Council adopts specific programme on improving human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base
The Council of the European Union has decided to improve the human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base in the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD) in a Decision on 25 January 1999 adopting a specific programme for the period up to 31 December 2002. The amount for carrying out the specific programme is 1,280 million euro (see details below), with a maximum of 6.55% for the Commission's administrative expenditure. Article 5 of the Decision requires the Commission to draw up a work programme, which includes the objectives and RTD priorities, as follows. The general objectives of this programme, to be realised in concert with related activities elsewhere in the Fifth Framework Programme, are centred on two main areas of activity, to improve the human research potential and to strengthen the socio-economic knowledge base. To this end, actions will be undertaken: - To develop the Community's human research potential, making special efforts to ensure equality of access and a better balance between men and women, notably through the training and mobility of researchers so as to contribute, inter alia, to efforts for creating new jobs; - To enhance access to research infrastructures; - To help make the Community an attractive location for researchers and to promote European research in the international arena and to promote a European scientific and technological culture; - To strengthen, through a specific key action, the socio-economic knowledge base for a better understanding of key problems facing European society; - To help develop scientific and technological policies and other Community policies. Among the specific actions required is support for the training and mobility of researchers, including: - Research training networks; - System of Marie Curie Fellowships. Also required is enhancement of access to research infrastructures, including: - Transnational access to major research infrastructures; - Infrastructure cooperation networks; - Research infrastructure RTD projects. Further required is promotion of scientific and technological excellence through: - High-level scientific conferences; - Distinctions for high-level research work; - Raising public awareness. Among the specific actions required is improvement of the socio-economic knowledge base, including: - Societal trends and structural changes; - Technology, Society and Employment; - Governance and Citizenship; - New development models fostering growth and employment. The final specific action required relates to support for the development for scientific and technology policies in Europe, including: - Strategic analysis of specific political issues; - Devising a common basis of science, technology and innovation indicators. Details of the amount of 1,280m euro for the specific programme "Improving Human Research Potential": - Training and Mobility of Researchers 858m; - Access to Research Infrastructures 182m; - Promoting Excellence of Science and Technology 50m; - Key action: Socio-economic Knowledge Base 165m; - Development of Science and Technology Policies 25m.