Commission approves 880 million euro for forward-looking and more flexible research
On 17 October the European Commission adopted a proposal by Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin to allocate 880 million euro to forward looking and more flexible research under the next RTD Framework Programme, FP6. The money will be allocated to 'anticipating the EU's scientific and technological needs.' Half the funding will finance policy-orientated research in the areas of sustainable management of Europe's resources (200 million euro), providing health, security and opportunity to the people of Europe (80 million euro) and underpinning the economic potential and cohesion of a larger and more integrated European union (60 million) as well as research on emerging fields of science and technology (100 million euro). The remaining 440 million will be allocated at a later stage as needs develop and new subjects emerge. This approach is designed to enable greater flexibility for the next Framework programme and enable it to anticipate and respond quickly to emerging needs and new scientific and technological developments. Commissioner Busquin welcomed the adoption of the proposal, saying: 'This is another step towards the creation of a European research area (ERA). We are giving Europe the tools it needs to succeed in the global knowledge society. The EU's research programme is one of the biggest, spending over 17 billion euro in the next five years.' The 880 million funding forms part of the programme to integrate and strengthen the ERA, for which the Commission has proposed a total budget of 12.5 billion euro. The ERA aims to create a frontier-free area for research where national and international organisations work more closely together to help Europe become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world.