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The Week in Germany: Business and Technology February 2, 2007 European Security Research Program Opens Opportunities for Transatlantic Cooperation The fine print of the European Commission’s 7th Research Framework Program, or FP7, as a Brussels insider might call the seven-year, €54 billion ($70 billion) plan to promote research in Europe, contains some novel aspects that just might spark transatlantic and other international cooperation in security research.
For the first time, the Commission has earmarked funds specifically for civilian security research, which could range from technologies for detecting explosives to protecting the food supply to ensuring the safety of energy infrastructure. What’s more, the new funds can be used for projects conducted in cooperation with research institutions and industries in “third countries” – meaning non EU member states. “The 7th Framework Program’s new emphasis on international cooperation in research will open up possibilities for strategic partnerships between EU member states and non-EU member states, such as the USA,” said Volker Rieke of the Federal Education and Research Ministry. Nearly €1.4 billion will flow into security research projects between 2007 and 2013, and the Commission is currently accepting proposals for projects. The program is the culmination of years of efforts at boosting EU cooperation on civil defense, which included convening an advisory board of industry representatives, researchers, and policy makers in 2005 to craft a strategy for integrating security into EU research programs. FP7 is the longest lasting and most robust research framework program to come out of Brussels yet. With a total budget of €54 billion, the plan boosts annual research funding by about 60 percent annually over its predecessor, FP6. In 2007, the German education and research ministry also announced an additional €123 million for security research. “We are mobilizing research for the protection of our citizens,” said Education and Research Minister Annette Schavan. Schavan called the security research program a platform to facilitate cooperation between private industry, research institutions and universities, and the public authorities and rescue services that will implement the new technologies and insights. A further focus of the program will be the protection of infrastructure for the supply of important goods and services like food and electricity. Links:
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