Research & Technology in the EU

Latest news about Science, Research and Technology in the European Union

Vienna and Bratislava present joint candidature for EIT headquarters — 08 May 2008, 18:44 CET

Austria and Slovakia have joined forces in the race for hosting the headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). At a press conference on 6 May, government representatives and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Austria and Slovakia presented their joint concept for 'twin city headquarters' in their neighbouring capitals, Vienna and Bratislava.

EU researchers to assess rates of asthma among Olympic athletes — 08 May 2008, 17:07 CET

Sporting enthusiasts are not the only people who will be following the performance of athletes at this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Scientists from the EU-funded GA2LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network) project will also be keeping a watchful eye over the Games' proceedings to assess the prevalence of asthma and other allergies among Europe's top athletes.

Top inventors honoured at European Inventor of the Year — 08 May 2008, 17:02 CET

Medical technologies dominated the field at the European Inventor of the Year Awards, which were handed out at a ceremony in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 6 May. The inventors of a pioneering antiviral therapy, a new eye-scanning system and a robot surgery process were all honoured for their work, as was the team responsible for making car frames both lighter and safer.

Data protection authority to monitor EU research policy and projects — 05 May 2008, 22:03 CET

EU research projects, particularly in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT), need to ensure that privacy and personal data protection requirements are fully respected, according to the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). In a policy paper, the body has outlined how it will help with this task.

Second EU test satellite 'in good health': agency — 30 April 2008, 22:42 CET

A second test satellite for Galileo, Europe's rival to the US Global Positioning System, is "in good health" despite a hiccup that emerged after it was placed in orbit last Sunday, the European Space Agency said on Wednesday.

ACTIVE promotes knowledge across Europe — 28 April 2008, 18:51 CET

Europe has set itself the goal of becoming the world's leading knowledge-based economy by 2010. This means that businesses must bolster the productivity of their knowledge workers to boost their competitiveness. The problem is that existing information systems do not provide companies with enough support, so information exchange can be time-consuming or even unavailable. The solution, according to the EU-funded project ACTIVE, is to increase productivity in a pro-active, yet simple way.

New project to streamline diabetes research in Europe — 28 April 2008, 18:50 CET

Setting out a roadmap to guide diabetes research in Europe is the goal of a new EU-funded project called DIAMAP. The initiative, which is funded under the 'Health' theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) will analyse the current state of diabetes research in Europe to identify strengths and weaknesses. On the basis of this survey, it will draw up a roadmap for diabetes research in Europe.

European doctors catch the e-health bug — 28 April 2008, 18:46 CET

The majority of European doctors have caught the information technology (IT) bug, according to a new Europe-wide survey on e-health. In total, 87% of European doctors now use a computer in their practices, while 69% have an internet connection. However, lack of training, inadequate technical support and maintenance costs are preventing a wider take-up of e-health applications across Europe.

Five cities bid to host EU's planned technology institute — 28 April 2008, 15:55 CET

Five cities - in Hungary, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and Austria - have put their municipal hats in the ring in the contest to host the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Second test satellite for Galileo launched, reaches orbit — 27 April 2008, 12:15 CET

A second experimental Giove-B satellite for the EU's Galileo satellite navigation project was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early on Sunday.

Europe builds a sustainable future with fusion — 24 April 2008, 19:03 CET

ITER, a joint international research project, will attempt to reproduce on Earth the nuclear reactions that power the Sun and other stars. To test whether this is possible, plasma turbulence simulation and modelling tools are being developed, but these require a huge amount of computing power to process data. This is where EUFORIA, a EUR 3.65 million EU-funded project, comes in. It aims to link computers from all over Europe and harmonise the simulations made in various areas of fusion.

Study reveals worrying state of European teens' health — 24 April 2008, 18:44 CET

Over a fifth of European teenagers are overweight or obese, and few adolescents follow dietary advice on fruit and vegetable intake. These are just two of the findings of the EU-funded HELENA ('Healthy lifestyle in Europe by nutrition in adolescence') project.

