The EU is currently in the process of establishing its research priorities
for the next decade. 44735 million Euros are at stake! Below is a forwarded
explanatory message, I have removed the attachments (list etiquette). Anyone
interested could join the European Science Social Forum (ESSF), and/or
read/amend the sections pasted below Claudia's message, or contact
me/Claudia for the full document, regards, Larch. 

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Claudia Neubauer
Sent: 24 August 2005 18:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [essfnetwork] Re: first draft FP7 amendments

Dear all,

please find attached the first version of the FP7 themes with our 
amendments. There were quite a lot of ideas for health, agriculture and 
transport but much less or nearly nothing on other themes such as 
security and space. I tried to integrate all comments as much as 
possible. I partly had to (re)formulate propositions or to cut where I 
felt that they went too much into details.

What I would like to ask you:

    *

      please check the integrated comments critically and carefully
      (since we take a shared responsibility for them ;-) )

    *

      propose new amendments

    *

      when I cut too much, don't hesitate to insist where it seems
      important for you

    *

      improve the English

    * send this draft to others who might be interested in it or invite
      them to join our list.

It would be good if you could send me all back before *August 29*. (The 
current comments are in red in the OpenOffice document or in blue in the 
Word document. Please take another colour for additional modifications. 
Normally your computer should do this automatically.)

This draft concerns only the part on themes. I will send you another 
part on the introduction and on general tools next week (but there is 
less to do).


And of course we should consider to write a short position paper on FP7 
once we have finished the work with the amendments, so probably not 
before October (I don't know if our amendments are realistic, idealistic 
or what ever, at least they are pragmatic. But it is really a bit 
frustrating to work on this programme because normally one should 
totally rewrite it).

I will be happy to read further remarks from you all.

Kind regards
Claudia



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 THEMES

1. Health
Objective
Improving the health of European citizens , while addressing global health
issues
including climate change, emerging epidemics, health inequalities (poverty)
and prevention of diseases.  Based on science in public interest, drug
development has to be seen as public responsibility to ensure people’s
access to results of public research. Emphasis will be put on translational
research translation of basic discoveries in clinical applications), the
development and validation
of new therapies, methods for health promotion and prevention, diagnostic
tools and
technologies, as well as sustainable and efficient healthcare systems.
Health research will be targeted to the global disease burden (e.g.
neglected diseases in developing countries), removing the existing gap
neglecting the needs of poor countries. 

Rationale
The sequencing of the human genome and the recent advances in post-genomics
have
revolutionised research into human health and diseases. Integrating the vast
amounts of data
and understanding underlying biological processes requires bringing together
critical masses
of various expertises and resources that are not available at a national
level. Significant
advances in translational health research, which is essential to ensure that
biomedical research
provides practical benefits, also requires multidisciplinary and
pan-European approaches
involving different stakeholders. Such approaches allow Europe to contribute
more effectively
to international efforts to combat diseases of global importance.
Clinical research on many diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular diseases,
mental and
neurological diseases, in particular those linked with ageing, such as
Alzheimer and Parkinson
diseases) relies on international multi-centre trials to achieve the
required number of patients
in a short time-frame. Epidemiological research requires a large diversity
of populations and
international networks to achieve significant conclusions. Developing new
diagnostics and
treatments for rare disorders also require multi-country approaches to
increase the number of
patients for each study. And performing health policy-driven research at the
European level
enables comparisons of the models, systems, data, and patient material held
in national
databases and biobanks.
A strong EU-based biomedical research will help strengthen  the public
health system and setting positive signs for improving the situation in poor
countries outside the European Union. As states have the obligation to
enable their citizens to attain the highest possible standard of physical
and mental health access to medical treatment must not be left to the rules
of market but needs public responsibility and regulation. Health research
has to orientate itself by the global disease burden. Especially in areas
where there is no commercial interest, (the so called neglected diseases:
tropical diseases and poverty related diseases; traditional medicine and
phytomedicine) public effort is indispensable.  Research efforts will
therefore also focus on the investigation of the causes (including
socio-economic causes) and the prevention of diseases. The EU  has to play
an active role in creating an environment conducive to innovation in the
pharmaceutical sector, in particular to maximise the success of clinical
research. In the public interest, clinical research must be conducted with
full transparency.    EU research will also contribute to the
development of new norms and standards to set up an appropriate legislative
framework for
new medical technologies (e.g. regenerative medicine).
The activities that will be addressed, which include research essential to
policy requirements,
are set out below.  Three  strategic issues, child health, the health of the
ageing population and poverty related diseaseswill be addressed across
activities. The vicious cycle of poverty and health need to be addressed.
Research agendas established by European Technology Platforms, such as the
one on innovative medicines, will be supported where relevant. To complement
these and respond to new policy needs, additional actions may be supported
for example in the areas of health policy issues and occupational health and
safety.
The situation faced with neglected diseases today requires that additional
priority be given to North-South research partnerships on treatment.

