European Union News - Research & Innovation

The European Commission has launched a consultation on strategic priorities for an EU radio spectrum policy programme for 2011-2015. Industry, consumers and other stakeholders are invited to respond to the consultation by 9 April. A "Spectrum Summit" held jointly by the Commission and the European Parliament will take place on 22/23 March to discuss Europe's spectrum priorities.

The adoption of measures to promote the mobility of researchers and creating more stable and attractive working conditions for this group were two of the subjects discussed this Tuesday by the formal Council of Competitiveness Ministers (Research) in Brussels, chaired by the Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia.

In order to overcome the economic crisis and return to growth, European industry needs to become more innovative and eco-efficient, for example by developing electric cars. With this in mind, a fresh approach to industrial policy was discussed on 1 March by the Competitiveness Council.

A public consultation on what is the best approach to ensure that basic telecoms services are available for all EU citizens has been launched by the European Commission. Current EU rules on universal service obligations for telecoms date from 2002 and guarantee that Europeans have access to public telephone networks and to services like basic internet access.

The first ever European e-Skills Week will take place between 1 st and 5 th of March 2010. European e-Skills Week highlights the growing demand for skilled ICT users and professionals to drive a competitive and innovative Europe. This campaign aims to inform students, young professionals and SMEs about the vast range of opportunities that ICT-related jobs present.

Austrian social scientist Professor Helga Nowotny has been named as the new President of the European Research Council (ERC) and Chair of the ERC Scientific Council. Professor Nowotny will take up her new role on 1 March.

The ambassadors of Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and Serbia in Spain have attended a briefing on the preparatory work for the Danube region strategy ahead of the summit meeting on 25 February in Budapest.

The Journal of Computer Security has launched a special issue highlighting the results of six projects funded under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

The key role of education and training in the recovery of Europe's economy was the main subject on the education ministers' agenda on 15 February. They discussed the importance of learning in the context of the proposal for the new 'EU 2020 strategy' to be adopted at the Spring summit in March.

The 83rd Plenary session of the Committee of the Regions on the 10th February 2010 considered the item "Internet of things – An action plan for Europe and Re-use of Public Sector Information" about the review the application of the PSI re-use Directive

The European Union will offer EUR 20 million to Egypt to promote research and innovation, Ambassador of the European Delegation in Egypt Marc Franco announced at the first Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace in Heliopolis, Egypt in late January.