Research*eu results magazine. No 3, June 2011.
Date: 2011-06-15
Institutions: CORDIS, Publications Office of the European Union
Subjects: research, research and development, research project, serial publication

European Commission

No 3  June 2011

ISSN 1831-9947

R E S U L T S   M A G A Z I N E

(cid:2)(cid:3)Biology and medicine 5
(cid:2)(cid:3)Biology and medicine 
(cid:2) Energy and transport 
(cid:2) Energy and transport 14
(cid:2) Environment and society 
(cid:2) Environment and society 19
(cid:2)(cid:3)IT and telecommunications 28
(cid:2)(cid:3)IT and telecommunications 
(cid:2) Industrial technologies 35
(cid:2) Industrial technologies
(cid:2) Events 46
(cid:2) Events 

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Special feature
Research for regions: a coherent research area for Europe
Interview with Dr Anu Reinart of EstSpacE

Other highlights
(cid:2)  Probing an ancient part of the brain, page 5
(cid:2)(cid:3)EU must invest more in wind power if 20 MW turbines to become reality, page 14
(cid:2)  Vital groundwork for R & D cooperation, page 19
(cid:2) Need footage in a rush? page 28
(cid:2) Estonia reaches for the stars, page 35

 
 
 
 
 
 
R E S U LT S   M A G A Z I N E

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Th  e research*eu results magazine is published 
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EDITORIAL
Working on research together

Part  of  Europe’s  success  is  in  its  collaboration  and 
solidarity. The European Union has already been a 
remarkable achievement. The European Research Area  
(ERA) is seminal to this Union as strength in numbers 
and in minds helps give Europe not only a competitive 
edge in the global economy but also in its overall research 
and in its innovation. The aim of the ERA is to give 
researchers ample opportunity in an EU-wide open space 
for knowledge.  

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the European Commissioner for 
r 
Research and Innovation, is mandated to take the lead 
d 
in making the ‘fifth freedom’ a reality. The fifth freedom 
m 
entails  providing  attractive  conditions  and  effective 
e 
governance for carrying out research in Europe. It should 
d 
also ensure the free circulation of researchers, knowledge, 
e, 
ideas and technology across the EU. 

Europe’s 271 regions each have their own particular strengths. The development of a 
coherent research area across all these regions is underway. We wanted to highlight some 
of these developments along with all the latest EU-funded research. This is why we decided 
to dedicate this issue of research*eu results magazine to ‘Regions for research: a coherent 
research area for Europe.’

We speak to Dr Anu Reinart, director of Estonia’s Tartu Observatory. She is also the lead 
researcher of the EU-funded EstSpacE project. EstSpacE is working towards enhancing 
space research potential of Estonian scientific institutes by collaborating with other 
European partners as well as the ESA. Dr Reinart shares her experiences with us and 
provides a compelling insight into her work at EstSpacE.

We start off the issue by first delving into the human brain and exploring the root causes 
of chronic brain conditions like Parkinson’s. The article, listed in the biology and medicine 
section, discusses how researchers are focusing their efforts on an important and somewhat 
enigmatic portion of the brain called the basal ganglia, which is responsible for motor 
control and cognitive aspects of behaviour.

The energy and transport section leads with an article on the need for greater investment 
in wind power research.  

An article on forging new ties between researchers leads the environment and society 
section. The article discusses an EU-funded project that is strengthening the research 
capacity and cooperation in central European countries. 

In our IT and telecommunications section, we see how European research is attempting 
to better archive raw footage. The research will help broadcasters search, retrieve and use 
raw footage with much greater ease. 

The industrial technology section leads with a story on a project that will help Estonia 
reach for the stars. Estonian researchers are collaborating with other European partners 
and the ESA. The project is a model on how to integrate other European countries into 
the fold of space research.  

The issue then ends with a list of exciting events and upcoming conferences in the field of 
research and technology.

Community Research and 
Development Information Service

We  look  forward  to  receiving  your  feedback  on  this  issue  and  on  the  research*eu 
publications in general. Send questions or suggestions to: research-eu-results-magazine@
publications.europa.eu

http://cordis.europa.eu

© European Union, 2011

Reproduction permitted, provided the source is acknowledged. 
Neither the Publications Office nor any person acting on its 
behalf is responsible for the use that may be made of the 
information contained in this publication or for any errors that 
may remain in the texts, despite the care taken in preparing them. 
For reproduction or use of photos and any other artistic material, 
permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder. 
Excluded from this constraint are the photos and artistic material 
owned by the European Union.

‘Specials’ icon: ©iStockphoto.com/Tom Nulens

2

The editorial team

Want more information on the contents of this issue? 
For online versions or information about the contributors in this issue 
of research*eu results magazine:
- Technology Marketplace: http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace
- Research Information Centre: http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre
-  Thank you to Dr Anu Reinart of EstSpacE for her contribution to the 
‘special’ dossier in this issue

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

Probing an ancient part of the brain  

Boosting plant biotechnology research in Bulgaria 

EU-funded scientists sequence fungal disease genome 

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Psychological interventions key for keeping depression at bay 

                               8

EU works to fill gaps in regenerative medicine 

Researchers unravel DNA’s protection against UV light 

Cell modifiers to aid autoimmune disease treatment 

Association studies can explain cell stress response 

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Fortifying nutrition for children and women in Africa 

                                               12

Targeting new malaria counter measures 

Perfecting anaesthesia 

ENERGY AND TRANSPORT

EU must invest more in wind power for 20 MW turbines to become reality 

Wind turbines examined to improve technology 

The search for better offshore wind turbines 

Throwing light on converting solar energy into hydrogen 

BEE writes the book on biomass assessment 

Second-generation ethanol to be more sustainable 

Energy experts create new smart metering standards 

Energy framework to tackle security of supply problems 

ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY 

Vital groundwork for R & D cooperation 

For the good of the ‘greater region’ 

Montenegro plans its future of research 

Recap, recount and reaping success 

Europe boosts expertise for the University of Sofia 

EU helps Bulgarian institute aim for global excellence 

EU research cooperates with southeast Asia 

A better grasp of pollution 

Civil society, where next? 

Engaging the public in the climate change debate 

Rocky shore biodiversity 

Women shaping science 

Good practice database to support women in research 

Making science cool 

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research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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 IT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Need footage in a rush? 

Central Europe embraces ICT 

Grid computing links Europe and China 

EU research connects with Latin America 

IT technology to build new EU-Brazil partnership 

Improved weather forecasts 

EU creates tsunami early warning system 

Europeans target better web access for people with disabilities 

Beyond the X-ray 

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES

Estonia reaches for the stars 

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Interview:  Working together to reach beyond the stars                                                   36                                                                 

All eyes on the skies 

A Russian doll of science and technology 

Appetite for innovation 

Innovative bio-packaging that can replace plastics 

Hunting space neutrinos below ground 

Optical alternative to silicon for future electronics 

Keeping up to date on nanotechnology safety 

Europe in the laser limelight 

Robotic machinery advances European industry 

EVENTS

Artificial intelligence in space: intelligence beyond planet earth 

Third workshop on social mobile web

Charge transfer in biosystems 

Workshop on service science and systems 

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Multidisciplinary approach to designing intelligent environments   

          47

Conference on advances in social networks analysis and mining

Doctoral symposium 

European conference on artificial life — twentieth anniversary ‘Back to the 

origins of life’

© Vladfoto, Shutterstock

Frequent acronyms

ERA 
FP5/6/7 

European Research Area
 Fifth/Sixth/Seventh Framework Programme of the 
European Community for research, technological 
development and demonstration activities

ICT 
IST 
R & D 
SMEs 

information and communication technologies
information society technologies
research and development
small and medium-sized enterprises

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research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
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BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 

Probing an ancient part of the brain 

An international group of researchers is studying the incidence of brain cancer in 
adolescents to see if mobile phones and environmental factors play a role.

European  scientists  are  studying  motor  control  and 
cognitive function to gain a better understanding of the 
basic mechanisms used to control movements. Their work 
will throw light on what causes chronic brain conditions 
like Parkinson’s, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 
(ADHD) and many others. 

‘The basal ganglia is associated with a variety of functions, 
including voluntary motor control, procedural learning 
relating to routine behaviours or habits, eye movements, 
and  cognitive  and  emotional  functions,’  explains  Sten 
Grillner, coordinator of the Select-and-act and professor at 
Sweden’s prestigious Karolinska Institute. 

The EU-funded scientists are focusing their efforts on an 
important and somewhat enigmatic portion of the brain 
called the basal ganglia, which is responsible for motor 
control and cognitive aspects of behaviour.

The basal ganglia are a group of structures in vertebrate 
brains that act as a cohesive functional unit. If one imagines 
the human brain as a bowler hat, perched at an angle on 
a hat stand, then the basal ganglia is in the centre, about 
3 cm from the bottom.

The focus of Select-and-act’s research is a key structure 
within the basal ganglia, called the striatum. The striatum 
plays a critical role serving as a filter for signals coming 
from the cortex and thalamus. Mr Grillner explains that 
sensitivity of the striatum is set by dopamine, and it is im-
portant for Parkinson’s disease. Too little dopamine, and 
the circuits in the striatum do not activate. Too much and 
they cause involuntary movements, called hyperkinesias, 
with obvious relevance. Similarly, 5-HT and histamine have 
other impacts. 

Now European researchers at the Select-and-act (¹) project 
are probing the area using a variety of advanced tools to 
understand exactly how it works. The research is important 
both for the basic science it will explain, and for the new 
light it will shine on central nervous system diseases like 
Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and ADHD.

The cerebral cortex is a key area for memory, attention, 
perceptual awareness, thought, language, and conscious-
ness, while the thalamus relays sensation, spatial sense and 
motor signals to the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia. 
The cerebral cortex and thalamus work in close inter-
action with the basal ganglia.

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What the striatum did next
The cortex and thalamus acquire data about what needs 
to be done next, and the striatum receives that informa-
tion and uses it to help determine which actions should be 
performed at a given instant, playing an obvious and im-
portant role in motor control and coordination. 

‘The focus of our research is on the striatum because that is 
the structure in the brain that is largely responsible for the 
selection of behaviour,’ says Mr Grillner.

‘So if you need to turn left or right you have separate cir-
cuits in the brainstem to do that. But you need another 
structure to decide which circuit should be activated at a 
given moment, and that is a primary role of the striatum.’

The Select-and-act team consists of five research groups, 
with complementary expertise, which have been systemat-
ically studying the striatum in a matrix of related and rele-
vant ways. 

The Grillner laboratory is exploring the operation of the 
microcircuits in striatum at the molecular, cellular and syn-
aptic level by recording from several nerve cells at the same 
time using the striatum from both rodents and a primitive 
vertebrate, the lamprey.

Meanwhile the Bolam laboratory in Oxford is looking at the 
fine structure of specific types of synapses in the striatum 
and how different modulators like dopamine, 5-HT and his-
tamine affect the microcircuits of the striatum using differ-
ent physiological techniques.

‘The focus of our research is on 
the  striatum  because  that  is 
the structure in the brain that 
is  largely  responsible  for  the 
selection of behaviour.’ 

At  the  Royal  Institute  of Technology  in  Stockholm  the 
Lansner/Hellgren laboratory is making computer models 
of the striatum and its interaction with the cortex and dif-
ferent motor centres. The models are based on the detailed 
biological and morphological findings of the Grillner and 
Bolam laboratories. ‘The models allow us to test whether 
our biological results can account for the operation of the 
different circuits.’

An in vivo study is taking place at the Graybiel laboratory 
at MIT in Cambridge, USA. There, researchers are studying 
striatum activity using rodent models, recording simultan-
eously a number of nerve cells in the microcircuits of the 
striatum when the rat is running. The rats are also trained 
to turn left or right according to where they expect to find 
food and the team can see how these actions are engaged 

by the striatum. ‘So one can learn when the different cir-
cuits come into action,’ says Mr Grillner.

Finally, the Bergman laboratory of the Hebrew University, 
Jerusalem is studying the activity of neurons in the stria-
tum, together with dopamine cells that signal reward in 
the behaving monkey. The monkey is trained to detect and 
interpret different cues indicating rewards or simply air 
puffs. The test situation allows for an analysis of the func-
tion of the striatum under more complex conditions.

‘By combining the approach of the five laboratories we get 
to understand the mode of microcircuit operation in the 
striatum and how these microcircuits are operating dur-
ing simpler tasks in rodents and more complex tasks in 
primates,’ says Mr Grillner, adding that the combination of 
research techniques makes Select-and-act unique.

The team got a big surprise when they discovered how 
long the striatum has existed. ‘We compared the circuits in 
mammals with the circuits in one of the first type of verte-
brates to occur in evolution, which is the lamprey,’ he says. 
The lamprey is very old, evolving 560 million years ago 
when it diverged from the main vertebrate line. It is one of 
the most primitive vertebrates still available for study. 

‘But it surprised us to learn that already 560 million years 
ago the basic design and the properties and the connectiv-
ity of these nerve cells had evolved. Mammals only devel-
oped 130 million years ago and humans appeared just 
200 000 years ago. So the entire control structure of the stri-
atum was ready very early on in vertebrate evolution and 
has not been changed much since then,’ Mr Grillner notes.

Research will continue for another year. ‘The end point for 
this project will see us develop an understanding of stria-
tum microcircuits and how they are modified by different 
modulators like dopamine, 5-HT and histamine,’ Mr Grillner 
explains.

While the team has achieved a lot so far, the scientist says 
work remains on the project itself, although important new 
insights have been gained. ‘This kind of research needs, 
however, to continue for a long time in order to understand 
the intricate mechanism that underlies the complex func-
tion of the brain,’ concludes Mr Grillner.

The  Select-and-act  project  received  funding  from  the 
Health initiative of the Seventh Framework Programme 
(FP7) for research.

(1) ‘The role of striatum in selection of behaviour and motor learning — neuronal code,

 microcircuits and modelling’.

Promoted through the CORDIS Technology Marketplace.

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research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
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Boosting plant biotechnology research 

in Bulgaria

Following the conclusion of an independent evaluation, a specific action plan 
has been defined with the aim of building up Bulgaria’s research capacity in 
plant biotechnology. 

The  Agrobioinstitute  (ABI),  which 
belongs to the Agricultural Academy 
of Bulgaria, makes an important con-
tribution to the country’s agricultural 
economy through biotechnology. Yet, 
there is always room for improvement.

The EU funded project Plantbioserv (1) 
aimed  to  focus  ABI  on  its  research, 
training  and  networking  potential. 
Three  different  experts  in  the  fields 
of  plant  biodiversity,  plant  abiotic 
and biotic stress, and molecular plant 

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EU-funded scientists sequence fungal 

disease genome

EU-funded researchers have sequenced the genome of a major fungal disease 
that affects various cereal crops including barley. Presented in the journal 
Science, the research could help bolster our understanding of the evolution of 
plants.

The  study  was  funded  in 
T
part by the Bioexploit (1) 
p
project,  which  is  backed 
p
with almost EUR 16 mil-
w
lion under the ‘Food qual-
l
ity  and  safety’  thematic 
area  of  the  EU’s  Sixth 
Framework  Programme 
(FP6).

The researchers, led by 
Imperial  College  Lon-
don  (ICL)  in  the  UK, 
say  their  study  helps 
shed light on how para-
sites within the genome 

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genetics were called in. Excellent co-
operation  with  the  staff  of  the  ABI 
helped ensure a successful outcome to 
the project.

Several  recommendations  have  been 
made  following  an  analysis  of  ABI’s 
strengths,  weaknesses,  opportunities 
and  threats  (SWOT).  The  suggested 
actions are expected to deliver imme-
diate  results  and  help  facilitate  ABI’s 
participation in international research 
programmes  such  as  FP7.  This  in 
turn is expected to create new career 
opportunities.

The SWOT findings have been shared 
not  only  with  the  ABI  scientists,  but 
also with farmers, journalists and oth-
ers  through  a  number  of  different 
events and media, including a bilingual 
website (www.plantbioserv.com).

(1) ‘Biotechnology approaches in agrobioinstitute 

 at the service of crop breeding’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Research potential of convergence regions’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6151

of the fungus facilitate a disease’s adap-
tion and fight against a plant’s defences.

They add that new agricultural tech-
niques  can  be  developed,  making  it 
easier to keep infection at bay and sus-
tain the health of cereal crops. Ensuring 
that plants stay free from disease is also 
a mega step towards securing food on 
our planet.

The  team  decoded  the  genome  of 
Blumeria, which causes powdery mil-
dew  on  barley.  This  mildew  impacts 
many cereal crops, fruits and vegeta-
bles in northern Europe. Plants that fall 
victim to this mildew become covered 
in powdery white spots that spread all 
over the leaves and stems. As a result, 
plants  are  unable  to  produce  crops 
which in turn affects the overall agri-
cultural output.

Farmers use several methods to stop 
the  mildew  from  surfacing,  namely 
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fungicides, crop rotation and genetic-
ally  resistant  varieties.  The  problem, 
however, is that the fungi evolve much 
too fast for the techniques to work. The 
mildew evolves quickly because mul-
tiple parasites within the genome, so-
called transposons, help it to conceal 
itself and act without setting any warn-
ing bells off. The host plant is ‘confused’ 
since the target molecules used by the 
plant to detect the onset of disease are 
altered.

According  to  the  team,  they  found 
large numbers of transposons within 
Blumeria. ‘It was a big surprise,’ says 
Dr Pietro D. Spanu from the Depart-
ment of Life Sciences at ICL, the lead 
author of the study, ‘as a genome nor-
mally  tries  to  keep  its  transposons 
under control. But in these genomes, 
one of the controls has been lifted. We 
think it might be an adaptive advan-
tage for them to have these genomic 
parasites,  as  it  allows  the  pathogens 
to respond more rapidly to the plant’s 

evolution  and  defeat  the  immune 
system.’

The results of this study will give scien-
tists  the  boost  they  need  to  design 
new fungicides and resistance in food 
crops, particularly because they provide 
insight into how the mildew can adapt 
so quickly. ‘With this knowledge of the 
genome  we  can  now  rapidly  identify 
which  genes  have  mutated,  and  then 
can select plant varieties that are more 
resistant,’ Dr Spanu explains.

They could also monitor the spread and 
evolution of fungicide resistance in an 
emerging epidemic, according to the 
team.  ‘We’ll  be  able  to  develop  more 
efficient ways to monitor and under-
stand the emergence of resistance, and 
ultimately to design more effective and 
durable  control  measures,’  Dr  Spanu 
adds.

means they cannot live freely in the soil 
and  need  their  plant  hosts  to  ensure 
their survival. This dependency forced 
the pathogens to figure out a way to dis-
guise themselves and shoot down the 
plant’s defences.

‘We’ve  now  found  this  happening  in 
lots of fungi and fungal-like organisms 
that  are  obligate  pathogens,’  says  Dr 
Spanu, adding that the costly genome 
inflation could therefore be a trade-off 
that  makes  these  pathogens  success-
ful. ‘Non-obligate pathogens are not so 
dependent on their hosts, as they can 
live elsewhere, so they are less depend-
ent  on  rapid  evolution.’  Researchers 
from Germany and France contributed 
to this study.

(1) ‘Exploitation of natural plant biodiversity for the 

pesticide-free production of food’.

The researchers say mildew pathogens 
are a type of obligate parasite, which 

Promoted through the Research Information Centre.

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Psychological interventions key for 

keeping depression at bay

One of the most common mental health disorders among the elderly is 
depression, and things are not getting any easier since the ageing population 
continues to increase. Researchers from Sweden’s Nordic School of Public 
Health have found that psychological interventions play a critical role in 
preventing depressive symptoms among people who are 65 years and older.

The researchers also found no signifi-
cant effect for interventions centred on 
physical exercise, skill training, support 
groups, reminiscence, or interventions 
with combined content.

The  study  was  based  on  systematic 
searches in 11 electronic databases until 
October 2009. The main objective was 
to compile and assess evidence-based 
knowledge and good examples on how 
to prevent the onset of depression and 
promote good mental health among the 
elderly.

Coordinated by the Academic Centre 
for Social Sciences in the Netherlands, 
the Dataprev project brought together 
researchers from the Czech Republic, 
Spain, Austria, Poland, Finland and the 
UK.

In  another  study  on  depression, 
researchers  from  the  Nordic  School 
of Public Health and the University of 
Gothenburg have found that Swedish 
women use two times more antidepres-
sants than men. 

