BILAT-USA and Link2US publish article in NCURA Magazine

The National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) serves its members and advances the field of research administration through education and professional development programs, the sharing of knowledge and experience, and by fostering a professional, collegial, and respected community.

The January/February 2012 issue of the NCURA Magazine includes an article by the BILAT-USA and Link2US projects about “Fostering EU-U.S. Cooperation in Science and Technology”.

The article highlights the fact that internationalization of science in the last decades has rapidly grown, as shown by the increase of the average distance between collaboration teams, from 334 kilometres in 1980 to 1,553 kilometres in 2009. The number of internationally collaborative articles published in international journals increased from 25% 15 year ago to 35% currently.

Researchers from both sides of the Atlantic have been collaborating for decades and while collaboration is robust, barriers and challenges in U.S. and EU participation in funding schemes across the Atlantic exist. FP7 is open to international collaboration, and one of the goals of this international dimension is to increase U.S. participation. An important structural difference between the U.S. and EU funding schemes that could be an obstacle to a complete understanding of the opportunities of the Framework Programmes, and therefore participation, is that in the U.S., research funding is mainly given to an individual principal investigator, not to teams, and the cooperative aspect of research, fundamental for the FP7, is usually not a required component of U.S. funding schemes. As a result, U.S. participants do not have access to the entire set FP7 opportunities, with the exception of “Ideas” and “People” programmes.

What is still lacking is enough awareness of opportunities for EU-U.S. S&T cooperation within FP7, and EU-based researcher participation in U.S. funding schemes.

World Mobility Tour, 17 February 2012, Rome, Italy

The People National Contact Points Network will meet in Rome, Italy, on the 16th and 17th of February 2012. During this event, which will gather People NCPs from all over Europe, a specific session (the “World Mobility Tour”) will be dedicated to the mobility opportunities in Third Countries. Most of the Access4EU projects, will present the mobility opportunities for European researchers in the respective countries and will have the possibility to discuss with the People NCPs and the People delegates

 A list of mobility programmes in each Third Country that are open to EU participation will be sent to the PEOPLE delegates before the meeting.

The agenda will be soon available on the Link2US website!

More information:
http://www.access2mexcyt.eu/index.php/en/events/people-ncp-network

BILAT–USA Analysis of Existing Instruments, Regulations and Obstacles for U.S participation in the 7th Framework Programme

In order to analyze the most common limitations and obstacles that can affect the participation of U.S. researchers and organizations in the Framework Programmes, two different questionnaires have been submitted.

130 Coordinators (47%) and 105 U.S. Participants in FP7 projects (29%) filled in the online questionnaire.

The main obstacles indicated by the respondents regard the lack of funding for U.S. partners, and legal/ administrative provisions.

If transatlantic cooperation in research is seen as a key point from both sides, than the funding mechanisms on both sides should provide funding opportunities for all partners. U.S. partners perceive the unavailability of funding as a lack of regard to their role in the project and make them feel to be not considered as “full partners”. Also, administrative and legal provisions should be defined in a way that can be acceptable for the U.S. participants.

The full report will be soon available on the BILAT-USA website

Report on Funding of Nanotechnologies – 2011

In the last 11 years, governments around the world have invested more than US$67 billion in funding nanotechnology research. While some funding programs are mature and concentrating on translational research, others are still at an early stage requiring large purchases of infrastructure, from instruments to buildings and services. Cientifica has been tracking public funding of nanotechnologies for ten years, and its unrivaled connections with academics and funding agencies make this report, the most accurate available.

The new report Global Funding of Nanotechnologies – 2011 also predicts government funding of nanotechnologies to 2015, using the latest information and taking the current economic climate into account. The report contains detailed breakdown and analyses of funding in the major economies of the Americas, Asia, EMEA and Rest of the World including:

- Method of Distribution
- Areas of Distribution
- Infrastructure Funding
- Timescale for Funding
- Size of Funding Investments

Countries covered in detail are:

•    AMERICAS
•    USA, CANADA
•    ASIA-PACIFIC
•    AUSTRALIA, CHINA , INDIA , JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA
•    EMEA
•    EC, GERMANY, IRAN, ISRAEL, RUSSIA, SAUDI ARABIA, SOUTH AFRICA, UK

More information:
http://cientifica.eu/blog/research/market-reports/nanotech-funding-2011/
Or
www.cientifica.com

Google chooses MateFitness with a grant of $100.000

The “Maths Gym” of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) is an Italian project selected in the frame of activities to support education promoted by Google. The MateFitness project aims at disseminating and supporting a new concept and culture of Maths through games and an interdisciplinary approach.

The project website (www.matefitness.it) allows, through an innovative ‘clouding’  mechanism, to share online the operational aspects of the project, including the possibility to “export” laboratories and activities.

Photogallery available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matefitness/sets/72157602577856341/

Video available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE0loe4821U

Scientific Integrity Policy from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Agency

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco released her agency’s new scientific integrity policy. NASA did the same a few days later. Both policies, developed in response to a presidential executive order for federal departments and agencies, allow scientists to talk to the news media about scientific and technical matters, for NASA scientists and about their work without approval from their supervisors or the public affairs office, for NOAA.

More information:
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-420_SI_Policy.html

Human Research Standards Compilation released

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) released the 2012 edition of "The International Compilation of Human Research Standards." More than 1,000 laws, regulations, and guidelines on human subjects protections in more than 100 countries and from several international organizations are listed and classified into six categories: General; Drugs and Devices; Research Injury; Privacy/Data Protection; Human Biological Materials; Genetic; and Embryos, Stem Cells, and Cloning.

More informaiton:
http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/international/intlcompilation/intlcompilation.html

NIH establishes two new divisions

NIH has announced that the National Institute for General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has established two new divisions : the new Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity will be directed by Clifton A. Poodry, and the new Division of Biomedical Technology, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology will be directed by Karin Remington. Each division will continue to manage NIGMS programs along with programs transferred from the former NCRR.

Announcement:
http://www.nigms.nih.gov/News/Results/20120104.htm

New National Institute of Health’s Translational Sciences Center is Announced

The new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) will, with a budget of $575 million in its inaugural year, enhance the process of making translational scientific discoveries into new drugs, diagnostics, and devices. By signing the FY 2012 spending bill, President Obama approved funding for the new Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thomas Insel, head of the National Institute of Mental Health, will serve as acting director of the new center, and Kathy Hudson, NIH's deputy director for science, outreach and policy, will serve as acting deputy director.

Press Release:
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2011/od-23.htm

National Research Council Releases Report on U.S. Global Change Research Program’s Strategic Plan

The report highlights the results of a study of the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s (USGCRP’s) draft 10-year Strategic Plan.  The 20 year old programme draft strategic plan proposes to expand its scope to include “climate-related global change.”  While the NRC report finds that this expansion is an important and appropriate step, the plan does not, however, address other important issues in order to effectively implement this broader vision, such as: increasing the capacity of USGCRP and its partners in order to better integrate social and ecological sciences into its current program; and following a clearly defined plan in implementing changes to the program. 

Press release:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=13330

Full Report:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13330

USA: Universities Commit to Initiatives that Foster Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Several universities announced new initiatives to foster innovation and build entrepreneurial capacity that are intended to spur regional and state economic growth, including Auburn breaking ground on a new $28.8 million science centre; Harvard's Innovation Lab opening its doors; and the LaunchPad Ohio announcement at four universities in Northeast Ohio. More Information 

Marie Curie Career Integration Grants (CIG)

The Marie Curie Career Integration Grants aim for the permanent integration of researchers who are offered a stable position in Europe after a mobility period in a different country.

The eligibility is open to Postdocs as well as researchers with at least four years of research experience and of any nationality. The funding covers a flat-rate contribution of EUR 25,000 per year for a period of two to four years. The flat-rate contribution can be used as a contribution towards salary, research, publication and travel expanses etc. for the researcher. With the Work Program 2011, the European Reintegration Grants (ERG) and the International Reintegration Grants (IRG) have been refocused in order to reinforce the attractiveness of the European Research Area by merging and rebranding them as Career Integration Grants (CIG).

Deadline is 18 September 2012.

Further information:

European Research Council Advanced Grants

Madrid-MIT M+Visión Consortium: 2012 Fellowship in Translational Biomedical Imaging

The Madrid-MIT M+Visión Consortium is a partnership of leaders in science, medicine, engineering, business, and the public sector dedicated to strengthening Madrid’s position as a global center of biomedical research by accelerating innovation in biomedical imaging, promoting translational research, and encouraging entrepreneurship.

The M+Visión Fellowship in Translational Biomedical Imaging is a central pillar of the Consortium's vision. A cohort of ten Fellows, exceptional talent from all over the world—engineers, physicians, scientists, and entrepreneurs who see the promise of biomedical imaging—will engage in structured learning experiences for one summer in Madrid, followed by a few months in Boston developing a research direction. After this initial development period, Fellows will conduct research projects—up to two years total duration—with the potential for global effect, using their Consortium network of academic, medical, industry and public leaders as mentors and springboards.

More information:

Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium
http://mvisionconsortium.mit.edu

The fellowship
http://mvisionconsortium.mit.edu/fellowship

2012 M+Visión Fellowship Applications
http://mvisionconsortium.mit.edu/fellowship2012

European Commission Confirms First Chief Science Adviser, Scottish microbiologist Anne Glover

At the European Commission Innovation Convention 2011 on  5-6 December 2011, European Commission's event to celebrate the first anniversary of its Innovation Union initiative, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso announced that European Union's first chief science adviser and Scottish microbiologist Anne Glover will be taking her new position in January 2012. In addition to be an independent adviser to Barroso on scientific issues and controversies, she will also “act as a bridge with the scientific community to ensure that innovation contributes to our growth” Barroso said.

EC Report on the State of the Innovation Union 2011

On 2 December 2011 the European Commission published its Report on the State of the Innovation Union 2011.

The first year of Innovation Union, an integrated innovation strategy built around 34 specific commitments, has seen the economic and financial crisis reaching a new phase. With a shift in economic power from West to East both the Innovation Union Scoreboard and the Innovation Union Competitiveness report  highlight the fact that Europe’s research and innovation performance has declined over recent years, causing a broadening of the already sizeable innovation gap vis-à-vis the U.S. and Japan. Furthermore, China, India and Brazil have started to rapidly catch up with the EU.

The Commission is proposing to increase investments in research, innovation and education in support of the EU's pro-growth agenda. The Horizon 2020 proposal enacts many of the Innovation Union commitments.

The report focuses on key policy actions of 2011. A short overview on the state of play of all 34 commitments of the Innovation Union is provided.

EC Opinion on the independent expert evaluation of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

On 30 November 2011 the European Commission published its opinion on the independent expert evaluation of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) outlining recommendations from the independent external evaluation the EIT shall implement. According to the EC the EIT approach has demonstrated strong potential and should focus on strengthening existing centers of excellence. The focus of the EIT for the period 2011-2014 should be on consolidation and delivery. It should put in place robust procedures developed through a mutual learning process with the existing KICs. The EIT should continue to develop, in collaboration with the European Commission and the current Knowledge Innovation Communities (KICs), further simplified procedures for the operation of the EIT under Horizon 2020.

Read more under the following link!

The New Framework for EU Research and Innovation, Science Magazine Policy Forum Article

Read the full text of the Science Magazine Policy Forum article from Manfred Horvat, European and Internationale Research and Technology Cooperation, on the Framework Program "Horizon 2020" by clicking on the following link:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/334/6059/1066-b?ijkey=1malY0m7R/oZc&keytype=ref&siteid=sci 

BILAT-USA Report on U.S. participation in FP6 and FP7 updated

The overall objective of the report on U.S. participation in FP6 and FP7 is to assess U.S. participation in the Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) and Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) for Research and Technological Development, the European Union's main instrument for funding research in Europe. Analytical data on each different programme/ priority/ action are provided.

This version of the document contains data updated at December 2010 (the first version was released in 2012), an updated version will be released in the course of 2012.

EU-U.S. Summit Joint Statement

At the annual EU-U.S. Summit on 28 November 2011 in Washington, DC, leaders affirmed their close partnership and commitment to work together to reinvigorate economic growth, create jobs, and ensure financial stability.

They instructed the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) to pursue its work on strategic economic questions, not least in the field of investment, innovation policy, and the protection of intellectual property rights, announcing the establishment of a high-level working group to boost job creation and economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

They recognized the vital role of the EU-U.S. Energy Council in fostering co-operation on energy security, renewables and other clean energy technologies, energy efficiency, and effective policies for facilitating trade and bringing clean energy technologies to market.

They agreed that the ability to respond to and overcome the global challenges is increased by the degree to which they can act in close co-ordination and co-operation, continuing to seek every opportunity to increase co-operation.

Read more:
http://eeas.europa.eu/us/sum11_11/index_en.htm
http://www.eurunion.org/eu/EU-US-Summits/EU-US-Summit-November-29-2011-Washington-DC.html

EU-US Summit Joint Statement
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/842&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/126389.pdf

Factsheet on High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/843&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EU-US: Global Partners, Global Responsibilities
http://eeas.europa.eu/us/flash/index.html

Horizon 2020: Commission proposes €80 billion investment in research and innovation, to boost growth and jobs

The European Commission has presented on 30 November 2011 a package of measures to boost research, innovation and competitiveness in Europe. Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has announced Horizon 2020, an €80 billion¹ programme for investment in research and innovation. Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou has put forward a Strategic Innovation Agenda for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which will receive €2.8 billion of funding under Horizon 2020. In parallel, Vice-President Antonio Tajani has announced a complementary new programme to boost competitiveness and innovation in SMEs, with an additional budget of €2.5 billion. The funding programmes run from 2014 to 2020.

For the first time, Horizon 2020 brings together all EU research and innovation funding under a single programme. It focuses more than ever on turning scientific breakthroughs into innovative products and services that provide business opportunities and change people’s lives for the better. At the same time it drastically cuts red tape, with simplification of rules and procedures to attract more top researchers and a broader range of innovative businesses.

International cooperation will also be further promoted in Horizon 2020, in order to strengthen the EU's excellence and attractiveness in research, to tackle global challenges jointly and to support EU external policies.

Information sources:

Horizon 2020 Press Release of the European Commission
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/1475&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Horizon 2020 Memo to the Press Release of the European Commission
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/848&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Horizon 2020 Website
http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm

Presentation on Horizon 2020
http://prezi.com/1fogw2zvbiek/horizon-2020-officialversion/?auth_key=affe016b17ca2bf0d96d1d4a44f6a6ad3bb6bd63

Innovation Union
http://ec.europa.eu/innovation-union

Europe 2020
http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
http://eit.europa.eu

Time line for Horizon 2020
http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=h2020-timeline

Calendar of events
http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=h2020-events

EU-U.S. Energy Council Joint Statement

On 28 November 2011, the EU-U.S. Energy Council met in Washington DC to review progress achieved on strategic energy issues, cooperation on energy policies, and research collaboration on sustainable and clean energy technologies as mandated by the Energy Council in 2009.

Led by U.S. Secretary of State Clinton and US Secretary of Energy Chu, EU High Representative Ashton and EU Commissioner for Energy Oettinger, participants renewed their commitment to continued cooperation on energy for mutual security and prosperity, the importance of leading-edge energy technologies in creating jobs and fostering economic growth, and facilitating the Trans-Atlantic trade in energy products and services.

Under-secretary Stelmach of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attended, representing the rotating EU Presidency.

More information can be found under:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/126391.pdf

Transatlantic Economic Council Joint Statement

The Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) met on 30 November 2011 in Washington, DC to discuss concrete steps towards stronger economic cooperation between the United States and the European Union (EU).

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the EU’s Joint Research Center (JRC) signed a Letter of Intent committing both sides to the development of joint testing laboratories that will foster closer regulatory alignment between U.S. and EU research and testing bodies. These testing labs will promote efficient and environmentally sustainable business solutions that meet consumer safety and transport needs. The TEC encouraged the development of additional demonstration projects in 2012. The Letter of Intent creates the basis for the establishment of two Electric Vehicle and Smart Grid Interoperability centres, one at Argonne National Laboratories, in the U.S., and one at the JRC facilities in Ispra, Italy.

Read more under the following link!

NSF Programmes open for submission

The following NSF (National Science Foundation) programmes are now open for submissions in the Plant Genome Research Programme (PGRP), allowing coordinating research and initiating collaborations between US and EU scientists:

• Genome-Enabled Plant Research
• Transferring Research from Model Systems
• Tools and Resources for Plant Genome Research
• Improving Plant Genome Annotation

The goal of the PGRP is to develop a basic knowledge of the structures and functions of plant genomes and translate this knowledge to a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of economically important plants and plant processes of potential economic value.

More information: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5338                

EU-US Summit Focuses on Jobs and Growth

At the annual EU-US Summit in Washington, DC, leaders announced the establishment of a high-level working group to boost job creation and economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

At a joint press availability following the meeting, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy stressed that the European Union and the United States both "need to take strong action to address the near-term growth concerns as well as fiscal and financial vulnerabilities, in order to strengthen the world economy." He noted that "slower global growth is not only due to the problems in the eurozone. Others have to do their part of the job too, for instance on exchange rate and on implementing the commitments made in Cannes earlier this month."

