Corrigendum to Council Decision 2006/971/EC of 19 December 2006 concerning the specific programme ‘Cooperation’ implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

( Official Journal of the European Union L 400 of 30 December 2006 )

Decision 2006/971/EC should read as follows:

This Decision shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Commission shall arrange for the independent monitoring, assessment and review provided for in Article 7 of the Framework Programme to be conducted concerning the activities carried out in the fields covered by the specific programme.

4. The Commission shall regularly inform the Committee of the overall progress of the implementation of the specific programme, and shall provide it with timely information on all RTD actions proposed or funded under this programme as specified in Annex V.

The period laid down for in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.

the approval of the funding of actions involving the use of human embryos and human embryonic stem cells.

the work programme regarding the thematic area referred to in point (j) of Article 2, and the approval of the funding of actions under that thematic area;

3. The regulatory procedure laid down in Article 8(3) shall apply for the adoption of the following measures:

the drawing up of the terms of reference for the evaluations provided for in Articles 7(2) and 7(3) of the Framework Programme.

the approval of the funding of actions, other than those referred to in point (c) of this paragraph and the thematic area (j) referred to in Article 2, where the estimated amount of the Community contribution under this programme is equal to or more than EUR 0,6 million;

the approval of the funding of actions under the thematic areas (a) — (g) and (i) referred to in Article 2, where the estimated amount of the Community contribution under this programme is equal to or more than EUR 1,5 million;

any adjustment to the indicative breakdown of the amount as set out in Annex II;

the work programme referred to in Article 6 including the funding schemes to be used, the content of the calls for proposals as well as the evaluation and selection criteria to be applied;

2. The management procedure laid down in Article 8(2) shall apply for the adoption of the following measures:

3. Proposals for indirect actions under the funding schemes shall be evaluated and projects shall be selected considering the criteria set out in Article 15(1a) of the rules for participation and dissemination.

2. The work programme shall take account of relevant research activities carried out by the Member States, associated countries and European and international organisations, and the achievement of European added-value as well the impact on industrial competitiveness and the relevance for other Community policies. It shall be updated where appropriate.

1. The Commission shall draw up a work programme for the implementation of this specific programme, setting out in greater detail the objectives and scientific and technological priorities set out in Annex I, the funding scheme to be used for the topic on which proposals are invited, and the timetable for implementation.

3. Annex IV sets out an indicative list of possible joint technology initiatives that could be the subject of separate decisions and an indicative list of initiatives for the possible joint implementation of national research programmes that could be the subject of a separate decision on the basis of Article 169 of the Treaty.

2. Annex III to this specific programme sets out the arrangements for a grant to the EIB for the establishment of a risk-sharing finance facility.

1. The specific programme shall be implemented by means of the funding schemes established in Annex III to the Framework Programme.

4. The fields of research set out above shall be reviewed for the second phase of this programme (2010 to 2013) in the light of scientific advances.

As regards the derivation of human embryonic stem cells, institutions, organisations and researchers shall be subject to strict licensing and control in accordance with the legal framework of the Member State(s) involved.

Any application for financing for research on human embryonic stem cells shall include, as appropriate, details of licensing and control measures that will be taken by the competent authorities of the Member States as well as details of the ethical approval(s) that will be provided.

3. Research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member State(s) involved.

research activities intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

2. The following fields of research shall not be financed under this programme:

1. All the research activities carried out under the specific programme shall be carried out in compliance with fundamental ethical principles.

In accordance with Annex II of the Framework Programme, the amount deemed necessary for the execution of the specific programme shall be EUR 32 413 million, of which less than 6 % shall be for the Commission's administrative expenditure. An indicative breakdown of this amount is given in Annex II.

The objectives and the broad lines of these activities are set out in Annex I.

Implementation of this specific programme may give rise to supplementary programmes involving the participation of certain Member States only, the participation of the Community in programmes undertaken by several Member States, or the setting up of joint undertakings or other arrangements within the meaning of Articles 168, 169 and 171 of the Treaty.

The specific programme shall support the activities for cooperation supporting the whole range of research actions carried out in trans-national cooperation in the following thematic areas:

The specific programme ‘Cooperation’ for Community activities in the area of research and technological development, including demonstration activities, hereinafter the ‘specific programme’, is hereby adopted for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

In the implementation of this programme adequate attention needs to be paid to gender mainstreaming, as well as to, inter alia, working conditions, transparency of recruitment processes, and career development as regards the researchers recruited on projects and programmes funded under the actions of this programme, for which the Commission Recommendation of 11 March 2005 on the European Charter for Researchers and on a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (10) offers a reference framework, while respecting its voluntary nature,

Each thematic area should have its own budget line in the general budget of the European Communities.

Since the measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision are essentially management measures, they should therefore be adopted by the management procedure provided for in Article 4 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999, laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (9) . On the other hand, research involving the use of human embryos and human embryonic stem cells raises specific ethical issues, as described in Article 4 of this Decision. Moreover, RTD actions involving research under the ‘Security’ theme represent a new and very sensitive area, in particular with regard to potential threats and security incidents. Therefore, measures for the financing of such projects should be adopted by the regulatory procedure provided for in Article 5 of Decision 1999/468/EC.

Appropriate measures — proportionate to the European Communities' financial interests — should be taken to monitor both the effectiveness of the financial support granted and the effectiveness of the utilisation of these funds in order to prevent irregularities and fraud and the necessary steps should be taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests (6) , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (7) and Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (8) .

Sound financial management of the Framework Programme and its implementation should be ensured in the most effective and user-friendly manner possible, while ensuring legal certainty and the accessibility of the programme for all participants, in compliance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (4) and Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) 2342/2002 (5) laying down detailed rules for the implementation of that Financial Regulation and any future amendments.

Research activities carried out within this programme should respect fundamental ethical principles, including those which are reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

As provided for under Article 170 of the Treaty, the Community has concluded a number of international agreements in the field of research and efforts should be made to strengthen international research cooperation with a view to further integrating the Community into the world-wide research community. Therefore, this specific programme should be open to the participation of countries having concluded agreements to this effect and should also be open on the project level, and on the basis of mutual benefit, to the participation of entities from third countries and of international organisations for scientific cooperation.

Appropriate involvement of SMEs through concrete measures and specific actions for their benefit should be supported under this specific programme, in complementarity with other Community programmes.

This specific programme should provide a contribution to the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the constitution of a ‘risk-sharing finance facility’ in order to improve access to EIB loans.

Implementation of the Framework Programme may give rise to supplementary programmes involving the participation of certain Member States only, the participation of the Community in programmes undertaken by several Member States, or the setting up of joint undertakings or other arrangements within the meaning of Articles 168, 169 and 171 of the Treaty.

Innovation and SME-related activities supported under this Framework Programme should be complementary to those undertaken under the Framework Programme for Competitiveness and Innovation which will contribute to closing the gap between research and innovation, and promote all forms of innovation.

The Framework Programme should complement the activities carried out in the Member States as well as other Community actions that are necessary for the overall strategic effort for the implementation of the Lisbon objectives, alongside in particular those on structural funds, agriculture, education, training, culture, competitiveness and innovation, industry, health, consumer protection, employment, energy, transport and environment.

The rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities and for the dissemination of research results, for the Framework Programme (hereinafter referred to as the rules for participation and dissemination) should apply to this specific programme.

The Framework Programme is structured in four types of activities: trans-national cooperation on policy-defined themes (Cooperation), investigator-driven research based on the initiative of the research community (Ideas), support of training and career development of researchers (People), and support of research capacities (Capacities). Activities under ‘Cooperation’ as regards indirect actions should be implemented by this specific programme.

In accordance with Article 166(3) of the Treaty, Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (3) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Framework Programme’) is to be implemented through specific programmes that define detailed rules for their implementation, fix their duration and provide for the means deemed necessary.

concerning the specific programme ‘Cooperation’ implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

ANNEX I

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES, BROAD LINES OF THE THEMES AND ACTIVITIES

In this specific programme, support will be provided for trans-national cooperation at every scale across the European Union and beyond, in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields of the progress of knowledge and technology, where research must be supported and strengthened to address European social, economic, public health, environmental and industrial challenges.

The overarching aim is to contribute to sustainable development within the context of promoting research, the primary purpose of which is to increase knowledge, at the highest level of excellence.

