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT event 2010
        13-14 October 2010, Barcelona - 10th NEM General Assembly
        13-15 October 2010, Barcelona - NEM Summit 2010: 3rd NEM Summit
        13-16 October 2010, Seoul - The 9th IEEE International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality
        16-17 December 2010, Ghent - Future Internet Assembly

        Further information
        Networked European Software and Services Initiative (NESSI)

        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT Conference
        22-23 October 2010, Warsaw - e-Challenges
        16-17 December 2010, Brussels - EU Collaboration days
        16-17 December 2010, Ghent - FIA

        Further information
        Photonics21 (Photonics)

        6-9 September 2010, Rosario - Speckle 2010
        7-9 September 2010, Brussels - European Industrial Technologies conference
        8-10 September 2010, Porto - European Workshop on Optical Fibre Sensors
        11-16 September 2010, Egmond aan Zee - 18th International Conference on Advanced Laser Technologies
        13-16 September 2010, Karlsruhe - Metamaterials 2010, Fourth International Congress on Advanced Electromagnertic Materials
        15-17 September 2010, Odense - Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) Forum Active Ageing: Smart Solutions, New Markets
        19-23 September 2010, Torino - ECOC, 36th European Conference and Exhibiton on Optical Communication
        20-23 September 2010, Toulouse - SPIE Remote Sensing 2010
        26-30 September 2010, Granada - PECs-IX 2010 Ninth International Conference on Photonic and Eletromagnetic Crystal Structures
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT 2010 Conference
        28 Septembe 2010, Brussels - Brokerage Event Find your ICT partners face2face
        28-29 September 2010, Frankfurt - Strategies in light Europe
        11-13 October 2010, Como - APMS 2010 International Conference, Competitive and Sustainable Manufacturing, Products and Services
        19-20 October 2010, Aachen - Optics Colloquium
        19-21 October 2010, Dresden - Plastic Electronics Conference 2010
        3-4 November 2010, Telford - Photonics21 supports the Photonex exhibition and conference
        5 November 2010, Brussels - Concertation meeting on biophotonics
        7 November 2010, Denver - Photonics21 Executive Board member Roberta Ramponi as speaker at the Annual Meeting of the IEEE Photonics Society
        24 February 2011, Brussels - Join Photonics21 at the Annual Meeting 2011 in Brussels

        Further information
        Photovoltaics (PV Platform)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Plants for the Future (Plants)

        No events planned.

        Further information
        Robotics (EUROP)

        2 September 2010, Plymouth - Outlook on Personal and Service Robotics
        3-4 September 2010, Clermont-Ferrand - Robotics2010
        6-7 September 2010, Canterbury - ROBOSEC 2010
        6-8 September 2010, Lecce - FAC 7th Symposium on Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles IAV 2010
        7-9 September 2010, Brussels - European Industrial Technologies Conference
        8-10 September 2010, Coimbra - Controlo’2010
        8-10 September 2010, Newcastel - The International Conference on Ageing, Disability and Independence (ICADI)
        9 September 2010, Copenhagen - International Conference on Playware and Robotics
        12-15 September 2010, Viareggio - RO-MAN2010
        15-17 September 2010, Odense - AAL Forum - Active Ageing: Smart Solutions, New Markets
        16-17 September 2010, Bratislava - Robotics in Education (RiE) 2010
        19 September 2010, Madeira Island - IEEE ITSC2010
        21-24 September 2010, Karlsruhe - KI 2010
        23-25 September 2010, Cluj-Napoca - ROBOTICS'10
        26-29 September 2010, Tokyo - IEEE BioRob 2010
        27-28 September 2010, Brussels - ICT Finance Market Place
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT 2010
        4-6 October 2010, Osaka - ICAM 2010
        5-7 October 2010, Montréal - CARPI 2010
        15-16 October 2010, Phoenix - ROSE 2010
        18-22 October 2010, Taipei - IROS 2010
        25-29 October 2010, Malaga - BRICS Research Camp on Best Practice in Mobile Manipulation
        1-3 Novembre 2010, Lausanne - DARS 2010
        3-4 November 2010, Winterthur - International Mechatronics Forum 2010
        10-11 November 2010, Herzelia - The 3nd Israeli Conference on Robotics
        10-12 November 2010, Shanghai - ICIRA 2010
        15-18 November 2010, Darmstadt - SIMPAR 2010
        17-19 November 2010, Milan - ROBOTICA 2010
        24-25 November 2010, Singapore - ICSR 2010

