"Europe needs a new approach to research in some promising fields for our competitiveness and wellbeing": in Brussels today, the commissioner for science and research, Janez Potoènik, presented with his colleague Viviane Reding (information society) the first two "European public-private partnerships" in the area of research and development. According to the Executive, this will open "a new era for the funding of research and development". The first "joint technological initiatives (JTI)" will concern integrated information systems and innovative drugs. "They will enable us to put together the resources of the private businesses, the member states and the Commission, that will be allocated to targeted research programs". The first JTI is called Artemis and "concerns invisible computers (integrated systems) that nowadays operate all machines, from cars to planes and telephones, from energy grids to washing-machines". Artemis’ research budget amounts to 2.7 billion euros over seven years. The JTI for drugs, instead, "will help develop knowledge and instruments for the quick development of new and safer drugs". The budget for the program amounts to 2 billion euros until 2013.