The ten themes determined for Community action are the following:

(1) Health;

(2) Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology;

(3) Information and communication technologies;

(4) Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;

(5) Energy;

(6) Environment (including climate change);

(7) Transport (including Aeronautics);

(8) Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities;

(9) Space;

(10) Security.

Each theme is described in terms of the objective, the approach to implementation, and the activities including those involving large-scale initiatives (as set out indicatively in Annex IV), international cooperation, emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs.

The principle of sustainable development will be duly taken into account. According to the European policy of equal opportunities between women and men, set out in Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty, the activities of the specific programme will ensure the implementation of appropriate measures to promote gender equality and the participation of women researchers. Furthermore, considerations of the ethical, social, legal and wider cultural aspects of the research to be undertaken and its potential applications, as well as socio-economic impacts of scientific and technological development and foresight, will where relevant form a part of the activities under this specific programme.

Pluridisciplinary and cross-thematic research, including joint calls

Special attention will be paid to priority scientific and technological areas which cut across themes, such as marine sciences and technologies. Pluridisciplinarity will be encouraged by joint cross-thematic approaches to research and technology subjects relevant to more than one theme. Such cross-thematic approaches will be implemented, among others, through:

— the use of joint calls between themes where a research topic is clearly relevant to the activities under each of the respective themes,

— the special emphasis within the ‘emerging needs’ activity for cross-disciplinary research,

— the use of external advice, including from researchers, from a broad range of disciplines and backgrounds for establishing the work programme,

— regular reporting on cross-thematic research areas as part of the overall monitoring, assessment and review of the programme,

— for policy-relevant research, ensuring coherence with Community policies.

Coordination between the themes in this specific programme and the actions under other specific programmes of the Seventh Framework Programme, such as those on research infrastructures in the ‘Capacities’ specific programme, will be ensured by the European Commission (12).

Adaptation to evolving needs and opportunities

The continued industrial relevance of the themes, and the continued participation of industry in them, will be ensured by relying, among other sources, on the work of the various ‘European technology platforms’. This specific programme, together with the contributions made by industry, will thereby contribute to the implementation of relevant Strategic Research Agendas such as those established and developed by the European technology platforms where these present genuine European added value. The broad research needs identified in available Strategic Research Agendas are already well reflected across the ten themes. European technology platforms, with possible participation of regional research-driven clusters, can play a role to facilitate and organise the participation of industry, including SMEs, in research projects relating to their specific field, including projects eligible for funding under the Framework Programme. The more detailed incorporation of their technical content will be reflected subsequently when formulating the detailed work programme for specific calls for proposals.

The continued relevance of the themes to the formulation, implementation and assessment of Community policies and regulations will also be ensured. This concerns policy areas such as those of health, safety, consumer protection, energy, the environment, development aid, fisheries, maritime affairs, agriculture, animal health and welfare, transport, education and training, information society and media, employment, social affairs, cohesion, and the establishment of an area for freedom, security and justice, along with pre-normative and co-normative research relevant to improving interoperability and the quality of standards and their implementation. In this context, platforms that bring together stakeholders with the research community to consider strategic research agendas relevant to social, environmental or other policy areas may play a role.

Under each theme, besides the activities defined, specific actions to respond to ‘emerging needs’ and ‘unforeseen policy needs’ will be implemented in an open and flexible way. The implementation of these actions will ensure a simple, coherent and coordinated approach throughout the specific programme and the funding of cross-disciplinary research cutting across or lying outside the themes.

— Future and emerging technologies: through specific support for research proposals aiming at identifying or further exploring new scientific and technological opportunities in a given field and/or in their combination with other relevant areas and disciplines through specific support for spontaneous research proposals, including by joint calls; to nurture novel ideas and radically new uses and to explore new options in research roadmaps in particular linked with a potential for significant breakthroughs; adequate coordination with the activities carried out under the ‘Ideas’ programme will be guaranteed in order to avoid overlap and ensure an optimum use of funding. This will be implemented through: — open, ‘bottom up’ research on topics identified by researchers themselves to develop new scientific and technological opportunities (Adventure actions) or to assess new discoveries or newly-observed phenomena which could indicate risks or problems to society (Insight actions), — initiatives focused on specific, highly challenging objectives in emerging scientific and technological fields that promise major advances and a large potential impact on economic and social developments, and may involve groups of complementary projects (Pathfinder actions).

— Unforeseen policy needs: to respond in a flexible way to new policy needs that arise during the course of the Framework Programme, such as unforeseen developments or events requiring a quick reaction like new epidemics, emerging concerns in food safety, natural disaster responses or actions of solidarity. This will be implemented in close relationship with the relevant Community policies. The annual work programme may be altered in the event of urgent research needs.

Dissemination, knowledge transfer and broader engagement

The dissemination and transfer of knowledge is a key added-value of European research actions and measures will be taken to increase the use and impact of results by industry, policymakers and society. Dissemination will be considered an integral task under all thematic areas with appropriate restrictions for the security theme due to the confidentiality aspects of the activities, including through the funding of networking/brokerage initiatives, seminars and events, assistance by external experts and electronic information services. This will be implemented in each thematic area by means of:

— integration of dissemination and knowledge transfer actions within projects and consortia, through suitable provisions in the financing schemes and reporting requirements,

— offering targeted assistance to projects and consortia to provide them with access to the necessary skills to optimise the use of results,

— specific dissemination actions which take a proactive approach to disseminating results from across a range of projects, including those from previous Framework Programmes and other research programmes, and which target specific sectors or sets of stakeholders, with special emphasis on potential users,

— dissemination to policymakers, including standardisation bodies, to facilitate the use of policy relevant results by the appropriate bodies at international, European, national or regional levels,

— Cordis services to foster the dissemination of knowledge in a user-friendly way and the exploitation of research results,

— initiatives to foster dialogue and debate on scientific issues and research results with a broader public beyond the research community, including civil society organisation.

Coordination of dissemination and knowledge transfer across the Framework Programme will be ensured. Complementary and synergies between this programme and other Community programmes will be ensured, in particular in the field of education with the aim of promoting careers in research. Actions to support innovation will be implemented by the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.

SME participation

The optimal participation of small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) will be facilitated across the thematic areas, in particular by improved financial and administrative procedures, and more flexibility in choosing the appropriate financial scheme. Furthermore, the research needs and potential of SMEs are duly taken into account in developing the content of the thematic areas of this specific programme, and areas which are of particular interest to SMEs will be identified in the work programme. Concrete measures, including support actions to facilitate SME participation, will be taken throughout the programme in the framework of a strategy to be developed under each theme. These strategies will be accompanied by quantitative and qualitative monitoring against the objectives set. The aim will be to enable at least 15 % of the funding available under this programme to go to SMEs.

Specific actions to support research for the benefit of SMEs or SME associations are included in the ‘Capacities’ specific programme, and actions to promote SME participation across the Framework Programme will be funded under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.

Ethical aspects

During the implementation of this specific programme and in the research activities arising from it, fundamental ethical principles are to be respected. These include, inter alia, the principles reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, including the following: protection of human dignity and human life, protection of personal data and privacy, as well as animals and the environment in accordance with Community law and the latest versions of relevant international conventions, guidelines and codes of conduct, e.g. the Helsinki Declaration, the Convention of the Council of Europe on Human Rights and Bio-medicine signed in Oviedo on 4 April 1997 and its Additional Protocols, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Declaration on the human genome and human rights adopted by UNESCO, UN Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the relevant World Health Organisation (WHO) resolutions.

Account will also be taken of the Opinions of the European Group of Advisers on the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology (1991 to 1997) and the Opinions of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (as from 1998).

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity and the diversity of approaches existing in Europe, participants in research projects must conform to current legislation, regulations and ethical rules in the countries where the research will be carried out. At all events, national provisions apply and no research forbidden in any given Member State or other country will be supported by Community funding to be carried out in that Member State or country.

Where appropriate, those carrying out research projects must seek the approval of the relevant national or local ethics committees prior to the start of the RTD activities. An ethical review will also be implemented systematically by the Commission for proposals dealing with ethically sensitive issues or where ethical aspects have not been adequately addressed. In specific cases an ethical review may take place during the implementation of a project.

No funding will be granted for research activities that are prohibited in all the Member States.