        Further information
        European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem)

        20 September 2010, Brussels - SusChem brokerage event
        17-18 February 2011, Barcelona - Sustainable chemistry, innovative and competitive companies

        Further information
        Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNE-TP)

        7 September 2010, Brussels - 9th meeting of the ESNII Task Force
        13 September 2010, Brussels - 1st meeting of the ESNII Team
        14-15 September 2010, location TBD - 2nd SNETP General Assembly and 6th meeting of the SNETP Governing Board
        20-21 September 2010, Genoa - 9th meeting of the SNETP Executive Committee
        7 October 2010, Petten - 2nd meeting of the Working Group on Gen II / III reactor R&D  
        15-16 November 2010, Brussels - High-level conference on the SET Plan organised by the Belgian EU Presidency

        Further information
        Water Supply and Sanitation Platform (WSSTP)

        8-9 September 2010, Braunschweig - International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulic 2010
        12-16 September 2010, Krakow - IAH Congress on Gorundwater Quality Sustainability
        13-16 Sepember 2010, Munich - EWA Symposium on Sustainable wastewaer management New strategies, technologies and Innovative solutions
        13-16 Sepember 2010, Munich - IFAT 2010
        19-23 September 2010, Montreal - IWA 2010
        20-23 September 2010, Timisoara - IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems
        29 September 2010, Brussels - Intergroup Water
        9-13 October 2010, Abu Dhabi - ISMAR7 - Seventh International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge
        26 October 2010, Aachen - Nanotechnology meets water treatment Workshop
        27 October 2010, Brussels - Intergroup Water
        1 December 2010, Brussels - Intergroup Water
        6-8 December 2010, Paris - Transboundary Aquifers - Challenges and New Directions

        Further information
        Waterborne ETP (Waterborne)

        15 September 2010, Brussels - Support Group Meeting SG 35 + Mirror Group
        17 November 2010, Brussels - Support Group Meeting SG 36 + Mirror Group

        Further information
        Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants Technology Platform (ETP ZEP)

        7 September 2010, Nowy Sacz - Economic Forum of Young Leaders
        8 September 2010, Rome - ZEROEMISSION 2010
        12 September 2010, Montreal - World Energy Congress
        19-23 September 2010, Amsterdam - 10th International conference on Greenhouse gas control technologies
        21 September 2010, Falkirk - Clean Coal & Carbon Capture and Storage Conference
        13 October 2010, Brussels - ZEP 2010 General Assembly

        Further information
        2008-11-19 - Growing environment and security concerns prompt aeronautics research agenda update

        Europe's aeronautics research community has updated its research agenda to take into account rising environmental concerns, the need for alternative fuels and rapidly changing security threats. The Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE) published its last Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) four years ago. Since then, we have seen wild fluctuations in oil prices and the collapse of the dollar against the Euro (which seriously weakened the competitiveness of the European aeronautics industry). At the same time, environmental concerns have shot up the political agenda and increasingly complex and cumbersome security measures have been introduced in airports around the world.

        Further information

      • Joint Technology Initiatives

        Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Embedded Computing Systems (ARTEMISA)

        7-9 September 2010, Brussels - European Industrial Technologies Conference
        23-25 September 2010, Novosibirsk - Siberian International Innovative Business Congress
        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICT 2010
        19-21 October 2010, London - Embedded Live
        26-27 October 2010, Ghent - Co-summit 2010
        16-17 November 2010, Madrid - CATRENE Forum

        Further information
        Nanoelectronics Technologies 2020 (ENIAC)

        27-29 September 2010, Brussels - ICTO 2010
        7 October 2010, Lisbon - EPoSS General Assembly
        8 October 2010, Lisbon - EPoSS Annual Forum
        19-21 October 2010, Dresden - Semicon Europa
        26-27 October 2010, Ghent - ARTEMIS & ITEA 2 Co-Summit 2010
        16-17 November 2010, Madrid - European Nanoelectronics Forum 2010 (by invitation only)

        Further information
        Aeronautics and Air Transport (Clean Sky)

        No events planned

        Further information
        Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH)

