Prague, 07/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - “Let's connect” is the theme repeated several times at the opening of the biggest research conference of the year, “Research Connection”, in Prague on Thursday 7 May. The conference centre in Prague, the city of 100 spires, has been transformed for two days into an exhibition hall, with a number of EU-funded thematic projects being presented to the public on the 40 or so exhibition stands. The aim of the conference is to develop a network and create connections between scientists, industrialists and research managers and between the three points of the “knowledge triangle” (education, research, innovation).
“It is by consolidating the knowledge triangle that we will get out of the current crisis and restore confidence,” said Czech Deputy Education, Youth and Sports Minister Vlastimil Ruzicka, standing in for Minister Ondrej Liska. Over the two days, contacts will be made, ideas exchanged and, above all, partnerships sought at this breeding ground of European research. With the European Commission's research and development budget rising year on year, this conference also provides the opportunity to find out how to access European research programmes (financial period 2007-2013) brought under three financial instruments: the 7th framework programme (FPRD), structural funds and the framework programme for competitiveness and innovation.
In his opening speech, European Research Commissioner Janez Potoènik sang the praises of the 7th FPRD, the interim report on which was published last week (see EUROPE 9894), and the budget for which is €54 billion. “But connecting in itself is not enough. We need a framework within which we can give those connections life and purpose. And with this in mind, we also have at our disposal a major tool which we are using to build our European Research Area (ERA) - the Framework Programmes,” he said, adding that the enemies of the ERA (the aim of which is to create a single research market) were “fragmentation and protectionism”. After listing the five ERA initiatives (including technological platforms and the network of national contact points) launched by DG Research in 2008, the Commissioner urged member states to increase public spending on R&D, arguing that the Commission could not do everything and that such spending should be seen as an investment for the future, not as unnecessary spending in times of crisis. On the fifth anniversary of enlargement, Slovenian Commissioner Potoènik addressed the 12 new EU member states: “We want you to exploit your strong scientific and research culture” and “the opportunities that transnationality, better collaboration and integration can bring”. While European R&D spending remains much lower that the United States', according to a report published by the EIB in February of this year, Potoènik said he counted on the not fully exploited potential of the 12 “new” member states to make up the ground and “be at the foreground”. (Y.P./transl.rt)