The directions of research

The Seventh Framework Programme for research got a green light from the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week. The vote of the Ep aroused a huge wave of concerned reactions, especially because it had given the go-ahead to Eu funding of experiments conducted on embryonal stem cells. In this regard the Catholic Church has made its position abundantly clear ( www.comece.org http://www.comece.org ) in denouncing the gravity of a decision that instrumentalises human life and reduces it to raw material. Without underestimating the gravity of this decision, it may be said however that the Programme 2007/2013 presents prospects of scientific development able to improve the daily life of citizens. GROWING FUNDS FOR RESEARCH. The overall appropriation that the European Union intends to dedicate to research during the next seven years (the Programme however must still be endorsed by the Council for competitiveness at the end of July, before returning to the Ep for a final vote by the end of the year) is equivalent to 50.524 billion euros. The European Commission had proposed that the allocations should exceed 72 billion, but the restrictions on the Eu budget imposed by member states led to a reduction of the figure. But the figure still remains far higher than that hitherto available: over the last five years, in fact, the Eu allocated just over 16 billion to research, so that in future the allocations will be more than doubled. To the overall appropriation should also be added the investments amounting to 2.75 billion euros for the atomic energy sector for peaceful purposes (Euratom). The funds for research on stem cells are less than 1% of the total appropriation. PREVENTING THE “BRAIN DRAIN”. Adopting the report of the Polish MEP JERZY BUZEK , exponent of the European People’s Party, the Ep intends to support the funding of experiments applicable to the economy, to boost European competitiveness. It proposes “a distribution of the overall appropriation that may privilege cooperation between industries and universities”. It urges that real opportunities of study and employment be given to European scientists, to prevent the so-called “brain drain”, hitherto mainly directed at the Usa. Moreover, MEPs “welcome the idea of creating a European Research Council (Erc), a new agency “aimed at supporting cutting edge research”, but at the same time ask that it be endowed with real decision-making and financial independence. AGRICOLTURE, NANO-TECHNOLOGIES, SPACE. The Framework Programme 2007/2013 will be subdivided into four specific programmes. First, the “Cooperation” programme will promote “collaboration between industry and academic research throughout Europe” to “achieve leadership in the key sectors of technology”. It is subdivided into the following priority fields: citizens’ health, food products, agriculture and biotechnologies; technologies of information and communication; nano-sciences and nano-technologies; energy, environment, transport, socio-economic sciences, security and space. The Eu funding should be focused on those experiments aimed at possible applications to really improve the life of citizens, increase the protection of consumers, promote the development of economic activities, seek new solutions to tackle emergencies or study natural phenomena. SCIENTISTS AT THE SIDE OF BUSINESSES. Second, the “Ideas” programme, to be carried out under the supervision of the European Research Council, will support “frontier research”, taking into account the sole criterion of “scientific excellence”. Third, the “Persons” programme will provide “significant support to the mobility and career development of researchers, both in Europe and at the world level”. Lastly, the “Capabilities” programme is “aimed at contributing to the development of the capabilities which Europe needs to be a flourishing knowledge-based economy”. It in turn is subdivided into specific sectors: research infrastructures; small and medium businesses; science and society; and activities of international cooperation. RENEWABLE ENERGIES AND ENERGY SAVINGS. The allocations to the four main programmes are unequal, depending on the preferences accorded to the various sectors. To “Cooperation” will go 64% of the total allocations (over 32 billion euros), while 15% of the funds will be allocated to “Ideas”, 9.5% to “Persons” and 7.8% to “Capabilities”. Within the “Cooperation” programme MEPs have privileged, in terms of proportion of funding, the sectors of energy and economic sciences (two-thirds of the allocation will be allocated to research on renewal energies, energy efficiency and saving). The Ep lastly asked that the Seventh Framework Programme “be subjected to continuous and systematic revision”, with two intermediate deadlines, in 2009 and 2011.