Joint programming reinvents EU research
The aim of the EU-funded project BE2010-CONFERENCE_JP project was to apply the concept of joint programming across the European research agenda. This has led to the pooling of national research efforts, significantly upgrading the use of European resources available for research and development. Held in Belgium in 2010, the project conference addressed misconceptions regarding joint programming and the role of different actors in fostering a knowledge-based society through increased investment in research. Noting that only 5–15 % of research financing came from the EU and the rest from regional or national levels, the conference aimed to take joint programming to new heights. It worked on reinforcing financial cross-border cooperation, developing a common agenda on public funding, and supporting scientific research and innovation in more efficient ways. To achieve its aims, BE2010-CONFERENCE_JP identified four key areas where funding challenges could be overcome through joint programming initiatives. The first topic covered agriculture, food security and climate change, while the second focused on a 'healthy diet for a healthy life'. Another topic was neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, particularly significant in light of Europe's rapidly increasing elderly population. The fourth topic focused on cultural heritage and global change, an issue that has major socio-political and economic implications for the EU. Joint programming, in this sense, has become an important key to overcoming major challenges across the EU, one that is destined to change the way in which Europeans view research. By advancing the European Research Area (ERA) and strategically boosting research coordination, the joint programming strategy could help bring a better life to millions of Europeans. From helping to combat disease and reinforcing agriculture to safeguarding our heritage, this new research paradigm is expected to encourage a new, dynamic and more optimistic era for the EU.