CORDIS EXPRESS

While Europe’s textiles industry has been eyeing China’s rocketing imports with trepidation and resentment this week, other parties have been celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and China. These relations became even closer on 13 May with the signing of a Joint Declaration on EU-China Research Cooperation.

EU and China reinforce research links with joint declaration

Scientific links between the EU and China were strengthened with the adoption of a Joint Declaration on EU-China Research Cooperation on 13 May. The renewed partnership will involve upgrading the existing science and technology policy dialogue through annual meetings at ministerial level, and stimulating and developing common initiatives, in particular in fields such as the information society, health, environment, nanotechnologies, hydrogen and aeronautics.

EURAB chair expresses doubts over European Institute of Technology

The European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) has expressed doubts over the viability of Commission proposals to establish a European Institute of Technology (EIT), warning that such 'top down' initiatives rarely work. Rather, the advisory board feels that it would be better for such an institute to emerge from the scientific communities themselves. It points out that the world-class reputation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), upon which the EIT concept was originally based, has grown over decades.

UK to boost child medicine testing during its EU Presidency

The EU's proposal for a regulation on medicines for paediatric use is expected to receive a boost under the UK's EU Presidency, which begins in July. The UK's Ministry of Health has made paediatric medicine a priority and hopes the EU proposal, which requires the testing of medicine on children, can be implemented in 2006. The move, welcomed by doctors, patients and research-based companies, has been criticised by producers of generic drugs.

Hübner uses links between cohesion and Lisbon objectives to make the case for regional funds

EU Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner drew comparisons between the objectives of the Lisbon strategy and cohesion expenditure priorities, and then used these links to call on the EU institutions to reach a rapid agreement on the EU budget, with provisions for addressing these common objectives. Ms Hübner was presenting the latest report on EU cohesion policy - a report that highlights how those programmes using cohesion funds for innovation and research objectives are some of the most successful.

Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft presents priorities for FP7

Germany's Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft has become the latest organisation to publish a position paper on the Seventh Framework Programme. The document lists nine priorities, which seem to mirror many of those of the European Commission. The organisation's main concerns include: support for scientific excellence; creation of a European Research Council, strengthening of centres of competence; complementarity between EU and national research funding; continuity between FP6 and FP7 and a significant increase in funds for each thematic priority.

CORDIS Basse-Normandie service gets revamp

The CORDIS regional service for Basse-Normandie has been completely revamped, and now represents a genuine gateway to research and innovation services and organisations in the region. For example, through the CORDIS service it is possible to access the region's 'network of supporters and facilitators', as well as details on Basse-Normandie's research infrastructures and educational programmes.

Risk and emergency management - research and policy perspectives

A conference entitled 'Risk and emergency management - research policy and perspectives' will take place in Hanover, Germany, on 8 and 9 June. The first day will focus on European research projects dealing with floods, storms, forest fires, seismic risks, oil spills and coastal management. The second day will address the contribution of information technology (IT) to risk and crisis management.

Second FEHRL road research meeting

The second FEHRL road research meeting (FeRRM 05) will be held from 13 to 17 June in Brussels, Belgium. The event will seek to answer questions such as: How do we develop the road system that Europe needs for the future? How do we address the diverse challenges (environmental, safety and economic) facing the road sector? Will new technologies make the difference?

Information society technologies - fifth call for proposals

The European Commission has published the fifth call for proposals under the IST priority of FP6. The strategic objectives covered in this call include: photonic components; micro/nano based sub-systems; embedded systems; advanced Grid technologies, systems and services; software and services; research networking testbeds.

Producer of blood analysis equipment looking to make products more innovative

Adaltis Italia, a manufacturer of blood analysis equipment, is looking for partners for innovative projects. In particular, the company is looking for innovative ideas for the following areas: information society technologies (protection of patient data, neural nets for semi-automatic diagnostics), and tests for emergent diseases. Adaltis has bases in Canada, China and Italy.

Monitoring compliance with EU fisheries regulations

The European Commission's Joint Reseach Centre (JRC) is assessing systems for monitoring compliance with the EU's fisheries regulations in an FP6-funded project. Specific objectives relate to assessing systems incorporating spaceborne synthetic aperture radar imagery for fisheries monitoring; improving the monitoring capability of airborne surveillance by integrating information from other systems; developing a harmonised electronic logbook; and and developing an online database containing a genetic catalogue of European marine fish.

Treating municipal waste

Waste management is a key consideration for communities across the EU as efforts to cope with increasing waste volumes intensify. The current Offer of the Week on the CORDIS Technology Marketplace showcases a new environmentally friendly technology using Eco Industrial Park (EIP) principles. Use of the method turns waste into recyclable materials such as plastics and glass, and also biogas-based energy and fertilisers. The technology could offer alternatives for the long-term management of waste and its impact on the environment could be minimal. The developers now seek collaboration in order to bring the technology to the market.

Healthy shoe has kids chasing TV

It’s an enduring image - a carrot dangled in front of a donkey’s eyes to provide the necessary motivation to get its stubborn legs moving. Now replace the donkey with a lazy child and swap the carrot for a television set, and you have the thinking behind an innovative new product from the UK...