ERA-NET, Networking of national research programmes in the European Research Area : series V.
Date: 2007-12-06
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Subjects: EU research policy, European cooperation, organisation of research, research programme, research project, scientific cooperation

ERA-NET  is  a  scheme  designed  to  support  the  long-lasting  coordination  of  European  research  programmes  across  national 
boundaries, aimed at the funders and managers of national and regional research programmes. The ERA-NET scheme represents 
a significant step towards the creation of a fully functioning European Research Area. 

For further information contact:

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research
Directorate B
Unit B1 Coordination of National Research Programmes - Major European Initiatives 
B-1049 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 295 2300
Fax: +32 2 295 4361
Helpdesk email: http://ec.europa.eu/research/enquiries

Full information is available at
http://cordis.europa.eu/coordination/home.html 
and http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/index_en.cfm?p=9_eranet 

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Published by the European Commission

LEGAL NOTICE
Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made 
of the information contained in this publication.
The  views  expressed  in  this  publication  are  the  sole  responsibility  of  the  author  and  do  not  necessarily  reflect  the  views  of  the 
European Commission.

© European Communities, 2007
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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Networking of national 
research programmes 
in the European Research Area

Support for the coordination of activities

and http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/index_en.cfm?p=9_eranet
http://cordis.europa.eu/coordination/home.html
Full information is available at
Helpdesk email: http://ec.europa.eu/research/enquiries
B-1049 Brussels - Tel: +32 2 295 2300 - Fax: +32 2 295 4361
Unit B1 Coordination of National Research Programmes - Major European Initiatives 
Directorate B 
European Commission, Directorate-General for Research

For further information on the ERA-NET scheme, contact:

FOLDER_ERANET.indd   1

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The European 

  Research Area jigsaw

Bringing together national programmes 
into the bigger EU picture 

The  ERA-NET  scheme  has  been  a  highly  innovative 

component  of  the  European  Union’s  €19.2  billion 
Sixth  Research  Framework  Programme  (FP6),  over  the 
period  2002-2006.  Uniquely,  it  provided  support  for  the 
transnational networking and coordination of national and 
regional  research  programmes.  The  scheme’s  participants 
were,  therefore,  programme  managers  working  in  national 
ministries  and  funding  agencies,  and  not  universities  or 
enterprises. Due to its success in FP6, the scheme will expand 
further under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Durable transnational collaboration and coordination
Aimed  at  national  and  regional  programme  funders  and 
programme  managers,  the  ERA-NET  scheme  is  designed 
to encourage the creation of close, long-term links between 
national  and  regional  research  programmes  with  shared 
goals. It contributes to the creation of the European Research 
Area by facilitating practical initiatives to coordinate regional, 
national  and  European  research  programmes  in  specific 
fields, and to pool fragmented human and financial resources, 
in order to improve both the efficiency and the effectiveness 
of Europe’s research efforts.

Most  of  the  ERA-NETs  featured  in  this  folder  approached 
such  collaboration  step  by  step  —  for  example,  through 
exercises  to  map  current  research  funding  programmes, 
and through regular workshops designed to improve mutual 
understanding  and  trust.  This  made  it  possible  to  identify 
gaps, overlaps and possible synergies and, in many cases, led 
to the rapid spread of best practice in proposal evaluation and 
other aspects of programme management, providing a sound 
basis  for  experimental  joint  activities.  Ultimately,  ERA-NETs 
can lead to collaborations of major significance, including the 
strategic planning and design of joint research programmes, 
the  reciprocal  opening  of  national  research  programmes  to 
researchers from other member countries, and the launch of 
fully transnational programmes jointly funded by more than 
one country.

Network development
Networks of national programme managers that already had 
a  sufficiently  large  and  active  transnational  membership  to 
begin  practical  collaboration,  launched  the  implementation 
phase of their ERA-NET immediately. Implementation phases 
of up to five years were supported by Coordination Actions 
(CAs), where Community financial contribution took the form 
of  a  grant  to  the  budget,  up  to  a  maximum  of  €3  million, 
representing a reimbursement of up to 100% of the eligible 
costs incurred by the contractors in the coordination, training 
and management of the consortium activities undertaken by 
the ERA-NET. On the other hand, networks which still lacked 
this  critical  mass  carried  out  an  initial  preparatory  phase  of 
up to 12 months. This was supported by a Specific Support 
Action  (SSA)  where  Community  financial  contribution  took 

the form of a grant to the budget up to a maximum of €200 000, 
representing a reimbursement of up to 100% of the eligible 
costs  incurred  by  the  contractors,  on  the  basis  of  genuine 
cofinancing. SSAs focused on the recruitment of new network 
members and the joint planning of their ERA-NET; this led to 
the production of a proposal for a follow-up implementation 
phase as a Coordination Action.
Under neither of the above arrangements did the Commission 
provide any funding for research carried out within the national 
programmes that made up the ERA-NET; such research was 
funded entirely by the national programmes themselves.

ERA-NETs: adding value to European Research 
Many cultural, political and administrative barriers stand in the 
way of the coordination of national research programmes. But 
within specific fields its potential benefits are only too clear to 
programme managers. With often too little national funding 
at their disposal to make as large an impact as they would like 
in these critical sectors, managers are nonetheless frustrated 
to see the research that they fund nationally not having the 
right critical mass, or being duplicated in other countries.
The  open  call  for  proposals,  published  by  the  European 
Commission  in  December  2002,  received  an  extremely 
positive  response,  with  229  proposals  submitted,  involving 
2003 participants. A total of €182 72 million has been allocated 
to the ERA-NET scheme for the duration of FP6.
As the selected ERA-NETs featured in this folder clearly show, 
many ministries, research councils and agencies responsible 
for  the  funding  and  management  of  national  and  regional 
research  programmes,  are  eager  to  secure  the  benefits 
of  transnational  coordination  for  their  own  programmes. 
Already,  they  are  actively  expanding  their  ERA-NETs  in 
order to achieve critical mass in their targeted fields, and to 
maximise the potential for fruitful synergies.
By the end of 2006, more than 55% of the selected ERA-NETs 
had either carried out, launched or were planning to launch, 
joint calls and/or programmes. This represents a mobilization 
of more than €500 million for research funding coordinated 
through ERA-NETs, mostly in joint calls.

Perspectives for the Future
Given  its  considerable  success  in  FP6,  the  Commission 
proposed to continue and to expand the ERA-NET Scheme in 
FP7. Existing projects will be encouraged to develop further, 
and  ERA-NET  consortia  could  be  enlarged  to  include  new 
partners.  In  addition,  more  areas  will  also  be  covered,  as 
predefined in the work programme for the various themes of 
the Cooperation programme and the parts of the Capacities 
programme.
For  more  information  on  the  ERA-NET  scheme,  please  visit 
the following websites:
http://cordis.europa.eu/coordination/home.html and
http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/index_en.cfm?p=9_eranet

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Coordination Action

ASPERA

astroparticle physics

Coordinating efforts in 
“

the	timely	and	coordinated	funding	of	the	6	to	7	large	astroparticle	

The	greatest	achievement	expected	from	ASPERA	would	be	

infrastructures	needed	for	the	development	of	the	field.

”

The level of European
 funding for Astroparticle
 Physics compares 
well to that of the US, for 
instance, but this will
 be the first time that 
this funding will be 
concentrated by the 
participating European
 agencies on
 commonly agreed targets.
 An important milestone 
on this road will 
be the elaboration of a 
European roadmap. 
Two other milestones
 will be ASPERA’s 
ability to launch 
common R&D calls 
and the linking 
of existing 
observatories and
 underground labs. 

new 

employ 

Networking astroparticles
Astroparticle  Physics  is  a  new  field  of 
research, emerging from the convergence 
of  physics  at  the  smallest  and  the 
largest  scales  of  the  universe.  The  rapid 
development of this interdisciplinary field 
at  the  intersection  of  particle  physics, 
astrophysics  and  cosmology,  has  led  to 
the design of new types of infrastructure. 
Using  underground 
laboratories  or 
specially  designed  telescopes,  antennas 
and  satellite  experiments,  astroparticle 
physicists 
detection 
methods  to  observe  a  wide  range  of 
cosmic particles; these include neutrinos, 
gamma-rays,  cosmic  rays  at  the  highest 
energies, gravitational waves, and the (as 
yet  hypothetical)  dark  matter  particles. 
With  about  2000  scientists  in  some  50 
laboratories, Europe is already a leading 
player  in  the  field.  Aimed  at  providing 
the vehicle to implement a roadmap and 
common action plan, the ASPERA project 
gathers  together  the  European  agencies 
responsible 
funding  Astroparticle 
Physics.  They  will  unite  their  efforts 
in  fostering  a  coherent  Europe-wide 
research base.

for 

Putting science into 
star gazing
People  have  been  gazing  at  the  stars 
for  as  long  as  they  have  been  shining 
in  the  sky.  However,  our  astronomical 
knowledge  has  increased  tremendously 
through  scientific  research.  The  exciting 
discoveries  of  the  20th  century  gave 
birth  to  the  astroparticle  physics  field, 
bringing  to  light  the  common  ground 

ERA-NET

to  achieve 

between  particle  physics,  astrophysics 
and cosmology. Pioneering experiments, 
with  costs  ranging  from  EUR  10  million 
to EUR 100 million per experiment, have 
made  significant  scientific  contributions 
in many key areas. In the beginning, these 
comprised  mainly  research  activities 
funded  nationally. 
of  small 
teams 
However,  rapid  developments 
in  the 
field  require  the  cooperation  of  several 
scientific teams from different countries, 
which  will  form  and  share  large-scale 
infrastructures,  budgets  and  manpower. 
ASPERA  is  an  ERA-NET  aiming  at  the 
consolidation  of  European 
research 
transnational 
expertise, 
cooperation.  It  has  come  about  through 
ApPEC,  an  interest  grouping  of national 
funding  agencies,  which  was  founded 
in  2001  when  6  European  scientific 
agencies took the initiative to coordinate 
and  encourage  astroparticle  physics 
in  Europe.  The  project  consortium 
currently consists of 17 national funding 
agencies  in  Europe,  including  Centre 
Européen  de  Recherche  Nucléaire 
(CERN)  as  a  full  participant.  ASPERA 
will  work  closely  at  associate  partner 
level  with  the  European  Space  Agency 
(ESA),  exploiting  the  complementarities 
and  extensions  of  astroparticle  physics 
programmes  on  the  ground  with  space. 
Furthermore,  the  partners  will  interact 
the  European  Strategy  Forum 
with 
on  Research 
(ESFRI) 
Infrastructures 
committee, 
the  European  Southern 
Observatory (ESO) and the Astrophysics 
ERA-NET  ASTRONET,  an  initiative  for 
the  coordination  of  national  actions 

ASPERA.indd   1

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Coordination Action
ASPERA

Full title:

Implementation of Astroparticle 
Physics European Coordination

Research field:

Coordinator:

France: Centre National de la 
Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

Partners:

• Germany: Bundesministerium 
für Bildung und Forschung 
(BMBF)

• France : Commissariat d’Energie 
  Atomique (CEA)
• International : Centre Européen 
  de Recherche Nucléaire (CERN)
• Portugal : Fundação para a 
  Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
• Belgium : Fonds National de 
  Recherche Scientifique (FNRS)
• Netherlands : Stichting voor 
  Fundamenteel Onderzoek der 
  Materie (FOM)
• Belgium : Fonds voor 
  Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-
  Vlaanderen (FWO)
• Italy : Istituto Nationale di Fisica 
  Nucleare (INFN)
• Spain : Ministerio de Education 
  y Ciencia (MEC)
• Czech Republic : Ministry of 
  Education Youth and Sports 

(MEYS)

• Switzerland : Swiss National 
  Science Foundation (SNF)
• Greece : National Center for 
  Scientific Research” Demokritos” 

(DEMOKRITOS)

• United Kingdom : Particle 
  Physics and Astronomy 
  Research Council (PPARC)
• Germany : Projektträger DESY 

(PT DESY)

• Spain : Fundacion Espanola de 
  Ciencia y Tecnologia (FECYT) 
• Sweden : Swedish Research 
  Council (Vetenskapsradet) (VR)

Further information:

S. Katsanevas 
CNRS
Fax: +33 1 44 96 53 40
E-mail: katsan@admin.in2p3.fr  

Duration:
3 years

EC funding:
	 e2 500 000

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The	enthusiasm	with	which	the	scientific	community	and	the	funding	

agencies	embraced	the	process	makes	me	confident	of	the	outcome.

“

covering the entire range of astronomical 
research.  Consequently,  duplication  of 
effort  and  overlaps  will  be  avoided,  and 
at  the  same  time  synergies  and  optimal 
infrastructure  equipment 
investments 
will be produced.
The  first  step  in  this  exciting  three-year 
journey  will  be  the  structured  exchange 
of  information  between  the  consortium 
supranational 
partners,  national  or 
boards,  and  the  research  councils  of  all 
European  countries.  This  process  will 
highlight 
the  research  priorities  and 
the  similarities  and  discrepancies  of 
administration,  evaluation  and  funding 
in  the  national  councils.  Additionally, 
the  legal  and  funding  barriers  hindering 
the  transnational  cooperation  will  be 
identified.  Guided  by  this  information, 
the  common  rules  and  tools  for  the 
administration 
of 
and 
transnational  projects  will  be  built, 
comprising  a  joint  scientific  roadmap 
for  large  astroparticle  physics  projects. 
This  will  be  accomplished  through  the 
development of a database of evaluation 
experts,  the  development  of  common 
review  procedures  and  the  linking  of 
existing infrastructures. Specific targeted 
workshops  will  provide  the  groundwork 
transnational  research 
for 
targets,  and  particularly 
for  defining 
joint  European 
research 
topics 
programmes.  The 
roadmap  priority 
recommendations,  combined  with  the 
joint strategic planning, will pass through 
the test of common or coordinated calls. 
Through the launch of a coordinated R&D 
programme,  a  common  action  plan  for 
the  funding  of  new  infrastructures  will 
be  developed.  To  achieve  this  target, 
the  respective  alignment  of  part  of  the 

identifying 

evaluation 

for 

Project reference:

CA-036284 (ERAC) ASPERA

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

”

the  public 

financial  resources  of  the  networking 
realised. 
research  councils  will  be 
Moreover,  the  setting  up  of  cooperation 
agreements  on  existing  infrastructures, 
will  yield  a  unified  large  scale  substrate 
for  the  implementation  of  demanding 
research activities.
The  interchange  of  information  and  the 
dissemination of results will be facilitated 
by  the  development  of  joint  electronic 
communication tools and portals. Beyond 
acting as a single entry point, this common 
electronic 
infrastructure  will  enable 
effective joint processing of proposals and 
European  programmes.  It  will  enhance 
the  unity  of  astroparticle  scientists 
around  the  ERA-NET,  strengthening  the 
corporate identity of the consortium. An 
Internet-based  information  system  will 
allow political decision makers, interested 
applicants  and 
to  have 
access  to  information  about  ASPERA, 
its  programmes  and  its  philosophy.  It 
will  also  contain  publications,  calls  for 
joint  transnational  proposals, 
lists  of 
funded  projects,  benchmarking  studies, 
links  to  researchers  and  national  and 
supranational 
This 
regularly updated information will act as 
a mechanism to raise and maintain public 
awareness, enabling further mobilization 
of key players, and consequently network 
expansion too.
ASPERA 
convergence 
point  where  scientists  and  agencies 
in  order  to  take  Europe-wide 
meet, 
decisions  on  future  programmes  and 
infrastructures  on  astroparticle  physics 
research.  As  a  coordinating  action,  it 
provides  a  framework  which  embraces 
the  implementation  of  joint  activities, 
focusing  on  mutuality  and  synergy.  The 
attainment of its goals will pave the way 
for  the  implementation  of  sustainable 
cooperation 
working 
towards  a  European  Research  Area  in 
astroparticle physics.

organizations. 

agreements, 

provides 

a 

ASPERA.indd   2

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Coordination Action

COMPLEXITY-NET

the sum of its parts

The whole is greater than 
“

knowledge-based	society,	where	new	complex	methods	

and	technologies	are	increasingly	important	in	a	highly	

Complexity	research	is	essential	to	the	growth	of	the	

competitive	global	market.

”

The ongoing transfer of 
information in an increasingly 
knowledge-based society has 
resulted in a great demand for 
understanding complex models 
and behaviour. Recent evidence 
suggests that Europe is falling 
behind its global competitors in 
the race to establish expertise 
in this emerging scientific 
discipline. COMPLEXITY-NET has 
been established to reverse this 
trend by promoting increased 
horizontal collaboration across 
Europe. Several targeted actions 
will help stimulate cooperation, 
as well as drive knowledge 
creation and sharing. 

Please note that this fact sheet replaces the previous one, known as 
COMPLEXITY-NET and included in Series 2 of this publication.

Scientific    research    has    traditionally 

examined 

simplified 

elements 

a  strategy  for  advancing  complexity 

research  within  its  borders;  Europe’s 

extracted  from  systems  in  an  attempt 

output,  when  measured  in  numbers  of 

to define the principles  on  which  they  

publications, is only half of that of the US, 

operate    and,    if  possible,  to  create 

despite  having  approximately  the  same 

a  mathematical  model  capable  of 

number of scientists.

reproducing the functions of the original 

system.  The  natures  of  many  complex 

systems  are,  however,  derived  from  a 

The answer is simple
in 
The  partners 

involved 

the  SSA 

combination  of  emerging  properties 

developed  a  plan  to  help  Europe  level 

arising 

from 

interactions  between 

the  playing  field.  The  nine  original 

these  elements.  Complexity  Science 

partners took on two additional partners 

acknowledges  a  world  that  does  not 

and  COMPLEXITY-NET  was  born.  To 

consist of simple linear relations, but rather 

better  coordinate  the  European  effort, 

shows the features that originate entirely 

the  first  step  is  to  identify  what  each 

from inherent nonlinearities, a world that 

Member  State 

is  doing 

individually. 

evolves  and  adapts  dynamically,  often 

Once 

information  about  the  national 

driven far from simple equilibrium.

programmes  has  been  accumulated,  it 

Complexity research has its origins in the 

will be subjected to a SWOT (Strengths, 

‘natural  sciences’,  but  has  spread  into 

Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) 

the  realm  of  Engineering,  Economics 

analysis  to  define  corrective  actions 

and  other  Social  Sciences.  The  upsurge 

and  to  design  an  integrated  approach, 

of 

interest 

in  complexity  has  been 

to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunities 

accompanied  by 

a 

corresponding 

arising  from  Europe’s  inherent  expertise 

explosion  in  the  number  of  scientific 

and  existing  knowledge  base.  Relevant 

journals  and  conferences  dedicated  to 

reports for both steps will summarise the 

the subject.

key findings.

Concerning Europe’s standing in the field 

The  next  phase  will 

investigate  the 

of  complex  systems,  the  statistics  are 

wider  European  perspective,  enabling 

not  in  its  favour  when  compared  with 

the  creation  of  a  broad  strategy  to  re-

its  main  competitors.  Research  carried 

establish innovation and competitiveness 

out  in  the  context  of  a  Specific  Support 

in the European realm. Possible activities 

Action  (SSA)  revealed  that  the  United 

suggested  to  help  achieve  this  goal 

States  has  taken  the  lead  in  developing 

include  the  following:  holding  joint  calls 

ERA-NET

COMPLEXITY-NET.indd   1

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Coordination Action
COMPLEXITY-NET

Full title:

European Network of Funding 

  Agencies- Coordination of 
  National Complexity Research and 

Training Activities

Research field:

Complex systems

Coordinator:
  United Kingdom: Engineering and 

Physical Sciences Research 
Council 

Partners:

•  Belgium: Fonds National de la
  Reserche Scientifique
• Denmark: Ministry of Science, 
  Technology and Innovation
• Estonia: Eesti Teaduste 
  Akadeemia
• Greece: General Secretariat for 
  Research and Technology
• Hungary: National Office for 
  Research and Technology
• Ireland: Irish Research Council 
for Science, Engineering and 

  Technology
• Italy: Consiglio Nazionale delle 
  Ricerche
• Netherlands: Nederlandse 
  Organitie voor Wetenschappelyk 
  Onderzok
• Portugal: Fundacao para Ciencia 
  e Tecnologia
• Spain: Ministerio de Educación y 
  Ciencia

Further information:
  Dr. Caroline Batchelor

Engineering and Physical Sciences 
Research Council
Polaris House

  North Star Avenue Swindon,

SN2 1ET– UK
ComplexityNET@epsrc.ac.uk

  Website: www.epsrc.ac.uk

Duration:

42 months

EC funding:
	 e2 615 665 20

Project reference:

036195 COMPLEXITY-NET

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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“

Our	ambition	is	the	formation	of	a	Complexity-NET

coordinated	action	that	will	raise	European	research	and	

research	training	on	complex	systems	to	the	absolute	best	level

”

for  proposals;  promoting  knowledge 

COMPLEXITY-NET will actively cooperate 

sharing 

by  mobilising 

European 

with  various 

important  stakeholders 

scientists through training and exchange 

including 

the 

European 

Science 

programmes;  increased  access  to  the 

Foundation and the Division on Statistical 

limited  research  facilities;  and  cross-

and  Nonlinear  Physics  of  the  European 

border  participation.  There  will  be  a 

Physical Society. 

strong  emphasis  on  dissemination 

Conferences,  workshops  and  other 

activities that will be guided by a central 

events  will  provide  a  common  forum 

COMPLEXITY-NET office, while a network 

to  unite,  exchange  ideas  and  forge  a 

steering  committee  will  facilitate  the 

common  strategy.  Finally,  committees 

high-level  coordination  of  the  extensive 

such  the  European  Heads  of  Research 

project workplan.

