WRITTEN QUESTION No. 206/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Money for biological and genetic engineering
Date: 1998-02-11
Institutions: BREYER, European Parliament
Subjects: EU financing, biotechnology, genetic engineering, industrial research, public awareness campaign, research and development, research budget, research programme













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91998E0206

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 206/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Commission. Money for biological and genetic engineering  


Official Journal C 310 , 09/10/1998 P. 0037 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0206/98 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (11 February 1998)Subject: Money for biological and genetic engineering1. What has been the level of appropriations set aside and/or spent annually by the Commission since 1982 on biological and genetic engineering?2. From what programmes and budget lines have these appropriations been taken?3. How much funding went directly and indirectly to industry and to research?4. What conditions were imposed on this money?Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (15 April 1998)1. and 2. In managing its research programmes, the Commission does not keep separate accounts on the use of appropriations for biotechnology and genetic technology. Programmes as diverse as Biotech, Biomed, Fair and Inco may, where necessary, make use of genetic technology to assist research into health, agriculture and development aid.It is the biotechnology programme which depends most directly on progress in genetics. It must be emphasised that this programme (like its predecessors) does not necessarily involve the use of genetic engineering; indeed, most projects manage without it. The budgets have been as follows:>TABLE>3. Research and industry go hand in hand when it comes to biotechnology, as the traditional distinctions between basic and applied science no longer apply. For one thing, the bio-industry describes its expectations from Community biotechnology research as a need to update basic knowledge. In addition, it is university research in this field which gives rise to the majority of rapidly growing innovative businesses, particularly in the technologies of diagnostics and medicines.As for actual contractual participation by industry, the breakdown is as follows:>TABLE>It should be noted that contractual participation by industry is channelled through joint research consortia including public and private organisations, with provision of 50% industrial co-financing to support the push to attain the programme's objective.4. The conditions applying to such funding are set out in the information dossiers distributed for the biotechnology programme. They can be summed up as follows:- preliminary conditions of eligibility described in the form of project selection criteria;- conditions governing the use of appropriations, the use of research results, the rights and obligations of the parties vis-à-vis each other, the Commission and third parties (standard contract provisions);- an obligation for all the programme's research contracts (Annex II to Council Decision 94/912/EC of 15 December 1994 adopting a specific programme of research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of biotechnology (1994 to 1998) ((OJ L 361, 31.12.1994.))) to contribute to the dissemination and optimisation of results, to stimulate the technological role of SMEs, to demonstrate the techno-economic feasibility of new products and processes likely to contribute to the Community's objectives, and to encourage evaluation of the impact of biotechnology on ethics, legislation and social affairs ('ELSA'), public perception and socio-economic activities.