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso pointed out that the "problems in Europe are part of a wider picture: the world economy has not yet been able to absorb and overcome all these effects of the 2008 financial crisis. We face – in the EU and in the US – the common challenge of bringing debt under control while relaunching growth and creating new jobs. It is not an easy task in either side of the Atlantic." He also suggested that "if there is a silver lining to all of this, it is perhaps that it has shown just how interdependent our economies now are. Therefore, we need to work ever more closely together."

UNESCO’s SCIENCE Programs May Be Affected by suppression of U.S. funding

The United States is cutting funding to the U.N. education and science agency UNESCO after the agency voted to accept a Palestinian bid for full membership.

Currently the U.S. covers approximately one fifth of the UNESCO costs but by cutting that funding it will be even harder for the American agenda at UNESCO to be accomplished.

Possible affected programmes include the early tsunami warning system extending from the Pacific to the Caribbean as well as programmes dear to US interests in Iraq (e.g.: analysis of freshwater resources) and Afghanistan (e.g.: literacy training).

U.S. laws were passed in 1990 and 1994 which prohibits any financial contribution to “the United Nations, if the United Nations grants full membership as a state in the United Nations to any organization or group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood”.

Read more under the following link! 

NASA’s Webb Telescope’s Funding Preserved

Congress appears to have preserved funding for the James Webb Space Telescope. After announcing a possible cut for NASA’s Webb Telescope, the House and the Senate backed off and voted on Nov 17, 2011 to restore full funding for the entire project. 

NASA will, however, need to reduce spending in other areas, as its overall budget was decreased by more than half a billion dollars from last year’s levels.   Lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the Senate issued a final spending bill for NASA and several other federal agencies that "accommodates cost growth" for the $8.7 billion telescope. But that language is seen as affirming the Senate's support for the embattled telescope after the House has eliminated its funding.

The Webb Telescope is an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

BILAT-USA @ Final conference of EU-U.S. Pilot projects on "Transatlantic methods for handling global challenges"

On 10 November 2011 the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission´s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments invited its seven Pilot projects on "Transatlantic methods for handling global challenges" to present their results and recommendations to a selected audience of policy makers from European institutions, Member States and the U.S. mission to the EU. The aim of this event was to explore the opportunities for enhanced transatlantic dialogue in different areas of cooperation, from security over immigration to e-health.

The main purpose of all seven pilot projects handling global challenges was to increase mutual understanding between policy makers and policy researchers and break the ice in order to explore new trends. The pilot projects will not be continued, consequently the next steps should be the study of policy implications of the assumptions, findings and recommendations made during the pilot projects as well as the initiation of multi-lateral dialogue of grand challenges.

Information on the Pilot projects and final results can be found under the links below:

EU-US Security Strategies: comparative scenarios and recommendations

Improving EU and US Immigration Systems’ Capacity for Responding to Global Challenges: Learning from experiences

Promoting Evidence-Based Transatlantic Dialogue and Convergence on Food Aid and Food Assistance Policy and Practice

CALAMAR: Cooperation Across the Atlantic for Marine Governance Integration

Transatlantic Opportunities for Meeting Challenges in Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Technologies

ARGOS eHealth: Transatlantic Observatory for Meeting Global Health Policy Challenges through ICT-Enabled Solutions

Policy focus on child obesity and commerce. Marketing food and beverages for children: setting the right standards

BILAT-USA @ SFIC Workshop "From common challenges to joint responses - adding a new dimension to EU/MS cooperation with the USA in science, technology and innovation"

On 18-19 October 2011 the Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology Cooperation (SFIC) organised a workshop in Brussels with the objectives to

• develop strategic intelligence about the USA (analysis of USA’s STI cooperation patterns) as the USA are both a partner for cooperation and a competitor in the contest for talent and ideas
• identify key areas and modalities for EU/ MS-USA cooperation based on common EU/ MS priorities, in view of issues which have strong linkages and interfaces with US partners and are significant in the future 
• raise the attractiveness of Europe as an excellent research location and achieving more balanced transatlantic mobility and knowledge flows
• share successful approaches of EU and MS and stakeholders cooperation patterns with US partners, particularly as regards the innovation dimension

BILAT-USA participated in presenting the project goals and main obstaclesfor U.S. participation in FP7.

A conference in Washington DC, scheduled for 12 December 2011, under the auspices of the Polish Presidency with the EU Delegation and Member States' Science Counsellors and organised jointly with American partners, will focus on the future of Transatlantic Research and Innovation cooperation. It will build on the results and recommendations of this workshop in Brussels

Special announcement for initiating collaborations between U.S. and EU scientists

The following NSF programmes are now open for submissions, allowing coordinating research and initiating collaborations between U.S. and EU scientists:

Plant Genome Research Programme

Read more: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11500/nsf11500.htm

Catalyzing New International Collaborations Program

Read more: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12815&org=OISE&from=home

Global Funding of Nanotechnologies – 2011

In the last 11 years, governments around the world have invested more than US$67 billion in funding nanotechnology research. While some funding programs are mature and concentrating on translational research, others are still at an early stage requiring large purchases of infrastructure, from instruments to buildings and services. Cientifica has been tracking public funding of nanotechnologies for ten years, and its unrivaled connections with academics and funding agencies make this report, the most accurate available.

The new report Global Funding of Nanotechnologies – 2011 also predicts government funding of nanotechnologies to 2015, using the latest information and taking the current economic climate into account. The report contains detailed breakdown and analyses of funding in the major economies of the Americas, Asia, EMEA and RoW including:

- Method of Distribution
- Areas of Distribution
- Infrastructure Funding
- Timescale for Funding
- Size of Funding Investments

 The report also looks at:

- Changes to future funding figures based on the current economic climate
- The most noticeable changes in policy or focus for nanotech funding in the current environment
- Changes in the amount of funding allocated to infrastructure/equipment based on plans going forward
- Short lists of key/major infrastructure initiatives; e.g. new nanotech centres, new initiatives
- Flagship programs that are in the works or at an early stage

Finally, using indicators from various sources such as WEF, OECD and IMF, we have calculated two key indices for each country as a measure of which countries are most well equipped to translate research into the economy.

Countries covered in detail are:

AMERICAS

USA, CANADA 

ASIA-PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA  CHINA , INDIA , JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA 

EMEA

EC, GERMANY, IRAN, ISRAEL, RUSSIA, SAUDI ARABIA, SOUTH AFRICA, UK

EU-US Task Force on Biotechnology Research: Five-Year Strategic Plan

Since 1990, the EU-US Task Force on Biotechnology Research has been coordinating transatlantic efforts to promote research on biotechnology and its applications for the benefit of society. The Task Force was established in June 1990 by the European Commission and the White House Office of Science and Technology. This mandate is renewed every five years.

The Task Force has acted as an effective forum for discussion, for coordination and for developing new ideas. Task Force serves as an important think-tank. It focuses on the future of biotechnology and challenges the scientific communities on both sides of the Atlantic to expand their thinking beyond specific scientific disciplines. The dialogue has been further broadened by including social scientists in all activities.

Task Force members are European Commission and US Government science and technology administrators who meet annually to enhance communication across the Atlantic, and to encourage collaborative research. Through sponsoring workshops, and other activities, the Task Force also brings together scientific leaders and early career researchers from Europe and the United States to forecast research challenges and opportunities and to promote better links between researchers. Over the years, by keeping a focus on the future of science, the Task Force has played a key role in establishing a diverse range of emerging scientific fields, including bioinformatics ( 1992), neuroinformatics(1993) nanobiotechnology(a new term coined by the Task Force in 1997), neonatal immunology, transkingdom molecular biology(2003), obesity ( 2006), synthetic biology(2006), systems biology (2007) marine genomics (2007) and applications of biotechnology to sustainable energy(2008).

In 2009, the Task Force organised a total of seven initiatives amongst which workshops, seminars and courses covering a wide range of subjects such as virtual tissues, obesity, animal bio-informatics, synthetic biology, plant bio-informatics and women leadership in biotechnology research.
For the celebration of its 20th anniversary, in 2010, the Task Force put together a major conference, in Barcelona, in June, followed by a two day meeting in the same Spanish city.
To close 2010, a workshop on Marine Genomics will take place from 10 to 12 October in Washington D.C, in the United States.

The Five-Year Strategic Plan (2011-2015) is now available in the library section of the web site.
The web site also has a new look and a new location, so please update any bookmarks/favorites you may have saved

Very well received BILAT-USA Technology Transfer Management workshop

On 4 October 2011 the BILAT-USA project organised its Technology Transfer Management workshop in Luxembourg, in collaboration with INTRASOFT International and Luxinnovation GIE, the National Agency for Promotion of Innovation and Research in Luxembourg.

Main purpose of the workshop was to highlight the importance of Technology Transfer in Europe and schare good practice with the U.S..

The following speakers were involved in the programme:

• Arnaud Duban, Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)
• Magdalena Appel and Daniel Gottschald, Chemie Cluster Bayern
• Catarina Araujo and Serge Quazotti, European IPR Helpdesk
• George Vincent, NineSigma Europe
• Jeff Cope, Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

Main message of the Technology Transfer Management workshop was that Innovation is the main source of competitive differentiation and one of the most important drivers for company growth. Technology Transfer has to be need driven with Open Innovation supporting the access to more ideas and different skills.

Jeff Cope from the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in the U.S., one of the world’s leading research institutes, presented the ways to identify market applications and potential clients for early-stage technologies. He pointed out that a market exists when technology is used as the basis for products/services that deliver meaningful value to a group of customers with common needs.

New Survey on transatlantic relationship

An annual survey was released on 14 September 2011 exploring how Americans and Europeans view the transatlantic relationship and a number of challenges facing the world. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Releases a draft five-year Plan for Rare Diseases.

The FDA has released a draft five-year plan for fostering rare disease drug development and help drug makers interested in developing treatments for the diseases. Training of biotech companies and outreach to the many stakeholders involved will be conducted as outlined in the report that you can read here.

Changes at NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Proposal Submission Process

In January 2012, the Divisions of Environmental Biology (DEB) and Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) are moving to an annual cycle of preliminary and full proposals. After review of preliminary applications by a panel of outside experts, applicants will be invited or not invited to submit a full proposal. This decision is due to the increasing number of received applications (up by 43% for IOS) and the change is intended to reduce the burden associated with full review of all received proposals.

Details can be found in a program solicitation posted on each division’s website (DEB) and (IOS), along with a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

NSF pulls out from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and goes alone after 2013

With fear of more budget constraints, NSF decided to pull out of the program it co-lead with Japan (and involving 26 countries in total) and continue research on its own, in the hope to better support U.S. investigators and cut costs. NSF overall budget was 1% lower this year than in 2010, and the income received from the 2009 stimulus package is almost exhausted. The future will see “a new operating model that streamlines operating costs and generates new external sources of revenue to support the research vessel JOIDES Resolution” say Timothy Killeen and David Conover in their letter to the community. While the Japanese partners understand NSF’s decision, it is worrisome for global scientific cooperation and an international vision for ocean drilling.

Details available here

NSF Europe Office now headed by Dr. Carmen Huber

Dr Carmen Huber took her new function in September 2011. Dr. Huber has been with NSF for 16 years, previously serving as Program Director at the Division of Materials Research and was a NSF Embassy Fellow in Uzbekistan. She succeeds Dr. David Stonner, who is now deputy director of NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE). The Europe Office represents NSF in Europe and Eurasia and reports on matters of interest in all fields of research supported at the NSF. In addition, the Office Head serves as liaison between European research and education agencies and the NSF.

The Europe Office is managed by the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE), which maintains a leadership role in promoting and coordinating international cooperation. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a U.S. government agency responsible for promoting basic research and education in science and engineering. International activities are supported throughout the NSF portfolio. NSF typically makes awards to U.S. academic institutions, which retain all intellectual property rights. NSF conducts no research of its own.

New Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at National aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

New Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at National aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The new directorate combines the former Space Operations and Exploration Systems mission directorates. According to NASA's press release, the new unit, to be headed by Associate Administrator Bill Gerstenmaier, will focus on "Space Station operations and human exploration beyond low Earth orbit." The reorganization will fully integrate the operation of NASA's in-space assets and current capabilities with planning for the agency's future, including the size and type of the work force, facilities and contracts. Details available here

New National Institute of Health (NIH) Intramural Center for Regenerative Medicine created

Stem cell technologies will be the focus of the world class center of excellence administered by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Headed by Mahendra S. Rao the goal of the center is to serve as a stem cell resource for the scientific community, providing stem cells, as well as the supporting protocols and standard operating procedures used to derive, culture, and differentiate them in to different cell types.

Details available here

Scientific Integrity Policies for National Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency and others

Responding to a December 2010 Office of Science and Technology Policy Memorandum, many U.S. entities are either finishing their Scientific Integrity Policies, have submitted drafts and working on received public comments, or have adopted new plans. Entities with plans still in the works are National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the National Science Foundation; the Environmental Protection Agency; and the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, and Transportation.

For more information see Office of Science and Technology Policy memorandum

and http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/08/11/scientific-integrity-policies-submitted-ostp

Patent Reform Bill Now a Law

On September 15 the U.S. President signed into law the American Invents Act (H.R. 1249, introduced last March). This law is intended to reform the nation’s patent system from “first-to-invent” to “first-to-file”, bringing the U.S. into line with the standard used by most countries.  The nation’s system hadn’t been revised in over 50 years. It is interesting to note that the EU is also looking at reforming its patent system and establish a sole system, in English. A study published in February 2011 entitled “The UE patent system: to be or not to be?” carried out by researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) analysed the barriers and suggested measures to improve the system.

Details of the Law

Details of the paper

Initial Multi-annual Financial Framework - A Budget for Europe 2020

On 29 June 2011 the European Commission presented the Multiannual Financial Framework which translates into financial terms the Union's political priorities for the period 2014-2020. The next budget should be modernised by reallocating resources to priority areas such as pan-European infrastructure, research and innovation, education and culture, securing the EU's external borders and external relations policy priorities such as the EU's neighbourhood.

Investment in research and innovation in the next seven years will be significantly increased. The common EU strategy "Horizon 2020" worth €80 billion will boost Europe's global competitiveness and help create the jobs and ideas of tomorrow. It will gather all projects in this area to eliminate fragmentation and make sure EU -funded projects better complement and help coordinate national efforts. This funding will be complemented by important support for research and innovation in the Structural Funds.

Source and more information click here

Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

"Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation" will be the new, integrated funding system that will cover all research and innovation funding opportunities currently provided through the Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development (FP7), the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

These different types of funding will be brought together in a coherent and flexible manner. Horizon 2020 will eliminate fragmentation and ensure more coherence, including with national research programmes. It will be closely linked to key sectoral policy priorities such as health, food security and the bio-economy, energy and climate change. Research and innovation funding will focus clearly on addressing global challenges. The access to programs and participation will be made easier and simpler.

The new programme will enter into force on 1 January 2014, after the end of FP7 on 31 December 2013.

New ERC website launched!

The European Research Council launched a new website!

It gives new functionalities and more visibility to ERC striking projects and allows web users to make tailored searches. Documents, FAQ and specific information on funding opportunities are easier to find. Also, a special section for non-EU researchers has been developed.

Four ideas to get the U.S. and EU working together on healthcare

When it comes to healthcare, there can be deep political differences, but consensus is usually reached regarding the need for innovation in the field, such as new technologies to save life, new systems to control costs, and new ways of thinking to prevent illness from the start.  A recent report on a bilateral meeting between EU and U.S. experts in healthcare technologies lists four ideas of innovation cooperation between the EU and the U.S.: caring for the ageing population, stimulating innovation, regulating new biological medicines, and studying the economics of e-health.  You have more suggestions?  Send them to: reports@sciencebusiness.net

BILAT-USA and Link2US support EURO-BASIN in its efforts to promote transatlantic collaboration in Ocean Sciences

Group on Earth Observations (GEO) draft Work Plan 2012-2015 submitted for official review

The GEO draft Work Plan has been designed to fully address the 2015 Strategic Targets, i.e. establish an operational and sustainable GEO System of Systems (GEOSS); reinforce coordination, user engagement and resource mobilization; and provide information products and end-to-end services tailored to serve society’s needs. Based on the outcome of the official review, and the recommendations made by the Executive Committee in July 2011, the Secretariat will prepare Version 2 of the 2012-2015 Work Plan, to be issued in October2011 with other plenary documents and submitted to the GEO-VIII Plenary in November 2011 for “acceptance as a living document”.

The Work Plan is target driven, consisting of three parts

Part 1 “Infrastructure” features the physical cross-cutting components of an operational and sustainable GEOSS, including interoperable observing, modelling and dissemination systems

Part 2 “Institutions and Development” describes “GEO at work” and the community’s efforts to ensure that GEOSS is sustainable, relevant and widely used; it focuses on reinforcing data sharing, resource mobilization, capacity development, user engagement and science and technology integration.

Part 3 “Information for Societal Benefits” focuses on the information, tools and end-to-end systems that should be available through GEOSS to support decision-making.