A  large  proportion  of  both  men  and 
women  only  ever  complete  one  pre-
scription of antidepressants.

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

Their study was funded in part by the 
Th
Da
Dataprev  (1)  project,  which  clinched 
EU
EUR  997 621  under  the  EU’s  Sixth 
Framework  Programme  (FP6)  to 
Fr
enhance  the  evidence  base  in  policy 
en
research for mental health promotion 
res
an
and protection.

The  researchers  assessed  various 
T
forms  of  psychosocial  interventions 
fo
and determined that social activities 
a
hold the most weight for giving men-
h
tal health of older adults a boost. The 
t
results of their study were published 
in the Journal of Aging and Health.

‘Meaningful social activities adapted 
to the older adults’ individual needs 
and abilities should be recognised in 
the planning of older care,’ explained 
Anna Forsman, PhD student at the 
Nordic School of Public Health, and 
the lead author of the study.

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‘This can be an indication of choices 
being made to end treatment before the 
recommended time,’ says Dr Karolina 
Andersson Sundell, a researcher at the 
Nordic School of Public Health.

The team performed a register study of 
young adults who bought at least one 
antidepressant in 2006. They found that 
between  4 %  to  13 %  of  Swedes  aged 
20 to 34 use antidepressants. Women 
represent a large portion of that group. 

The study shows that of those who use 
antidepressants, every tenth also buys 
antipsychotics, and some only bought 
their medication once, showing that the 
drug was not used optimally.

‘What we need to do now is to monitor 
this for a longer period of time to see 
if they return and purchase antidepres-
sants again, at a later stage,’ Dr Anders-
son Sundell points out. ‘We currently 
lack knowledge regarding the reasons 
for  why  only  one  purchase  is  made, 
meaning additional studies are required. 
Previous  international  research  how-
ever indicates that patients often make 
this choice independently and seldom 
inform  their  prescription  provider 
why  they  decided  to  stop  taking  the 
medication.’

The team discovered a higher mortal-
ity rate among both women and men 
using antidepressants in combination 

with mood stabilisers. But lithium use 
did not follow this pattern.

‘One  possible  reason  is  that  lithium 
users  receive  better  follow-ups,’  Dr 
Andersson Sundell says. ‘Increased mor-
tality was also seen among the group of 
individuals who filled prescriptions for 
both antidepressants and antipsychotics. 
Further studies are needed to map the 
reasons for the elevated mortality rates.’

(1) ‘Developing the evidence base for mental health promotion and 

prevention in Europe: a database of programmes and the production 

of guidelines for policy and practice’.

Promoted through the Research Information Centre.

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EU works to fill gaps in regenerative medicine

Europe’s involvement in regenerative medicine mainly focuses on technological 
sub-sectors, creating a host of economic, political and bioethical considerations 
that require attention.

The  two  most  active  Member  States 
in  Europe’s  regenerative  medicine 
(RM) industry are Germany and the 
United Kingdom. In a study of Euro-
pean versus global engagement in RM, 
the ‘Regenerative medicine in Europe: 
emerging  needs  and  challenges  in 
a  global  context’(Remedie)  project 
reveals comparatively little commercial 
involvement in Europe with no primary 
human  embryonic  stem  cell  (HESC) 
therapies  currently  being  developed 
commercially.
commercially.

Building  on  a  platform  of  research 
experience, academic and policy net-
works, and data relevant to the field, 
the three-year Remedie collaborative 
project examines the economic, politi-
cal  and  bioethical  implications  for 
Europe  of  current  and  future  global 
developments in RM.

Research over the first 18 months of 
the project indicates that, commercially 
speaking,  two  overriding  factors  are 

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likely to drive the development of RM 
and tissue-engineering firms in Europe: 
the overall financial health of the global 
industry, and the strength of the scien-
tific base in firms operating in the EU. 
Recognising the need for an improved 
governance system, Remedie mapped 
the regulatory regimes of all 39 coun-
tries active in RM. Only seven countries 
(all European) have chosen the most 
restrictive ethical approach. Remedie’s 
work has identified certain gaps relat-
ing to bioethical and legal matters, such 
as there being no European-wide mar-
ket of oocytes (immature ova) currently 
available  for  research  and  no  mech-
anisms  regulating  their  procurement 
for such purposes.

As global activity in the RM field pro-
gresses at a fast pace, there is great need 
to heed medium- and long-term impli-
cations  for  European  regulators,  the 
corporate sector, and health care sys-
tems and patients in different Member 
States.  The  project’s  main  objectives 
are to provide an in-depth analysis of 
Europe’s  competitive  position  in  the 
globalisation of RM, the requirements 
of  successful  innovation  in  the  field, 
and  which  policies  the  EU  needs  to 
develop to secure a global advantage in 
the field.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Socio-economic sciences and the humanities’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6078

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Researchers unravel DNA’s protection against 

UV light

The effect of sunlight on our skin often helps people feel healthy and happy, 
but while tanning may be a desired side effect, it can also initiate damaging 
processes that lead to serious illnesses such as skin cancer.

Researchers in Austria have succeeded 
in  unravelling  the  shielding  mech-
anisms  that  allow  DNA  (deoxyribo-
nucleic acid) to protect itself from the 
exposure to the UV (ultraviolet) light 
emitted by the sun. The results were 
published  in  the  journal  Proceedings 
of  the  National  Academy  of  Sciences 
(PNAS), a US publication. 

Scientists led by Hans Lischka, a profes-
sor at the University of Vienna’s Insti-
tute for Theoretical Chemistry in Aus-
tria set out to decipher the ultra-fast 
processes of the photostability of the 
nucleobases, without which DNA and 
RNA (ribonucleic acid) would suffer 
rapid degradation from UV rays.

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The researchers said the process under 
scrutiny  was  ‘simple,  yet  highly  com-
plex’, adding that ‘as  soon  as the  UV 
light excites the electrons into a higher 
energy  level,  ultra-fast  decay  brings 
them back to its original state.’ Accord-
ing  to  them,  ‘In  this  way  electronic 
energy is converted into heat.’ Despite 
the  complexity  of  this  process,  Prof. 
Lischka’s team explained that it ‘occurs 
in an incredibly short time dimension, 
in up to a quadrillionth of a second’.

Prof.  Lischka,  together  with  his  col-
league Mario Barbatti, now a member 
of the Max Planck Institute for Coal 
Research  in  Germany,  and  experts 
from the Czech Academy of Sciences in 
Prague, created a vivid dynamic picture 
of the photostability of the 
nucleobases using innova-
tive  computer  simulation 
techniques.

They  showed  how  the 
DNA components — the 
nucleotides  that  are  re-
sponsible  in  DNA  and 
RNA  for  the  formation 
of base pairs — protect 
themselves  against  de-
composition under UV 
irradiation.  The  scien-
tists  said  the  main  in-
novation of their study 

Cell modifiers to aid autoimmune 

disease treatment

Thanks to their potential for anti-inflammatory activity, the inhibition of 
p38 protein kinases shows promise in the treatment of autoimmune diseases 
provided that suitable, respondent patient populations can be identified. 

was ‘in the detailed calculation of the 
coupling  of  the  electronic  dynamics 
with that of the atomic nuclei.’

They  managed  to  achieve  this  with 
the  help  of  worldwide  unique  quan-
tum  chemical  methods  developed  at 
the Institute for Theoretical Chemistry. 
‘The calculated states of motion of the 
nucleobases show a quite remarkable 
dynamic behavior in time that spans 
several orders of magnitude,’ the team 
said. The scientists explained that these 
orders  of  magnitude  went  from  ‘the 
pico/trillionth  to  the  femto/quadril-
lionth-second range.’

‘Computational effort of these studies 
was enormous’ and hence the results 
were also only achieved thanks to the 
extensive  use  of  the  combined  com-
puter resources of Vienna’s academic 
institutions.

The researchers said the newly devel-
oped  methods  could  be  used  for  the 
elucidation of dynamics in DNA nucle-
obases, and also for studies of photo-
physical processes in DNA itself and 
in the area of photovoltaics which is of 
high technological interest. ‘The new 
methods allow a better understanding 
of the fundamental processes of trans-
port of electronic excitation energy and 
of charge separation for production of 
electricity,’ the scientists concluded.

Promoted through the Research Information Centre.

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their  role  depends  on  identifying 
patients who will respond positively to 
cell modification by effectively binding 
inhibitor proteins, which is where the  
EU-funded ‘Novel anti-inflammatory 
compounds for autoimmune diseases’ 
(Kinacept) project comes in.

Mitogen-activated  protein  kinases 
(MAPKs),  such  as  p38,  have  been 
researched  at  length  regarding  their 
potential  in  the  treatment  of  both 
inflammatory and neurodegenerative 
diseases. Although they are responsive 

to extracellular stimuli, these protein 
kinases can have major impacts on cell 
pathways and expression. This enables 
them to regulate a wide range of cellular 
activities and can thus be a strong ally 
in  various  disease  models.  However, 

Kinacept is investigating the chemical 
make-up of p38 inhibitor compounds 
in  efforts  to  enhance  their  applica-
tion  in  a  responsive  patient  popula-
tion. Identifying such a population is 
challenging  as  patients  vary  in  their 

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physiological conditions, stage of dis-
ease, and the ways in which the protein 
binding occurs.

Kinacept intends to solve the problem 
at all levels. 

T
The team is preparing analogues of 
th
the existing compounds, conduct-
i
ing preclinical models for various 
d
disease afflictions, examining how 
t
the compounds behave in human 
tissue  models,  selecting  a  pre-
clinical  candidate  patient  class, 
and examining p38 expression in 
irritable bowel disease (IBD) and 
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sub-
types at various stages of disease.

The project is making strides in 
segmenting patient populations, 
particularly in identifying those 
with high levels of p38a — one 

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Association studies can explain cell 
stress response

Oxidative stress is involved in ageing, Alzheimer’s, atherosclerosis, cancer, 
Parkinson’s and other complex diseases. Research into how cells protect the 
human body against it is gaining momentum. 

Phenoxigen (1), an EU-funded project  
will develop models for predicting the 
regulatory response to oxidative stress. 
Genome-wide  association  studies  are 
used  to  investigate  genetic  variations 
associated with particular diseases.

Phenoxigen  is  using  fission  yeast  as 
a  model  organism  to  gain  a  systems-
level understanding of how cells protect 
against oxidative damage, and thus get 
greater insight into the interplay of the 
three variables.

A genotype is an organism’s actual set of 
genes, while a phenotype is the visible 
expression of the character and traits of 
a  genotype.  Introduce  environmental 
influences and it is easy to understand 
how  the  three  create  complex  inter-
relationships  in  disease  expression. 

The project is working to build a genet-
ically and phenotypically diverse library 
of yeast strains with distinct stress sen-
sitivities. Using genome-wide analyses, 
the different strains of fission yeast will 
yield  information  about  how  natural 
genetic variability affects a cell’s ability 

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form of the p38 MAPK protein. Such 
data will make it possible to single out 
p38-dependent, drug-responsive indi-
viduals  who  can  then  be  included  in 
clinical trials. Kinacept is doing this by 
profiling the expression of p38 in exist-
ing patient-tissue collections, correlat-
ing protein levels of p38 kinases, and 
identifying possible ratios of inflamma-
tory markers or p38 proteins associated 
with disease.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Research for the benefit of SMEs’.  

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6072

to cope with stress and its regulation. 
This will apply at different levels and 
under various genetic backgrounds.

The  project  participants  have  already 
achieved  successes  in  RNA  sequenc-
ing, targeted proteomics, robot-assisted 
automatic  phenotyping  methods  and 
new computational methods for identi-
fying respective genetic loci. The four-
member consortium will use a multidis-
ciplinary and complementary approach, 
while ground-breaking computational 
methods will validate the mathematical 
models.

The efforts of Phenoxigen will establish 
a framework to be used for research into 
complex systems, such as response net-
works, will improve association studies 
in human cells and enhance biological 
insights into the links connecting geno-
type, environment and phenotype.

(1) ‘A systems approach linking genotype and environment to 

phenotype: oxidative stress response mechanisms in fission yeast’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Health.

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research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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will test the effects of biofortification, 
fortification  and  post-harvesting  on 
improving millet-, sorghum-, maize- 
and cassava-based foods. The project 
will do this by evaluating the genetic 
potential of staple foods for increasing 
micronutrient and anti-nutrient con-
tent, and assessing the degree of suc-
cess when introducing biofortified sta-
ple foods in local farming systems.

Instapa is also concentrating on cap-
acity  building,  information  sharing 
and reinforcing scientific and techno-
logical excellence in staple food-based 
approaches across Africa and Europe. 
The  project  has  a  regularly  updated 
website and has already issued its first 
newsletter  for  project  partners.  In 
Benin, Burkina Faso, Kenya and Mali, 
training needs assessment of small and 
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 
local food processors has started and 
initial project results have been pres-
ented at international forums.

(1) ‘Novel staple food-based strategies to improve micronutrient 

status for better health and development in sub-Saharan Africa’.

Funded under the FP7 programme Cooperation

under the theme ‘Knowledge based bio-economy.’

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6073

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Fortifying nutrition for children and 

women in Africa

An EU-supported team is testing new approaches to optimising the iron and 
zinc fortification of staple foods. Improving traditional processing methods will 
enhance micronutrient uptake and bioavailability.

In efforts to help reach the Millen-
In ef
nium Development Goals (MDGs), 
nium
the 
the EU-funded Instapa (1) project 
is w
is working to improve the overall 
health and development of women 
hea
and children in sub-Saharan Africa 
and
(SS
(SSA).  This  important  initiative 
us
uses  a  food-based  approach  to 
fighting  malnutrition.  It  is  par-
fig
ticularly  concerned  with  those 
tic
individuals who suffer from an 
in
in
inadequate  intake  of  iron,  zinc 
a
and vitamin A.

The first two years of the five-
T
y
year project were dedicated to 
t
the development and carrying 
out of various studies and pro-
cedures  in  SSA.  Over  this 
period, data gathered helped 
update recipe booklets, while 
various  dishes  have  been 
selected  to  undergo  process 
optimisation in order to boost 
nutritional intake.

To enhance retention of micro-
nutrients,  and  strengthen 
immune function and cogni-
tive  development,  Instapa 

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Targeting new malaria counter measures

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes. The Malvecblok (1) project is an 
EU-funded initiative that has investigated mosquito biology in order to 
develop new ways of controlling infection. 

Malaria  is  one  of  the  world’s  deadli-
est diseases and is caused by a micro-
organism known as Plasmodium. The 
parasite is passed from an infected in-
dividual to a female mosquito when it 
takes a blood meal and then transmit-
ted by the insect’s bite to the next host. 
One of the main transmission routes of 
the disease is a species of African mos-
quito, Anopheles gambiae.

its  interaction  with  the  Plasmo-
dium  parasite.  For  the  first  time, 
the consortium has integrated the 
e 
key aspects of A. gambiae biology, 
y, 
including its reproductive biology 
y 
e 
and  effect  on  immunity,  and  the 
transmission of Plasmodium. Scien-
n-
tists have also proved the importance 
ce 
of laboratory experiments for study-
y-
ae.
ing natural populations of A. gambiae.

The  Malvecblok  project  comprises 
European  and  African  partners  who 
are investigating mosquito biology and 

Molecular  mechanisms  that  regu-
gu-
late  Plasmodium’s  ability  to  form 
rm 
the 
spores have been studied in both the 

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laboratory and in natural populations. 
Project  partners  have  found  that  the 
genetic  diversity  of  the  Plasmodium 
parasite  enables  it  to  resist  the  mos-
quito’s immune system. This has had 
important implications for designing 
mosquito control measures.

Scientists also studied the role of poly-
morphism in genes controlling repro-
duction  and  immunity  on  mosquito 
populations and malaria transmission. 

Polymorphism is the occurrence of two 
or  more  different  forms  of  the  same 
species in a population.

The consortium has successfully devel-
oped  state-of-the-art  training  pro-
grammes for exchanges of personnel. 
The new knowledge developed by the 
project  will  help  promote  Europe’s 
scientific  competitiveness  and  have 
a  positive  impact  on  global  health 
issues.

Perfecting anaesthesia

A novel technique of measuring a common anaesthetic drug in the breath 
under surgery will help doctors gauge dosage and avoid complications. 

General anaesthesia is often necessary 
before  surgical  operations,  but  it 
remains a tricky component of surgery 
that must be monitored closely. There 
is an acute need to monitor anaesthetic 
concentrations in the patient’s blood 
stream during surgery.

The Intelsens (1) project, fully funded 
by  the  EU,  set  out  to  develop  a  new 
way to monitor the patient’s levels of 
propofol — one of the most common 
anaesthetics. The project is proposing 
a gas sensor to identify trace levels of 
the anaesthetic in the patient’s breath.

Currently, the effectiveness of propofol-
induced  anaesthesia  is  only  assessed 
according to symptoms presented by 

the  patient.  The  ability  to  monitor 
exhaled  trace  levels  of  propofol  in 
patients  does  not  currently  exist  but 
would dramatically improve the level 
of control over its administration.

The project team succeeded in devel-
oping a new optical sensing concept to 
trace levels of propofol in the breath. 
This is expected to improve healthcare 
quality by tailoring dosage to individual 
needs, while reducing clinical recovery 
times  and  postoperative  care,  along 
with associated costs.

Upon injection, propofol is transported 
into the blood stream and traces of the 
drug appear in the exhaled breath. In 
medical feasibility studies using mass 

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(1) ‘Population biology and molecular genetics of vectorial capacity 

in Anopheles gambiae: targeting reproductive behaviour and 

immunity for transmission-refractory interventions’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme  Health.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6110

spectrometry and gas chromatography 
the  volume  of  propofol  in  parts-per-
billion had previously been estimated 
but the techniques were unsuitable for 
surgery.

After many tests using ultraviolet and 
infrared rays to measure propofol, the 
team  elaborated  the  most  optimum 
strategy  for  optical  detection  of  the 
drug. The technology relied on what 
is  known  as  photoacoustic  spectros-
copy (PAS), built to measure ultravio-
let  absorption.  Laser  excitation  was 
also used in the process, and success-
ful equipment was ultimately developed 
and fine-tuned.

The project proved the concept beyond 
doubt and was accomplished through 
active  collaboration  between  physi-
cists, chemical engineers, medical pro-
fessionals and commercial medical sys-
tems developers. The results have raised 
interest in other research institutes and 
i
industrial systems manufacturers.

A follow-up project is aimed at a clin-
A
ical evaluation of the PAS technique for 
i
online propofol monitoring in patients 
o
u
undergoing  surgery.  The  novel  tech-
niques have also shown great potential 
n
beyond the current application in fields 
b
such  as  atmospheric  trace  gas  sens-
s
ing, exhaled breath disease diagnostics, 
i
industrial process monitoring as well as 
i
p
pollutant detection in the liquid phase.

(1) ‘Integrated laser sensor for exhaled anaesthetic agent 

monitoring’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme People

(Marie-Curie actions).

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6159

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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ENERGY AND TRANSPORT
EU must invest more in wind power for 20 MW 

turbines to become reality

Giant 20 megawatt (MW) wind turbines are feasible and could provide a cost-
effective way of expanding Europe’s offshore wind capacity and providing cheaper 
electricity, according to a report from the EU-funded ‘Integrated wind turbine 
design’ (Upwind) project. 

g

f

The Upwind project received EUR 14.5 mil-
lion from the ‘Sustainable development, 
global change and ecosystems’ thematic 
area of the Sixth Framework Programme 
(FP6)  and  the  study  was  published  at 
the European Wind Energy Association’s 
(EWEA) annual event in Brussels, Belgium.

