| Process |
Comment, Outcome |
Timing |
Step 1
Input of ideas and suggestion of topics |
Continuous process with annual compilation and analysis. |
31 March 2005
(cut-off date) |
Step 2
Initial selection of ideas |
Based on the above input of topics, incl. topics that were discussed but not retained from the 2003 and 2004 topic selection process, 5 topics have been considered for further discussion by an external high-level expert group:
- How Things Evolve: Evolution Outside of Biology
- Laboratory of the Future; Speeding up the Discovery Process
- Transmission of Culture
- New Techniques for Molecular Imaging
- Time in Biological Processes and Systems
This external group of high-level experts met on March 8, 2005 in Brussels and focussed on two topics as being the most relevant for future PATHFINDER initiatives. These were: Transmission of Culture and New techniques for Molecular Imaging. Topic Identification Workshop, Brussels, 08.03.2005: Summary of Main Points.
|
March-April 2005 |
Step 3
Refinement of ideas and definition of topics |
For further examination and refinement of the topic Transmission of Culture more specialised external experts were invited to a specific workshop on May 3, 2005 in Brussels. Topic Refinement Workshop on Transmission of Culture, Brussels, 03.05.2005: Summary of Main Points.
A further workshop was held on July 2005 to further refine the topic Transmission of Culture and to discuss the relevance of previous topics for the next call. It was suggested to change and extend the topic Transmission of Culture to Cultural Dynamics and to re-open all four previous PATHFINDER topics for the next call. |
May-July 2005 |
Step 4
Selection of the topics for the next call and drafting of the work programme |
Based on the outcome of the specific workshops, a final assessment of the suitability of the topics was made, taking into account the response to the previous PATHFINDER Call(s). The following five topics were selected for the next call for proposals: Cultural Dynamics, Measuring the Impossible, Synthetic Biology, Tackling Complexity in Science. |
July-Aug 2005 |
Step 5
Drafting of the Reference Documents for Proposers |
Reference Documents on the subject matter of each topic, drafted with the help of specialised experts and by organising specialised workshop with outside experts on each of the topics. |
Sept-Oct 2005 |
Step 6
Call for Proposals |
Five PATHFINDER initiatives to be published: Cultural Dynamics, Measuring the Impossible, Synthetic Biology, Tackling Complexity in Science, What it means to be human. |
October 2005 |