Details can be found in the following GEO draft Work Plan 2012-2015!

International Collaboration in Chemistry between U.S. Investigators and their Counterparts Abroad (ICC)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to enhance opportunities for collaborative activities between U.S. and foreign investigators. To realize this goal, the Division of Chemistry at NSF has partnered with

• the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF; Austrian Science Fund) of Austria, 
• the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR; National Research Agency) of France,
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS),
• the Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR; National Research Fund) of Luxembourg,
• the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR),
• Spain Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MICINN; Ministry of Science and Innovation), 
• the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC), and
• the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom. 

The NSF Division of Chemistry will accept collaborative research proposals in basic research in chemistry, written in English, which establish bilateral collaborations between U.S. investigators and investigators from the countries listed above. 

All details can be found under the following link!

NASA research announcement- ROSES 2011: Topical Workshops, Symposia, and Conferences

This NASA Research Announcement (NRA) solicits proposals for supporting basic and applied research and technology across a broad range of Earth and Space science program elements relevant to one or more of the following NASA Research Programs: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. 

Read more under the following link! 

International Research in Homeland Security Science & Technology Mission Areas DHS-11-ST-108-002

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate is soliciting applications for international research projects aligned with the mission and requirements of DHS S&T. These projects should be designed to augment and complement,through international research and collaboration, the depth and breadth of homeland security science and technology research being managed by the DHS S&T Directorate. Specifically, the S&T Directorate seeks proposals that will contribute to homeland security science and technology, including but not limited to: Evaluation of novel tools for or approaches to confronting homeland security challenges; Basic research to provide data, understandings, or models that support S&T efforts or policy decisions; and S&T and operations research evaluations to support revolutionary improvements in DHS’s mission and its component agencies operations.

Read more under the following link!

Europe and the U.S. signed joint statement to stop illegal fishing

There is increasing need for international cooperation, especially among major fishing and seafood-importing nations, to improve global fisheries management of shared marine resources and to preserve the associated employment and other economic benefits of sustainable fisheries. The agreement signed by the European Union and the United States is an important step toward achieving these goals, commiting the EU and the U.S. to work together to adopt the most effective tools to combat illegal fishing. It commits them to continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of management measures in their role as parties to regional fishery management organizations and to various international treaties, and commits them to using tools that prevent (illegal, unreported and unregulated) IUU operators from benefiting economically from their illegal activities.

The new agreement includes a system to exchange information on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) activities; promotes management measures at regional fishery management organizations that strengthen the control, monitoring and enforcement of vessels operation within certain areas; encourages other countries to ratify and implement the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Committee on Fisheries’ Port State Measures Agreement; and  promotes the sustainable use of fisheries resources while preserving marine biodiversity.

Read more under the following link!

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in discussion with senior U.S. officials

Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met yesterday in Washington D.C. with Phil Reeker, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and a number of senior U.S. officials; as well as with Philippe Le Houerou, Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia Region.

Secretary General Biscevic informed in detail about RCC activities and implementation of the organization’s Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, which were deemed important for a lasting consolidation of peace and stability, economic and social development of South East Europe.

The officials agreed that infrastructure development should continue to be in the region’s focus, with expected more active involvement of the governments of South East Europe.

Read more under the following link!

Single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the EU

In October/November 2011 the EU will adopt a new directive providing for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the EU. A common set of rights shall put them on an equal footing with the nationals of the member state where they reside.

This new directive shall lead to a simpler and faster procedure and an easier way to control the status of third-country immigrants. A single application will be sufficient for a single residence and work permit.

Read more under the following link!

Benchmarking EU & U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness

The Atlantic Century II updates ITIF’s 2009 report on the United States’ innovation-based competitiveness compared with a diverse group of countries. Using 16 key indicators, such as scientists and engineers, corporate and government R&D, venture capital, productivity and trade performance, the 2011 report finds that the United States leads Europe in twelve of the sixteen indicators, including knowledge (higher education and number of researchers); innovation (corporate and government R&D; information technology (IT investments, e-government, and broadband); overall business climate; entrepreneurship (new firms and venture capital), and productivity. The EU-15 leads the United States in just four of the indicators: academic publications, a lower effective corporate tax, trade performance, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows.

The United States lags behind several European nations, including Finland and Sweden. However, it is important to note when making comparisons between individual EU nations and the United States, that there is also significant regional variation within the United States. If we compare individual U.S. states against individual EU nations, the picture is quite different.

Read the whole Report under the following link.

Announcement of Grant Competition: EU-U.S. Policy Research and Debate 2012-2013

Cooperation between U.S. and EU-based institutions is encouraged by the Delegation of the European Union in Washington, DC. Activities should focus on reflecting and discussing on the EU-U.S. relationship and should address a growing transatlantic agenda for globalisation focusing in particular on future challenges and directions of transatlantic relations. 

Proposals are invited from think tanks, public policy research centers, and other non-profit and non-governmental organizations based in the United States for activities that encourage policy research and debate about EU-U.S. relations. For applications with such cooperation, a U.S.-based institution must take the lead in submitting applications, with any EU-based institutions involved acting as project partners. 

 Activities may target broad audiences or specific groups. They may include:

• conferences, seminars and workshops;
• policy research, briefing and working papers;
• briefing sessions and fellowships targeting opinion-makers; and
• other activities that facilitate greater understanding of the EU and EU-US relations and productive dialogue across the Atlantic amongst policymakers and analysts.

Application Deadline is 19 September 2011!

Competition Call for Proposals and related documents can be found under the following link.

A new science adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State

William Colglazier, recently retired executive officer of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council, has been appointed as new Science and Technology Adviser to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Colglazier will lead the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary, whose mission is to provide the secretary and other senior State Department officials with scientific and technical expertise in support of the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy.

Transatlantic research funding programmes on cardiovascular and neurovascular field

Fondation Leducq offers various funding and award programmes to researchers from North America and Europe to collaborate on cardiovascular and neurovascular field.

For details

Registrations are now open for the Technology Transfer Management Training Workshop!

A Technology Transfer management training workshop will be organized on the 4^th of October 2011 in Luxembourg by the BILAT USA project in collaboration with Luxinnovation GIE, the National Agency for Promotion of Innovation and Research in Luxembourg.

For details and registration please click here

Transatlantic Methods for Handling Global Challenges in the EU and the U.S.

2 closed circles of Pilot projects promoting mutual understanding and learning among EU and U.S. policy researchers and policy makers

12 projects have been awarded a grant since 2008 fostering common approaches and facing global challenges in areas such as Environment, Energy, Health, IPR policies and other global issues of importance between the EU and the U.S.

The first wave of Pilot projects implemented in 2008/2009 allocated a sum of €2.5 million to five projects covering five different topics. The projects consisted of comparative analyses of current EU and U.S. policies, conferences where findings were discussed and recommendations made, and publications to disseminate the results of the projects to the relevant policy community.

The European Parliament decided to continue in 2009 with a second year of Pilot projects and allocated a sum of €3 million. Grants have been awarded to seven projects implemented between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2011.

Interesting results on EU-U.S. S&T cooperation and recommendations are available in published reports and project descriptions! 

New FP7 Calls targeting Research Cooperation between EU and U.S.

The new Work Programmes for 2012 of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) were published on 20 July 2011. With the key objective of strengthening competitiveness, this years calls make available nearly 7 billion Euro for joint research projects covering a vast range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas and commercial sectors. This funding shall contribute to advance scientific boundaries, increase European competitiveness and help solve global societal challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population.

The Seventh EU Framework Programme is open to organisations from outside Europe, this years’ calls for proposals have a particular focus on stimulating cooperation with the U.S. Currently open FP7 calls (filtered by research themes) specifically targeting research cooperation between the EU and the U.S. can be found here.

The United States of America are indirectly adressed in FP7 calls targeting e.g.:

• The North American Region
• Industrialized Countries
• High Income Countries
• Countries which have signed an agreement with the EU covering Science and Technology
• Other (geo-)political/economic classifications including the U.S.

U.S. organisations are in addition also eligible for the participation in all other project proposals submitted to the European Commission in response to the general open Calls provided that the minimum conditions laid down in the FP7 Rules for Participation have been met, including any additional conditions laid down by FP7 Specific Programmes (Cooperation, Ideas, People, Capacities) or individual FP7 Work Programmes.

Information about FP7 participation, funding conditions for non-EU Member States or FP7 Associated Countries (such as the U.S.) and presentations of the European Commission on the international dimension of the 2012 Work Programmes are available here:

• http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/who_en.html
• http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/who_en.html#countries
• http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=fp7
• http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?pg=international_dimension_2012wp

A summarisation of the FP7 participation conditions for third countries can be found here.

Issues in EU Participation in U.S. Federal Science & Technology Research Funding Programmes

Link2US organized a workshop at the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) Annual Conference in Braganca, Portugal on 24 June 2011. The aim of the session was to better understand major U.S. research funding programmes and to help identify key issues and navigate obstacles related to these programmes for grant administrators/ managers, particularly those in non-U.S. institutions. The session featured a discussion to elucidate those policy areas that should be made more coherent and compatible by U.S. and EU authorities to ease research cooperation.

Two U.S. funding entities – National Institute of Health (NIH) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – were represented and speakers gave overviews on the programmes available for EU researchers, along with comments about grants stewardship regarding foreign applicants.

Detailed information, including presentations, can be found here.

EU Framework Programme: Announcement for new calls of 7 billion Euro

ACCESS4EU Information Day Held on ICT Proposers’ Day

A thematic workshop on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) was held in Budapest on 20 May 2011 with the participation of 10 non-EU countries in the frame of the Access4EU initiative. The overall objective of this thematic workshop was to deliver a general overview on ICT research cooperation between Europe and the target countries. Link2US project, as part of the Access4EU initiative was represented by Katalin Kalai (TETALAP, Hungary). She gave a short overview on the U.S. research system on ICT as well as the opportunities for collaboration open for EU researchers. Presentations from the workshop can be found on the event website.

Opportunities for Health Research in Third Countries

On 9 June 2011, Link2US participated in an Access4EU info session in Brussels, focused on opportunities for health research in third countries. The event was part of the official FP7 Health-information day organised by the European Commission. The aim of this Access4EU info-session was to provide an overview of the opportunities in Health research that exist outside Europe. Participants not only had the opportunity to understand the importance of International Cooperation under FP7, but also to learn about the access possibilities to Third Countries RTD programmes.

The information session was very popular with more than 100 participants present. U.S. programmes open for EU researchers was reviewed by Dr. David Bruce Conn, from the Office of International Health and Biodefense (OES/IHB), U.S. Department of State. Presentations from the workshop can be found on the events website.

Workshop on “Bilateral EU-US Cooperation in Nanotechnology”

The BILAT-USA consortium organised a workshop on 1 June 2011 in Budapest in the frame of the EuroNanoForum 2011. The main purpose of the event was to bring U.S. and EU researchers and technology transfer firms together in order to support exchange of ideas, to facilitate formation of new partnerships and to advance the frontier research in the area. Participants received information about the nanotechnology research in the EU and in the U.S. The U.S. was represented by Mark A. Canning, Head of Environment, Science and Technology HUB Office, US Embassy Budapest, while the European Commission was represented by George Katalagarianakis. Information was distributed about the possibilities for the cooperation, and current projects were also represented in order to demonstrate existing collaborations. Presentations of the workshop will be uploaded to the website of the conference.

EU and U.S. Transatlantic Dialogue on Biometrics and Security Technologies

On 5-6 May 2011, the EU funded initiative RISE (Rising pan?European and International Awareness on Biometrics and Security Ethics) held a meeting in Washington DC, hosted and organized by the Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies (C-PET). The main focus of the meeting was to continue the international dialogue already initiated by earlier conferences and workshops on ethics and biometrics, as well as to discuss the establishment of an international interest group and to prepare the agenda for the 4th and final RISE International Conference to be held on December 1-2, 2011 in Brussels (for participation please contact Silvia Venier – silvia.venier@cssc.eu ).

This high-level meeting resulted in a deeper understanding of global issues related to data protection and privacy and included roundtable discussions on biometrics and security in global perspective, emerging issues in biometrics and policy, emerging global policy questions, and security, privacy and ethics. Guest speakers included Mr. Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor and Mary Ellen Callahan, CPO at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Stewart Baker, former Assistant Secretary for Policy, DHS, Duane Blackburn, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Robert Mocny, Director of US-VISIT Program, DHS, Rene von Schomberg, European Commission, and Jay Stanley of the ACLU, amongst others.

“NIH and EC Funding” Information Day Highlights Joint Funding Opportunities for U.S. and EU Researchers

NIH and EC funding: Building transatlantic partnerships information day took place on 23 May 2011, in Brussels. The event mainly focused on joint funding opportunities within the European Commission (EC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), for EU and U.S. researchers in the field of health.

In particular:

Ian Magrath: President International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research, Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute - NIH

Highlighted how a wide number of European researchers successfully applying for a NIH grant in the past reported on the opportunities offered by NIH and its funding strands. Some entrepreneurs explained how they had been using a research grant to boost enterprise.

Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, Director of the Health Directorate at the Research DG of the European Commission

She overviewed the whole Health theme under 7FP, and under European research more in general, with a focus on European Innovation Partnerships and Public Private Partnerhips. The last two calls in for the Health theme are going to fund a smaller number of projects but with a stronger target on market and clinical trials; total, 1.43 billions of euros. Partnerships with USA are meant to continue, in that they were 91 out of 690 funded projects so far and the EC wants to go on this way, notwithstanding IPR controversies. Part of the budget is supposed to cover ERAnet and some targeted topics for SMEs, for instance the all new SMEs for innovation (unfortunately only for European SMEs). Rare diseases and diabetes will be also brand new topics.

Dr. Skentelbery, Secretary General European Biotechnology Network

After a short presentation of NIH, explained how each NIH sub-institute diverges from other ones in funding scheme, overall budget, organization, and so on; there is therefore a plurality of opportunities. Each year starts with a program announcement scheduling proxy deadlines, spread throughout twelve months. Projects typology may vary (R01, SBIR/STTR, etc.); success rate is higher than European one, around 25%.

Dr. Fagerstedt highlighted pros and cons of his experience in partnerships with NIH grant winning institutions; applications need more details, NIH gives a lot of feedback on activities, but there is lack of total indirect costs coverage. Moreover, it is difficult to hold a grant if there were no previous lasting relationships with granting institution (or with bodies already granted by granting institution). A good legal and administrative office is required in order to deal with all controversies which may rise, especially on IPR but also auditing. It is true that some accomplishment may be performed by NIH itself, but NIH will lean towards taking decisions then.

Finally, investing opportunities were displayed by some business angels and venture capitalists companies, willing to boost the loose European tendency to create enterprises relying on health research results.

NIH Success Rate Likely to Reach Historic Low

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director, Francis Collins, testified on 11 May 2011 before the U.S.  Senate and projected that the success rate for grant applications would reach a historic low in FY 2011 - around 17 or 18%.

U.S. HHS holds 2nd Annual Health Data Initiative Forum

On 9 June 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Institute of Medicine (IoM) co-hosted the second annual Health Data Initiative Forum. The forum focused on innovative applications and services that harness the power of open data from HHS and other sources. Overall, the goal is to help improve health and health care. Forty-five new or updated solutions were featured, that serve the needs of consumers, health care providers, employers, public health leaders, and policy makers.

DOE 2011 Strategic Plan Released

The U.S. Department of Energy has released its 2011 Strategic Plan.  The 2011 plan aims to serve as a blueprint for DOE to address the U.S. energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. The plan is organized into four categories: catalyzing the transformation of the U.S. energy system and securing U.S. leadership in clean energy technologies; maintaining a vibrant U.S. effort in science and engineering as a cornerstone of U.S. economic prosperity; enhancing nuclear security through defense, nonproliferation, and environmental efforts; and establishing a framework to maximize mission success.

NSF Releases Strategic Plan for FY2011-2016

On May 10 the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) released its strategic plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2011-2016. Empowering the Nation Through Discovery and Innovation: NSF Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2011-2016 sets three strategic goals: "transform the frontiers, innovate for society, and perform as a model organization." The agency notes that it will continue to utilize both intellectual merit and broader impacts as metrics for awarding grants and as tools for finding ways "to reach out to the range of communities that play complementary roles in the innovation process and are essential to ensuring the impact of NSF investments." In addition, “…increasing international partnerships and collaborations.” is specifically highlighted within the plan as performance goal.

Training, Career and Mobility of Researchers in the Innovation Union

“Training, Career and Mobility of Researchers in the Innovation Union” Conference will be held in Budapest, Hungary on 28-29 June 2011. The conference will be organized by the Hungarian Science and Technology Foundation in the frame of the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The main objective of the conference is to provide a suitable forum for discussing the training, career and mobility of researchers from different perspectives while highlighting challenges and best practices. As the Hungarian Presidency gives special attention to the involvement of young people as a horizontal priority, this conference will aim to promote the researchers’ life paths and to encourage young people to embark on scientific careers. The conference will also provide an opportunity to present the achievements of the EURAXESS programme.

