Busquin calls for EU to take the lead in life sciences research of tomorrow
European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has called for a coherent, coordinated approach to EU life sciences research to ensure that the EU leads the field in the scientific and technological developments of the future. Speaking on 'Life sciences in the framework of the European Union' at a conference on 'Biosciences: risks, ethics and society' in Paris on 22 October, Commissioner Busquin said: 'If the 20th century was the century of inert matter, the 21st century will be the century of living matter,' adding: 'a coherent standpoint, orientated towards the future,' is necessary if the EU is to take its place at the forefront of scientific and technological development in decades to come. A European dimension is of key importance to future life sciences research, and a transnational research infrastructure is needed in order to stay at the forefront of new developments such as stem cell research and the post-genomic era, according to Mr Busquin. He added that ethical and security questions brought about by issues such a bioterrorism, mad cow disease and contaminated blood scares engender debate across the EU, and the need for a Europe-wide approach to these questions is reinforced by similarities in outlook, lifestyle and expectations within the EU. Mr Busquin claimed that proposals for the next RTD Framework programme, FP6, represented not only a change in content, but a change in outlook. He said that the new Framework programme aimed to ease integration of research activity across the EU, and said measures to encourage interaction with the public and the media could be introduced into future research contracts. He explained: 'If a scientist doesn't come out of his laboratory to explain his work and to listen to people, he risks progressively losing public support - financial as well as moral and social.'