Building steam
COMPLEXITY-NET  is  not  starting  from 

Councils  and  the  European  Union  of 

Physics Research Organisations will also 

be  invited  to  contribute  to  the  project. 

This  large  pool  of  organisations  will  be 

scratch.  The  EXYSTENCE  project  has 

further  drawn  on  to  enlist  new  partners 

been  previously  funded  by  the  Future 

for COMPLEXITY-NET from both Member 

and  Emerging  Technologies  arm  of 

States and Associated States. 

the 

Information  Society  Technologies 

Programme. Both the New and Emerging 

Science and Technology programme, as 

well  as  the  Cooperation  in  Science  and 

Technology programme have also funded 

similar initiatives. 

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E-RARE

for cooperation

Rare opportunity
“

real	European	research	programme	on	rare	diseases.

Coordination	of	scientific	platforms	and	centres	

will	open	the	way	to	networking	and	to	the	creation	of	a	

”

The field of rare diseases 
offers an outstanding 
opportunity for the 
coordination of national
 research programmes.
No single European 
country can assemble the 
critical mass of funding, 
expertise, facilities or patients 
needed to launch the large 
multidisciplinary projects 
needed, to make serious
progress in combating 
this major social problem. 
E-Rare will establish internal 
and external communication 
infrastructures, and will 
develop specific 
communication with 
the scientific community, 
EU Commission, external
funding organisations, 
all relevant public stakeholders 
and patient organisations.
The results will be passed on 
to research policymakers with 
the aim of applying them to the 
healthcare system.

ERA-NET

Please note that this fact sheet replaces the previous one, known as E-RARE
 and included in Series 1 of this publication.

E-Rare aims at maximizing the efficiency 

Recognising 

that 

special 

funding 

and impact of research on rare diseases 

mechanisms  and  coordination 

  are 

by  developing  a  common  research 

necessary 

to  address 

these  serious 

policy,  as  well  as  promoting  actions 

difficulties,  9  partners  from  8  different 

to 

foster  multidisciplinary  projects, 

countries  decided  to  join  their  forces 

facilitate transnational access to research 

in 

this  coordination  action.  E-Rare 

infrastructures, 

and  gather  patient 

aims  at  maximizing  the  efficiency  and 

cohorts  and  related  biological  material 

impact  of  research  on  rare  diseases, 

on a European scale

By  definition,  individual  rare  diseases 

affect  no  more  than  1  person  in 

every  2 000.  But  there  are  between  6 000 

and      7  000  different  types  of  diseases, 

mainly  of  genetic  origin.  Taken  together, 

they  affect  some    20    million    European  

citizens.  Most  of  these  diseases  lead  

to  chronic  illness,  and  they  represent  a 

significant burden on healthcare systems. 

Yet  for  the  vast  majority,  particularly  the 

auto-immune  disorders, 

the  specific 

causes  remain  unknown.    Very  few  are 

well-enough  understood 

for  effective 

treatment to be available.

Their  rarity 

itself  constitutes  a  real 

obstacle to research. The thin distribution 

of  patients  makes  it  hard  to  gather 

enough  subjects  for  proper    studies.  

Specialist  research  groups are  isolated,  

and    clinical    data    are    fragmentary.   

Furthermore,  since   most   public   funding   

is  devoted  to  research  on  common 

diseases,  the  complex  research  projects 

that  are  needed  for  rare  diseases,  and 

which normally  require  interdisciplinary  

cooperation,  are seldom set up.

by  developing  a  common  research 

policy,  as  well  as  promoting    actions 

to 

foster  multidisciplinary  projects, 

facilitate transnational access to research 

infrastructures and gather patient cohorts 

and  related  biological  material,  on  a 

European scale.

Developing 
common research policy
Mutual 

learning  and  exchange  of 

information,  identification  of  gaps  and 

overlaps 

among  national 

research  

programmes  and  activities  on 

rare 

diseases,  will  create  a  knowledge 

base  for  the  development  of  joint  and 

transnational  activities.  Interaction  with 

scientists  and  stakeholders  involved  in 

the  study  of  rare  diseases  will  allow  for 

the definition of strategic priorities to be 

included in the research policy agenda on 

rare diseases, and also in future research  

programmes  and  activities  at  national, 

transnational and European level. 

Realising synergies
Overcoming  the  inherent  fragmentation 

E-RARE.indd   1

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Coordination Action
E-RARE

Full title:

ERA-NET for research
programmes on rare diseases

Research field:
Rare diseases

Coordinator:

France: GIS-Institut des maladies
rares, Institut National de la Santé 
et de la Recherche Médicale
(Inserm)

Partners:

• France: Inserm/GIS-Institut des  
  maladies rares
• Germany: Der Projektträger  

im Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- 

  und Raumfahrt;  
  Bundesministerium für Bildung 
  und Forschung
• Spain:Instituto de Salud Carlos III
  Fundación para la Cooperación y 

la Salud Internacional

• Belgium: Fonds National de la 
  Recherche Scientifique
• Israel: Chief Scientist Office,  
  Ministry of Health
• Italy:Istituto Superiore di Sanità
• The Netherlands:De 
  Nederlandse Organisatie 
  voor Gezondheidsonderzoek en 
  Zorginnovatie
• Turkey: Türkiye Bilimsel ve  
  Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu

Affiliated partners:

• Russia : Ministry of Education of 

the Russian Federation

• Italy: Direzione Generale Sanità, 
  Region of Lombardy

Further information:
  Dr Pascale

Borensztein, Dr Igor Beitia
  GIS-Institut des maladies rares

102 rue Didot, 75014 Paris, France 
Fax: +33 1 58 14 22 88
Email: ibeitia@e-rare.eu

  Website: http://www.e-rare.eu 

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e2 187 377.60

Project reference:
CA-036248-E-Rare

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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“

We	hope	that	E-Rare	will	convince	more	EU	Member

States	to	strengthen	their	own	national	programmes	on	rare	

diseases,	and	to	participate	in	our	joint	activities.

”

of  research  in  the  field  of  rare  diseases, 

and 

promoting 

multidisciplinary 

development  of  future  research  policies 

and other transnational actions.

approaches  are  certainly  two  of  the 

E-Rare  actions  should  trigger  a  leverage 

principal challenges in this research area. 

effect,  resulting  in  the  extension  and 

To  reach  this  goal,  the  first  objective    of 

development  of  human  resources  and 

E-Rare  is  the  opening  and  support  of 

technological  and  logistical  possibilities. 

rotational  positions,  allowing  clinicians 

This will eventually provide a basis from 

to  get  involved  in  basic  research  in  the 

which  to  overcome  the  fragmentation 

field of rare diseases. A second objective 

and effort multiplication in rare diseases 

is to facilitate the links between scientists 

research.

working in the field of rare diseases, and 

The  E-Rare  project  will  certainly  have 

platforms  or  centres  that  could  provide 

considerable  impact  on  the  structuring 

them with the resources and/or expertise 

of  research  in  rare  diseases,  basic  and 

they  might    need.  This  objective  can  be 

clinical, in the participating countries (and 

achieved through a transnational opening 

possibly throughout Europe). In addition, 

of  platforms,  with  more  collaboration 

it could help its partners and the European 

and  easier  access  for  rare  diseases 

Commission  in  defining  their  strategic 

researchers,  both  at  national  and  at 

objectives  for  rare  diseases  research. 

Altogether,  E-Rare  should  eventually 

provide  for  the  development  of  better 

diagnostic  tools,  and  new  therapies  for 

the benefit of patients suffering from rare 

diseases.

European level.

Promoting 
common understanding
The  setting  up  of  common  procedures, 

evaluation  approaches  and  guidelines 

for 

the  use  of  data  management 

systems  and  biobanks,  will 

lead  to 

common  understanding 

and  unity 

within  programmes.  This,  together  with 

the  preparation  of  specific  cooperation 

agreements,  will  prepare  the  ground  for 

further transnational research activities.

E-Rare partners will launch transnational 

calls  for  research  on  rare  diseases. 

These  calls  will    enable  scientists  in 

different  countries  to  establish  effective 

collaboration  on  a  common  research 

project, based on complementarities and 

sharing  of  expertise.  The  results  of  the 

first  call  (launched  in  2007,  for  some  8 

million  euro)  will  provide  a  basis  for  the 

E-RARE.indd   2

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ECORD

Collaboration at the 

core of ocean drilling

“

Our	project	will	enable	Europe’s	network	for	

ocean-floor	sampling	through	deep-drilling,	to	develop	

for	the	first	time	as	a	single	entity.

”

Dynamically positioned, the drilling vessel M/V Bucentaur
(DNSD, Norway) operates in depths of 13-2000 metres.

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 1 of this publication.

We   only   began   to   take   records   

of  weather      patterns      a      few   

hundred years ago, yet scientists can trace 

changes in   the   earth’s   climate,   over   

geological  timescales.  Climate  models 

are  based  in  part  on  the  deciphering  of 

past records preserved in the sediments 

deposited  on  the  seabed.  By  studying 

samples  of    seafloor  material,  scientists 

not  only  build  a  picture  of  the  earth’s 

geological  and  environmental  past,  but 

also  develop  models  for  predicting    its  

future.    Scientific    ocean    drilling    has 

provided 

important  evidence  for  the 

theory  of    plate    tectonics,    revealed  

surprising 

  biological  and 

  mineral   

resources,  and  uncovered  many  of  the  

natural  mechanisms that affect sea level 

and  climate  and  generate  geohazards. 

The    drilling    and    subsequent    analysis  

of ‘cores’ — cylindrical  cross-sections  of  

the  sea  floor  sampled  by  sections  of  up 

to 10 metres in length — brings together  

multidisciplinary    teams    of    scientists 

and technicians. The human and financial  

resources    and    expertise    required    for 

major      drilling      projects      and      shore-

based 

analysis 

have 

encouraged 

international  cooperation  in  the  form  of 

the  Ocean  Drilling  Programme    (ODP).  

This    consortium    was  disbanded  in 

October 2003.

Ocean drilling provides
essential material for the 
study of climate change, geo- 
physics and the discovery 
of new microbiological and 
mineral resources. The ECORD 
consortium has been formed to 
represent the interests of Europe 
in the international Integrated 
Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP). 
Member organisations share 
information and best practice in
order to produce high-quality 
research at international level. 
By pooling their funding they 
allow Europe to provide access 
to specific drilling platforms. 
They also encourage European 
laboratories to develop 
particular areas of expertise. 
This ERA-NET scheme is keen 
to expand its membership, 
and to organise outreach and 
training programmes in ocean 
drilling. ECORD’s transnational 
programme coordination and 
funding will contribute to the 
positioning of Europe as a major 
actor in marine geosciences.

ERA-NET

International leadership
The 

European 

research 

funding  

organisations  that  participated  in  ODP, 

agreed  to  join    its    successor  —  the  

Integrated    Ocean  Drilling  Programme 

(IODP)  —  under  a  single  European 

umbrella. The European    Consortium    for    

Ocean  Research  Drilling  (ECORD),  was 

formed by 17 countries, to represent and 

fund  European  ocean  drilling  studies  at 

an international  level.  As  a  coordinated  

unit,  ECORD  enables  Europe  to  achieve  

critical mass and   economies of scale in 

its progress  towards  equal  partnership  

with  the    USA    and  Japan,  countries 

which are currently considered  the  world  

leaders  in  marine geosciences.

The ERA-NET scheme is helping ECORD 

to  implement  its  vision  of  Europe-wide  

strategic planning, funding and research 

in the field  of  ocean  drilling.  In  particular,  

it    provides      a      structure      through   

which      joint  drilling    programmes    can  

be    managed    and  coordinated,  and 

their  results  disseminated  to  the  marine 

scientist community.

The      interaction      between      national   

programme      managers      will      be   

particularly effective in the preparation of 

scientific  proposals.  ECORD  ERA-NET  is 

creating a database that pools all existing 

information  on  drilling  proposals  by  

European    scientists.  This  information-

sharing  will  produce  a  steady  growth  in 

collaboration —  for  example, the  sharing  

ECORD.indd   1

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Coordination Action
ECORD

Full title:

European consortium for ocean
research drilling

Research field:
  Geosciences

Coordinator:

Europe	can	now	look	forward	to	equal	partnership	with	

the	USA	and	Japan	in	a	new	era	of	deep	ocean-floor	sampling

“

”

of  marine    site-survey    protocols    and 

data  will  create  high-quality  competitive 

proposals at international level. 

Expansion and Promotion
The  ECORD  consortium  is  committed 

to  expanding 

its  membership  base, 

especially  among  funding  organisations 

in  a  candidate  country  such  as  Turkey 

interested  in  ocean  drilling  operations. 

France: Centre National de
Recherche Scientifique / Institut
  National des Sciences de l’Univers

Best practice
The  promotion  of  best  practice 

is 

Partners:

• France : Centre National de 
  Recherche Scientifique/INSU
• Germany: Deutsche 
  Forschungsgemeinschaft
• UK: National Environment 
  Research Council
• Sweden: Swedish Research 
  Council
• Netherlands: Netherlands 
  Organisation for Scientific 
  Research
• Portugal : Office for International 
  Relations in Science and Higher 
  Education
• Iceland: The Icelandic Center for 
  Research
• Norway: Research Council of 
  Norway
• Switzerland: Swiss National 
  Science Foundation
• France : Institut Français de 

l’Exploitation de la Mer

• Denmark: Danish Research 
  Agency / Danish Natural Science 
  Research Council 

Further information:

Catherine Mével, Centre National 
de la Recherche Scientifique
PO Box 287, 3, rue Michel-Ange, 
Paris, 75766– France
Fax :+33 1 44 27 99 69 
Email : mevel@ipgp.jussieu.fr

especially important. Pooling the funds at 

ECORD will aim to involve scientists from 

the European level allows Europe to play 

these countries in drilling proposals and 

a major role in IODP, by operating drilling 

expeditions. With  a pool  of  renowned  

platforms 

in  shallow  water  and 

ice-

ocean    scientists    and    an  excellent 

covered areas. The two first expeditions 

reputation as a leader in the technological 

implemented  by  ECORD,  in  the  Arctic 

aspects of ocean drilling, Russia could be 

and  Tahiti,  will  be  scientific  milestones 

a key ECORD partner in the future. ECORD  

in  the  investigation  of  past  climates. 

has    been    established    to    provide    a 

ECORD    ERA-NET    participants  also  aim 

structure  for  the  financial,  managerial  

to  pool  research  funding  for  post-cruise  

and   scientific    planning    of    ocean   

research.  A    European    call  is  expected 

drilling   research   for   Europe   within  

to  encourage  European 

laboratories 

IODP,   but   its   remit   will   not   stop  

to  develop  expertise 

in  high-profile 

there.  The  consortium is also developing 

sciences  such  as  climate  change,  bio-

links with other European programmes in 

geochemistry  of  extreme  environments, 

geosciences  and  biology  to  promote  an 

and  new  energy  sources.  A  network  of 

integrated  approach  to  the  study  of  the 

specialist    facilities,    open    for    mutual  

deep seafloor, one of the last frontiers on 

access,  will enable  European  scientists  

Earth. 

to  expand  the scope  of  their  research  

Climate 

studies 

require  worldwide 

and  better  exploit the results of drilling 

coverage,  including  coring  on  land,  in 

operations.

lakes and across the entire ocean basins. 

ECORD    ERA-NET    also    promotes    the  

The ECORD network  will  also  maintain  

dissemination  of  research  results.  The 

close  links  with related programmes such 

participants are working together to build 

as  the  International  Continental  Drilling 

  Website : www.ecord.org 

a database  of  published  research  that  

Programme.    An    extensive    outreach  

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e263 808 700

Project reference:

CA-510218-ECORD

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

will  help European  scientists  to  exploit  

programme,    including    the    training    of  

the    work    of  partners  more  efficiently. 

school teachers, is also planned.

Managers  can  use  the  database  to 

ECORD  ERA-NET  is  raising  the  profile  

support  evaluation  of  projects    and    the  

of  ocean  drilling  both  at  home  and 

benchmarking  of  European achievements 

internationally.  It  is    providing    Europe  

in the international field.

with  the  resources  to become   a   major   

contributor   to   a   geoscience  that  may  

determine    the    shape    of  tomorrow’s 

international treaties.

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Era-CHEMISTRY

chemical bonding 

Transnational 
“

European	added	value	should	be	adequately	funded.

the	principle	that	excellent	transnational	projects	with	high	

	We	want	to	anchor	within	national	research	strategies	

”

Europe’s national chemistry 
research programmes are 
extremely diverse, encompassing 
pure academic and industrial 
research as well as applications 
that overlap with neighbouring 
disciplines. Some attempts 
have been made to coordinate 
these efforts, but until now 
national funding procedures have 
hampered effective international 
collaboration. ERA-CHEMISTRY 
links 14 national research 
funding bodies from 12 European 
countries, thus providing a 
framework for greater coherence 
and coordination of research 
programmes and projects 
across Europe. Agreed European 
standards for the evaluation 
and funding of transnational 
projects are being developed 
and implemented to overcome 
the present fragmentation, 
leading to jointly managed and 
financed research programmes, 
and projects with transnational 
complementarities of expertise.

ERA-NET

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 1 of this publication.

Chemistry  is  an  international  science 

The  14  programmes’  combined  annual 

with  many 

transnational 

activities. 

budget 

for 

transnational 

chemical 

There  is  an  increasing  importance  of 

research  is  approximately  €80  million 

chemical  research  at  the  interfaces  with 

— 10% of all their chemistry research. As 

other research fields  and a large degree 

this  would  fund  about  1000  researchers 

of 

interaction  between 

fundamental, 

in  Europe  each  year,  ERA-  CHEMISTRY 

‘curiosity-based’ studies and more applied 

has  considerable  potential  to  influence 

areas 

like  biomedical  and  materials 

the course of future chemistry research.

research. 

Incompatible 

terminologies, 

procedures, 

research 

philosophies 

and 

funding  parameters  make 

the 

administration  of  transnational  research 

European coordination
so far 
ERA-CHEMISTRY 

is  based  on 

the 

programmes 

highly 

problematic. 

knowledge  and 

the  experiences  of 

ERA-CHEMISTRY 

is 

implementing 

the  Chairpersons  and  Directors  of 

an 

interdisciplinary  approach 

to 

the 

European Research Councils’ Chemistry 

funding  of  chemical  research,  and  is 

Committees 

(CERC3)  who  are  now 

working  towards  the  mutual  opening  of 

all  full  or  associated  partners  of  ERA-

national  programmes.  ERA-CHEMISTRY 

Chemistry.  During  the  past  three  years, 

has  started 

resolving 

the  unsettled 

ERA-CHEMISTRY  has  collected  and 

responsibilities  of  R&D  ministries  and 

benchmarked  information  on  national 

national research councils, at the interface 

evaluation  and 

funding  procedures, 

between  science-driven  and  industry-

research  priorities  and  best  practices 

initiated 

research. 

