Technology Platforms: questions and answers
Date: 16.12.2004

What are technology platforms?

Technology platforms have been an innovation in EU research policy. They bring together all interested parties in a particular sector, or areas. These areas are chosen for their strategic importance or their potential contribution to the European Union’s goals of knowledge-based growth, competitiveness and employment. read more

Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) awards US $ 5,000 for best European contribution
Date: 06.12.2004

The Intelligent Manufacturing Systems initiative is offering a prize of US$ 5,000 in each of its seven member regions for the best newspaper article, magazine article or video on the topic of "Manufacturing and its Impact on Society and the Economy". read more

2004 EU Descartes Prizes reward scientific excellence
Date: 02.12.2004

Today in Prague, EU Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik awarded this year’s €1 million EU Descartes Prize for outstanding cross-border research to two pan-European teams, in the field of life science and physics. The first winning team has made revolutionary breakthroughs in the field of quantum cryptography, a crucial advance towards secure global communication networks. read more

Harnessing research to improve EU competitiveness
Date: 30.11.2004

The European Union's online research and innovation information service CORDIS marks its tenth anniversary on the Web at Online Information 2004. CORDIS was first publicly launched as a web-based service at Online Information 1994, and has now grown to receive around 8 million page accesses every month with 300 000 unique users of its interactive services.read more

Out of the Lab and into the Limelight: EU launches New Descartes Prize for Science Communication
Date: 11.11.2004

This December, the EU will present a new €250,000 prize for outstanding success in communicating science and research to the European public. A total of 19 finalists from 8 countries are now competing for this new award, which complements the existing Descartes Prize for Excellence in collaborative scientific research.read more

Needing help to communicate your IST project activities and results?
26.11.2004

Communicating important work in progress and interesting results from EU-funded R&D projects can be a difficult and time-consuming process and project consortia do not always have the resources to do this as effectively as they would like. A networking session at the IST2004 event in The Hague aims to provide projects and dissemination partners with some practical help. read more

Taking the pulse of European enterprise innovation
26.10.2004

Enterprise Europe, Brussels, 26 October 2004 - Encouraged by the so far very promising results of two ongoing innovation initiatives, namely PAXIS and Gate2Growth, the European Commission today launched three new actions supporting the innovation efforts of European enterprises. Potential participants are invited to attend an information day in Brussels on 15 November 2004. read more

Fourth World Conference of Science Journalists in Canada
4.-8.10.2004

CORDIS News will be there and will report from the event, providing valuable background information for those who cannot attend. Information from CORDIS is free and reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged and a link to the service is included (cordis.europa.eu/news/) read more

International Co-operation in Earth Observation
17.09.2004

On 27 and 28 September, the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observation (GEO) will meet to put the finishing touches on historic international plan that will co-ordinate systems across the planet into a comprehensive Earth observation effort. read more

CORDIS News reports from the first pan-European science meeting
Date: August 2004

Swedish Minister calls for a European Research Council

Non EU scientists offer their opinions on the future of the European science policy

Experts call for rapid changes in European economic, R&D and education policies

Three success stories from European regional innovation share their knowledge

Chair of steering committee has high hopes for first EuroScience Open Forum

Reproduction of CORDIS information is authorised provided the source is acknowledged and a link to the service is included (cordis.europa.eu/news/)

How big is nanotechnology for Europe? The Commission launches an open consultation
Date: 30.07.2004

The Commission is launching a wide consultation on its Communication "Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology" in which it proposed an integrated and responsible approach for developing nanosciences and nanotechnologies in Europe. read more

CORDIS Nanotechnology Press Room

The EU Descartes Prize celebrates its fifth anniversary: Eight research teams competing for the 2004 award
Date: 20.07.2004

This year, the EU Descartes Prize for outstanding research through transnational co-operation is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Against this background, on July 12th, the European Commission staged an evening event in Brussels, with former winners, the Grand Jury and other members of the Descartes community. read more

CORDIS News interviews with:
Descartes prize winners, finalists and jury members
Dr Rainer Gerold, Director of the Research DG

EU Research offers new opportunities for SMEs in enlarged Europe
Date: 13.07.2004

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the vast majority of businesses in Europe and can play a key role in boosting enlarged Europe’s competitiveness if they become more R&D-oriented and innovative. At an event in Estonia today the European Commission highlighted the opportunities for SMEs... read more

Mid-term evaluation of FP6 instruments praises ambition, but sees room for improvement on implementation
Date: 05.07.2004

Ramon Marimon, Spanish Secretary of State between 2000 and 2002 and chair of a high level expert panel charged with carrying out a mid-term evaluation of the new instruments introduced for the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), presented the panel's findings to the informal Competitiveness Council on 3 July. read more