The EWEA forecasts that wind energy will 
meet  26 %  to  34 %  of  Europe’s  electricity 
demand  by  2030,  with  almost  as  much 
electricity coming from offshore turbines as 
from those onshore. The latest report from 
Upwind cites that 20 MW machines could be 
one way of reaching these levels of produc-
tion by providing several times more electri-
city  at  lower  costs  than  that  produced  by 
today’s turbines.

h 
Indeed, while the report suggests that such 
-
technology is possible, it also warns that pro-
d. 
ducing such machines would be complicated. 
y 
It states that it would not be possible simply 
he 
to upscale the technology used to produce the 
n. 
5 MW turbines that are already in operation. 
ed 
Instead, it says that a new, innovative, tailored 
ur-
design would be required to make 20 MW tur-
bines work.

e is 
'Upwind found that making a 20 MW machine is 
ur-
not as simple as just upscaling today’s 5 MW tur-
eth-
bines,' commented Jos Beurskens from the Neth-
led 
erlands’ Energy Research Centre (ECN), who led 
ator 
the project along with the Upwind coordinator 
ical 
Peter Hjuler Jensen from the Danish Technical 
had 
University Risø (DTU). He said that the project had 
d be 
helped identify how such large turbines could be 
o the 
constructed. ‘We identified key innovations to the 
ated,’ 
design, materials and way the turbine is operated,’ 
noted Mr Beurskens.

Mr Beurskens believes 20 MW turbines could be in operation 
by 2020. He backs calls for more funding, adding that his scen-
ario would only be feasible providing these large — scale tur-
bines are ‘the cheapest option.’

Among the main innovations Upwind suggests for a 20 MW 
wind turbine is the need to change the layout of a wind farm by 
lowering the power output of the first row of turbines to allow 
for higher overall wind farm efficiency. Moreover, the report 
notes that the future smart wind turbine would be able to adapt 
its position and the pitch of its blade to local wind conditions. 

The study also mentions a variety of ways that blades should be 
changed to improve efficiency and make them easier to trans-
port. Finally, it highlights how technological advances would 
allow future wind turbines to be better maintained than the 
current generation of machines.

Promoted through the Research Information Centre.

http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre > search > 20593

14

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
Wind turbines examined 

to improve technology

A series of reports on wind turbines, their mechanical systems, loads and rotor 
blades will improve their construction and workings. 

The  EU-funded  project  ‘Procedures 
for testing and measuring wind energy 
systems’ (Protest) will deliver a batch 
of reports aimed at improving the con-
struction  and  day-to-day  working  of 
wind  turbines.  These  will  examine  a 
variety of subjects including present-
day procedures for developing mechan-
ical systems of wind turbines and areas 
for improvement.

Much  focus  will  be  on  design  loads, 
with reports looking at various aspects 
of this subject including whether the 
set of design load cases currently used 
is adequate for not only determining 
the global rotor and tower loads, but 
also for determining the design loads 
for  mechanical  components.  If  not, 
the project team will specify additional 
load cases. It also plans to recommend 
practices for component modelling.

All  of  the  reports  will  be  applied  to 
three  case  studies  and  findings  from 
the  case  studies  used  to  update  the 

recommended practices and proced-
ures.  Moreover,  all  results  from  the 
Protest project will be submitted to the 
relevant  standardisation  committees 
on wind energy, and they will be pub-
lished at wind energy conferences and 
workshops.

The results are intended 
to  better  specify  the 
procedures  for  proto-
type  measurements  in 
order to bring the design 
and  development  pro-
cess of mechanical com-
ponents to the same level 
l 
-
as the design and devel-
r 
opment process of rotor 
blades.

g 
The  report  describing 
wind  turbine  mechan-
n-
ical  systems,  taking  into 
to 
account the current design 
gn 
nd 
and simulation models and 
pe 
feedback  from  prototype 

The search for better offshore wind turbines

The current problems in the operation and management of offshore wind 
turbines are being investigated by EU researchers in a bid to help the Union 
meet its target of producing 20 % of its energy from renewables by 2020. 

The  EU  Council  of  Ministers  agreed 
in March 2007 that renewable energy 
would supply at least 20 % of the EU’s 
energy demand by 2020. Provided suffi-
cient emphasis is placed on research and 
technological development (RTD) and 
the marketplace, wind power — in par-
ticular offshore wind energy — should 

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make the most substantial contribution 
to this target.

However, various issues are hindering 
this  development  and  the  EU-funded 
Reliawind (1) project plans to highlight 
what  needs  to  change.  Current  off-
shore wind operation and maintenance 
(O&M) costs are too high. This means 
that high feed-in tariffs are needed to 
encourage private investors to enter the 
market. The researchers want to change 
this paradigm by encouraging offshore 
wind to be deployed with similar oper-
ational performance and O&M costs as 
onshore through better availability and 
lower energy costs.

It plans to manage this transition by stud-
ying how reliability affects the design, 

measurements,  has  been  completed. 
A  major  result,  according  to  the 
researchers, has been the development 
of a new method applied to the pitch 
system. This method contains six steps 
that should be followed to set up and 
use  a  so-called  ‘measurement  cam-
paign’ to validate or improve the com-
ponent model.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Energy.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6130

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operation and maintenance of wind tur-
bines, the results of which should lead 
to  a  new  generation  of  offshore,  and 
onshore, turbines for the market beyond 
2015. According to the research team, 
future turbines should be built using a 
modular design that is more resistant to 
environmental conditions and permits 
the replacement of components simply 
and  quickly.  Turbines  fit  for  purpose 
post-2015 should also have their com-
ponents monitored better and be subject 
to more accurate diagnosis when a prob-
lem arises. The project team also wants 
to develop preventive maintenance algo-
rithms to help anticipate failure.

(1) ‘Reliability focused research on optimizing wind energy systems 

design,  operation  and  maintenance:  tools,  proof  of  concepts, 

guidelines & methodologies for a new generation’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Energy.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6139

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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Throwing light on converting solar energy 

into hydrogen

European scientists are working to develop an artificial device to convert the 
energy from the sun into hydrogen.

By exploiting sunlight, leaves can split 
water  into  oxygen  and  hydrogen  at 
ambient conditions. During photosyn-
thesis, hydrogen (H2) is used to reduce 
carbon  dioxide  (CO2),  giving  rise  to 
various organic compounds, even oily 

compounds which can be used as fuels. 
However, a specific enzyme, hydroge-
nase,  may  lead  to  non-negligible  H2 
formation even within natural systems 
under certain operating conditions.

The  EU-funded  Solhydro-
Th
mi
mics (1)  project  is  using  this 
kn
knowledge to develop an arti-
ficial device that will convert 
fic
solar energy into H2 with 10 % 
so
efficiency by water splitting at 
ef
an
an ambient temperature.

This  device  will  comprise 
T
t
three  parts.  First,  an  elec-
trode  exposed  to  sunlight 
that will carry Photosystem 
II (PSII) — the enzyme that 
governs this process — or a 
PSII-like chemical mimic, 
which will be deposited on 
a  suitable  electrode.  Sec-
ond,  a  membrane  to  en-
able the transport of both 

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BEE writes the book on biomass assessment

Much has been made about Europe replacing fossil fuels with biomass. 
The creation and adoption of a harmonised approach to evaluating these 
valuable resources will help ensure that biomass lives up to the hype.

Biomass can be exploited to produce 
energy  in  an  environmentally  sus-
tainable manner. It comes from a var-
iety of sources and can take on many 
different forms. Unfortunately there 
remains  a  great  deal  of  uncertainty 
regarding estimates of the potential 
of biomass to power Europe.

The  EU-funded  ‘Biomass  energy 
Europe’  (BEE)  project  aims  to 
increase the accuracy and reliability 
of biomass assessments by establish-
ing  a  common  methodology.  The 
first  phase  of  the  project  involved 
reviewing a number of recent biomass 
studies.

Analysis by BEE’s multidisciplinary 
team of experts helped identify best 

practices  applied  in  different 
regions and to different types of 
biomass. This knowledge has sub-
sequently been transformed into 
two  handbooks  addressing  the 
e 
s 
topics of methods and data sources 
respectively.

The  handbooks  are  already  being 
ng
put into practice in the context of 
of 
several BEE illustration cases. The 
he 
word is also being spread to stake-
ke-
holder  and  potential  user  commu-
mu-
nities, which range from forestry to 
to 
agriculture  to  waste  management, 
nt, 
through  an  aggressive  information 
ion
dissemination campaign. Additional 
nal
exposure is also being gained by col-
laborating with another relevant EU 
research project.

electrons and protons via, for example, 
carbon  nanotubes  or  titanium  diox-
ide  (TiO2)  connecting  the  two  elec-
trodes and ion-exchange resins, such 
as Nafion. Thirdly, a cathode will carry 
the hydrogenase enzyme or an artificial 
hydrogenase catalyst to recombine the 
protons  and  electrons  into  pure  mo-
lecular hydrogen at the opposite side of 
the membrane.

The complicated tasks of enzyme puri-
fication and enzyme mimic develop-
ment,  enzyme  stabilisation  on  the 
electrodes,  membrane  development, 
and ultimately the design and manu-
facturing of a proof-of-concept proto-
type,  will  be  carried  out  by  Impe-
rial  College  London  in  the  UK,  the 
Politecnico di Torino in Italy and the 
GKSS research centre on polymers in 
Geesthacht in Germany, in conjunction 
with experts from four high-tech small 
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

(1) ‘Nano-designed electrochemical converter of solar energy into 

hydrogen hosting natural enzymes or their mimics’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Energy.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6068

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Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Energy.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6150

16

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Second-generation ethanol to be 

more sustainable

The need to ensure that second-generation ethanol from lignocellulosic 
feedstocks is sustainable is being investigated by researchers from the EU-
funded Babethanol (1) project.

EU researchers are working to make 
sure that the production of second-
generation  ethanol  is  based  on  a 
‘moderate, environmentally friendly 
and integrated’ transformation pro-
cess that will be applicable to a range 
of lignocellulosic feedstocks.

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The new process, called CES, will be 
an  alternative  to  the  current  costly 
practices, which most notably include 
pre-treatments  that  require  signifi-
cant energy, water, chemical products, 
detoxification  and  waste  treatment. 
CES will be developed and tested from 
la
laboratory to semi-industrial pilot-
sc
scale with different feedstocks.

During the first period of the pro-
D
j
ject, several lignocellulosic mater-
i
ials were selected according to their 
expected potential for conversion 
to  second-generation  ethanol. 
These  include  blue  agave  bagass 
(BAB), a fibrous residue from the 
manufacturing of tequila, palm oil 
empty fruit bunches (POEFB), a 
fibrous residue from the manu-
facturing of palm oil, corn cob, 
a  grainy  residue  from  the  har-
vest of corn and the production 
of sweet corn (CC), and barley 
straw, a fibrous residue resulting 
from the harvest of barley (BS).

Energy experts create new smart 

metering standards

Smart utility meters that help control prices and monitor consumption 
have come a long way in the EU. Now, a single set of standards is needed to 
implement this formidable technology across the continent.

Smart meters can measure gas, electri-
city  and  water  consumption  effi-
ciently and wirelessly. The technology 
is  known  professionally  as  advanced 
metering infrastructure (AMI) and has 
created  value  for  energy  consumers, 
utility companies, metering operators 
and retailers. AMI provides more ac-
curate metering and billing and facili-
tates supplier switching and helps both 
the utility companies and consumers 
control costs more efficiently. They can 
even help consumers track their CO2 
emissions, taking environmental aware-
ness to the next level.

However,  due  to  the  lack  of  unified 
standards for these systems, there is 
little  interoperability  among  them, 
which  prevents  their  adoption  on  a 
large  scale.  The  EU-funded  ‘Open 
public  extended  network  metering’ 
(OPEN) project is creating standards 
that can help to deliver interoperabil-
ity between devices produced by dif-
ferent manufacturers. It will specify a 
comprehensive set of open and pub-
lic standards for AMI agreed by rele-
vant stakeholders in the field to sup-
port  electricity,  gas,  water  and  heat 
metering.

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

The project team will also investigate 
other  potential  feedstocks  native  in 
Latin  America  and  western  Europe. 
Priority  will  be  given  to  biomasses 
with high carbohydrate content, low 
lignine  content  and  which  are  not 
competing  with  human  and  animal 
feed. The costs along the supply chain 
for  the  collection,  pre-processing, 
transportation, storage and handling 
while waiting for processing will also 
be major criteria for the selection.

The  scientists  have  likewise  been 
studying the operating conditions for 
the biomass pre-treatment, conclud-
ing  that  the  process  should  be  per-
formed  at  a  rather  low  temperature 
— lower than 100 °C — to minimise 
energy  consumption  and  cellulose 
degradation.

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(1) ‘New feedstock and innovative transformation process for a more 

sustainable development and production of lignocellulosic ethanol’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Energy.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6125

Partners in the project include leading 
worldwide  electricity,  water,  gas  and 
heat  meter  manufacturers,  as  well  as 
research institutions and large utility 
providers in Europe. The partners are 
identifying and filling the knowledge 
gaps that enable relevant industries to 
agree, implement and embrace the new 
set of international standards.

The project is taking advantage of the 
existing  international  and  European 
standards, technologies and solutions, 
adapting  them  to  the  specific  needs 
of  AMI  and  furthering  research  and 
technological  development  activities 
where necessary.

To achieve its goals, the project has in-
vestigated regulatory issues concern-
ing  AMI/smart  metering  in  Europe 
and identified the requirements of the 
various stakeholders. 

(cid:2)

17

 
 
 
 
 
It reviewed the latest different technol-
ogies and selected the most suitable for 
the development of standards. Another 

objective has been to ensure that the 
requirements of AMI/smart metering 
will be met in a cost-effective manner.

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Energy framework to tackle security of 

supply problems

The EU-funded project Secure (1) worked on a framework to address security 
of supply issues in the energy sector inside and outside the EU. 

The framework takes into consideration 
all issues related to security of supply, 
including geopolitics, price formation 
and the economic and technical design 
of energy markets inside and outside the 
European Union.

The scientists set out to develop energy 
security  indicators  for  all  the  major 
energy sources, namely oil, natural gas, 
coal, nuclear and renewables, in order 
to identify risk factors and quantify the 
EU’s exposure to volume and price risks 

Extensive  testing  is  now  being  car-
ried  out  on  newly  developed  system 
elements to ensure their viability. The 
final OPEN meter proposal for stand-
ards will then be submitted to the rele-
vant  standardisation  organisations. 
These include the European Commit-
tee for Electrotechnical Standardisation 
(Cenelec) and the International Elec-
trotechnical Commission (IEC).

In short, the new standard suite will aim 
to  remove  barriers  to  the  large-scale 
deployment of smart metering systems 
and  build  a  truly  advanced  metering 
infrastructure. The energy sector, con-
sumers and even the environment will 
stand to benefit from these standards 
for smart metering.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Energy.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6127

in the short and long terms. This includes 
the potential impacts of severe accidents 
and terrorist threats.

This  meant  evaluating  the  costs  and 
benefits  (both  measurable  and  per-
ceived) of energy security for different 
energy supply and demand scenarios to 
help policy-makers introduce the most 
appropriate institutional, political and 
industrial solutions. This includes aiding 
the European institutions and national 
governments to achieve the right energy 
mix taking into consideration energy se-
curity and sustainability requirements.

The researchers also looked at the need 
for the EU to develop stable relations with 
energy exporting countries and external 
partners, and to build efficient regulatory 
frameworks that address incentives and 
obligations for energy companies and 
consumers. They also looked into opti-
mising  the  synergies  among  Member 
States to improve security of supply, and 
defining sound public service missions to 
compensate for potential market failures.

(1) ‘Security of energy considering its uncertainty, risk and economic 

implications’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme Energy.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6199

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY 

Vital groundwork for R & D cooperation

A European-funded project is seeking to strengthen the research and development 
fundamentals in central European nations, and bring them closer to the rest of 
Europe. 

The  Czech  Republic,  Slovak  Republic  and  Poland  have 
banded together to form the ‘Central European research 
and development area’ (Cerada) with the aim of boosting 
coordination and cooperation among relevant institutions 
and R & D stakeholders.

Cerada has catalogued current R & D activities in the region 
as well as their exploitation potential. The data includes 150 
research profiles and 800 partnerships. The project part-
ners have produced strengths, weaknesses, opportunities 
and threats (SWOT) studies and documentation describing 
how the Cerada joint space will take shape.

On the skills and know-how front, Cerada 
has  developed  a  training  programme 
focused  on  R & D  project  management 
and technology transfer issues, to ensure 
professionals  are  available  for  future 
activities.

Cerada  has  laid  the  groundwork  for 
attracting  SMEs  and  major  industrial 
players to the region. And it has encour-
aged  academic  and  private-sector 
researchers to work together through 
workshops, seminars, round-table dis-
cussions  and  expert  meetings  and 
conferences.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6153

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(cid:2)

19

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For the good of the 

‘greater region’

A European network will bring fruitful exchanges for research 
and education in Saarland, Luxembourg, Lorraine and Liege.

One  invaluable  feature  of  a  united 
Europe  is  its  diversity  and  different 
approaches  to  research  and  learning. 
The EU-funded Uni-Salll (1) project rep-
resents a unified exchange and mobility 
programme for the four main univer-
sities of Saarland, Luxembourg, Lorraine 
and Liege, right in the heart of Europe.

Uni-Salll links four mobility centres in 
these  universities  to  enable  research-
ers and students to travel to other uni-
versities in the network. The aim was 
to  give  the  students  and  research-
ers  significant  opportunities  to  learn 
from their peers and exchange ideas or 
research. The initiative was linked to 

the EU’s Euraxess project 
which promotes academic 
d 
exchange, employment and 
relocation within Europe.

The project partners — i.e. 
e. 
the universities in the net-
t-
work — developed a scheme 
me 
for training visits from the 
he 
first year. The mobility teams 
ms 
from  different  universities 
es 
worked on training tools and 
nd 
content of visits from other 
her 
institutions. 

They developed sophisticated 
ated 
welcome packs which include 
ude 

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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relevant data on establishing themselves 
in the host institution and country. Uni-
Salll also printed leaflets outlining its 
mission, distributing them at various 
events and conferences, and set up a 
website in 2009.

Key visits took place during this first 
year of the project to launch the initial 
phase. The partners visited and inau-
gurated the newly renovated Univer-
sité de Liège Student Mobility Centre. 
They also visited the Euraxess Service 
Centre at the University of Nancy. The 

partners prepared the workshop for the 
Euraxess Network Conference which 
took place in Potsdam, which focused 
on structuring visits to other academic 
institutions. The term ‘greater region’ 
refers  to  a  common  area  for  higher 
education, research and innovation in 
the heart of Europe, incorporating the 
areas included in the project.

Once in full swing, Uni-Salll is expected 
to bring up to a 50 % increase in incoming 
and outgoing researchers in the greater 
region. The project will offer positive 

Montenegro plans its future of research

The University of Montenegro (UOM) has responded to the country’s 
development needs by expanding its research capacity with help from the EU-
funded Evolunimont (1) project.

Better research cooperation with Euro-
pean partners, more participation in the 
EU’s Seventh Framework Programme 
(FP7),  and  better  defined  quality 
standards, information exchange and 
research best practices are all consid-
ered important to Montenegro’s future. 
The EU-funded Evolunimont initiative  
was set up to evaluate research activ-
ities  and  improve  strategic  research 
planning at UOM.

The project has helped the university 
draw up a profile of its research cap-
ability and quality factors. This work 
enables informed decisions to be made 
when  conducting  strategic  research 
planning  that  supports  regional  and 
national economic development. The 
Evolunimont project also raises aware-
ness  of  the  importance  of  strategic 
planning among the research commu-
nity and general public.

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Recap, recount and reaping success

The ‘Mediterranean innovation and research coordination action’ 
(MIRA) project has proven successful since its inception in 2008. It has 
now become a model encouraging scientific interaction and cooperation.

The MIRA project set out to establish 
various goals to promote and encour-
age  scientific  collaboration  by  using 
innovative methods and technologies. 
The  team’s  efforts  have  been  both 
rewarding and successful.

In strengthening and coordinating 
science and technology research in 
the EU, MIRA has established a col-
laborative platform between scientific 
e 
communities  to  promote  dialogue 
and establish thematic priorities. 

socio-economic impacts as well as pro-
mote  exchange,  mobility,  education, 
travel, and the pursuit of knowledge.

(1) ‘Network of mobility centres of the Universities of Saarland, 

Luxembourg, Lorraine and Liège’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme People

(Marie-Curie actions).

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6119

The framework created by UOM has 
helped to establish standards and gain 
insights  into  better  ways  to  evaluate 
research  and  research  management. 
Information on best practice, together 
with the framework can be dissemin-
ated online and through workshops.

Success of the Evolunimont initiative 
can help promote better management of 
resources in Montenegro and increase 
the competitiveness of local SMEs. The 
project should contribute to the eco-
nomic growth of the country and help 
create jobs, thereby improving quality 
of life in the country.