ERA-CHEMISTRY 

in  chemical 

research, 

in  order 

to 

embarks  on  a  venture  with  a  five-year 

develop  suitable  common  rules  for  the 

work  plan.  The  project  brings  together 

administration,  evaluation  and  funding 

the  programme  directors  of  14  national 

of  transnational  proposals.  Prior  to  the 

research  councils  and  funding  agencies, 

implementation  of  new  rules  for  the 

who  are  responsible  for  funding  their 

first  ERA-CHEMISTRY  call  for  proposals 

countries’ 

chemistry 

research 

and 

launched  in  June  2005,  the  chemical 

postgraduate  training.  The  aim  is  to 

community  had 

the  opportunity 

to 

ensure close interaction between national 

express its own wishes which were largely 

efforts in specific fields, opening the way 

satisfied.  There  was  a  two-stage  review 

for joint European research programmes 

procedure, starting with 78 transnational 

and  increasing  the  international  visibility 

pre-proposals.  In  December  2005,  the  9 

of especially young researchers.

most highly ranked full proposals (out of 

Era_Chemistry.indd   1

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Coordination Action
Era-CHEMISTRY

Full title:

Implementation of joint bottom-up 
European programmes in 
chemistry

35) received €3.3 million from a common 
from  earmarked  national 
pot  and 

contributions.

The	new	tools	to	be	developed	by	the	ERA-NET	will	

establish	a	reference	model	for	peer	review	in	Europe.

“

”

workshops  between  researchers  and 

administrators,  and  also  a  new  type  of 

research conference (Flash Conferences). 

The  topic  of  the  first  Flash  Conference 

in  March  2007  was  ‘Molecules  at  the 

interface:  From  single  molecule 

to 

Initiatives
ERA-CHEMISTRY  includes  14  national 

research  councils  and  funding  agencies 

functional  assemblies’.  The  second 

from  11  EU  Member  States  and 

call,  on  the  topic  ‘Chemical  activation 

Switzerland.  Eventually, 

it  hopes 

to 

of  methane  and  carbon  dioxide’,  was 

involve all European countries possessing 

disseminated  in  March  2007,  and  was  

a good chemical research infrastructure. 

backed  up  by  an  Open  Transnational 

Research  councils  currently  outside 

Funding Scheme for small joint projects, 

the  network  (including  non-European 

without  thematic  restriction.  Ultimately, 

partners)  are  invited  to  take  part  in  all 

all  these  approaches  are  expected  to 

ERA-CHEMISTRY activities. The links with 

constitute  the  field  of  chemistry  in  the 

European  bodies,  such  as  the  European 

European Research Area, on a long-term 

Chemical  Industry  Council  (CEFIC)  and 

scale,  beyond  the  funding  of  the  ERA-

with  other  relevant  ERA-NETs,  will  be 

CHEMISTRY network itself.

intensified.

ERA-CHEMISTRY  has 

launched 

the 

ERA-CHEMISTRY  has  been  extending 

following two Joint Calls: 

its  data  collection  and  benchmarking 

1.  “Hierarchically  organised  chemical 

of  national  guidelines 

for 

funding 

structures:  from  molecules  to  hybrid 

chemical 

research 

to  neighbouring 

materials”,  Call  launched:  01/06/2005 

disciplines  (physics,  biology,  materials 

with a budget of 3,21 M euros; and 

science), 

including  applied  research. 

2.  “Chemical  activation  of 

inert 

By  considering  the  experiences  of  the 

molecules”, Call launched: 01/04/2007 

first ERA-CHEMISTRY call for proposals, 

(tbc  with  coordinator)  with  a  budget 

the  common  rules  for  administration, 

of 5,4 M euros (tbc with coordinator)  

evaluation  and  funding  of  transnational 

Such Joint Calls can be regarded as major 

proposals  will  be  optimised.  ERA-

achievements  not 

least  because  the 

CHEMISTRY  has  explicitly  decided 

pooled funds are put partly in a common 

against  determining  specific  scientific 

pot and partly in a virtual pot.

subjects  a  priori.  Supported  by  a  high 

level  Scientific  Advisory  Board,  it  will 

instead  choose  current  ‘hot’  topics,  to 

define  the  innovative  chemistry-related 

research  fields  that  are  suitable  for 

transnational thematic calls for proposals; 

this  will  be  in  the  form  of  joint  strategy 

Research field:

Chemistry, pure and applied

Coordinator:
  Germany, German Research 

Foundation 

Partners:

• Austria: Austrian Science Fund
• Belgium: Research Foundation 
  - Flanders; National Fund for 
  Scientific Research
• Finland: Academy of Finland
• France: National Center for 
  Scientific Research
• Hungary: Hungarian Academy 
  of Sciences
• Ireland: Irish Research Council 
for Science, Engineering and 

  Technology 
• The Netherlands: Netherlands 
  Research Council
• Poland: Institute of Organic 
  Chemistry of the Polish 
  Academy of Sciences; Ministry 
  of Science and Higher Education
• Portugal: Foundation for Science 
  and Technology
• Spain: Ministry of Education and 
  Science
• Switzerland: Swiss National 
  Science Foundation

Further information:
  Dr. Karlheinz Schmidt, Deutsche  

Forschungsgemeinschaft
Kennedyallee 40, D-53170 Bonn 
– Germany
karlheinz.schmidt@dfg.de

Duration:
5 years

EC funding:
	 e2 800 000

Project reference:

CA-510192-ERA-CHEMISTRY

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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ERA-ARD

agricultural research 

for the world’s poor

Leading the field in
“

development-related	problems.

awareness	in	Europe	through	a	better	understanding	of	

I	hope	that	this	ERA-NET	will	contribute	to	public	

”

Member States invest 
considerably in agricultural 
research to support sustainable 
development in the poorer 
nations. However, cooperation 
between national or regional 
Agricultural Research for 
Development (ARD) programmes 
is minimal. Therefore, ERA-
ARD is working to rationalise 
Europe’s ARD effort. It is 
mapping all ARD activities 
and administrative structures 
in participating countries, to 
highlight synergies, duplications 
and best management practice. 
Participants will then select 
two sub-programmes for joint 
activity, leading to transnational 
activities with shared funding and 
administration. This streamlining 
will benefit developing nations 
directly, and help Europe meet its 
commitments to fighting global 
poverty and hunger.

ERA-NET

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 3 of this publication

Although   you   may   have   skipped  

breakfast  this  morning,  you  know 

that you  will  not  go  hungry  for  long.  For  

may  exceed  €1  billion.  Yet,  despite  this 
substantial commitment, there is markedly 

limited  coordination  between  the  ARD 

the majority  of  Europe’s  citizens,  food  

programmes  of  Member  States,  the 

is    in  plentiful  supply  and  they  have  the 

various    European    Commission-funded 

money to buy it. Yet poverty and hunger 

projects,  or  the  numerous  European 

are still rife in many countries across the 

and 

international  bodies 

currently 

globe. Around 800 million people live on 

addressing  ARD  research.  Predictably, 

less than 1 USD per day, and hundreds of 

this  fragmentation  leads  to  conflicts  of 

millions are chronically undernourished.

interest,  unnecessary  competition  and 

Europe  has  made  rapid  technological, 

duplication of efforts — in short, it results 

economic  and  social  progress  over 

in a significant waste of resources.

the  past  century,  but  it  is  committed 

ERA-ARD    has    been    formed    to  

to 

supporting 

development 

in 

establish  coherence  and  collaboration 

poorer  nations.  Besides  the  obvious 

in  European  ARD.      This      ERA-NET   

humanitarian  arguments,  it  is  also  well 

brings   together  representatives from a 

understood  that  Europe’s  peaceful  and 

range of stakeholders, including  various  

prosperous  future  in  the  world  is  linked 

ministries  and  national public  research  

to  the  progress  and  security  of  others. 

organisations.  With  14  participating 

Consequently, 

numerous 

research 

countries,  ERA-ARD  has 

the  critical 

programmes  and  projects  are  geared  

mass  necessary  to  drive  forward  the 

towards    supporting  development  in 

harmonisation and integration of Europe’s 

these  countries.  Agricultural  research 

ARD effort.

is  especially  important  for  economic 

Given the existing fragmentation of ARD 

growth. In Africa, for example, 70% of the 

in  Europe,  the  consortium  is  taking  a 

population works, directly or indirectly, in 

pragmatic  step-by-step  approach  to  its 

the  agricultural  sector,  and  agriculture 

work,  starting  with  basic  information 

accounts  for  35%  of  the  gross  national 

exchange, and leading up to transnational 

product, and 40% of exports.

activity.

Better yields
Europe has a strong tradition in ARD. As 

Preparing the ground
ERA-ARD is currently conducting national 

many  as  10  000  scientists  are  involved 

surveys,  in  order  to  build  a  picture  of 

in  projects  in  this  field,  while  the  total 

ARD in each participating country. It will 

amount  of  financial  resources  invested 

share  the  results  among  members,  and 

ERA-ARD.indd   1

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Coordination Action
ERA-ARD

Full title:

The Agricultural Research for

  Development (ARD) Dimension of  
the European Research Area (ERA)

Research field:
  Agriculture

Coordinator:

  France: CIRAD (Centre de 
  Coopération Internationale 
  en Recherche Agronomique 
  pour le Développement 
  – Agricultural Research Centre 
for International Development) 

Partners:

• France: MENESR (Ministry of 
  National Education and 
  Research) – Directorate for 
  European and International 
  Relations and Cooperation 
• The Netherlands: LNV (Ministry 
  of Agriculture, Nature and Food 
  Quality) – Department of 
  Knowledge Dissemination 
• Switzerland: SDC (Swiss Agency 

for Development and 

  Cooperation) – Thematic and 
  Technical Resources Department 
•  Austria: BMLFUW (Fed. Min. 
  of Agr., Forestry, Env. and Water 
  Management) – Division III/3 on 
International Cooperation for 

  Food and Development 
• Denmark: Ministry of Foreign 
  Affairs – Department of 
  Development Policy, Research 
  Section 
• Belgium: Federal Public Service 
(FSP) Foreign Affairs – Foreign 

  Trade and Development 
  Cooperation -Directorate 
• Hungary: FVM (Ministry of 
  Agriculture -and Rural 
  Development) – Department for 
  Natural Resources
• Germany: BMELV (Ministry 
  of Food, Agriculture and 
  Consumer Protection) 
• Poland: MriRW (Ministry of 
  Agriculture and Rural 
  Development) 
  – Rural Infrastructure and Social 
  Communication 
• Italy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
  – Directorate General for 
  Development Cooperation 

(DGCS) 

• Slovenia: MHEST (Ministry 
  of Higher Education, Science 
  and Technology) – Office for 

International Cooperation and 

  EU Affairs 

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Caring	about	developing	countries	

means	caring	about	the	whole	planet.

“

”

through  a  mapping  exercise 

identify 

management 

(planning,  monitoring, 

areas  of  complementarity,  duplication 

evaluation  and 

impact  assessment). 

and  potential  synergy  between  national  

The  partners  will  share  best  practice 

programmes.  By  highlighting  common 

and  publish  an  ARD  Management 

themes,  this  exercise  will  enable  ERA-

Methodology  Guidebook.  Agreement 

ARD members to produce a shared vision 

on  common  mechanisms  for  resource 

and strategic agenda for ARD in Europe, 

allocation,  will  also  facilitate  the  pooling 

that could then drive decisions at national 

of  funding  and  allow  for  the  launch 

level, and help to harmonise programme 

of  ERA-ARD’s  first  transnational  sub-

objectives, and to rationalise planning.

programme.  

The  ERA-NET  will  also  select  two  sub-

The ultimate goal of ERA-ARD is to enable 

programmes  that  will  be  open  to  joint 

Europe to collectively provide a strategic 

activities. Sub-programme managers and 

‘European ARD offer’ in terms of human, 

decisionmakers  will  meet  to  exchange 

physical and financial resources, and also 

information  and  agree  on  areas  of 

a  much  more  coordinated  approach  to 

cooperation  and  collaboration. 

  This 

North-South  scientific  and  technological 

‘hands-on’ coordination will pave the way 

cooperation  in  ARD.  By    improving    the  

for a wider, more extensive transnational 

efficiency    and    effectiveness    of    ARD  

activity as the culmination of ERA-ARD’s 

across    Europe,    the  ERA-NET  will  help 

work.

the  EU  to  fulfil  important  international 

Before  truly  transnational  activity  can 

commitments.  ERA-ARD 

constitutes 

take  place,  however,  the  consortium 

part  of  Europe’s  effort  to  fight  hunger 

members will have to agree on common 

and  poverty,  and  support  sustainable 

methodologies 

for  ARD  programme 

development across the globe.

• Spain: INIA (National Institute 

for Agriculture and Food 
  Research and Technology) 
  – Department of International 
  Programmes 
• Lithuania: ZÜM – (Ministry of 
  Agriculture) – Department of 
  Rural Development
• United Kingdom: DFID 

(Department for International 

  Development) - Central 
  Research Department

International Development
42, rue Scheffer
FR-75116 Paris
Fax: +33 1 53 70 21 33 / 4 67 61 59 95
Email: christian.hoste@cirad.fr
  Website: http://www.era-ard.org

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e3 522 982

Further information:
  Dr Christian Hoste Centre de  
Coopération Internationale en 
Recherche Agronomique pour 
le Développement (CIRAD), French 

  Agricultural Research Centre for 

Project reference:

CA 517837-ERA-ARD

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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Coordination Action

ERA-IB

Finding the right 

chemistry 

Industrial	biotechnology	embodies	the	attempts	to	unlock	the	

secrets	of	nature,	to	benefit	humankind.	It	is	thought	that	industrial	

biotechnology	may	hold	the	key	to	the	resolution	of	several	large-

“

scale	environmental	problems,	in	particular	finding	ways	to	produce	

sustainable	chemicals	and	materials,	and	the	search	for	clean	fuels	to	

power	us	into	the	new	millennium.

”

Industrial  Biotechnology  is  a  rapidly 

growing  sector  of  biotechnology, 

nowhere  more  so  than  in  the  United 

detailed  four-step  plan  to  accomplish 

these 

challenging  objectives.  The 

composition  of 

the  consortium 

is, 

States where significant funds have been 

by 

necessity, 

multi-disciplinary, 

set aside to promote American initiatives 

encompassing expertise from the fields of 

in  this  field.  Japan  is  also  a  frontrunner. 

biotechnology,  chemistry,  microbiology, 

While Europe boasts considerable talent 

genomics and engineering. It should also 

in  terms  of  numbers  and  quality  of  IB 

be  mentioned  that  the  sixteen  partners 

scientists,  and  some  Member  States 

have  made  considerable  progress  in 

developing  advanced  research  facilities, 

the  EU  overall  is  lagging  behind  its 

competitors.

Collaboration as a catalyst
Since  no  one  Member  State  can  do  it 

alone,  the  solution  lies  in  improving 

collaboration  between  Member  States. 

This  is  why  the  Industrial  Biotechnology 

ERA-NET  “Towards  an  ERA  in  Industrial 

Biotechnology”  (ERA-IB)  is  so  crucial. 

ERA-IB  aims  to  harness  the  knowledge, 

funding  and  other  relevant  resources  of 

all  Member  States,  to  bring  Europe  to 

the forefront of this field and to stimulate 

significant economic growth at the same 

time.  Europe  currently  possesses  the 

largest  chemical  industry  in  the  world; 

ERA-IB  will  ensure  that  this  lead  is 

maintained in the future.

from twelve countries and six observers 

involved  in  ERA-IB  manage  a  sizeable 

portion  of  the  current  biotech  funding 

available in Europe.

ERA-IB  will  start  by  investigating  the 

current state of IB research across Europe. 

Information  will  be  gathered  from  the 

twelve countries represented by the ERA-

IB consortium (eleven Member States and 

Israel)  as  well  the  remaining  European 

Union  countries.  Aside  from  technical 

information  on  the  current  research  and 

development landscape in the area of IB 

and the needs of the Industry in Europe, 

social,  ethical  and  intellectual  property 

aspects will be incorporated in light of the 

public’s  increased  sensitivity  concerning 

biotechnology.  A  SWOT 

(Strengths, 

Weaknesses,  Opportunities  and  Threats) 

analysis of the data collected will produce 

a coherent picture of European IB in the 

early 21st century.

The ERA-IB consortium, which is headed 

by  the  Netherlands  Organisation  for 

Building for the future
Armed  with  this  knowledge,  the  experts 

Scientific  Research,  has  drawn  up  a 

involved in ERA-IB will devise a strategic 

Industrial biotechnology
 has been identified as 
one of three key technologies 
that can help Europe 
achieve the Lisbon
 objective of becoming the most 
competitive and 
dynamic knowledge-based 
economy by the year 2010. 
Also known as white 
biotechnology, industrial 
biotechnology (IB) 
manipulates cells and cell 
components to create 
new products and
processes, primarily in the 
chemical industry.
 For instance, one of the holy 
grails of IB is the exploitation of 
biomass to produce a 
renewable source of energy with 
fewer greenhouse gas 
emissions, thereby
 limiting its impact on global 
climate change.
 This is particularly
 important for Europe,
 a region rich in biomass
 reserves that has 
committed to reducing
 its carbon dioxide 
emissions via the
 Kyoto Protocol.

ERA-NET

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Coordination Action
ERA-IB

Full title:

Towards an ERA in Industrial 
Biotechnology

Research field:

Industrial Biotechnology

Coordinator:
  NWO - Netherlands Organisation 

for Scientific Research
  ACTS - Advanced Chemical 

Technologies for Sustainability

Partners:

• France: Centre National de
  Recherche Scientifique / Institut
  National des Sciences de 

l’Univers

• Spain: Spanish Ministry of 
  Education and Science
• France: French Environment and 
  Energy Management Agency
• Romania: National Centre for 
  Programme Management
• Portugal: Fundação para a 
  Ciência e a Tecnologia
• Croatia: Ministry of Science, 
  Education and Sports of the 
  Republic of Croatia
• Germany: Federal Ministry of 
  Education and Research
• Germany: Forschungszentrum 
  Juelich GmbH
• Israel: Chief Scientist Office, 
  Ministry of Health
• Israel: Ministry of Science and 
  Technology
• Spain: Fundación Española de  
  Ciencia y Tecnología
• United Kingdom: Department of 
  Trade and Industry
• Poland: Ministry of Science and 
  Higher Education 
• Poland: Technical University of 
  Lodz
• Denmark: Danish Agency for 
  Science, Technology and  
  Education
• Belgium: Belgian Federal 
  Science Policy Office

Further information:
  Dr. Louis B. J. Vertegaal
  NWO - Netherlands Organisation 

for Scientific Research
  ACTS - Advanced Chemical 

Technologies for Sustainability
P/O Box 93223

  NL 2509 AC Den Haag
The Netherlands
Fax: +31 (0)70 385 07 87
Email: ERA-IB@nwo.nl 

  Website: http://www.nwo.nl/acts

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“

ERA-IB	wants	to	ensure	that	European	scientists	are	in	the	driver’s	

seat	for	this	revolution.	It	intends	to	accomplish	this	by	developing	and	

implementing	a	shared	vision	of	the	future	of	industrial	biotechnology	in	

Europe,	with	transnational	collaboration	as	its	central	focus.

”

research  agenda  to  be 

implemented 

throughout  Europe,  which  will  be 

the entire project lifecycle. At this stage, 

ERA-IB will again involve external bodies 

summarised  in  a  relevant  white  paper. 

with shared objectives, such as SusChem 

The emphasis will be placed on working 

ETP  and  the  Applied  Biocatalysis  arm 

around the barriers identified during  the 

(ESAB)  of  the  European  Federation  of 

SWOT analysis. Input into the creation of 

Biotechnology  (EFB).  ERA-IB  will  further 

this research agenda will be sought from 

initiate a platform of ERA-NETs related to 

existing  European  instruments,  such  as 

Industrial  Biotechnology.  This  platform 

the  IB  arm  of  the  European  Technology 

-  consisting  of  ERA-NETs  in  areas  such 

Platform 

for  Sustainable  Chemistry 

as  plant  genomics,  chemistry  and  bio-

(SusChem  ETP)  and  EuropaBio,  which 

energy  -  will  exchange  information  and 

represents  several  hundred  European 

experiences  and  serves  as  a  tool  for 

biotech  firms. 

