WRITTEN QUESTION E-1820/99

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 October 1999)

Subject: Biomed 2 programme (1994-1998)

Can the Commission state to what extent funding or subsidies have been awarded (with payments already disbursed, or not), and to what bodies (public or private), institutions, undertakings, cooperatives or individuals, in connection with the Biomed 2 programme (1994-1998) included in the fourth framework programme (budget of ECU 358 million, equivalent to slightly less than ITL 700 billion?

Have the actual deployment of the funds and the successful outcome of the initiatives been verified?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 1999)

The Biomed 2 programme, which covered all main areas of biomedical research, received a total of 3 550 multinational projects during the years 1995-1998. A total of 617 research contracts involving about 6 100 different teams were signed and funded. All 617 research projects are continuing in 1999 and consist of 287 concerted actions (148 of them ending in 1999), and 330 shared cost actions (157 of them

ending in 1999). Among the shared cost projects, 17 contracts are related to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy/transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (BSE/TSE) (mad cow) issue. In addition 92 small and medium-sized enterprise stimulatory measures have been concluded, including 61 exploratory awards (all of them ending in 1999) and 31 cooperative research (4 of which ending in 1999). Of the overall Biomed 2 funding to research activities, 85 % is awarded to public institutions and 15 % to private bodies.

A listing with the participants in the Biomed 2 programme, the total cost by participant and the Commission participation, is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat General of the Parliament.

Concerning the verification of fund deployment and outcome of the initiatives, the Biomed 2 programme management ensured the review and the assessment of the activities until the end of 1998. The quality of life programme management, starting from January 1999 and up to the closing of all Biomed 2 contracts, will ensure that there is a review and an assessment of all ongoing activities related to Biomed 2 projects. Each scientific officer will continue to be in close contact with the project leaders by receiving the progress reports and responding to their needs.

The Biomed 2 programme has established a project review board (PRB) consisting of external experts from all Member States (except Luxembourg) as well as from Norway and Iceland. The PRB has the task of assisting the Commission in the follow-up of ongoing projects through the analysis of periodic reports in view of the milestones outlined in the technical annexes of the contracts. During the years 1998-1999, the PRB will have reviewed a total of 98 contracts out of the 600 of Biomed 2.

In addition, the Commission has established a system of external monitoring of the ongoing projects. The Biomed 2 programme has been monitored each year starting from 1995 and four reports have been produced for the years 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. All the reports are available on request and were positive. The external monitoring of the Biomed programme for the year 1999 will be performed by the panel, which is monitoring the quality of life programme.