Researchers send in thousands of new ideas for EU-funded science
Universities, companies and research centres throughout Europe have responded with more than 15,000 ideas for cutting-edge European research following a call for expressions of interest to participate in research projects under the Sixth Framework programme for research (FP6), due to be launched in autumn this year. In March this year, the Commission invited the scientific community to give their opinion on the most promising topics for research that could be explored through the new FP6 instruments of 'integrated projects' and 'networks of excellence.' Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin said the response 'shows that the European research area is becoming a reality.' He said: 'It is an encouraging sign as we work towards the EU's target of investing 3 per cent of GDP in research by 2010. Our researchers want to work together and share efforts with the best of their field in other countries. They want to work together in a new way at the European level, namely in projects or networks with sufficient critical mass to meet global scientific or technological challenges.' FP6 will run from 2002 to 2006. It is designed as an instrument to help realise a European research area, an objective initially set by the European Commission and endorsed by the Heads of State and Government at their spring summits. The new Framework programme is based on four main principles: promoting scientific excellence, concentrating on a limited number of priorities with a true European 'added value', structuring and integrating European and national efforts and simplifying procedures. In order to promote partnering and collaboration, the Commission will publish all expressions of interest on a dedicated web site (please see below) over the coming months. An analysis of the ideas will be published in September 2002, and will feed into drafting of the detailed work programmes which form the basis for the calls for proposals to be issued at the end of the year.