title: 2006/971/EC: Council Decision of 19 December 2006 concerning the Specific Programme Cooperation implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) (Text with EEA relevance).

text:
L 400/86        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                30.12.2006
                                       COUNCIL DECISION
                                         of 19 December 2006
                       concerning the Specific Programme "Cooperation"
                       implementing the Seventh Framework Programme
                           of the European Community for research,
            technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
                                      (Text with EEA relevance)
                                              (2006/971/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 166(4)
thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament1,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee2,
1
        Opinion of 30 November 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
2
        OJ C 185, 8.8.2006, p. 10.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/87
Whereas:
(1)      In accordance with Article 166(3) of the Treaty, Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the
         European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 concerning the Seventh
         Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological
         development and demonstration activities (2007-2013)* 1 (hereinafter referred to as "the
         Framework Programme") is to be implemented through specific programmes that define
         detailed rules for their implementation, fix their duration and provide for the means
         deemed necessary.
(2)      The Framework Programme is structured in four types of activities: trans-national
         cooperation on policy-defined themes ("Cooperation"), investigator-driven research based
         on the initiative of the research community ("Ideas"), support of training and career
         development of researchers ("People"), and support of research capacities ("Capacities").
         Activities under "Cooperation" as regards indirect actions should be implemented by this
         specific programme.
(3)      The rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities and for the
         dissemination of research results, for the Framework Programme (hereinafter referred to as
         "the rules for participation and dissemination") should apply to this specific programme.
1
        OJ L 412, 30.12.2006, p 1.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/88         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
(4)      The Framework Programme should complement the activities carried out in the Member
         States as well as other Community actions that are necessary for the overall strategic effort
         for the implementation of the Lisbon objectives, alongside in particular those on structural
         funds, agriculture, education, training, culture, competitiveness and innovation, industry,
         health, consumer protection, employment, energy, transport and environment.
(5)      Innovation and SME-related activities supported under this Framework Programme should
         be complementary to those undertaken under the Framework Programme for
         Competitiveness and Innovation which will contribute to closing the gap between research
         and innovation, and promote all forms of innovation.
(6)      Implementation of the Framework Programme may give rise to supplementary
         programmes involving the participation of certain Member States only, the participation of
         the Community in programmes undertaken by several Member States, or the setting up of
         joint undertakings or other arrangements within the meaning of Articles 168, 169 and 171
         of the Treaty.
(7)      This Specific Programme should provide a contribution to the European Investment Bank
         ("EIB") for the constitution of a "Risk-Sharing Finance Facility" in order to improve access
         to EIB loans.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/89
(8)      Appropriate involvement of SMEs through concrete measures and specific actions for their
         benefit should be supported under this Specific Programme, in complementarity with other
         Community programmes.
(9)      As provided for under Article 170 of the Treaty, the Community has concluded a number
         of international agreements in the field of research and efforts should be made to
         strengthen international research cooperation with a view to further integrating the
         Community into the world-wide research community. Therefore, this Specific Programme
         should be open to the participation of countries having concluded agreements to this effect
         and should also be open on the project level, and on the basis of mutual benefit, to the
         participation of entities from third countries and of international organisations for scientific
         cooperation.
(10)     Research activities carried out within this programme should respect fundamental ethical
         principles, including those which are reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
         European Union.
(11)     The implementation of the Framework Programme should contribute towards promoting
         sustainable development.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/90         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
(12)     Sound financial management of the Framework Programme and its implementation should
         be ensured in the most effective and user-friendly manner possible, while ensuring legal
         certainty and the accessibility of the programme for all participants, in compliance with
         Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial
         Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities1 and
         Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) 2342/20022 laying down detailed rules for the
         implementation of that Financial Regulation and any future amendments.
(13)     Appropriate measures – proportionate to the European Communities' financial interests –
         should be taken to monitor both the effectiveness of the financial support granted and the
         effectiveness of the utilisation of these funds in order to prevent irregularities and fraud
         and the necessary steps should be taken to recover funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly
         used in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of
         18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities' financial interests3,
         Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning
         on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the
         European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities4 and
         Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
         25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office
         (OLAF)5.
