Research & Technology in the EU

Latest news about research policy in the European Union.

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European Research Area - guide — 17 July 2012, 19:10 CET

The European Commission has today set out concrete steps Member States should take to achieve the European Research Area (ERA), a Single Market for research and innovation in Europe. The goal is to enable researchers, research institutions and businesses to better move, compete and co-operate across borders. This will strengthen Member States' research bases, increase their competitiveness and allow them to work together more effectively to tackle major societal challenges, such as climate change, food and energy security and public health. To help achieve the European Research Area, the Commission has also today signed a Joint Statement and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with organisations representing key research organisations and research funding bodies. The proposals are a response to the deadline set by EU leaders to make the European Research Area a reality by 2014.

Microsoft apologises over web browser 'error' in EU — 17 July 2012, 13:47 CET

Microsoft apologised on Tuesday after the European Commission opened a probe over its failure to provide customers a web browser choice, saying it was a mistake.

EU threatens Microsoft with antitrust fine over web browser — 17 July 2012, 16:21 CET

The European Commission has threatened Microsoft with another big fine after the US software giant failed to give 28 million European customers the ability to choose their web browser.

Communication from the Commission "Smart Cities and Communities - European Innovation Partnership" [COM(2012)4701] — 11 July 2012, 12:37 CET

On 10 July 2012, the European Commission launched the Smart Cities and Communities European Innovation Partnership. The partnership proposes to pool resources to support the demonstration of energy, transport and information and communication technologies (ICT) in urban areas. The energy, transport and ICT industries are invited to work together with cities to combine their technologies to address cities' needs. This will enable innovative, integrated and efficient technologies to roll out and enter the market more easily, while placing cities at the centre of innovation. The funding will be awarded through yearly calls for proposals: €365 million for 2013.

Innovation partnership for Smart Cities and Communities - guide — 11 July 2012, 12:36 CET

One of the greatest challenges facing the EU is how best to design and adapt cities into smart intelligent and sustainable environments. Almost three quarters of Europeans live in cities, consuming 70% of the EU's energy. Congestion costs Europe about 1% of its GDP every year; most of it is located in urban areas. Smart urban technologies can make a major contribution to tackling many urban challenges. By launching a Smart Cities and Communities European Innovation Partnership (SCC) the European Commission aims to boost the development of smart technologies in cities – by pooling research resources from energy, transport and ICT and concentrating them on a small number of demonstration projects which will be implemented in partnership with cities. For 2013 alone, € 365 million in EU funds have been earmarked for the demonstration of these types of urban technology solutions.

EUR 8 billion FP7 call: how much for SMEs? — 09 July 2012, 20:10 CET

On the day that the next set of calls under the 7th EU Research and Technological Framework Programme (FP7) were announced, EUROCHAMBRES urged the European Commission to address the issue of SME participation. To date, only 13.7% of the FP7 budget has gone to SMEs, an alarmingly low figure given smaller businesses’ economic predominance.

FP7 2013 work programme - guide — 09 July 2012, 19:58 CET

The European Commission has today announced the final and biggest ever set of calls for proposals for research under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). In total, €8.1 billion will support projects and ideas that will boost Europe's competitiveness and tackle issues such as human health, protecting the environment and finding new solutions to growing challenges linked to urbanisation and managing waste. The funding – which is open to organisations and businesses in all EU Member States and partner countries - makes up the lion's share of the EU's proposed €10.8 billion research budget for 2013. This announcement comes just days after EU leaders emphasised the importance of research and innovation in the Compact for Growth and Jobs.

Historic EU summit patent deal now thrown into question — 03 July 2012, 14:57 CET

A days-old EU summit breakthrough to create a single European patent after decades of dispute was thrown into question Tuesday by the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Google makes proposals to EU on competition concerns — 03 July 2012, 12:47 CET

Internet search giant Google has made proposals to EU regulators who have threatened to impose huge fines unless it allay concerns it has abused its dominant market position.

EU agrees common patent to give inventors competitive edge — 30 June 2012, 13:15 CET

Ending a decades-long deadlock, EU leaders have struck a deal to create a single European patent that will make it easier and cheaper for researchers to protect their inventions.

EU court upholds bulk of billion-dollar Microsoft fine — 28 June 2012, 11:40 CET

A European court upheld a billion-dollar EU fine against Microsoft on Wednesday but reduced the penalty by tens of millions of euros.

Key Enabling Technologies — 26 June 2012, 23:14 CET

A significant part of future goods and services are as yet unknown, but the main driving force behind their development will be Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), such as nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics including semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and photonics. Mastering these technologies means being at the forefront of managing the shift to a low carbon, knowledge-based economy. They play an important role in the R&D, innovation and cluster strategies of many industries and are regarded as crucial for ensuring the competitiveness of European industries in the knowledge economy. These technologies enable the development of new goods and services and the restructuring of industrial processes needed to modernise EU industry and make the transition to a knowledge-based and low carbon resource-efficient economy. Whilst the EU has very good research and development capacities in some key enabling technology areas, it has not been as successful at translating research results into commercialised manufactured goods and services. Key Enabling Technologies are of systemic relevance as they enable the development of new goods and services and the restructuring of industrial processes needed to modernise EU industry and secure the research, development and innovation base in Europe.

