Commission presents its new strategy for boosting international science co-operation

The European Commission presented a new strategy for developing international cooperation in research and innovation. The strategy proposes to further focus cooperation on EU strategic priorities while maintaining the tradition of openness to third country participation in EU research. It will be mainly implemented through Horizon 2020, the EU's funding programme for research and innovation from 2014.

The new strategy to foster the international science co-operation presented by the European Commission will be mainly applied implemented through Horizon 2020, the EU's funding programme for research and innovation from 2014 - the programme presented in November 2011, as well as through joint initiatives with EU Member States. The new strategy proposes to further focus cooperation on EU strategic priorities while maintaining the tradition of openness to third country participation in EU research. This includes addressing global challenges, but also making Europe more attractive as a location for research and innovation, and boosting industrial competitiveness.

In addition to Horizon 2020 being fully open to international participation, the strategy also calls for improving the policy dialogue with our partners and for improved information gathering as part of a proposed Research and Innovation Observatory. The European Union will also aim to increase its leverage in relevant international organisations.

EU research programmes are open to participation from across the globe. Currently, 6% of participants in the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7) come from third countries. Through the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), for instance, 14 EU Member States, Switzerland, Norway and 47 sub-Saharan countries now collaborate to develop new drugs and vaccines to combat HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.