CORDIS - A direct gateway to follow the research and innovation actions of the new Commission
In its questionnaire to the newly designated Commissioner on Research, the European Parliament is concerned how the implementation of the Fifth Framework Programme and the other research and development actions will be made more transparent. For both MEPs and journalists covering their dialogue with the EU executive, the answer lies with CORDIS. CORDIS is the European Community's information and communication service on R&D and innovation. For nearly 10 years CORDIS has been providing information to the research and business community on how to access EU project funding and establish sustainable partnerships. It is also a relevant Information Society tool for promoting the results of European research projects. From now on CORDIS will devote even more efforts to develop its specific services for bringing relevant information to the interested committees of the European Parliament about the trends and importance of European research and innovation in the current political and budgetary context. To promote these opportunities to the recently elected European Parliament, CORDIS will be present with a stand during the September meeting of the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy in Brussels (20-22 September). CORDIS and the management of EU R&D policy: CORDIS releases on a daily basis information about the Fifth Framework Programme and about results from completed projects under the Fourth Framework Programme. It provides a number of opportunities to search databases on ongoing projects, identifying partners from your country and even from your region. By hosting the EU R&D Council Presidency Web service, CORDIS can also provide journalists with timely and more in-depth information on the research-related objectives and activities of each Council Presidency. Currently a new CORDIS homepage is under preparation to improve the visibility and usability of its services. The present service provides a direct link to the website of the EU Joint Research Centre and new CORDIS developments will reveal better its potential. This is in line with the commitments of the newly designated Commissioner Philippe Busquin. CORDIS and innovation in Europe: CORDIS is part of the EU Innovation and Participation of SMEs programme and is planned to be placed under the responsibility of the newly designated Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society. It will strengthen further CORDIS's mission to provide exploitable results to European business organisations, thus helping them to enhance their competitiveness and to improve the quality of life of EU citizens. As stated by Erkki Liikanen in his answers to the Parliament's questionnaire, 'Cross fertilisation between industry policy and the research programmes is essential. Regarding SMEs, the Fifth Framework Programme follows a twin track strategy: on one hand an SME specific horizontal programme, on the other hand a higher priority on SME participation at the level of the thematic programmes.' Targeting both the research and business community, not only in the EU, but in its future Member States and worldwide partners, CORDIS can help journalists covering European affairs to follow on a daily basis how the new Commission will meet its commitments to the European Parliament and the citizens of Europe by bringing an added value to European research. Key CORDIS services may be found at: Fifth Framework Programme: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp5/ Innovation and SMEs programme: http://cordis.europa.eu/innovation-smes/ CORDIS Council Presidency RTD Information Service: http://cordis.europa.eu/finland/ National R&D projects databases: http://cordis.europa.eu/ergo/ Map-based search: http://cordis.europa.eu/map/en/home.html R&D News and Events: http://cordis.europa.eu/