        15-16 September 2010, Berlin - CLEAN MOBILITY INSIGHTS Conference
        9-10 November 2010, Brussels - FCH JU Stakeholders General Assembly
        15-16 November 2010, Brussels - Strategic Energy Technology Plan conference 2010

        Further information

  • Regional policy

    2008-11-03 - Danuta Hübner urges leaders of European Regional Legislative Assemblies to back strengthened Cohesion Policy

    Commissioner Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, will address the 11th Conference of Presidents of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE) in Bilbao today. The Commissioner will focus on the recently published Green Paper on territorial cohesion and the future Cohesion Policy. She will also hold talks with Juan José Ibarretxe, President of Spain's Basque Government, on the region's priorities for its Cohesion Policy programme for 2007-2013.

    Further information

    2008-11-06 - Danuta Hübner in Germany: Increasing the return on European investments in research is crucial

    Danuta Hübner, the European Commissioner for regional policy, will hold talks in Berlin today on the future Cohesion Policy with European Affairs Ministers from the German “Länder”. She will also meet representatives of regional authorities in Thüringen to discuss the implementation of new cohesion policy investments and will see examples of hi-tech projects supported by co-financing from the European Union.

    Further information

    2008-11-10 - Danuta Hübner encourages Switzerland to step up cooperation with EU

    Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for regional policy, is today in Berne and Lucerne to take part in a series of meetings on relations between Switzerland and the EU, and on Swiss participation in EU Regional Policy cooperation programmes in particular. Switzerland's New Regional Policy (NRP) is closely aligned with the aims of the EU's Regional Policy and EU's Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, with its support for innovation, small businesses, training, knowledge transfer and for less favoured regions such as mountainous and rural areas.

     

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    2008-11-14 - Lisbon Conference: European Commission steps up efforts to improve Member States' financial controls on structural funds

    Danuta Hübner, the European Commissioner for regional policy, is today participating in a conference in Lisbon on “Use and control of EU structural funds”. The conference follows the publication, on Monday 10 November, of the annual report of the European Court of Auditors, which encouraged the Commission to continue in its efforts to help Member States address weaknesses in management and control systems for the Structural Funds.

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    2008-11-21 - EU shines spotlight on Arctic, targets new policy

    The European Commission has adopted a Communication on 'The European Union and the Arctic Region' outlining the EU's interests and policy objectives, which include energy resources, fisheries and new shipping routes. The region has increasingly been in the spotlight as a result of its rich resources that could help ease Europe's headaches about energy security.

    Further information

  • Information society

    2008-11-05 - 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue: Brussels Debate on the role of the Media

    The last of the seven "Brussels Debates" organised in the framework of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue takes place on Wednesday, 5 November 2008. The debate entitled "Talking Our Way out of Trouble: How Media Debate Can Combat Intolerance” is organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). It will take place at 18:30h in the Residence Palace and will be opened by EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding.

    Further information

    2008-11-07 - Telecoms Reform: Commission presents new legislative texts to pave the way for compromise between Parliament and Council

    Today, the European Commission is publishing new legislative texts on the EU Telecoms Reform package to take account of the European Parliament vote of 24 September 2008 and the ongoing discussions in the Council. In November 2007, the Commission made proposals for the reform of the EU Telecoms rules, designed to create a Single EU Telecoms Market with improved rights for consumers and businesses, more competition and investment to boost the take-up of cross-border services and wireless high-speed broadband for all (IP/07/1677). The new texts presented by the Commission today will be discussed in the Council of Telecoms Ministers on 27 November. At the heart of the compromise texts is a new, small and independent office for Europe's telecoms regulators that should help the Commission to bring about more consistency to regulatory measures on Europe's telecoms markets. The new regulatory framework is expected to become law in all 27 EU Member States by 2010.

    Further information

    2008-11-20 - Now Online: "Europeana", Europe's Digital Library

    Europeana, Europe’s multimedia online library opens to the public today. At www.europeana.eu, Internet users around the world can now access more than two million books, maps, recordings, photographs, archival documents, paintings and films from national libraries and cultural institutions of the EU's 27 Member States. Europeana opens up new ways of exploring Europe’s heritage: anyone interested in literature, art, science, politics, history, architecture, music or cinema will have free and fast access to Europe's greatest collections and masterpieces in a single virtual library through a web portal available in all EU languages. But this is just the beginning. In 2010, Europeana will give access to millions of items representing Europe's rich cultural diversity and will have interactive zones such as communities for special interests. Between 2009 and 2011, some €2 million per year of EU funding will be dedicated to this. The Commission also plans to involve the private sector in the further expansion of Europe's digital library. In September 2007, the European Parliament supported, in a resolution voted by an overwhelming majority, the creation of a European digital library.