Diseases like cancer, asthma, allergies and others are recognised today to
arise from discrete external entities that can be erradicated. Therefore,
growing research efforts will be undertaken to understand the relation
between environment and health (e.g. combined environmental exposures, real
life exposure situations, low dose long term exposures) in order to identify
problematic issues. The aim is to reduce the need of treatment for instance
via public health programmes.

Activities
Biotechnology, generic tools and technologies for human health.
– High-throughput research. To catalyse experimental progress in biomedical
research by
enhancing data generation, standardisation, acquisition and analysis.
– Detection, diagnosis and monitoring. With emphasis on non-invasive or
minimally
invasive approaches.
– Predicting suitability, safety and efficacy of therapies. To develop and
validate biological
markers, in vivo and in vitro methods and models, including simulation,
pharmacogenomics, targeting approaches and alternatives to animal testing.
– Innovative therapeutic approaches and intervention. To consolidate and
ensure further
developments in  therapies and technologies showing clear advantages over
existing methods with potential application in many diseases and disorders.
Translating research for human health
– Integrating biological data and processes: large-scale data gathering,
systems biology. To
generate and analyse the vast amount of data needed to understand better the
complex
regulatory networks of thousands of genes and gene-products controlling
important
biological processes.
– Research on the brain and related diseases, human development and ageing.
To explore
the process of healthy ageing and the way genes and environment interact
with brain
activity, under normal conditions as well as in brain diseases.
– Translational research in infectious diseases. To address anti-microbial
drug resistance,
the global threats of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis as well as emerging
epidemics
(e.g. SARS and highly pathogenic influenza) and the neglected diseases of
those in developing countries (e. g. sleeping sickness and chagas disease).
Research in developing countries has to be improved by capacity building,
transfer of knowledge and intensified international cooperation.–
Translational research in major diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease,
diabetes/obesity; rare diseases; and other chronic diseases (e.g.
osteoarthritis). To
develop patient-oriented strategies from prevention to diagnosis and
treatment including
clinical research.
Optimising the delivery of health care to European citizens
– Translating clinical outcome into clinical practice. To understand
clinical decision-making
and how to translate outcomes of clinical research into clinical practice
and especially
addressing the specificities of children, women and elderly population. To
ensure high standards, medical treatment has to be based on evidence.
Education of medical staff has to be independent and free of commercial
interests.
– Quality, efficiency and solidarity of health systems including
transitional health systems.
To translate effective interventions into management decisions, to ensure an
adequate
supply of human resources, to analyse factors influencing equity of access
to high quality
health care, including analyses of changes in population (e.g. ageing,
mobility and
migration, and the changing workplace).
– Enhanced disease prevention and better use of medicines. To develop
efficient public
health interventions addressing wider determinants of health (such as
stress, poverty, diet or
environmental factors). To identify successful interventions in different
health care settings
for improving the prescription of medicines and improving their use by
patients (including
pharmacovigilence aspects and no-tech approaches).
– Appropriate use of new health therapies and technologies. Long term safety
aspects and
monitoring of large scale use of new medical technologies (including
devices) and
advanced therapies ensuring a high level of protection for public health.


2. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Objective
Building a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economyby bringing together science,
industry, farmers, consumers and other stakeholders, to exploit new and
emerging research opportunities
that address social and economic challenges: the growing demand for safer,
healthier
and higher quality food and for sustainable use and production of renewable
bioresources;
the increasing risk of epizootic and zoonotic diseases and food related
disorders; threats to the sustainability and security of agricultural and
fisheries
production resulting in particular from human productive and extractive
activities and from climate change; and the increasing demand for
high quality food, taking into account animal welfare and rural contexts.

Rationale
Innovations and advancement of knowledge emanating from academic or
citizens' research in the sustainable management, production and
use of biological resources (micro-organism, plants, animals), will provide
the basis for new,
sustainable, eco-efficient and competitive products for agriculture,
fisheries, food, health,
forest based and related industries. 
Research into the safety of food and feed chains, diet related diseases,
food choices and the
impact of food and nutrition on health will help to fight food related
disorders (e.g. obesity,
allergies) and infectious diseases (e.g. transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies, avian-flu),
while making important contributions to the implementation of existing and
the formulation
of future policies and regulations in the area of public, animal and plant
health and consumer
protection. Research should seek to understand and address underlying
causes, rather than solely focus on symptoms.
The diversity of the European industries in these areas, while being one of
its strengths and an
opportunity, leads to fragmented approaches to similar problems. These are
better addressed
by increased collaboration and sharing of expertise between scientists,
politicians, NGOs and industry, for example on new methodologies, processes
and standards that result from changing EU legislation.
Several European Technology Platforms contribute in setting common research
priorities, in
fields such as plant genomics and biotechnology, forestry and forest based
industries, global
animal health, farm animal breeding, food and industrial biotechnology. The
research will
also provide the knowledge base needed to support: the Common Agricultural
Policy; Research in the field of sustainable food systems, including
reducing ‘food miles’, phasing out fossil fuel in-puts and organic
agriculture will be strenghtened in order to support a sustainable
agricultural development less intensive in use of water and chemicals (e.g.
pesticides).


agriculture and trade issues; food safety regulations; Community animal
health, disease
control and welfare standards; and the Common Fisheries Policy reform aiming
to provide
sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture. A flexible response to
new policy needs
is also foreseen, in particular with respect to new social or economic
trends. 
Research activities should integrate traditional farming knowledge and help
more farmers to reproduce seeds by themselves (conservation of biodiversity,
impacts of the farmers economy).

Activities
Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land,
forest,
and aquatic environments: Enabling research, including 'omics' technologies,
such as
genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, systems biology and converging
technologies for
micro-organisms, plants and animals, including exploitation of their
biodiversity; improved
crops and production systems, , quality production schemes and
GMO impacts (studying their possible effects on a organic farming tending
agricultural system and on biodiversity both in agriculture and wild life);
enabling research for organic farming; sustainable, competitive and
multifunctional agriculture, and forestry; rural development; animal
welfare, breeding and production; plant health; sustainable and competitive
fisheries and aquaculture; infectious diseases in animals, including
zoonoses; safe disposal of animal waste; conservation, management and
exploitation of living aquatic resources, developing the tools needed by
policy makers, farmers, civil society organisations, citizens and other
actors in agriculture and rural development (landscape, land management
practices etc.); collection and circulation of free traditional farming
knowledge, with relation to the farmes themselves (e.g. use of traditional
seeds)
“Fork to farm”: Food, health and well being: Consumer, societal,
industrial and health
aspects of food and feed, including behavioural and cognitive sciences;
nutrition, diet
related diseases and disorders, including obesity; innovative food and feed
processing
technologies (including packaging); improved quality and safety, both
chemical and
microbiological, of food, beverage and feed; integrity (and control) of the
food chain;
environmental impacts on and of food/feed chains; total food chain concept
(including
seafood); traceability.
Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and
processes:
Improved crops but not GMOs, feed-stocks, marine products and biomass
(including marine ressources) for energy, environment, and high added value
products such as materials and chemicals, including novel farming systems,
bio-processes and bio-refinery concepts; bio-catalysis;
forestry and forest based products and processes; environmental remediation
and cleaner
processing.
•	Agrobiodiversity utilisation 
Practices to explore and enhance the value to agriculture of biodiversity
already present in the agro-ecological landscape. e.g. insects, soil
microbia, for the maintenance and improvement of productivity and reduction
in synthetic inputs. In particular to explore the relationship between
agricultural practice and the feedback mechanisms through this biodiversity
which impact on chemical inputs and yield. 

8. Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities
Objective
Generating an in-depth, shared understanding of complex and interrelated
socioeconomic
challenges Europe is confronted with, such as growth, employment and
competitiveness, social cohesion and sustainability, quality of life and
global
interdependence, in particular with the view of providing an improved
knowledge base
for policies and citizens in the fields concerned.

Rationale
Europe has a strong and high quality research base in socio-economic
sciences and the
humanities fields. The diversity of approaches within the EU in the
economic, social, political
and cultural domains provides a highly fertile ground for research in these
fields at EU-level.
There is a high European added value in collaborative research addressing
European socioeconomic
issues in the areas mentioned. First, the issues and challenges concerned
are of high
priority at the EU level and are addressed by EU policies. Second,
comparative research
across several or all EU countries offers a particularly effective tool as
well as important
learning opportunities across countries and regions.
Third, EU-level research has particular advantages in being able to develop
Europe-wide data
collection and to employ the multiple perspectives needed to understand
complex issues.
Furthermore, in the knowledge based society, we are witnessing a process of
permanent and disseminated innovation where society as a whole becomes a
common productive and creative place. Socio-economic research will address
this emerging issue, in particular in respect to social and environmental
benefits as parameters of the strength of the society. In this context, the
importance of a localisation of the research agenda has to be understood –
making research responsive to local need – rather than an assumption that
all research needs to be applicable Europe-wide.
Finally, the development of a genuinely European socio-economic knowledge
base on these
key challenges will make an essential contribution to promoting their shared
understanding
across the European Union and, most significantly, on the part of the
European citizens.
The activities to be supported are listed below and are expected to
contribute significantly to
improve the formulation, implementation, impacts and assessments of policy
in a wide range
of areas such as economic, social, education and training, enterprise,
international trade,
consumer, external relations, justice and home affairs and official
statistics policies. In
addition, opportunities will be provided to address emerging socio-economic
challenges as
well as to undertake research on new or unforeseen policy needs.

Activities
Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society: developing
and
integrating research on the issues affecting growth, employment and
competitiveness,
ranging from innovation, education including life-long learning and the role
of scientific
and other knowledge, to national institutional contexts.
Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European
perspective:
by addressing the two key and highly interrelated issues of continuing
evolution of
European socio-economic models and economic and social cohesion in an
enlarged EU,
taking into account the protection of the environment.by developing concepts
of socialised innovation
Major trends in society and their implications: such as demographic change
including
ageing and migration; lifestyles, work, families, gender issues, health and
quality of life;
criminality; the role of business in society and population diversity, the
role of citizens in the  « scientific-technical democracy », cultural
interactions
and issues related to protection of fundamental rights and the fight against
racism and
intolerance.
Europe in the world: understanding changing interactions and
interdependencies
between world regions and their implications for the regions concerned,
especially Europe;
and addressing emerging threats and risks without undermining human rights,
freedom and
well-being.understanding responsibilities of Europe for social, economic and
environmental justice in the European member states, in the Global South and
in the world
The citizen in the European Union: in the context of the future
development of the EU,
addressing the issues of achieving a sense of democratic “ownership” and
active
participation by the peoples of Europe; effective and democratic governance
including
economic governance; and building a shared understanding and respect for
Europe’s
diversities and commonalities in terms of culture, institutions, history,
languages and
values.
Socio-economic and scientific indicators: their use in policy and its
implementation and
monitoring, the improvement of existing indicators and the development of
new ones for
this purpose including long term social and environmental parameters ( e.g.
social rate of return of innovation) and for the evaluation of research
programmes, including indicators based on
official statistics.
Foresight activities on major science, technology and related
socio-economic issues such
as the future demographic trends and the globalization of knowledge and
evolution of
research systems, as well as of the future developments in and across major
research
domains and scientific disciplines.
•	Sustainable consumption: increase understanding of psychological,
social, cultural, and economic drivers of current consumption patterns with
a view to tackling the barriers to moving to more sustainable levels and
forms of consumption. 