(1) ‘Evaluation of research activities and strategic planning of 

research at the university of Montenegro’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities under the 

theme ‘Research potential of convergence regions’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities under the 

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 5937

theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

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research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The aim of this dialogue is to connect 
and facilitate cooperative initiatives and 
interaction between Member States and 
other political bodies.

MIRA  has  identified  areas  of  common 
interest and value, and developing groups 
which have participated in a number of pro-
jects, such as Estime (1) and Asbimed (2). As 
it moves forward, MIRA brings to the fore 
its network of research institutions and 

technology transfer services, all of which 
aim to provide an institutional basis for 
EU-MPC S & T cooperation.

MIRA has also developed a web portal 
that serves as both an information out-
let and a repository for its document 
library. Key information provided not 
only  includes  current  activities  but 
also enables users to get a better idea 
of future plans.

(1) ‘Evaluation of science, technology and innovation capabilities in 

the Mediterranean countries’.

(2) ‘Assessment of the bilateral scientific cooperation between the 

EU Member States, accession, candidate and Mediterranean partner 

countries (MPC).’

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Horizontal actions and measures in support of 

international cooperation’.  

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6008

Europe boosts expertise for the 

University of Sofia

Thanks to the work of the EU-funded Everest (1) project, an EU action plan is 
helping to boost the chemistry department of Sofia University in Bulgaria.

Considered  the  primary  institution 
of  higher  education  in  the  Bulgar-
ian  capital,  Sofia  University  is  liais-
ing  with  the  European  Commission 
to boost its expertise in certain fields. 
In particular, an EU-sponsored team 
recently evaluated the research quality 
and capability of the university’s fac-
ulty of chemistry.

A  team  of  five  independent  evalu-
ators  was  selected  by  the  European 
Commission  to  undergo  a  SWOT 
analysis of the faculty. SWOT stands 
for strengths, weaknesses, opportuni-
ties and threats. It is considered an im-
portant tool in the drive for upgrading 

and  advancing  any  organisation  or 
institution.

Several challenges were identified as 
priorities  in  the  SWOT  analysis,  in 
coordination with both the evaluators 
and  faculty  members.  Interestingly, 
one of these was the high number of 
teaching hours (180 to 360 hours/year) 
compared to the European average of 
120 hours/year. 

Moreover, lack of funding for mainten-
ance and infrastructure, as well as lack of 
equipment has been identified as major 
issues.  A  need  to  hire  highly  experi-
enced professionals was also underlined. 

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Other  issues  to  address  are  lack  of 
post-doctorate opportunities for stu-
dents and lack of international experi-
ence among young scientists.

The SWOT analysis has already been 
used  to  prepare  an  action  plan  for 
future development and improvement 
of the faculty. The final version of the 
action plan was approved by the fac-
ulty’s steering committee at the end of 
the project. The plan was even recom-
mended for dissemination among the 
other faculties of the university as a 
model of good practice. 

The independent experts issued rec-
ommendations to both the university 
management and the state authorities 
on how to improve Bulgarian science 
and  research  policy.  The  evaluators 
concluded overall that, considering the 
lack of advanced equipment and infra-
structure, research output and interna-
tional cooperation are strong, reflect-
in
ing high competence in different fields. 

O
Once  the  plan  is  implemented,  the 
likelihood of the faculty becoming a 
li
global player in its field, on par with 
gl
other  European  universities,  will 
o
b
boost Bulgarian research.

(1) ‘Evaluation of the research quality and capability of the 

faculty of chemistry, University of Sofia, 

and defining of an action plan’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Research potential of convergence regions’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

 http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search >

 offers > 5959

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
EU helps Bulgarian institute aim for 

global excellence

European advisory team ascertains the quality of Bulgaria's Academy of 
Sciences and prepares the way for it to earn a 'quality label'.

Established  in  1869,  the  Bulgar-
ian  Academy  of  Sciences  has  been 
a  cornerstone  of  higher  education 
for almost 150 years. Since the turn 
of the century the academy has seen 
a  need  to  address  newer  technol-
ogies and continually modernise its 
programmes.

It is a field that falls under the informa-
tion and communications technology 
(ICT) banner at the academy.

Evalipp has assigned an external advi-
sory  team,  set  up  by  the  European 
Commission,  to  examine  the  insti-
tute's R & D potential in this discipline. 

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With  this  in  mind,  the  EU-funded 
Evalipp project has set out to ‘Evaluate 
the Institute for Parallel Processing of 
the  Bulgarian  Academy  of  Sciences’. 
Parallel processing refers to the simul-
taneous use of more than one processor 
in computers to execute multiple tasks. 

The team is assigning a ‘quality label’ 
to  research  teams  in  certain  well-
defined ICT areas. It is also undertak-
ing a detailed ‘Strengths, weaknesses, 
opportunities  and  threats’  (SWOT) 
analysis and formulating a respective 
action  plan  to  advance  the  institute. 

EU research cooperates with southeast Asia

Collaboration between European researchers and their counterparts in 
southeast Asia (SEA) has many benefits, including new medicines, improved 
economic performance and a better quality of life for citizens.

The SEA-EU-net (1) project has been 
established to increase scientific and 
technological  (S & T)  cooperation 
between  southeast  Asia  and  Europe 

by  taking  a  strategic  and  focused 
approach. The initiative supports the 
EU’s  internationalisation  policy  by 
increasing collaborative research in the 

Ultimately,  the  ‘quality  label’  aims 
at  transforming  the  institution  to  a 
regional unit of excellence with solid 
participation in large research clusters 
and infrastructures.

Through  the  support  of  Evalipp,  the 
academy  is  now  demonstrating  to 
Bulgarian  funding  agencies  the  high 
R & D quality of the research teams. It 
is also working on attracting PhD stu-
dents and those seeking post-doctor-
ate degrees. On a global level, this is 
strengthening the position of the insti-
tution in the European Research Area, 
inv
invigorating international cooperation 
an
and encouraging participation in fur-
th
ther projects.

B
Based  on  its  expertise  with  respect 
to
to  computer  sciences  and  ICT,  the 
d
department is now operating as an 
i
interdisciplinary  centre,  further 
s
strengthening its already solid inter-
n
national  position.  This  allows  it 
to attract external (including EU) 
funding and contribute to the eco-
nomic development of Bulgaria.

In all, the advisory team has con-
cluded that the Bulgarian Science 
Academy  is  a  first-rate  scien-
tific institute operating well at an 
international level. This has been 
underlined by the number of stud-
ies the staff have published, as well 
as their participation in interna-
tional projects and organisation 
of scientific events. The future for 
the academy looks bright. 

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities 

under the theme Potential/Regional.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offer > 5958

Seventh Framework Progamme (FP7) 
through partnerships.

Activities  include  conducting  joint 
forums to provide information about 
FP7 and highlight initiatives between 
the  Association  of  southeast  Asia 
nations  (ASEAN)  and  the  EU.  Chal-
lenges  facing  the  initiative  involve 
raising  awareness  of  opportunities, 

22

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
improving connections among 
im
researchers, establishing part-
r
n
nerships  and  S & T  program-
m
mes and synchronising funding 
systems.

As well as encouraging S & T 
cooperation the project also 
provides a basis for address-
ing global challenges through 
a sustainable approach. The 
initiative also acts as a net-
work for the different stake-
holders, such as universities, 
industr y,  government, 
civil  society  and  donors, 
which strengthen research 
capacity.

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A better grasp of pollution

Pollution research in countries like Serbia and Slovenia can help the whole 
region. The EU is enhancing their capabilities and infrastructure in this field. 

Pollution  is  a  major  environmental 
concern of the 21st century. The EU 
is  taking  steps  to  support  academic 
institutions that study pollution and 
report on it.

One of these initiatives is the RESTCA-
TERCE-NIPMSS (1) project, aimed at 
reinforcing the S & T potential of two 
emerging research centres which study 
natural and industrial solid pollutants. 
The first is the Faculty of Mining and 
Geology  of  Serbia  at  the  University 

of Belgrade (UB-FMG), focusing on 
the Mineralogy-Crystallography and 
Petrology-Geochemistry  Depart-
ments. The second institution is the 
Geological Survey of Slovenia (Geozs) 
with specific focus on the Department 
of Geochemistry and Environmental 
Geology. Under the project, these insti-
tutions are establishing strategic part-
nerships with each other and with the 
Institute of Geosciences, Division of 
Mineralogy, at the University of Frank-
furt, Germany.

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research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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The  project  will  increase  bi-regional 
cooperation between SEA countries of 
ASEAN and Member States and associ-
ated states of the EU. 

(1) ‘Facilitating the bi-regional EU-ASEAN science and 

technology dialog.’

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Horizontal actions and measures in support 

of international cooperation’.  

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 5961

The project aims to strengthen inter-
national cooperation, networking and 
partnerships  among  these  institu-
tions and to set up a brain-gain envir-
onment. It is also improving material 
research standards at the UB-FMG by 
upgrading facilities, as well as exploit-
ing  RTD  results  of  both  the  Geozs 
and UB-FMG. This is set to position 
the Serbian and Slovenian universities 
as  national  and  regional  centres  of 
excellence.

Upgrading and renewing crucial facili-
ties at the UB-FMG involves the pur-
chase  of  several  new  systems  that 
measure and analyse pollution as well 
as setting up the necessary infrastruc-
tu
ture for these systems to oper-
at
ate.  Noteworthy  among  the 
new  equipment  is  the  scan-
ne
ning  electron  microscopy 
n
with  X-ray  microanaly-
w
s
sis  (SEM/EDS)  which  pro-
duces an image of a sample’s 
d
c
composition.

Reinforcement  of  interna-
tional  networking  is  also 
part  of  the  project’s  man-
date, involving staff mobil-
ity and knowledge transfer. 
In this respect the project 
organised  a  workshop  in 
October  2009  at  Geozs 
entitled  ‘Applied  envir-
onmental  geochemistry: 
anthropogenic impact on 
human  environment  in 
SE Europe’.

(cid:2)

23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The issue of brain-gain at the educa-
tion and research level was addressed 
through  a  course  on  SEM-EDS  in 
April  2009.  Another  course  was  on 
micro-analytical techniques in earth 
science  and  was  held  during  Febru-
ary  2010  in  Belgrade.  Two  young 
researchers were also employed at the 
UB-FMG to bring a fresh perspective 
to the study.

Networking and dissemination of pro-
ject results are being supported by the 
project’s website, in addition to pres-
entations  and  international  events 

(e.g. the WIRE conference in Granada, 
Spain) among other initiatives. Con-
tacts and inter-institutional exchanges 
among the project’s participants and 
with other institutions have increased 
considerably, and the project is doing 
its  part  to  support  the  goals  of  the 
European Research Area.

Lastly, human and technical research 
capabilities  at  the  UB-FMG  and 
Geozs  are  being  reinforced,  as  these 
institutions  become  leaders  in  their 
field.  A  dynamic  research  atmos-
phere, increased participation in EU 

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Civil society, where next?

In the rush to exploit the natural wealth of some regions, society has often 
overlooked the adverse consequences that may result. An independent study 
suggests it is time to adjust perspectives, find viable alternatives and listen to 
local concerns. 

The exploitation of natural resources in 
certain regions has led to the exclusion 
of wealth and benefits for some indig-
enous populations. In many cases, glo-
balisation has bypassed the concerns 
of native populations, bringing disrup-
tion,  environmental  destruction  and 
regional conflict. A new study presents 
a fresh look at regionalisation and pro-
vides an alternative approach to the ex-
ploitation of natural wealth.

The Alternative regions (1) project pre-
sents several noteworthy findings. For 
example, one supports incentives for 
the  stewardship  of  a  region’s  wealth 
by  native populations in an effort to 

ensure  long-term  goals  and  mutual 
inclusion of benefits. This would help 
to safeguard natural resources such as 
water, land and seeds.

Civil society groups in Latin America, 
for example, have tabled a number of 
key  initiatives  which  have  been  per-
ceived as counter to the economic lib-
eralisation of a region. The media have 
often portrayed such groups negatively. 
The study goes to great lengths to allay 
such fears with comprehensive research 
into finding alternatives.

Such alternatives would enable all par-
ties to overcome the socio-economic 

programmes and the valuable research 
coming out of these institutions all bear 
witness to the project’s work ethic.

(1) ‘Reinforcing S & T capacities of two emerging research centers for 

natural and industrial pollutant materials in Serbia and Slovenia’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Research potential of convergence regions’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6138

deficits embedded in the contemporary 
exploitation of regions. The study also 
stipulated alternatives for their demo-
cratic inclusion in the governance of 
such regions.

The  completed  project  has  compiled 
its findings into an 80 000-word docu-
ment, which is given extra weight via 
its conclusions that have been derived 
from both academic and field research. 
In addition, it addresses complex issues 
in  a  number  of  publications,  tack-
ling such themes as globalisation and 
security.

It  has  also  considered  economic 
regions,  such  as  the  EU,  Free  Trade 
Area of the Americas and SPP (security 
and  prosperity  partnership  of  North 
America) giving them the framework 
to  develop  a  means  to  analyse  their 
official mechanisms. It has done so in 
an effort to include civil society in the 
policy decision-making process.

Through  international  conferences, 
workshops and seminars, the research 
aims to contribute towards critical gov-
ernance studies and to bringing about 
change  through  better  governance 
principles.

(1)  ‘Alternative regionalisms in an age of 

globalization — the role of civil society’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme People

(Marie-Curie actions).

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6088

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Engaging the public in the climate 

change debate

What better place than your local science centre, museum or aquarium to 
learn more about climate change from Europe’s experts and get involved in 
finding solutions? 

A great deal of information has been 
disseminated to the public in recent 
years  regarding  the  topic  of  climate 
change.  The  challenge  is  to  move 
beyond this initial phase and actually 
get citizens to take up the fight against 
climate change.

The  objective  of  the  EU-funded  pro-
ject ‘Action on climate change through 
engagement,  networks  and  tools’ 
(Accent) is to use science centres, muse-
ums and aquaria as vehicles to engage 
the public in a dialogue with the scien-
tific community and other stakeholders. 

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Research has been conducted on the 
best  ways  to  reach  out  to  citizens, 
both young and old. A questionnaire 
has also been used to gather feedback 
about the public’s initial perceptions 
about climate change.

Consequently,  a  campaign  entitled 
‘I Do’ was designed and launched dur-
ing a high-profile event in Copenha-
gen, Denmark. The backbone of this 
campaign  is  its  website.  Interested 
individuals  and  organisations  can 
download guidelines for targeted edu-
cational  activities  from  the  site  and 
can also upload information about 
up
upcoming events in their area.

F
Feedback gathered from the Accent 
p
participants  will  help  determine 
w
which  types  of  measures  have 
p
proved most successful in encour-
aging communication and partici-
pation on this important subject.

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Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Socio-economic sciences and the 

humanities’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > 

offers > 6083

Rocky shore biodiversity

Ecologists have studied biodiversity and resilience in communities of marine 
organisms along the rocky coast of Liguria in north-western Italy to determine 
how ecosystems function and respond to disturbance. 

Better  understanding  of  the  mech-
anisms behind changes in an ecosys-
tem’s biodiversity remains one of ecol-
ogy’s greatest challenges, but is crucial 
to successful coastal management and 
conservation.

The  EU-funded  project  ‘Biodiversity 
and  connectivity  in  the  resilience  of 
coastal marine communities’ (Biocon-
nectence) has studied the ability of bot-
tom-dwelling marine organisms along 
the intertidal zone of a rocky coastline 
to recover from disturbances. 

The intertidal zone is the area exposed 
to the air at low tide but at high tide is 
underwater.

Researchers carried out a biodiversity 
survey of this zone along the Ligurian 
coast.  Biodiversity  can  be  described 
as the number and variety of animal 
and  plant  species  within  a  region. 
The  scientists  also  performed  ex-
periments across a number of sites to 
assess the role of ecosystems in influ-
encing recovery rates, thereby assess-
ing resilience.

A major review of ecological resilience 
was also undertaken in an attempt to 
marry the current differences between 
theory  and  practical  research  in  the 
field and laboratory. The project’s find-
ings have provided important data on 
environmental conditions as well as the 
abundance and diversity of rocky shore 
plants and animals.

Project  partners  also  collected  data 
on  little  studied  organisms,  such  as 
shrimp-like amphipods and syllid and 
nereid  polychaete  worms,  which  live 
among small turf algae. These samples 
required painstaking identification and 
counting in the laboratory.

Algal turf dwelling fauna have contrib-
uted to increased estimates of species 
(cid:2)

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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richness along rocky shores, compared 
to  traditional  visual  sampling  tech-
niques.  Bioconnectence’s  sampling 
strategy enabled patterns to be iden-
tified  over  a  range  of  spatial  scales, 

thereby gaining greater information on 
the spatial scale of biodiversity change 
along the coast. Recognition of the im-
portance of turf dwelling organisms in 
terms of biodiversity has encouraged 

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Women shaping science

A platform bringing together female scientists’ organisations from Europe and 
beyond has been established to counter the current under-representation of 
females in science and to make their voice heard.

Few  networks  of  women  scientists 
Europe-wide  have  the  capacity  or 
expertise  to  enter  into  the  European 
research policy debate. The EU-funded 
project ‘European platform for women 
scientists’  (EPWS)  was  launched  in 
March 2006 to act as the missing link 
between female scientists and policy-
makers. Special emphasis was placed on 
supporting existing national, regional 
and international networks of female 
scientists.

The platform started to reach out to net-
works across Europe through surveys 

and  questionnaires.  Besides  collect-
ing information about their main field 
of interest and activities, the ultimate 
objective of such efforts was to tell them 
about the EPWS and encourage them to 
join in.

In less than three years, EPWS evolved 
into  a  network  of  104  organisations 
working  for  the  promotion  of  equal 
opportunities  in  research  across  39 
countries, reaching out to more than 
12 000  female  researchers  in  Europe 
and beyond. And it continues to acquire 
new members today.

fresh studies into the utilisation of pri-
mary food resources and overall food 
web structures. A food web is a com-
munity of organisms made up of several 
interrelated food chains. Scientists are 
particularly interested in the import-
ance of detritus generated within the 
turf habitat.

Data from the Bioconnectence project 
will help policy-makers, scientists and 
conservationists improve coastal man-
agement particularly designated marine 
protected areas and their role in pre-
serving biodiversity.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme People

(Marie-Curie actions).

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6093

The  network  met  for  the  first  time 
in autumn 2006, held its first general 
assembly in 2007, enjoyed the success 
of its first annual conference in 2008 
and the latest in 2010. The conclusions 
from all meetings, stressing the need to 
include gender issues in research pro-
grammes,  were  provided  as  input  to 
public consultations of both the Euro-
pean  Research  Area  and  European 
Research Council.

As women in science are still outnum-
bered by men at all levels, the EPWS 
proposed changes to increase the par-
ticipation and advancement of female 
scientists  and  engineers.  In  addition, 
by  networking  across  institutes  and 
national borders, women have made a 
concerted  effort  to  penetrate  the  ‘old 
boy network.’

Yet,  in  spite  of  its  increasing  impact, 
high visibility at European level and the 
acknowledged crucial nature of its work, 
EPWS continues to face financial diffi-
culties. Initially funded by the Euro-
pean  Commission  through  its  Sixth 
and later the Seventh Framework Pro-
gramme, since 2009 the platform has 
been supported by its members work-
ing on a voluntary basis.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Socio-economic sciences and the humanities’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6063

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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26

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Good practice database to support 

women in research

A European project is examining strategies used to promote the presence of 
women in decision-making positions in public institutions.

The EU-funded project ‘Practising gen-
der equality in science’ (Prages) stud-
ies good practices in enhancing wom-
en’s  participation  in  science-oriented 
academic  and  research  institutions 
throughout Organisation for Economic 
Cooperation and Development (OECD) 
countries. The project determines if and 

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how gender-equality-oriented measures 
are implemented in research manage-
ment. Data has been collected and clas-
sified for the evaluation of favourable 
strategies,  at  both  national  level  and 
that of individual institutions, and made 
available for use by interest groups.

The  project  integrates  the  most  rele-
vant results in the fight against vertical 
segregation in social, professional and 
political areas and sheds light on why 
women are excluded. It also investigates 
the resistance by the scientific commu-
nity to recognise and manage the social 
and gender dynamics that drive scientific 
research.