The Protocol on protection and welfare of animals annexed to the Treaty requires the Community to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals in formulating and implementing Community policies including research. Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (13) requires that all experiments:

— be designed to avoid distress and unnecessary pain and suffering to the experimental animals,

— use the minimum number of animals,

— involve animals with the lowest degree of neurophysiological sensitivity, and

— cause the least pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.

Altering the genetic heritage of animals and cloning of animals may be considered only if the aims are ethically justified and the conditions are such that the animals' welfare is guaranteed and the principles of biodiversity are respected.

During the implementation of this programme, scientific advances and national and international provisions will be regularly monitored by the Commission so as to take account of any developments.

Research on ethics related to scientific and technological developments will be carried out in the ‘Science in society’ part of the ‘Capacities’ specific programme.

Collaborative research

Collaborative research will constitute the bulk and the core of Community research funding. The objective is to establish, in the major fields of advancement of knowledge, excellent research projects and networks able to attract researchers and investments from Europe and the entire world, strengthening the European industrial and technological base and supporting Community policies.

This will be achieved by supporting collaborative research, which will include the active participation of industry, through the range of funding schemes: collaborative projects, networks of excellence, and coordination/support actions.

Joint technology initiatives

In a very limited number of cases, the scope of a RTD objective and the scale of the resources involved justify setting up long-term public private partnerships in the form of joint technology initiatives. These initiatives, mainly resulting from the work of European technology platforms and covering one or a small number of selected aspects of research in their field, will combine private sector investment and national and European public funding, including grant funding from the Research Framework Programme and loan finance from the European Investment Bank. Each Joint Technology Initiative will be decided individually, either on the basis of Article 171 of the Treaty (this may include the creation of a joint undertaking) or on the basis of a modification of this specific programme in accordance with Article 166(3) of the Treaty.

Joint technology initiatives are identified in an open and transparent way on the basis of a series of criteria including:

— inability of existing instruments to achieve the objective,

— scale of the impact on industrial competitiveness and growth,

— added-value of European-level intervention,

— the degree and clarity of definition of the objective and deliverables to be pursued,

— strength of the financial and resource commitment from industry,

— importance of the contribution to broader policy objectives including benefit to society,

— capacity to attract additional national support and leverage current or future industry funding.

The nature of the joint technology initiatives must be clearly defined, in particular with regard to matters concerning:

— financial commitments;

— duration of the commitment of the participants;

— rules for entering and exiting the contract;

— intellectual property rights.

Considering the particular scope and complexity of the joint technology initiatives, strong efforts will be made to ensure their transparent operation and that any allocation of Community funding by the joint technology initiatives will take place on the basis of the Framework Programme principles of excellence and competition.

Particular attention will be paid to the overall coherence and coordination between joint technology initiatives and national programmes and projects in the same fields (14), while respecting their existing implementation procedures, as well as to ensuring that the participation in their projects is open to a wide range of participants throughout Europe, and in particular SMEs.

An indicative list of joint technology initiatives is identified in Annex IV. Further joint technology initiatives may be identified on the basis of the above criteria and be proposed during the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme.

Coordination of non-Community research programmes

The action undertaken in this field will make use of two main tools: the ERA-NET scheme and the participation of the Community in jointly implemented national research programmes (Treaty Article 169). The action will also be used to enhance the complementarity and synergy between the Framework Programme and activities carried out in the framework of intergovernmental structures such as Eureka, EIROforum and COST. Financial support for the administration and coordination activities of COST will be provided so that COST can continue to contribute to coordination and exchanges between nationally funded research teams.

Where the actions are within the scope of one of the themes, they will be supported as an integral part of the activities under that theme. Where the actions are of a horizontal nature or not directly linked to the ten themes, they will be supported jointly across all of the relevant themes (15).

Where the actions are within the scope of another specific programme implementing the Seventh Framework Programme, they will be supported under that specific programme.

The ERA-NET scheme will develop and strengthen the coordination of national and regional research activities by:

— providing a framework for actors implementing public research programmes to step up the coordination of their activities. This will include support for new ERA-NETs as well as for the broadening and deepening of the scope of existing ERA-NETs, e.g. by extending their partnership, as well as mutually opening their programmes. Where appropriate, ERA-NETs could be applied for programme coordination between European regions and between Member States to enable their cooperation with large-scale initiatives,

— in a limited number of cases, providing additional Community financial support for those participants that pool resources for the purpose of joint calls for proposals between their respective national and regional programmes (ERA-NET PLUS).

The participation of the Community in national research programmes jointly implemented on the basis of Article 169 is especially relevant to European cooperation on a large scale in ‘variable geometry’ between Member States sharing common needs and/or interests. In well identified cases, such Article 169 initiatives will be launched in areas identified in close association with the Member States, including the possible cooperation with intergovernmental programmes, on the basis of the criteria defined in the Seventh Framework Programme decision.

An indicative list of initiatives for the joint implementation of national research programmes is identified in the description in Annex IV and could be the subject of a separate decision on the basis of Article 169 of the Treaty. Further initiatives may be identified and proposed during the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme.

International cooperation

International cooperation actions, showing European added-value and being of mutual interest, will support an international Science and Technology policy that has two interdependent objectives:

— to support and promote European competitiveness through strategic research partnerships with third countries including highly industrialised and emerging economies in science and technology by engaging the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe,

— to address specific problems that third countries face or that have a global character, on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit.

The international scientific cooperation policy of the Community will stress and develop cooperation to generate, share and use knowledge through equitable research partnerships taking into account the international, country, regional and socioeconomic context and knowledge base of partner countries. The strategic approach is to enhance EU competitiveness and global sustainable development through such partnerships between the EU and third countries at bilateral, regional and global levels based on mutual interest and benefit. To this end the EU's role as a global player should be also promoted through multilateral international research programmes. The international cooperation actions supported will be connected to mainstream policy issues in order to support fulfilling international commitments of the EU and contribute to sharing European values, competitiveness, socioeconomic progress, environmental protection and welfare under the umbrella of global sustainable development.

International cooperation will be implemented in this specific programme in each thematic area and across themes through:

— An enhanced participation of researchers and research institutions from all International Cooperation Partner countries and industrialised countries (16) in the thematic areas, with appropriate restrictions for the security theme for all third countries other than associated countries due to the confidentiality aspects. In addition, there will be a particular emphasis to encourage third country participation in identified areas of mutual interest.

— Specific cooperation actions in each thematic area dedicated to third countries in the case of mutual interest in cooperating on particular topics to be selected on the basis of their scientific and technological level and needs. The identification of specific needs and priorities will be closely associated with relevant bilateral cooperation agreements and with ongoing multilateral and bi-regional dialogues between the EU and these countries or groups of countries. Priorities will be identified based on the particular needs, potential and level of economic development in the region or country.

To this end, an international cooperation strategy and implementation plan will be developed with specific targeted actions within or across the themes, e.g. in health, agriculture, sanitation, water, food security, social cohesion, energy, environment, fisheries, aquaculture and natural resources, sustainable economic policy and information and communication technologies.

These actions will serve as privileged tools for implementing the cooperation between the Community and these countries. Such actions are, in particular, actions aiming at reinforcing the research capacities and cooperative capacities of candidate, neighbourhood, and developing and emerging countries. The actions will be the subject of targeted calls and particular attention will be paid to facilitating access of the relevant third countries, notably developing countries, to the actions.

These activities will be implemented in coordination with international cooperation actions under the ‘People’ and the ‘Capacities’ specific programmes. An overall strategy for International Cooperation within the Framework Programme will underpin this activity.

THEMES

1. HEALTH

Objective

Improving the health of European citizens and increasing the competitiveness and boosting the innovative capacity of European health-related industries and businesses, while addressing global health issues including emerging epidemics. Emphasis will be put on translational research (translation of basic discoveries in clinical applications including scientific validation of experimental results), the development and validation of new therapies, methods for health promotion and prevention including promotion of child health, healthy ageing, diagnostic tools and medical technologies, as well as sustainable and efficient healthcare systems.

Approach

This research will advance our understanding on how to promote good health more efficiently, to reduce the health differences across Europe, to prevent and treat major diseases and to deliver healthcare. Basic bio-medical research will be an integral part of this theme; multidisciplinary approaches are of particular importance in the health theme.

