Danish Presidency outlines challenges for research
The future of research and research cooperation will be on the agenda of the Danish Presidency, according to the Danish Minister for science and technology, Helge Sander. Speaking to the official Danish Presidency service, Mr Sander pointed out that research and development already holds the key to achieving the goals set by the European Union at Lisbon, of becoming the world's most competitive knowledge based economy. 'For this to happen, it is absolutely vital to increase investment and cooperation regarding research and innovation,' he said. But he said that this and any further strengthening of Europe's research base would need more cooperation and collaboration. 'Only if we draw on the combined knowledge of universities and research institutions in the European Union will we be able to compete successfully in the global race...At the same time, we will only be able to solve shared cross border problems if we in Europe combine our research efforts.' Further cooperation must also be accompanied by higher expenditure by Member States in research, he added. The Danish Presidency will be analysing what role research and development should play in the future of Europe, at the same time as the European Convention will be discussing how Europe cooperation should be structured in the long term. 'The Danish Presidency will set the agenda for a European debate regarding to what extent we wish to foster cooperation on research and innovation,' said Mr Sander.
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Denmark