Prages has made its database of good 
practices accessible to the public via the 
internet. This tool contains over 100 
programmes implemented in univer-
sities, research institutes and science 
and  technology-related  companies 
aimed at promoting and maximising 
female  resources.  Each  programme 

Making science cool

The main goal of the EU-funded ‘Young people and images of science on 
websites’ (Yosciweb) project has been to improve the way youngsters view 
scientists and science, and to encourage them to pursue a career in it.

Young people in Europe appear to be 
losing interest in science. Negative ste-
reotypes about scientists and the work 
they  do  are  common  among  today’s 
youth. This could have a serious long-
term effect on Europe’s scientific skills 

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base, which is crucial in maintaining a 
competitive economy in the global mar-
ket place.

Researchers  from  the  Yosciweb  con-
sortium  have  carefully  studied  web-
sites dedicated to popularising science. 
Searches of popular scientific websites 
have revealed that negative stereotypes 
of science and scientists predominate. 
A series of detailed personal interviews 
have also been conducted with young-
sters between 12 and 17 years old.

Following the findings, researchers have 
drawn up a set of recommendations for 
creating websites that would appeal to 
young people. These have included the 
use of positive images showing scientists 

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is described and the results of its evalu-
ation are given according to three main 
areas: creating a friendly environment for 
women researchers; promoting aware-
ness of the gender dimension in science 
and  technology  priorities,  design  and 
use; and supporting female leadership. 
Each record also lists factors that either 
enabled  positive  outcomes  or  led  to 
obstacles.

To help university leaders and adminis-
trators pursue the above three strategic 
objectives,  the  ‘Guidelines  for  gender 
equality  programmes  in  science’  tool 
contains 31 specific recommendations 
and 61 concrete lines of action. These 
are  accompanied  by  examples  of  best 
practice, with tools for action suggested 
and advice offered on how to increase the 
programmes’ overall quality.

The project achieved this comprehensive 
and useful body of information through 
extensive  networking,  questionnaires, 
and quality evaluation and identification 
of successful solutions. The database and 
guidelines can be downloaded from the 
project’s website.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Socio-economic sciences and the humanities’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6075

as normal people. More informative and 
accessible text, interesting pictures, and 
links to school-related tasks should also 
be used, according to the project team. 
Use of multimedia and easy navigation 
was also considered vital for a website’s 
success.

Results from the Yosciweb project indi-
cate that science websites should incorp-
orate interactive features to make the 
website more entertaining and appeal-
ing to youngsters. Yosciweb will provide 
tools and methods that can increase the 
impact and efficiency of scientific com-
munication aimed at young people.

The Yosciweb project is helping build 
Europe’s knowledge economy by encour-
aging youngsters to take a greater inter-
est in science and technology.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Socio-economic sciences and the humanities’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6103

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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search for video content, making reuse of raw footage much easier. 

Broadcasters have thousands of hours of unprocessed vid-
eos sitting in their databases. Many of these ‘rushes’ could 
be used for future work, but they often sit gathering vir-
tual dust because programme producers and journalists 
— usually working to tight deadlines — cannot quickly 
assess what footage they contain.

‘Programme makers may use only a few seconds or min-
utes out of hours of footage that they shoot,’ says Dr Oliver 
Schreer from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunica-
tions/Heinrich-Hertz-Institute in Berlin. 

‘At the moment broadcasters may do some manual anno-
tation of unedited footage but it is a very time-consuming 
process and much of the footage remains unclassified and 
therefore unused,’ continues Dr Schreer. ‘What they really 
need is automated methods to organise this material.’ 

Working  under  the  EU-funded  project ‘The  retrieval 
of  multimedia  semantic  units  for  enhanced  reusabil-
ity’ (Rushes), Dr Schreer headed a team from European 
research  institutes  and  the  technology  industry  who 
looked at how to make the reuse of this type of raw video 
content much easier.
content much easier.

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Collaborative development
The team involved professional and general users through-
out the development of the system. A first step was to 
assess the industry's current workflows and technologies, 
identifying areas for improvement and additional needs. 

‘We worked closely with Basque broadcaster ETB to build 
our  prototype,’  says  Dr  Schreer.  Once  the  system  was 
designed, user input tested and validated it. 

‘We asked journalists and archivists to investigate the dif-
ferent functionalities of the system,’ he adds. ‘This feedback 
was vital as we really wanted to provide a solution that met 
the industry's needs.’

The system analyses and categorises raw videos using 
semantic  indexing  principles. The  team  first  created  a 
series  of  algorithms  which  can  detect  certain  types  of 
objects or content in a video and then automatically gen-
erate metadata to describe it. 

For instance, the system can detect faces (which indicates 
the  presence  of  people),  regular  shapes  (which  shows 
man-made environments), different types of vegetation, 
ma
or 
or even different types of camera motion. 

It is also able to classify different types of audio such 
as speech, music, noise or silence; different types of 
water, including sea, oceans, rivers or harbours; or 
identify common objects such as buses, dogs and 
ships. And a flashlight detector can help to indicate 
press conferences or news interviews.

‘We adapted and combined existing technologies 
used in image search and retrieval for video, but also 
created some aspects from scratch, such as the cam-
era movement detector and the 3D shape detector,’ 
he says.

Another  set  of  algorithms  used  the  generated 
metadata to cluster and summarise rushes' content, 
creating groupings of content that aid browsing 
and further processing. 

The prototype system that they developed automatically 
analyses and labels video footage, making the indexing 
and cataloguing much simpler. Meanwhile they also cre-
ated a user interface to improve the management and 
searching of large multimedia repositories.

‘Current video databases will present individual images 
from videos but the user has limited ability to understand 
and analyse footage. We wanted to create tools that can 
present video content in a much better way,’ he says.

‘The metadata model at the heart of the system was quite 
novel,’ says Dr Schreer.

Fast retrieval
A key consideration of the project was to make a user 
interface that can enable users to access video content 
much more efficiently. ‘Searching through footage takes a 
lot of time for journalists, so we wanted to give them new 
tools to enable them to explore video databases more 
quickly and help them to reuse content,’ says Dr Schreer.

28

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
The  Rushes  system  features  a  series  of  browsing  and 
visualisation interfaces ranging from simple text-based 
searches  based  on  keywords,  to  semantic  and  visual 
browsing. The technological concepts behind these tools 
are the system’s grouping of content based on hierarch-
ical clustering, semantic context matching and relevance 
feedback. 

‘The system takes the temporal structure of the footage 
into  account,  telling  the  user  much  more  information 
about how it is organised and helping to put it into con-
text. This enables the users to find relevant content and 
the specific parts of it they want much more easily and 
quickly,’ he adds.

Future outlook
The team demonstrated the prototype that they devel-
oped under the project, which lasted from February 2007 

to  July  2009,  at  a  number  of  major  technology  events 
across Europe including the CEBIT telecommunications 
fair in Hannover. ‘The feedback that we got was good, with 
the industry thinking this could be really helpful,’ says Dr 
Schreer. 

Individual project partners are now further developing 
certain aspects of the prototype, with some lasting co-
operation continuing. ‘The project results will be seen in 
commercial products which should help broadcast profes-
sionals,’ he predicts. Rushes received funding from the EU's 
Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) for research.

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Central Europe embraces ICT

Regional and cross-border cooperation are vital to the health of the European 
information and communication technologies (ICT) sector. With this in mind, 
Central Europe is transforming itself into a new ICT hub.  

The  Central  European  or  Centrope 
region  —  comprised  of  the  Czech 
Republic, Hungary, Austria, and  Slo-
vak  Republic  and  —  has  an  ambi-
tious plan in mind to fortify the ICT 
sector  and  technology  transfer.  The 
EU-funded  ‘Centrope  ICT  technol-
ogy transfer project’ (CITT) project is 
mapping the region to build a virtual 
ICT community. This involves an ICT 
cluster study, a technology transfer tool, 
strong web presence and business sup-
port measures.

The  CITT  action  plan  has  already 
been  articulated,  with  a  clear  vision 
for a future regional ICT cluster. Based 
on  in-depth  market  research  and 

benchmarking  of  clusters  in  Europe, 
an ICT network strategy and business 
plan  for  the  first  years  of  operation 
have been completed. The ICT cluster 
has been organised with central head-
quarters in Vienna, alongside regional 
subsidiaries and local associations. The 
plan describes in detail how the clus-
ter will be set up in three phases over a 
period of three years.

The  project  has  also  established  an 
active weblog (noweurope.com) repre-
senting a lively platform to disseminate 
results and ideas, as well as to network 
with SMEs and researchers. The weblog 
enables  readers  to  provide  feedback 
easily and be involved in the project.

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Promoted through the CORDIS Technology Marketplace.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6114

On a more professional level, the CETEX 
R & D  platform  (www.cetex.org)  has 
been  developed  as  yet  another  arena 
for exchange, appealing to high-level 
contributors and consumers. Contrib-
utors include owners of technologies 
or  know-how,  while  consumers  are 
defined as those looking for technol-
ogy or know-how. Research results and 
innovations, demands for cooperation, 
development of ideas, patents, research 
results and technology requests are also 
part of the CETEX platform. The web-
site was tested, fine-tuned and made 
available in all four Centrope languages, 
as well as in English.

Overall,  the  project  has  made  great 
strides in marketing and disseminating 
its initiatives, while important analysis 
of ICT-related best practice examples 
for technology transfer in Centrope has 
been prepared. In March 2010, the ‘First 
ICT  clustering  &  technology  trans-
fer conference in Centrope’ gathered 
around 100 experts from the region in 
a lively discussion in Vienna. Among 
other events, the conference was seen 
as the culmination of a successful pro-
ject that spurred important technology 
exchanges in the region.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6098

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Grid computing links Europe and China

Efforts to improve international research cooperation between China and the 
EU received a boost thanks to the work of grid-computing specialists in both 
regions.  

Research  is  an  increasingly  global 
endeavour. In 2007, an EU-funded pro-
ject set out to improve the link between 
European  and  Chinese  computing 
grids and enable researchers to carry 
out joint research in data-heavy fields 
like  aerospace,  pharmaceuticals  and 
meteorology.

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The first challenge of the EU - funded 
project, called Bridge (1), was to make 
the software systems that manage the 
European and Chinese grids compatible. 
The  European  grid  infrastructure 
(GRIA) and Chinese CNGRID (GOS) 
provide comparable services, but were 
organised differently.

The Bridge team worked to bridge the 
main gaps between GRIA and GOS by 
building a new software superstructure 
to access them and tap their capabil-
ities. The system included new gate-
ways into the two grids plus a shared 
platform to manage overall workflow, 

access needed applications and trans-
late higher-level commands into steps 
that each grid could carry out.

In  doing  so,  the  team  addressed  key 
interoperability issues, such as policy 
management (trust relationships, se-
curity policies, access rights), resource 
and capacity management 
(providing services under 
different  constraints), 
and data processing and 
storage.

The project set up three 
joint application show-
cases, using distributed 
workflow  and  data 
access technology. The 
aerospace simulations 
proved  tougher  than 
exp ec ted,  accord-
ing  to  the  partners, 
because different parts of their simu-
lations took place in different research 
centres. Optimising the flow of work 
from centre to centre was therefore a 
huge challenge. Despite this, the Bridge 
team set out to determine optimal wing 
flap parameters to maximise lift and 
minimise noise during aircraft landing. 
And they succeeded.

The enormous amounts of data in me-
teorology, the second of Bridge’s show-
cases, also posed a challenge. However, 
by the end of the two-year project, the 
researchers had achieved their goal of 
linking major meteorological databases 

EU research connects with Latin America

Building on a strong research community in Latin America, the EU stepped 
up collaboration and dialogue with the region through a dedicated strategic 
cooperation project. 

The European project ‘Widening IST net-
working development support — Latin 
America’ (Winds-La) brought together 
a  multinational  and  multi-stakeholder 
community of European and Latin Amer-
ican researchers, policy-makers and other 
research actors to find common areas for 
collaboration specifically in ICT research.

The project helped to gather key issues 
and  actors  for  cooperation  between 
the  two  sides.  A  number  of  confer-
ences were organised which helped to 
disseminate information on European 
research  and  development  (R&D)  to 
Latin American stakeholders including 
private industry and civil society.

using a hybrid grid infrastructure based 
on GRIA and GOS.

New  drug  development  is  time-con-
suming and costly. Powerful computers 
can help by simulating the processes of 
the body in search of potential matches 
between  millions  of  small  molecules 
and  proteins  that  play  vital  roles  in 
disease-causing organisms. A molecule 
that binds strongly to a key protein has 
the potential to be turned into a potent 
new drug.

Bridge researchers set out to integrate 
four  different  ‘docking  tools’  —  pro-
grams that calculate bonding between 
a small molecule and a particular pro-
tein — which were running in distrib-
uted  locations  in  Europe  and  China. 
They were able to test millions of mol-
ecules for promising candidates against, 
for example, malaria or the H5N1 bird 
flu virus. This successful four-pronged 
approach produced promising results, 
according  to  reports,  and  the  Bridge 
infrastructure has already been adopted 
in Egypt to target the malaria parasite.

The Bridge team was eager to present 
these promising results at various con-
ferences in China and Europe. The Chi-
nese partners, in particular, have organ-
ised many workshops, where industrial 
partners  from  the  relevant  Chinese 
industrial sectors participated.

(1) ‘Bilateral research and industrial development enhancing and 

integrating grid enabled technologies’.

Funded under the FP6 programme IST 

(Information society technologies).

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 5912

The project, spanning two years, organ-
ised three major research conferences 
in  Latin  America,  two  seminars  in 
Europe and a final conference in Brus-
sels to boost dialogue and cooperation 
between the regions.

Winds-La  built  on  existing  research 
communities  in  Latin  America  and 
highlighted the priorities of the EU’s 
Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Activities included providing informa-
tion on European and Latin American 

30

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
An open consultation pro-
cess  was  achieved  which 
both  sides  hoped  would 
lead to a consensus-based 
roadmap for future R & D 
collaboration.

The consortium behind the 
project included seven part-
ners from three Latin Amer-
ican countries (Argentina, 
Brazil  and  Mexico)  and 
three European countries 
(Belgium, Germany , and 
Spain).

American research partners in the EU. 
Furthermore, the standing of Winds-La 
as a research hub in Latin America has 
increased markedly since its launch in 
2007. This was best seen from the direct 
involvement of other countries in the 
region that were not in the consortium 
such as Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecua-
dor, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The upwards trend of Latin American 
research actors taking part in FP7-ICT 
was also largely attributed to the success 
of Winds-La.

The  project  has  produced  tangible 
results,  raising  the  profile  of  Latin 

Funded under the FP6 programme IST 

(Information society technologies).

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 5946

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research projects, as well as their results 
and the actors involved. Winds-La’s col-
laboration services also provided a plat-
form to put prospective actors together. 

IT technology to build new 

EU-Brazil partnership

Due to its ongoing success in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), Brazil 
and Europe have established further initiatives to sustain and foster even 
greater cooperation under FP7. 

The EU-funded BB.Bice (1) project is 
the  product  of  previous  FP6  efforts 
and the continued involvement, inter-
action  and  cooperation  of  Brazilian 
interests with deliverables established 
within  FP7  actions.  In  particular,  it 
aimed to foster and enhance science, 
technology  and  innovation  between 
Brazil and Europe.

The  BB.Bice  looked  to  disseminate 
information  and  established  a  com-
munication area that developed several 
actions.  A  primary  achievement  was 
a  website  focusing  on  the  scientific, 
technological and entrepreneurial com-
munities. It hosts news of FP7 calls, as 
well as events, meetings, and informa-
tion on international co-operatives.

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BB.Bice can measure its success in a 
number of ways, including the devel-
opment  of  a  service  area  providing 
assistance and a guide to participat-
ing in Brazilian co-ops. It also hosts a 
document area, an electronic newslet-
ter and a well-developed search feature 
for partnerships, to name but a few.

The newsletter is most important as 
it provides a number of added bene-
fits.  First,  it  broadens  awareness  of 
Brazilian interests in the FP7 actions, 
and brings credibility to BB.Bice’s ac-
tivities. It is also disseminated in Por-
tuguese  and  English  with  a  special 
emphasis on FP7 calls. In addition, it 
ensures a continued flow of informa-
tion with three other Latin American 
t
countries with which Brazil has bilat-
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eral cooperation agreements.

With  such  success  already  under  its 
W
belt,  continued  development  holds 
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great promise for expanding European 
a
and Latin America's interests.

(1) ‘New Brazilian bureau for enhancing international cooperation 

with the European Union’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Horizontal actions and measures in support of 

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6124

international cooperation’.  

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Improved weather forecasts

Clouds have been studied as part of an EU-research project that has developed 
an improved model for weather forecasts. 

Interaction between clouds, aerosols and 
solar radiation from the sun in the form 
of  heat  and  light  is  a  major  source  of 
uncertainty in predicting weather and cli-
mate conditions. Clouds can be affected 
by a range of factors including aerosols, 
which are fine solid particles or liquid 
droplets suspended in the atmosphere.

Thanks to satellite technology it is pos-
sible  to  monitor  clouds  continuously 
from space. Researchers from the EU-
funded Joint-assimilation (1) project have 
used existing satellite data on aerosols, 
clouds and precipitation to gain greater 
insights into cloud processes. The infor-
mation has been applied to a state-of-
the-art weather research and forecasting 
(WRF) model.

The model has enabled better analysis 
of the interaction between clouds and 
large-scale processes and improved ways 

of studying cloud structures and their 
properties. The impact of aerosols on cli-
mate and weather has also been assessed 
using this analysis.

Integration  of  microwave  brightness 
data into the model has increased the 
accuracy of precipitation forecasts for 
up to two hours, but made only a minor 
difference to long-term forecasts. This is 
because variables such as winds, relative 
humidity  and  temperature  cannot  be 
deduced from satellite microwave obser-
vations alone.

Nevertheless, scientists have found that 
an  improved  understanding  of  pro-
cesses within clouds can have a signifi-
cant impact on precipitation forecast-
ing. Therefore, a simplified procedure 
has been devised to identify the condi-
tions for aerosols most consistent with 
observed infrared radiation data.

EU creates tsunami early warning system

EU-funded researchers have helped develop an early warning system that will 
protect vulnerable communities from tsunamis and avoid future terrible losses 
of life such as that suffered in Indonesia and Sri Lanka in December 2004, and 
more recently in Japan.

EU  support  for  the  research  came 
from  the  EU-funded  project  ‘Dis-
tant early warning system’  (DEWS), 
which received just over EUR 4 million 
from the ‘Information society technol-
ogies’ (IST) thematic area of the EU’s 

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32

Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to 
develop an advanced interoperable tsu-
nami early warning system for strong 
early warning capacities.

When  a  1 600  kilometre  (km) 
segment of the Indian tectonic 
seg
pl
plate  jolted  downward  off  the 
coast of Indonesia six years ago, 
co
it provoked one of the strongest 
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earthquake  ever  measured  (a 
e
magnitude of 9.2) and tsunami 
m
waves  30  metres  high.  The 
w
resulting devastation brought 
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home  the  urgent  need  for  a 
system to give populations at 
risk from a tsunami as much 
warning as possible.

Germany was the first to take 
action with a joint German-
Indonesian tsunami detec-
tion  and  warning  system 
(GITEWS). 

Models developed by the Joint-assimila-
tion project can be used to give more ac-
curate forecasting of storms and resulting 
flash-floods, thereby improving the qual-
ity of life of EU citizens.

(1) ‘Joint assimilation of satellite aerosol, cloud, and precipitation 

observations in numerical models to support climate 

and hydrologic applications.’

Funded under the FP7 specific programme People

(Marie-Curie actions).  

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6164

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The  EU  decided  to  take  this  innov-
ation further by funding and launching 
DEWS in 2007 to provide protection to 
all Indian Ocean nations.

‘It’s  almost  impossible  to  give  num-
bers, but if DEWS had been in place 
in December 2004 a very large num-
ber of lives could have been saved,’ said 
Andreas  Küppers  of  the  Helmholtz-
Zentrum Potsdam, German Research 
Centre  for  Geosciences  (GFZ),  the 
researcher in charge of DEWS.