Involvement  of 

the 

alignment  of  relevant  activities  of  these 

European  Biotechnology  industry  in  all 

ERA-NETs.  Finally,  ERA-IB 

intends  to 

stages  of  the  network  ensures  that  its 

appoint  a  Transnational  Task  Force  that 

activities  are  well-aligned  with  industrial 

will  be  charged  with  overseeing  the 

needs  and  future  wishes.  Opportunities 

implementation  of  the  research  agenda, 

for  bringing  together  national  research 

both  during  and  beyond  the  five-year 

programmes in clusters, will be explored 

lifetime  of  the  ERA-NET.  Members  of 

and facilitated by special Cluster Working 

organisations outside ERA-IB will also be 

Teams.  Best  management  practices 

eligible.

identified  by  individual  partners  will  be 

harvested and applied at ERA-NET level.

In order to encourage fast implementation, 

two  separate  calls  for  proposals  are 

foreseen, targeting cooperation between 

national entities as well as a transnational 

programme.  An  electronic  management 

tool will facilitate the process throughout 

Duration:
5 years

EC funding:
	 e2 513 644

Project reference:
CA-035581-ERA-IB

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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ERA-PG

genomics research

Sowing the seeds of plant 
“

food	production.	This	ERA-NET	project	gives	all	of	us	greater	

insight	into	the	research	going	on	in	other	Member	States.

Europe	has	a	long	tradition	of	knowledge-intensive	

”

Studies of the genetic
make-up of plants are
 essential for the continued 
competitiveness of 
European agriculture and 
industry. However genomics 
projects can be 
labour-intensive and costly. 
ERA-NET Plant Genomics 
(ERA-PG) consists of a 
network of 17 funding 
organisations, from 
European countries and Israel.
It strives to reduce 
fragmentation in research, 
and to actualise scientific 
excellence through transnational 
collaboration, integration 
and synergy of national plant 
genomics programmes. 
The network’s ultimate 
long-term goal is 
to establish a completely 
integrated European 
plant genomics 
programme in which 
all partners can 
participate on an 
equal basis

ERA-NET

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 1 of this publication.

Controversy 

introduction 

surrounded 

the 

In  2005,  a  report  was  published  under 

of 

genetically 

the 

title  “Plant  Genomics  Research 

modified  crops  in  Europe.    Consumer 

in  Europe”.    The  report  offers  a  vast 

wariness 

contrasted  with 

general 

amount  of 

information  on  plant 

scientific  approval.  Arguments  about 

genomics  programmes,  not  only  in  the 

environmental  dangers  and  world-

ERA-PG  member  countries,  but  also  in 

wide  agricultural  benefits  still  rage. 

several  preeminent  nations  worldwide. 

Policymakers,  meanwhile,  have  to  make 

It 

identifies 

Europe’s 

significant 

informed, evidence-based decisions.

The widespread public debate highlighted 

the 

importance  of  plant  genomics 

as  a  subject  for  scientific  research. 

Plants  are  a  source  of  food  worldwide, 

and  they  offer  renewable  sources  of 

energy  and  materials.    From  forestry 

to  pharmaceuticals,  plants  are  central 

to  a  significant  proportion  of  European 

industry.  The  study  of  their  genomes  is 

essential, in order to drive innovation, to 

stimulate commercial exploitation, and to 

keep Europe’s economy healthy.

Landscaping a foundation 
The  existing  transnational  programmes 

indicated 

that 

the  plant  genomics 

field  was  set  for  a  European  network.  

Therefore  ERA-PG  has  set  out 

to 

strengthen 

the 

foundation  of  plant 

genomics  research  in  Europe,  through 

joint  strategic  actions.    A  coordination 

and  collaboration  framework  has  been 

designed 

through 

the  exchange  of 

information on programme development 

and  management,  formulation  of  best 

practices  and  identification  of  common 

strategic issues.

contribution to the plant genomics field, 

as  well  as  the  global  agricultural-based 

economy in general.

The  network  began 

its  coordination 

activities  by  exchanging  information  on 

national  plant  genomics  programmes, 

national  infrastructures,  institutes  and 

administration  and  evaluation  systems 

in  use.  Furthermore,  information  was 

collected,  so  as  to  portray  the  global 

plant  genomics 

research 

landscape, 

and  to  explore  how  Europe  fits  into 

this  landscape.  Also  in  2005,  the  ERA-

PG  Planning  Workshop  was  formed, 

with  the  intention  of  reaching  a  shared 

understanding  of  both  the  overlap  and 

the  gaps  in  national  programmes,  and 

evaluative  and  administrative  systems.  

By bringing together 84 participants from 

science, administration and industry, the 

aim  of  the  workshop  was  to  arrive  at  a 

commonly  agreed  foundation  for  the 

implementation of joint strategic activities. 

As a result of these efforts, collaboration 

among  partners  was  strengthened, 

and  an  understanding  was  developed 

between scientists and administrators.

ERA-PG.indd   1

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Coordination Action
ERA-PG

Full title:

ERA-NET Plant Genomics

Research field:
  Genomics

Coordinator:
  Netherlands: Netherlands
Genomics Initiative

Partners:

• Austria: Federal Ministry of 
  Education, Science and  Culture  

(BMBWK)

• Belgium: Ministry of Flanders, 
  Dep. Economy, Science, 

Innovation (MF-EWI)

• Denmark: Danish Agency for 
  Science, Technology and  

Innovation (DASTI)

• Finland: Academy of Finland 

(AKA)

• France: National Institute for 
  Agricultural Research (INRA) and 
  National Research Agency (ANR)
• Germany: German Research 
  Foundation (DFG) and Project 
  management Organisation 
  Juelich (PTJ) on behalf of the 
  Federal Ministry of Education 
  and Research (BMBF)
• Israel: Ministry of Agriculture 
  and Rural Development 

(MOARD)

• Italy: Ministry of University and 
  Research (MUR) 
• Norway: Research Council of 
  Norway (RCN)
• Portugal: Foundation for Science 
  and Technology (FCT)
• Spain: Ministry of Education and 
  Science (MEC) 
• Sweden: Swedish Research 
  Council for Environment, 
  Agricultural Sciences and Spatial 
  Planning (FORMAS)
• Switzerland: Swiss National 
  Science Foundation (SNSF)
• UK: Biotechnology and 
  Biological Sciences Research 
  Council  (BBSRC) 

Further information:
  Dr Bernard de Geus, Netherlands  
  Genomics Initiative, Netherlands
  Organisation for Scientific 

Research
PO Box 93035, The Hague, 2509

  AA Netherlands

Fax: +31 7 03 44 06 32
Email: geus@genomics.nl 

Duration:
5 years

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“

Enabling	collaborations	within	transnational	research	

projects	will	help	Europe	to	strengthen	its	knowledge-based	

bio-economy	and	secure	its	niche	in	international	markets.

”

advancement 

and 

competitiveness 

of 

jointly 

funded  research 

is  being 

monitored.  Also,  collaboration  among 

funding organisations is being analysed, 

while  opportunities  for  new  networking 

partnerships with countries outside ERA-

PG are being fostered.

Through 

building 

upon 

national 

programmes  and  existing  transnational 

collaborations,  ERA-PG 

launched 

its 

first  joint  call  for  research  projects  on  1 

February 2006, making it one of the most 

wide-ranging  and 

fundamental  ERA-

NET-initiated  research  programmes.  The 

call  entitled  “Structuring  Plant  Genomic 

Research in Europe” has a total available 

budget of over 30 million euro, and was 

specifically addressed to plant genomics 

researchers  in  Germany,  the  UK,  Spain, 

Italy,  France,  Denmark,  the  Netherlands, 

Finland, Norway, Flanders and Portugal.

The  call  is  divided  into  two  SubCalls.  

One 

is  geared 

towards  academic 

publicly-funded  research,  and  the  other 

is geared towards more applied research 

in public-private partnerships.  Over 100 

pre-proposal  applications  have  been 

received,  and  after  being  assessed,  77 

consortia  have  been  invited  to  submit  a 

full  proposal,  making  the  final  selection 

phase  highly  competitive.  Eventually, 
29  projects  totalling  45  M€  of  public 
and  private  funding  will  be  launched  in 

October 2007.

Reaping the fruits
Initiated  through  funding  organisations 

from  11  countries  with  national  or 

regional  plant 

genomics 

research 

programmes, 

the  network  aimed 

to 

support 

the 

integration  of  countries 

stepping  up  to  national  programmes. 

After two years, this led to an enlargement 

of four countries, and most recently, the 

inclusion  of  the  new  EU  Member  State 

Bulgaria. To further advance coordination 

activities,  a  study  on  best  practices  was 

undertaken. The study entitled “In search 

of best practices for common evaluation 

and  shared  transnational  administration 

systems”  delivers  an  overview  of 

existing national practices of programme 

management. 

It  also  highlights 

the 

aspirations  and  stipulations  of  ERA-

PG  partners  regarding  administrative, 

financial, management and legal aspects 

of  joint  programmes.  The  organisations 

have  common  ambitions  for  generating 

and  aiding  transnational  collaborative 

research  projects.  They  also  have 

shared  views  regarding  call  procedures 

and  programme  monitoring.  However, 

differences 

in  viewpoints  still  exist 

concerning the legal aspects of policy, for 

example.

In  order  to  create  more  broadly-unified 

plant  genome  research  in  Europe,  the 

EC funding:
	 e2 900 000

Project reference:

CA-510189-ERA-PG

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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Coordination Action

EraSME

European dimension 

for SME research

“

I	sense	a	unique	opportunity	to	foster	

integration	of	the	variety	of	support	schemes	for	

SMEs	in	Europe	for	the	first	time.

”

European SMEs often struggle 
to develop their innovative ideas 
due to a lack of research facilities, 
and the time taken for substantial 
investment costs to pay off. 
EraSME adds a transnational 
dimension to the efforts
of Europe’s national government 
programmes to tackle the 
unique research challenges 
faced by SMEs. The partners are 
promoting strong coordination 
and cooperation activities 
between the national SME-
specific programmes, helping 
SMEs to link up with those 
research institutions that can help 
them. EraSME is a ‘demonstrator’ 
project, creating conditions for 
enduring cooperation after the 
project ends.

ERA-NET

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 2 of this publication

Small  and  medium-sized  enterprises 

(SMEs)    play    a    crucial    economic  

and technological   role   as   generators   

of 

innovation.  Many 

successful 

technologies  have  been  built  from  the 

ideas  of  individuals  or  small  groups  of 

people working in SMEs. And  most  giant  

multinational    companies  have  grown 

from  much  smaller  enterprises  with  big 

ideas. Despite the central role SMEs play 

as  the  ‘seeds’  of  innovation,  life  is  often 

very  difficult  for  these  small  players. 

Indeed,  it  may  even  become  a  battle 

for  survival.  Frequently,  the  multitude 

of  requirements  involved  in  developing 

a  new  idea  must  be  brought        together 

through  cooperation  between  different 

organisations. SMEs with great ideas often 

lack the equipment and ability to perform 

the  necessary  research  to  develop  and 

test the ideas.   On   the   other   hand,   

research organisations  and  universities  

have  excellent  resources  and  skills,  but 

may  lack  the  entrepreneurial  drive  and 

business  knowledge  found 

in  SMEs. 

Most  national  governments  recognise 

this  situation  and  have  established 

national  and  regional  programmes  to 

promote intensified cooperation between 

SMEs  and  research  organisations.  What 

has  been  lacking  until  the  initiation  of 

the  EraSME,    however,  has    been    an  

integrated  transnational  approach.  The 

project  now    meets  this  challenge,  and 

acts as a  crossborder  bridge  linking  the  

key programmes in this field. 

A combined approach
The  national  and  regional  programmes 

participating    in    EraSME    are    very  

varied,  reflecting  the  range  of  support 

activities for SMEs across Europe. Some 

were  initially  targeted  at  SMEs,  offering 

financial  support 

to  allow 

them 

to 

cooperate  with  research  organisations.  

Other    programmes    were  primarily  

intended  to  encourage  public research 

organisations,    universities    and  other 

higher  educational  institutions  to  offer 

their  research  expertise  to  SMEs.  These 

two  types  of  programme  approach  the 

research  challenges  facing  SMEs  from 

different  sides  of  the  divide.  EraSME 

brings  them  together  to    provide    an  

overarching 

  and 

  comprehensive 

strategy.

Another  diversity  in  approach  that  must 

be  addressed,    concerns    the    breadth  

of    activities  designed  to  get  SMEs  and 

research organisations to work with each 

other. Many programmes concentrate on 

linking  one  or  just    a    few    SMEs    with  

a  single  research organisation, such as 

the  local  university  or  other    research   

institute.      With      other  programmes, 

the  emphasis  is  on  building  extensive  

networks  involving  numerous SMEs and 

a number of different research institutions. 

EraSME  is  working  with  both  kinds  of 

programmes to learn the advantages and 

disadvantages  of  each  method,  and  to 

promote optimal transnational solutions.

The active involvement of the respective 

ERA-Sme.indd   1

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Coordination Action
EraSME

Full title:

ERA-NET on National and Regional
Programmes to Promote Innovation 

  Networking and Cooperation 
between SMEs and Research 

  Organisations

Research field:

Innovation by SMEs

Coordinator:
  Germany: VDI/VDE Innovation +

Technik GmbH

Partners:

• Austria: Österreichische  
  Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft
• Belgium: Institute for the 
  Promotion of Innovation by  
  Science and Technology in Flanders
• Czech Republic: Ministry of 

Industry and Trade

• Denmark: Danish Agency for 
  Science, Technology and Innovation
• Estonia: Enterprise Estonia
• Hungary: Kutatas - Agency for 
  Research Fund Management and  
  Research Exploitation
• Iceland: The Icelandic Centre for
  Research 
• Ireland: Enterprise Ireland
• Italy: Finlombarda
• Italy: Sviluppo Italia Toscana
• The Netherlands: SenterNovem
• Norway: The Research Council of 
  Norway
• Finland: Tekes, the Finnish Agency 

for Technology and Innovation
• France: The French Agency for

Innovation

• Germany: Federal Ministry of
  Economics and Technology
• Greece: Hellenic Organisation of 
  Small and Medium-sized  
  Enterprises and Handicrafts
• Portugal: Agencia de Inovacio
• Slovenia: Ministry of Higher      
  Education, Science and Technology
• Spain: Center for the Development 
  of Industrial Technology
• Sweden: The Swedish Agency for

Innovation Systems 

Further information:
  Mr Günter Külzhammer,
  Wolfgang Gessner,

VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik

  GmbH Steinplatz 1
  D-10623 Berlin

Fax: +49 30 310078 225
E-mail: kuelzhammer@vdivde-it.de  

  Website: www.era-sme.net 

Duration:

36 months

EC funding:
	 e3 520 375

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We	are	challenged	to	combine	European	and	national

efforts	at	the	level	of	projects	and	programmes.

“

”

programme  owner 

in 

the  project, 

the  ultimate  objective  of  establishing 

ensures a substantial  future  impact  on  

sustained 

programme 

cooperation 

programme design.

between  Member  States.

Work that grows
EraSME  began  as  a  network  of  17 

partners 

in  15  European  countries 

with  a  commitment  to  extending  the 

partnership.  The  project  has  widened 

its  consortium  18  months  after  its  start, 

Proof  of  concept  in  aligned  common 

calls  has  been  achieved,  and  significant 

scaling-up in dimension, is under way. 

Challenges 
and opportunities
The  project  partners  are  emphasising 

bringing in 4 new partners from the new 

the  benefits  of  specialisation  and  

EU Member States. 

complementarity that cooperation across 

All partners are working in the following 

borders  can  bring,  so  as  to  combat 

4 key areas:

possible  reluctance  over  cooperation 

  • Facilitating  transnational  partnerships 

from national viewpoints

between national research programmes, 

There  are  also  challenging  cultural  and 

to  support  innovative  ideas  and  give 

organisational  issues  to  be  addressed. 

SMEs  the  research  competence  needed 

Some 

universities 

and 

research 

for  their 

initial  concepts  to 

lead  to 

institutes  in  Europe  have  little  tradition 

practical  and  commercially  exploitable 

or  experience  of  working  with  SMEs, 

innovations.

despite  having 

the  knowledge  and 

  • 

Promoting 

joint 

actions 

to 

means to provide these companies with 

enable  enriched  partnerships  for  the   

the  adequate    research  facilities  that 

beneficiaries  of    Europe’s    national    and  

they  need.  Similarily,  many  SMEs  are 

regional  programmes in this field.

reluctant to trust the development of their 

  • Creating   a   common   transnational 

ideas  outside  their  own  organisations, 

framework  for  action,  that  will  enhance 

and  to  engage  fully  with  academics   

the  complementarity  among  national, 

and    researchers,  who  can  assist  them 

regional and European programmes.

in  providing  results  to  innovate  their 

  •  Creating  the  conditions  to  allow 

products. The EraSME project is working 

sustained  long-term  cooperation  among 

energetically to overcome these barriers, 

the  national  and  regional  programmes, 

remove   obstacles, and build trust; these 

by  designing  and 

implementing  a 

are  requirements 

for 

the  flourishing 

European  Institutional  Framework,  with 

of  opportunities    for    mutual    benefit, 

balancing national and regional interests, 

and European added-value and impact.

Project reference:

CA-011725-ERASME

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

ERA-Sme.indd   2

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Coordination Action

eTRANET

through ICT 

Improved Manufacturing 
“

access	to	international	R&D	collaboration,	combined	with	the	

particular	for	SMEs,	since	they	offer	the	possibility	for	and	

ERA-NET	projects	have	a	unique	value	proposition	in	

option	of	close	support	from	national	and	regional	innovation	

agencies	and	their	funding	programmes.

”

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 1 of this publication.

© NITC, Ireland

It  is  impossible  to  ignore  the  power 

of  information  and  communications 

technologies 

(ICT) 

in  manufacturing 

“networking  research  programmes  at 

a  national  level”  and  “mutual  opening 

of  national 

research  programmes”,  

today. From product design to automated 

eTRANET 

is  working 

to  develop  a 

control,  computers  have  transformed 

common  agenda  and  an  administrative 

working  practices.  Even  in  the  smallest 

infrastructure 

for 

transnational 

ICT 

and  simplest  offices, 

the  web  and 

research,  aimed  at  SMEs  in  traditional 

email  dominate  internal  and  external 

sectors.  During  its  initial  3  years  (of  a 

communications.

total  of  4  years,  beginning  in  December 

Yet instead of embracing ICT as a source 

2003), 

the  consortium  has  aligned 

of  competitive  advantage,  SMEs 

in 

national  research  activities  to  launch  a 

traditional  manufacturing  sectors  have 

first joint call for a transnational research 

tended 

to 

implement 

ICT  solutions 

programme.

more  slowly  than  their 

international 

At  the  heart  of  eTRANET  is  a  Network 

competitors.  To 

avoid 

the 

risks 

Policy  Group.  This  forum  of  high-level 

associated with investment in “unproven 

government  representatives  from  each 

technologies”, they have adopted a wait-

of  the  13  participating  countries  steers 

and-see attitude.

the project and ensures that collaborative 

Recognising this problem, most national 

work  addresses  both  national  and 

governments have set up programmes to 

European strategies, and helps to inform 

accelerate the diffusion of proven ICT into 

future policies at all levels.

traditional manufacturing sectors, and to 

The technical and networking activities of 

promote  more  high-risk  applications  of 

eTRANET are carried out by programme 

the  technology.  Unfortunately,  there  is  a 

managers.  The  first  task  for  this  group 

huge  disparity  in  the  way  that  different 

was  a  comprehensive  review  of  all  the 

governments  structure  these  research 

existing  national  strategies,  priorities, 

activities.  Some  countries  fund  specific 

programmes and projects in the domain 

programmes 

for 

ICT 

in 

traditional 

of ICT in traditional manufacturing. Short-

manufacturing.  Others  have  thematic 

term  exchanges  between  programme 

ICT  programmes  covering 

traditional 

managers, 

and 

an 

annual  policy 

manufacturing, alongside other industrial 

conference, has helped to highlight best 

segments.

Keys to convergence   
Guided  by  the  ERA-NET  objectives  of 

practice 

in  programme  management. 

These  findings  can  be  fed  back  to  the 

policy  group  and  also  implemented  by 

managers in their home organisations.