1
        OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
2
        OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Commission Regulation (EC,
        Euratom) No 1261/2005 (OJ L 201, 2.8.2005, p. 3).
3
        OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.
4
        OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
5
        OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/91
(14)     Since the measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision are essentially
         management measures, they should therefore be adopted by the management procedure
         provided for in Article 4 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999, laying down
         the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission1. On
         the other hand, research involving the use of human embryos and human embryonic stem
         cells raises specific ethical issues, as described in Article 4 of this Decision. Moreover,
         RTD actions involving research under the "Security" theme represent a new and very
         sensitive area, in particular with regard to potential threats and security incidents.
         Therefore, measures for the financing of such projects should be adopted by the regulatory
         procedure provided for in Article 5 of Decision 1999/468/EC.
(15)     Each thematic area should have its own budget line in the general budget of the European
         Communities.
(16)     In the implementation of this programme adequate attention needs to be paid to gender
         mainstreaming, as well as to, inter alia, working conditions, transparency of recruitment
         processes, and career development as regards the researchers recruited on projects and
         programmes funded under the actions of this programme, for which the Commission
         Recommendation of 11 March 2005 on the European Charter for Researchers and on a
         Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers offers a reference framework, while
         respecting its voluntary nature,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
1
        OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC (OJ L 200,
        22.7.2006, p. 11).
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/92         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
                                                 Article 1
The Specific Programme "Cooperation" for Community activities in the area of research and
technological development, including demonstration activities, hereinafter the "Specific
Programme", is hereby adopted for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.
                                                 Article 2
The Specific Programme shall support the activities for cooperation supporting the whole range of
research actions carried out in trans-national cooperation in the following thematic areas:
(a)      Health;
(b)      Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Bio-technology;
(c)      Information and Communication Technologies;
(d)      Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;
(e)      Energy;
(f)      Environment (including Climate Change);
(g)      Transport (including Aeronautics);
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(h)       Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities;
(i)       Space;
(j)       Security.
Implementation of this Specific Programme may give rise to supplementary programmes involving
the participation of certain Member States only, the participation of the Community in programmes
undertaken by several Member States, or the setting up of joint undertakings or other arrangements
within the meaning of Articles 168, 169 and 171 of the Treaty.
The objectives and the broad lines of these activities are set out in Annex I.
                                                   Article 3
In accordance with Annex II of the Framework Programme, the amount deemed necessary for the
execution of the Specific Programme shall be EUR 32 413 million, of which less than 6 % shall be
for the Commission's administrative expenditure. An indicative breakdown of this amount is given
in Annex II.
                                                   Article 4
1.        All the research activities carried out under the Specific Programme shall be carried out in
          compliance with fundamental ethical principles.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/94         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
2.       The following fields of research shall not be financed under this programme:
         –     research activity aiming at human cloning for reproductive purposes,
         –     research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which
               could make such changes heritable1,
         –     research activities intended to create human embryos solely for the purpose of
               research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic
               cell nuclear transfer.
3.       Research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending
         both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member
         State(s) involved.
         Any application for financing for research on human embryonic stem cells shall include, as
         appropriate, details of licensing and control measures that will be taken by the competent
         authorities of the Member States as well as details of the ethical approval(s) that will be
         provided.
         As regards the derivation of human embryonic stem cells, institutions, organisations and
         researchers shall be subject to strict licensing and control in accordance with the legal
         framework of the Member State(s) involved.
1
        Research relating to cancer treatment of the gonads may be financed.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                          L 400/95
4.       The fields of research set out above shall be reviewed for the second phase of this
         programme (2010-2013) in the light of scientific advances.
                                                 Article 5
1.       The Specific Programme shall be implemented by means of the funding schemes
         established in Annex III to the Framework Programme.
2.       Annex III to this Specific Programme sets out the arrangements for a grant to the EIB for
         the establishment of a Risk-Sharing Finance Facility.
