Commission modifies FP6 proposal to clarify 'anticipating the EU's scientific and technological needs'
The European Commission has adopted an amended proposal designed to provide the European Parliament and the Research council with more information on the activities to be carried out under the heading 'anticipating the EU's scientific and technological needs' in the Sixth Framework programme (FP6). The proposal aims to give a clearer indication of the thematic priority's objective by dividing the programme into two subsections: 'policy orientated research' and 'research to explore new and emerging scientific problems and opportunities'. Each of the subsections will receive half of the 880 million euro budget allocated for anticipating the EU's scientific and technological needs. Policy orientated research will derive from 'the research needs of Community policies that cannot be satisfied from within the thematic priorities', according to the proposal. It is intended to support the formulation and implementation of Community policies, particularly the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the common fisheries policy (CFP). Actions implemented under this heading also aim to assist the achievement of policy objectives laid out, for example, in the 6th Environment action programme, the white paper on European transport policy and in areas such as consumer protection, gender equality, regional development and enlargement. Scientific committees will be involved in the programming activities along with a user group composed of different Commission services, who will assess proposals on topics to be included according to the following criteria: - contribution to policy formulation and development; - potential contribution to the EU's competitiveness, the strengthening of its scientific and technological bases and the achievement of the European research area (ERA); - European added value. Activities carried out under 'research to explore new and emerging scientific and technological problems and opportunities' are designed to 'respond to new and unforeseen developments or unexpected issues, and to pursue exploratory research in new and emerging areas at the frontier of knowledge outside the thematic priority areas, in particular on transdisciplinary or multidisciplinary topics.' The Commission hopes that activities carried out under this heading will 'stimulate the flow of ideas between academia and industry, and allow Europe better to exploit its research assets in the drive towards a dynamic knowledge based society.' Initially, funding will be used firstly to support rapid assessment of new discoveries or newly observed phenomena which may indicate risks or problems for European society, and to identify appropriate responses to them. Secondly, funding will support research into emerging areas of knowledge and future technologies, particularly in transdisciplinary fields. All new ideas that have significant potential for industrial and or social impact or for the development of Europe's research capabilities in the long term will be considered.