    Further information

  • Enterprises

    2008-11-06 - Euro-Mediterranean industrial cooperation will be reinforced

    Ministers for Industry of the 27 EU Member States met with their counterparts from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey in Nice on 5 and 6 November to decide further measures to deepen Euro-Mediterranean co-operation on enterprise and industry policies for the next two years(2009 – 2010). They also welcomed the progress achieved in improving the business environment and boosting entrepreneurship in the Euromed region.

    Further information
• 

  Other EU Policies and funding programmes supporting the Lisbon Strategy

  • Employment and social affairs

    2008-11-18 - Free movement of workers is good for Europe's economy

    A European Commission report published today shows that mobile workers from the countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007 have had a positive impact on Member States' economies and have not led to serious disturbances on their labour markets. Workers from the EU-8 as well as Bulgaria and Romania have made a significant contribution to sustained economic growth, without significantly displacing local workers or driving down their wages. Both for the EU as a whole and for most individual countries, labour flows have been limited compared to the size of labour markets and to inflows from non-EU countries.

    Further information

  • Environment

    2008-11-18 - Environment: Commission proposes to improve implementation of environmental law

    The Commission has set out plans to improve the implementation of the European Union's 200 or so laws on environmental protection. This fits within a wider Commission strategy for improving implementation of EU law announced in 2007, and coincides with the publication of the new Annual Report of the Commission on monitoring the application of Community Law in general. The Communication stresses the need for close cooperation with Member States to ensure that national implementing rules are correct and adopted on time, and that shared goals are effectively achieved. Where serious problems persist – such as tolerance of illegal landfills or multiple failures to treat urban waste-water – the Commission will favour strategic legal action over a piecemeal approach.

    Further information

    2008-11-20 - Commission announces winners of environmental management awards

    Five organisations have won the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Awards for excellence in environmental management. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony this evening in Brussels. The awards recognise outstanding achievements in environmental management. This year 32 organisations from 13 EU Member States were nominated. The 2008 awards focused on the theme of curbing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency.

    Further information

  • Health

    2008-11-11 - Commission calls for a European focus on rare diseases

    The European Commission adopted today a Communication and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on rare diseases setting out an overall Community strategy to support Member States in diagnosing, treating and caring for the 36 million EU citizens with rare diseases. The limited number of patients affected and the fragmentation of knowledge about them across the European Union, makes rare diseases a prime example of where working at European level is necessary and beneficial.

    Further information

  • Transport

    2008-11-07 - Clean urban transport: CIVITAS Forum 2008

    Bologna will from Sunday host the sixth annual meeting of the cities taking part in Europe's CIVITAS initiative, which aims at developing integrated solutions for sustainable mobility in towns and cities in order to reduce congestion and pollution. In the presence of Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani and Italian Minister of Transport, Altero Matteoli, around 300 participants coming from all around Europe are expected in the Italian city between 9th and 11th November. Practical experience from cities that are Europe-wide leaders in the field of urban mobility will be presented.

    Further information

  • Energy

    2008-11-13 - Securing your energy future: Commission presents energy security, solidarity and efficiency proposals

    The European Commission has proposed today a wide-ranging energy package which gives a new boost to energy security in Europe, supporting the 20-20-20 climate change proposals which should be agreed by December. The Commission puts forward a new strategy to build up energy solidarity among Member States and a new policy on energy networks to stimulate investment in more efficient, low-carbon energy networks. The Commission proposes a new EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan which sets out five areas where more action is needed to secure sustainable energy supplies. The Commission also looks at the challenges that Europe will face between 2020 and 2050. In addition, a package of energy efficiency proposals aims to make energy savings in key areas, such as reinforcing energy efficiency legislation on buildings and energy-using products, and enhancing the role of energy performance certificates as well as inspection reports for heating and air-conditioning systems.

