Society - the endless frontier
Directorate-General XII of the European Commission, responsible for science, research and development, has published a report presenting European policies for research and innovation in the 21st century and outlining the general context in which these are being developed. The report, "Society, the endless frontier - a European vision of research and innovation policies for the 21st century", provides a basis for reflection on the policy options being put forward within the Community's Fifth Framework Programme for research and technological development. The authors describe the economic and geopolitical context in which European research efforts are evolving, marked, in particular, by the emergence of new powers in Asia. They highlight and analyse the complex relationships between research and society and describe how the Fifth Framework Programme, by adopting a new approach based on the concept of "Key Actions", is attempting to take account of these new relationships in order to make sure that Europe disposes of the level and quality of research necessary to ensure competitiveness in the global market.