This research will help integrate the vast amount of genomics, epidemiological, biological and biotechnology data and develop key technologies for health-related industries with a view to developing knowledge and capacity for intervention. It will foster translational health research, which is essential to ensure practical benefits including the improvement of life quality from bio-medical research. It will allow Europe to contribute more effectively to international efforts combating diseases of global importance, as illustrated by the ongoing programme on ‘European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership’ (EDCTP) for combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (Article 169) (17). It will reinforce health policy-driven research at the European level and especially the comparisons of the models, systems and data of national databases. The networking of relevant databases is particularly important in this respect.

This research will help improve the competitiveness of European healthcare biotechnology and medical technology sectors, where SMEs are the main economic drivers, and pharmaceutical industries. It may include support for the European Technology Platform (18) on Innovative Medicines, aiming at overcoming the research bottlenecks in the drug development process. Special attention will be given to bridging the gap between research activities and exploitation by providing support for demonstrating proof of concept and clinical validation. This research will also contribute to the development of norms and standards for new advanced therapies (e.g. regenerative medicine) needed to help EU industry face worldwide competition. Global leadership in European research and innovation in the field of alternative testing strategies, in particular non-animal methods, should be ensured.

Gender aspects in research will be considered and integrated in the projects (19) whenever appropriate. Special attention will be given to communicating research outcomes and engaging in dialogue with civil society, in particular with patient groups, at the earliest possible stage, of new developments arising from bio-medical and genetics research. A wide dissemination and use of the results will also be assured.

The strategic issues, child health (20) and the health of the ageing population will receive specific attention and will have to be taken into account whenever appropriate across all activities in this theme, with priorities highlighted in the work programme. Other multi-disciplinary areas will also be included. This will ensure a visible and coherent approach to these issues across the Theme, whilst avoiding duplication.

Ethical, legal and socio-economic issues will be taken into account within each of the following activities (21).

Activities

Biotechnology, generic tools and medical technologies for human health

This activity aims at developing and validating the necessary tools and technologies that will make possible the production of new knowledge and its translation into practical applications in the area of health and medicine.

— High-throughput research: to catalyse progress in developing new research tools for modern biology including fundamental genomics that will enhance significantly data generation and improve data and specimen (bio-banks) standardisation, acquisition and analysis. The focus will be on new technologies for: sequencing; gene expression, genotyping and phenotyping; structural and functional genomics; bio-informatics and systems biology; other ‘omics’.

— Detection, diagnosis and monitoring: to develop visualisation, imaging, detection and analytical tools and technologies for bio-medical research, for prediction, diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of diseases, and for support and guidance of therapeutic interventions. The focus will be on a multidisciplinary approach integrating areas such as: molecular and cellular biology, physiology, genetics, physics, chemistry, bio-medical engineering including nano-technologies, microsystems, devices and information technologies. Non- or minimally-invasive and quantitative methods and quality assurance aspects will be emphasised.

— Predicting suitability, safety and efficacy of therapies: to develop and validate the parameters, tools, methods and standards needed for bringing to the patient safe and effective new or improved bio-medicines (22). The focus will be on approaches such as pharmacogenomics, developing and validating biological markers, targeting and delivery approaches, in silico, in vitro (including alternatives to animal testing) and in vivo methods and models (23).

— Innovative therapeutic approaches and interventions: to research, consolidate and ensure further developments in advanced therapies and technologies with broad potential application. The focus will be on gene and cell therapy, regenerative medicine, transplantation, immunotherapy and vaccines, and other medicines. Related technologies, such as advanced targeted delivery systems, advanced implants and prosthetics, and non- or minimally-invasive technology-assisted interventions will also be addressed.

Translating research for human health

This activity aims to increase knowledge of biological processes and mechanisms involved in normal health and in specific disease situations, to transpose this knowledge into clinical applications including disease control and treatment, and to ensure that clinical (including epidemiological) data guide further research.

— Integrating biological data and processes: large-scale data gathering, systems biology. — Large-scale data gathering: to use high-throughput technologies to generate data for elucidating the function of genes and gene products and their interactions in complex networks in important biological processes. The focus will be on: genomics; proteomics, ‘RNA-omics’; population genetics; comparative, structural and functional genomics. — Systems biology: the focus will be on multidisciplinary research that will integrate a wide variety of biological data and will develop and apply system approaches to understand and model biological processes in all relevant organisms and at all levels of organisation.

— Research on the brain and related diseases, human development and ageing. — Brain and brain-related diseases: to better understand the integrated structure and dynamics of the brain, and to study brain diseases including relevant age-related illness (e.g. dementia, Parkinson's disease) and search for new therapies. The focus will be on gaining a global understanding of the brain by exploring brain functions, from molecules to cognition including neuroinformatics, and brain dysfunction, from synoptic impairment to neurodegeneration. Research will address neurological and psychiatric diseases and disorders, including regenerative and restorative therapeutic approaches. — Human development and ageing: use of a wide variety of methodologies and tools to better understand the process of life-long development and healthy ageing. The focus will be on the study of human and model systems, including interactions with factors such as environment, genetics, behaviour and gender.

— Translational research in major infectious diseases: to confront major threats to public health. — Anti-microbial drug resistance including fungal pathogens: the focus will be on combining basic research on molecular mechanisms of resistance, microbial ecology and host-pathogen interactions with clinical research towards new interventions to reduce the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant infections. — HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis: the focus will be on developing new therapies, diagnostic tools, preventive tools such as vaccines and chemical transmission barriers such as HIV microbicides. Research efforts will confront the three diseases at global level, but will also address specific European aspects of the three diseases as well as Hepatitis. Preclinical and early clinical research activities will be emphasised, and where relevant (e.g. for HIV/AIDS vaccines) collaboration with global initiatives is foreseen. — Potentially new and re-emerging epidemics: the focus will be on confronting emerging pathogens with pandemic potential including zoonoses (e.g. SARS and highly pathogenic influenza). Where appropriate, provisions will be made for rapidly initiating collaborative research aimed at expediting development of new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines for efficient prevention, treatment, and control of infectious disease emergencies.

— Translational research in other major diseases (24) — Cancer: the focus will be on disease aetiology, new medicines and therapies; identifying and validating drug targets and biological markers that aid in the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment; and assessing the effectiveness of preventive prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. — Cardiovascular disease: the focus will be on diagnosis, prevention, treatment and monitoring of heart and blood vessel diseases (including vascular aspects of stroke) using broad multidisciplinary approaches. — Diabetes and obesity: for the former, the focus will be on aetiologies of the different types of diabetes, and their related prevention and treatment. For the latter, the focus will be on multidisciplinary approaches including genetics, life style and epidemiology. For both diabetes and obesity, special attention will be given to juvenile diseases and factors operating in childhood. — Rare diseases: the focus will be on Europe-wide studies of natural history, pathophysiology and on development of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. This sector will include rare Mendelian phenotypes of common diseases. — Other chronic diseases: the focus will be on non-lethal diseases with a high impact on the quality of life at old age such as functional and sensory impairment and other chronic diseases (e.g. arthritis, rheumatic and musculo-skeletal diseases and respiratory diseases including those induced by allergies).

Optimising the delivery of healthcare to European citizens

This activity aims at providing the necessary basis both for informed policy decisions on health systems and for more effective and efficient evidence-based strategies of health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and therapy.

— Translating the results of clinical research outcome into clinical practice including better use of medicines, and appropriate use of behavioural and organisational interventions and new health therapies and technologies. Special attention will be given to patient safety including adverse effects of medication: to identify the best clinical practice; to understand decision making in clinical settings in primary and specialised care; and to foster applications of evidence-based medicine and patient empowerment. Focus will be on the benchmarking of strategies; investigating outcomes of different interventions including medicines, scientifically tested complementary and alternative medicines, and new health therapies and technologies, taking into consideration prescription strategies, some aspects of pharmacovigilance evidence, specificities of the patient (e.g. genetic susceptibility, age, gender and adherence) and cost benefits.

— Quality, efficiency and solidarity of healthcare systems including transitional health systems, to allow countries to learn from the experience of other health systems and their sustainability, taking into account the importance of national contexts and population characteristics (ageing, mobility, migration, education, socioeconomic status and the changing world of work, etc). Focus will be on organisational, financial and regulatory aspects of health systems (assessing the cost, efficiency and benefits of different interventions including as regards patient safety), their implementation and their outcomes in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and equity (including disadvantaged groups). Special attention will be paid to investment issues and human resources including home care strategies. The question of independence, life quality and mobility of the ageing population will be covered.