9. Security and Space
Objective
To develop the technologies and knowledge for building capabilities needed
to ensure
the security of citizens from threats such as climate change, terrorism, and
crime, while respecting fundamental human rights and working towards
sustainability; to ensure optimal and concerted use of available
technologies to the benefit of European security, and to stimulate the
co-operation of
providers and users for security solutions.
Supporting a European Space Programme focusing on applications such as GMES
with
benefits for citizens and for the competitiveness of the European space
industry. This
will contribute to the development of a European Space Policy, complementing
efforts
by Member States and by other key players, including the European Space
Agency.

9.1 Security
Rationale
Security in Europe is a precondition of prosperity and freedom. The EU
Security Strategy: ‘A
Secure Europe in better World’, adopted by the European Council, addresses
the need for a
comprehensive security strategy encompassing both civil and defence-related
security
measures.
Security related research is an important building block in supporting the
Common Foreign
and Security Policy as well as for realising a high level of security within
an EU-wide area of
justice, freedom and security as underpinned by the Hague programme. It will
also
contribute to developing technologies and capabilities in support of other
EU policies in areas
such as transport, civil protection, energy and environment.
Existing security related research activities in Europe suffer from the
fragmentation of efforts,
the lack of critical mass of scale and scope and the lack of connections and
interoperability.
Europe needs to improve the coherence of its efforts by developing efficient
institutional
arrangements and by instigating the various national and international
actors to co-operate and
co-ordinate in order to avoid duplication and to explore synergies wherever
possible. Security
research at Community level will focus on activities of clear added value to
the national level.
As a consequence, security research at Community level will reinforce the
competitiveness of
the European security industry.
The activities set out below will complement and integrate the technology-
and systemsoriented
research relevant to security which is carried out in other themes. They
will be
mission-oriented, developing the technologies and capabilities as required
by the specific
security missions. They are by design flexible so as to accommodate as yet
unknown future
security threats and related policy needs that may arise, stimulating
cross-fertilisation and the
take-up of existing technologies for the civil security sector, European
security research will
also encourage the development of multi-purpose technologies in order to
maximise the scope
for their application.

Activities
Protection against climate change, terrorism and crime: understanding the
root causes of security risks and seeking preventative methodologies,
delivering technology solutions for threat (e.g. CBRN) awareness, detection,
prevention, identification, protection, neutralisation and
containment of effects of climate change, terrorist attacks and crime.
Security of infrastructures and utilities: analysing and securing existing
and future
public and private critical/networked infrastructure (e.g. in transport,
energy, ICT), systems
and services (including financial and administrative services).
Border security: focusing on technologies and capabilities to enhance the
effectiveness
and efficiency of all systems, equipment, tools and processes required for
improving the
security of Europe’s land and coastal borders, including border control and
surveillance
issues.
Restoring security in case of crisis: focusing on technologies in support
of diverse
emergency management operations (such as civil protection, humanitarian and
rescue
tasks, support to CFSP), and on issues such as inter-organisational
co-ordination and
communication, distributed architectures and human factors.