Dutch Presidency News and Insights into Research, Innovation and the Knowledge Economy
Date: 01.07.2004

From 1 July 2004 the EU research and innovation portal CORDIS will host a dedicated online service (cordis.europa.eu/netherlands/) providing a single source for information on the priorities, initiatives and activities... read more

Making the future with nanoelectronics: a strategy for Europe
Date: 29.06.2004

To become the world’s most competitive powerhouse, Europe must lead the transition of the micro-electronics sector to the next generation of nano-electronics, with co-ordinated public and private investments of at least €6 billion per year. This is the message from a report drawn up by CEOs of leading companies and research organisations and presented today to European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen. read more

The European Research Advisory Board goes into its second term
Date: 25.06.2004

On 15 June, the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) unanimously re-elected its Chair Helga Nowotny and welcomed 22 new members for its second three-year term. The main topics on the agenda of the new Board are the preparation of the Seventh Framework ... read more

CORDIS News Interview with EURAB chair Prof. Helga Nowotny

The European Research Advisory Board: 3 years of successful work
Date: 08.06.2004

EURAB, the high level advisory board set up in 2001 on the initiative of European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, has completed its first three years of operation. "EURAB has greatly contributed to the higher profile of European research policy on the European Union's agenda", said Philippe Busquin. read more

Creating new knowledge in nanotechnology and turning it into better quality of life, competitiveness and jobs
Date: 12.05.2004

The European Commission today adopted an EU strategy to help Europe to become world leader in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology the science of the infinitely small. Nanotech applications include atom-scale "nano-robots" that can be injected in the human body to cure diseases, electronic "nano-chips"... read more

Europe's leading scientists meet the Press
Launch of the first 200 European Research Projects under FP6
Date: 16.04.2004

On 11 and 12 May, the European Commission is holding a large-scale event to showcase the new research instruments of the Sixth Framework Programme. Hosted by Commissioner Busquin, this involves 250 project managers, guest speakers and panellists read more

The Europe of Knowledge 2020: A vision for university-based research and innovation
Date: 07.04.2004

In the current climate where competitiveness and mobility are top of the political agenda, there is a clear need to facilitate, support and foster the central role played by universities in helping Europe meet the objectives set out by the Lisbon Agenda. read more

Europeans' trust in food highest for fruits and vegetables, lowest for "junk food"
Date: 05.04.2004

Consumer trust in food is high in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Norway, but low in Italy and Portugal and relatively low in Germany. Research also shows that consumers in these countries are most sceptical about meat products, fast-food outlets and food processors. read more

Commission targeting innovative SMEs to take up EUR 2.2 billion worth of European research funding
Date: 25.03.2004

At a seminar in Brussels on March 24-26 European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin will present the EU funded DETECT-it project, that will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to overcome the difficulties in setting up and financing research activities. read more

Speech of the EU Research Commissioner

New Presidency brochure on 'Science and Technology in Ireland'
Date: 23.03.2004

The Irish Presidency has published a brochure on the key institutional elements and funding organisations of the science and technology system in Ireland. read more

Increasing Human Resources for Science and Technology in Europe - International conference
Press conference - 02 April 2004, Brussels, 13.00

Four years have passed since European Leaders have committed themselves to turning Europe into the most dynamic knowledge-based economic region in the world by 2010. But are we closer to this target today than we were then? What is being done to stimulate the numbers of scientists in Europe when 500 000 more researchers are needed? read more

"Europe's Search for Excellence in Basic Research"
High Level Symposium on Excellence in Basic Research in Europe
Date: 12.02.2004

Research Ministers, top scientists and industrialists from across Europe are meeting in Dublin to discuss and to assess needs and develop a vision for enhancing excellence in basic research. The Symposium entitled "Europe's Search for Excellence in Basic Research" takes place in Dublin on 16 and 17 February, 2004. read more

NEST creativity: first crop of EU visionary research projects
Date: 11.02.2004

The European Commission today presented the first NEST (New and Emerging Science and Technology) projects retained for funding for 2004. These ten projects cover issues such as bio-terrorism, obesity, atom optics and the environment. NEST is a new research activity under the EU 6th Research Framework Programme... read more

EUR 43 million for research projects to boost European agro-food research
Date: 02.02.2004

While visiting Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands, European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin is attending today an expert seminar on the trends affecting agriculture and food production. read more

Wasted talents: Women scientists in post-communist Countries
Press conference - 30 January 2004, Brussels, 12.30h

European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin to present the report on the situation facing women scientists in the Eastern and Central European countries and in the Baltic States. read more

Getting the best from the Baltic: the EU BONUS project
Date: 13.01.2004

The European Commission today announced it will support a new 4-year project to improve environmental and sustainable development of the Baltic Sea. The EU contribution amounts to more than € 3 million. read more