European Union News - Research & Innovation

In the framework of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme, researchers from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany have developed a new space surveillance system to keep abreast of the increasing quantities of space debris floating around the orbital highway.

EU-funded researchers have discovered that terminally ill patients would rather give their quality of life a boost than extend the time they have left. The study's findings were discussed at a symposium held by the PRISMA project consortium on 24 March. According to the project partners, more focus should be placed on quality of life together with potentially life-prolonging treatments.

According to a report from the EU-funded UPWIND ('Integrated wind turbine design') project, giant 20 megawatt (MW) wind turbines are feasible and could provide a cost-effective way of expanding Europe's offshore wind capacity and providing cheaper electricity.

The use of such smart tags is expanding enormously -around 1 billion in Europe in 2011- but there are widespread concerns about their privacy implications. This is the reason why the Commission has signed a voluntary agreement the stakeholders involved on its use to establish guidelines for all companies in Europe to address the data protection implications of smart tags.

The European Commission has announced its support to the cross-European electromobility initiative, Green eMotion, by collaborating with the other 42 partners from the industries, utilities, electric car manufacturers, municipalities, universities and technology and research institutions. The European Commission will make available 24.2 million euro from the 7th Framework Programme, in a total budget for the project estimated at 41.8 million euro.

In the occasion of the celebration of the 2011 Aeronautical Days held in Madrid on 30 March 2011, Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, presented a new long-term vision prepared by a high-level group on aviation and aeronautics research. Organised by the Spanish Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) and the Commission, the 2011 Aerodays provide an opportunity to present and disseminate information about EU-funded results of research and technological development activities.

The European Commission has launched a competition for researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, students and other creative individuals to suggest a relevant, appealing and catchy name for the new EU research and innovation programme that will run post-2013. All those willing to take part in this contest can send their suggestions to the Commission by 10 May. All suggestions will be reviewed by an international jury and shortlisted ideas will be them voted online.

The European Research Council (ERC) has launched a new funding initiative under the title “Proof of Concept” which aims to stimulate innovation by providing funding to researchers already holding an ERC grant, and supporting their outstanding research projects at the frontiers of knowledge. First Proof of Concept call is expected to be published on 29 March with deadlines in June and November 2011.

Key players in business, academia, finance, policy and green groups met together at the 10th Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) Forum on Eco-Innovation held on 22 March in Birmingham, where some business case studies on sustainable material management were presented. The event aimed to encourage innovation through cross-fertilisation between disciplines and sectors as well as identify and prioritise the key issues that need to be addressed by Government and EU action.

The European Commission has decided to set up a major multi-national research databank on population ageing, which will be the first ever research infrastructure project to enjoy the new legal status as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). This legal status will make such projects easier to set up and simpler to run. Commission's Decision setting up SHARE-ERIC Consortium has been published in the Official Journal of the EU on 18 March.