Mainoni: werkprogramma succesvol afgerond (en)

Numerous results in the research sector during the Austrian Presidency

"Austria and above all the Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology has achieved a lot of success in the field of research and technology and given shape to several joint projects", said a satisfied State Secretary for Research at the end of the six-month EU Presidency.

In addition to a number of large-scale conferences, joint research efforts were concretised and priorities established at various smaller meetings and internal discussions. "The greatest success was the finalisation of the budget for the 7th Research Framework Programme", emphasised Mainoni. A total of EUR 54.5 billion will be available for the Framework Programme from 2007 to 2013. The EU is therefore set to invest EUR 7.8 billion in research per year (an increase of 60% compared with the 6th FP).

"In particular, the rules of participation in the Framework Programme have been significantly improved for industry and SMEs", stated Mainoni proudly. In future, 15% of support for projects from the first pillar of the Framework Programme is to be made available to SMEs. "This represents financial support of around EUR 4.5 billion. We are thereby strengthening the European economy in the long term and securing prosperity and jobs", said the State Secretary.

In addition to securing the financial arrangements, projects were discussed, concretised and finalised in the key research areas. In the 'Graz Declaration', the final direction was set for GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). "After Galileo, GMES is the second most important European user-oriented space project and, by observing the Earth from outer space, provides numerous data which can be used for security and environmental purposes", stated Mainoni. Other priorities were ICT (Information and Communication Technology), the aviation industry as a potential target for research projects and new ideas aimed at increasing the number of women in research.

Austria has also been the first to take up the subject of security research and make it a central issue of European research policy. At the first European conference on security research, the 1 000 or so participants defined the future measures to be taken. "A further security research conference will be held under the German Presidency", said Mainoni.

"By investing in research we boost our competitiveness and secure prosperity and jobs. We took up this challenge during our Presidency and achieved a great deal in the research sector", he concluded.