5th Call for Networking and Brokerage Events in the Programme Transport (incl. Aeronautics)

Within the Framework of the FP7 Transport Information Days (18-19 July 2011, Brussels), the project ETNA is organising two networking and brokerage events. These events will focus on transport (including Aeronautics) topics covered within the next round of calls, to be published in July 2011. The networking and brokerage events will take place in the afternoon on both days – following the informational sessions carried out by the EC in the morning. The event on day 1 (Monday, July 18) will focus on the topics in the sub-programme Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT). The event on day 2 (Tuesday, July 19) will focus on the sub-programme Sustainable Surface Transport (SST). Both events will take place in the building Charlemagne, rue de la Loi 170 – the same location as the informational sessions in the morning.

Participation in the networking and brokerage events is free of charge. For logistical reasons, ETNA requests all participants to register for the event online using the registration system provided in the event dedicated page. Deadline for registration for the networking and brokerage events is the 13^th of July 2011.

FP7 KBBE Information Day & Brokerage Event on 15 July 2011

The European Commission (EC), on 15 July 2011, in Brussels, will organize an information day for the new call, FP7-KBBE-6-2012, under the 'Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology' theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).  The event is also being organized in collaboration with Bio Circle 2 project.

EU and Third County research stakeholders from both the public and private sectors will attend this international event. During the information day, the Commission Officers will provide information to the participants about the FAFB Theme. In the afternoon a Brokerage Event organized by the Bio Circle 2 project, in order to give to the researchers the opportunity to present their proposal ideas and meet potential new partners interested in joining a consortium; group discussions and face-to-face meetings will be organized during the partnering event.

Participant interested in uploading their profile with specific competence and potential project ideas must fill in the form available on the registration website before the 26th June 2011.

Participants are invited to proceed with the registration to the info day & BE before 8th July 2011.

The event is free-of-charge.

Registration is available at the link:

http://www.b2match.eu/biobro2011/

 http://www.biocircle-project.eu/events/info-day-brokerage-event-on-call-fp7-kbbe-6-2012.aspx

info_day_leaflet.pdf

FP7 Calls 2012 to be opened in July 2011

The next wave of FP7 Calls will be opened in the second half of July 2011, with deadlines being set for most of the Calls in Autumn/Winter 2011.

The Programmes involved are COOPERATION (Health; Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology; Information and Communication Technologies; Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials & new Production technologies; Energy; Environment; Transport; Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities; Space; Security), IDEAS/ERC (Physical Sciences and Engineering; Life Sciences; Social Sciences and Humanities) and CAPACITIES (Research Infrastructures; Research for SMEs; Science in Society).

All topics under Theme Health are open for the participation of international partners from third countries. In recognition of the opening of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services programmes to European researchers, participants established in the U.S. are eligible for funding and participation in all topics described in this work programme.

International cooperation continues to be an integral part of most of the other Themes and several topics are open for participants from the International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPCs).

Get support through the Network of National Contact Points (NCP) in your Country to learn more and find potential project partners!

First periodic report submitted by Link2US

Link2US activities aim to enhance the awareness and participation of European researchers and research organisations in national research programmes of the United States.

"Mapping and Monitoring Access Opportunities in the United States” shall identify the opportunities and barriers to cooperation between European researchers and organisations with those of the United States by collecting data about U.S. federal funding programmes, surveying the S&T cooperation agreements with the United States, and monitoring European participation in U.S. funding programmes. The initial inventory of U.S. federal civilian funding programmes identified 14 programmes open to EU-based institutions.
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/link2us/funding-opportunities.html

The survey of all S&T agreements between the United States and EU as well as the agreements between the United States and individual EU Member States and Associated Countries identified 17 S&T agreements.
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/link2us/st-agreements.html

To analyse the issues faced by researchers at European institutions participating in U.S. programmes, a survey was conducted of those researchers and grant administrators in Europe who participated in the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant programmes.
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/document/show/id/296

Participation statistics of EU-based researchers during U.S. fiscal year 2009 were analysed for three U.S. federal entities, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and NIH, which are able to directly fund EU-based institutions.
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/document/show/id/241

“Dissemination and Communication” develops and implements the most effective methodologies in increasing awareness of access opportunities in the United States to the European research community at large. The Link2US dissemination strategy was finalized during this period, taking into account the ACCESS4EU Common Dissemination Strategy elaborated with other ACCESS4EU projects and the EC. In coordination with the BILAT-USA project, the official portal and project website was launch.
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/link2us

A catalogue was published based on those funding programmes identified in WP1.
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/uploads/docs/Link2US-digital_FinalCatalogue.pdf

Two versions of the project logo, a general logo including a unique key common to all ACCESS4EU projects, and a banner for use within reports, the website, etc. were finalized during this period. Five issues of the E-newsletter, along with 18 E-alerts, have been delivered so far in coordination with the BILAT-USA project.
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/home/newsletter.html

“Coordination and Awareness Raising Activities” focus on connecting the stakeholders in the EU-U.S. S&T agreement and raising the awareness about the U.S. scientific research funding structure. To cooperate and coordinate with national authorities in the United States and the EC, 14 meetings have taken place. A contact list of relevant initiatives to EU-U.S. cooperation has been compiled, including ERA-Nets, EURAXESS LINKS, and BILAT-USA. The first awareness raising activity was held during ICT2010. An Advisory Group consisting of two U.S. and four European leaders in S&T, in cooperation with the BILAT-USA project, was established during this first period. Advisory Group terms of reference were finalized and two meetings of the advisory group have been completed.

First periodic report submitted by BILAT-USA

BILAT-USA, coordinated by FFG, Austria, submitted its first 18 months report end of May 2011.

As for the impact of the project, BILAT-USA:

• contributed to the transatlantic dialogue on S&T through the Policy Forum and communication and coordination with EC and U.S. authorities
• created a comprehensive information portal with all EU-U.S. S&T related information easily accessible
• improved the process of providing information on funding opportunities designed to promote cooperation with the U.S. in the Framework Programme
• contributed to provision of supportive and background information of EU and U.S. S&T systems as well as mechanisms
• shared best practices via Symposia, presenting state of the art and the prospects for cooperation such as in the fields of Research Infrastructures, as well as Innovation and Technology Transfer
• created synergies and cooperation with other projects and initiatives 

The following main Deliverables have been finalised during the first 18 months period:

• Inventory of existing thematic task forces/working groups and ERA-Nets
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/bilat-usa/inventory.html
•  Conduct of initial project environmental analysis, identification of round 120 major key players and multipliers that may contribute further to the enhancement of EU-U.S. cooperation in S&T
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/bilat-usa/key-players.html
• Organization of the First Policy Forum in Washington D.C. on 13 May 2010 as part of the AAAS Science Policy Forum
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/uploads/docs/M2a_PolicyForum1_external.pdf
• Development of an overview on national priorities and completion of the “Analysis on S&T Priorities in Public Research in Europe and the U.S”
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/uploads/docs/M3_PrioritySetting_EUUS_final20122010.pdf
• Completion of the analysis “U.S. participation in the Framework Programme”,
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/uploads/docs/D2_1_US_FP_Participation_201210.pdf
• Organization of the Large Scale Research Infrastructures Symposium in Rome on 1.October 2010, back to back with the EuroRisNet Project Conference
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/home/risymposium
• Organization of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Symposium in Vienna on 22.March 2011, in cooperation with the Austrian Chamber of Economics, back to back with the MIT Europe Conference 2011 on “Innovation in a Networked World - Technology, People and Places”
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/home/ittsymposium
• Establishment and maintenance of a comprehensive web site and common tools for sharing information on FP7, including calls, S&T news from the EU and the U.S., project related news and events; contact database and virtual help desk
http://www.EuUsScienceTechnology.eu
• Dissemination of quarterly newsletter (5 issues) to around 1,000 subscribers
http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/home/newsletter.html

The BILAT-USA project is developed in a complementary way with the Link2US project coordinated by AAAS, U.S.

Initial evaluation of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has been established to reshape the European innovation landscape and to provide solutions to bridge the innovation gap. The EIT shall be a key driver of sustainable European growth and competitiveness through the stimulation of world-leading innovations with a positive impact on economy and society. The external evaluation is a requirement of the establishing regulation of the EIT. The initial findings include: the most important priority for the EIT being to consolidate its current practices and to develop robust internal procedures to secure its long-term future.

The final evaluation report can be found under the following link!

ESFRI Strategy report and Roadmap Update 2010 to contribute to the European 2020 strategy and the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative

The “work programme” of ESFRI for the coming years and also the European Roadmap illustrating 48 pan-European Research Infrastructures or major upgrades, corresponding to the needs of EU research communities in the next 10 to 20 years was handed over on 3 May to the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN.

With an ambitious action plan the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) will help to implement as much of the top level Research Infrastructures on the ESFRI Roadmap as possible to contribute to the European 2020 strategy and the Innovation Union Flagship Initiative.

As to International Cooperation the report is mentioning, among others, that currently discussions are on-going with NSF (National Science Foundation) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to establish closer cooperation between ESFRI and these organisations in Environmental Sciences.

Read more under

EU-US ERC funded team reveal how the cells inside us like to dance

The exact science of how cells move about within the body has long been a mystery, but new research from an international team of scientists showing that cells like to move about as if part of a dance troop goes some way to filling in these blanks.
The team, made up of researchers from Spain and the United States, investigated the physical forces that determine how cells migrate. Their findings, presented in the journal Nature Materials, show that these patterns of migration are both coordinated and chaotic, meaning that at first glance it can appear as if the cells are dancing as if in a ballroom, and at the same time like they are in a 'mosh pit'.
With a boost from a European Research Council (ERC) grant under the 'Ideas' Thematic area of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), the study shows that in some cases the cells seem to battle with each other by pulling and pushing around as if in a chaotic dance, yet at the same time they all move together in a relatively coordinated and cooperative manner towards their intended direction.

LINK2US Project To Participate in FP7 Health Research Open Information Day

On 9 June 2011, in Brussels, the European Commission’s (EC) Research and Innovation DG - Directorate Health is organizing an Open Information Day on  health research within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The event aims to highlight the novelties in the planning of the 2012 Work Programme due to be published in July.  As a satellite event, 7 Access4EU projects have organized a joint info-session to provide an overview of the opportunities in health research that exist outside Europe. This event seeks to inform participants about third country funding mechanisms that are accessible for European researchers doing health research in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa and the USA.  Programme owners from each Country will present the opportunities under their international RTD programmes and there will be time for networking during a Cocktail offered afterwards. The LINK2US project will participate at this event and U.S. opportunities will be presented by Dr. David Bruce Conn (Office of International Health and Biodefense (OES/IHB), U.S. Department of State).

More information and registration:
http://www.access4.eu/healthinfoday2011/

US Nobel laureate Prof. J. Heckman awarded ERC grant

Professor James J. Heckman, American Nobel Prize winning economist from theUniversity of Chicago, has been awarded a prestigious Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). He and his team will carry out the funded research project at the University College Dublin, Ireland.

German and American scientists sequence tropical marine organism genome

German and American researchers have successfully sequenced the genome of Lyngbya majuscula (L. majuscula), a tropical marine organism able to generate substances that can be used in the treatment of human disorders including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The study is presented in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Filamentous cyanobacteria of the genus Lyngbya play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle; coral reef ecosystems benefit from their activity, as they can form dominant covers and affect the health of other co-occurring organisms. It should be noted, however, that when these strains upset healthy coral reef growth, they cause a skin rash problem that experts call 'swimmer's itch'.

Ground breaking agreement on civil aviation safety between the EU and the US enters into force

On May 1st 2011 the agreement on Cooperation in the Regulation of Civil Aviation Safety between the European Union and the United States enters into force, which will boost safety and create opportunities for businesses. This agreement means less cumbersome technical and administrative procedures for the recognition of certificates and approvals on both sides of the Atlantic and opens the way to progressively reaching the same level of mutual trust in other areas of safety.

Results of the Consultation on the Pilot European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing

From 26 November 2010 to 28 January 2011, the European Commission (EC) ran an online public consultation seeking the views of stakeholders on various aspects of the pilot partnership. This included views on the role of the partnership, as well as stakeholders’ potential contribution to the partnership, stakeholder involvement in programmes, initiatives or projects relating to innovation for active and healthy ageing; innovation barriers encountered, and ideas for future initiatives.  A report summarizing the main trends and opinions received by the EC is now available.

Cyber security: EU and US Strengthen Transatlantic Cooperation

As part of the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial in Gödöllo (Hungary) on April 14th, Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano reiterated their shared commitment to deepening cooperation to address the increasing threats to global internet and digital networks. They agreed to strengthen trans-Atlantic cooperation in cyber security by defining the issues to be tackled by the EU-US Working Group on Cyber-Security and Cyber-Crime. 

EU Embassies' Open House Day, May 7, 10 am - 4 pm, in DC

On May 7, 2011, the Delegation of the European Union to the United States and the Embassies of the 27 EU Member States to the United States will open their doors to the Washington public during the EU Open House Day. This annual event will also kick off Europe Week, which means seven days of Europe-related events all over the United States.

EU Climate Action Commissioner visits US , April 4-8

The European Union Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, is visiting the United States this week (April 4-8) for consultations on climate change policy with federal and state administration officials, members of the US Congress, green technology business leaders and other stakeholders in California and in Washington, DC.

In California (April 4-6), Commissioner Hedegaard is meeting Governor Jerry Brown and Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board. She will also meet with Google's "Green Energy Czar," Bill Weihl, and the President of Duke Energy, James Rogers.Furthermore, Commissioner Hedegaard will speak at the Brainstorm Green 2011 conference organized by Fortune Magazine.In Washington, DC, Commissioner Hedegaard will meet Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, and Members of Congress. 

Commissioner Hedegaard will also speak at an event on climate security and green technology organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace ("Climate Security and Green Technology: An EU-US Perspective").

Name the next EU research and innovation programme!

Create a catchy name for the next EU research and innovation programme! The new programme will support researchers and innovators in Europe, boost excellence and ensure that good ideas reach the market and generate real economic growth and new jobs. This needs to be reflected in a name.

Make your proposal by midnight on 10 May using the form in the link below. It should be easily associated with research and innovation, while also being original, memorable, either useable in a wide range of languages or easily translatable, and easy to pronounce and spell. You will find the main conditions below. Please consult the Official Competition Rules  for the full conditions.

(Source: European Commission)

More...

ERC at the "American Association for Cancer Research" meeting in Florida, Orlando

2 - 6 April, 2011

The ERC will attend for the first time the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011 held in Florida, Orlando from April 2nd to 6th.The AACR is the oldest and largest scientific organization in the world focused on every aspect of high-quality, innovative cancer research. Its reputation for scientific breadth and excellence attract the premier researchers in the field. The programs and services of the AACR foster the exchange of knowledge and new ideas among scientists dedicated to cancer research, provide training opportunities for the next generation of cancer researchers, and increase public understanding of cancer.The ERC will have a stand next to the booth of the EU's Delegation to the USA/EURAXESS. The ERC representatives will be Dr Eleni Zika, ERC Research programme officer, and Carla Palmieri, ERC Information and Communication officer.

ERC stand n° 2574.

JRC at the US-EU Joint workshop "Bridging nanoEHS research efforts"

European and US scientists and policymakers as well as industry researchers met at a joint US-EU workshop to discuss environmental, health and safety (EHS) concerns related to nanomaterials and nanotechnology-based products.

JRC's Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP) Director Elke Anklam gave one of the opening presentations at the workshop which was held on 10-11 March in Washington. She emphasised the need of a transition process from research on new technologies to their inclusion in the legislation. She also highlighted that harmonisation of safety assessment methods are key to success together with an adequate definition of nanomaterials.A series of sessions created an open forum for a discussion and encouraged networking for future cooperation between European and American partners. Many of the European participants are coordinators of projects funded by the European Commission's Directorate General for Research and Innovation.Other JRC researchers included Hermann Stamm, Head of Nanobiosciences Unit in the IHCP, who spoke about the need for research to support formal consumer-protection legislation and fellow colleague Frans Christensen, who made a presentation on the critical data necessary to understand nanoparticle exposure to consumers and the general population.

PROSPERITY FP7 Project: NASA astronomers take a closer look inside red giant stars

We already know that medium-mass stars become red giants when they run out of hydrogen to fuse. But what happens after that? The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kepler mission is offering such a clear view of changes in their brightness that astronomers can find clues about when red giants are hot enough to crack out the helium created from hydrogen fusion.
The astronomers' preliminary findings about what is happening inside red giant stars are presented in this week's issue of Nature journal. The study was partially funded by the 'Probing stellar physics and testing stellar evolution through asteroseismology' (PROSPERITY) project, which received a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant worth nearly EUR 2.5 million under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Transatlantic Economy 2011

The Transatlantic Economy 2011 annual report offers the most up-to-date survey of European-sourced jobs, trade, and investment for each of the fifty U.S. states and U.S.-sourced jobs, trade, and investment for all EU member states and other European economies. Continued high levels of innovation will be essential to the ability of the U.S. and Europe to recover from the economic crisis and to prosper in today’s highly competitive and connected global economy. The prosperity of Americans and Europeans will increasingly be dependent on the strength of their knowledge links to each other and to other global hubs of innovation and ideas.

