Europe: this month, the European Parliament published the new Framework Program for Research and Technological Development for 2002-2006

Instrument Business Outlook, July 15, 2002

Europe: This month, the European Parliament published the new Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FPRTD) for 2002-2006. The sixth FPRTD makes some minor changes to the research themes and budget, with the most significant changes being structural. The fifth FPRTD was comprised of two main research areas. The nuclear area, run by the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), covers the safe and economic use of nuclear energy. The thematic area, run by the European Community, covers four programs that concentrate on economic advancement, protection of natural resources, the improvement of the quality of life, and the education of citizens about industry and technology. The sixth FPRTD differs thematically in that it designates three interconnected targets for accomplishing one goal: the establishment of the European Research Area (ERA). The three targets aim to establish, define and strengthen the ERA. The budget for the sixth FPRTD increased 16.98% to 17.5 billion [euro] from 14.9 billion [euro] allocated for the fifth framework. The budget for EURATOM decreased 2.38% to 1.2 billion [euro].

Source: European Commission