The effective use of information 
and communication technologies 
(ICT) offers the business 
sector competitive advantage, 
but many small and medium 
enterprises (SMEs) in traditional 
manufacturing sectors have 
adopted it more slowly than their 
international competitors. While 
most European governments 
fund national research and 
development (R&D) and 
technology transfer programmes 
to increase ICT usage, there is 
little transnational cooperation. 
eTRANET aims to bring together 
and coordinate the national 
programmes of 13 countries, 
to share experiences, develop 
common strategies and identify 
priorities for joint calls for 
proposals between partners, the 
first of which has already been 
launched. In the longer term, 
eTRANET will help policymakers 
make better decisions.

ERA-NET

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Coordination Action
eTRANET

Full title:

eTRANET

Research field:

ICT for Manufacturing

Coordinator:
  Department of Trade & Industry 

(UK) 

Partners:

• United Kingdom: Department of 
  Trade and Industry
• Austria: Austrian Research 
  Promotion Agency
• Belgium: Instituut voor de 
  aanmoediging van Innovatie 
  door Wetenschap en 
  Technologie
• Cyprus: Research Promotion 
  Foundation 
• Finland: National Technology 
  Agency
• France: Agence Nationale de 
  Valorisation de la Recherche
• Germany: Technologiezentrum 
Informationstechnik GmbH; 
  Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe 
  GmbH  
• Ireland: Enterprise Ireland 
• Nether-Lands: SenterNovem
• Norway: The Research Council 
  of Norway  
• Spain: Centro para el Desarrollo 
  Tecnológico Industrial  
• Sweden: Swedish Agency for 

Innovations Systems

• Turkey: Scientific and Technical 
  Research Council of Turkey
• Switzerland: The Innovation 
  Promotion Agency
• Greece: General Secretariat for 
  Research and Technology  

Further information:

Ian Morgan

  Director
  Optimat Limited

James Watt Avenue
Scottish Enterprise Technology 
Park
East Kilbride

  GLASGOW - G75 0QD

Fax: +44 0 13 55 27 25 56
Email: ian.morgan@optimat.co.uk 

  Website: www.optimat.co.uk

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e2 920 000 

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eTRANET	offers	European	industry	an	opportunity	to	develop	and	

apply	ICT	technologies	that	will	improve	pan	European	networking	and	

allow	the	implementation	of	new	business	models	that	will	be	necessary	to	

compete	in	an	increasingly	global	environment.

“

the  national 
Further  comparison  of 
identified  common 
programmes  has 
strategic approaches and synergies, and 
current  and  future  research  priorities, 
and  assessed  the  opportunities  for  and 
barriers  to  increased  cooperation.  More 
specifically, eTRANET has completed the 
following activities:

arising 

studies 

produced 

• 
the 
reviewed  and  analysed 
similarities,  differences  and  gaps 
in  national  research  strategies  and 
priorities;
•  conducted  a  country-by-country 
assessment  of  the  barriers  to  and 
from, 
potential  benefits 
transnational research programmes;
• 
of 
case 
selected  national  and  transnational 
programmes  outside  the  European 
Union;
•  informed  traditional  manufacturing 
industries  of  eTRANET’s  activities 
relevant 
throughout  Europe  via 
industry associations;
•  established  a  working  group  to 
develop  tools  for  evaluating  whether 
research  projects  are  relevant  to 
societal issues.

Gaining experience
Over 
its  first  three  years,  eTRANET 
has  achieved  a  great  deal;  the  project 
has 
for 
formulated  a  draft  strategy 
coordinating  research  activity  among 
its  members,  developed  a  joint  action 
transnational  co-operation, 
plan 

for 

Project reference:

CA- 510185-eTRANET

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

”

implemented  its  first  call  for  proposals 
and  will  presently  produce  longer-term 
visions and research priorities. But senior 
policy makers must make the decision to 
commit to specific steps that will open up 
national programmes.
R&D  and  demonstration  projects  will 
transform  eTRANET’s  vision  into  real 
collaborations. These pilots, between two 
or more countries, will provide concrete 
experience and reveal any unanticipated 
difficulties in the practical implementation 
of  coordinated 
research.  eTRANET 
announced  its  first  call  following  its 
international conference for experts in the 
field  of  ICT  in  traditional  manufacturing, 
in Vienna at the end of June 2006, during 
the  Austrian  Presidency  of  the  EU.  The 
first joint call for proposals was launched 
with  a  supporting  budget  of  €10  million 
from 10 countries.
eTRANET has the potential to aggregate 
some €500 million of national investment, 
which  could  greatly  benefit  traditional 
manufacturing  across  Europe.  R&D 
investment on this scale would help create 
a  “critical  mass”  of  activity  in  this  niche 
area  of  ICT  research,  as  well  as  provide 
more  coherent  integration  of  national 
and  European  programmes.  At 
the 
national  level,  eTRANET  will  encourage 
better  strategic  planning  of  national 
programmes and better implementation. 
Across  Europe,  the  network  will  offer 
businesses  in  this  sector,  access  to  a 
wider  knowledge  base  and  increased 
opportunities  to  participate  in  research 
activities.
The  network  has  the  power  to  unlock 
traditional 
the  potential  of 
manufacturing  and  to  help  to  move 
Europe towards its vision of a knowledge-

ICT 

in 

based economy.

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EULANEST

Strengthening international

scientific cooperation between 

the EU and Latin America

“

With	EULANEST	we	intend	to	develop	a	more	

coherent	approach	of	the	EU	scientific	cooperation	

with	Latin	America,	by	coordinating	bilateral	scientific	

cooperation	research	programmes	from	Member	States	

specifically	addressed	to	Latin	American	countries.

”

Please note that this fact sheet replaces the previous one, known as Inconet 
and included in Series 2 of this publication

© Shutterstock, 2007

Every EU Member State
has its own international 
cooperation research
programme. However, 
these national efforts are rarely 
coordinated, either with each 
other or with Union
 research activities. 
This lack of harmonisation 
results in various 
inefficiencies that can 
reduce the effectiveness 
and value of collaborations with 
third countries. 
EULANEST  intends to
 promote and coordinate 
research cooperation 
among EU Member States, thus 
contributing to strengthen  the 
impact of their 
national programmes 
on international cooperation
 in science and technology 
with Latin America 
in all fields of science.

ERA-NET

Attempts  to    coordinate    European 

research efforts to avoid duplication, 

share  costs,  get  more  rapid  results,  and 

then  disseminate    them,    are    paying  

dividends.  Spurred  on  by  the  European 

Commission,  an 

integrated  European 

Research  Area  (ERA)  is  swiftly  taking 

shape. However, there are still some gaps 

remaining in this harmonisation drive.

One  such  grey  area 

is 

international 

scientific  cooperation.  Reflecting 

its 

centrality  to  the  European    enterprise,  

EU 

  Member 

  States  cooperate 

in 

research,  both  with  one  another  and  

with    third    countries.    In    addition,    the 

European Union has its own international 

cooperation      programme      which      the 

Commission 

currently 

administers 

through the Sixth Framework Programme 

(FP6).  Despite  this  hive  of  activity,  all 

these  efforts  are  rarely  coordinated.  To 

date,  there  has  been  no    mechanism  

for    such    transnational  coordination. 

EULANEST  seeks 

to  address 

this 

disparity 

by 

networking 

between 

European  policymakers  and  programme 

managers 

involved 

in 

promoting 

research cooperation with Latin America. 

Initially,  by  mapping  and  benchmarking 

cooperation  activities,  EULANEST  will 

gear its partners towards the preparation, 

design, implementation and development 

of joint transnational research activities in 

science and technology. 

International dimension
International  scientific  and  technological 

cooperation  activities  are  generally 

focused on specific target countries and 

particular problem areas. Only in the case 

of  development  aid,  do  some  countries 

have  an  overall  structured,  problem-

solving approach — while most countries 

support the training and mobility of third 

country researchers. 

However,  at  the  level  of  the  European 

Union,  ERA  includes  an  international 

cooperation  dimension  for  science  and 

technology, and is open to third countries. 

It  is  expected  that  the  proposed  ERA-

NET  Coordination  Action  will  improve 

the  coherence  and  coordination  of 

international 

cooperation 

activities, 

thus  contributing  to  the  international 

dimension of ERA.

Such  activities  include  identifying  best 

practices  and  preparing  the  ground  for 

a Joint Action Programme, with the final 

goal  being  the  coordination  of  selected 

activities, and of the launch of a joint call 

among the partners.

Through 

such 

actions,  EULANEST 

will  contribute  to  the  building  of  ERA, 

and  particularly  to  strengthening  the 

international  dimension  of  ERA,  by 

coordinating  bilateral  programmes  of 

research cooperation with Latin America, 

both  within  and  between  European 

countries.

EULANEST.indd   1

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Coordination Action
EULANEST

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EULANEST	will	create	the	conditions	for	launching	one	or	more	

joint	calls	among	the	partners,	specifically	designed	to	address	the	

needs	of	both	EU	and	Latin	American	researchers,	contributing	to	the	

creation	of	a	common	EU-Latin	America	Knowledge	Area.	

”

Although  EULANEST 

is  a  European-

based network, which seeks to coordinate 

The  website  will  serve  a  number  of 

functions  within  the  network,  for  two 

Full title:

EUropean - Latin American 

  NEtwork for Science and 

Technology

Research field:

International scientific 
cooperation; science and
technology development; the 
international dimension of ERA

Coordinator:

Spain: Ministerio de Educación y
Ciencia

Partners:

• Spain: Ministerio de Educación 
  y Ciencia, MEC
• Portugal: Gabinete de Relaçoes 

Internacionais de Ciencia e 

  Ensino Superior
• France: Ministry of Foreign 
  Affairs; Ministry for National 
  Education, Higher Education 
  and Research; Research Institute 

for Development

• Norway: Norway Research 
  Council
• Germany: Federal Ministry of 
  Education and Research,  BMBF; 
International Bureau of BMBF

Further information:
  Dr Luis Delgado, Ministerio de
Educación y Ciencia C/ José 
  Abascal, 4, 2ª E-28003 Madrid. 

Spain
Fax: +34 9 15 94 86 43 20
Email: luism.delgado@mec.es 

  Website: http://www.mec.es  

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e1 924 998.80 

Project reference:

CA-036271-EULANEST

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

programme  funding  and  management 

main  groups  of  people:  those  involved 

activities  at 

the  European 

level, 

its 

in the ERA-NET and those outside it that 

substantive  focus  —  namely,  research 

are  interested  in  international  scientific 

cooperation with Latin America — means 

cooperation.  For  those  involved  in  the 

that  EULANEST 

focuses 

its  overall 

network there will be a private password-

success on developing a strong working 

protected  area  that  will  enable  virtual 

partnership  with 

its  Latin  American 

networking between members. For those 

counterparts (LAC). LAC will not only be 

outside  the  network,  a  public  area  will 

‘clients’  of  European  research  on  Latin 

enable  anyone  with  an  interest  in  the 

America, but also real partners. 

ERA-NET  to  gather  further  details  on  its 

In  order  for  this  to  be  achieved,  strong 

objectives,  activities  and  deliverables, 

emphasis  will  be  placed  on  the  needs 

and also to contribute to it. 

and offers of both the European partners 

and  the  participating  Latin  American 

countries, in regard to international RTD 

cooperation,  in  order  to  build  a  real 

partnership and to fine-tune forthcoming 

activities.

Developing future links
The  dissemination  plan  of  the  activities 

and project results is intended to ensure 

wide  use  of  the  project  achievements, 

even  beyond 

the  project  partners. 

Information on the project activities will be 

delivered through different mechanisms.  

One  of  these  includes  a  project  website 

which  will  be  launched  once  the  first 

results  will  become  available.  Current 

and  updated  information  on  the  project 

objectives,  work-packages  and 

tasks, 

events, deliverables, partners, etc. will be 

included on the website, as well as links 

to other important international scientific 

cooperation activities and networks. This 

will  be  a  useful  tool  for  linking  national 

programme websites, reporting progress 

and disseminating results.

.

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Coordination Action

EUPHRESCO

of collaboration on 
phytosanitary research

Deepening the roots 
“

forestry	and	environment	from	the	increasing	threats	that	

Health.	It	will	help	protect	our	agriculture,	horticulture,	

This	ERA-NET	is	great	news	for	European	Plant	

quarantine	plant	pests	and	diseases	pose.

”

Plants are important both for 
Europe’s economy and the 
environment. Agriculture, 
horticulture and forestry 
provide food, plant products 
and raw materials, as well as  
ornamental plants that contribute 
significantly to our quality of 
life.  Environmental plants are 
the building blocks of habitats 
and are an invaluable natural 
resource and heritage. It is the 
role of Plant Health to protect all 
of Europe’s plants from the new 
threats that are emerging such as 
foreign plant pests and diseases, 
and invasive plant species. Plant 
protection is therefore an issue 
of mounting importance for 
economic reasons as 
well as for biosecurity.
The EUPHRESCO ERA-NET project 
aims to intertwine national 
programmes of phytosanitary 
research at the Member State 
level and to promote increased 
cooperation, thereby contributing 
to the preservation of one 
of Europe’s most important 
economic and natural resources. 
The work will also foster 
expertise in this challenging 
field and thus improve Europe’s 
scientific capabilities and 
competitive position.

ERA-NET

a 

Most  people  do  not  think  of  plants 

when  considering  their  country’s 
economic and natural resources. However, 
agriculture,  horticulture  and 
forestry 
are  important  parts  of  the  European 
economy, and plants found in the natural 
valuable 
represent 
environment 
social,  natural  and  economic  resource. 
Increasingly, natural habitats are coming 
under  threat  from  foreign  plant  pests, 
diseases and invasive species, as typified 
by  the  Dutch  elm  disease  epidemics  of 
the  twentieth  century.    The  main  aim  of 
Europe’s  Plant  Health  policy  makers  is 
to  protect  Europe  from  quarantine  plant 
pests and diseases.      
Today, there are multiple threats to plant 
health  that  must  be  addressed.  The 
accelerating  trend  of  globalisation  has 
brought  Europe  new  trading  partners 
from  all  parts  of  the  globe,  and  has 
increased  the  volume  and  diversity  of 
trade  in  plant  material.  Unfortunately, 
this  has  also  simultaneously  opened 
the  door  to  unwanted  imports  such 
as  foreign  pests,  disease  and  invasive 
plant  species  which  threaten  agriculture 
and  the  environment  alike.  The  recent 
enlargement  of  the  European  Union  has 
exacerbated matters by further expanding 
Europe’s borders. The potential impact of 
climate  change  on  plant  life  is  not  fully 
understood  as  yet,  though  it  has  been 
suggested  that  growing  zones  may  shift 
dramatically  and  many  foreign  plant 
pests may also be able to invade Europe 
if conditions change to suit them. Plants, 
specifically  our  agricultural  crops,  have 

also  been  identified  as  a  possible  target 
for  terrorist  attacks  in  the  future.  Hence, 
Plant  Health  plays  an  important  role  in 
the  biosecurity  of  Europe’s  food  supply 
and the environment. Finally, the financial 
costs of not dealing effectively with these 
hazards should not be overlooked. 
To date, the research intended to address 
these  risks  to  Plant  Health  has  been 
conducted  almost  entirely  at  national 
level,  even  though  Plant  Health  policy 
is  determined  at  EU  level.  Increased 
research 
therefore 
needed,  to  better  support  and  underpin 
European  Plant  Health  policy,  so  that 
it  can  tackle  the  increasing  number  of 

coordination 

is 

economic and environmental threats.

strong 

Reaping what you sow
Any success in meeting these challenges 
at  the  European  level  must  be  driven 
between 
by 
collaboration 
governmental  ministries, 
research 
institutes  and  other  stakeholders  at 
national  level.  Since  this  prerequisite  is 
presently lacking, the EUPHRESCO ERA-
NET project intends to plant the seeds for 
this much needed cooperation.
The EUPHRESCO consortium represents 
a  critical  mass  of  24  organisations  that 
belong  primarily  to  national  ministries 
of agriculture. A total of 17 countries are 
represented,  15  of  which  are  Member 
States  while  the  other  2  are  Associated 
States. The goal of the coordination action 
is  threefold:  1)  to  develop  European 
phytosanitary  research  priorities  and 
agendas;  2)  to  optimise  the  use  of  the 

EUPHRESCO.indd   1

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Coordination Action
EUPHRESCO

Full title:

Coordination of European 
Phytosanitary (Quarantine Plant 

  Health) Research

Research field:
Plant Health

Coordinator:
  UK: Central Science Laboratory 

Partners:

•  UK: Department for 
  Environment, Food & Rural `
  Affairs, Plant Health Division
• Austria: Federal Ministry of 
  Agriculture, Forestry, 
  Environment & Water 
  Management
• Austria: Austrian Agency for 
  Health & Food Safety
• Belgium: Institute for 
  Agricultural and Fisheries 
  Research
• Belgium: Federal Public Service 
for Public Health, Food Chain 

  Safety & Environment
• Bulgaria: Ministry of Agriculture 
  & Forestry, National Service for  
  Plant Protection
• Cyprus: Ministry of Agriculture, 
  Natural Resources & 
  Environment, Agricultural 
  Research Institute
• Czech Republic: Ministry of 
  Agriculture, National Agency for 
  Agricultural Research
• Denmark: Directorate for Food, 
  Fisheries and Agri Business
• Finland: Ministry of Agriculture & 
  Forestry
• France: Ministry of Agriculture 
  and Fishery, General Food 
  Directorate
• France: National Institute of 
  Agronomic Research  
• Germany: Federal Ministry of 
  Food, Agriculture and Consumer 
  Protection
• Germany: Federal Biological 
  Research Centre for Agriculture 
  & Forestry 
• Ireland: Department of 
  Agriculture & Food
• Italy: Ministry of Agricultural 
  and Forestry Policy, Research  
  and Experimentation Unit
• Italy: Agricultural Research 
  Council
• Netherlands: Ministry of 
  Agriculture, Nature & Food 
  Quality
• Netherlands: The Plant 
  Protection Service
• Slovenia: Ministry of Agriculture, 
  Forestry and Food  

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“

The	competitiveness	of	European	crop	production	and	the	health	

of	plants	in	our	environment	depend	on	good	biosecurity.	By	combining	

collective	knowledge	more	effectively	and	improving	the	efficiency	of	research	

funding,	EUPHRESCO	will	help	protect	Europe’s	plant-related	resources	

against	the	growing	number	of	exotic	threats.

limited human and financial resources to 
carry out this research; and 3) to bolster 
Europe’s knowledge base and prestige in 
this increasingly important field.
EUPHRESCO  enjoys  a  wide  base  of 
support,  including  endorsements  from 
the  EC  Directorate  General  for  Health 
and  Consumer  Affairs  (DG  SANCO), 
the  European  and  Mediterranean  Plant 
Protection  Organization  (EPPO)  and  the 
European  Food  Safety  Authority  (EFSA). 
EUPHRESCO  will  also  seek  to  establish 
additional 
partnerships 
with  other  stakeholder  organisations 
within  Europe,  as  well  as  national  and 
international bodies outside the European 
Union. 

strategic 

Bearing fruit
the 
The  EUPHRESCO  Coordinator, 
Central  Science  Laboratory 
(the  UK 
Department  for  Environment  Food  and 
Rural Affairs, known as DEFRA), and the 
other  project  partners,  have  defined  a 
number of key actions that are central to 
achieving  EUPHRESCO’s  commendable 
goals. Getting national entities to engage 

• Spain: The Plant Protection 
  Department of The National 

Institute of Agriculture Research

• Switzerland: Federal Office of 
  Agriculture
• Turkey: Ministry of Agriculture 
  and Rural Affairs, General 
  Directorate of Agricultural Research

Further information:

EUPHRESCO Project Office
Room 02F11
Central Science Laboratory
Sand Hutton
York - United Kingdom
Fax: +44 019 04 46 22 50

  Website: http://www.euphresco.org

Email: euphresco@csl.gov.uk

”

in 

in  dialogue  is  crucial.  This  will  facilitate 
the  sharing  of  information,  including 
best  practice  for  research  management. 
links  between  national 
All  existing 
phytosanitary 
research  programmes 
must  be  identified  and  then  enhanced. 
the 
lagging  behind 
Countries 
establishment  of  phytosanitary  research 
infrastructures must be encouraged to act. 
Confidence  in  the  instruments  and  tools 
needed to facilitate increased transnational 
research  collaboration  must  be  built 
through  pilot  research  projects.    Links 
to  regional,  European  and  international 
plant protection organisations must also 
be strengthened.
Common  research  agendas  will  be 
determined  based  on  shared  priorities. 
research 
Only 
projects  be  designed  and  executed 
through transnational activities, after the 
project  ends  in  2010.  The  EUPHRESCO 
consortium  intends  to  achieve  this  by 
establishing  a 
long-term  network  of 
phytosanitary  research  funders  that  will 
endure well beyond the 51-month lifetime 
of the project.

targeted 

then 

can 

Duration:

51 months

EC funding:
	 e2 633 991

Project reference:

CA-036212-EUPHRESCO

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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Coordination Action

EUWI-ERA-NET

Coordinating European water 

research programmes for 
the developing world

“

Effective	water	research	processes	can	play	an	

important	role	in	supporting	developing	nations	to	meet	

the	challenge	of	providing	poor	people	with	equitable	

access	to	a	safe	water	supply	and	improved	sanitation.