Europe 2020: Competitive or Complacent?

In this study a comprehensive, up-to-date look is offered on how the EU is connected to other continents, and what those ties mean for Europe’s competitiveness in a G20 world. The EU’s global links in goods, services, money, energy, people and ideas are explained and how they affect relations between the EU and other world regions. EU’s strengths and weaknesses are assessed, and four scenarios for the EU’s future are offered.

US scientist clinches ERC Advanced Grant

American scientist Juleen R. Zierath is one of the few women to be awarded an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), the EU funding body which seeks to attract leading researchers from around the world to work in Europe. One of the most important goals of the ERC is to foster brilliant ideas beyond the frontiers of knowledge, not only making Europe a research hub for scientists but also encouraging brain circulation. Appointed professor of clinical integrative physiology at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, Professor Zierath said she found the best environment for her research at the Swedish institute.

Fellowship Programs to Support Innovative Research in Clean Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy has launched two new fellowship programs in the area of advanced clean energy technologies. The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Postdoctoral Fellowships and the SunShot Initiative Fellowships Program are designed to prepare budding scientists and engineers for careers in clean energy.

Under the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, DOE is seeking up to 20 postdoctoral fellows whose academic careers have focused on specific topics in the following technology areas: building efficiency, industrial efficiency, vehicles, fuel cells, biomass, geothermal, solar energy, and wind or water power.  The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program will support research and development of breakthrough technologies over a two year period. Applications for EERE Postdoctoral Fellowships are due by June 30, 2011; Fellowships will begin by mid-November, 2011, and last up to two years.
For more information about the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program please visit:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/postdoctoral_fellowships/index.html
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/postdoctoral_fellowships/fellowships.html

The SunShot Initiative Fellowship Program will select either recent Masters or Ph.D. graduates to focus on critical technology innovations that will advance the SunShot goal of reducing the total cost of solar energy systems by about 75 percent so that they are cost competitive with other forms of energy without subsidies by the end of the decade.  More information is available on the SunShot Initiative website.  Applications for the SunShot Initiative Fellowships Program are accepted on a rolling basis.
For more information about the SunShot Initiative and the Fellowship Program please visit:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/stp_fellowships.html
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/sunshot/

Non-US citizens are eligible to apply as long as they have Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) status.

Workshop on Issues in EU Participation in U.S. Federal S&T Research Funding Programmes

The LINK2US consortium is organizing a workshop as part of the The European Association for Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) 2011 Conference held in Bragranca, Portugal. The event will focus on identifying and navigating obstacles for grant administrators/ managers. In addition, the session will feature a robust discussion to elucidate what policy areas should be addressed by U.S. and EU authorities so that improved cooperation in U.S. programmes can occur.

Topics to be addressed include:

• An overview of the Link2US project and results from the report looking at what issues exist for EU participation in U.S. programmes;
• U.S. federal funding entity representatives will present briefly about agencies programmes open to EU-researchers/institutions and discuss key issues for foreign particiaption related to their agency;
• Experienced EU-grant administrators/managers will identify and discuss how they have addressed key issues;

Stay tuned for more information, including the workshop agenda.

Release of the report on “U.S. Participation in the Framework Programme”

The BILAT-USA project has released a new report outlining U.S. participation in the Framework Programme. The report’s goal was to assess U.S. participation in the Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) and Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) for Research and Technological Development, the European Union's main instrument for funding research in Europe. Analytical data on each different programme/ priority/ action have been provided. The methodology used to study the U.S. participation is based on data provided by the European Commission (Directorate General for Research). Report updates will occur twice during the project lifetime.

BILAT-USA to Hold Workshop at EuroNano Forum 2011

On 1 June 2011, the BILAT-USA project will hold a workshop under the auspices of the EuroNanoForum, 2011, in Budapest, Hungary. The main purpose of the event is to bring U.S. and EU researchers and technology transfer firms together in order to support exchange of ideas, to facilitate formation of new partnerships and to advance the frontier research in the area. Participants will receive information about the nanotechnology research in the EU and in the U.S. as well as about the possibilities for the cooperation. Current projects will also be represented in order to demonstrate existing collaborations. In addition, a brokerage event will be organised to open the possibilities for future transatlantic collaborations. A programme agenda is still being finalized and will be made available soon.

National Preferences in Publicly-Supported R&D Programs

Technology Policy International, an International Consultancy with Representatives in Boston, Washington, and Silicon Valley, has released a new report entitled, National Preferences in Publicly-Supported R&D Programs. The report looks focuses on the question of if foreign firms are participating in U.S., EU, and Japanese R&D programmes (publicly funded) and what terms firms must adhere to when applying for and participating in such programmes.

The study underlying the report was commissioned by the Washington, D.C., office of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Please note that the opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of NEDO or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated.

Half time – Highway – Interim Evaluation of the Seventh Framework Programme from Different Perspectives

A Conference on the Interim Evaluation of Seventh Framework Programme was organised under the aegis of Hungarian EU Presidency, in Budapest, 24-25 February 2011. By discussing the interim evaluation of the Framework Programme from different perspectives, the conference’s goal was to draw up recommendations for further implementation of the framework programme as well as for the “Common Strategic Framework” starting in 2014. Three main issues were highlighted during the Conference. In particular, discussions were held regarding problems involved with integrating new Member States’ (EU12) involvement in the framework programme; strengthening participation in the framework programme of industrial players, especially of SMEs; and efficient implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme focusing on simplification of the administrative procedures.

Opportunities for Health research in Third Countries

On 9 June 2011, the European Commission’s (EC) Access4EU programme will hold a session in Brussels, Belgium to link EU and Third Country Health Researchers. With international cooperation in Health-research being key to creating a European knowledge-based economy, the Seventh Framework Programme provides numerous opportunities for researchers in and outside Europe, to promote the possibilities of doing research under Third Country RTD programmes. As a result, six Access4EU projects, that focus on Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Russia, and the U.S., have come together to provide participants of the Health infoday on 9 and 10 June with an overview of the opportunities in Health research that exist outside Europe. EU researchers will thus not only have the opportunity to understand the importance of International Cooperation under Framework Programme, but also to learn about the access possibilities for Third Country RTD programmes. A programme agenda is still being finalized and will be made available at a later date.

U.S. NIH to Determine Health Impacts of the Gulf Oil Spill

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched the Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study, an investigation of 55,000 Gulf oil spill cleanup workers and volunteers that will last up to 10 years, in order to learn of the spill's effects on human health.

U.S. Presidential Commission Seeks Comments on Human Research Protection

The U.S. Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues has issued a request for public comments in March 2011, regarding international standards related to the issue of human subjects in federally supported research. The Commission stated that it is seeking comments on the following issues: "the existing standards for protecting human subjects, domestically and internationally; how the current system of global research works in practice; and the ethical and social justice issues that emerge from the current research system."  Comments are due by 2 May 2011.

The Commission has also announced the appointment of an International Research Panel to consider the effectiveness of current federal rules and international standards governing research involving human subjects. The Panel, which plans to meet three times, will submit a report to the Commission covering the following matters: (a) the dominant norms, and competing alternatives, driving the ethics of medical research in different global regions outside of the U.S.; (b) the conflicts, if any, between U.S. norms and international standards; (c) the challenges facing researchers conducting U.S.-funded research in global settings; and (d) how best to address any major differences in regional norms for medical research.

U.S. DOE Launches Quadrennial Review of Energy

U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu announced during a Senate Budget Committee hearing that the U.S. Department of Energy is developing a Quadrennial Energy Review. The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) previously suggested such a review in a report released last year entitled Report to the President on Accelerating the Pace of Change in Energy Technologies through an Integrated Federal Energy Policy.

Creation of EU Unitary Patent System Approved

On 10 March 2011, European Union (EU) Competition ministers authorized a proposal for EU Member States (MS) to create a unitary patent system. The proposal was adopted by all MS except Spain and Italy, and means that future patents will be automatically valid throughout all EU MS. Ministers hope that this new system will foster economic growth. The official languages of the new patent system will be English, French, and German, and Spain and Italy will have the chance to opt-in to the system. Over the next few weeks, the European Commission will release further details regarding moving forward on the systems creation.

First European Innovation Partnership Launched

The European Commission (EC) has launched its first European Innovation Partnership, choosing to focus on the theme of Active and Healthy Ageing.  Active and healthy ageing was chosen, as it is a societal challenge common to all European countries, and is viewed as an area where Europe has considerable potential global leaders in providing innovative responses to this challenge. Within this theme, three policy areas have been identified as a particular focus: prevention and health promotion, integrated care, and independent living of elderly people.  Overall, the overarching target of this partnership will be to increase the average healthy lifespan in the European Union by 2 years, by 2020.

Mapping ERA-NETs across Europe

A report, prepared by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) of the
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), presents the first mapping of the active ERA-NETs across Europe, carried out by JRC-IPTS between October 2009 and January 2010. This mapping provides a snap-shot of the ERA-NET landscape at the time of the analysis and involves collecting information along a range of dimensions that 'characterise' ERA-NETs (e.g. number of countries involved, joint activities developed, thematic coverage, etc.).

ERA-NETs are moving from a major interest in networking and building relations with
international peers towards a more strategic approach. Almost 80% of the networks consider
the implementation of joint calls a key strategic objective. A total number of 42 joint calls have been already completed and 47 are planned for the coming months.

Around 30% consider the definition of common research and the implementation of joint programmes "very important"objectives.The scheme is seen as a valuable tool by programme managers and owners across Europe to foster transnational collaboration. This is evidenced by the increasing number of countries engaging in the scheme. On average, 13 countries participate in a network.

The most relevant thematic priorities are "nanosciences and nanotechnologies" (15% of the total ERA-NETs), "food, agriculture and fisheries" (13%) and "health" and "environment", which represent around 10% each. The areas of "space" and "security" are not currently being covered by any ERA-NET.

2010 Annual Report on U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement

The report prepared by the first U.S.  Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordination (IPEC) includes actions and concrete steps on implementation of the Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, which was developed as a result of significant public input as well as coordinated efforts of various federal agencies.

European Research Area Commitee (ERAC) presented opinion on the 2011 Annual Growth Survey

As part of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the Commission presented its first Annual Growth Survey (AGS), marking the start of the European semester, and is the main input for the Spring European Council meeting at the end of March.

In order for the EU to emerge from the crisis and lay the foundation for sustainable growth, the AGS sets out broad policy orientations, i.e. returning to macroeconomic stability, achieving higher levels of employment through labour market reforms, and increasing the growth potential.

While the AGS rightly places strong emphasis on urgent fiscal consolidation and addressing macro-economic imbalances, ERAC is of the opinion that the EU’s policy response must go beyond crisis management and short-term fiscal challenges. Research and innovation are critical growth drivers and given the relatively long lead times to reap the impacts of investments and reforms in this area, action must be taken now.

ERAC emphasises on three specific messages consistent with the Annual Growth Survey and the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact and the short term fiscal challenge, i.e the need for Member States to pursue smart fiscal consolidation by giving priority to growth-enhancing measures, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of public funding which will in turn leverage private investment, and the need for both the EU and Member States to accelerate structural reforms.

Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) URBAN EUROPE provided its Status Report

The Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) URBAN EUROPE, a research and innovation initiative of EU Member States and Associated Countries, now provided its Status Report.

Established in 2010 within the concept and framework of Joint Programming URBAN EUROPE aims to rethink and manage the increasing urban orientation and concentration in Europe in order to create and exploit synergy in an urbanised Europe, from an economic, social, environmental and transport-related perspective, leading to a strengthened global position of Europe.

THE JPI URBAN EUROPE has a clear focus on urban areas as key elements for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. As urban areas are the main drivers of growth in the European economy, URBAN EUROPE therefore provides an important contribution to the EU 2020 strategy.

Link2US Project Releases New Report Identifying Key Issues to Participation in NIH Funding Programmes

A new report by the Link2US project has been released, looking at key issues EU-based researchers/institutions face when applying to and participating in the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding programmes. NIH is the largest U.S. programme in which there is direct funding of EU-based researchers/institutions.

The report, European Participation in U.S. Federal Science & Technology Research Funding Programmes: Survey of Researchers and Institutions on National Institutes of Health Grant Funding, surveyed researchers and institutions in the EU, through their grant administrators, who received direct NIH awards during U.S. fiscal years 2003-2010.

2 Presentations are available from the Stakeholder Meeting

Within the consultation process on the Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework for future EU Research and Innovation Funding, the European Commission has organized a stakeholder meeting in Brussels on March 1, 2011 in order to discuss the Green Paper, which was originally presented by the EC on February 9, 2011. 2 presentations from this meeting are already available. Webcast record will be available soon. (Source European Commission)

Presentations

The consultation process will continue until May 20, 2011.More...

The EC will host a major event in Brussels on June 10, 2011 in order to present the main outcomes of the consultation.

US businesses call for 'IQ alliance' with Europe

The US Chamber of Commerce to the EU is calling for simpler visa procedures to make it easier for scientists and researchers to move between Europe and America, in response to competition from emerging economies such as China and India.
John Vassallo, chair of AmCham EU, said increased cooperation on innovation and education could drive economic recovery on both sides of the Atlantic.
"Despite the economic crisis and the global downturn, the United States and Europe remain each other's most important markets," said Vassallo, who represents American companies active in Europe.
Vassallo was speaking at a high-level conference on 'Innovation in the Transatlantic Relationship', which took place in Brussels on Thursday (3 March).

More Information:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/innovation/us-businesses-call-iq-alliance-europe-news-502754?utm_source=EurActiv+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2fc33b610c-my_google_analytics_key&utm_medium=email

Conference: Innovation in the Transatlantic Relationship - Unlocking the Potential of a 21st Century Economy
http://www.amchameu.eu/events/publicevents/tabid/160/vw/3/itemid/346/d/20110303/default.aspx 

Speech by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/140&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
 

EU-U.S. Cooperation on civil aviation research and development

European Commission and U.S. agree to cooperate on civil aviation research and development. The European Commission and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have officially concluded negotiations for the establishment of a Memorandum of cooperation in civil aviation research and development. (Source: European Commission)

New Database Created for Unfunded NIH Proposals

The National Health Council, with input from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), created an online database to which researchers can submit unfunded NIH peer-reviewed proposals. Voluntary health agencies will be able to search the database to find proposals to fund.

U.S. Executive Order Signed on Patent Reform and Protection

On 8 February 2011, U.S. President Obama issued an Executive Order to establish two intellectual property enforcement advisory committees. They are charged with "the effective and efficient enforcement of laws protecting copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other forms of intellectual property, both in the United  States and abroad." Both committees will help coordinate an interagency Joint Strategic Plan.

U.S. President Obama Releases Innovation Strategy

U.S. President Obama has released his Strategy for American Innovation, an updated version of the strategy released in September 2009. The report calls for, among other things, patent reform, the accelerated development of clean energy technologies, the promotion of Startup America, and improvements in K-12 education through such programs as Advanced Research Projects Agency - Education (ARPA-ED), Race to the Top, and Change the Equation.

2010 Innovation Union Scoreboard

2010 Innovation Union Scoreboard (IUS) published by the European Commission. This is the first edition under the Innovation Union initiative (IP/10/1288) and replaces the former European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). The Scoreboard feeds into the recently published Annual Growth Survey (IP/11/22) to help Member States identify strengths and weaknesses and to boost innovation performance through their Europe 2020 National Reform Programmes.

The 2010 Scoreboard draws on 25 research and innovation-related indicators and covers the 27 EU Member States, as well as Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, Iceland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Norway and Switzerland. The indicators are grouped into three main categories:

• - "Enablers", i.e. the basic building blocks which allow innovation to take place (human resources, finance and support, open, excellent and attractive research systems);
• - "Firm activities" which show how innovative Europe's firms are (firm investments, linkages & entrepreneurship, intellectual assets); and
• - "Outputs" which show how this translates into benefits for the economy as a whole (innovators, economic effects).

(Source: European Comission-Europa Press Release Reference:  IP/11/114)

Last Call for 2012 EU Visitors Program Applications

The deadline for the 2012 European Union Visitors Program (EUVP) is March 1. The long-standing program provides young professionals with a unique opportunity to learn from the inside how the European institutions work. Participants meet with specialists in fields of their choice as they follow extensive programs tailored specifically to their interests in the EU.

The 5-8 day program in Brussels, Strasbourg, and/or Luxembourg is jointly sponsored and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission. Young professionals in government, media, education, business, and non-profits with career-related interests in the EU are encouraged to apply.

Those eligible to participate are government officials (local, state and federal), journalists, trade unionists, educators, officials of non-profit, non-governmental organizations and other professionals aged in their mid-20s to mid-40s with career-related interests in the European Union. Please note that the EUVP is not designed as a program for students: its participants are required to have completed their university education or equivalent training and to have been employed for several years in their chosen career field.