3.       Annex IV sets out an indicative list of possible Joint Technology Initiatives that could be
         the subject of separate decisions and an indicative list of initiatives for the possible joint
         implementation of national research programmes that could be the subject of a separate
         decision on the basis of Article 169 of the Treaty.
4.       The rules for participation and dissemination shall apply to this Specific Programme.
                                                 Article 6
1.       The Commission shall draw up a work programme for the implementation of this Specific
         Programme, setting out in greater detail the objectives and scientific and technological
         priorities set out in Annex I, the funding scheme to be used for the topic on which
         proposals are invited, and the timetable for implementation.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/96         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
2.       The work programme shall take account of relevant research activities carried out by the
         Member States, associated countries and European and international organisations, and the
         achievement of European added-value as well the impact on industrial competitiveness and
         the relevance for other Community policies. It shall be updated where appropriate.
3.       Proposals for indirect actions under the funding schemes shall be evaluated and projects
         shall be selected considering the criteria set out in Article 15(1a) of the rules for
         participation and dissemination.
4.       The work programme may identify:
         (a)   organisations that receive subscriptions in the form of a membership fee;
         (b)   support actions for the activities of specific legal entities.
                                                  Article 7
1.       The Commission shall be responsible for the implementation of the Specific Programme.
2.       The management procedure laid down in Article 8(2) shall apply for the adoption of the
         following measures:
         (a)   the work programme referred to in Article 6 including the funding schemes to be
               used, the content of the calls for proposals as well as the evaluation and selection
               criteria to be applied;
         (b)   any adjustment to the indicative breakdown of the amount as set out in Annex II;
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                        L 400/97
         (c)   the approval of the funding of actions under the thematic areas (a) - (g) and (i)
               referred to in Article 2, where the estimated amount of the Community contribution
               under this programme is equal to or more than EUR 1,5 million;
         (d)   the approval of the funding of actions, other than those referred to in point (c) of this
               paragraph and the thematic area (j) referred to in Article 2, where the estimated
               amount of the Community contribution under this programme is equal to or more
               than EUR 0,6 million;
         (e)   the drawing up of the terms of reference for the evaluations provided for in
               Articles 7(2) and 7(3) of the Framework Programme.
3.       The regulatory procedure laid down in Article 8(3) shall apply for the adoption of the
         following measures:
         (a)   the work programme regarding the thematic area referred to in point (j) of Article 2,
               and the approval of the funding of actions under that thematic area;
         (b)   the approval of the funding of actions involving the use of human embryos and
               human embryonic stem cells.
                                                 Article 8
1.       The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/98          EN               Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
2.        Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall
          apply.
          The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.
3.        Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall
          apply.
          The period laid down for in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two
          months.
4.        The Commission shall regularly inform the Committee of the overall progress of the
          implementation of the Specific Programme, and shall provide it with timely information on
          all RTD actions proposed or funded under this programme as specified in Annex V.
5.        The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
                                                 Article 9
The Commission shall arrange for the independent monitoring, assessment and review provided for
in Article 7 of the Framework Programme to be conducted concerning the activities carried out in
the fields covered by the Specific Programme.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006      EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                        L 400/99
                                                 Article 10
This Decision shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal
of the European Union.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 December 2006.
                                                For the Council
                                                The President
                                                J. KORKEAOJA
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/100         EN              Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
                                               ANNEX I
                      SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OBJECTIVES,
                      BROAD LINES OF THE THEMES AND ACTIVITIES
In this Specific Programme, support will be provided for trans-national cooperation at every scale
across the European Union and beyond, in a number of thematic areas corresponding to major fields
of the progress of knowledge and technology, where research must be supported and strengthened
to address European social, economic, public health, environmental and industrial challenges.
The overarching aim is to contribute to sustainable development within the context of promoting
research, the primary purpose of which is to increase knowledge, at the highest level of excellence.