”

©Jonathan Rouse from WEDC

Please note that this fact sheet replaces the previous one, known 
as EUWI-ERA-NET and included in Series 3 of this publication.

Water is a vital resource
for many facets of 
human existence:
for drinking, agriculture, 
transport and energy.  
However, one in six 
people on the planet 
is unable to access
 safe drinking water.  
Two in six do not 
have access to 
basic sanitation.

In September 2000, the United Nations 

Millennium  Summit  established  the 

Millennium  Development  Goals  (MDGs) 

in  Johannesburg  in  2002,  the  European 

Water Initiative (EUWI) was launched.  The 

EUWI  embodies  the  European  Union’s 

—  a  set  of  timebound  and  measurable 

aims  of  harmonising  and  coordinating 

goals aimed at combating poverty, hunger, 

its  efforts  to  support  developing  nations 

illiteracy, environmental degradation and 

in  overcoming  water-related  problems, 

discrimination against women. The MDGs 

through  knowledge-sharing  and 

joint 

include  targets  to  halve  the  number  of 

activities.

people without access to safe water and 

improved  sanitation  by  2015.  The  goals 

This 

EUWI-ERA-NET 

provides 

a 

are interdependent: safe water, improved 

mechanism  to  further  the  efforts  of 

sanitation  and  hygienic  behaviour  will 

the  EUWI 

research  working  group, 

contribute to the achievement of each of 

and  brings 

together  15  European 

these goals. 

Coordinating
European efforts
Clearly, in order to achieve these ambitious 

targets, 

far  greater  harmonisation 

and  coordination  is  required  by  the 

international community than has been the 

case to date. Research has been identified 

as  essential  in  producing  the  necessary 

breakthroughs in understanding methods 

and  technologies.  The  fragmentation  of 

donor  research  programmes  has  been 

specifically  identified  as  one  barrier  to 

the  achievement  of  these  necessary 

breakthroughs.  A  major  improvement 

in  the  effectiveness  of  the  European 

organisations  involved  in  the  funding  of 

water for development research. The 15 

organisations are from 11 countries: the 

UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, 

Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, 

Belgium, and Switzerland. The EUWI-ERA-

NET  could  therefore  potentially  have  a 

wider impact on development issues and 

foreign policy. The commencement of the 

EUWI-ERA-NET  will  thus  pave  the  way 

for  the  use  of  the  ERA-NET  mechanism 

in  other  research  programmes  such  as 

health,  education,  energy, 

transport, 

governance and agriculture.

Addressing the issues
Previous  research  in  the  water  sector 

Research  Area  is  required  in  order  to 

for  development  has  been  programmed 

deliver the innovations needed to enable 

and  managed  in  isolation  by  different 

the water related MDG’s to be achieved. 

donors,  so  that  overlap  and  duplication 

Recognising  this,  at  the  World  Summit 

has  occurred,  and  specific  gaps  and 

on  Sustainable  Development  (WSSD) 

issues  may  not  have  been  addressed.  

ERA-NET

EUWI.indd   1

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Coordination Action
EUWI-ERA-NET

Full title:

EUROPEAN WATER INITIATIVE– 
ERA-NET. Coordination of Member  
State research programmes in 
  water science and technology for 

the developing world

Research field:
  Water management

Coordinator:
  United Kingdom: Department for 

International Development

Partners:

•  United Kingdom: Natural 
  Environment Research Council
•  Austria: Austrian Development 
  Agency
•  Belgium: Belgian Directorate 
  General for International 
  Cooperation
•  Denmark: Danish Water Forum
•  Finland: Finnish Environment 

Institute

•  France: French Ministère des 
  Affaires étrangères
•  France: Institute of Research for 
  Development
•  Germany: German 
  Development Institute
•  Germany: Federal Institute for 
  Geosciences and Natural 
  Resources
•  Italy: Ministero dell’Ambiente e 
  della Tutela del Territorio
•  Czech Republic: Czech Ministry 
  of the Environment
•  Norway: Norwegian Water 
  Resources and Energy 
  Directorate
•  Switzerland: Swiss Agency for  
  Development and Cooperation
•  Italy: EuroMediterranean Center 

for climate change 

Further information:
  Mr Peter O’Neill
  Department for International 
  Development

Central Research Department
1 Palace Street
SW1E 5HE London, UK
Fax: +44 20 2073 0105
Email: p-oneill@dfid.gov.uk
  Website: www.dfid.gov.uk 

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“

Water	has	been	and	will	continue	to	be	a	significant	research	area	for	

DFID,	and	we	look	forward	to	joining	with	other	ministries	across	the	EU	to	

learn	how	we	can	work	together	better.

”

The EUWI-ERA-NET attempts to address 

these shortcomings through the following 

up Member State development research 

programmes,  while  creating  a  research 

planned joint activities: 

planning environment in which far greater 

  •  compiling and analysing information 

challenges  can  be  addressed  than  are 

on research funding; 

possible  by  single  member  states  acting 

  •  developing  best  practices 

for 

alone. 

improving 

research  and 

impact 

Most 

importantly, 

it 

is  hoped 

that 

management;

programming 

of 

future 

Research 

  •  engaging 

the  main  actors 

in 

and  Development  projects  will  avoid 

the 

research 

communities 

and 

duplication,  align  with  a  commonly 

beneficiaries; 

agreed research agenda, and include joint 

  •  sharing  past  and  present  water 

funding of programmes.  This will lead to 

research 

knowledge 

between 

more  efficient  use  of  the  limited  funding 

European  states  and  developing 

available  to  the  research  community.  

countries;

Relevant  ties  with  the  Sixth  Framework 

  •  building  the  capacity  of  research 

Programme  and  other  ERA-NETs  will  be 

managers in developing countries;

established.

  •  developing 

joint  activities  and 

The  EUWI-ERA-NET  will  provide  project 

programmes 

between 

national 

specific  information  regarding  existing 

research and technology development 

activities  and  deliverables  as  well  as 

programmes and other partners; and

information that can be utilised by others 

  •  ensuring  research  findings  inform 

in  activities  such  as  education  and  the 

policy and practice.

EUWI makes a difference
It  will  significantly  improve  the  impact 

media.  The  EUWI-ERA-NET  will  also 

identify  and  utilise,  where  appropriate, 

existing  information  providing  initiatives 

and  coordinate  actions,  where  possible, 

of  EU  development  research,  as  well 

in developing countries.

as  efficiency  and  help  create  a  much 

more  dynamic  and  open 

research 

marketplace.  Furthermore,  it  will  open 

Duration:

48 months

EC funding:
	 e2 752 860

Project reference:

EUWI-ERA-NET-CT-2006-036268

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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MANUNET

regional success 

Manufacturing 
“

technological	development.

We	expect	to	provide	fresh	added	value	to	our	SMEs	

enabling	international	cooperation	for	their	manufacturing	

”

Please note that this fact sheet replaces the previous one, known as MANUNET 
and included in Series 2 of this publication.

While it is hard to come up 
with an exact definition for the 
manufacturing industry, it is 
well known that manufacturing 
is an important driver in the 
European economy. However, 
Europe’s position in this 
industry has come under 
increasing threat from abroad.
As its strength is spread 
among several distinct regions, 
the MANUNET ERA-NET 
scheme proposes to meet the 
foreign challenge head on, by 
devising a strategy aiming to 
improve the performance of 
Europe’s regional programmes, 
overcoming existing 
fragmentation which currently 
inhibits development.

Manufacturing accounts for over 20% 

of  European  GDP  and  employs 

30% of the European Union’s workforce. 

Europe  boasts  an  unparalleled  history 

and  legacy  of  manufacturing.  Yet  times 

are  changing  and  competition  in  the 

international  market  place  is  escalating 

rapidly. The major threat emanates from 

Asia, and China in particular.

  Europe  must  react  and  react  quickly  if 

it  is  to  maintain  its  position  as  leader  of 

the  pack.  One  way  it  can  do  this  is  by 

channelling its knowledge and resources 

more effectively; as a first step, a Specific 

Support  Action  (SSA)  took  a  closer 

look  at  European  manufacturing.  Since 

manufacturing in Europe has traditionally 

taken on a regional character, the analysis 

sought    to  identify  the  distinct  regions. 

The  resulting  data  was  then  scrutinised 

according  to  sector.  It  was  learned  that 

industries crucial to Europe’s competitive 

position are highly driven by technology, 

and  include  but  are  not  limited  to,  the 

aerospace,  automotive,  electronics  and 

other machinery-related industries.

Access  to  and  utilisation  of  regional 

funding  programmes  was  also  studied. 

The  results  of  this  exercise  led  to  the 

identification of a critical mass of regions 

and  organisations  possessing 

the 

requisite level of commitment, that came 

together to form MANUNET ERA-NET.

Nuts and bolts   
The  key 

to 

the  success  of 

this 

coordination  action  lies  in  appreciating 

and  exploiting  the  regional  aspect  of 

European  manufacturing,  not  in  trying 

to override it with national or European-

level 

programmes. 

This 

regional 

character gives rise to tangible economic 

advantages and lends itself to small and 

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which 

form the heart of Europe’s economy.

MANUNET  has  designed  an  extensive 

plan  to  extract  greater  value  from  the 

money  spent  in  regional  programmes 

across  Europe 

in  the  manufacturing 

sector.

The  primary  instrument  of  MANUNET  is 

two  scheduled  calls  for  proposals.  The 

first call targeted 10 proposals, involving 

at 

least  25  companies,  representing 

at  least  7  regions,  and  comprising  a 
budget  of  over  €7  million.  The  second 
call  is  even  more  ambitious,  with  a  goal 

of    20  projects,  with  40  organisations 

covering 15 regions, and with a price tag 
of  over  €15  million.  Greater  flexibility 
in  implementation  and  straightforward 

monitoring  will  facilitate  the  regional 

emphasis MANUNET wishes to promote. 

This corresponds to a shorter time frame 

than  national  or  European-level  funding 

and programmes.

ERA-NET

MANUNET.indd   1

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Coordination Action
MANUNET

“

MANUNET	will	represent	an	excellent	opportunity	to	build	future	

European	research	initiatives,	but	it	is	not	a	job	to	be	done	alone.	We	

need	the	international	cooperation	of	other	European	regions.

Full title:

 Walking towards a European
regionally-based research area on  
new processes and
flexible intelligent manufacturing  
systems

Research field:
  Manufacturing industry

Coordinator:

Spain: Basque Agency for the  
promotion of international 
Research, Development and 
Innovation 

Partners:

• Spain: Basque Government 
  - Industry, Trade and Tourism 
  Department
• Italy: Regional Government 
  Regione Lombardia
• Belgium: Institute for Promotion 
  of Innovation by Science and 
  Technology in Flanders
• Netherlands: Development 
  Agency East Netherlands
• Estonia: Enterprise Estonia
• Italy: ASTER S. Cons. p. a.
• France: Union des Industries 
  et des Métiers de la Métallurgie 
  Provence
• Greece: Region of Western 
  Greece
• Slovenia: Ministry of Higher 
  Education, Science and 
  Technology
• Spain: Department of Industry 
  and Technology, Trade and 
  Labour of Navarra
• Slovak Republic: Ministry of 
  Education of the Slovak Republic
• Italy: Sviluppo Italia Toscana 
  SCPA
• Poland: Wroclaw Regional 
  Development Agency
• Germany: Zentrum für 

Innovation und Technik in  
  Northrhein-Westfalen GmbH
• Spain: Centre d’Innovació 
  Desenvolupament Empresarial
• Germany: Ministry of Innovation, 
  Sciences, Research and 
Innovation of Northrhein 

  Westfalia 
• Romania: National Centre for 
  Programme Management

The work will culminate in the creation of 

the  MANUNET  WORK  MODEL  that  will 

allow such calls for proposals to continue 

beyond the 4-year lifetime of MANUNET. 

Eventually,  MANUNET  also  expects  to 

extend the original 22 regions to a total of 

31  regions,  thus  increasing  participation 

both across Europe and across sectors.

Partners:

• Slovak Republic: Slovak University 
  of Technology
• Italy: Industry Direction of 
  Piedmont Region
• Spain: Regional Ministry for 
  Enterprise, University and Science 
  of the Regional Government 
  Valencia
• Spain: Government of Aragon
• Belgium: Ministry of the Walloon 
  Region, Directorate general for 
  Technologies, Research and 
  Energy
• Finland: Tampere Region Centre of 
  Expertise
• Austria: Government of Styria-
  Economic Affairs and Labour

Further information:
  Mr. Juan Tomás Hernani
  Asociación Eurobulegoa
  Avenida de Algorta, 62 AB
48992 Getxo – Spain
Fax: +34 9 44 60 22 78
E-mail: hernani@eurobulegoa.com

  Website: www.eurobulegoa.com

Duration:

48 months

EC funding:
	 e2 696 220

Project reference:
  MANUNET-CT-2006-36229

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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©

”

The finished product
The  MANUNET 

consortium 

itself 

embodies 

the  kind  of  wide-ranging 

regional representation that the ERA-NET 

scheme  values,  with  25  partners  hailing 

from 22 different regions. The core group 

is  further  bolstered  by  an  additional  6 

associated partners.  

Participation  of  MANUNET  consortium 

members  in  other  ERA-NETs  will  be 

exploited. 

In  this  way,  ties  will  be 

established with CORNET, MNT ERA-NET, 

ERA-STAR, ERASME and ETRANET. This 

wider  base  of  industrial  organisations 

will  be  invited  to  participate  in  the  two 

MANUNET  calls  for  proposals.  They 

will  also  be  invited  to  four  conferences 

sponsored  by  MANUNET,  dedicated  to 

bringing  stakeholders  from  all 

levels 

together 

to  allow 

for  exchange  of 

information and best practice. MANUNET 

partners  will 

also 

participate 

in 

complementary  activities  sponsored  by 

these and other ERA-NETs. Finally, existing 

links  to  MANUFUTURE,  the  Technology 

Platform  on 

Future  Manufacturing 

Technologies,  will  be  further  developed 

in  order  to  identify  common  objectives 

and to harmonise priorities.

MANUNET will also dedicate considerable 

resources 

to  monitoring 

its  own 

performance  throughout  the  48-month 

duration of the coordination action.

If  successful,  MANUNET  can  elevate 

manufacturing  to  new  heights,  helping 

it  achieve 

the  public  status 

that 

nanotechnology,  informatics  and  other 

such fields currently enjoy.  

MANUNET.indd   2

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NET-BIOME

cooperation 

Riding a wave of 
“

integrate	the	EC’s	Framework	Programme	for	Research.

and	territories	of	Europe	join	forces	and	succeed	to	

This	will	be	the	first	time	that	the	outermost	regions	

”

© Crédits Région Guadeloupe

The European outermost regions 
and overseas territories situated 
in tropical and subtropical 
areas are exceptionally rich in 
biodiversity. They host a large 
number of different species 
and ecosystems, comprising 
a globally important natural 
inheritance. At the same time, 
their environments are the most 
fragile and most exposed to 
the impacts of climatic change, 
natural hazards and the pressures 
of human activities. In addition 
to the effect on biodiversity, 
these changes have a major 
impact on the development of 
local economies. In response to 
these threats, local authorities 
promote and fund research 
activities, so as to ensure the 
sustainable management of local 
biodiversity. The NET-BIOME 
project aims at networking the 
research activities carried out at 
regional and national levels in 
European tropical and subtropical 
areas of the Member States.  This 
endeavour will pave the way for a 
common platform of coordination 
and cooperation among national 
and regional programmes, 
and for the development and 
implementation of joint activities.

ERA-NET

Tropical  and  subtropical  European 

regions  are  often  regarded  as  ‘hot’ 

holiday  destinations.  However, 

these 

As  a  result,  this 

fragmentation  and 

dispersion  of 

resources 

results 

in 

duplication  of  effort  and  scattered 

regions are among the richest reservoirs 

funding. 

of  plants  and  animals  in  the  world. 

Thanks  to  these  regions,  Europe  hosts 

5  of  the  34  biodiversity  hotspots  in  the 

world, spanning 3 different oceans. This 

biodiversity  is  mostly  threatened  by  a 

combination  of  global  changes,  mainly 

due  to 

increasing  populations,  over-

exploitation  of  natural  resources  and 

uncontrolled  economic  development. 

Along  with  the  privilege  of  enjoying 

this  exceptional  biodiversity,  comes  the 

responsibility  of  developing  sustainable 

management  programmes,  in  order  to 

minimise  the  environmental  impact  of 

global changes.

Problems in
concerted efforts 
The  threat  to  biodiversity  has  sensitized 

Global collaboration   
level, 
continental 
At  EU 

funding 

agencies  have  established  BIODIVERSA 

to  coordinate  biodiversity 

research 

programmes 

in  Europe.  NET-BIOME 

is  a  regional  ERA-NET  project,  which 

represents  the  largest  collaboration  of 

sustainable  management  of 

tropical 

and  subtropical  biodiversity  research 

in  Europe.  A  consortium  of  11  partners 

from  5  Member  States  —  France, 

Spain,  Portugal,  the  United  Kingdom 

and  the  Netherlands  —  aims  to  initiate 

cooperation, and set up the coordination 

of research activities carried out at regional 

and  national  level,  in  European  tropical 

and  subtropical  regions  of  the  Member 

States. To achieve this goal, the partners 

the  local  authorities,  who  have  funded 

will  also  have  the  specific  objective  of 

and set up several research programmes 

exploiting  the  first  results  obtained  by 

and  activities,  in  an  attempt  to  reconcile 

BIODIVERSA,  and  of  interacting  with 

environmental 

conservation 

and 

relevant  European  organizations.  This 

economic  development.  These  efforts 

collection  and  systematic  exchange  of 

are  hindered  by 

their  stand-alone, 

information  will  yield  an  Internet-based 

self-contained  nature  and  their  poor 

searchable  database  of  all  existing 

integration within the European Research 

biodiversity  research  programmes,  and 

Area.  This  is  a  result  of  communication 

will  form  the  basic  foundation  for  the 

barriers  such  as  long  distances,  time 

development of synergies.

differences  or  difficulties  accessing 

information.  

NET-BIOME.indd   1

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Coordination Action
NET-BIOME

Full title:
  Networking tropical and 

subtropical Biodiversity research 
in OuterMost regions and 
territories of Europe in support of 
sustainable development

Research field:
Biodiversity

Coordinator:

France: Regional Council of La 
Réunion (RUN-REG) 

Partners:

• France: France: Regional 
  Council of Guadeloupe

(GUA-REG)

• France : Regional Council of 
  Guyane (GUY-REG)
• France :Regional Council of 
  Martinique (MAR-REG)
• Spain : Regional Government of 
  Canary Islands (CAN-REG)
• Portugal :Regional Government 
  of Madeira (MAD-REG)
• Portugal : Regional Government 
  of AZORES (AZO-REG)
• United Kingdom : The UK 
  Overseas Territories 
  Conservation Forum  (UKOTCF)
• France : Government of New 
  Caledonia  (NC-OCT)
• Netherlands : Ministry of Public 
  Health and Social Development, 
  Netherlands Antilles 
  Government  (VSO-MINA)
• France : Government of French 
  Polynesia – (POL-OCT)

Further information:
  Dr Josiane IRISSIN-MANGATA
Conseil régional de La Réunion
  Hôtel de Région Pierre Lagourgue
  Avenue René Cassin 

97719 ST-DENIS MESSAG
CEDEX 9

  Moufia - B.P. 7190 – France

Email: josiane.irissin-mangata

  @cr-reunion.fr

  Website: www.regionreunion.com

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e2 518 311

Project reference:

CA-510218-NET-BIOME

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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©

© Martial Dosdane, Province Sud, Nouvelle-Calédonie

We	will	now	be	able	to	promote	interdisciplinary	research	

and	its	efficient	use	by	reshaping	the	governance	of	research.

