News
>> Conclusions of the EC Council on the future of European research and research-based innovation
22 December 2009
The Council has recently adopted conclusions on guidance on the future priorities for European research and research-based innovation. These draw on a number of key European Research Area (ERA) policies and provide a concise chronological summary of the main policy developments over the last year. The conclusions state that a limited set of ambitious targets should be considered in the context of the post-2010 EU strategy for competitiveness and growth and for the implementation of the ERA. For further information, see
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/intm/111723.pdf
Source: wbc-inco.net Newsletter, 23 December 2009
>> Survey on RTD Information Systems in the Western Balkan Countries
7 October 2009
WBC-INCO.NET is conducting a survey on RTD information systems in the Western Balkan Countries. An evaluation document will be prepared on the basis of the questionnaires received, identifying shortcomings and advantages of the RTD systems of the seven WBC-INCO.NET countrries. The results will be discussed in a project workshop in Maribor, Slovenia on November 12, 2009. For more information: http://www.wbc-inco.net/object/news/64922.html
>> Better access to European R&D news
23 September 2009
CORDIS has started a new information service. In this so-called Newsroom the content of nearly 50 sources has been brought together. These sources were chosen on the basis of their relevance for European R&D, but also factors like content and quality of the sources were included. With the new service CORDIS users have access to all information through the web, can subscribe to RSS feeds and even have access to feeds of several information sources.
Source: Nether-nieuws (in Dutch); 36th issue, 30 September 2009
>> ERAWATCH offers insight into European Research
2 September 2009
ERAWATCH, the digital information platform of the European Commission on research systems and policy has extended its services. An extra section has been added to the platform entitled European Perspective. This part of the site offers an overview of all research systems and policy in Europe and, among other things, includes a comparison between the EU member states. Moreover the new section provides information on intergovernmental and supranational R&D collaboration programmes related to the ERA.
Source: Nether-nieuws (in Dutch), 36th issue, 30 September 2009
>> First International Open Access Week
The first International Open Access Week will be held October 19-23, 2009.
Open Access Week is an opportunity to broaden awareness and understanding of Open Access to research, including access policies from all types of research funders, within the international higher education community and the general public. The now-annual event has been expanded from a single day to accommodate widespread global interest in the movement toward open, public access to scholarly research results. More information on http://www.openaccessweek.org/about-the-week/
>> FP Evaluation and Monitoring
The Commission has created an entry point for its activities on Framework Programme evaluation and monitoring: http://ec.europa.eu/research/evaluations/index_en.cfm . These activities support the implementation and management of the EU Framework Programmes (FP) and the development of research policy.
Source: wbc-inco.net Newsletter, 14 July 2009
>> Knowledge Exchange seminar held with members of European Commission
On the 22nd of June, Knowledge Exchange held the seminar "Open Access - What are the economic benefits" in Brussels.
The seminar focused on a report written by Professor Houghton, Victoria University, Australia, comparing cost and benefits of OA in the UK, Netherlands and Denmark. The combined report was discussed with various members of the European Commission and other European bodies. In addition to the presentation of the report, responses from various stakeholders and implications for funders were also discussed. Two speakers from the European Commission gave a presentation on the activities they are undertaking in the field of Open Access.
More about the Knowledge Exchange project, the seminar as well as the presentations can be found here.
>> European investments in research 2004-2009
The European Commission has launched a website which provides information on research investments in Europe from 2004 to 2009, the current term of the Commission and the European Parliament. By clicking on the map one can see the main R&D achievements of the respective member states. In the reports focus is on the participation of the member states in FP6 and FP7.
Source: Nether-nieuws (in Dutch); 32nd issue, 29 May 2009
>> EUROHORCs position paper on the ERC Mid-term Review
The European Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCs) have published a position paper on the European Research Council (ERC). This was written within the framework of the mid-term evaluation of the functioning of the ERC. In this position paper EUROHORCs supports the ERC, but also mentions some challenges for the future. These relate to matters like the reducing the excessive administrative burden, the providing of more information and transparency and a solid legal basis for the ERC. EUROHORCs concludes the paper by joining the statement from the FP6 evaluation report: "The ERC must be supported by a strong political mandate to play a role in funding European frontier research".
Source: Nether-nieuws (in Dutch); 32nd issue, 29 May 2009