In addition to the United States, EUVP candidates are selected from a large number of non-EU countries throughout the world. Non-US applicants should contact the Commission Representation in the country in which they reside. (Source: European Union Delegation to the United States of America)

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Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework for future EU Research and Innovation Funding

In February 2011 the European Commission (EC) presented a Green Paper, proposing major changes to EU research and innovation funding. The overall goals are to make participation easier, increase scientific and economic impact and provide better value for money. Overall, the main changes that are foreseen are: bringing together the current Framework Programme, the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP), and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) into a Common Strategic Framework. In general the Common Strategic Framework offers a large potential for making EU funding more attractive and easy to access for participants, as well as possibilities for administrative simplifications.

Public consultation has been launched on the Green Paper, seeking the views of all interested individuals and organisations on these proposed changes and on the specific questions set out in the Green Paper. The deadline for contributions is Friday 20 May 2011.

USPTO and EPO reach agreement on principles of Cooperative Patent Classification system

The EPO and the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) are pleased to report that agreement was reached on the principles of the new Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) at a meeting at the USPTO held on 29 November - 1 December 2010, and further developed at a meeting at the EPO in The Hague held on 24-26 January, 2011. (Source: European Patent Office)

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New Publication on International Cooperation-BILAT Projects, Call 2009

REINFORCING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS International Cooperation BILAT projects, Call 2009 has been published by the European Commission. This brochure presents the activities of five BILAT projects which aim at developing and enhancing S&T Partnerships with third countries, which have signed or are in the process of negotiating an EC S&T cooperation agreement. The third countries targeted by these projects are: Argentina, Egypt, Japan, Jordan, and the USA More...

ERIC - European Research Infrastructure Consortium

The first formal request to set up an ERIC has been received by the European Commission on 20 December 2010. Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and The Netherlands have decided to join forces to build SHARE-ERIC, an infrastructure of micro data of households and individuals necessary to understand individual and societal ageing. (Source: European Commission)

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Howard Hughes Medical Institute to Launch Labs of New Investigators Abroad

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) launched on 1 December 2010 an international competition to select up to 35 early career scientists working at academic institutions in 18 countries on five continents with the goal of helping these talented individuals establish independent research programs.
The Institute has committed $24 million for the International Early Career Scien-tist Program and will award each scientist who is selected a total of $650,000 over five years. The competition is open to scientists who have trained in the US, run their own labs for less than seven years, and work in one of 18 eligible countries. Those countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey.
This competition is designed to give a boost to international scientists who return to their home country to do research after training in the United States. If suc-cessful, this pilot project could form the basis for a larger international endeavor.

Source:
http://www.hhmi.org/news/intlearlycareer20101201.html

Download:
International Early Career Scientists Program Announcement
http://www.hhmi.org/news/pdf/IECS_program_announcement.pdf

Further Information:
HHMI’s International Program
http://www.hhmi.org/research/international

Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) - Research Grants 2012

Research grants are provided for teams of scientists from different countries who wish to combine their expertise in innovative approaches to questions that could not be answered by individual laboratories.
Emphasis is placed on novel collaborations that bring together scientists preferably from different disciplines (e.g. from chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering) to focus on problems in the life sciences.
The research teams must be international. The principal applicant must be from one of the eligible countries. However, other participating scientists and laboratories may be situated anywhere in the world.
Applicants must submit a letter of intent to apply for a research grant via the HFSP web site with a deadline at the end of March, and after review, selected teams will be invited to submit a full application.

Two types of Research Grant are available: Young Investigators' Grants and Program Grants.

Young Investigators' Grants aare awarded to teams of researchers, all of whom are within the first five years after obtaining an independent laboratory (e.g. Assistant Professor, Lecturer or equivalent). Applications for Young Investigators' Grants will be reviewed in competition with each other independently of applications for Program Grants.

Program Grants are awarded to teams of independent researchers at any stage of their careers. The research team is expected to develop new lines of research through the collaboration. Up to $450,000 per grant per year may be applied for. Applications including independent investigators early in their careers are encouraged.

Eligible Countries
Scientists from all countries may participate in the Research Grant and Fellowship programs. The only restrictions on participation are:
 
1. The Principal Applicant of a research grant must be from one of the member countries (see list below), but other team members may be from anywhere in the world as long as the teams fulfill the basic international requirements described in the guidelines.

2. Young scientists from anywhere in the world may apply for a Fellowship to work in a laboratory in one of the supporting countries (see list below). A scientist from one of the member countries can apply to work anywhere in the world.
 
The member* countries are:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus (EU part), the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
 
*These countries provide financial support to the HFSP either directly or indirectly via the contribution from the European Union.

Call for Proposals: EU-US Atlantis Program

In the context of the European Union - US Framework for Co-operation in Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training (EU-US ATLANTIS Programme) a new call for proposals has been launched  to fund innovative projects which are designed to develop and implement double or joint “transatlantic degrees” for students in the EU and U.S.   It may also support projects to promote other forms of EU-U.S. cooperation in higher education and vocational training, including mobility projects and policy-oriented measures.

The funded activities, such as the development of curricula, joint study programmes, exchanges and study abroad with provision for mutual credit recognition and language and cultural preparation, will benefit to higher education students, vocational education and training learners and teachers/trainers/administrative staff. The main focus of activities must be on transatlantic rather than intra-European or intra-American interactions.

Submission of grant requests under this call is open to higher education institutions and vocational education and training institutions.

Each project must have one lead institution in the EU and one lead institution in the US, responsible for submitting the common proposal and for the management of the project. These lead institutions must be higher education or training institutions

America COMPETES Act Passes Congress

On December 17th, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent an amended version of the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 5116). The amended bill reauthorizes funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy's Office of Science (DOE/OS) but differs from the bill that passed the House back in May in several ways. The revised COMPETES bill reduces the number of years authorized from five to three and also lowers authorization funding levels over those three years. The House passed the revised version on December 21 and it now awaits the President's signature. A chart that details funding levels in the various versions of the bill is available on the AAAS website.

NIH Releases Changes to Grant Rules for 2011

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) have released the changes to its grant rules for 2011.

Highlights include:

• The 2-day correction window will end. 
• After a proposal is submitted, NIH will only accept new materials resulting from unforeseen administrative issues "(with exceptions specified for institutional training mechanisms and certain RFAs). Corrections of oversights/errors discovered after submission of the application will not be allowed. See NOT-OD-10-091."
• Resubmissions must be submitted within 37 months of the original submission.

Draft Agenda for the EU-U.S. Innovation and Technology Transfer Symposium is now available!

Symposium on Transatlantic EU-U.S. Innovation and Technology Transfer will take place in Vienna on 22 March 2011.

The purpose of the EU-U.S. Symposium on Innovation and Technology Transfer is to increase mutual understanding and raise awareness on open innovation processes and structure and operations of the technology transfer and innovation systems in Europe and the U.S.

Two News Reports Released by BILAT-USA

Report on “U.S. Participation in the Framework Programme” provides statistical analysis on U.S. participation in 6^th and 7^th Framework Programmes.

 Details

 Report on “Analysis of Science & Technology Priorities in Public Research in Europe and the U.S” provides input to the policy dialogue between Europe and the U.S. through an overview on and comparison of public research science & technology (S&T) priorities and some of the related policy processes around.

Details

OECD Science and Technology: Keeping up investment in science and innovation key to long-term growth

OECD governments must maintain spending on science and innovation to strengthen their long-term growth in the face of rising global competition, according to a new OECD report.

http://www.oecd.org/document/28/0,3746,en_21571361_44315115_46728028_1_1_1_1,00.html

OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook 2010

The STI Outlook reviews key trends in science, technology and innovation in OECD countries and a number of major emerging economies including Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa.

http://www.oecd.org/document/36/0,3746,en_2649_34273_41546660_1_1_1_1,00.html

OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook 2010: Country Profile USA

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/40/27/46666029.pdf

Final Report of the EU-U.S. Symposium on LSRI is available!

Final Report of the EU-U.S. symposium on Large Scale Research Infrastructures (LSRI) is available!

The Symposium on Transatlantic EU - U.S. Cooperation in the Field of Large Scale Research Infrastructures was held in Rome on October 1, 2010. Organized by the BILAT-USA Project in cooperation with the European Commission and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the Symposium brought together high level experts and representatives from the European Commission and NSF as well as leading representatives of Research Infrastructure projects in Europe and the U.S. Participants from the EU and the U.S. have expressed the need to strengthen the systematic exchange of information and experience, and have identified a number of areas that provide opportunities for future collaboration.

Final report and other information are available at the Symposium's web-site:

http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/home/risymposium

The 2011-1Call for Applications: 2 Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellows in Central European Studies

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The 2011-12 Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellows in Central European Studies

 Johns Hopkins University

Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, DC

The Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellowships in Central European Studies enable each year two outstanding scholars to conduct research on important issues related to Central Europe at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C. The second Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellows will be appointed for a nine (9) month period from October 2011-June 2012. 

The Fellows are closely integrated into the research, training, and outreach activities of the Center for Transatlantic Relations (CTR) at SAIS, and will participate in CTR events and meetings. Each Fellow is expected to complete a research paper during the period of residence according to the terms of the assignment entered into with the Foundation.

Each year the Center and the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation identify several themes of particular interest. For 2011-12, the Center is particularly interested in receiving applications that deal with any of the following:

• The evolving nature of political parties in Central Europe
• The roles and relationships of big and small member states in the European Union
• The role of foreign direct investment in Central Europe
• Serbia’s European future

Eligibility

Applicants for the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellowship must have a doctorate or be at the post-doctorate level, have demonstrated research capacity, be fluent in English, and be eligible for a J-1 visa. Preference will be given to qualified and competitive candidates from Austria, but the Fellowship is open to candidates of other nationalities as well.

Stipend

The Fellow will enter into a research assignment with the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation and will receive a monthly stipend of $5,000; an office with computer; Internet access and voicemail; access to Johns Hopkins University libraries and other facilities. The Fellow is expected to take care of his/her travel, accommodation, health care coverage and living expenses.

Application Procedure

Each applicant should submit the following (in English):

1. A letter supporting the application.
2. A 3 to 5 page double-spaced statement that proposes a research project, including its relevance to the research interests of the Center.
3. A curriculum vitae.
4. Two sealed letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s professional competence.

The applicant is responsible for collecting all materials and submitting them as one packet before March 30, 2011 to:

Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellowship

Center for Transatlantic Relations

School for Advanced International Studies

Johns Hopkins University

1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 525

Washington, DC 20036

USA

The Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Fellows are selected by the Center for Transatlantic Relations and the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation. Applicants will be notified by April 15, 2011. The 2011-2012 Fellowship begins on October 1, 2011.

For further information, write to transatlantic@jhu.edu or office@marshallplan.at or call 202-663-5880.

New Report Suggests that the U.S. is not Keeping Pace

A new study by Thomson Reuters, suggests that the U.S. is no longer globally dominant in the production of scientific papers, as it was 30 years ago. Rather, the EU and the Asia-Pacific region, as of 2009, have surpassed the U.S. in research output. In 1981, U.S. researchers produced 40% of all researcher papers, while in 2009 they produced only 29%. The EU27 saw their shares rise during this period from 33% - 39%, with the Asia-Pacific region seeing a rise of 13%-31%. The report also looks at citation impact and thematic areas.

Chances for Passage of COMPETES Wane

Final passage of the reauthorization of America COMPETES Act (COMPETES) within the U.S. House of Representatives looks less likely to pass by the end of the congressional session due to two factors. First, the bill has yet to be filed in the U.S. Senate, a step that is required in order for it to be passed, and second, the uncertainty surrounding the final FY 2011 budget numbers, due to growing pressure to reduce the federal deficit and cut discretionary spending, complicates the process. Some observers believe that even if Congress does not complete action on the bill during the last session before a new Congress begins, chances for its passage in the next Congress appear reasonably good.  However, there is considerable uncertainty about when, and with what authorization levels, the bill might be passed. COMPETES calls for substantially increased science funding for the U.S.

PTO Extends Expedited Patenting for GHG Reduction Technologies

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) announced that it will extend a trial program to expedite the processing of patent applications for technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions until December 31, 2011. Under the Green Technology Pilot Program, the first 3,000 applications pertaining to environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy, or greenhouse gas emission reduction will be advanced out of turn for examination, compressing the normal two-year waiting period for receiving a patent to 49 days.

NIH Director Favors Merger of Institutes

U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins released a statement last week saying that the creation of a new institute focusing on addictions, as recommended by NIH’s Scientific Management Review Board, “makes scientific sense and would enhance NIH's efforts to address the substance abuse and addiction problems.”  This would include incorporating most current programs of the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, as well as relevant programs from other Institutes and Centers, such as those at the National Cancer Institute and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.  Collins announced the creation of a task force to explore how forming the new institute could best be conducted. The task force plans to issue recommendations by next summer. 

PCAST Releases New Report on Energy Policy

On November 29 the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its Report to the President on Accelerating the Pace of Change in Energy Technologies Through an Integrated Federal Energy Policy.  At a briefing held at AAAS to launch the report, PCAST members Ernest Moniz of MIT and Maxine Savitz of the National Academy of Engineering outlined the report’s major recommendations, which include establishing a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) process for creating a government-wide federal energy strategy and increasing energy R&D expenditures by $10 billion annually.

Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference, NY City, May 8-10, 2011

The 17th annual conference of the International Sustainable Development Research Society (ISDRS) will be hosted by the Earth Institute, Columbia University. It will serve as a forum for open and diverse intellectual discourse on sustainability, with focus on identifying practicable steps toward a sustainable future that are ready for implementation on the local, regional and global scale.

The conference theme is "Moving Toward a Sustainable Future: Opportunities and Challenges." Within this theme the 17th International Sustainable Development Research Conference will explore the fundamental question of whether the aspirations of global society to continued growth can be harmonized with the existing limits imposed by Earth’s resource base. ISDRC17 will explore how progress in the field of sustainable development can be translated into political action in preparation for the Rio+20 conference to be held in 2012.

International Early Career Scientist Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Insitute

The new International Early Career Scientist Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Insitute (HHMI) will support up to 35 outstanding scientists working outside the United States in selected countries. In this pilot program, HHMI seeks to identify researchers who are, or have the potential to become, scientific leaders. Those selected will receive five-year grants that will each total $650,000.

Interim Evaluation of FP7 finalised

The independent Expert Group on the “Interim Evaluation of the Seventh Framework Programme”, appointed by DG RTD in the spring of 2010, published its Report finalised on 12 November 2010.

It has looked, in general, at whether the Programme is fulfilling its ambitions and, in detail, at several facets of its implementation, in order to arrive at recommendations for its development in the years to come. Some of the lessons that can be drawn from the evaluation can also be expected to inform the elaboration of subsequent EU research programmes and policies.

Key strengths, Areas in need of improvement, New concerns and dilemmas, Directions for reform, and Ten recommendations have been elaborated and specified.

Among the key Strengths the Expert Group underlines that “in much of the Cooperation Programme - to which nearly two-thirds of FP7 funding is allocated - leading researchers are being funded, the quality of proposals is generally assessed to be high and there is robust competition for funding”. Furthermore, “mobility and training of researchers continues to be underpinned by the ‘Marie Curie actions’ under the specific programme People and is making a valuable contribution to the development of the human capital of researchers”.

When looking at the given recommendations, among others, “the mix of funding measures in FP7 and successor programmes should strike a different balance between bottom-up and top-down approaches to research greater emphasis in the specific programme Cooperation during 2011-2013 on more open calls.”

Besides, “further steps to increase female participation in FP7 should be taken in its remaining years“ or “opening of the FP7 to international cooperation is of great value”.

The complete list of findings and details can be found under the following link.

2010 Energy Council

The 2010 Energy Council, set up at the November 2009 EU-U.S. summit in Washington, took place prior to the 2010 EU-U.S. and NATO summits in Lisbon, on 20 November 2010. Main issues ministers discussed about Energy, as important component of the EU-U.S. dialogue in the 21st century, were climate change, international development and security. Several Agreements and Working groups shall result in enhanced partnerships and co-operations.

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Energy 2020

On 10 November 2010, the European Commission has adopted the Communication "Energy 2020- A Strategy for competitive, sustainable and secure Energy.

EU energy goals have been incorporated into the "Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth", as adopted by the European Council in June 2010. In particular, the EU aims at achieving ambitious energy and climate-change objectives for 2020: reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 20 %, increase the share of renewable energy to 20 % and make a 20 % improvement in energy efficiency. The sectors with the biggest energy saving potential are transport and buildings.

Cooperation with third countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. in specific technologies shall be promoted. Four major projects in key areas for Europe's competitiveness will be launched, such as new technologies for intelligent networks and electricity storage, research on second-generation bio-fuels and the 'smart cities' partnership to promote energy savings in urban areas.

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EU and U.S. sign new agreement on increased nuclear security cooperation

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) signed a new agreement with the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) to promote greater cooperation in nuclear security.

The agreement, signed at the International Nuclear Safeguards Symposium in Vienna on 2 November 2010, provides a framework for greater technical cooperation between the United States and Europe in areas such as nuclear safeguards, border monitoring, nuclear forensics, export controls, and physical protection of nuclear materials facilities. It also calls for closer collaboration on research and development of nuclear security and nonproliferation technologies, and for enhanced coordination of outreach to third countries.