Key Enabling Technologies - guide — 26 June 2012, 23:17 CET

Europe is a global leader in the development of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) and it has all that is necessary to remain in this position. The EU holds a strong competitive advantage: it is the only region to master all six KETs (micro-/nanoelectronics, nanotechnology, photonics, advanced materials, industrial biotechnology, advanced manufacturing technologies). Over the years, Europe's strong R&D base has championed all six KETs, maintaining a leading position with 32 % of the global patent applications between 1991 and 2008.1 However, despite these strengths, the EU is not capitalising on its knowledge base: the EU’s major weakness lies in translating its knowledge base into goods and services and EU patents are, more and more, exploited outside the EU. The European Commission tabled today 26 June 2012 its strategy to boost the industrial production of KETs-based products, e.g. innovative products and applications of the future. The strategy aims to keep pace with the EU’s main international competitors, restore growth in Europe and create jobs in industry, at the same time addressing today's burning societal challenges.

Key Enabling Technologies — 22 June 2012, 12:23 CET

A significant part of future goods and services are as yet unknown, but the main driving force behind their development will be Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), such as nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics including semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and photonics. Mastering these technologies means being at the forefront of managing the shift to a low carbon, knowledge-based economy. They play an important role in the R&D, innovation and cluster strategies of many industries and are regarded as crucial for ensuring the competitiveness of European industries in the knowledge economy.

"Science: it's a girl thing!" campaign — 21 June 2012, 17:51 CET

With the European Union needing up to one million additional researchers by 2020, the European Commission has launched a campaign to get more girls interested in science and encourage more women to choose research as a career. Women make up more than half the EU's student population and 45 per cent of all doctorates (PhDs), but they account for only one third of career researchers. Women PhD graduates are also still a minority in engineering and manufacturing. The three year campaign will first seek to get teenage girls interested in studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects). The focus will then broaden to female students more generally, encouraging them to consider research careers.

Science is 'girl thing', says Europe campaign — 21 June 2012, 17:58 CET

With few women in Europe taking up research jobs, a campaign launched Thursday by the European Commission seeks to convince teenagers that science is a "girl thing."

Telecommunication Market and Regulatory Developments 2011 — 19 June 2012, 12:00 CET

Greater data consumption and a shift to mobile technologies (such as smartphones) and mobile services (such as 3G internet, music streaming and webmail) are the most significant trends in the information & communications technologies (ICT) sector, which now accounts for 8 million jobs and 6% of EU GDP, according to the Annual Digital Agenda scoreboard.

Digital Agenda Scoreboard - need for structural economic reform across Europe and surplus of ICT jobs — 19 June 2012, 12:04 CET

Europe's citizens, businesses and innovator s are generating enough digital demand to put Europe into sustainable economic growth, but failure to supply enough fast internet, online content, research and relevant skills is undermining this potential. Greater data consumption and a shift to mobile technologies (such as smartphones) and mobile services (such as 3G internet, music streaming and webmail) are the most significant trends in the information & communications technologies (ICT) sector, which now accounts for 8 million jobs and 6% of EU GDP.

Patent on animal breeding revoked — 03 May 2012, 16:02 CET

European Parliament members launch initiative against patents on plants and animals

Put emergency brakes on European Patent Office now! — 05 April 2012, 13:44 CET

On 3 April 2012. the international coalition of “No Patents on Seeds” published a report on patents connected to the conventional breeding of plants and animals granted by, or applied for at the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2011.

EU probes Motorola in patent war with Apple, Microsoft — 03 April 2012, 14:27 CET

The European Commission opened on Tuesday two antitrust investigations against Google's Motorola Mobility following complaints from Apple and Microsoft in a patent war between the technology giants.

EU probes Google's Motorola in Apple, Microsoft patent war — 03 April 2012, 18:22 CET

European regulators have opened two antitrust investigations against Motorola Mobility, bought by US Internet giant Google, in the latest chapter of an escalating patent war with Apple and Microsoft.

European Patent Office Annual Report 2011 — 25 March 2012, 13:53 CET

2011 was a record year at the EPO. It received almost 250 000 patent filings, the highest number ever in its 34-year history, showing that European patents are in high demand across the globe, and that Europe remains attractive for innovative industries. In the European Patent Office annual report, you will find key trends and detailed statistics, a report on its strategies and activities, plus a video message from President Benoît Battistelli.

Patent requests in Europe reach record in 2011 — 26 March 2012, 17:24 CET

Patent requests in the Europe reached a record high in 2011, in a telling sign that companies are determined to stay on the cutting edge despite a debt crisis and an uncertain economy.

New EU Agency for managing large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice — 22 March 2012, 18:19 CET

A new agency for managing large-scale EU information systems was inaugurated on 22 March 2012 in Tallinn, Estonia, with the attendance of Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström. Its main task will be to en­sure that the Visa Information (VIS) and EURODAC systems operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Agency is due to become fully operational as of December 2012.