The above four areas will be supported by the following themes of a more
cross-cutting
nature:
Security Systems Integration and interoperability: focusing on
technologies to enhance
the interoperability of systems, equipment, services and processes,
including law
enforcement information infrastructures, as well as on the reliability,
organisational
aspects, protection of confidentiality and integrity of information and
traceability of all
transactions and processing.
Security and society: mission orientated research which will focus on
socio-economic
analyses, scenario building and activities related to: crime, the citizen’s
perception of
security, ethics, protection of privacy and societal foresight. Research
will also address
technologies that better safeguard privacy and liberties, and will address
vulnerabilities and
new threats, as well as the management and impact assessment of possible
consequences.
Security Research Co-ordination and structuring: co-ordination of European
and
international security research efforts and development of synergies between
civil, security
and defence research, improvement of legal conditions, and encouragement to
the optimal
use of existing infrastructures.
•	Roots of insecurity and conflict: analysis of social, economic and
environmental factors which can contribute to all forms of insecurity
(especially at the international level) and at times to conflict.
Investigate ways in which this analysis can support prevenative approaches
to reduce future risk and increase security.

9.2 Space
Rationale
The EU can contribute in this field to the better definition of common
objectives based on
user requirements and policy objectives; to the coordination of activities,
to avoid duplications
and maximise interoperability; and to the definition of standards. Public
authorities and
decision-makers represent important potential users and the European
industry will also
benefit from a well defined European Space policy implemented through a
European Space
Programme, supported in part by the proposed research and technological
development
actions. European level actions are also needed to support EU policy
objectives, for example
in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, environment, telecommunications,
security, transport as
well as ensuring that Europe is a respected partner in regional and
international cooperation.
In the last 40 years, Europe has built up excellent technological
competence. Sustaining a
competitive industry (including manufacturers, service providers and
operators) requires new
research and technologies. Space applications bring important benefits to
the citizens.
The activities set out below aim at: the exploitation of space assets for
the implementation of
applications, namely GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security)
and their
contribution to law enforcement in EU policies; as well as space
exploration, allowing
international cooperation opportunities and dramatic technological
breakthroughs;.
exploitation and exploration of space supported through enabling activities
guaranteeing the
strategic role of the European Union. These activities will be complemented
by other actions
included in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and in
the Education
and Training Programme. The public policy benefits of the below activities
will also be
maximised, included additional support for new policy needs that may arise,
for example:
space based solutions in support of developing countries; and use of
space-observation tools
and methods to support developments in Community policies.

Activities
Space-based applications at the service of the European Society
– GMES: development of satellite-based monitoring systems and techniques
relating to the
management of the environment and security and their integration with
ground-based,
ship-borne and airborne components; support to the use and delivery of GMES
data and
services.
– Innovative satellite communication services, seamlessly integrated in the
global electronic
communication networks, for citizens and enterprises in application sectors
encompassing
civil protection, e-government, telemedicine, tele-education and generic
users.
– Development of technologies for reducing the vulnerability of space-based
services and for
contributing to the surveillance of space.
Exploration of space
– Contribution to international space exploration initiatives.
RTD for strengthening space foundations
– Space transportation technology: research to increase the competitiveness
of the European
space transportation sector.
–	Space sciences including life in space.


ANNEX II: INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN AMONG PROGRAMMES
The indicative breakdown among programmes is as follows (in EUR million):
Cooperation *,44735
Health 8373
Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology 2472
Information and Communication Technologies 12756 (reduce)
Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies
4865
Energy 2951
Environment (including Climate Change) 2552 (increase)
Transport (including Aeronautics) 5981
Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities 798 (increase)
Security and Space 3987 (reduce)
Ideas 11942
People 7178
Capacities 7536
Research Infrastructures * 3987
Research for the benefit of SMEs 1914
Regions of Knowledge 160
Research Potential 558
Science in Society 558
Activities of International Co-operation 359