Not all countries use nuclear techniques for peaceful purposes. Seven hundred experts discussed at the symposium in Vienna the best ways to prevent nuclear materials from becoming nuclear weapons.

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EU and U.S. agree on global `Small Shared Satellites` project

On 22 October 2010, during an international conference in Pisa, Italy, representatives of the European Commission and the government of the U.S., Chile and Argentina agreed to launch a pilot project in 2011, putting together a network of geostationary monitoring satellites. The funding agreement is in the pipeline thanks to industry providing funding in exchange for access to data or contracts to provide maintenance and encryption services.

Data gathered through the `Small Shared Satellites`project will be used to monitor many types of ground-based activities and will also be available to ministries of defence.

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Serbian S&T delegation met U.S. officials in Washington DC in October 2010

In October 2010 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of S&T Development of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Bozidar Djelic, met with several US officials. These meetings come after the signing of a bilateral agreement on S&T cooperation between Serbia and the U.S. in April 2010.

Discussions started with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and USAID to support a joint initiative in Serbia for funding research conducted by scientists from both countries. 

The Serbian delegation met with representatives of the American Association for the Advancment of Science (AAAS) which will help organize the involvement of several different scientific institutions in cooperation with Serbia.

Potential project proposals in the areas of energy, energy efficiency and climate change were discussed with the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) which Serbia will be sending to the DoE for consideration.

The European Commission and the US announce joint research efforts on rare diseases

The European Commission and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced today at a high-level conference in Reykjavik in Iceland their intention to join forces on rare diseases research. The two institutions plan to coordinate their research funding on rare diseases and to make major investments in this research field in the years to come. The objective is to accelerate medical breakthroughs for people affected by rare diseases – which is the case for 6 to 8 % of the EU population. The European Commission also announced that it will earmark in 2011 more than €100 million for research and innovation on rare diseases, including clinical trials of promising treatments already stemming from European research. This will be the largest single investment in this research field done by the European Commission.(Source: European Commission)

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Link2US Project Release New Report: Participation Statistics of EU-based Researchers in U.S. National Programmes

The United States (U.S) national science and technology system is highly decentralized, with funding authority spread across a dozen or more executive agencies, cabinet departments, and sub-units. Out of the numerous entities and programmes, twelve U.S. funding programmes, covering three entities, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), are open for European Union (EU)-based researcher/institution participation. In the context of this report, “open” refers to a programme that EU-based researchers/institutions can submit applications to directly receive funding.

The main objective of the Participation Statistics of EU-Based Researchers in U.S. National Programmes is to track the number, funding amount, type of grant, and country breakdown, where available, of EU-based researchers/institutions receiving grants. This report is the first of two reports that seek to track these statistics over thirty-six months for fiscal years (FY) 2009-2011.

Transatlantic Energy Strategies and Resource Nationalism: The New European Energy Landscape

On October 21, the Center on the United States and Europe and the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings, and the Berlin-based Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) hosted a discussion of the new European energy landscape and its ramifications for the transatlantic alliance. Energy experts and officials from both sides of the Atlantic addressed critical issues, including security of supply, resource nationalism, shale gas and oil production, alternative and renewable technologies, and the impact of the financial crisis. In their remarks, David Goldwyn of the U.S.

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US-EU Energy Council initiative: European Union and U.S. define strategic goals for research on energy storage

Experts from Europe and the United States have agreed on strengthening cooperation in the research on energy storage for power grids. Following a two-day, high-level workshop in Washington (DC) they stressed the importance of energy storage technologies for a sustainable energy system. Up to now, lack of cost-effective energy storage on power grids is regarded as the biggest obstacle for harnessing the potential of renewable energies. Also innovative material solutions are needed for the efficient storage and release of energy. (Source: European Commission)

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PRESS RELEASE/ Symposium on Transatlantic EU - U.S. Cooperation in the Field of Large Scale Research Infrastructures: Sparking off sustainable dialogue and cooperation

The Symposium on Transatlantic EU - U.S. Cooperation in the Field of Large Scale Research Infrastructures was held in Rome on October 1, 2010. Organized by the BILAT-USA Project in cooperation with the European Commission and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the Symposium brought together high level experts and representatives from the European Commission and NSF as well as leading representatives of Research Infrastructure projects in Europe and the U.S. Participants from the EU and the U.S. have expressed the need to strengthen the systematic exchange of information and experience, and have identified a number of areas that provide opportunities for future collaboration.

At the end of the symposium, there was mutual agreement that the experiences and ideas discussed during the plenary and parallel sessions had seriously boosted awareness, knowledge and commitment on both sides to improve transatlantic cooperation on large scale research infrastructures. Based on the outcomes of the parallel sessions various follow up activities, such as thematic workshops, will be organized in 2011. Additionally, the Symposium Report will provide future perspectives not only in cross-cutting areas such as management of and access to research infrastructures , but also in various topics such as the cyber-infrastructure, e-infrastructure, cyber-security, environment, particle physics and astronomy, as well as biological and medical sciences, which were covered during the parallel sessions.

For further information and documentation, please visit the symposium’s web-site: http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/home/risymposium  

The European Commission's "Innovation Union" – turning ideas into jobs, green growth and social progress

The European Commission's "Innovation Union", tabled today, sets out a strategic approach to innovation, driven by the highest political level. The Innovation Union will focus Europe's efforts – and co-operation with third countries - on challenges like climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population. It will use public sector intervention to stimulate the private sector and to remove bottlenecks which stop ideas reaching the market. These include lack of finance, fragmented research systems and markets, under-use of public procurement for innovation and slow standard setting. The Innovation Union is a "flagship" in the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science and Vice- President Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship said: "As we emerge from crisis in the teeth of fierce global competition, we face an innovation emergency. If we do not transform Europe into an Innovation Union, our economies will wither on the vine while ideas and talent go to waste. Innovation is the key to building sustainable growth and fairer and greener societies. A sea change in Europe's innovation performance is the only way to create lasting and well-paid jobs that withstand the pressures of globalisation. "
A new study* shows that meeting the Europe 2020 target of increasing R&D investment to 3 percent of GDP could create 3.7 million jobs and increase annual GDP by up to €795 billion by 2025. One million extra researchers will be needed.

More information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1288&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/473&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm
http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/innovation-union-communication_en.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/index_en.htm

* P. Zagamé, (2010) The cost of a non-innovative Europe
http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/policy-briefs-research-achievements_en.html

Marie Curie Actions: Record Number of Applications for EU Research Grants

A Brokerage Event in the Field of Energy Technologies

A Brokerage event in the field of Energy Technologies with a focus on the SET-Plan priorities will be organized back to back with SET Plan Conference in Brussels on 17 November 2010.

Focus

The event will target a wide spectrum of companies, universities and researchers from Europe and beyond and will support primarily the following European Industrial Initiatives within the current call:

• Solar Europe Initiative
• European Wind Initiative
• European Bioenergy Initiative
• European CCS Initiative
• Electricity Grids Initiative
• European Smart Cities Initiative

Your advantages?

• Present your innovative ideas/technologies and call the attention of potential cooperation partners!
• Meet numerous prospective cooperation partners in a SINGLE day - reduce the amount of time and money for finding new partners

Language: English

Costs:        Free of charge

Location: Charlemagne Building
Rue de la Loi 170
B-1040 Brussels
Belgium

Please register soon to participate in this Partnering Day!

EU-U.S. Atlantis Programme

The final list of selection results from the Atlantis Programme 2010 Call has been announced. The Atlantis Programme (2006-2013) aims to promote understanding between peoples on either side of the Atlantic and improve the quality of their human resource development. Managed jointly by the European Commission (through the Executive Agency for Education Audiovisual and Culture) and by the U.S. Department of Education.

Activities include:

• Transatlantic Degree
• Excellence in Mobility projects
• Policy-oriented Measures
• The Schuman-Fulbright scholarships

U.S. Competitiveness: National Academies Revises Rising Above the Gathering Storm Study

The National Academies released a revised report as a follow-up to the original Rising Above the Gathering Storm study, entitled Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited.  The event included presentations from National Academy of Sciences President Ralph Cicerone and National Academy of Engineering President Charles Vest, as well as Norman Augustine, all of whom emphasized that in the last five years, the outlook for a globally competitive U.S. has worsened and one of the greatest causes for concern is the dismal state of K-12 education.  Speakers urged passage of and funding for the America COMPETES Act.

NIH Advisory Board Recommends Merging Two Institutes

The National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Scientific Management Review Board, which is charged with examining NIH's organizational structure, has voted to advise Director Francis Collins to merge two institutes: the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. If Collins agrees to the merger, Congress would have 180 days to weigh in before the merger could go forward.

DOE Reinstates Energy Advisory Board

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has appointed the members of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB). Eliminated during the previous administration, the SEAB is being re-established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The twelve-member Board will provide advice and recommendations on the Department's basic and applied research, economic and national security policy, educational issues, operational issues, and other activities.

Nobel Laureates Issue Letter in Support of President's Space Strategy

On August 31 a letter signed by fourteen Nobel Laureates was sent to U.S. House of Representatives Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), expressing support for President Obama's proposed budget for NASA and concern that the House authorization bill (H.R. 5781) would underfund key technology development, commercial launch vehicle and robotic mission programs.  Chairman Gordon responded by expressing concern "that NASA has been given too many missions and too few dollars to fulfill them. The result has either been too much money wasted on … unfocused, unexecutable programs or funding shortages for critical missions."

U.S. Senate Confirms Suresh as NSF Director

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Subra Suresh as the new director of the National Science Foundation. Suresh was formally the Dean of the School of Engineering and the Vannevar Bush Professor of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A new interactive platform on European health research

A New Online Platform for European Health Research has been launched. This platform will provide information on all life sciences and health projects funded by European Commission since 2004 including project deliverables, and facilitate new partnerships.

New Transatlantic Education Partnerships

The European Commission and the governments of the USA and Canada will jointly invest €15 million on new transatlantic education partnerships involving 160 universities and training institutions and thousands of students on both sides of the Atlantic. The European Union will contribute €7.5m for the initiative, with €6m coming from the US and €1.5m from Canada. The funding will support student exchanges, joint degrees and better policy co-operation. The partnerships focus on a range of fields including energy efficiency, computing robotics, climate change, forestry management, languages and cinema studies. For the first time a transatlantic degree programme is established between the EU and Canada. (Source: European Commission Press Release)

Details

Open FP7 Calls addressing cooperation between the EU and the U.S.

The 7th Framework Programme has currently 16 Calls open, which are addressing cooperation between the EU and the U.S.

5 Calls are open in Research Theme`Food, Aggriculture&Fisheries, and Biotechnology´, requiring partners from the U.S. in order to add to the scientific and technological excellence of research teams.

4 Calls are open in `Space`, requiring the inclusion other space-faring nations, such as the U.S., in order to advance technology and enhance the relations with established space powers.

3 Calls are open in ´Transport (incl. Aeronautics)´, targeting International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPCs), e.g. the U.S., for global research topics, such as ´Transport needs for an ageing society´.

Calls are currently open as well in ´Energy´, ´Internatonal Cooperation´ and ´Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities´, seeking an increased impact of the research to be undertaken by including participation from the U.S.

End of September 2010 5 Calls in ´Information&Communication Technologies´ are going to be opened, targeting international cooperation activities with, among others, the U.S.

Find a detailed list with topics, particular requirements and related links in the following document! 

Agreement on S&T cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the USA

In April 2010 Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic and Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero signed an Agreement on Scientific and Technological cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the United States of America (USA).

The Agreement on cooperation has been signed with the aim to support and enhance cooperation between the two scientific and expert institutes and organizations, scientists and experts, as well as more efficient use of scientific and technological potential. 

In order to foster the bilateral relations the Minister announced recently that a Serbian-American scientific conference will be organised in year 2011.

Join an Educational Webcast on Dual Use Research on Wednesday, September 22, 2010

On Wednesday, September 22, 2010 from 8:00 am to 10:30 am Eastern Daylight Time, the U.S. Government is organizing a webcast on the topic of dual use research in the life sciences.  Titled, "Does Your Research Raise Security Concerns? Strategies for Promoting Responsible Research in the Life Sciences," this webcast is the second in a series of Internet-based meetings aimed at engaging the international community by region.  Europe is the focus of this event.  It is being hosted by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity in partnership with the European Molecular Biology Organization, the European Science Foundation, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and the Institut Pasteur.  
 
This event is premised on the notion that progress in the life sciences has the potential to transform our world. From the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds to the emerging technologies of synthetic biology, scientific advances will lead to new approaches to improving human health, as well as addressing environmental and agricultural challenges. However, certain research and technologies that hold such immense promise, in the wrong hands, could possibly be misused to pose a threat to public health and national security. Such research is often called "dual use research."  The webcast will include a discussion of dual use research within the context of antimicrobial resistance and synthetic biology, as well as various approaches to promoting the responsible conduct of research with dual use potential.

EU-U.S. Summit

EU-U.S.  Summit will be held on November 20 in Lisbon.

For further information click here.

New Science in Society Web Portal

The European Commission's new Science in Society webportal has been launched. 

The Science in Society (SIS) Programme aims to promote research's engagement with society and vice versa, whether by mobilising stakeholders for new partnerships, encouraging two-way dialogue between researchers and other stakeholders, promoting a European Research Area (ERA) of ethics or by providing better access to research results.

The web portal includes information on relevant topics including policy measures and research activities, funding, events, etc.

Most Recent FP7 Calls targeting U.S. Participation

Open Calls for proposals in the recently published FP7 Workprogrammes 2011 specifically targeting cooperation with U.S. are now available.

House Passes Homeland Security S&T Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved H.R. 4842, a bill to reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate. Among the bill’s many provisions is a mandate for a new office focusing on outreach to the private sector and an authorization that would double the cybersecurity R&D budget.

OMB and OSTP Release S&T Guidance for FY 2012 Budgets

U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Peter Orszag and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director John Holdren released their annual joint memo to agency heads last week titled “Science and Technology Priorities for the FY 2012 Budget.”  The memo reiterates the U.S. Administration’s long-term goal for investment in R&D to reach 3% of GDP, and encourages agencies to pursue transformational and multidisciplinary approaches aligned with six “challenges and areas to be strengthened.”

AAAS CEO Discusses EU-U.S. Collaboration along with the BILAT-USA and Link2US Projects

AAAS Chief Executive Officer Alan I. Leshner discusses EU-U.S. collaboration, along with the BILAT-USA and Link2US Projects, in La Stampa (Italy).

List of specific international cooperation calls in FP7 work programmes 2011

The SICA-calls site is of interest for everyone who:

• is interested in international cooperation
• is searching for project calls where their country could participate
• wants to find a partner for participating in projects

SICA-calls are specific international cooperation calls in the EU 7th Framework Programme, where the involvement of non-European countries is obligatory. International cooperation is the corner-stone of FP7 - any company, university, research centre, organisation or individual legally established in any country may participate in the Programme.

The Incontact Calls site lists all the current international cooperation calls in the FP7 Work Programmes 2011, while the Partner search tools site helps to find a partner or propose yourself as one.

Please see also:

• About international cooperation
• The list of International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC)

Phillip E. Coyle III to serve as new Associate Director for International Affairs within OSTP

Last week President Obama announced the recess appointment of Phillip E. Coyle, III to serve as the new Associate Director for National Security and International Affairs within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Coyle most recently served as a Senior Advisor to the President of the World Security Institute.  Obama nominated Coyle in November 2009, but an anonymous hold was placed on his appointment by one or more Senators who objected to Coyle's stance on national missile defense systems.

Commerce Department Announces Members of Innovation Advisory Council.

On July 13 Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announced the membership of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE).  The group, which includes entrepreneurs, investors, university presidents, and non-profit leaders, "will support President Obama's innovation strategy by helping to develop policies that foster entrepreneurship and identifying new ways to take great ideas from the lab to the marketplace to drive economic growth and create jobs."  The co-chairs are Steve Case, Chairman and CEO, Revolution and co-founder, AOL; Mary Sue Coleman, President, University of Michigan; and Desh Deshpande, Chairman, A123 Systems and other firms.

51 new FP7 calls for proposals launched

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has published a series of calls for proposals under the 'Cooperation', 'Capacities', 'People' and 'Ideas' Programmes of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

The calls come under a wide variety of themes and topics, including:
- health,
- food, agriculture and fisheries,
- 'Future Internet',
- 'the ocean of tomorrow',
- ERA-Net,
- information and communication technologies (ICT),
- automotive-related topics, including ICT, green technology and power storage technologies,
- joint initiatives with third countries, such as Russia and Japan,
- strengthening cooperation with Europe's neighbours and joint science and technology centres in third countries,
- nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies;
- buildings and energy efficiency,
- energy,
- space,
- the GALILEO satellite system,
- ecological innovation,
- international staff exchanges, Marie Curie Initial Training Networks, Marie Curie Industry-Academia pathways,
- Starting Independent Researcher Grants,
- Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs)
- security research,
- building regional research potential,
- research benefitting small and medium enterprises,
- science and society,
- transport,
- socio-economic sciences and humanities,
- future and emerging technologies.