The project is now being used to detect 
and analyse seismic events in the Indian 
Ocean, quickly assess their potential to 
unleash  a  tsunami,  and  warn  at-risk 
countries through a network of detec-
tors including broadband seismome-
ters, land and ocean-surface based GPS 
instruments,  tide  gauges,  and  ocean 
bottom pressure control devices.

The  data  generated  by  these  instru-
ments is streamed via communication 
satellites to a central station in Jakarta, 
Indonesia for processing. SeisComP3 
software, developed by the GFZ, rapidly 
determines the magnitude and location 
of a seismic event.‘The former systems 

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
needed 11 or 12 minutes to detect a 
signal and locate the source,’ said Pro-
fessor Küppers. ‘The same can now be 
done in four minutes.’

Once  the  system  detects  an  earth-
quake powerful enough to create a tsu-
nami, it begins to analyse and model 
the risk of a tsunami. However, even 
with powerful computing capabilities, 
it would take too long to model a tsu-
nami in real time. 

So  DEWS  researchers  use  libraries 
of  temblors  of  different  magnitudes 
and  source  locations,  coupled  with 
detailed simulations of the waves they 
would create along the Indian Ocean 
coastline, to determine which areas are 
at risk.

In addition to this time challenge, the 
DEWS team has also had to cope with 
the  difficulties  of  having  to  warn  20 
countries in a multitude of languages, 
many of whom do not see eye-to-eye 
politically. ‘It is a multilingual system 
that can distribute different messages to 
different people in different languages,’ 
Prof. Küppers pointed out. ‘It was even 
more difficult politically to get all the 
players together at one table, but we are 
well on our way to overcoming those 
problems as well.’

Researchers  are  now  turning  their 
attention to Europe and countries there 
at  risk  from  tsunamis,  namely  those 
bordering  the  Mediterranean  and 
the northeast Atlantic. They are even 
advocating the development of a new 

Europeans target better web access for people 
with disabilities

For people around the world the internet has become the first port of call 
for most information. However, researchers in Hungary believe that much 
of the information posted on the web does not meet the demands of users 
with disabilities. Writing in the International Journal of Knowledge and 
Web Intelligence, the research team explains how theoretical and practical 
dimensions of screen structure.

One of the main aims for posting on 
the internet is to reach as many people 
as possible. That usually means achiev-
ing a prominent position in the search 
engine results pages, providing legible 
and attractive enough information so 
that potential readers desire to read it 
and to ensure that it meets the demands 
of users with disabilities. Researchers 
from the University of Szeged believe 
that only if all these criteria are fulfilled 
does a website become truly accessible.

Medical  informatics  expert  Erzsébet 
Forczek  explained  that  access  to  the 
internet  has  become  essential  for  all 
members  of  society.  Physical  access 
is  a  prerequisite  but  the  availability, 
retrieval and processing of information 
on the web must be supported by infor-
mation technology.

‘Information  on  the  web  is  global  in 
the  sense  that  it  can  be  seen  or  used 
by anyone around the world,’ said Ms 
Forczek. However, she pointed out that 
for information to become global, it is 
not sufficient merely for it to appear on 

the web.‘It has to be searchable, and its 
contents identifiable and interpretable, 
since immediately available informa-
tion is crucial in economic and busi-
ness  life,  in  education,  in  research, 
in  healthcare  and  in  virtually  every 
other sphere of life,’ 
she suggested.

‘We have to consider 
how disabled people 
can access the infor-
mation  available  on 
websites and how they 
can utilise it,’ she said, 
adding that ‘by provid-
ing additional physical 
accessibility,  we  can 
n 
extend  the  group  of 
f 
end-users.’

Ms Forczek investigated 
ed 
how  well  the  needs  of 
of 
the visually impaired are 
re 
addressed  by  websites, 
es, 
especially those offering 
ng 
multimedia.  Similarly, 
rly, 
she found that those with 
with 

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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profession — that of the ‘early warning 
engineer’ — to offer maximum protec-
tion to vulnerable communities.

‘If you want to tackle these problems 
properly, you have to take the time and 
effort to involve everybody,’ said Prof. 
Küppers.  ‘So  we’d  like  to  see  people 
acquiring a new full-scale profession 
and be able to take care of the whole 
early warning field.’

Promoted through the Research Information Centre.

http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre > search > 20313

hearing impairments are often excluded 
from audio media. ‘The most important 
principle of accessibility to a web page 
is to provide alternatives for the differ-
ent media applications and their navi-
gating  functions,’  she  said.  Similarly, 
software that addresses the issues faced 
by people with special needs is essential 
for accessibility.

Ms Forczek explained that aspects of 
web design that must be considered for 
ensuring as wide an accessibility as pos-
sible include, in particular, a syntacti-
cally and semantically correct web page 
that can be parsed correctly by assistive 
software. 

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The use of style sheets to allow a page to 
be rendered fully in alternative formats 
is also important, as is the clarification 
of the meaning of any acronyms used.

Other  important  aspects  to  improve 
accessibility  include  the  provision  of 
alternative texts for non-textual infor-
mation,  such  as  images  and  audio 
files,  the  provision  of  synchronised 

alternatives to time-dependent media, 
like audio applications or videos, and 
the  provision  of  full  navigation  via 
the  keyboard  so  that  mouse  control 
is not a prerequisite for accessing the 
information.

Ms Forczek suggested that in addition to 
these considerations metadata must be 
used correctly to make the information 

Beyond the X-ray

Safer, cheaper and more accurate imaging technology promises to speed up 
medical diagnosis and treatment in a wide variety of applications. 

X-rays  have  long  been  popular  for 
taking  images  of  bones  and  internal 
organs, but the more advanced tech-
nology of positron emission tomogra-
phy (PET) represents a more precise 
imaging method. PET is a medical im-
aging technique which produces an ac-
curate three-dimensional image of the 
body’s internal workings. However, it is 
much more costly than X-rays (around 
EUR 300 to 500 per scan) and requires 
substances called radioactive pharma-
ceuticals  or  radiopharmaceuticals  to 
operate.

In modern imaging techniques, radi-
opharmaceuticals — which fall within 
the  field  of  nuclear  medicine  —  are 
used effectively as tracers in the body. 
Tracers are materials used to track or 
define substances or systems in human 
organs, from the thyroid and lungs to 
the liver and blood.

The  EU-funded  ‘Radiochemistry  on 
chip’ (ROC) project plans to design a 
micro-device that can synthesise these 
radiopharmaceuticals more readily and 
cost-effectively. 

more readily available through a search 
engine. ‘Consideration of these issues is 
inevitable, since they all help to reach a 
wider circle of end-users,’ she said.

Promoted through the Research Information Centre.

http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre > search > 20393

The project is working on the design, 
fabrication and implementation of such 
a device by bringing together chemists, 
academics and engineers via an inter-
disciplinary approach.

The  planned  device  would  involve  a 
micro-fluidic  architecture,  designed 
to  manipulate  fluids  on  a  very  small 
scale. This requires the use of emerging 
technologies under the field of micro-
reactors (usually below 1 mm in size) 
and micro total-analysis systems (which 
shrink chemical laboratory processes 
on to a microchip). This is bound to 
improve  efficiency  and  safety  of  the 
micro-device under development.

By  the  end  of  the  project,  the  team 
pla
plans to have a fully working device 
based  on  a  micro-fluidic  modular 
ba
concept.  The  ROC  prototype  will 
co
be able to synthesise several tracers 
be
m
more  quickly  and  efficiently  than 
ev
ever  before,  lowering  the  prices  of 
PET scans significantly. The whole 
P
discipline of PET scanning will be 
d
s
simplified  and  more  readily  avail-
a
able, facilitating laboratory research 
in  this  respect.  Most  importantly, 
i
safety  standards  —  such  as  radi-
s
ation levels — are set to improve as 
a
w
well. With this new micro-device, 
the next generation of PET imaging 
and scanning is on the horizon.

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34

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Nanoscience, nanotechnologies, 

materials and new production technologies’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > 

offers > 6180

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
 
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INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES

Estonia reaches for the stars

A little country with a lot of potential, Estonia is proving its worth in the area 
of space research. The results represent a true example of successful European 
integration. 

European collaboration in space research is essential if the 
continent’s space endeavours are to grow. While nations 
in  old  Europe  such  as  Britain  and  France  have  shaped 
European space research for many years, newer European 
nations like Estonia have much to contribute.

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Through the EstSpacE (¹) project, funded almost entirely by 
the EU, the research potential of Estonian scientific insti-
tutes in the field of space research is being added to exist-
ing European expertise. The project is also enhancing col-
laboration across Europe, particularly with initiatives of the 
European Space Agency, while intensifying space research 
in Estonia. The achievements speak for themselves.

Six high-level researchers were recruited by Estonia’s Tartu 
Observatory bringing with them a wealth of knowledge. 
The researchers belong to different fields such as remote 
sensing  (ground  and  vegetation  mapping),  radiation, 
metrology, radio electronics, optoelectronics, and pho-
tometry of stellar objects. The initiative has also raised the 
number of visiting researchers, lecturers, contacts, work-
shops and conferences.

disseminating  scientific  information  were  organised  in 
2008-10 and one large scale conference ‘Boosting the com-
petitiveness of business and science: satellite services in 
modern society’ in May, 2010. European collaboration has 
resulted in two new projects funded by EU. The first is the 
‘Strategic partnership for improved basin-scale water qual-
ity parameter retrieval from optical signatures’ (Waters), 
with the Tartu Observatory coordinating a consortium of 
six European partners. The second is ‘Electric sail propul-
sion technology’ (ESAIL), again with the Tartu Observatory 
being one of the partners in a consortium led by the Finn-
ish Meteorological Institute. Both projects fall under the 
Seventh Framework Programme for research.

Ongoing networking is also taking place with the ‘Euro-
pean supersites for atmospheric aerosol research’ (Eusaar), 
as well as Finnish-Estonian cooperation in atmospheric sci-
ences and forest ecology (Smear-Gaw). This is significantly 
advancing the integration of Estonian research potential 
into the European community. Worthy of note as well is 
Estonia’s participation in the ‘Nordic aquatic remote sens-
ing’ initiative, or Nordaquarems.

Meanwhile, the Tartu Observatory is maintaining the Aer-
onet measurements in Tõravere, within Estonia. Aeronet 
stands for the ‘Aerosol robotic network of ground-based 
sun photometers’ and measures atmospheric aerosol prop-
erties. The observatory is also taking advantage of the Aer-
onet facilities for research.

Ultimately, all these cooperation mechanisms and achieve-
ments are acting as a model to integrate other European 
countries  into  the  fold  of  space  research,  underlining 
Europe’s primacy in the field.

(1) ‘Expose capacity of the Estonian space research and technology through high quality partnership in Europe’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities under the theme ‘Research potential of convergence regions’.

Within the framework of the project, seven international 
scientific workshops on space research/technology and 

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities under the theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 5960

Watch this space!

Coming up in issue 4 of research*eu results magazine a special dossier on 
‘Innovative modes of transport: where would we be without cars?’

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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Interview

Working together to reach beyond 
the stars

Regional research cooperation throughout the EU is an endeavour that not 
only promotes the very best in science and research; it also stimulates the 
common pursuit of knowledge. Space research is one such area. 

Space has no discernible boundaries 
and  represents  a  cogent  example  of 
scientific  collaboration  both  within 
the  EU  and  throughout  the  world. 
The  international  space  station  is  a 
testimony of that collaboration and its 
extraordinary end result. 

Working together and defining com-
mon goals is an expansive illustration 
of the European Research Area (ERA). 
It binds together the brain power of 
the  brightest  luminaries  and  those 
curious enough to attempt to unravel 
the  nature  of  the  universe.  Indeed, 
space  has  long  mystified  human-
ity. Mapping the stars helped sailors 
thousands of years ago navigate wide 
distances across the oceans. Constel-
lations helped explain through myth 
and story-telling the mysteries of life 
and  nature.  Parallels  can  be  drawn 
today.  The  mysteries  of  nature  and 
the universe remain elusive and cap-
tivating.  But  the  search  for  answers 
could in turn help us navigate through 
the labyrinth of issues of global pro-
portions  —  climate  change,  energy, 
health... 

Our featured scientist in this issue is 
the director of Tartu Observatory in 
Estonia which has a long tradition of 
excellence  in  astronomy  and  space. 
Dr Anu Reinart is an expert in remote 
sensing and is leading the EU-funded 
‘Expose capacity of the Estonian space 
research and technology through high 
quality partnership in Europe’  (Est-
SpacE) project. She is also a former 
Marie  Curie  Fellow,  has  led  other 
research  projects  in  Sweden  and  in 
Estonia, and has published more than 
30 peer-reviewed articles. 

Dr  Reinart  speaks  to  research*eu 
results  magazine  and  discusses  how 
partnerships and science can help give 
the European Union the leading edge 
in space research and exploration. 

to 
•  Your  project,  EstSpacE,  seeks  to 
ch 
enhance  the  potential  and  research 
in 
capacities  of  Estonian  scientists  in 
d
space research and technology, includ-
ing remote sensing. Can you explain 
how this works in practice? 
Tartu Observatory has been for over 
200 years the leading centre of astro-
nomical  research  in  Estonia.  It  also 
has an internationally acknowledged 
competence in remote sensing of the 
natural environment. Tartu Observa-
tory's research strategy brings together 
scientific and public goals. This en-
ables us to respond to the challenges 
that  modern  technologies,  political 
situations and economic needs create. 
EstSpacE is a three-year project that 
started in 2008. Its general objective is 
to enhance the potential and research 
capacities  of  Estonian  scientists  in 
space and atmospheric research, space 
technology  and  remote  sensing  by 
supporting  and  mobilising  human 
and material resources and develop-
ing strategic partnerships with other 
research groups in Europe. 

The  added  value  of  the  project  to 
Estonia is that the partnerships enable 
us to focus better on future research 
efforts. It also supports closer cooper-
ation  by  Estonia  with  the  European 
Space  Agency  (ESA).  And  finally  it 
facilitates  the  participation  of  Esto-
nian  scientists  in  the  Global  moni-
toring for environment and security 
(GMES)  programme,  as  well  in  the 
most relevant activities in the Euro-
pean Research Area and global space 
community. 

EstSpacE has definitely increased inter-
national  collaboration.  New  updated 
research infrastructure and complemen-
tary competence of researchers has led to 
broadened  research topics — studies in 
the modern physics of astroparticles, appli-
cations for water remote sensing, devel-
opment of specific space technology, etc. 

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Dr Anu Reinart

We  have  proved  our  competence 
through  twinning  workgroups  and 
collaboration  with  key  research  and 
industry partners in Europe via inter-
national networks such as Eusaar, Aer-
onet, Nordbaltsat, and Noraquarems 
(see page  35).  

It  has  also  been  important  that  we 
have been able to extend sources for 
financing.  EstSpacE  has  motivated 
researchers  to  more  actively  prepare 
proposals  at  the  international  level. 
So  far,  this  has  resulted  in  two  new 
FP7  projects:  ‘Strategic  partnership 
for improved basin-scale water qual-
ity  parameter  retrieval  from  optical 
signature’ (WaterS) and ‘Electric solar 
sail technology’ (ESAIL), as well as two 
more  contributions  as  an  end-user; 
namely  ‘Downstream  observatory 
organised by regions active in space’ 
(Doris  Net)  and    ‘High  resolution 
freshwater monitoring’ (Freshmon). 

New  ideas  and  information  about 
European  space  research  and  tech-
nology has been distributed at seven 
workshops  and  seminars,  two  sum-
mer  schools,  and  one  large-scale 
space downstream conference called 
‘Boosting the competitiveness of busi-
ness and science: satellite services in 
modern  society.’  These  events  have 
brought together more than 700 inter-
national researchers,  public author-
ity representatives and entrepreneurs. 
The events helped to disseminate RTD 
results on the international stage and 
enhance the general public’s knowledge 
of the science behind it. For our part, 
we  raised  awareness  about  Estonia’s 
achievements  in  space  research  and 
culture to the ERA by participating in 
more than 70 scientific events.

36

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
•  The  European  Research  Area  has 
several ambitious objectives.  One of 
them is to guarantee the free circu-
lation of researchers, knowledge and 
technology throughout Europe. Can 
you explain how your collaboration 
with  other  EU  researchers  has  con-
tributed to this?
We  wish  to  stimulate  young  people 
to pursue careers as researchers. Cur-
rently there are several young students 
preparing their PhDs on the topics of 
space  science  or  earth  observation.  
We  directly  contribute  to  post-doc 
research but we also provide unique 
opportunities  for  young  research-
ers.  We  help  them  to  start  a  career,  
broaden and deepen their scientific 
horizon,  and  acquire  other  mind-
sets.  We  also  help  them  to  work  on 
the practical application of research 
results  through  cooperation  with 
SMEs or other research centres.

Secondments and a range of network-
ing  opportunities  have  made  trans-
national knowledge-sharing and new 
research training possible, as well as 
strengthening and enriching interna-
tional cooperation. Indeed, many joint 

scientific publications and workshops 
focused on the process of knowledge 
sharing and skills development.

Estonian space research and technol-
ogy capacity has been acknowledged 
by  ESA  and  the  Estonian  govern-
ment.  In  2010,  the  ‘Plan  for  Euro-
pean cooperating states’ (PECS) was 
signed and 12 projects have already 
started this year. Tartu Observatory is 
carrying out two of them in cooper-
ation  with  the  EU-funded  projects 
‘Services based on optical radiometry 
applications for aquatic environment’ 
(Oraqua)  and  ‘Emission  line  star 
classification  in  the  Gaia  catalogue’ 
(GAIA-ELS). 

• Fifty years ago, the Russian cosmo-
naut Yuri Gagarin embarked on his 
pioneering flight into space. Today, an 
international space station is orbiting 
earth. What do you think European 
space research will have achieved in 
the next 50 years?
This is really a tricky question. When 
Arthur  C.  Clarke  wrote  his  famous 
Space  Odyssey  series  over  50  years 
ago  he  actually  described  a  lot  of 

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technology we use today — telecom-
munication,  large  flat  screens  with 
moving images or mobile phones. So, 
maybe the right answer to the question 
‘what will be achieved in the next 50 
years?’ has already now been written in 
some science fiction book!

Seriously,  I  believe  that,  as  one  of 
the  most  technology-intensive  sec-
tors, space research will help us find 
new energy solutions and more sus-
tainable  use  of  natural  resources. 
Thanks  to  operational  global  moni-
toring  systems  we  will  be  able  to 
understand the earth’s environmental 
changes  and  adapt  our  activities  to 
improve the outcome.  I also hope that 
new propellants and relevant technol-
ogies will make it possible for humans 
to go beyond the solar system and take 
exceptionally  long  journeys  for  the 
benefit of research and satisfy our curi-
osity. Hopefully, we will have the know-
ledge to understand what dark matter 
really is and the role of dark energy in 
the universe. But most likely this quest 
will just throw up new riddles to solve. 
I guess space is a never-ending source 
of inspiration!

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• In your opinion, what are the main 
challenges  that  European  space 
research funding has tackled? 
The European Union is developing its 
own space policy to ensure its inde-
pendence  in  this  important  field  of 
knowledge  and  to  shore  up  the  eco-
nomic  benefits.  Space  research  and 
technology  development  must  sup-
port this goal. Global challenges like 
our  changing  environment,  energy 
efficiency issues and rapid population 
growth are forcing countries to look 
for new and innovative technologies. 
Space technology has a significant role 
to play in meeting these challenges.

 Space research is widely acknowledged 
as one of the most innovative fields of 
science, and plays an important role 
in economic growth, innovation and 
entrepreneurship.  And of course space 
science and technology enables space 
exploration and improves our under-
standing of the nature of the universe. 

Space inspires the young 
generation to start careers 
in science and technology, 
which is one of the most 
important  factors  for 
sustainable development 
of the economy. 

Space activities provide invaluable tools 
for environmental monitoring and pro-
tection,  security,  crisis  management, 
communication and navigation. Space 
applications can also provide a signifi-
cant  pull  for  terrestrial  technologies, 
e.g. advanced intelligent systems. Space 
inspires  the  young  generation  to  start 
careers in science and technology, which 
is one of the most important factors for 
sustainable development of the economy. 

