Israel renews association to EU's research programme
The European Union and Israel have agreed to renew their science and technological cooperation, giving Israeli researchers, universities and companies full access to the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). Under this agreement, Israel is set to contribute over €440 million to the €50 billion budget of the new framework programme. The association will then enable Israeli researchers to participate in FP7 and receive funding on an equal footing with researchers from EU's Member States. Representatives of Israel will also have the opportunity to participate as observers in FP7 implementing committees and bodies. 'Israel's association to the Framework Programme has proved to be of mutual benefit for both sides over the last couple of years. Whereas the European Research Area will benefit from the renowned excellence of the Israeli research community, Israel will gain full access to the biggest research programme in the world,' said EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik during the signing ceremony in Brussels. 'Today's signature, together with the signing of the other associating instruments with the EEA/EFTA [European Economic Area / European Free Trade Association] States, the enlargement countries and Switzerland signifies the creation of a truly enlarged European Research Area, which will allow scientists, universities and companies from 36 countries to conduct ambitious joint research projects over the next seven years' the Commissioner added. The agreement was signed by the Mr Potocnik and Portuguese Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, José Mariano Gago. Ghaleb Majadele, Minister for Science, Culture and Sport, signed for Israel. The agreement makes the European Union Israel's second largest source of research funding after the Israel Science Foundation. Israel expects to play a key role in FP7. An example of its research involvement is the 'Clean Sky' Joint Technology Initiative. Israel is currently the only nation outside of the EU to participate in the initiative. Under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), Israel performed well. Israeli research bodies participated in over 600 research projects in consortia with European counterparts, including many in the fields of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the life sciences.
Countries
Israel