Minister for Science, Elisabeth Gehrer, presented the research objectives of the Austrian EU Presidency on Tuesday to the EP Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. Of special importance are the negotiations on the EU’s 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7).
“FP7 is the main instrument for the promotion of research at EU level. A quick adoption of FP7 would be a sign that the European Union is capable of taking action and would enable researchers to improve their planning for the coming years”, said Gehrer.
There are four pillars to FP7. The area of “Cooperation” makes possible transnational research projects in different thematic areas. In the category “Ideas”, funds are provided for increased promotion of basic research. The establishment of a European Research Council is planned. The “People” pillar primarily supports young researchers, and “Capacities” is intended to promote research infrastructure throughout Europe. An additional focus is international cooperation with the Western Balkan countries, for which a steering committee at EU level has been proposed.
Minister Gehrer once again emphasised the importance of the Lisbon Strategy, saying that research, innovation and education are the cornerstones of the Lisbon Strategy’s success. She added it requires a commitment both at European level and at the level of the Member States. Austria leads the European Union in the area of research and development, spending 2.35% of GDP on research, far above the European average of 1.9%. The goal that has been set is to reach 3% of GDP by 2010.
“An important example of the need for cooperation at European level is conducting research into rare diseases. One Member State alone is generally too small and does not have the possibilites to carry out efficient research in the way a larger community does," said Gehrer, outlining the advantages of more intensive cooperation in Europe. “Austria will place increasing emphasis on this initiative”, she added. Elisabeth Gehrer received much support for this objective in the European Parliament.
“The Member States of the EU have increased growth and prosperity through economic cooperation. This is a good example of how together we are stronger," she concluded.
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