CORDIS EXPRESS

Every year, 20,000 people are killed and 15,000 are wounded from landmine explosions. As our top story in CORDIS Express outlines, EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin told delegates at a conference on landmines this week that figures such as these are inexcusable given the advances that have been made in demining technology. Mr Busquin also outlined what the EU is doing to support humanitarian mine clearance in trouble spots around the world.

International cooperation needed to tackle abandoned landmines worldwide, says Busquin

European Commissioner for Research, Philippe Busquin, has called for greater synergy between researchers and specialists working in the field of demining technology, in order to bring to an end the indiscriminate suffering caused by detonated mines. Pointing to the growing research interest in finding solutions for landmine detection, Mr Busquin said that the EU is at the forefront of international efforts in this field. The Commission, for example, has spent more than 200 million euro on demining actions, including 33 million euro on the development of new demining technologies.

More research needed to answer coexistence questions, MEPs told

Participants at a public hearing on coexistence have been told that further research into conventional crop contamination by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is required before efficient safeguards can be introduced. The European Parliament's agriculture committee, which hosted the meeting, heard the opinions of a number of academic experts and interest groups on the issue. The event formed part of the ongoing debate on co-existence, and followed the Commission's recent publication of proposals on a tolerance level for the accidental presence of GMOs in conventional seeds.

IST Grand Prize far more than just a pat on the back, say 2002 winners

On 2 October, the 20 winners of this year's IST prize will gather in Milan for the 2003 IST event, where they will discover which products will receive the three Grand Prizes on offer. To give them an idea of what will be at stake on the night, CORDIS News spoke to the three Grand Prize winners from 2002, and asked them how winning the award had subsequently affected the fortunes of their company and product.

Evaluation of PAXIS initiative points to importance of long term projects

The European Union's attempts to increase the number of innovative start-ups should be restricted to 'focused and long term projects', an evaluation of the European Commission's PAXIS initiative has concluded. The pilot action of excellence for innovative start-ups (PAXIS) has supported a range of actions since its launch in 1999. We outline one of these actions - the TECTRA project - which has recently produced a novel handbook for innovators and small businesses. We also introduce the overall evaluation of the four year old PAXIS initiative and offer access to the relevant report in full.

Forum encourages more strategic approach to research infrastructures in Europe

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) was established last year to drive forward cooperation between Member States and encourage a more strategic approach to infrastructures in Europe. The body has issued its first annual report, outlining ongoing co-operation between EU countries across a range of research areas, from nuclear physics facilities to astronomy and the humanities. The ESFRI also reflects on the future evolution of its role as a catalyst for cooperation on European research infrastructures.

New technology institutes to stimulate Scotland's private sector research

Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's main economic development agency, has established three new research funding bodies whose mission is to raise the standard of private sector research and boost the Scottish economy. The intermediary technology institutes (ITIs), the first of their kind in the UK, will invest some 650 million euro over ten years in three sectors of traditional Scottish strength: energy, the life sciences, and communications technology and digital media.

Web-based platforms for easing communication within FP6 consortia

A workshop on web-based platforms for Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) will take place in Brussels on 8 October. The event will show how web-based platforms can help the management of communication and information within project consortia. Discussion will also focus on the use of web-based tools to manage the flow of knowledge generated by a project and its wider dissemination.

FP6 seminar: Taastrup, Denmark

A seminar on funding opportunities available under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) will take place on 10 October in Taastrup, Denmark. The seminar is aimed at providing FP6 project proposers and advisers with an overview of the types of projects funded, EU contracts, as well as a description of how to make a successful proposal and an outline of how they are selected and evaluated.

Studies on priority energy technologies - call for tenders

The European Commission has published a call for tenders for studies on priority energy technologies. The objectives of this call for tenders include the production of a comparative analysis of Europe's situation with regard to its main competitors in a number of energy technology areas. It also involves the identification of possible developments in science, technology, industry and relevant market patterns that could affect this situation in the future.

Belgian remote sensing company proposes FP6 collaborations

A Belgian remote sensing company with particular expertise in agriculture is seeking partners for collaboration under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). EUROSENSE works in a range of areas, incluing aerial photography, digital satellite images, map production, city and landscape planning and forest inventory. With a number of offices around Europe, from Brussels to Budapest, the company seeks partners in any country and its particular focus is on the 'sustainable land management' section of FP6.

New ways of warning about environmental hazards

Most warnings of adverse environmental conditions make use of television channels. However radio or TV warnings inevitably reach a much larger audience than the population actually at risk. An EU funded project is working on the 'narrowcasting' of this kind of information only to those living within a particular area. The researchers are also testing other methods from electronic street panels to SMS warnings that would be sent to mobile phones. We present this project's entry in the CORDIS Projects database and the following news story, taken from the 'IST Results' service.

Apple strains tested for their resistance

Research shows that a number of apple strains remain particularly vulnerable to disease. Some are more and some less resistant, depending on their genealogy and crossing with other strains. Through a study of 319 strains, planted in eight different European countries, French scientists have discovered a number of resistance factors. The results of their research will help farmers cross apple strains more effectively and breed better and healthier generations of apples.

Hangovers hit women harder

Women suffer more from hangovers than men, according to a new study on the different effects of alcohol on the sexes. Hangovers hit women harder, even after accounting for differences in the amount of alcohol consumed, according to the results of a survey carried out among 1,230 college students.