“

”

This initial exchange will reveal common 

procedures  and  tools.  This  will  be  the 

and 

divergent 

interests 

between 

first step in a long journey towards joint 

partners 

and 

countries, 

indicating 

activities on a wider scale, enlarging the 

complementarities 

and 

presenting 

network  at  European  and  international 

opportunities 

for  collaboration.  The 

levels. The project will play a key role in 

technical, 

legal,  administrative  and 

developing  synergies  with  continental 

other barriers to the closer integration of 

Europe  and  third  countries.  NET-BIOME 

partners  will  be  identified,  and  methods 

will  establish  links  with  other  networks 

to  overcome  them  will  be  produced. 

and initiatives to strengthen the project’s 

Close  collaboration  between  partners 

knowledge  base  and  to  avoid  overlaps. 

will  form  the  basis  for  a  comparison  of 

To  that  end,  workshops  with  European 

the  different  methods  used  and  policies 

actors,  staff  visits  and  the  exchange 

applied, for the management and funding 

and  mapping  of  tropical  and  subtropical 

of  biodiversity  research  in  each  country. 

research  activities  carried  out  in  third 

This  will  lead  to  the  prioritization  of 

countries,  will  be  performed.  Moreover, 

research  areas  and  a  jointly  developed 

the  consortium  hopes  to  establish  the 

strategy.  The  identification  of  areas  for 

foundation  for  the  implementation  of 

priority  development  will  be  achieved 

a  European  Forum  on  Tropical  and 

through  joint  activities  between  national 

Subtropical Biodiversity. 

or  regional  programmes.  NET-BIOME 

will  make  an 

important  contribution 

NET-BIOME  provides  an  effective  need-

to  the  enhancement  of  RTD  efforts 

driven collaboration mechanism between 

across  European  outermost  regions  and 

outermost 

regions 

and 

territories, 

territories,  by  improving  coherence  of 

continental  Europe  and  other  countries 

national 

funding.  Clustering  ongoing 

built  on  existing  structures.    It  will  be  a 

regionally 

funded 

research  projects, 

focal  point  for  support  and  European 

mutual  access 

to 

infrastructure  and 

participation 

in 

large 

international 

equipment  facilities  and  virtual  working 

programmes  of  global  dimension 

in 

groups,  are  only  a  few  of  the  means 

this  domain.  Through  this  initiative,  the 

that  will  be  used  to  reach  the  desirable 

serious  impacts  of  climate  change  and 

end.  Transregional mobility, training and 

anthropogenic pressures on tropical and 

career  development  of  researchers  will 

subtropical biodiversity will be tackled.

foster  cooperation  and  will  bring  policy 

developers and scientists closer, building 

mutual  understanding  and  trust.  The 

schemes  for  mutual  access  to  facilities, 

human  resources,  and 

infrastructures 

will  form  a  solid  basis  for  launching  a 

Pilot  Joint  Call,  representing  a  means  to 

test  and  validate  the  proposed  common 

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network 

Europe’s neural 
“

the	conditions	for	European	neuroscience	research	and	

What	I	especially	like	is	the	enthusiasm	with	which	

the	partners	develop	instruments	and	strategies	to	improve	

thus	for	people	suffering	from	brain	diseases.

”

Neurodegenerative conditions 
have a profound effect on the 
quality of life of patients and 
their family and friends — society 
pays a heavy emotional and 
economic price. These diseases 
affect all European countries, 
so cooperation between the 
national neuroscience research 
programmes is imperative. 
Thus the aim of the Network 
of European Funding for 
Neuroscience Research 
(NEURON) project, is to link 
11 European national research 
funding programmes and funding 
activities in the field of disease-
related neurosciences. The project 
is based on the activities of SSA 
NEURON. The CA NEURON will 
begin with neurodegenerative 
conditions, which are among the 
most pressing problems in the 
ageing population, and expand its 
activities into more diverse areas 
in the field of disease-related 
neuroscience research.

ERA-NET

Please note that this fact sheet replaces the previous one, known as NEURON
and included in Series 1 of this publication.

The dramatic increase in life expectancy 

in   Europe   over   the   past   century 

is  arguably  one  of  modern  medicine’s 

already recognise  that  large  international  

research  consortia  provide  a  better 

infrastructure for health  research,  there  

greatest  achievements.    Yet,    alongside  

is    still    too    little  cooperation      among   

the  obvious benefits of longevity, society 

the      national      and  regional  authorities 

must now deal  with  the  consequences  

that fund their work.

and    costs    of  people  living  well  into 

The  NEURON  project    has  initiated    the  

their  70s  and  80s.  One  noticeable  trend 

integration    of    neuroscience    research  

has  been 

the 

increasing 

incidence 

policies and programmes across Europe. 

of  neurodegenerative  conditions 

like 

It has created a network of all the major  

Alzheimer’s  disease  and  Parkinson’s 

funding    bodies  in  this  research  area,  

disease,  which  have  a  major  impact  on 

and    provided    a  structure    through  

the quality of life of sufferers, friends and 

which  they  can coordinate their existing 

families.  The  World  Health  Organisation  

programmes and develop a joint strategy 

estimates  that  over  1  billion  people 

for future research.

suffer  from  disorders    of    the    central  

The  project  started  as  a  small  group  of 

nervous  system. The toll taken by these 

highly   motivated   partners   who   are   

diseases  on  society  is  staggering,    both  

key  actors  in  their  respective  research 

emotionally  and  financially.

funding systems.  It  is  coordinated  by  

Combined potential
Fundamental    research    into    disease-

Germany’s Projektträger   im   Deutschen   

Zentrum   für Luft-   und   Raumfahrt   (PT-

DLR) on behalf of the German Ministry of 

related  neuroscience,  and  its  translation 

Education and Research (BMBF),   which  

into  diagnostic 

technologies 

  and  

has  bilateral  cooperative  agreements  in  

therapies,  are of high priority. Given that 

this    field    with    relevant    organisations  

these  diseases  are  found  throughout 

in    Poland  and  Israel.  The    experience 

Europe,    and  that    each  country  faces  

gained    from    these    partnerships  is  the 

the    same    impact    from    their  growth,   

foundation for ERA-NET.

coordination   of   the   European research 

NEURON  also  benefits  from  a  previous 

base offers obvious synergies.

support  action 

(SSA) 

involving  4  

All    European    national    neuroscience  

funding  bodies  or  project  management 

societies,    and    most    other    related  

organisations. The CA will network across 

societies,  are members  of  the  Federation  

11 funding organisations, 4 of which are 

of  European Neuroscience Societies.

ministries. 

However, although research   communities   

NEURON.indd   1

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Coordination Action
NEURON

Full title:
  Network of European Funding for
  Neuroscience Research

Research field:
  Neuroscience

Coordinator:
  Germany: Projektträger im
  Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und

Raumfahrt

Partners:

•  Germany: Project Management 
  Agency in the German 
  Aerospace Center for the 
  Federal Ministry of Education 
  and Research BMBF
• Luxemburg: National Research 
  Fund 
• Poland: Ministry of Science  and 
  Higher Education
• Israel: Chief Scientist Office, 

Israel Ministry of Health

• Austria: Austrian Science Fund 
• France: National Institute of 
  Health and Medical Research 
• Finland: Academy of Science
• Sweden: Swedish Research 
  Council
• Romania: Ministry of Education 
  and Research
• France: French National Centre 

for Scientific Research
• Italy: Ministry of Health

Further information:

Priv. Doz. Dr Marlies Dorlöchter,
  Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und

Raumfahrt eV

  Heinrich-Konen-Straße 1, 
53227 Bonn – Germany

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e2 700 000 

Project reference:
036213 NEURON

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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I	am	certain	that	in	the	long	term,	both	researchers	and	

patients	will	greatly	benefit	from	the	ERA-NET.

“

”

in mind the different research and political 

situations  in  each  partner  country  and 

organisation.  The  planned  information 

exchange on the existing national funding 

programmes  and  best  practices  will 

provide the prerequisites for coordinated 

multilateral 

activities. 

Common 

transnational actions and mutual opening 

initiatives are planned, which will have an 

impact extending far beyond the lifetime 

of the CA. This, as well as the developing 

mutual  understanding  and  trust  among 

the  partner  organisations,  will  ensure 

durable  international  cooperation,  as  a 

long-term effect of NEURON.

NEURON  will  create  a  joint  long-term 

perspective  for  health  research  policy 

in  the  area  of  brain  disease  research 

and  strengthen  the  foundations  of  the 

European  Research  Area.  The  activities 

of  NEURON  will  also  serve  to  stimulate 

the  translation  of  research  findings  into 

clinical  application  and  health  care. 

Citizens  from  all  participating  countries 

will  benefit  from  these  developments 

since  they  will  eventually  lead  to  new 

innovative 

treatments 

for  patients 

suffering from brain disorders.

Project toolkit 
The  NEURON  consortium  has  created  a 

detailed  programme  to  reach  its  goals, 

including  the  following:  workshops  to 

exchange 

information  on 

the 

topics 

specified in the work programme; a work 

exchange  of  programme  managers;  the 

development  of  standards  in  specific 

areas  of  programme  management;  as 

well  as  agreements  on  joint  programme 

management procedures.

Another  objective  is  to  prepare  and 

implement  joint  or  common  calls  for 

project  and  fellowship  proposals.  The 

topic for the first common call for project 

proposals  will  be  jointly  selected  from 

specific fields, either ‘neurodegenerative 

conditions’ or  ‘innovative technologies in 

neuroscience’.

Long-term perspective
There 

is  still  a 

lack  of  programme 

coordination in the area of brain disorder 

research that prevents interactive effects 

and  optimal  utilisation  of  available 

resources. The consortium will overcome 

such  fragmentation by creating an ERA-

NET  scheme  for  joint  activities,  and  a 

platform  for  the  integration  of  research 

policies  and 

research  programmes. 

Partners  will  share 

information  on 

existing  national  programmes  and  best 

management  practices.  This  will  induce 

a  mutual 

learning  process  and  will, 

ultimately, lead to improved standards in 

research policy and funding activities. 

Coordination 

of 

national 

funding 

programmes will improve the coherence 

of  research  and  innovation  activities  in 

the participating countries, while bearing 

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Coordination Action

PRIOMEDCHILD

Treat Your 

Children Well

This	is	an	excellent	opportunity	to	combine	European	

forces	around	a	common	agenda	for	medicines	development,	

for	one	of	the	most	important	target	groups,	our	children.

“

”

Since children constitute
one-fifth of the European 
population, their health 
and well being is an
 important factor in
 the future of a viable
 Europe. Yet, despite 
this fact, there has been 
inadequate research
 pertaining to medicine for 
children. In order to
 better ensure that children are 
treated with properly evaluated 
and effective 
medicine, research related to 
medicine for children 
needs to be improved. 
PRIOMEDCHILD is working 
towards building
 the European Research Area
 by establishing
 a European sub-area for the 
research, development 
and innovation of
 priority medicine for
 children, in order to
 boost the different
 types of medicine
 available specifically 
to this group. 

ERA-NET

Please note that this fact sheet replaces the previous one, known as Priority 
Medicines and included in Series 1 of this publication.

This  Coordination  Action  builds  on  the 

joint  research  programme  to  boost  the 

ERA-NET  SSA  Priority  Medicines  (FP6-

number  of  medicines  for  children,  that 

2002-ERANET-SSA-Priority  Medicines-

are both available and safely evaluated.

003214),  and  the  outcomes  of  the  WHO 

study,  Priority  Medicines  for  the  Citizens 

of Europe and the World. 

Therapeutic    medicine    has    made  

huge  advances    over    the    last  

century,    as    a  result  of  a  vast  research 

For children only
Priority  medicines  are  those  on  which, 

from  a  public  health  point  of  view, 

research 

and  development 

should   

concentrate.  The  Dutch  Health  Ministry 

commissioned    the    World    Health  

effort. From aspirin to antibiotics, most of 

Organisation  in Geneva to compile a list 

us regularly rely on medicines, and with 

of diseases urgently requiring medicines  

the advent of functional  genomics,  the  

in  Europe and the rest of the world. The 

potential  for  new  drug development  has  

need for new and improved medicines for 

never    been    greater.    But  certain  areas 

children was seen as a major issue across 

of  medical  research  have  received  less 

pertinent  disease  categories.  Some 

emphasis.  One case in point is research 

of  these 

include 

infectious  diseases, 

regarding  new  and  better  medicines  for 

asthma,  mental  disorders  and  obesity. 

children.  Publicly  funded    research    has  

It  is  evident  that children  are  subject    to 

an    important    role    to  play    in    filling  

many of the same diseases as adults, and 

these    gaps,    partly    to    ensure  that  all 

are  subsequently  treated  with  the  same 

social  groups    (including  children,  from 

drugs.    This  poses  a  serious  problem, 

birth  to  the  age  of  17)  benefit  from  new 

since  children  should  not  be  treated  as 

technology. 

small adults regarding pharmacotherapy.  

To 

facilitate 

targeted 

research  at  

They  differ 

from  adults 

in  pharma-

European level, the  Dutch  Health  Ministry  

cokinetic,  dynamic  and 

toxicological 

and  the  Netherlands  Organisation  for 

aspects, as well as in their adherence to 

Health  Research  and  Development 

the  therapy,  effectiveness  and  safety  of 

(ZonMw) have established the European 

medicines used.  Additionally, numerous 

Research  Agenda  of  an  ERA-NET  on 

medicines  used  on  children  are  not 

priority  medicines 

for  children.  The 

licensed,  or  are  prescribed  off-label, 

aim  is  to  network  national  programmes 

which  can  consequently  place  children 

and  programme  managers  in  order  to 

at  risk  of  underdosing  or  overdosing,  or 

exchange  expertise,  set  the  European 

create a delayed risk of long-term adverse 

Research  Agenda,  and  work  towards  a 

effects.   

PRIOMEDCHILD.indd   1

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Coordination Action
PRIOMEDCHILD

“

The	concepts	that	are	developed	in	this	project	might	well	be	

suitable	not	only	for	European	children,	but	for	all	children	in	the	world,	

for	instance	where	poverty-related	diseases	are	at	stake.

Full title:

Coordination of research on 
priority medicines for children

Research field:

Priority Medicines

Coordinator:

The Netherlands: The Netherlands 
  Organisation For Health Research 
  And Development (ZONMW)

Partners:

• France: The National Institute  
  For Health And Medical 
  Research (INSERM)
• Institut National de la Santé et 
  de la Recherche Médicale)
• Italy: The Italian National 
Institute Of Health (ISS)

• Poland: The Polish Ministry 
  Of Education And Science 

(MES), Department of European 
Integration; Children’s Memorial 

  Health Institute 
• Sweden: The Swedish Research 
  Council (SRC)
• Spain: The Institute Of Health 
  Carlos III (ISCIII)
• United Kingdom: The Medical 
  Research Council (MRC)
• Estonia: The Estonian Science 
  Foundation (ETF)

Further information:
  M. Edvard P Beem 

The Netherlands Organisation for 
  Health Research and Development

93245 2593 CE - The Hague

  Netherlands

Fax:+ 31 7 03 49 53 97 
Email: Beem@ZonMw.nl
  Website: www.zonmw.nl

Duration:
3 years

EC funding:
	 e1 712 079

Project reference:

CA-036266-PRIOMEDCHILD 

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

There  is  a  25%  to  50%  incidence  of 

unlicensed  drug  use  in  children.  In  the 

case of off-label drug use, the range lies 

between  15%  and  40%.  This  is  most 

common  in  treatment  for  neonates.  For 

example, in intensive care units, 90% of 

babies  receive  an  unlicensed  off-label 

drug.  Antiobiotics  and  vitamins  are  the 

most  widely  used  off-label  medicines  in 

this group. 

Eliminating obstacles
There  is  clearly  a  lack  of  data  regarding 

research  for  drug  treatment  in  children; 

moreover, safe drug treatment in children 

cannot  be  linearly  abstracted  from  adult 

data. There are many obstacles for those 

wishing to conduct research in relation to 

children.  These  include  financial,  ethical 

and  practical  issues,  not  to  mention  the 

general  resistance  to  the  participation 

of  minors  in  research.  If  children  are  to 

be  treated  with  sufficiently  evaluated 

and  effective  medicines,  research 

in 

medicines  for  children  must  be  vastly 

improved.  Furthermore,  to  reduce  the 

burden of childhood diseases, it is crucial 

that they are recognised as an important 

cause  of  morbidity,  economic  cost  and 

mortality worldwide. 

A 

coordinated  European 

research 

approach  to  the  issue  of  medicines  for 

children,  is  an  important  step  towards 

creating  the  appropriate  framework  and 

stimulating specific areas of need. Indeed, 

it  has  been  proven  numerous  times  in 

the  past,  that  clinical  trials  specifically 

for children have resulted in a significant 

improvement in child medication.

.

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the 

”

A healthier future
This  new  proposal 

focuses  on 

challenges ahead for paediatric medicines 

research.  Due  to  the  attention  focused 

on priority medicines in general, and the 

more recent focus on priority medicines 

for children, public research programmes 

on  these  and  related  issues  are  now 

rapidly  developing  in  many  European 

Member States. 

PRIOMEDCHILD  will  contribute  to  the 

strengthening  and  streamlining  of  these 

national  activities.  The  project  will  also 

facilitate  public  and  private  cooperation 

on a European scale, by coordinating and 

developing public research programmes 

based  on  public  health  priorities,  and 

aligning 

them  with 

industrial  efforts 

in  this  field.  In  addition,  the  European 

regulation  on  Medical  Products 

for 

Pediatric use passed in 2006 will facilitate 

the  development  of  medicines  for  our 

kids.

Research 

into 

determining  more 

effective  medicines  for  children  has  far-

reaching  potential  impacts,  including  a 

better  understanding  of  the  effects  that 

medicine  use  by  pregnant  women  has 

on unborn children. The PRIOMEDCHILD 

consortium  has  planned  awareness-

raising strategies to inform target groups 

and  the  general  public  of  the  results  of 

its  findings;  the  final  outcome  of  these 

activities  will  contribute  to  a  healthier 

future for our children.

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Coordination Action

SEE-ERA-NET

Cooperation in 

the Balkans 

It	is	an	exciting	challenge	to	coordinate	this	project	of	17	European	

partners,	with	the	vision	to	directly	support	research	institutions	in	the	

countries,	by	strengthening	the	potential	of	their	research	community.	

“

The Southeast European
 ERA-NET SEE-ERA-NET
is a networking project 
aimed at integrating 
EU member states and 
Southeast European 
countries in the European 
Research Area. 
Building on existing RTD 
programmes in the region, 
the project publishes
 joint calls for proposals 
and is developing a 
Joint Action Plan 
which will ultimately 
lead to a new RTD 
programme for 
collaboration in a 
once-troubled region.

SEE-ERA-NET	will	create	a	new	and	flexible	multinational	funding	

instrument,	open	to	excellent	research	collaboration.

”

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 2 of this publication.

The Balkan region is still experiencing a 

particularly difficult transition period, 
following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 
1990s. During the nation-building phase, 
the  region  was  plagued  by  violent  civil 
wars and ethnic conflicts. 
Being a direct neighbour to the European 
Union,  the  region  was  given  special 
attention, and in recent years it has been 
a focus for reconciliation, stabilisation and 
reconstruction  efforts,  that  are  helping 
to  heal  the  psychological  wounds  and 
repair the infrastructure. As a sign of the 
changing times in the region, the former 
Yugoslav  republic  of  Slovenia  became 
an EU Member State in May 2004. A few 
months  later,  Union  leaders  agreed  to 
grant  the  former  Yugoslav  Republic  of 
Macedonia and Croatia candidacy status. 
Since  2007,  Bulgaria  and  Romania  have 
been EU member states.
“By  providing  mutual  benefits  and 
nurturing common  interests,  cooperation  
is    an  important  underwriter  of  peace 
and  stability.  Scientific  collaboration 
is  generally  an  early  part    of    the    EU  
integration    process    for  potential  future 
EU  members,”  Peter  B.  Mayr,  the  SEE-
ERA-NET coordinator emphasises.
Speaking  on 
‘Research  and  Balkan 
stability’  at  a  Friends  of  Europe  policy 
Janez 
summit, 
Poto
nik  offered  his  experience  as  a 
Slovenian, the former chief negotiator for 
Slovenia’s accession to the EU, and as a 
Commissioner:
“Research  cooperation  breaks  down 
frontiers,  both  physical  and  cultural. 

