The Fifth Framework Programme needs to produce specific solutions to problems
The German Presidency of the European Union, between January and June 1999, wishes to ensure that European research programmes in the Fifth Framework Programme are distinguished more by specific solutions to problems, that are subsequently made available to individuals and policy-makers, rather than the wide coverage of their scientific research, according to German Federal Minister for Education and Research Edelgard Bulmahn in her statement on 8 January. She stressed that the Fifth Framework Programme would deal with international cooperation, mobility, the promotion of future generations of scientists, the involvement of small and medium-sized businesses, and socio-economic problems. Minister Bulmahn said that the Fifth framework Programme was specifically designed to meet present-day challenges. "It puts an end to the undervaluing of life sciences," she said. "We have been able to increase the proportion given over to life sciences by 50%." Having seen the increase in funding to 15 billion euro (compared with 13.2 billion ecu in the Fourth Framework Programme), the German Presidency wants to ensure that expectations are met in the initial stage and has pledged itself to follow very closely developments in the advisory groups and those relating to the first tenders, in order to be able to respond to them in Council should the need arise. "The Commission is discussing tightening up management further and also ensuring that responsibility is shared between science and business for managing implementation by grouping projects together into larger clusters and further integrating the organisation of science and business," said Minister Bulmahn, who indicated that, in research, decentralisation must be a keyword for future development.
Countries
Germany