Brussels, 03/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, said on Monday 2 May how pleased she was with the “strong response so far to the consultation” launched by the European Commission with European researchers and entrepreneurs. Stakeholders are seen to have displayed considerable interest in developing a “common strategic framework” with a view to European funding of research and innovation. Those taking part in the consultation exercise have also underlined the need to unlock the potential of high-risk projects in order to encourage greater creativity, and to promote scientific research through greater interaction with the public. Nonetheless, the wish most often expressed has been that procedures should be simplified compared to those existing in current programmes. This last problem was, moreover, highlighted by the commissioner, who took the view: “We must go further in cutting red tape and in being innovative ourselves if we want to release the full potential of EU funded research and innovation”. The Commission trusts that the consultation exercise, which to date has allowed over 500 responses to be collected and which is scheduled to close on 20 May, and the ensuing conference on 10 June in Brussels, will make it possible to establish a clear vision for the future and simplify the development of a proposal by the end of the year. The aim is to set a new funding system in place to replace the current framework programmes when they expire on 31 December 2013. (J.K./transl.jl)