Austrian priorities for FP7: SMEs, basic research and higher budget
Austria has adopted its position paper on the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for EU research, marking increased support for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) conducting research, a new emphasis on basic research and a higher research budget as its priorities. If FP7 is to be launched on time, at the beginning of 2007, negotiations will need to be formally concluded by the summer of 2006, and therefore during the Austrian EU Presidency. The country's Science Minister, Elisabeth Gehrer, already has strong idea of the proposals that she would like to see on the table when she is in the driving seat: 'Europe needs higher research investment to be competitive. Austria is therefore speaking out in favour of an increased budget for the framework programme,' she said on 22 November. Other demands from Austria relate to the continuation of the traditional collaborative research projects, improved administrative rules and processes in order to reduce bureaucracy, and increased support for human resources, particularly through mobility grants. The Austrian paper also endorses the proposed introduction of security research at European level, and the creation of a European space policy. Ms Gehrer also declared herself very satisfied with Austria's results thus far from FP6. In terms of successful project proposals, Austria is currently in ninth position. 'Austrian researchers' involvement in successful projects and activities is above average,' said Ms Gehrer. The country's researchers have so far received around 163 million euro from FP6, and while Austria was only receiving 80 per cent of the money that it contributed to FP4, the number of contracts signed in FP6 mean that it is now getting back 100 per cent of what it pays in.
Countries
Austria