About: FP7

EU-funded research surveils social sites
Spying on social networks is the latest in a string of EU-funded projects to develop automated counter-terrorism and criminal surveillance systems that have sparked new fears of government snooping. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU, Ukraine inch forward on ‘common innovation area’
The European Union and Ukraine took steps towards the creation of a “common knowledge and innovation space” last week, intensifying their bilateral relations ahead of a key summit in November where the two sides are expected to sign a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement that has irked Moscow.
Unilever R&D chief: ‘Cut bureaucracy in EU research programmes’
The Dutch multinational Unilever wants to increase its participation in EU research programmes to develop the breakthrough environmental technologies. But for that to happen, the level of bureaucracy needs to be drastically reduced, says Dr. Hans Dröge, senior vice president for R&D operations at Unilever.
EU unveils giant research funding programme
The European Commission presented today (30 November) its €80-billion research funding programme for the decade - Horizon 2020 - with the aim of boosting research, stimulating innovation and simplifying the way scientists and smaller businesses can get funding for EU-backed projects. VideoPromoted content
EU to define ICT ambition as future Internet is shaped
The role of Europe in shaping the future of the Internet remains to be defined as the European Union's institutions are bracing for a long battle with governments of the union's 27 member states over the amount of money that is to be made available for research & development projects in the ICT sector. The amount of money that will be assigned to the new Horizon2020 research funding programme will show exactly where Europe's ambitions are when it comes to determining which technologies will serve people online.
EU research priorities to be revealed, renamed
Climate change, energy, health and SMEs will form the centre of European Commission proposals for research funding within the new Common Strategic Framework (CSF), which will be renamed today (10 June) at a 700-strong stakeholder event.
EU moves to cut red tape for research
The European Commission has taken steps to simplify EU funding for research and innovation to cut costs and attract more participants, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Sufferers want EU ethics code for drug testing
The European Union needs to play a stronger role in coordinating research into new drugs and should help produce a code of ethics for trials, health officials said last week.Top researchers fear ‘radical shift’ in EU policy
Scientists at Europe's leading research universities have expressed concern over the growing trend towards linking EU funding with pre-defined outcomes. Researchers fear political priorities will curb their scope for creativity and free thinking.
EU looks to US model for measuring R&D impact
The EU may piggyback on US efforts to measure the impact of research spending, as Europe struggles to find more reliable ways to assess the return on its investment in science.
European Research Council slams EU bureaucracy
The work of Europe's scientific funding body has been marred by ongoing tensions with the European Commission and "stupid" bureaucratic rules, agency representatives have told MEPs.
Industry: R&D ‘demo projects’ face funding drought
The fruits of EU research are not being converted into marketable products due to difficulties in funding expensive "demonstration" projects, according to Bernhard Schleich of SusChem, a European technology platform for sustainable chemistry.
Research wasted as ‘demo projects’ face funding drought
The fruits of EU research are not being converted into marketable products due to difficulties in funding expensive "demonstration" projects, according to Bernhard Schleich of SusChem, a European technology platform for sustainable chemistry.
Research: EU governments in funding tug-of-war
Behind-the-scenes manoeuvring is underway in Brussels as EU governments battle for large chunks of the Community research budget – even though the new funding programme will not kick in until 2014.EU innovation chief to leverage structural funds for research
Europe's incoming innovation commissioner is pledging to tap the EU's structural funds to build research infrastructure and capacity. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn also revealed she would chair meetings of EU commissioners with responsibilities for innovation as part of her new "cross-cutting" portfolio.
EU R&D funding agency overwhelmed with applications
Four out of five small firms applying for European research funding are turned down, but participation rates are on the rise, Graham Stroud, director of the newly-established Research Executive Agency, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Experts give European Research Council passing grade
Europe's fledgling scientific funding body is on the right track but has major organisational flaws which threaten its long-term viability, according to a no-nonsense analysis by a panel of experts.