European Union News - Research & Innovation

The Seventh Framework Programme has funded a project that aims to reinforce equity and effectiveness of sanitary services in sub-Saharan Africa. Problems related to reproductive health have a special incidence in teenagers.

Companies, experts and skateholders in FP7 will meet on June 3rd in Brussels to attend an event organized by ACC1Ó, the catalan agency for the support of competitiveness and innovation of the companies.

A new EU-funded project is developing a system that will save lives and mitigate damage to property and the environment in the aftermath of disasters. The two-year project is called GEO-PICTURES, and EUR 2.4 million of its EUR 3.2 million budget comes from the Space Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

The European Commission encourages the creation of a joint program between the member states to promote research and prevention of diet-related diseases.It will identify the needs and objectives in this field through a strategic agenda.

Speaking at the European Patent Forum on Thursday, Spain's Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Miguel Sebastián, announced that the processing time for renewable energy patents will be cut from the current 33-month period to no more than 12 months.

The European Commission has unveiled a plan to simplify the procedures for taking part in EU-funded research projects. The overall aim is to make participation transparent and attractive to the best researchers and innovative companies in Europe and beyond.

A network of international, world-class web researchers has created an alliance to support research and education programmes into web science. The Web Science Trust Network of Laboratories (WSTNet) will count some of the leading academic researchers in web science among its members and will help enhance the growing influence of the Web.

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Commission have honoured the five prizewinners from Germany, Switzerland, the USA and Canada at a gala ceremony in Madrid under the presence of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias.

BILAT-USA and Link2US have now launched a new web portal offering the latest information on joint EU-US activities and initiatives, as well as key documents and overviews that will advance transatlantic research cooperation.

Political representatives, academics and members of the business community will debate on innovation, with emphasis on the European Innovation Plan. The conference, jointly organised between the Spanish ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Commision, will be an opportunity to exchange views on the way forward in the field of innovation.