European Union News - Research & Innovation

The Joint Research Centre has developed a new Tsunami Alerting Device (TAD) which  alert directly people at risk in the event of an incoming tsunami wave. The testing of the prototype device begun on 20 April in Setubal (Portugal).

The European Commission launched of a new website for the MASIS project, 'Monitoring policy and research activities on Science in Society in Europe', which aim is to develop and maintain structural links and interaction opportunities between scientists, policymakers and society in general.

European researchers has linked a type of 'molecular switch', short molecules of ribonucleic acid (miRNA) with panic disorder. This investigation received Community funds and the results have been published recently in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

On 31 March the European Parliament held a debate about ethics in the emerging new technologies. ETICA's final event, presenting its findings, was hosted by the EP's science assessment panel, STOA. One of the conclusions was the need to open a deeper debate on the ethical problems that may arise in the use of these new technologies.

In the framework of EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial held in Gödöllo (Hungary), Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda, EU Home Affairs Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, and Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano agreed to strengthen trans-Atlantic cooperation in cyber-security by defining the issues to be tackled by the EU-US Working Group on Cyber-Security and Cyber-Crime.

The European Commission launches a public consultation to design a 'strategic innovation agenda' of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) fwhich the Commission is due to propose by the end of this year. The agenda will outline the Institute's main priorities until 2020, focusing on the Institute's mission and objectives, funding and future themes. It will be presented by the end of the year by the Commission.

The proposed regulations presented by the European Commission lay down the terms and conditions for obtaining unitary patent protection, its legal effects and the applicable translation arrangements. According to the Commission, this will radically reduce the cost of patents in Europe by up to 80%. EC also hopes that Spain and Italy, who are not yet among the participants, will join the enhanced cooperation.