UK Council Presidency to launch new R&D Information Service on 1 January 1998
CORDIS, the Community Research and Development Information Service, will host a new World Wide Web information service for the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union's Council of Ministers from 1 January 1998. The new "United Kingdom Council Presidency RTD Information Service" has been developed in order to help communicate information on important developments taking place in the area of research and technological development during the UK's term as Council President, 1 January - 30 June 1998. The service has been developed jointly by CORDIS and the UK Office of Science and Technology (OST), part of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). On Tuesday 9 December the new service will be previewed during an "unveiling ceremony" to be held at the EU stand during the Online '97 Exhibition in London. Officials from the DTI and the European Commission will give a short "preview" presentation of the service which will be officially launched on 8 January 1998, when John Battle MP, British Minister for Science, Energy and Industry, and Edith Cresson, EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation, Education, Training and Youth, gather for the "Handover Meeting" in London. This information service has been established to provide regularly updated information on a range of issues covered by the EU Research Council. It will also communicate information on research and related developments in the UK during the course of the Presidency. The UK will be in the chair at a particularly crucial stage in the development of the EU's main research policy, with major decisions to be taken on the Fifth Framework Programme which will set out the EU's research strategy for the next five years. The United Kingdom Council Presidency RTD Information Service is intended to broaden understanding of the many and varied activities, initiatives, events and other opportunities supported by the EU and executed in the Member States. The European scientific, research, academic, education and business communities, who are the target users of this service, will also benefit through an increased understanding of the range of policy issues which are considered by the Research Council. The service, which will be updated weekly and is available in English, French and German, will also feature a unique on-line Press Service which will report the latest news on RTD issues, activities and decisions within the UK during the six-month UK Council Presidency. The United Kingdom Council Presidency RTD Information Service is hosted by CORDIS, a free service offered by the European Commission's INNOVATION programme. CORDIS helps users across Europe and around the world access timely and comprehensive information on how to participate in, and benefit from, EU research and innovation development activities.
Countries
United Kingdom