    Further information

    2008-11-20 - European Commission welcomes outcome of ITER Council

    The European Commission welcomes the outcome of today's ITER Council - the Governing Body of the one year old ITER Organization. The Commission representatives (EURATOM) attended this two-day meeting in Cadarache (France) together with representatives from the other 6 ITER members: China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States. The Parties discussed the progress report of a panel of international experts that was asked by the last ITER Council meeting in June 2008 to assess the Organization's resources estimates and their efficient use. One of the key recommendations is to improve the management system through closer integration of the international organization and the Domestic agencies. This should facilitate the execution of the entire project and contribute to the stabilisation of the cost estimates.

    Further information

  • External relations – Enlargement

    2008-11-20 - Brazil and the EU deepen energy relations with the first Ministerial meeting of the EC-Brazil Energy Policy Dialogue

    Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and the Minister of Mines and Energy of Brazil, Edison Lobão met today in São Paulo to enhance bilateral energy cooperation in the frame of the European Commission-Brazil Energy Policy Dialogue. This is the first meeting at Ministerial level since the launch of the bilateral energy dialogue in Brussels in July 2007. The encounter was held in the context of Commissioner Piebalgs' first visit to Brazil to participate in the 2nd International Biofuels Conference.

    Further information

  • Maritime Affairs

    2008-11-03 - European maritime surveillance needs greater integration

    In a report published today, the European Commission takes the first step towards establishing a comprehensive strategy for integrated maritime surveillance for Europe. The report, in the form of a Commission Staff Working Document, describes the current state of play as regards the surveillance, monitoring, tracking, identification and reporting systems put in place by EU Member States and EU Agencies. It also identifies the next steps to be undertaken and the challenges to be resolved in order to achieve an integrated maritime surveillance network for Europe. Such an integrated and cross-sectoral network would provide essential added value for national authorities in handling a range of challenges, such as trafficking in drugs, arms and people, illegal fisheries, pollution, piracy and terrorism. Greater systems integration would also help national authorities in charge of surveillance operations become more efficient and reduce their operating costs over time.

    Further information

    2008-11-14 - Fisheries: Commission proposes radical overhaul of control framework

    The European Commission has today proposed a new Council Regulation recasting the EU fisheries control system. The result would be a completely modernized system for inspection, monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement of Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) rules throughout the market chain, from catch to the retailer. Harmonised inspection procedures and higher standards would ensure uniform implementation of control policy at national level, while taking account of the diversity and specific characteristics of different fleets. There will be measures to promote a culture of compliance throughout the sector, including simplification of the regulatory framework, and the introduction of harmonised deterrent sanctions. The capacity of the Commission to intervene to ensure that the rules of the CFP are being effectively implemented and enforced by the Member States will also be strengthened. In general, all aspects of the control and monitoring of fisheries activities would be simplified and made more efficient by the new rules.

    Further information

    2008-11-19 - Commission presents EU strategy for safer ship dismantling

    The European Commission today presented an EU strategy to make the dismantling of old ships safer for workers and the environment. Every year between 200 and 600 large merchant ships are taken apart for their valuable scrap metal. Many ships taken out of service in Europe end up being dismantled on beaches in South Asia. A lack of environmental protection and safety measures results in high accident rates, health risks and extensive pollution of wide stretches of the coast. The proposed strategy on better ship dismantling includes actions to help implement key elements of an international Convention on safe ship recycling, due to be concluded in May 2009. It also proposes measures to encourage voluntary action by the shipping industry and better enforcement of current EU waste shipment law.

    Further information

    2008-11-25 - Commission promotes maritime spatial planning in Europe

    Today, the Commission has adopted a roadmap on maritime spatial planning – a new tool to address the challenges emerging from the growth in competing uses of the sea. The roadmap will facilitate the development of spatial planning for both marine and coastal spaces, in order to realise the growth potential of EU maritime sectors in a sustainable way. Maritime spatial planning can also help coastal areas to prepare for climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, floods, altered marine ecosystems and investments in coastal protection.

    Further information
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  Research, Innovation, Training and Competitiveness related EU events

  • List of opened calls for proposals launched by the European Commission

    To consult our updated table of calls, click on our dedicated webpage below

    Further information

Special chapter on training opportunities

Next Sessions in English in Brussels

Next Sessions in English in Brussels

Next Sessions in English in Brussels