EU  Commissioner 

č

Because  researchers  understand  and 
share  the  same  objective:  improving 
society through curiosity and excellence. 
I  want  Balkan  countries  to  be  fully 
integrated 
research 
into  European 
because it is also an undeniable step on 
the  path  to  stability  and  integration  into 
the EU.”

regional 

SEEing cooperation´s
benefits
Based  on 
the  European  Union’s 
Framework Programme for Research and 
Technological  Development,  SEE-ERA-
NET  is  committed  to  the  networking  of 
research activities within national, bilateral 
and 
research  programmes 
throughout  Europe,  especially  targeting 
Southeast  Europe.  Its  main  objective 
is  to  explore  and  exploit  synergies 
among bilateral Science and Technology 
agreements of the partner countries. The 
project  seeks  to  promote joint scientific 
activities between countries in the region, 
the  EU  Member  States,  candidate  and 
potential candidate countries.
The  SEE-ERA-NET  network  conducts  its 
work  primarily  through  data  analyses, 
exchange  of  best  practice,  strategic 
planning  and 
research  programme 
coordination  at  meetings,  workshops 
and  conferences.  In  order  to  find  ways 
of  improving  collaboration  in  the  fields 
of  Research,  Technology  Development 
and  Innovation  (RTDI),  the  project  has 
been  employed  in  developing  a    sound 
understanding  of  the  national  research 
systems  in  the  different  Western  Balkan 

ERA-NET

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With	the	SEE	ERA-NET	project	we	aim	to	complement	existing	isolated	

efforts	by	establishing	synergies	and	adding	critical	mass	and	momentum.

“

Full title:

Southeast European ERA-NET

Research field:

S&T policy coordination

Coordinator:

Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)

Partners:

• Austria: Centre for Social 

Innovation

• Austria: Ministry for Science and 
  Research
• Bulgaria: Ministry for Education 
  and Science
• France: Ministry of Foreign
  Affairs
• France: National Center for 
  Scientific Research
• Germany: International Bureau 
  of the Federal Ministry of 
  Education and Research at the  
  German Aerospace Center
• Greece: General Secretariat for 
  Research and Technology
• Hungary: National Office of 
  Research and Technology
• Romania: Ministry of Education 
  and Research
• Slovenia: Ministry of Higher 
  Education, Science and 
  Technology
• Croatia: Ministry of Science,  
  Education and Sports
• Macedonia: Ministry of 
  Education and Science FYRo
• Bosnia & Herzegovina: Ministry 
  of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and 
  Herzegovina
• Montenegro: Ministry of 
  Education and Science of 
  Montenegro
• Germany: Federal Ministry of 
  Education and Research
• Albania: Ministry of Science and 
  Education  
• Serbia: Ministry for Science and 
  Environmental Protection 

Further information:

Peter B. Mayr, 
SEE-ERA.NETCo-ordinator, Centre 
for Social Innovation (ZSI)
Linke Wienzeile 246, A-1150 
Vienna
Fax: +43 4 95 04 42 40
Email: pmayr@zsi.at
  Website: www.see-era.net

countries.  Through  such  knowledge, 
a  comprehensive  needs  analysis  was 
established, to find out what researchers 
need 
from  cross-border  cooperation. 
These measures enable the identification 
of complementarities.

The  development  of  a  new 
funding programme for SEE 
collaboration
All the findings of this first phase lead to 
the implementation of a first joint funding 
initiative,  the  SEE-ERA-NET  Pilot  Joint 
Call  in  2006/2007;  this  is  a  small  test 
funding  programme  that  is  dedicated 
to  20  excellent  project  applications, 
with proposers coming from all 14 SEE-
ERA-NET  Member  States.    After  this 
experimental phase, the Regional Funding 
Programme for SEE collaboration will be 
introduced  in  2008.  Again,  this  ‘bigger’ 
funding  programme  will  be  open  to 
research collaboration in the participating 
SEE-ERA-NET partner countries. 
In this way, SEE-ERA-NET will have made 
an essential contribution to the realisation 
of the European Research Area.

A new dawn
Most European national governments are 
involved  in  bilateral  RTD  programmes 
with  other  countries 
in  Europe  and 
elsewhere.  However,  research  reveals 

Duration:

60 months 

EC funding:
	 e2 814 467

Project reference:

CA-515805-SEE-ERA-NET

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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”

that not enough operational coordination 
occurs,  sometimes  resulting  in  double-
track  actions,  duplication  of  effort,  and 
repetition of failures.

Aiming      to      overcome      this      lack  of 
harmonisation, SEE-ERA-NET represents 
a new approach  to  scientific  cooperation 
between EU Member States and countries 
in  central  and  south-east  Europe. 
However, it is important to point out that 
the project does not seek to substitute or 
‘hollow-out’ bilateral initiatives.

It  aims  to  “complement  existing  isolated 
efforts  by  establishing  synergies  and 
adding  critical  mass  and  momentum,” 
says Peter B. Mayr.

At    the    EU    level,    SEE-ERA-NET  is  
making  every  effort  to  help  expand  the 
geographical scope of the ERA. However, 
figures  show  that  the  participation  of 
these  countries  in  the  Fifth  and  Sixth 
Framework  Programmes  (FP5  and  FP6) 
has  been  relatively  low,  and  that  there 
remains  plenty  of  room  for  growth.  The 
Commission  has  taken  concrete  steps  
which are already beginning to pay off to 
remedy this situation.

the 

includes 
from 

17  partner 
SEE-ERA-NET 
organisations 
following 
participating countries:  Albania, Austria,  
Bosnia-Herzegovina,  Bulgaria,  Croatia, 
France, the Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia,  Germany,  Greece,  Hungary, 
Montenegro,  Romania,  Serbia  and 
Slovenia.

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SNOWMAN

European 

groundwater -
ground for hope 

	We	know	that	life	-	sensitive	and	

vulnerable	-	longs	for	soil	and	water.

“

”

© Jörg Frauenstein, UBA, Germany

Please note that this project sheet represents an extension to the previous one, 
included in Series 1 of this publication.

European legislation offers 
increasing protection 
from pollution for soil and 
groundwater. Ongoing research 
is crucial in implementing 
these environmental protection 
measures in the most 
cost-effective way. Deeper 
understanding of environmental 
processes is required, as the 
legislative focus expands 
from point source pollution 
to consider gradual or diffuse 
pollution. An ERA-NET scheme 
of European research funders 
and administrations is working 
to coordinate their efforts, in the 
field of sustainable management 
of soil and groundwater. It will 
encourage countries to work 
together where research is most 
needed, ensuring that results 
and novel techniques are well 
known both to policy makers and 
practitioners dealing sustainably 
with these important natural 
resources. 

ERA-NET

Pollution  of    soil    and    groundwater  

is    an  increasing      problem      across   

Europe.  Industry,  agriculture,  domestic 

waste  and  transport  all  leave  their  dirty 

marks on the subterranean  environment.  

Soil  is  used  for  growing  food  and  for 

building,  while  groundwater 

feeds   

directly   into   industrial   and domestic  

water  pipes  in  many  countries. “Simply”, 

the  co-ordinator  states,  “life  —  sensitive 

and  vulnerable  —  longs  for  soil  and 

groundwater.” The EU is keen to legislate 

against  soil  and  water  pollution  and  to 

provide  for  effective  remediation  of    

polluted  areas.  Many  directives  relating 

to soil and groundwater protection have 

been  introduced,  and  others  are  under 

development.  But  such  policies  must 

be  backed  by  appropriate  scientific 

knowledge.  More  research  is  needed, 

and it is essential that this is carried out 

as efficiently as possible across Europe.

Within the SNOWMAN ERA-NET  project,  

a consortium of 7 partners from Austria, 

Flanders  (Belgium),  France,  Germany, 

the  Netherlands,  Sweden,  and 

the 

United  Kingdom  are  cooperating,  based 

on  national 

research  programmes 

concerning soil and groundwater, aiming 

for a transnational  research   programme   

relevant    to  environmental  protection 

policy. 

Protecting the soil
European legislation on groundwater and 

soil pollution is wide-ranging. The Water 

Framework  Directive  (2000),  currently 

being implemented at national level, has 

expanded    protection  of    water    from  

watercourses 

to  entire  catchments, 

including groundwater. 

Its  implementation  requires  improved 

understanding  of 

the  pollution  of  

groundwater  via  soil. There is intensive 

ongoing research around Europe, but it is 

important that efforts are not duplicated.

Soils   are   protected   under   the   Landfill 

Directive, 

the  Directive  on  Nitrates 

Pollution 

from  Agricultural  Sources, 

the  Habitat  Directive,  and  others.  The 

European  Commission 

is  currently 

developing  its  policy  on  soil  protection. 

Members of the SNOWMAN consortium 

got  involved  in  the  process  of  scientific 

underpinning in preparation. So a strong 

link  to  the  Commission’s  interest  in  the 

project, is provided.

Gradual pollution
Pollution  comes  either  from  a  point 

source such as an industrial site, or it can 

be  diffusely  introduced  by  many  small 

sources,  such  as  agricultural  pesticides. 

Although  it  is  more  difficult  to  control, 

diffuse  pollution  is  increasingly  being 

included  in  environmental      legislation    

like   the    Water    Framework Directive.   

Some  participants        in        SNOWMAN 

SNOWMAN.indd   1

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Coordination Action
SNOWMAN

Full title:

Sustainable management of soil
and groundwater under the 
pressure of soil pollution and soil 
contamination

Research field:

Soil and groundwater protection

Coordinator:
  Austria: Bundesministerium für

Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt 
und Wasserwirtschaft 

Partners:

• Austria: Federal Ministry for 
  Agriculture, Forestry, 
  Environment and Water 
  Management
• France: Agency for Environment 
  and Energy Management
• Germany: Federal Environment 
  Agency of Germany
• Netherlands: Netherlands 
  Centre for Soil Quality and 
  Knowledge Transfer
• United Kingdom: The 
  Environment Agency of England 
  and Wales
• Belgium: Public Waste Agency 
  of Flanders
• Sweden: Swedish Environment 
  Protection Agency

Further information:
  Mr Stefan Vetter

Bundesministerium für Land- 
und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und 

  Wasserwirtschaft

Stubenring 1, A-1010 Vienna 

  Austria
Email:
stefan.vetter@lebensministerium.at 

  Website:

http://www.snowman-era.net
http://www.eugris.org/ 

Duration:
5.5 years

EC funding:
	 e1 746 032 00

Project reference:

CA-3219-SNOWMAN

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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	It	will	be	a	really	exciting	moment	to	see	

how	‘variable	geometry’	is	undertaken	in	Europe.

“

”

worked  together    in    a    previous    EU-

Overall,    SNOWMAN    will    improve  

funded  research    network,    harmonising  

cooperation  between  different  national 

European 

research  on  point-source 

research  agendas.  “It  will  be  a  really 

© Jörg Frauenstein, UBA, Germany

contamination  of  soil.  The  SNOWMAN 

exciting  moment 

to  see 

‘variable 

ERA-NET 

scheme  will 

build 

on 

geometry’  working 

in  Europe,” 

the 

relationships 

  formed 

  during 

  this  

coordinator  comments,  mentioning  this 

process, expanding  the  remit  to  include  

particular  keyword.  At  present,  research 

all  issues surrounding  groundwater  and  

and respective results in one country are 

soil  pollution.

Coordinating research
The SNOWMAN ERA-NET has  three  main  

not effectively communicated to others. 

The  network  has  strong 

links  with 

an  EU-funded 

Internet  portal  known 

as  EUGRIS  (European  Ground  Water 

objectives. The first of these is to structure 

and  Contaminated  Land 

Information 

and  implement  a  coordinated  research 

Service)  which  provides  information  to 

call at the beginning of 2007. A funders’ 

professionals in the field. All results and 

agreement will outline the basic principles 

information  generated    by    SNOWMAN  

for  this  call.  Projects  recommended  for  

will  be available on the following website: 

funding    should    be  able  to  start  at    the 

www.snowman-era.net

beginning of September 2007. Significant 

focus  should  be  given  to  dissemination 

and information exchange, so as to share 

European experiences. 

The  second  objective  is  to  establish  a 

research  programme  by  the  end  of  the 

project. During this judicious process the 

consortium  will  ask  potential  funders  to 

join the funding community.

Thirdly,  SNOWMAN  will  prepare  and 

implement  a  strategy  for  disseminating 

the results of funded projects. 

SNOWMAN  will  act  on  the  solid  ground 

of      data      from      national      research   

funding  programmes relating to soil and 

groundwater  protection,  and  a  vision 

paper will provide guidance in developing 

strategic  options  within  the  particular 

project. 

SNOWMAN.indd   2

6/13/07   2:58:12 PM

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
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Coordination Action

URBAN-NET

funding of urban 

research in Europe

Coordination of the 
“

policy	makers	and	researchers	to	share	information,	

coordinate	research	and	jointly	address	some	of	the	

URBAN-NET	will	create	a	unique	opportunity	for	

most	significant	environmental,	economic	and	social	

issues	facing	people	today.

”

© PhotoDisc

Roughly  80%  of  Europe’s  citizens 

reside  in  major  cities,  where  the 

effects  of  many  environmental,  social 

identifying and addressing shared urban 

research  needs  in  order  to  implement 

them  into  EU  legislation,  policies  and 

and  economic  problems  are  felt  most 

strategies 

toward  sustainable  urban 

strongly.    European  cities  and  towns 

development.  In  fact,  sustainable  urban 

are  confronted  by  a  range  of  complex 

development  as  we  know  it  will  need 

pressures and impacts that demand more 

to  be  regarded  in  a  broader  and  deeper 

sophisticated,  integrated  approaches  to 

manner and with a shared understanding, 

planning and management.  

stemming from a variety of sources and 

allowing more flexibility for change.

We  have  all  seen  the  negative  effects  of 

urban  sprawl  in  European  cities:  noise, 

air  pollution, 

traffic  congestion  and 

Filling the knowledge gap
The existing networks, which are relevant 

poor  environmental  management, 

to 

to  sustainable  urban  development  each 

name  a  few.  Other  problems  stem  from 

focus  on  only  one  specific  issue.  None 

an  ageing  and  more  mobile  population, 

of them address the call for coordinated 

and  in  some  cities  there  are  factors  of 

action  on  integrated  urban  research. 

population decline, large-scale migration 

Not  only  has  this  created  a  knowledge 

and increasing cultural diversity, as well.

gap;  it  has  duplicated  research  funding 

In addition to facing such challenges, they 

this  gap  by  exploring  what  contributes 

also  encounter  both  increasing  costs  of, 

to  active, 

inclusive,  environmentally 

and  demands  for,  space  and  resources. 

sensitive sustainable communities.

and  efforts.  URBAN-NET  therefore  fills 

It is increasingly evident that such socio-

economic  and  environmental  problems 

The network provides a more integrated 

dramatically  weaken  quality  of  life,  and 

approach,  joining  related  issues  such  as 

prevent  communities  from  flourishing. 

urban  management  and  governance, 

This  is  particularly  the  case  for  new 

integrated  spatial  planning,  economic 

Member States and candidate countries, 

wellbeing 

and 

competitiveness, 

because they are challenged with having 

social 

inclusion  and  environmental 

to  adjust  to  rapidly  changing  economic 

stewardship.  It  will  promote  effective 

circumstances.  Therefore  future  urban 

working  relationships  that  span  groups 

development  will  need  to  be  structured 

of  stakeholders,  geographical  areas  and 

differently  than  in  the  past.  It  will  need 

disciplines. 

to  reflect  the  growing  importance  of 

Many socio-economic and 
environmental problems are most 
prominent in urban areas. Until 
now there has been no formal 
coordination of the funding 
programmes addressing these 
concerns in Europe.
URBAN-NET will develop 
our understanding of urban 
sustainability, contributing 
to social cohesion, long-term 
economic growth and 
a high quality of life for 
European urban citizens.
By establishing joint research 
programmes at transnational 
level without duplication of 
research efforts, URBAN-NET 
will foster the implementation 
of policies and strategies on 
long-term sustainable urban 
development in Europe.
URBAN-NET has wide 
geographical and cultural 
representation through its 
membership of 16 partners from 
13 countries.  The project is 
managed by a consortium formed 
by these partners and will run for 
four years from August 2006 to 
July 2010.

ERA-NET

URBAN-NET.indd   1

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Coordination Action
URBAN-NET

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©

SNIFFER	is	extremely	pleased	to	be	coordinating	such	an	important	area	

of	work,	and	is	delighted	to	help	create	these	vital	partnerships	across	Europe.	

Issues	of	urban	sustainability	have	not	been	coordinated	in	Europe	on	such	a	scale	

before,	and	we	anticipate	that	the	benefits	to	research	and	policy	formation	will	

significantly	improve	the	quality	of	life	of	many	people	across	Europe.

“

”

term  collaboration  in  European  urban 

research,  and  will  set  higher  standards 

for  urban  sustainability.  Attaining  quality 

research  in  this  area  means  achieving  a 

common understanding of the condition 

of present knowledge, and benchmarking 

research  programmes,  proposals  and 

projects against each other. URBAN-NET 

will  develop  important  links  through  its 

coordination  and  cooperation,  providing 

policy makers, practitioners and research 

programme managers with a sure footing 

for  a  long-lasting  contribution  to  urban 

sustainability for European citizens.

URBAN-NET‘s  core  focus  for  research 

will  be  integrated  approaches  to  issues 

relating  to  urban  sustainability.    Specific 

areas 

for  research  will  emerge  by 

identifying  common  strategic 

issues 

with  an  emphasis  on  the  interactions 

between  existing  urban  research  and 

new  emerging  priorities.    The  results 

and experience of existing European and 

national  research  forums  and  networks 

will inform URBAN-NET’s development.

Full title:
  Urban ERA-NET – Coordination 

of the funding of urban research in 
Europe

Research field:
  Urban environment, urban 

sustainability

Coordinator:

SNIFFER (Scotland and Northern 
Ireland Forum for Environmental 
Research)

Partners:

• The Nicis Institute
• TÜV Management Systems  
• Ministère des Transports, de 

l’Equipement, du Tourisme et de 
la Mer

• The Swedish Research Council 
for Environment, Agricultural 
  Sciences and Spatial Planning
• Netherlands agency for 

innovation and sustainable 

  development
• Ministerio de Vivienda
• Agency for Sustainable 
  Development and 
  Eurointegration 
• SC IPA SA
• Research Promotion Foundation 
• Austrian Ministry for Education, 
  Science and Culture
• The Scientific and Technological 
  Research Council of Turkey
• Scottish Executive Environment 
  and Rural Affairs Department
• United Nations Human 
  Settlements Programme
• Fundação para a Ciencia e a 
  Tecnologica
• Umweltbundesamt

Further information:

SNIFFER (Scotland and Northern 
Ireland Froum for environmental  
Research), Greenside House, 25 

  Greenside Place, Edinburgh,

EH13AA
Fax: +00 (0)131 652 3670
  Manager: Paul Sizeland  

Email: paul@sniffer.org.uk
  Administrator: Rachel Peacock 
Email: rachel@sniffer.org.uk 

Benchmarking
research collaboration
URBAN-NET  will  make 

significant 

contributions 

to  strengthening  ERA 

through  the  establishment  of  funding 

mechanisms at national and international 

levels  where  there  currently  are  none. 

This will be achieved through a series of 

actions.  The  participants  will  document 

and  compare  national  research  outputs, 

identify  new  opportunities  and  gaps 

in  urban  research,  and  develop  and 

promote  a  European  research  agenda 

for sustainable urban development. They 

will also deliver an international research 

management  strategy,  align  national 

and  regional  research  programmes  to 

complement EU funded research actions, 

integrate  knowledge  on  a  European 

scale  and  deliver  common  calls  for 

nationally  promoted  research  topics  in 

collaboration. 

The  relevance  of  the  proposed  research 

formats will be tested through stakeholder 

workshops  and  other  dissemination 

activities.  The  project  will  devise  and 

then  address  a  future  agenda  for  long-

Duration:
4 years

EC funding:
	 e3 000 000

Project reference:

CA-31342-URBAN-NET

Directorate-General for Research:
Coordination of Research Activities
http://www.cordis.lu/coordination/home.html

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URBAN-NET.indd   2

6/13/07   2:58:31 PM