Brussels, 23/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - COST has recently taken a position on its role in the future research policy of the European Union. In a recommendation to the European Commission, COST president, Francesco Fedi, indicated that his organisation had welcomed the Commission's communication presented last June on the main orientations of the future Community research policy. The intergovernmental organisation grouping 34 European countries together, believes, however that the Commission has underestimated the importance of the research network.
COST welcomes the conclusions of the Competitiveness Council of 24 September, particularly the paragraph highlighting the importance of strengthening lines between the framework programme and organisations like EUREKA and COST. It also supports the Commission's intention to double the budget on research but considers that this increase should be translated into an equivalent increase in funding available to COST in the next framework programme. Francesco Fedi believes that COST can bring substantial assistance to most of the objectives defined by the Commission's communication. It underlines: 1) the experience its organisation has in certain key sectors such as transport, telecommunications and nanotechnologies, 2) added value it can bring during the launch of new technological initiatives, 3) its experience in network implementation (it notes that six excellence networks in the 6th FPRD derive directly from past COST action) and 4) the co-ordination of national research programmes.
COST believes that a certain rationalisation of support mechanisms for European research is necessary. It does not involve, however appealing for a monolithic approach insofar as researchers need to be able to seek funding from different sources. Nonetheless, COST considers it necessary to fight against fragmentation and avoid useless duplication and again highlights the fact that they must ensure that all resulting structures can benefit from adequate resources. On 30 November in Brussels, COST is organising a presentation day of its activities. Scientists from several countries will make presentations of their work from an array of different fields such as neuroscience, transport, mobile phones, agriculture and weather forecasts. Contact: gvanerp@cost.esf.org or telephone: +32 (0) 2 533 38 00.