— Enhanced health promotion and disease prevention: to provide evidence for the best public health measures in terms of life styles, work and living circumstances and interventions at different levels and in different contexts. Focus will be on the wider determinants of health and how they interact at both the individual and community level (e.g. diet, stress, tobacco, alcohol and other substances, physical activity, cultural context, socio-economic and environmental factors). In particular, mental health will be addressed in a life-course perspective.

International cooperation

International cooperation is an integral part of the Theme and is of particular importance for areas addressing global health problems, such as anti-microbial resistance, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected diseases and emerging pandemics. This may also involve priority setting in the context of international initiatives, such as the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise. Subject to the consolidation of a long-term sustainable partnership in clinical research between Europe and Developing countries and subject to the integration of national programmes or activities from participating countries, further support may be provided to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) in response to its achievements and future needs (25). The EDCTP programme will remain focused on advanced clinical testing for the development of new vaccines, microbicides and drugs against the three diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. For this purpose, the work programme may foresee a Community contribution to the EDCTP-European Economic Interest Grouping for carrying out the programme to be agreed by the Commission, including the reallocation of the Community contribution.

Specific cooperation actions will be implemented in the areas formulated through bi-regional dialogues in third Countries/Regions and international fora, as well as within the context of Millennium Development Goals. Such priority areas adapted to local needs and through partnerships may include: health policy research, health systems and healthcare service research, maternal and child health, reproductive health, control and surveillance of neglected communicable diseases and emerging unforeseen policy needs in those regions.

An annual subscription to the international Human Frontier Science Programme Organisation (HFSPO) (26) will be made jointly with the ‘Information and communication technologies’ theme. This will allow EU non-G8 Member States to fully benefit from the Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP) and provide increased visibility for European research.

Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs

Research on emerging needs will be implemented on the basis of ‘bottom up’ and ‘focused’ initiatives, in coordination with other Themes and this will include a broad and inter-disciplinary research portfolio. Support for unforeseen policy needs may address, for example living and work conditions, health impact assessment, risk assessment, statistical indicators, management and communication in the public health domain, as well as obligations under international health treaties including the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (27) and the International Health Regulations (28). This will complement the health policy-driven research supported above.

2. FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Objective

Building a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (29) by bringing together science, industry and other stakeholders, to exploit new and emerging research opportunities that address social, environmental and economic challenges: the growing demand for safer, healthier, higher quality food and for sustainable use and production of renewable bio-resources, the increasing risk of epizootic and zoonotic diseases and food related disorders; threats to the sustainability and security of agricultural, aquaculture and fisheries production; and the increasing demand for high quality food, taking into account animal welfare and rural and coastal context and response to specific dietary needs of consumers.

Approach

This theme will strengthen the knowledge base, deliver the innovations and provide policy support for building and developing a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE). Research will focus on the sustainable management, production and use of biological resources, in particular through life sciences and biotechnology and the convergence with other technologies, to provide new, safer, affordable, eco-efficient and competitive products from European agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, feed, food (30), health, forest based and related industries. Research will make important contributions to the implementation and formulation of Community policies and regulations and specifically address or support: the common agricultural policy; agriculture and trade issues; safety aspects of GMOs; food safety regulations; Community plant health legislation; Community animal health policy, disease control and welfare standards; environment and biodiversity; European forestry strategy; and the common fisheries policy aiming to provide sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture and the safety of seafood products. Research will also seek to develop new and existing indicators supporting analysis, development and monitoring of these policies.

Recognising the multifunctional role of agriculture, research will support the role and opportunities for rural economies to deliver sustainable development objectives.

Agro-food industries, of which 90 % are SMEs, will particularly benefit from many research activities, including targeted dissemination and technology transfer activities, in particular as regards the integration and uptake of advanced eco-efficient technologies, methodologies and processes and the development of standards. High-tech start-ups from the bio-, nano- and ICT are expected to provide important contributions to the areas of plant breeding, improved crops and plant protection, advanced detection and monitoring technologies for ensuring food safety and quality, and new industrial bio-processes.

Several European technology platforms, covering the areas of plant genomics and biotechnology, forestry and forest based industries, global animal health, farm animal breeding, food, aquaculture and industrial biotechnology, can contribute in setting common research priorities for this theme, in identifying possible future large-scale initiatives such as demonstration projects, and help ensure broad participation and integration of all stakeholders. Actions to enhance the coordination of national research programmes will be pursued wherever appropriate, in close coordination with ERA-Net projects, technology platforms and other relevant actors, such as the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) or any future European maritime research coordination structure.

Consideration of the social, ethical, gender, legal, environmental, economic and wider cultural aspects and potential risks and impacts (foresight) of the scientific and technological development will form a part of the activities, where relevant.

Activities

Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest, and aquatic environments (31)

— Enabling research on the key long-term drivers of sustainable production and management of biological resources (micro-organisms, plants and animals) including the exploitation of biodiversity and of novel bio-active molecules within these biological systems. Research will include ’omics’ technologies, such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and converging technologies, and their integration within systems biology approaches, as well as the development of basic tools and technologies, including bio-informatics and relevant databases, and methodologies for identifying varieties within species groups.

— Increased sustainability and competitiveness, while safeguarding consumer health, decreasing environmental impacts, and taking account of climate change, in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture through the development of new technologies, equipment, monitoring systems, novel plants and production systems, crop management through selected plant breeding, plant health and optimised production systems, the improvement of the scientific and technical basis of fisheries management, and a better understanding of the interaction between different systems (agriculture and forestry; fisheries and aquaculture) across a whole ecosystem approach. Research into maintenance of autochthonous ecosystems, development of bio-control agents, and micro-biological dimension of biodiversity and metagenomics will be undertaken. — For land-based biological resources, special emphasis will be placed on low input (e.g. pesticides and fertilisers), and organic production systems, improved management of resources and novel food and feeds, and novel plants (crops and trees) with respect to their composition, resistance to stress, ecological effect, nutrient and water use efficiency, and architecture. This will be supported through research into bio-safety, co-existence and traceability of novel plants systems and products, and monitoring and assessment of impact of genetically modified crops on environment and human health as well as the possibility of their broader benefit for society. — Plant health and crop protection will be improved through better understanding of ecology, biology of pests, diseases, weeds and other threats of phytosanitary relevance and support to controlling disease outbreaks and enhancing sustainable pest and weed management tools and techniques. Improved methods will be developed for monitoring, preservation and enhancement of soil fertility. — For biological resources from aquatic environments, emphasis will be placed on essential biological functions, safe and environmentally friendly production systems and feeds of cultured species and on fisheries biology, dynamics of mixed fisheries, interactions between fisheries activities and the marine ecosystem and on fleet-based, regional and multiannual management systems.

— Optimised animal health, production and welfare, across agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, inter alia, through: — the exploitation of genetic knowledge, new breeding methods, improved understanding of animal physiology and behaviour; and — the better understanding and control of pests, parasites and infectious animal diseases and other threats to the sustainability and security of food production, including zoonoses. The latter will also be addressed by developing tools for monitoring, prevention and control, by underpinning and applied research on vaccines and diagnostics, studying the ecology of known or emerging infectious agents and other threats, including malicious acts, and impacts of different farming systems and climate. New knowledge for the safe disposal of animal waste and improved management of by-products will also be developed.

— Providing the tools needed by policymakers and other actors to support the implementation of relevant strategies, policies and legislation and in particular to support the building of the European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) and the needs of rural and coastal development. The common fisheries policy will be supported through the development of adaptive approaches supportive to a whole ecosystem approach for the harvesting of marine resources. Research for all policies, including the common agricultural policy, will include socioeconomic studies and cost-benefit analysis, comparative investigations of different farming systems including multifunctional ones, cost-effective fisheries management systems, the rearing of non-food animals, interactions with forestry and studies to improve rural and coastal livelihoods.

Fork to farm: Food (including seafood), health and well being

— Understanding consumer behaviour and consumer preferences as a major factor in the competitiveness of the food industry and the impact of food on the health, and well-being of the European citizen. The focus will be on consumer perception and attitudes towards food, including traditional food, understanding societal and cultural trends, and identifying determinants of food choice and consumer access to food. The research will include the development of data bases on food and nutrition research.

