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Green light for EU science plan | Green light for EU science plan |
(20 minutes later) | |
The European Parliament has approved a 54bn euro (£36bn) plan to boost science research in Europe. | The European Parliament has approved a 54bn euro (£36bn) plan to boost science research in Europe. |
Framework Programme 7 (FP7) is designed to support several priority areas of research. | Framework Programme 7 (FP7) is designed to support several priority areas of research. |
Of the different research categories, information technology gets the biggest chunk of funding, with a 9.1bn euro (£6bn) budget. | Of the different research categories, information technology gets the biggest chunk of funding, with a 9.1bn euro (£6bn) budget. |
But research into climate change and energy have received a comparatively small amount of funding in the plan. | But research into climate change and energy have received a comparatively small amount of funding in the plan. |
The Parliament gave the go-ahead to the plan on Thursday at its second reading. FP7 is due to be formally adopted by the EU on 5 December. The programme is due to run from 2007 to 2013. | The Parliament gave the go-ahead to the plan on Thursday at its second reading. FP7 is due to be formally adopted by the EU on 5 December. The programme is due to run from 2007 to 2013. |
Fulfilling reforms | Fulfilling reforms |
Speaking at a press conference to announce the agreement, Janez Potocnik, commissioner for science and research at the European Commission said it was "a great day". | |
He said: "In financial terms, this is a major improvement over the last framework programme. In real terms, there are 40% more funds on average per year." | |
FP7 will contribute to fulfilling the reforms laid out in the "Lisbon strategy", which aims to make Europe the "most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world". | |
Another objective in the strategy was to boost Europe's research and development spend to 3% of GDP by 2010. But observers say Europe now looks set to miss this objective. | Another objective in the strategy was to boost Europe's research and development spend to 3% of GDP by 2010. But observers say Europe now looks set to miss this objective. |
Peter Cotgreave, director of the UK Campaign for Science and Engineering (Case), told BBC News: "At about 7 billion Euros annually, Framework 7 represents about three quarters of one percent of the EU's national product, as far away from the Lisbon target as Helsinki is from Valletta. | Peter Cotgreave, director of the UK Campaign for Science and Engineering (Case), told BBC News: "At about 7 billion Euros annually, Framework 7 represents about three quarters of one percent of the EU's national product, as far away from the Lisbon target as Helsinki is from Valletta. |
He continued: "This is frankly unrealistic within the timescale of the Lisbon agenda. It means that within just over three years, the EU countries are going to find another 118bn euros a year for research, enough for every man, woman and child in the EU to fly backwards and forwards from London to Athens twice." | He continued: "This is frankly unrealistic within the timescale of the Lisbon agenda. It means that within just over three years, the EU countries are going to find another 118bn euros a year for research, enough for every man, woman and child in the EU to fly backwards and forwards from London to Athens twice." |
Enabling technology | Enabling technology |
FP7 is set into five parts including the "co-operation" programme which lays out funding for specific research areas. | FP7 is set into five parts including the "co-operation" programme which lays out funding for specific research areas. |
Information and communication technology (ICT) is the biggest winner, followed by health (6bn euros), transport (4bn euros) and nanotechnology (3bn euros). | Information and communication technology (ICT) is the biggest winner, followed by health (6bn euros), transport (4bn euros) and nanotechnology (3bn euros). |
Antonia Mochan, spokesperson for science and research at the European Commission, told BBC News: "ICT tends to be an area where you can invest and get a lot back. It is also an enabling technology. A breakthrough in ICT can have all sorts of impacts across all sorts of areas. | Antonia Mochan, spokesperson for science and research at the European Commission, told BBC News: "ICT tends to be an area where you can invest and get a lot back. It is also an enabling technology. A breakthrough in ICT can have all sorts of impacts across all sorts of areas. |
"Miniaturising a [computer] chip for example, or making it as bendy as paper, can apply across a whole range of different industrial sectors. So its potential is that much greater than in some other areas." | "Miniaturising a [computer] chip for example, or making it as bendy as paper, can apply across a whole range of different industrial sectors. So its potential is that much greater than in some other areas." |
But the money available for energy and environmental research is comparatively small. Energy research will receive a 2bn euro budget and environmental research will receive 1.8bn euros. | But the money available for energy and environmental research is comparatively small. Energy research will receive a 2bn euro budget and environmental research will receive 1.8bn euros. |
However, Ms Mochan said individual scientific projects could receive funding from different parts of the cooperation programme. | However, Ms Mochan said individual scientific projects could receive funding from different parts of the cooperation programme. |
Scientists have warned that Europe faces a "brain drain" if it does not make good on promises to boost its knowledge-based economy and becomes a less attractive place to carry out research. | Scientists have warned that Europe faces a "brain drain" if it does not make good on promises to boost its knowledge-based economy and becomes a less attractive place to carry out research. |