The  telecommunications  segment 
represents  the  largest  and  the  most 
mature  downstream  segment  of  the 
space  sector.  It  comprises  two  main 
components: telecommunications and 
broadcasting, with a distinction being 
made between fixed and mobile ser-
vices. Evolution of digital technologies 
over the last few years has led to the 

convergence of the satellite telecom-
munications services sector with grow-
ing requirements in terms of flexibility 
and bandwidth.

The use of satellites for location and 
navigation purposes is rapidly expand-
ing, although only one system, the US 
global positioning system (GPS) is fully 
operational  today.  Developed  by  the 
US Department of Defense to maintain 
troop contact and position, GPS con-
sists of a network of at least 24 satellites 
launched in medium earth orbit and 
regularly replenished and modernised. 
European civil system Galileo is also 
well underway. It is expected to com-
plement and compete with GPS from 
2012. By combining the two systems, 
users will be ensured better reliability 
than could be achieved with either sys-
tem alone. 

Earth observation is one of the earli-
est applications of satellites. Commer-
cial earth observation satellites are still 
relatively new. Technology has played 
an important role in the development 
of earth observation systems. In par-
ticular, advances in optical and radar 
sensor  technologies  have  made  pos-
sible the development of satellites that 
are  smaller,  cheaper  and  more  agile. 
The EU started the GMES programme 
to combine space infrastructure, mod-
elling and contact measurements into 
one  user-driven  system.  The  output 
will be distributed to users via services. 
This is the European contribution to 
the ‘Global earth observation system 
of systems’ (GEOSS).

•  What  drew  you  to  this  field?  As  a 
schoolgirl, did you ever imagine you 
would be doing this?
Estonian space history is impressive. 
We just celebrated the 200-year anni-
versary of Tartu University’s Observa-
tory.  History  of  professional  astron-
omy in Estonia is rich in achievements 
and  traditions.  Astronomers  from 
Tartu  have  played  an  important  role 
in  understanding  distance  scales  in 
the  universe  and  in  shifting  cosmo-
logical  paradigms.  Wilhelm  Struve 
was  among  the  first  in  the  world  to 
measure the distance to the star Vega 
in 1835/6. In 1922, Ernst Öpik showed 
that the Andromeda nebula is another 
galaxy outside the Milky Way.  He also 
realised that thermonuclear reactions 

are  the  energy  source  of  the  stars. 
In the 1970s, Jaan Einasto with his col-
leagues discovered dark matter and a 
regular large-scale structure of the uni-
verse. These are real-world and well-
known discoveries! 

Also in the 1970s, the scope of astron-
omy in Estonia was extended  to space 
research  by  building  and  launching 
instruments  for  atmospheric  studies 
onboard Soviet spacecraft and space 
stations. I was seven years old when 
American astronauts first studied the 
moon in detail. 

Physics  was  my  first  choice  of  study 
after  I  graduated  from  high  school. 
I  continued  with  a  PhD  thesis  on 
environmental physics. I did my post-
doctoral studies at Uppsala University, 
Sweden,  with  an  EU  Marie  Curie 
Individual  fellowship.  I  worked  on 
a  project  with  the  Swedish  National 
Space  Board  that  led  me  to  research 
satellite remote-sensing applications.  
I then returned to Estonia to continue 
my career at Tartu Observatory with 
a  Marie  Curie  reintegration  grant  in 
2004.  That  was  followed  by  several 
national  and  international  projects 
until 2010 when I become director of 
the Tartu Observatory. 

Truly, I did not dream about this, but 
the work I am doing now is very chal-
lenging.  Joining the European Union 
in 2004 opened up new prospects for 
space  activities  in  Estonia.  In  2010, 
Estonia  signed  the  PECS  agreement 
with ESA.  

The  present-day  space  research  and 
technology community in Estonia con-
sists of about 70 researchers, a major-
ity of specialists working at the Tartu 
Observatory. However, we have close 
collaboration  with  Tartu  University, 
Tallinn Technical University, Estonian 
University of Life and we are very open 
to international partners. 

38

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
All eyes on the skies

Creating a pan-European network of observatories and astronomy related 
facilities is bound to bring more valuable results and observations about the 
universe than ever before.

Europe  is  a  large  continent  that  can 
observe the skies from different angles, 
and  its  experts  continually  come  up 
with myriad observations, hypotheses 
and discoveries related to astronomy. 

However, the size of the continent, its 
varying systems and different strengths 
also means there is no single unified 
community or network to coordinate 
these valuable efforts.

The  ‘Optical  infrared  co-
Th
ordination  network  for 
or
as
astronomy’ (Opticon) pro-
je
ject is an EU-funded ini-
tiative  that  is  planning 
ti
to  combine  the  power 
t
of  diverse  initiatives  in 
o
t
this  field.  It  is  bringing 
together  national  and 
international  agencies 
and organisations which 
fund,  support,  develop 
and  operate  Europe’s 
facilities for optical and 
infrared  astronomy. 
This  applies  to  both 
night-time or classical 
astronomy,  as  well 
as  daytime  or  solar 
astronomy.

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Opticon is providing a framework that 
encourages joint action to improve the 
quality of Europe’s facilities and train 
new  astronomers,  especially  those 
from central Europe. It is focusing on 
modern research methods, developing 
innovative technologies and enhancing 
research quality. Opticon will ultimately 
help Europe to outline future develop-
ments in astronomy and map a strategic 
plan for the continent’s research infra-
structure in this field for the future.

Efforts are well under way to achieve 
these  objectives,  building  an  active 
consortium to tackle the different ini-
tiatives involved. Such a plan ensures 
that astronomers are able to carry out 
advanced research on state-of-the-art 
facilities. It will also allow astronom-
ical communities in Europe to develop 
scientific  plans  for  their  own  future 
facilities. With this, the full potential 
and synergy of European players in the 
sector will take astronomy on the con-
tinent to unprecedented levels.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities 

under the theme Infrastructures.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6128

A Russian doll of science and technology

Numerous opportunities to collaborate with Russia on science and technology 
are drawing the EU closer than ever to this multi-faceted, research-minded 
federation. 

The portal offers comprehensive infor-
mation about the Russian S & T land-
scape as well as funding information 
from  the  EU  and  Russia  for  imple-
menting joint scientific projects. 

Russia has been a formidable leader in 
science and technology (S & T) since 
the  early  days  of  space  exploration, 
atomic  energy  and  computer  tech-
nology. Both Europe and Russia can 
benefit from exchange of knowledge 
and collaboration in different areas of 
S & T by combining their knowledge 
and enhancing collaboration.

The Bilat-Rus (1) project, funded by 
the EU, is enhancing the bilateral S & T 
partnership with the Russian Federa-
tion. The project aims to contribute to 
the sustainable implementation of the 
‘Common space on research, educa-
tion and culture’, an initiative set up 
between the EU and Russia in 2003. 
Bilat-Rus is also working on strength-
ening the participation of Russia in the 

EU’s  Seventh  Framework 
Programme.

The  project  aims  to  facili-
tate  information  dissem-
ination,  raise  awareness  on 
n 
joint initiatives and enhance 
e 
-
future  EU-Russian  cooper-
ation across all S & T themes. 
s. 
It is creating a knowledge base 
e 
for emerging issues related to 
o 
le 
sustainable cooperation, while 
stoking  existing  and  upcom-
m-
ing  joint  thematic  EU-Rus-
us-
& T 
sian  working  groups  on  S & T 
cooperation.

The project has already establi-
bli-
shed a new web portal on joint S & T 
& T 
eu).
initiatives  (www.st-gaterus.eu).

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A  database  of  key  Russian  institu-
tions has been developed together with 
another EU-funded project and a user-
friendly tool has been implemented to 
this effect. 

The  content  of  the  web  portal  fea-
tures results of Bilat-Rus initiatives, as 
well as those from other EU-funded 
projects targeting Russia. The portal 
holds a valuable database of so-called 
‘programme  owners’  and  a  partner 
search  tool.  Relevant  policies,  pro-
grammes and projects are also listed 
on the website, as well as a calendar 
of events, a newsletter and other im-
portant databases.

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Beyond the website, many important 
initiatives  have  been  established.  An 
advisory hotline between Russian and 
EU National Contact Points (experts 
who  help  with  EU  programmes  and 
matters) has been set up. In addition, 
an expert meeting on success factors for 
Russian participation in the EU RTD 
framework programme was organised 
in May 2009, in Moscow. Good prac-
tices of the EU-Russian joint working 
groups have also been defined.

and a series of events and workshops. 
More initiatives for the future have been 
outlined with the European Commis-
sion. The relationship between Russia 
and the west has changed forever, and 
for the better, and Bilat-Rus is one solid 
example of how both sides can reap the 
rewards.

(1) ‘Enhancing the bilateral S&T partnership with the 

Russian Federation’.

Ongoing and upcoming activities under 
this project include regular updating of 
the web portal, a quarterly newsletter 
about EU-Russian S & T cooperation, 

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Horizontal actions and measures 

in support of international cooperation’.  

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6099

Appetite for innovation

The University of Novi Sad (UNS) contains Serbia’s only scientific-
research unit that specialises in feed technology issues. Lack of 
investment however has meant that researchers struggle to access EU 
level projects. 

An  EU-funded  project  aims  to 
address  this  and  enable  Serbian 
researchers to realise their potential 
and actively participate in cross-bor-
der initiatives. The project is also of 
significant strategic importance to the 
region: the agro-food sector is one of 
the most important economically, and 
is one of seven national R & D priori-
ties defined in Serbia’s scientific and 
technological  development  strategy 
2009 to 2014.

The  Feed-to-food  (1)  project  was 
initiated  following  the  signing  of 
the memorandum of understanding 
associating  Serbia  to  the  EU’s  Sev-
enth Framework Programme (FP7). 
Its  principal  goal  has  been  to  rein-
force research potential at the Centre 
for Feed and Animal Products, part of 
the University of Novi Sad’s Institute 
for Food Technology.

The project, which is due for comple-
tion this year, has already achieved a 
number  of  positive  results,  and  the 
project partners say they have many 
reasons to be satisfied with the pro-
gress made so far. Research capacities 
have been improved, networking with 
EU  research  institutions  has  been 
increased and researchers now have 
solid experience of taking part in EU 
research.

Furthermore, in the scope of pro-
ject’s  activities,  important  EU 
research institutes have accepted 
the UNS as a participant in FP7 
projects, and the project partners 
are  ready  to  form  new  research 
consortia and to make new propos-
als. Good communication with pro-
ject beneficiaries has been achieved, 
, 
d 
something which will be continued 
following project completion.

Reinforcement of the research cen-
n-
gh 
tre has also been achieved through 
p-
the  purchase  of  pilot  plant  equip-
ment  for  activities  such  as  milling, 
ng, 
mixing, drying-cooling and vacuum 
um 
la-
coating. A new research pilot plant la-
boratory was ceremonially opened on 
29 September 2009 by professor Viktor 
Nedovic, assistant minister for interna-
tional cooperation and European inte-
gration in Serbia’s Ministry of Science 
and Technological Development. The 
laboratory is now capable of providing 
training and research opportunities to 
scientists, researchers and students in 
the feed and food industry.

The centre has also been able to employ 
additional  researchers,  a  technician 
and one experienced researcher. These 
developments,  say  the  project  part-
ners, will significantly strengthen their 
research potential. The project partners 

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are also now highly proactive, and are 
active members of the European Com-
mission’s food cluster initiative.

The  Feed-to-food  project  can  there-
fore already be seen as a success. The 
project has enabled project partners to 
reinforce their own research capabilities 
and has helped to integrate Serbia into 
the European Research Area.

(1) ‘Reinforcement of Feed-to-food Research Center at Institute for 

Food Technology of the University of Novi Sad.’

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme ‘Regions of knowledge’.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 5965

40

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
 
Innovative bio-packaging that can 

replace plastics

An ongoing European research project is developing new environmentally 
friendly materials that can replace oil-based plastic films used in packaging for 
food and other goods. 

According  to  recent  figures,  over  16 
million  tonnes  of  flexible  packaging 
are used each year across Europe. The 
majority is used for food and ends up 
in rubbish bins after a short life span. 
The environmental impacts are signifi-
cant — much of this material does not 
degrade when put into rubbish dumps, 
whilst other waste treatments, such as 
incineration,  release  pollutants  into 
the earth or water. And because many 
of these materials are plastics derived 
from fossil fuels, they also add to cli-
mate change.

A  team  of  researchers  is  developing 
new  paper-based  materials  that  can 
compete with plastic films and other 
flexible packaging in terms of perform-
ance and cost, but with much lower en-
vironmental impacts.

‘The  flexible  packaging  that  we  are 
developing is recyclable,’ says project 
coordinator Dr David Guerin from the 
Centre  Technique  de  l'Industrie  des 
Papiers, Cartons et Celluloses in Gre-
noble, France. ‘The new materials will 
biodegrade  in  less  than  six  months, 
compared  to  the  200-year  period 
required  for  materials  such  as  poly-
ethylene, and will be made from more 
than 70 % bio-based materials.’

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With partners from research institutes 
and the food and packaging industries, 
the team has developed a number of 
new techniques using renewable ma-
terials reinforced with nano-particles 
and innovative coatings. ‘The required 
properties of flexible packaging are very 
demanding. We needed to be able to 
match the barrier properties of plastic 
films with regards to grease, water, oxy-
gen and water vapour,’ says Dr Guerin. 

Technical details
The combination of the different novel 
approaches can produce low-weight — 
50 to 90 g/m2 — materials with differ-
ent levels of barrier properties. The first 
step to making low- and medium-bar-
rier papers was to make a paper-based 
substrate with significantly improved 
barrier  properties  in  combination 
with water-borne coatings made from 
renewable materials including different 
forms of starches.

Researchers in the EU-funded project 
Flexpakrenew (1) also proved the con-
cept of applying micro-fibrillated cellu-
lose (MFC) at the very early steps of the 
paper formation. They established that 
this addition resulted in a significant 
decrease in the air permeability of the 
material, which effectively means better 
protection for goods contained in the 
p
pa
packaging.

‘T
‘The  dimensions  of  MFC  fibres  are 
about  100  times  smaller  than  trad-
ab
itional  cellulosic  fibres,’  notes  Dr 
iti
Guerin.
G

In  order  to  create  a  suitable  water-
In
borne coating, the team assessed dif-
b
ferent starches, hemicelluloses, ben-
f
tonites  (sedimentary  clay  derived 
t
from volcanic ash) and plasticisers 
(organic chemicals that make mater-
ials more flexible, resilient and easier 
to handle). They demonstrated the 
potential of the hemicellulose xylan, 
which is derived from the Birch tree, 
and defined the optimum combin-
ations of these different elements.

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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Surfaces
To produce higher barrier films, the 
team looked at two innovative surface 
treatments which can be applied to the 
new reinforced materials: solvent-free 
chemical grafting and vacuum coating. 
Chromatogenic grafting is a chemical 
process  which  allows  the  molecular 
grafting  of  cellulosic  materials  with 
long chain fatty acids.

‘We found that [grafting] significantly 
reduces  the  sensitivity  of  the  coated 
layer to water and water vapour. We 
were able to get perfect water repel-
lence  and  a  very  low  water  vapour 
transmission rate,’ says Dr Guerin.

Meanwhile progress was made in using 
vacuum  coating  to  further  improve 
gas barrier properties, which is very 
demanding due to two factors. Mater-
ials must be very smooth and remain 
unchanged  when  put  in  a  vacuum 
chamber. ‘We had encouraging results 
in overcoming these factors,’ he adds.

Another focus has been on develop-
ing an antibacterial coating that can 
prolong the life of food, without deliv-
ering unacceptable quantities of pre-
servatives.  They  have  tested  the  use 
of preservatives in a starch layer that 
would be in contact with the food, as 
well as a sustained release mechanism 
using preservatives embedded in cap-
sules. The team is now refining these 
preservatives, especially ensuring that 
they  will  comply  with  food  contact 
regulations.

Next steps
Assessing  the  environmental  bene-
fits  of  the  new  materials  has  been 
important  throughout  the  project 
which began in September 2008. The 
researchers used life-cycle assessment 
techniques  to  look  at  the  impacts 
throughout  the  production,  use  and 
disposal  of  the  new  materials.  This 
enabled them to select the most sus-
tainable  materials  and  compare 
them with the current materials used 
commercially. 

‘We are confident that we have fulfilled 
the environmental aims of the project,’ 
says  Dr  Guerin.  ‘The  second  gener-
ation of our demonstrators were much 
more  efficient  than  the  first,  but  we 
still need to improve them.’

(cid:2)

41

 
 
 
 
Work is still needed on improving the 
compatibility between the material lay-
ers and reducing the number of coats 
needed. ‘At the moment we need three 
water-based  coatings  applied  in  the 
papermill, but the maximum possible 
with  industrial  machines  is  two,’  he 
adds.

Into  the  final  year  of  the  three-year 
project, the focus is now on optimis-
ing the pilot technologies for use at a 
commercial level. ‘Our overall goal is 
to  show  that  there  is  a  great  interest 

for industrialists to invest in such tech-
nologies,‘ says Dr Guerin. ‘Our project 
concentrates on flexible packaging, but 
because the required properties are so 
demanding,  the  developments  made 
here can be easily transferred to other 
paper grades and applications.’

With  the  ubiquitous  nature  of  pack-
aging and the huge quantities of ma-
terials  it  uses,  the  progress  made  in 
this project has the potential to make 
a  significant  improvement  to  overall 
sustainability.

Hunting space neutrinos below ground

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A new pan-European operated underground facility is set to isolate and study 
neutrino activity, a phenomenon normally observed in space. Astrophysics 
is the study of physics in the universe, covering a wide range of topics from 
celestial bodies to temperature and density beyond our planet. One important 
part of astrophysics is neutrino astronomy, which requires sophisticated 
infrastructure, and which ironically is usually located underground. 

an  international  multi-
a
purpose  facility  to  study 
p
n
neutrino  astrophysics. 
L
Laguna is a collaborative 
project involving 21 part-
ners, including academic 
institutions  from  Den-
mark,  Finland,  France, 
Germany, Poland, Spain, 
Switzerland  and  the 
United Kingdom.

The  consortium  also 
includes  industrial 
partners  specialised 
in  civil  and  mechan-
ical  engineering,  as 
well as rock mechan-
ics. Together, they will 
assess  the  feasibility 
of such a facility and 
corresponding infrastructure needed 
to create a deep underground neutrino 
observatory including the latest neu-
trino detectors and covering anywhere 
from 100 000 to 1 000 000 m3. Such 
a facility can provide new and unique 
scientific opportunities, and very likely 
lead  to  fundamental  discoveries  in 
the field of particle and astroparticle 
physics.

In  addition,  Laguna  is  involved  in 
upgrading and building existing under-
ground  laboratories  to  study  a  rare 
process called proton decay, as well as 

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A  research  team  plans  to  ascertain 
whether Europe has the technical and 
human capability to lead future under-
ground science by building the next-
generation  underground  neutrino 
and rare event observatory. Key ques-
tions in particle and neutrino physics 
can only be answered by constructing 
new giant underground observatories 
to search for rare events and to study 
sources of terrestrial and extra-terres-
trial neutrinos.

The EU-funded Laguna (1) project is 
examining the possibility of building 

The  Flexpakrenew  project  received 
EUR 3.28 million in funding from the 
EU’s Seventh Framework Programme 
(FP7)  for  research.  For  more  details 
on the project and its partners, visit: 
www.flexpakrenew.eu.

(1)  ‘Design and development of an innovative eco-efficient low-

substrate flexible paper packaging from renewable resources to 

replace petroleum based barrier films’.

Promoted through the CORDIS Technology Marketplace.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6115

terrestrial, solar and atmospheric neu-
trinos. Matter and anti-matter will also 
be studied in conjunction with CERN.

Laguna is studying underground infra-
structures and engineering at different 
sites, and has already eliminated some 
that were not ideal. The study is looking 
at socio-economic, environmental and 
political issues as part of the site selec-
tion process.

The scientific impact of the project is 
also  being  examined,  and  dissemin-
ation  of  information  is  underway.  A 
website for the general public has been 
developed and Laguna was presented 
in  various  workshops,  continuing  to 
attract and involve scientists worldwide.

Basic  designs  for  the  detector  tanks 
have  been  devised  and  many  engin-
eering studies regarding the tanks have 
been undertaken. Laguna is also iden-
tifying  potential  safety  and  environ-
mental risks for liquids, such as argon, 
to  be  used  and  transported  through 
tunnels.