— Understanding beneficial and harmful dietary factors as well as the specific needs and habits of population groups as a major controllable factor in the development and reduction of occurrence of diet-related diseases and disorders including obesity and allergies. This will involve the investigation of new dietary strategies, the development and application of nutrigenomics and systems biology, and the study of the interactions between nutrition, physiological and psychological functions. It could lead to reformulation of processed foods, and development of novel foods and ingredients, dietetic foods and foods with nutritional and health claims. The investigation of traditional, local, and seasonal foods and diets will also be important to highlight the impact of certain foods and diets on health, and to develop integrated food guidance.

— Optimising innovation in the European food industry through the integration of advanced technologies into traditional food production including fermented food, tailored process technologies to enhance the functionality, quality and nutritional value of food including organoleptic aspects in food production including new foodstuffs. Development and demonstration of high-tech, eco-efficient processing and packaging systems, smart control applications and more efficient valorisation and management of by-products, wastes, water and energy. New research will also develop sustainable and novel technologies for animal feed, including safe feed processing formulations, and for feed quality control.

— Assuring chemical and micro-biological safety and improving quality in the European food supply. This will include understanding the links between microbial ecology and food safety; developing methods and models addressing the integrity of the food supply chains; new detection methods, traceability and its further development, technologies and tools for risk assessment, including emerging risks, management, and communication, as well as enhancing the understanding of risk perception. This will also include science based methods for risk benchmarking in the field of food safety.

— Protecting both human health and the environment through a better understanding of the environmental impacts on and of food/feed chains. This will involve study of food contaminants and health outcomes, monitoring of environmental effects, developing enhanced tools and methods for the assessment and management of impacts on, and resistance of, food and feed chains to global changes in particular to the environment. Assuring quality and the integrity of the food chain requires new models for commodity chain analysis and total food chain management concepts, including consumer aspects.

Life sciences, biotechnology and bio-chemistry for sustainable non-food products and processes

— Strengthening the knowledge base and developing advanced technologies for terrestrial or marine bio-mass production for applications in industrial processes and in energy production. This will include plant, animal and microbial genomics and metabolomics to improve the productivity and composition of raw materials and bio-mass feedstocks for optimised conversion to high added-value products including biological resources utilisable in pharmaceutical industry and medicine, while exploiting natural or enhanced terrestrial and aquatic organisms as novel sources. This will fully incorporate life cycle analysis of bio-mass production practices, transportation, and storage and market deployment of bio-products.

— Addressing the application of industrial bio-technologies within whole crop and forest bio-mass chains to realise the full potential of the bio-refinery approach (e.g. green chemicals), including socioeconomic, agronomic, and ecological and consumer aspects. This will be enhanced by an increased understanding and control of plant and microbial metabolism at the cellular and sub-cellular level, and how this is integrated into whole system performance in the production of high value commodities deploying bio-processes with increased yield, quality and purity of conversion products, including bio-catalytic process design.

— Using or developing bio-technologies for novel and improved high quality, high added-value and renewable forest-based products and processes to increase sustainability of wood and wood production, including timber, renewable materials and bio-energy stocks.

— Addressing the potential of biotechnology to detect, monitor, prevent, treat and remove pollution.

— Maximising the economic value of waste and by-products through new and potentially energy-saving bio-processes, alone or in combination with plant systems and/or chemical catalysts.

International cooperation

International cooperation is a priority aspect for food, agriculture and biotechnology research and will be strongly encouraged throughout the entire area. Research of specific interest for developing countries and emerging economies will be supported, taking into account millennium development goals and already ongoing activities. Specific actions will be undertaken to foster cooperation with priority partner regions and countries — particularly those involved in bi-regional dialogues and bilateral S&T agreements as well as neighbourhood countries and emerging economies and developing countries.

Furthermore, multilateral cooperation will be carried out to address either challenges requiring broad international efforts, such as the dimension and complexity of systems biology in plants and micro-organisms, or to address global challenges and EU international commitments (security and safety of food and drinking water, global spread of animal diseases, equitable use of biodiversity, the restoration, in cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, of world fisheries to Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2015 and the influence of/on climate change).

Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs

Research on emerging needs may address, for example, the development of new concepts and technologies, such as on crisis management systems and the integrity of the food chain.

A flexible response to unforeseen policy needs will take particular account of relevant policies for building a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy.

3. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

Objective

Improve the competitiveness of European industry and enable Europe to master and shape the future developments of Information and communication technologies (ICT) so that the demands of its society and economy are met. ICT is at the very core of the knowledge-based society. Activities will strengthen Europe's scientific and technology base and ensure its global leadership in ICT, help drive and stimulate product, service and process innovation and creativity through ICT use and ensure that ICT progress is rapidly transformed into benefits for Europe's citizens, businesses, industry and governments. These activities will also help reduce the digital divide and social exclusion.

Approach

Information and communication technologies (ICT) play a unique, proven role in fostering innovation, creativity and competitiveness of all industry and service sectors. They are essential for addressing key societal challenges and modernising public services and they underpin progress in all science and technology fields. Europe must therefore master and shape the future developments of ICT and ensure that ICT-based services and products are taken up and used to deliver the maximum possible benefits for citizens and businesses.

These are the targets of the Community's information society policy, as highlighted in the i2010 initiative, aiming at a competitive convergent information economy in Europe, a significant rise in European investment in ICT research and innovation and a very high level of accessibility in the information society.

New ICT technologies will open up many new opportunities for higher-value products and services, many of which are in areas where Europe already enjoys industrial and technological leadership. Partnering at European level is the optimal approach to ICT investment. ICT research activity based on ‘open source’ development model is proving its utility as a source of innovation and increasing collaboration. More than ever before, such efforts are needed to keep pace with soaring research costs in an era of global competition, and increasingly complex and interdependent technologies.

The ICT theme prioritises strategic research around key technology pillars, ensures end-to-end integration of technologies and provides the knowledge and the means to develop a wide range of innovative ICT applications. The activities will leverage industrial and technological advance in the ICT sector and improve the competitive edge of important ICT-intensive sectors — both through innovative high-value ICT-based products and services and from new or improved organisational processes in businesses and administrations alike. The theme will also support other policies of the Community, such as health and environmental protection, by mobilising ICT to meet public and societal demands, in particular demands of people with special needs including the ageing population and the disabled.

Activities will cover collaboration and networking actions and could support joint technology initiatives (32) and national programme coordination initiatives (33). The priorities of the activities will include topics relying, among other sources, on the work of European technology platforms. Thematic synergies will also be developed with related activities in other specific programmes.

The active participation of small and medium-sized enterprises and other small entities in the activities is essential given their role in promoting innovation. They play vital roles in the development and nurturing of new visions in ICT and their applications and in transforming them into business assets.

Activities

ICT technology pillars:

— Nano-electronics, photonics and integrated micro/nano-systems: process, device, design and testing technologies and methodologies to improve size, density, performance, energy efficiency, manufacturing and cost-effectiveness for components, systems-on-a-chip, systems-in-a-package and integrated systems; basic photonic components for wide range of applications including ultra fast components; radio frequency (RF) systems; high-performance/high-density data storage systems; very large area/highly integrated display solutions; sensing, actuating, vision and imaging devices; ultra low power systems, power components, alternative energy sources/storage; heterogeneous technologies/systems integration; smart systems; multi-functional integrated micro-nano-bio-info-systems; large-area electronics; integration in different materials/objects; interfacing with living organisms; (self-)assembly of molecules or atoms into stable structures.

— Ubiquitous and unlimited capacity communication networks: cost-effective, reconfigurable and flexible mobile and broadband network technologies, systems and architectures, including terrestrial and satellite networks and optical switching and other technologies for high speed end-to-end connectivity; convergence of different fixed, mobile, wireless and broadcasting networks and services spanning from the personal area to the regional and global area; interoperability of wired and wireless communications services and applications, management of networked resources, service reconfigurability; complex networking of ad hoc intelligent multimedia devices, sensors and microchips.

— Embedded systems, computing and control: more powerful, secure, distributed, reliable and efficient hardware/software systems that can perceive, control and adapt to their environment while optimising the use of resources; methods and tools for system modelling, analysis, design, engineering and validation to master complexity; open composable architectures and scale-free platforms, middleware and distributed operating systems to enable truly seamless collaborative and ambient intelligent environments for sensing, actuation, computing, communication, storage, and service delivery; computing architectures incorporating heterogeneous, networked and reconfigurable components including compilation, programming and run-time support, high performance systems and services; control of large-scale, distributed, uncertain systems.

