Brussels, 18/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - The main objective of a new strategy presented by the European Commission on Monday 17 September is to better target the EU's priority strategies in the context of international research and innovation cooperation.
These international projects involve issues such as climate change, food security and the fight against disease. They will receive priority funding in the next research and innovation framework programme for 2014-2020 (Horizon 2020). The Commission, however, said that the participation of non-European actors in a limited number of research areas was not being ruled out. According to a Commission press statement, this new strategy is proposing to, “further focus cooperation on EU strategic priorities while maintaining the tradition of openness to third country participation in EU research”. In addition to Horizon 2020 projects, there will also be multiannual cooperation projects with partner countries and regions, as well as joint initiatives with member states. (JK/trans/fl)