Once completed, the project will greatly 
contribute to the enhancement of the 
European  Research  Area  (ERA)  by 
strongly supporting new ways of doing 
science in Europe.

(1) ‘Design of a pan-European infrastructure for large apparatus 

studying grand unification and neutrino astrophysics.’

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme Infrastructures.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6158

42

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

 
 
 
Optical alternative to silicon for 

future electronics

Silicon chips are struggling to meet the increasing need for computing power. 
Photonic crystals are one of the solutions European researchers have explored 
to make optical chips a reality. 

Thanks  to  their  organised  structure, 
photonic crystals can conduct light in 
a particular wavelength, stopping other 
frequencies from interfering with the 
correct functioning of the crystals.

As early as the 1980s, researchers were 
able to replicate such photonic crystals 
which could be used in the electronics 

industry. However, there was a down-
side.  They  proved  to  be  extremely 
expensive to build.

The EU-backed PHAT (1) project was 
able to develop a photonic crystal that 
is much easier and cheaper to fabri-
cate, and ready to be integrated into 
silicon chips.

But integration of photonic 
Bu
cr
crystals  into  silicon  chips 
is not easy. There are dif-
is
ficulties related to the size 
f
of the optical components 
o
w
which  tend  to  be  much 
larger than their electronic 
counterparts.

The  PHAT  research-
ers combined two- and 
three-dimensional pho-
tonic crystals. By doing 
so, all-optical computer 
chips could shrink to a 

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fraction of the size of standard silicon 
processors.

Specifically, artificial opals were assem-
bled  out  of  10  silica  beads  with  the 
diameter of just a few hundred nanom-
eters, bringing together both two- and 
three-dimensional crystals. The PHAT 
project ended in 2007 with the success-
ful fabrication of the first three-dimen-
sional photonic crystal integrated with 
waveguides,  which  channel  light  to 
where it is needed.

The  crystal  fabrication  method  was 
patented by two of the project partners, 
the Tyndall National Institute, Ireland 
and the Technical Research Centre of 
Finland. This is a significant advance in 
photonic crystals, and brings us a step 
closer to all-optical chips for computers 
and communication systems.

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(1) ‘Photonic hybrid architectures based on two- and 

three-dimensional crystals’.

Funded under the FP6 programme IST 

(Information society technologies).

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6166

Keeping up to date on nanotechnology safety

A powerful database and website on the safety of nanotechnology, complete 
with an elaborate search engine, will keep the public and other stakeholders 
well informed about the latest developments. 

Nanotechnology  is  all  the  rage  for 
European  industry  and  promises  of 
advanced products, technologies and 
solutions in many fields are slowly but 
surely becoming a reality. On the other 
hand, while cautiously welcoming its 
benefits, society is sometimes uncom-
fortable  with  nanotechnology,  ques-
tioning how nano-particles affect our 
health and environment, for example.

The EU-funded NHECD project, which 
stands for ‘Nano-health-environment 
commented  database’,  is  an  initia-
tive  which  addresses  these  concerns. 
The project team wants to use recent 
advanced  research  results  to  build  a 
novel  and  useful  automatic  database 

regarding the impact of nano-particles 
on health and the environment.

The database should then allow faster 
extraction of data on nanotechnology, 
featuring  online  tools  developed  by 
European experts in toxicity. The pro-
ject  team  has  proven  skills  in  infor-
mation  technology,  particularly  in 
databases, data warehousing and text 
mining, in addition to being well versed 
in the toxicity of nano-particles.

NHECD  is  based  on  text  mining 
methods and algorithms that improve 
upon traditional searching (e.g. author 
names,  journals,  keywords)  to  more 
sophisticated  searches  (e.g.  whether 

the paper contains graphs). It zooms 
in  on  specific  information  extracted 
from the scientific paper itself, sifting 
through a large amount of documents. 
The unique features of NHECD should 
allow  different  user  groups  to  easily 
access, locate and retrieve information 
relevant  to  their  needs.  The  creation 
of the NHECD knowledge repository 
will enrich public understanding of the 
impact of nano-particles on health and 
the environment. It will support safe 
and responsible development and use 
of engineered nano-particles, offering 
a useful instrument for implementing 
relevant regulatory measures.

In more detailed terms, the database 
will  serve  many  communities  from 
regulators  to  scientists,  companies, 
new activities and the general public 
concerned  with  all  aspects  of  nano-
particle toxicity. The database and the 
internet  site  will  also  provide  expert 
(cid:2)

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

43

 
 
 
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cooperation and information exchange 
in this evolving domain, where toxicity 
should be considered in advance.

Th
The  system  is  being  hosted 
an
and maintained by an expert 
so
software  company  based  in 
E
Europe. It includes a robust 
c
content management system 
(
(CMS) as its backbone, con-
t
taining raw data, scientific 
papers and relevant publi-
cations.  It  also  includes  a 
mechanism  for  automat-
ically  updating  its  know-
ledge  repository,  yielding 
an  ever-growing  collec-
tion  of  data  on  environ-
mental and health effects 
following  exposure  to 
nano-particles.

more. The beta version is already being 
tested,  and  links  with  experts  in  the 
field such as scientists and regulators 
have been established. The database and 
website are ready for the next phase, 
communicating the project's purpose 
and moving on to the official launch.

The final database will be manually and 
automatically updated with informa-
tion that can be accessed through the 
internet by the public and by interested 
organisations. Information gathering, 
in-depth  analyses  and  presentations 
will keep the database updated and pro-
vide an easy-to-use interface for com-
plex queries.

The  project  has  made 
much  progress  so  far, 
with  the  creation  of  a  sophisticated 
backend system, an advanced search 
system,  elaborate  content  and  much 

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Nanoscience, nanotechnologies, materials and 

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6196

new production technologies.’

Europe in the laser limelight

A new laser facility will beam Europe into technological primacy, creating the 
‘flash camera’ of the molecular world. 

Laser  technology  is  playing  an  im-
portant part in research, touching on 
many important fields from medical 
imaging to national defence. One tech-
nology, the free electron laser (FEL), 
is considered particularly versatile (or 
tuneable), opening up a whole range 
of applications. About a decade ago, 
an  advanced  type  of  FEL  laser  was 

launched, called the single-pass free 
electron laser. Research centres world-
wide  were  keen  to  explore  this  new 
discovery and to apply it in different 
ways.

The  EU-funded  IRUVX-PP  (1)  pro-
ject now intends to harness this power 
in a new European facility, known as 

Eurofel.  Several  European  countries 
are supporting the building of national 
FEL facilities which are now joining 
forces to create and operate Eurofel. 
This facility will offer complementary 
sources  and  instrumentation  that  is 
unsurpassed in the world.

Eurofel partners will integrate national 
FEL facilities into a distributed Euro-
pean facility to fully exploit the com-
plementary features and expertise of 
individual member facilities and max-
imise benefits for all involved.

The consortium is also setting up pol-
icies to facilitate access to this facil-
ity,  offering  world-class  service  in 
response to the needs of the research 
community. The goal is to make opti-
mum  use  of  existing  resources  and 
fully exploit the complementary exper-
tise and features of individual member 
facilities.

The project has already reviewed and 
defined the core activities of the future 
Eurofel consortium and prepared com-
prehensive reports for establishing the 
joint facility. This includes a detailed 
description of its mission, envisioned 
activities,  budget  estimates,  internal 
procedures and more.

In  more  scientific  terms,  the  new 
FEL  technology  combines  wide  and 

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

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44

 
 
 
 
 
 
continuously  tuneable  wavelength 
radiation with ultra-short pulses and 
the coherence of lasers, yielding much 
more  power.  It  covers  the  terahertz, 
infrared, visible and ultraviolet spec-
trum  up  to  hard  X-rays,  producing 
extremely short (femtosecond) flashes 
of light with unprecedented intensities 
at short wavelengths. In other words, 
FELs  are  the  flash  cameras  for  the 

molecular  world,  adding  the  femto-
second timescale to nanometre micro-
scopy.  This  can  be  used  to  observe 
intricate  phenomena  and  opens  the 
door to numerous scientific disciplines 
ranging  from  the  physics  of  atoms, 
molecules and clusters to plasma phys-
ics, chemistry, nano-sciences, mater-
ials and biomaterials. The results are 
expected to lead to the development 

Robotic machinery advances 

European industry

Robot-like machines, more accurately known as mechatronic equipment, might 
be the answer to keeping European industry competitive. 

If Europe wants to reinvent itself as an 
industrial powerhouse and counter the 
migration of industry to less expensive 
manufacturing countries, it must remain 
at the cutting edge of technology. One 
way to achieve this is to upgrade equip-
ment and machines used in industrial 
production  processes.  The  relatively 
recent emergence of mechatronic con-
cepts,  which  combine  active  devices 
with a certain degree of intelligence in 
mechanical structures, enables industry 
to improve industrial performance.

The EU-funded ‘Production dependent 
adaptive  machine  tool’  (Chameleon) 
project  is  currently  investigating  an 
advanced approach to exploiting intel-
ligent devices that are integrated into 
machine tools. The project team wants 
to equip machine tools with a variety of 
active intelligent devices to create more 
flexible configurations for production 
processes and increase performance.

Parameters for these devices could be 
set automatically and intuitively, with 

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of  novel  technologies  ranging  from 
micro-electronics to energy.

(1)  ‘Preparatory phase of the IRUVX-FEL consortium’.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Capacities

under the theme Infrastructures.

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > offers > 6129

different options that activate equipment 
in a smarter way. As a result, production 
machines  could  then  be  rapidly  con-
figured according to different and even 
conflicting conditions or performances. 
For example, hard steel requires a rigid 
machine  for  roughing  and  cutting, 
whereas aluminium requires high-speed 
machining using light, highly dynamic 
equipment.  A  mechatronic  machine 
could be programmed to handle both, 
saving on both space and production 
costs.

In other words, a base mechanical struc-
ture  equipped  with  an  assortment  of 
intelligent devices could be configured 
as a different type of machine depend-
ing on the selected gadgets and required 
result.  The  machine’s  resulting  char-
acteristics  and  performance  could  be 
adapted  to  different  machining  pro-
ada
cesses, creating the ultimate chameleon-
ces
lik
like machine tool concept.

Work is under way to develop the con-
W
cept of an intelligent ‘head’ for machin-
ce
in
ing tools, as well as the whole structure 
d
design of the machine and an intel-
ligent control system. Such a system 
li
can only lead to smarter, cleaner and 
c
less expensive production techniques 
l
t
that will reinforce Europe’s progres-
s
sive role in machining and industry.

Funded under the FP7 specific programme Cooperation 

under the theme ‘Nanoscience, nanotechnologies, materials 

and new production technologies.’

http://cordis.europa.eu/marketplace > search > 

offers > 6176

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

45

 
 
 
EVENTS

The following upcoming events were selected from the event diary of the 
Directorate-General for Research and from the CORDIS event calendar. 
For further information on past and upcoming events, please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/events
http://cordis.europa.eu/events

S
T
N
E
V
E

Artificial intelligence in space: 
intelligence beyond planet earth 

A workshop entitled 'Artificial intelligence 
in space: intelligence beyond planet earth' 
will take place on 17 July 2011 in Barcelona, 
Spain.

An enduring part of research on artificial 
intelligence  is  understanding  how  to 
simulate  human  behaviour  in  robots 
that  operate  in  space.  Because  of  this, 
methods  rooted  in  artificial  intelligence 
research  are  increasingly  finding  their 
way into applications in areas related to 
space engineering. 

Co-organised by the advanced concepts 
team of the European Space Agency and 
the artificial intelligence group of the Jet 
Propulsion  Laboratory  of  the  National 
Aeronautics  and  Space  Administration, 
the  event  will  look  at  the  most  recent 
applications  and  advances  related  to 
artificial  intelligence  and  space.  It  will 
also  review  the  current  state  of  the 
dialogue between the two domains and 
discuss future perspectives. 

The workshop will be part of the 22nd 
international joint conference on artifi-
cial intelligence.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.congrex.nl/11M10 

Third workshop on social mobile 
web

The third workshop on social mobile web 
will be held from 17 to 21 July 2011 
in Barcelona, Spain. 

The  mobile  space  on  the  internet  is 
evolving rapidly. With billions of users 
worldwide  and  advances  in  handset 
technology, the mobile web looks set to 
bring new opportunities and challenges. 
At the same time, people are increasingly 
using social networking websites. This 
has meant that more and more users are 
seeking novel ways of interacting with 
their friends and family. 

The  workshop  is  aimed  at  researchers 
and  practitioners  interested  in  the 

mobile  web  and  social  web  spaces, 
as  well  as  stakeholders  from  social 
science, computer science and cognitive 
psychology.

 Topics are set to include: 
-  novel  social  interactions  on  mobile 
devices; 
-  social  mobile  content  sharing  and 
distribution services; 
-  location  awareness  in  social  mobile 
services; 
-  context aware mobile services — beyond 
location; 
-  social mobile search and social mobile 
browsing; 
-  user evaluations of social mobile services; 
-  mobility,  social  networks  and  social 
network analysis; 
-  models of mobile social behaviour and 
mobile traces; 
- innovative social mobile applications.

For further information, please visit:

http://www.thesocialmobileweb.org

Charge transfer in biosystems

A conference on charge transfer in 
biosystems will take place from 17 to 22 July 
2011 in Obergurgl, Austria. 

Charge transfer in biological molecules is 
an important topic because of its impli-
cations  in  chemical  reactions  in  living 
organisms and for the potential exploit-
ation in nanotechnology. 

The  measurement  and  theoretical 
description  of  the  phenomena  have 
been traditionally developed and carried 
out by chemists with standard instru-
ments and tools. In the last couple of 
decades, with the advent of nanotech-
nology and the investigation of nucleic 
acids and proteins in this context, inter-
est in charge transfer has risen in other 
fields, notably physics and engineering. 

The  conference  will  bring  together 
scientists active in the theoretical and 
experimental  investigation  of  charge 
transfer in biomolecules and complex 
systems to assess the latest in the field 
in terms of methods and knowledge. 

There will also be significant possibilities 
for  new  cooperation  initiatives. Young 
scientists  pursuing  a  multidisciplinary 
career that bridges physics, chemistry, 
biology and engineering will also attend.

For further information, please visit:

http://bit.ly/bpyxbC

Workshop on service science and 
systems

The fourth Institute of Electrical and 
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) international 
workshop on service science and systems will 
be held in Munich, Germany from 18 to 
22 July 2011.

While the service sector forms a grow-
ing portion of world economy, it still lags 
behind other industry sectors, such as 
manufacturing, in terms of overall prod-
uctivity. This workshop will look at how 
the internet is creating a new wave of 
business  and  technical  models,  which 
promise to boost productivity in the ser-
vice sector. 

Service science is still in its infancy. Most 
momentum comes from traditional hard-
ware and software vendors who, while 
possessing tremendous knowledge and 
experience  in  computing,  are  some-
what limited when it comes to service 
applications. 

The workshop will be a forum for stake-
holders  to  identify  relevant  modern 
technologies  that  can  help  promote 
service cycles. It will also enable them 
to  examine  novel  service  systems  and 
applications in a variety of service indus-
tries. The workshop will bring together 
researchers and industry experts to share 
research results and practical experience, 
with a focus on tackling barriers towards 
reliability, interoperability, usability and 
productivity. 

The workshop is the fourth in the series, 
but is being run under a different title, in 
response to growing interests from par-
ticipants in the previous workshops.

For further information, please visit:
http://compsac.cs.iastate.edu

46

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

EVENTS

E
V
E
N
T
S

Multidisciplinary approach 
to designing intelligent 
environments

A conference entitled 'Multidisciplinary 
approach to designing intelligent 
environments' will take place from 25 to 
26 July 2011 in Nottingham, UK.

Intelligent  environments  are  interactive 
spaces with embedded systems and informa-
tion and communication technologies (ICTs) 
which are designed to bring computation into 
the physical world. The term also describes 
physical  environments  in  which  ICT  and 
sensor systems disappear as they become 
embedded into physical objects, infrastruc-
tures, and the surroundings in which we live, 
travel and work. 

This workshop seeks to set up an ‘intel-
ligent environment’ where participants 
will  be  able  to  understand  each  other 
without regard to background, culture, 
professional language or field of exper-
tise. To achieve this, creative art (along 
with  the  more  conventional  methods, 
such as academic writings), will be used 
as a means of communication to deliver 
scientific  achievements  related  to  the 
topic  of  intelligent  environments  to  a 
wide audience.

For further information, please visit:

http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~yvkova/SciT11/
Scit_home.htm 

Conference on advances in 
social networks analysis and 
mining

A conference on advances in social networks 
analysis and mining will be held from 25 to 
27 July 2011 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

In recent years, social network research 
has advanced significantly. The devel-
opment  of  sophisticated  techniques 
for social network analysis and mining 
(SNAM) has been highly influenced by 
online social websites, email logs and 
instant messaging systems, which are 
widely analysed using graph theory and 
machine learning techniques. 

Users perceive the internet increasingly 
as  a  social  medium  that  fosters  inter-
action among people, sharing of experi-
ences and knowledge, group activities, 
community  formation  and  evolution. 
This  has  led  to  a  rising  prominence  of 
SNAM in academia, politics, homeland 
security and business. This follows the 
pattern  of  known  entities  that  have 
evolved into networks in which actors are 
increasingly dependent on their struc-
tural embedding. 

The  event  will  be  an  interdisciplinary 
venue  bringing  together  practitioners 
and researchers from a variety of SNAM 
fields to promote collaboration and the 
exchange  of  ideas  and  practices.  It  is 
intended to address important aspects 
with  a  specific  focus  on  the  emerging 
trends  and  industry  needs  associated 
with  social  networking  analysis  and 
mining.

For further information, please visit:

http://asonam2011.im.nuk.edu.tw

Doctoral symposium

A doctoral symposium entitled ‘Twenty-fifth 
European conference on object-oriented 
programming’ will be held from 25 to 29 July 
2011 in Lancaster, UK. 

The event programme will centre around 
a  doctoral  symposium  and  a  PhD  stu-
dents’ workshop. Both will enable early 
and late-stage PhD students to present 
their research and get detailed feedback 
and advice. 

The goal of the doctoral symposium ses-
sion is to provide PhD students with use-
ful feedback towards the successful com-
pletion of their dissertation research. The 
experience  is  meant  to  mimic  a  mini- 
defence interview. Aside from the actual 
feedback,  this  helps  the  student  gain 
familiarity with the style and mechanics 
of such an interview. 

The second session is addressed primarily 
to  PhD  students  in  the  early  stages  of 
their doctoral work. The goal is to allow 
participants  to  present  their  research 

ideas and obtain feedback from the rest 
of the workshop attendees. Each partici-
pant will give a 10 to 15 minute presen-
tation, followed by 10 to 15 minutes of 
discussions.

For further information, please visit: 
http://ecoop11.comp.lancs.ac.uk/?q=calls/doctoral 

European conference on 
artificial life — twentieth 
anniversary ‘Back to the origins 
of life’

The European conference on artificial life — 
twentieth anniversary ‘Back to the origins 
of life’ will be held from 8 to 12 August 2011 
in Paris, France.

Over  the  past  two  decades,  biological 
knowledge  has  grown  at  an  unprec-
edented  rate,  giving  rise  to  new  disci-
plines such as systems biology. During 
the same period, highly speculative ideas 
have  matured,  and  entire  conferences 
and journals are now devoted to them. 
Examples include synthesising artificial 
cells,  simulating  large-scale  biological 
networks, storing and making intelligent 
use of an exponentially growing amount 
of  data  (e.g.,  microarrays),  exploiting 
biological  substrates  for  computation 
and control, and deploying bio-inspired 
engineering. 

The event will leverage the remarkable 
development  of  biological  modelling 
and extend the topics of artificial life to 
the  fundamental  properties  of  living 
organisms: their multiscale pattern-form-
ing morphodynamics, their autopoiesis, 
robustness, capacity to self-repair, cogni-
tive capacities, and co-adaptation at all 
levels, including ecological ones. 

The European conference on artificial life 
is a biennial event that alternates with 
the US-based ‘A life' conference series.

For further information, please visit: 
http://www.ecal11.org

research*eu results magazine — No 3 — June 2011

47

CORDIS Technology Marketplace: 
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