EU and Canada agree to closer scientific collaboration
Closer scientific collaboration was recognised as a priority at the EU and Canada joint summit on 19 December. Two joint statements, one on general areas of cooperation and one on northern issues, both recognise the mutual benefit of closer collaboration and pledge to achieve this. 'We [...] recognise the growing importance of science and technology to our economies and the benefits of closer collaboration. The themes and instrument's of the EC's Sixth Framework Programme broadly correspond with Canada's strengths and interests,' reads one statement. A number of areas were singled out in which closer cooperation should be explored. These include the environment, including climate change, environmental monitoring, sustainable development and resource management; biotechnology, specifically genomics and health applications; the information society; food safety; nanotechnology and space, including its key facilitation role in earth observation, telecommunications and navigation. The summit also affirmed the growing importance of cooperation in scientific research relating to northern issues. Areas such as earth observation and the environment, natural resources and transport and research infrastructures have previously been identified as issues of mutual interest. Canada has since funded five seed projects, focusing on these areas and involving Canadian and European researchers. The summit saw agreement on future sector specific workshops, aimed at developing consortia and integrated projects in areas such as hydrogen fuel cells and the use of earth observation technologies. Cooperation in information technology was also highlighted as an area for closer collaboration. 'Providing access to services in remote northern regions is a challenge and it is clear that information technology offers real and potential solutions to many of these challenges,' claims the joint statement on northern issues. Working groups have already been established on high speed research networks and broadband interconnection, information and communication technology security, eSkills, eCommerce, eGovernment, eIndicators and eEnvironment and delegates at the summit also pledged to 'seek to exchange information and experiences on information technology initiatives in the field of education' and to explore potential links between the University of the Arctic and the EU education programmes. The importance of exchange was also underlined with regard to higher education: 'Exchanges between our young people are especially important. We recognise and support the role of higher education and training in the global knowledge economy.'