— Software, grids, security and dependability: technologies, tools and methods for dynamic and trusted software, architectures and middleware systems that underpin knowledge-intensive services, including their provision as utilities; service-oriented, interoperable and scale-free infrastructures, grid-like virtualisation of resources, including domain-specific platforms, network-centric operating systems; open source software; open standards platforms and collaborative approaches for development and validation of software, services and systems; composition tools including programming languages; mastering emergent behaviours of complex systems; improving dependability and resilience of large-scale, distributed and intermittently connected systems and services; secure and trusted systems and services, including privacy-aware access control and authentication, dynamic security and trust policies, dependability and trust meta-models.

— Knowledge, cognitive and learning systems: methods and techniques to acquire, create and interpret, represent and personalise, navigate and retrieve, share and deliver knowledge, recognising the semantic relationships in content for use by humans and machines; artificial systems that perceive, interpret and evaluate information and that can cooperate, act autonomously and learn; theories and experiments that move beyond incremental advances benefiting from insights into natural cognition, in particular learning and memory, also for the purpose of advancing systems for human learning.

— Simulation, visualisation, interaction and mixed realities: tools for modelling, simulation, visualisation, interaction, virtual, augmented and mixed reality and their integration in end-to-end environments; tools for innovative design and for creativity in products, services and digital audio-visual media; more natural, intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces and new ways to interact with technology, machines, devices and other artefacts; language technology including multilingual and automatic machine translation systems.

— New perspectives in ICT drawing on other science and technology disciplines (mathematics and physics, materials, bio-technologies, life-sciences, chemistry, cognitive and social sciences, the humanities, etc.) are provided in the whole of the ICT theme. These are bringing breakthroughs that lead to innovation in ICT and to entirely new industry and service sectors. They span from miniaturisation of ICT devices to sizes compatible and interacting with living organisms (like novel ICT components and computing systems based on synthetic bio-molecular structures), to new computing and communication sciences inspired by the living world, to fully eco-compatible ICT devices inspired by natural systems, and to modelling and simulation of the living world (like simulation of human physiology across several biological levels).

Integration of technologies:

— Personal environments: integration of multimodal interfaces, sensing techniques and micro-systems, personal communication and computing devices, ICT systems embodied in personal accessories, wearable systems and implants and their connection to services and resources, placing emphasis on integrating all facets of a person's presence and identity.

— Home environments: communication, monitoring, control and assistance of the home, buildings and public spaces; seamless interoperability and use of all devices taking account of cost efficiency, affordability, usability and safety; new services and new forms of interactive digital content and services including entertainment; access to information and management of knowledge.

— Robotic systems: flexible and dependable robot systems operating in human and unstructured environments and cooperating with people; networked and cooperating robots; miniaturised robots; humanoid technologies; modular design and modelling of integrated robotic systems.

— Intelligent infrastructures: ICT tools making critical infrastructures more efficient and user-friendly, easier to adapt and maintain, more robust to usage and resistant to failures; data integration tools; ICT for systemic risk assessment, early warning and automated alerts, planning and decision support.

Applications research:

— ICT meeting societal challenges: to ensure that all European citizens can reap the maximum benefit from ICT products and services, to improve inclusiveness, seamless access and interactivity of services of public interest, and to strengthen the innovation role of public sector services, improving their efficiency and effectiveness.

— For health: personal non-obtrusive systems that enable citizens to manage their well-being such as wearable or implantable monitoring devices and autonomous systems for supporting a healthy state; emerging techniques such as molecular imaging for improved prevention and individualised medicine; health knowledge discovery, management and application in clinical practice; modelling and simulation of organ functions; micro- and nano-robotic devices for minimally invasive surgical and therapeutic applications.

— For governments at all levels: use of ICT in an interdisciplinary approach in public administrations combined with organisational change and new skills in order to deliver innovative, citizen-centric services for all; advanced ICT based research and solutions to improve democratic and participatory processes and the performance and quality of public sector services, interaction with and between administrations and governments, and support legislative and policy development processes in all stages of democracy.

— For inclusion: to empower individuals and their communities and improve equal participation of all citizens in the information society, while preventing digital divides due to disability, low skills, poverty, geographic isolation, culture, gender or age, inter alia, through support to assistive technology, promoting independent living, increasing e-skills, and developing products and services designed-for-all.

— For mobility: integrated ICT-based safety systems for vehicles based on open, secure and dependable architectures and interfaces; interoperable cooperative systems for efficient, safe and environment-friendly transport, based on communication between vehicles and with the transport infrastructure and integrating accurate and robust location and navigation technologies; personalised, location-aware info-mobility and multi-modal services, including intelligent service solutions for tourism.

— In support of the environment, risk management and sustainable development: risk and emergency management; smart sensor networks to improve hazard forecasting, natural resources management including systems for reduction of pollutants; increasing energy efficiency; managing human response to environmental stresses and to sustain biodiversity; alert systems and timely and reliable public safety communication; assistive technologies and support systems for operation under harsh, hazardous or risky conditions; eco-efficient and sustainable production of ICT including electronics; advanced data and information management for environmental monitoring and risk assessment, contributing to Inspire; GMES and GEOSS.

— ICT for content, creativity and personal development: — novel forms of interactive, non-linear and self-adaptive content including for entertainment and for design; creativity and enriched user-experience; cross-media content customisation and delivery; combining all-digital content production and management with emerging semantic technologies; user-oriented use, access to and creation of content; — technology-enhanced learning systems, tools and services, adapted to different learners in different contexts; issues underlying human learning including pedagogical theories when the process is mediated by using ICT; improving people's abilities to become active learners; — intelligent services for access to cultural heritage in digital form; access to and use of scientific resources; tools for communities to create new cultural memory based on living heritage; methods and tools for preservation of digital content; making digital objects usable by future users whilst keeping authenticity and integrity of their original creation and context of use.

— ICT supporting businesses and industry: — dynamic, network-oriented business systems, including their monitoring in real time, for product and service creation and delivery; decentralised control and management of intelligent items; digital business ecosystems, in particular software solutions (also based on grids) adaptable to the needs of small- and medium-sized organisations; collaboration services for distributed context-aware workspaces; augmented group presence, group management and sharing support; knowledge sharing and interactive services; — manufacturing including traditional industry: networked intelligent controls for high-precision manufacturing and low-resource utilisation; wireless automation and logistics for rapid plant reconfiguration; integrated environments for modelling, simulation, optimisation, presentation and virtual production; manufacturing technologies for miniaturised ICT systems and for systems interwoven with all kinds of materials and objects.

— ICT for trust and confidence: — tools supporting the trust and confidence of ICT and its applications; multiple and federated identity management systems; authentication and authorisation techniques; systems meeting privacy needs deriving from new technological developments; rights and asset management; tools to protect against cyber threats, in coordination with other themes, in particular the ‘Security’ theme.

International cooperation

International cooperation will be encouraged in the ICT theme to address issues of common interest aiming at interoperable solutions with strategic partners with high mutual benefits, and to contribute to the spread of the information society in emerging economies and developing countries. Specific actions will be identified for the countries or regions with which Europe needs to focus collaboration, with a particular emphasis on cooperation with emerging economies and developing countries and neighbourhood countries.

A subscription will be made available jointly with theme 1 ‘Health’ to the international Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP) to promote interdisciplinary research and novel collaborations between scientists from different fields, and provide the possibility for non-G8 Member States to fully benefit from the programme.

Activities under this theme support the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) scheme, which allows RTD cooperation between its member regions (34).

Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs

A Future and Emerging Technologies activity will attract and foster trans-disciplinary research excellence in emerging ICT-related research domains. Focuses include: exploring the new miniaturisation and computing frontiers including for example the exploitation of quantum effects; harnessing the complexity of networked computing and communication systems including software; exploring new concepts of and experimenting with intelligent systems for new personalised products and services.

Research that aims at better understanding trends and impacts of ICT on society and the economy may include, for example: impacts of ICT on productivity, employment, skills and wages; ICT as a driver for innovation in public and business services; obstacles to wider and faster innovation and use of ICT; new business models and exploitation paths, in coordination with other themes where ICT will play an important role in changing the approach to production and services; usability, utility and acceptability of ICT-based solutions; privacy, security and trust of ICT infrastructures; ethical issues of ICT developments; links to ICT-related legal, regulatory and governance frameworks; analyses of ICT support to, and impact on, Community policies.

