More flexibility in FP6, proposes German government
Flexibility emerges as the German priority for the European Commission's Sixth RTD Framework programme in an open letter from Karsten Brenner, the German director general for European and International Cooperation to Achilleas Mitsos, director general of the European Commission's Research DG. In the letter, and the accompanying German position paper, flexibility is endorsed in terms of a reserve budget to meet emerging new challenges, further international cooperation, researcher mobility, allowing proposals from SME associations, opening up EU fellowships to non-EU citizens and European support for variable geometry. The paper also lists thematic priorities in the form of suggested key actions. 'From the German point of view it is important for the opening of Europe that the Sixth Framework Programme ensures continuation of INCO, in particular the INCO DEV and INCO-Kopernicus Activity (Fifth Framework Programme), or closely coordinated co-financing in cooperation with the Development DG,' writes Karsten Brenner. 'A total of between 5 and 10 per cent of the budgets for each programme area should not now be assigned to specific themes, but be reserved, so that we will be better able to meet emerging new challenges from the scientific community and from society or, if necessary, to respond to outstanding project proposals submitted outside the framework of call for proposals,' he continues. The Commission's new funding instruments, which include strategic large scale projects, networks of centres of competence and the funding of infrastructure facilities are supported by Germany, as they 'are necessary to enable European countries to make joint progress.' Selective European support for the joint implementation of the national programmes of several member states, or variable geometry, should also be used on a case-by-case basis as a new instrument for efficiently increasing innovation in Europe, the German position paper states. The paper lists eight thematic areas, with proposals for key actions. Further expansion of a transnational high performance network for the European Research Area (ERA) is a German priority. 'Europe must secure for itself an adequate share of the rapidly growing market for IT applications and must retain leadership in developing system solutions and setting standards,' notes the report. In the field of life sciences, priority is given to functional genome analysis. 'In order to develop these research areas, it will be necessary to create a European pool of patients, subjects and resources and of samples and data,' the German position states. The creation of gene banks is also advocated. Germany's proposal for key action 1 is the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, for which large-scale R&D projects should be launched in order to develop new anti-infectives and vaccines. 'The instruments used for the IHP programme [improving human potential] have proved useful [...] and should also be valued under the Sixth Framework programme,' the paper states. In order to retain top researchers, the German government proposes the opening up of fellowships to non-EU citizens: 'In order to attract the best young brains to the European research institutions, research training networks and institutes' fellowships [...] should be opened up for participation by scientists from non-European countries. In addition, concentrating all fellowships in a mobility programme - that is, the transfer of all fellowships from the thematic programmes to a horizontal programme - would considerable simplify procedures for applicants and the Commission.' Additional focuses proposed by the Germans for the area of transport include the creation of 'European airspace', development of aircraft and engines, including testing of A3XX and large-scale test beds or test stands and demonstrators. Above all, the activities to be pursued under the Sixth RTD Framework programme should 'continue to be aimed at meeting social and economic needs,' the German paper states.
Kraje
Germany