The budgets vary from call to call as do conditions for eligibility and deadlines.

To see the full details of the open FP7 call, please consult the following web address:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls

The full press release is available under:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&RCN=32364

For further and more detailed call informations please consult the National Contact Points (NCPs) in the Member or Associated States in the relevant area and country of your interest:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ncp_en.html 

EU seeks to break patent translation deadlock

The following article has been published at Euractiv on 02 July 2010 and updated on 05 July 2010.

Innovative companies could see a dramatic reduction in the cost of patenting new inventions, if a controversial European Commission plan is adopted by EU governments. The new rules could pave the way for a single European patent to be issued in one of just three languages – English, French or German.

More…

June Newsletter Now Available

The second newsletter for the BILAT-USA and Link2US Projects has been released on the website.

This issue includes recent European Research Area (ERA) and U.S. S&T news, with updates on the U.S. COMPETES Act and EU Commissioner’s visit to the U.S. In addition, look for Project updates including a review of the first BILAT-USA event, the FP7 People Programme, a new S&T Agreement Survey, and a spotlight on the Euraxess Link USA program and U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI).

If you are interested to receive the quarterly newsletter please sign up for it at our website.

Enjoy reading!

Conference on EU-U.S. Collaboration & Funding in the EU Space Research Programme

The European Commission has announced a half-day conference on 21 July  to inform the U.S. space community about new opportunities for U.S. space companies, universities, research labs, government agencies, foundations and related research organizations to participate in the European Commission’s Space Research Programme. The event will be held on Wednesday, 21 July at Stanford University, from 8:30am to 2:00pm.

For more information please view the invitation letter and program. 

Environment 2011 Calls within the FP7

The Environment theme covers topis such as climate change, environment and health, biodiversity, environmental technologies and earth observation, among others. Under the overarching theme " Transformation to Sustainable Societies in a Changing Environment" this year's areas of focus will be adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, eco-innovation and governance. Geographically-speaking, special emphasis is put on Latin America.

The 2011 Environment Calls at a glance
The Environment Theme covers or contributes to six different calls under the 2011 Work Programme:

• Main Environment Call (FP7-ENV-2011), Total budget €155 million
• Eco Innovation Call (FP7-ENV-ECO-INNOVATION-2011), Total budget € 50 million
• Advanced Materials (FP7-ENV-NMP-2011), Total budget €12 million
• Energy-Efficient Buildings (Public Private Partnership, FP7-2011-NMP-ENV-ENERGY-ICT-EeB), Total budget €85 million
• Green Cars (Public Private Partnership, FP7-2010-GC-ELECTROCHEMICAL STORAGE), Total budget €25.5 million
• The Ocean of Tomorrow (FP7-OCEAN-2011), Total budget €45 million

For your diary: Information days

9 July: Public Private Partnerships ' Energy-efficient Buildings, Factories of the Future and Green Cars'
Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1000 Brussels
The aim of this event is to inform you about the progress regarding the research PPPs and the second Cross-thematic Coordinated Calls related to them. In particular, the research areas open and the conditions for participation will be addressed. Participation may also help you to get in contact with other potential proposers and partners. You are also given the possibility to present your own project idea. More info... 

12-13 July: FP7 Environment and Eco Innovation Calls 2011
Albert Borschette Conference Centre, Rue Froissart 36, 1040 Brussels
These Infodays are meant for everyone interested in the research opportunities offered by the main Environment Call, the Eco Innovation Call, and the cultural heritage activities of the Advanced Materials Call. In this one-and-a-half day event you will learn more about the main features and novelties of the forthcoming calls and receive guidance on proposal preparation and submission.
Starting off on Monday afternoon, the first day will be dedicated entirely to the objectives, instruments and activities of the 2011 Work Programme, including administrative aspects. Tuesday morning will be dedicated to the 2011 Eco Innovation Call. On Tuesday afternoon, there will be parallel thematic sessions on the various areas of the call. Throughout the day, participants will be given the opportunity to present their concepts and ideas in thematic brokerage sessions. We would be pleased to see you on 12 and 13 July!
To register, please fill in this online registration form (deadline 7 July).
A detailed agenda and an indicative overview of the 2011 Environment Work Programme are available on the Infoday website. 

9 September: The Ocean of Tomorrow
Keep watching the Events Diary of the Research Directorate-General for more information.

Source: European Commission (18 June 2010, Brussels)

Green Week 2010

Green Week 2010, the largest annual conference on European environment policy, took place between 1-4 June 2010 in Barcelona.

Science Magazine Discusses European Union Research

The 11 June 2010 issue of Science Magazine includes two timely articles on European Union (EU) science.

The Editorial for the issue was written by Dr. Helga Nowotny, President of the European Research Council (ERC). Nowotny discusses the upcoming Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF 2010) and looking forward regarding the ERC.

An article on science funding in the EU can also be found within the 11 June 2011 issue.

Reauthorization of the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate

On April 15 the House Committee on Homeland Security reported out favorably Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010 (H.R. 4842), a bill to reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. The bill would increase authorized directorate funding to $1.12 billion in 2011 and $1.16 billion in 2012.

Details

Funding for 10 New Health Centres Announced

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), with funding open to European Union researchers, announced the awarding of 10 new Centres for Population Health and Health Disparities

The 10 centres will support transdisciplinary collaborations among biological, medical, behavioural, social, and public health scientists. In addition, each centre will play a major role in the training of a new generation of transdisciplinary researchers in collaborative team science.

Details

A New Online Platform for European Health Research

A New Online Platform for European Health Research has been launched. This platform will provide information on all life sciences and health projects funded by European Commission since 2004. Project results such as technology offers patents and publications will be published and establishment of new partnerships in the area of health and life sciences will be facilitated.

Europe 2020 Strategy Conference's presentations are available online

"Europe 2020 strategy - Innovation insights from European research in socio-economic sciences" Conference took place on 1 June 2010 in Brussels.

Conference presentations are downloadable from the following link:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/events-107_en.html

Web event with Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn

Video invitation from European Commissioner for Research Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, to an online debate (17 June, 10:00-11:00) on how to make Europe into an Innovation Union

Watch this space for more details and for a video message from the Commissioner.

http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=commissioner&lg=en

Source: DG RTD/FP7

New ERA Web-site

The ERA web site has been redesigned and renewed:

1st SFIC Report

First Report of Activities of the Strategic Forum for International S&T Cooperation (SFIC) has been published. Report covers the SFIC activities for the period of 18 February 2009 - 12 February 2010.

National Academies Releases Final Stem Cell Guidelines

The National Academies have released their final Guidelines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, an update designed to take into account the Obama Administration's stem cell policy.

New Head of NSF Announced

On June 3rd, President Obama formally announced his nomination of Subra Suresh to serve as the new Director of the National Science Foundation. 

COMPETES Bill Finally Passes House

The America COMPETES Act (H.R. 5116), which failed on two previous attempts to pass the full House, finally passed on May 28 by a vote of 262 to 150.  House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) brought the original bill, as amended on May 13 during the first floor debate, back to the House chamber for a vote.   Gordon successfully used an arcane parliamentary procedure (division of the question) to divide the Republican-backed motion to send the bill back to committee (i.e., the motion to recommit) into nine separate amendments that could be voted on separately by the chamber. Of the nine amendments, seven failed to pass, including the amendments to reduce the number of years and the funding levels authorized by the bill.  This strategy allowed the House to retain the full funding authorization levels for five years for the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program website has a detailed table of the COMPETES funding levels, as passed by the House.  A companion bill in the Senate has yet to be introduced.

2009 Statistics of European patents and patent applications are available online

Patent statistics include

-          the number of European patent applications filed per technical domain and origin

-          the number of European patents granted per technical domain and origin

-          the most active patent filers

Source: European Patent Office (EPO)

European Commission Innovation Group

The European Commission has established a group with participation of six EU commissioners with the purpose of development of a new research and innovation strategy.
The following EC Commissioners take place in the committee, chaired by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the EU's commissioner for research, innovation and science:
Antonio Tajani (Industry and Entrepreneurship), Günther Oettinger (Energy), Neelie Kroes (Digital Agenda), Joaquín Almunia (Competition), Siim Kallas (Transport)

Simplifying the Implementation of the Research Framework Programme

The European Commission has unveiled a plan to simplify the procedures for taking part in EU-funded research projects. The overall aim is to make participation transparent and attractive to the best researchers and innovative companies in Europe and beyond. Ensuring European research realises its full potential is crucial to the EU's Europe 2020 Strategy, given the need to consolidate economic recovery and develop new sources of growth and jobs to replace those lost in the crisis. Complementing the proposals on simplification, the Commission has also appointed a group of independent experts to review all aspects of the current Seventh Framework Programme.

Source: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/472&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission’s Communication Document

Interview with Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Gary Finnegan's interview with Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European commissioner for research, innovation and science. 

Published in EurActiv on: 05 May 2010 / Updated: 06 May 2010

Details

First EU ‘Joint Programming Initiative’ as a new approach by the European Commission to tackle major societal challenges

Joint Programming in research is a new approach proposed by the Commission in 2008 to tackle major societal challenges such as climate change, energy supply, or big diseases.

The goal of the first EU ‘Joint Programming Initiative’ is to boost research on Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases (JPND) in order to accelerate progress in understanding the causes of these debilitating conditions, leading to early diagnosis, the development of new treatments and prevention and the provision of more effective medical and social care to improve the quality of life for patients and care givers.

To achieve this goal, 24 European countries have decided to work together in an unprecedented collaborative initiative in research which is seeking to align their scientific competencies, medical strengths and social approaches to tackle the challenge.

The European Commission will be supporting the work of the JPND through a coordinating action with an EU contribution of close to € 2 million.

A Scientific Advisory Board comprising 15 of the top neurodegenerative disease scientists from Europe and elsewhere in the world has been formed to advise on the development of the strategic research agenda and its implementation.

More...

General information about ‘Joint Programming’

Call for Applications: "Getting to Know Europe: Local and Regional Communities and the European Union"

As part of the DG Relax Annual Work programme 2010, the Delegation of the European Union in Washington, DC, invites proposals for programs that promote a greater knowledge, within local and regional communities in the United States, of the European Union (EU), its international role, and the value and significance of the EU-US transatlantic partnership. All activities should be targeted at local and regional audiences in the US, with applicants expected to bring together a range of local and regional groups and to propose a package of events.

Application deadline is September 13, 2010.

All activities must take place between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.

US-based non governmental, not-for-profit institutions including secondary schools, universities, youth groups and associations, local community groups, local associations promoting socio-cultural exchanges across the Atlantic, media and other professional training centers, and other civil society organizations such as chambers of commerce are allowed to apply. (Please read the exclusion criteria)

Around twelve grants of up to €100,000 each will be awarded, with a minimum grant award of €50,000. The Commission contribution will cover up to 75% of total project costs, and applicants must be able to provide at least 25% towards these total project costs. The European Commission is allocating up to €1 million to this program.

Read More...

How to get US-EU collaboration going in R&D?

By Monica Beltrametti, Vice President & Director, Xerox Research Centre Europe.

News from the European Research Area Board Conference , 6-7 May 2010, Seville.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn's visit to U.S.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, visits U.S. to meet leading officials, scientists, and business community.

Read More...

DG RELEX Annual work programme for grants in 2010/Cooperation with industrialised countries and other high-income countries and territories

European Commission External Relations' annual action programme for cooperation with industrialised and  other high income countries and territories was adopted by the Commission on 28 April 2010.  
The Industrialised Countries Instrument (ICI) promotes cooperation with 17 industrialised and other high-income countries and territories in North America, the Asia-Pacific region and the Gulf region. Based on Article 212 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, the ICI contributes to fostering  the EU's relations with countries and territories which often share similar values, are important political and  trading partners, and play an active role in multilateral fora and in global governance.

The work programme for grants covers initiatives in the following areas:
1- Public diplomacy and policy research. Regarding US the focus will be on the launch of the programme “Getting to know Europe”
2- Economic partnership and business cooperation (no focus on cooperation with US)
3- People-to-people links (Education Cooperation And Dialogues) Regarding US, focus will be on the Erasmus Mundus Partnerships (especially exchange of doctoral and post-doctoral candidates, and of faculty members) 
4- Small scale cooperation events (no focus on cooperation with US)

For more…

Press Invitation by the European Commission: EU Research & Innovation in Healthcare

Press Briefing in the framework of the conference "Innovation in Healthcare, from research to market, SMEs in focus" organised by the European Commission

Relaunch of EU-US Development Dialogue

EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs will be in Washington, DC, on April 25 to relaunch the EU-US development dialogue and cooperation process, after a 12-year break. On the same day, Commissioner Piebalgs will attend the annual World Bank Development Committee Meeting.

More...

AAAS Details Shifting R&D Priorities in 2011 US Budget Proposal

Patrick Clemins, director of the AAAS R&D Budget and Policy Program, reported that President Barack Obama's 2011 budget proposal shows a slight decline in federal R&D from 2010 levels while also seeking to renew the historic federal role in the cutting-edge research that drives innovation and economic growth. During the briefing on Capitol Hill, Clemins detailed significant new investment in research on cancer and autism; science education and work force development; elements of a new US manufacturing strategy; and R&D in energy, defense, computing, and space science—with funding drawn away from long-time R&D priorities such as defense and homeland security. Read more and access the slide presentation from the briefing.

House Subcommittee to Mark Up America COMPETES Act

 On April 14 the House Science and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee for Research and Science Education will mark up the National Science Foundation (NSF) section of the America COMPETES Act reauthorization bill (see the committee print version of the draft NSF section http://www.members-aaas.org/l.jsp?d=4343.493189.654.2aqNMFyjn8A..A ).

EPA Creates Database of Studies Underlying Regulations.

As part of the Administration's Open Government directive, the Environmental Protection Agency has launched the Health and Environmental Research On-line (HERO) database that provides access to more than 300,000 citations of scientific studies used by EPA in making key regulatory decisions.

Related Links:

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/memoranda_2010/m10-06.pdf

www.epa.gov/hero/

NIH Lets Stem Cell Bank Contract Expire.

The National Institutes of Health has allowed its contract with the National Stem Cell Bank to expire. The bank, established in 2005, was designed to distribute Bush-approved stem lines to labs.  The lines continue to be available through the Wisconsin International Stem Cell Bank, but a lack of government subsidies has doubled their price.

The G8 Research Councils Initiative on Multilateral Research Funding

First Call for Proposals from an initiative between Research Councils from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, the UK, and the USA.

At the G8 Heads of Research Councils (HORCs) meeting held in Kyoto, Japan in May 2008, the initial proposal for a multilateral funding activity was introduced. The idea presented many benefits but also challenges. Multilateral research projects could address global chal-lenges in ways that national and bilateral activities could not. The G8 HORCs framework provided the unique opportunity to pilot a new modality for conducting international research.

For more information please visit related the web-site.

European Commission President Barroso calls for “new Atlanticism”

 BRUSSELS (March, 26 2010) – European Commission President José Manuel Barroso called today for a more dynamic transatlantic relationship based on results rather than process and on strategic dialogue between leaders over an "endless lists of issues." More...

America's Energy Future: Technology and Transformation

This report of the Committee on America’s Energy Future addresses a potential new portfolio of energy-supply and end-use technologies—their states of development, costs, implementation barriers, and impacts—both at present and projected over the next two to three decades. The report’s aim is to inform policy makers about technology options for transforming energy production, distribution, and use to increase sustainability, support long-term economic prosperity, promote energy security, and reduce adverse environmental impacts.

National Academy of Sciences(NAS), National Academy of Engineering(NAE), National Research Council (NRC)

FY 2011 President's Budget Release

On February 1, President Obama released his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2011.

The President's Fiscal Year 2011 Budget

PCAST Holds Public Meeting

The fourth PCAST public meeting was held on March 12, 2010.

The primary topics were:

• National Nanotechnology Initiative
• Agriculture and Food Security
• Energy
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

PCAST website

Pilot Projects: Transatlantic Methods for Handling Global Challenges in the EU and the US

The general objective of the pilot projects, created through a European Parliament initiative, is to promote mutual understanding and learning among EU and US policy researchers and policymakers on a number of challenges with a global dimension. Pilot projects are to be used to fund innovative ventures between European and US policy makers that cannot be pursued under existing instruments of cooperation between the US and the EU. Their purpose is to foster common, more effective transatlantic approaches to key international policy challenges.

Five projects were implemented in 2008-2009 ad a final wrap-up conference has been organized in Brussels on 16 November 2009, where participants shared their experience and findings.For the period of 2009-2011 seven projects have been selected.

A call on Transatlantic Civil Society Dialogues EU-USA is still open! The application deadline is 27 May 2010. For more information click here!

The EU-U.S. Energy Council

The European Union and the United States agree to establish the EU-U.S. Energy Council at ministers’ level, in order to deepen the dialogue on strategic energy issues of mutual interest, foster cooperation on energy policies and further strengthen research collaboration on sustainable and clean energy technologies. More...