4. NANO-SCIENCES, NANO-TECHNOLOGIES, MATERIALS AND NEW PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES

Objective

Improve the competitiveness of European industry and generate knowledge to ensure its transformation from a resource-intensive to a knowledge-intensive industry, by generating step changes in knowledge and implementing decisive knowledge for new applications at the crossroads between different technologies and disciplines. This will benefit both new, high-tech industries and higher-value, knowledge-based traditional industries, with a special focus to the appropriate dissemination of RTD results to SMEs. These activities are primarily concerned with enabling technologies which impact all industrial sectors and many other Seventh Framework Programme themes.

Approach

To enhance its competitiveness, European industry needs radical innovations. It must concentrate its capabilities on high added-value products, related processes and technologies to meet customer requirements, as well as environmental, health and other societal expectations. Research is integral to meeting these competing challenges. The competitiveness of the industry of the future will largely depend on nano-technologies and their applications. RTD in nano-sciences and nano-technologies taken up by several areas can accelerate European industry's transformation. The EU has recognised leadership in fields such as in nano-sciences, nano-technologies, materials and production technologies which must be strengthened in order to secure and increase the EU position in a highly competitive global context. The competitiveness of more mature industries is also largely dependent on their capacity to integrate new technologies.

A key element of this theme is the effective integration of nanotechnology, materials sciences, design and new production methods so as to achieve and maximise the impacts for industrial transformation and, at the same time, supporting sustainable production and consumption. In this respect, materials with new properties are in particular important for the future competitiveness of European industry and the basis for technological progress in many areas. The theme will support industrial activities operating in synergy with other themes. Applications in all sectors and areas will be supported including materials sciences and technologies, high performance manufacturing and process technologies, nano-biotechnology and nano-electronics.

The medium-term approach is to focus on a convergence of knowledge and skills drawn from different disciplines exploiting application-driven scientific and technological synergies. In the long term the theme aims to capitalise on the enormous prospects of nano-sciences and nano-technologies for the creation of a true knowledge-based industry and economy. In both cases it will be essential to ensure uptake of the knowledge generated through effective dissemination and use of the results.

Strong contributions to industrial needs and complementarities through initiatives and funded projects will be ensured in particular through activities like the European technology platforms (e.g. in the potential areas of sustainable chemistry, energy, new manufacturing, power generation, industrial safety, nano-medicine, steel, textiles, ceramics, forest-based sector, etc) and possible support to joint technology initiatives.

The theme is particularly relevant to SMEs due to their needs and role in advancing and using technologies. Areas of particular relevance include: nano-instruments, -tools, and -devices as well as aerospace systems (due to the concentration of high-growth, knowledge-intensive SMEs in these sectors); technical textiles including their coating, (typical of a traditional sector undergoing a rapid transformation process affecting many SMEs); mechanical industries (e.g. machine tools- where European SMEs are world leaders); high added-value chemicals, as well as other sectors which involve many SMEs that will benefit from the introduction of new business models, materials and products.

Specific actions to coordinate programmes and joint activities conducted at national and regional level will be carried out through the ERA-NET and ERA-NET PLUS schemes so as to promote convergence of research programmes, and to reinforce critical mass and synergies within the European technology platforms. Industrial research will also benefit from the coordination of activities in areas such as metrology, toxicology, standards and nomenclature.

Activities

Nano-sciences and nano-technologies

The objective is to create materials and systems with pre-defined properties and behaviour, based on increased knowledge and experience with matter at the nano-scale. This will lead to a new generation of high added-value, competitive products and services with superior performance across a range of applications, while minimising any potential adverse environmental and health impacts. Interdisciplinarity, integrating theoretical and experimental approaches, will be promoted.

The focus will be:

— new knowledge of the interactions of atoms, molecules and their aggregations with both natural and artificial entities,

— the realisation of nano-structures, systems or materials using this knowledge,

— activities aiming at understanding or imitating the natural processes at nano-metric scale,

— processes for nano-fabrication, surface functionalisation, thin layers, self assembling properties,

— methods and processes for measuring and characterisation.

The research will also address the relevant instruments, tools, pilot lines and demonstration activities required for highly novel approaches to nanotechnology-based manufacturing in the most promising industrial sectors.

Moreover, the activity will focus on related challenges and the societal context and acceptance of nanotechnology. This will include research on all aspects of risk assessment (e.g. nano-toxicology and eco-toxicology), as well as safety, nomenclature, metrology and standards which are becoming increasingly important to pave the way for industrial applications. Specific actions may also be launched for establishing dedicated centres of knowledge and expertise as well as a focal point to implement the Commission's integrated and responsible approach towards nanotechnology as outlined in the associated Action Plan (35).

Materials

New advanced materials and surfaces with higher knowledge content, new functionalities and improved performance are increasingly critical for industrial competitiveness and sustainable development. According to the new models of manufacturing industry, it is the materials themselves which are becoming the first step in increasing the value of products and their performance, rather than the processing steps.

Research will focus on developing new knowledge-based multifunctional surfaces and materials with tailored properties and predictable performance for new products and processes as well as for their repair. The emphasis will be on high performance multifunctional materials with a wide range of applications.

This requires the control of intrinsic properties and performance, processing and production, and taking into account potential impacts on health and the environment throughout their entire life cycle. Emphasis will be placed on new advanced materials and systems obtained using the potential of nano-technologies and bio-technologies and/or ‘learning from nature’, in particular higher performance nano-materials, bio-materials, hybrid materials and artificial materials with electromagnetic properties not found in nature.

A multidisciplinary approach will be fostered, involving chemistry, physics, engineering sciences including computational modelling and increasingly the biological sciences. Materials characterisation, design and simulation are also essential to better understand materials phenomena, in particular the structure-property relationships at different scales; to improve materials assessment and reliability including resistance to ageing, and to extend the concept of virtual materials for materials design. The integration of nano-molecular-macro levels in chemical and materials technologies will be supported for developing new concepts and processes such as in catalysis, and process intensification and optimisation. Issues related to process development and scaling up and industrialisation of new materials will also be addressed.

New production

A new approach to manufacturing is required for the transformation of EU industry from a resource intensive to a sustainable knowledge-based industrial environment and will depend on the adoption of totally new attitudes towards the continued acquisition, deployment, protection and funding of new knowledge and its use, including towards sustainable production and consumption patterns. This entails creating the right conditions for industry to engage in continuous innovation (in industrial activities and production systems, including design, construction, devices, and services) and for developing generic production ‘assets’ (technologies, organisation and production facilities as well as human resources) while also meeting safety and environmental requirements.

The activities will focus on:

— the development and validation of new industrial models and strategies covering all aspects of product and process life-cycle,

— adaptive production systems that overcome existing process limitations and enable new manufacturing and processing methods,

— networked production to develop tools and methods for cooperative and value-added operations at a global scale,

— tools for the rapid transfer and integration of new technologies into the design and operation of manufacturing processes,

— the exploitation of multidisciplinary research networks and of the convergence of the nano-, micro-, bio-, geo-, info-, optical and cognitive technologies to develop new added-value hybrid technologies, products and engineering concepts and the possibility of new industries.

Particular attention should be paid to promoting activities which support the adaptation and integration of SMEs to the new needs of the supply chain as well as to giving an impulse to the creation of high tech SMEs.

Integration of technologies for industrial applications

The integration of knowledge and technologies of the three areas of research above is essential in order to speed up the transformation of European industry and its economy, while adopting a safe, socially responsible and sustainable approach.

The research will focus on new applications and novel, step-change solutions responding to major challenges, as well as to the RTD needs including those identified by the different European technology platforms. The integration of new knowledge from nano-, materials-, and production-technologies will be supported in sectoral and cross-sectoral applications such as health, food, construction and building including cultural heritage, aerospace industry, transport, energy, chemistry, environment, information and communication, textiles, clothing and footwear, forest-based industry, steel, mechanical and chemical engineering, as well as in the generic subjects of industrial safety and measurement and testing.

International cooperation

The increasingly international dimension of industrial research requires a well-coordinated approach to working with third countries. International cooperation will therefo