Commissioner Cresson sets objective for Fifth Framework Programme

"Inventing tomorrow" is the objective of the Fifth Framework Programme, according to Edith Cresson, European Commissioner responsible for research, innovation, education, training and youth. She was introducing the major conference that the European Commission is organising in...

"Inventing tomorrow" is the objective of the Fifth Framework Programme, according to Edith Cresson, European Commissioner responsible for research, innovation, education, training and youth. She was introducing the major conference that the European Commission is organising in Essen, Germany, on 25 and 26 February 1999 to launch the Fifth Framework Programme, which will cover all the research, technological development and demonstration activities of the European Union for the period 1999-2002.

"In order to meet the challenges of the transition to a 'knowledge-based society', the Fifth Framework Programme will be quite different from its predecessors in terms of both content and operation," said Commissioner Cresson. "The intention is to move away from research for its own sake and towards research focusing on current socio-economic problems, that is research with the potential to accomplish the changes expected by the general public.

"Inventing tomorrow - that is the goal of European research - joining forces in order to acquire a better understanding of the world in which we live, to resolve the problems of today and anticipate those of tomorrow, and to improve our quality of life.

"The EU's Fifth Framework Programme for research and technological development will make a substantial contribution by helping:

- Companies get to grips with the knowledge and expertise;
- Increasingly technological in nature - necessary to face up to the challenges presented by the new millennium and increasing globalisation;
- European society use technical progress to find innovative solutions to the major problems which confront it, such as employment, health, environment, energy supply, transport and mobility, education and training;
- Europe's citizens enjoy a high quality of life, and, providing the conditions that can ensure their personal and material development.

"It is the intention of this conference to present the new objectives, activities, and modus operandi of the Fifth Framework Programme. By explaining the "ground rules" to those concerned, it should enable them to play an active role in establishing a solid scientific and technological base, on which Europe can build its future - can invent tomorrow," said Commissioner Cresson.

The provisional programme for the conference is as follows.

25 February 1999

9.00 Welcome

10.00 Addresses by Commissioner Edith Cresson, Mrs. Bulmahn, President-in-Office of the Research Council and Mr. Clement, Minister-President of the Land Nordrhein-Westfalen

10.45 Objectives of the conference
- Presentation of the programmes;
- Workshops;
- Press/project presentations.

11.00 Quality of life and management of living resources
Who can participate?
Press conference and opening of the exhibition

12.00 Information Society
How to submit a proposal
Quality of life and management of living resources - projects

13.00 Buffet Lunch

14.30 Competitive and sustainable growth
From the proposal to the project: negotiating and following up the contract
Joint Research Centre - projects

15.30 Preserving the ecosystem
Dissemination and exploitation of results
Competitive and sustainable growth - projects

16.30 Measures to encourage the participation of SMEs
Preserving the ecosystem - projects

17.00 Joint Research Centre

17.30 The new opportunities offered by the countries that have applied to join the EU
Information society - projects

18.30 Reception


26 February 1999

9.00 International role of Community research
Who can participate?
SME - projects

10.00 Innovation and SMEs
How to submit a proposal
International role of community research - projects

11.00 Human potential and socio-economic knowledge base
From the proposal to the project: negotiating and following up the contract Innovation - projects

12.00 Round table:
- Towards the 6th Framework Programme: European research in the 21st century;
- Debate led by a journalist with eminent personalities from politics, research and industry, etc
"Dissemination and exploitation of results of the Fifth Framework Programme"
Workshop-debate:
- Women and science: recent developments and specific measures in the Fifth Framework Programme.

13.00 Buffet Lunch

14.30 Free time: contacts; visiting the exhibition
Measures to encourage the participation of SMEs
Human potential and socio-economic knowledge base

17.00 Close


The accompanying exhibition will be in two main parts:

- Information about programmes/projects: general information stand, "Inventing tomorrow", information stands for the individual programmes, and several "success story" projects per programme;
- "Agora" areas at which participants (individuals/organisations) can introduce themselves, discuss projects, etc., computer-based bulletin board system, and an Internet site accessible during the exhibition to enable researchers, companies, etc., to express their interest in participating in a particular key action.

Countries

Germany