EU and US to continue joint biotechnology research
During an official visit to the US, European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik signed the renewal of an agreement on an EC-US Task force on Biotechnology Research. Established in 1990 at the initiative of the European Commission and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the mandate of the Task Force is to 'anticipate the needs of tomorrow's science, today'. It does this by bringing together officials, scientific leaders and younger researchers to discuss future research challenges and promote better links between scientific communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Topics currently being addressed by the Task Force include environmental biotechnology, plant science and plant-based bio products, obesity and emerging infectious diseases such as avian flu and SARS. 'The EC-US Task Force on biotechnology research represents a long-standing relationship between equal partners,' said Mr Janez Potocnik. 'Europe is determined to remain an important global player in life sciences and biotechnology research, and a continuing international dialogue with the US and other key players is important for us. The renewed signature constitutes a symbol of a continued effort toward closer scientific cooperation between the EU and USA in this promising field of research.'
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