COPRAS

Between early 2004 and 2007, the cooperation platform for research and standards (COPRAS) deployed a series of activities to improve the interfacing process between ICT research and standardization. This included the conclusion of standardization action plans with a series of projects in the EU-funded Sixth Framework Programme and the development of a set of generic standardization guidelines supporting future ICT research projects in their interfacing with standardization. COPRAS’s results show that cooperation and cross-fertilization between research and standardization is perceived as increasingly important by projects, and also demonstrate how direct and indirect support mechanisms are able to increase the amount of tangible results ICT research will be able to contribute to ongoing standards work. However, results also show that structurally improving the research and standards interfacing process will not be possible unless all parties to the process, including the research and standards communities and the administrators of the research programmes, take additional, and continuous, action.

The Integrated Project NF-PRO: Recent Advances in European Research on the Near-Field System

The Integrated Project NF-PRO (Sixth Framework Programme by the European Commission) investigates key-processes in the near-field of a geological repository for the disposal of high-level vitrified waste and spent fuel. The paper discusses the project scope and content and gives a summary overview of advances made by NF-PRO.

Infection-related policy oriented research opportunities, including special call on avian influenza

A draft work programme for a call for proposals for policy oriented research has been published under the Sixth Framework Programme

Encouraging industry participation in the EU's Sixth Framework Programme: Issues, barriers and potential solutions

There is around 100m annually in the Sixth Framework Programme earmarked exclusively for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the life sciences field. That is 15 per cent of the total amount available. But most of it has yet to be allocated. Why are biopharmaceutical SMEs not applying and how can they get access to this money?The Emerging Biopharmaceutical Enterprises (EBE) group teamed up with representatives of the European Commission for the 'Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health' Thematic Priority to help companies understand how they can benefit from the Programme and give them an opportunity to add their ideas to it. Attendees came from 60 biopharmaceutical companies, and the programme was structured to allow companies to ask questions, but also put forward ideas to be included in upcoming Calls for the Sixth Framework Programme, as well as suggestions for improving the Seventh Framework Programme to improve industry participation. The event also gave them the chance to ask the Commission representatives specific questions on the administrative aspects of the Programme. The event was organised in conjunction with the Scientific Officers responsible for the different areas in the Programme; and the external experts who advise the Commission on the content of the future calls and the overall strategy for priority areas and activities of research were also invited. This meeting was designed to be as relaxed and open as possible and put the companies directly in contact with the people who implement the Framework Programme. The input from this session based on the feedback of the attendees has been formally forwarded to the Commission and the Thematic Priority Advisory Group.This paper discusses the aims and focus of the Sixth Framework Programme. It provides an overview of the discussion between the EBE and the representatives from the European Commission for the 'Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health' Thematic Priority and summarises the key problems and solutions arising therein.