Commissioner champions research at Dublin event to launch new FP7 call
EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation and Science Márie Geoghegan-Quinn presented the final and largest call under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) at a special information session hosted by the European Commission Representation in Ireland on 11 July. The Dublin event was attended by key players from the worlds of research, academia, industry, media and government as well as a plethora of FP7 participants. 'The key to competitiveness for just about any economy in the world right now is knowledge, and that means research and innovation,' said Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn. 'For Europe, research and innovation are critical. For Ireland, a small and open economy in Europe, it is even more so. If Europe wants to continue to compete in the 21st century, we must support the research and innovation that will generate growth and jobs.' She continued: 'I am proud that we are announcing EUR 8.1 billion for new EU research projects, with funding going to all types of research organisations, individual researchers and innovative businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).' This final FP7 call, which acts as a bridge to Horizon 2020 (the next funding programme for EU research that will run from 2014-2020), sees EUR 1.2 billion set aside for SMEs, including EUR 970 million available under the Cooperation Theme and EUR 250 million for the dedicated SMEs programme 'Research for the benefit of SMEs'. The event also saw the official launch of the 'Research in Action' exhibition, a special event that showcased research projects funded under FP7. Several Irish coordinators and partners of FP7-funded research projects met with the Commissioner to discuss their work and how FP7 support has made the difference. One project exhibiting was RUBICON ('Robotics UBIquitous COgnitive Network'), which received EUR 2,506,767 under FP7's ICT Theme. Coordinated by the University College Dublin, Ireland the project aim is to develop a self-learning robotic ecology made up of robotic devices, wireless sensors and effectors embedded in everyday environments, which cooperate in the performance of complex tasks such as supporting an older person to live independently. A self-learning robotic ecology that can adapt to changes in user needs or in the environment with minimum human supervision will lead to cheaper, smarter and more useful robotic solutions. Another project will assess the risk of developing type 2 diabetes: researchers working on the DEXLIFE ('Mechanisms of prevention of type 2 diabetes by lifestyle intervention in subjects with pre-diabetes or at high-risk for progression') project, which received EUR 5.5 million of funding under the Health Theme of FP7, are working on identifying novel diagnostic and predictive biomarkers which can more effectively detect the progression toward diabetes in high-risk individuals. Moreover, these biomarkers will also predict individual responsiveness to lifestyle interventions which aim to reduce the likelihood of developing full-blown type 2 diabetes. Other projects at the event are working on societal challenges such as how sugar levels are being used to develop reliable and fast diagnostic tests for the early detection of cancer, how a new-to-the-world wave energy convertor works, and where to find out more about a coral reef discovered off the west coast of Ireland. The exhibition ran from 9-20 July and was open to the general public.For more information, please visit: European Commission Representation in Ireland: http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/about_us/index_en.htm(opens in new window)
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Ireland