July, 1998
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Editorial
- Innovation Programme News
- Innovation project: intelligent scheduling for water supply * ERGO pilot service launched * Innovation for employment and growth * European Awareness Scenario Workshop conference * OPET Israel
Innovation Relay Centre Newsletter:
Annual Meeting in Stuttgart * Environment Thematic Group at ENTSORGA * Good practice: partner mediation
- Policy News
- Women in Science * Access to investment for biotech firms * Preparing for the euro * Links between industry and academic institutions
- Notebook
- Co-ordinating EU Support for SMEs * Further Progress Towards 5FP * Mine Clearance Technologies * Taking Time out to Innovate
- Dossier
- Nanoscience and nanotechnology
- Publications and Conferences
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EditorialDelivering on Research's Promise
We must do more to improve Europe's utilisation of research. To this end, the 'key actions' of the new Fifth Framework Programme (5FP) have been created. Their objectives are:
- greater transparency, and more consultation with researchers, users and industry;
- better integrated, and more multi-disciplinary, research;
- real co-ordination with national programmes.
Already, early stage investment in technologically innovative SMEs is being encouraged through support to venture capital funds, in the framework of the I-TEC initiative. Furthermore, CORDIS, available free over the Internet, is now an essential tool for researchers and businesses. It offers easy access to information about research funding and results, and a means of identifying research and technology transfer partners.
In December, the Commission launched a technology transfer initiative based around its Joint Research Centre, to promote collaborative research through telematics.
During the coming months, the Commission will present a proposal for a Community Patent Regulation, to create a less expensive patenting process. Finally, I will soon announce two initiatives designed to make it easier for women scientists to participate fully in research:
- a 'genderwatch' system within 5FP, to encourage research by women, for women and on subjects related to women;
- a network for women in science throughout Europe.
Edith Cresson
