Brussels, 16/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Portuguese minister of science, José Mariano Gago, the European commissioner for research, Jan Potocnik, and the Israeli minister of science, Galeb Majadle, signed a new scientific and technical cooperation agreement on Monday 16 July in Brussels. This will enable Israeli researchers and research centres to participate in the 7th research and development framework programme (RDFP). In exchange for a financial contribution of €440 million from the Israeli state, Israeli researchers can participate at levels of research funded by the European programme. The latter is funded to the tune of €50 billion for 2007-13. Under the sixth RDFP (2002-06), Israeli research bodies took part in more than 600 research programmes, many of which involved information society technologies. (oj)