Europe ahead of US in funding nanotech risk research — 23 April 2008, 17:08 CET

Europe invests nearly twice as much as the US in research addressing the potential risk of nanotechnologies, a report issued by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) indicates.

Increasing turnout at European elections — 18 April 2008, 22:37 CET

The European Parliament (EP) is failing to project an image, good or bad, of itself in the minds of over half of Europe's citizens.

EU project develops smart materials for noise reduction — 16 April 2008, 23:32 CET

Reducing noise pollution was the goal of the recently-completed EU-funded InMar ('Intelligent Materials for Active Noise Reduction') project. It has successfully developed a series of smart materials and systems for use in automobiles and rail vehicles and infrastructures.

Europe launches first procurement for ITER — 16 April 2008, 23:06 CET

Fusion for Energy (F4E), the agency responsible for Europe's contribution to the international experimental thermonuclear reactor (ITER), is expected to unlock new business opportunities for industry with the launch of its first ever procurement.

Commission Recommendation to help harness knowledge for Europe — 14 April 2008, 22:41 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Recommendation on the management of intellectual property (IP) in the knowledge transfer activities of universities and other public research organisations. In doing so, the Commission reaffirms its commitment to the Lisbon Strategy: to transform the EU into the world's most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy.

Galileo Masters competition enters new round — 10 April 2008, 00:24 CET

With Galileo, the European satellite navigation system, receiving the green light, the race is on to develop a whole range of new navigation applications and services. This is where the recently launched 'Galileo Masters' European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) comes in.

EU and India to deepen biotech research ties — 10 April 2008, 00:21 CET

The EU and India are set to deepen their biotechnology research ties, particularly in the fields of food and health. A delegation from the EU recently visited India to discuss cooperation over issues such as the links between health and nutrition and how these can be exploited to help prevent chronic diseases.

Commemorating 30 years of European human space flight — 08 April 2008, 23:09 CET

Thirty years ago, a Czech citizen, Vladimir Remek, made history when he became the first man from a country other than the US or former Soviet Union to go into space. On 2 March 1978, he took off aboard the Soyuz 28 spacecraft for an eight-day mission to the Salyut 6 space station.

Second satellite to be launched for EU Galileo satnav project — 08 April 2008, 01:00 CET

A second experimental satellite for the EU's Galileo satellite navigation project will be launched from Kazakhstan on April 27, says the Commission.

British inventor of teen-repellent device wants laws regulating it — 03 April 2008, 00:16 CET

The British inventor of a controversial device which disperses young people by emitting a high-pitched noise which only they can hear called Wednesday for legislation to regulate its use.

New EU guide encourages combining research funding sources — 27 March 2008, 20:23 CET

The EU supports research and innovation activities through a range of programmes, including the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7), the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) and Structural Funds. Now the European Commission is developing a guide to help researchers select the right programme for their activities and even combine funds from different sources. A draft version of the guide is now ready and the Commission is keen to receive feedback on the document from the research community.

Lift-off for Europe's first resupply ship — 17 March 2008, 23:49 CET

Europe's biggest contribution to space technology, the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV), has been successfully launched into low earth orbit. The launch vehicle, an Ariane 5 rocket, was carrying its largest ever payload when it achieved lift-off from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. During the coming weeks the Jules Verne ATV will rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver fuel and food supplies for the astronauts onboard the ISS.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology - EIT — 12 March 2008, 22:53 CET

The European Parliament adopted on 12 March 2008 the Regulation establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). European Commission President José Manuel Barroso stated: "I am delighted with this decisive step forward towards establishing the EIT. The EIT is set to become an important feature of Europe's innovation landscape. It will facilitate and enhance partnerships and cooperation between the worlds of business, research and higher education across the European Union, thereby helping to continue to boost jobs and growth in Europe in the future."