The ten themes determined for Community action are the following:
1)        Health;
2)        Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Bio-technology;
3)        Information and Communication Technologies;
4)        Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies;
5)        Energy;
6)        Environment (including Climate Change);
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7)       Transport (including Aeronautics);
8)       Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities;
9)       Space;
10)      Security.
Each theme is described in terms of the objective, the approach to implementation, and the activities
including those involving large-scale initiatives (as set out indicatively in Annex IV), international
cooperation, emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs.
The principle of sustainable development will be duly taken into account. According to the
European policy of equal opportunities between women and men, set out in Articles 2 and 3 of the
Treaty, the activities of the Specific Programme will ensure the implementation of appropriate
measures to promote gender equality and the participation of women researchers. Furthermore,
considerations of the ethical, social, legal and wider cultural aspects of the research to be
undertaken and its potential applications, as well as socio-economic impacts of scientific and
technological development and foresight, will where relevant form a part of the activities under this
Specific Programme.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/102         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
Pluridisciplinary and cross-thematic research, including joint calls
Special attention will be paid to priority scientific and technological areas which cut across themes,
such as marine sciences and technologies. Pluridisciplinarity will be encouraged by joint
cross-thematic approaches to research and technology subjects relevant to more than one theme.
Such cross-thematic approaches will be implemented, among others, through:
–         the use of joint calls between themes where a research topic is clearly relevant to the
          activities under each of the respective themes,
–         the special emphasis within the "emerging needs" activity for cross-disciplinary research,
–         the use of external advice, including from researchers, from a broad range of disciplines
          and backgrounds for establishing the work programme,
–         regular reporting on cross-thematic research areas as part of the overall monitoring,
          assessment and review of the programme,
–         for policy-relevant research, ensuring coherence with Community policies.
Coordination between the themes in this Specific Programme and the actions under other Specific
Programmes of the Seventh Framework Programme, such as those on research infrastructures in the
"Capacities" Specific Programme, will be ensured by the European Commission1.
1
        With a view to facilitating the implementation of the programme, for each meeting of the
        programme committee as defined in the agenda, the Commission will reimburse, in
        accordance with its established guidelines, the expenses of one representative per Member
        State, as well as one expert/adviser per Member State for those agenda items where a
        Member State requires specific expertise.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/103
Adaptation to evolving needs and opportunities
The continued industrial relevance of the themes, and the continued participation of industry in
them, will be ensured by relying, among other sources, on the work of the various "European
Technology Platforms". This Specific Programme, together with the contributions made by
industry, will thereby contribute to the implementation of relevant Strategic Research Agendas such
as those established and developed by the European Technology Platforms where these present
genuine European added value. The broad research needs identified in available Strategic Research
Agendas are already well reflected across the ten themes. European Technology Platforms, with
possible participation of regional research-driven clusters, can play a role to facilitate and organise
the participation of industry, including SMEs, in research projects relating to their specific filed,
including projects eligible for funding under the Framework Programme. The more detailed
incorporation of their technical content will be reflected subsequently when formulating the detailed
work programme for specific calls for proposals.
The continued relevance of the themes to the formulation, implementation and assessment of
Community policies and regulations will also be ensured. This concerns policy areas such as those
of health, safety, consumer protection, energy, the environment, development aid, fisheries,
maritime affairs, agriculture, animal health and welfare, transport, education and training,
information society and media, employment, social affairs, cohesion, and the establishment of an
area for freedom, security and justice, along with pre normative and co normative research relevant
to improving interoperability and the quality of standards and their implementation. In this context,
platforms that bring together stakeholders with the research community to consider strategic
research agendas relevant to social, environmental or other policy areas may play a role.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/104         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
Under each theme, besides the activities defined, specific actions to respond to "emerging needs"
and "unforeseen policy needs" will be implemented in an open and flexible way. The
implementation of these actions will ensure a simple, coherent and coordinated approach
throughout the Specific Programme and the funding of cross-disciplinary research cutting across or
lying outside the themes.
• Future and Emerging Technologies: through specific support for research proposals aiming at
   identifying or further exploring new scientific and technological opportunities in a given field
   and/or in their combination with other relevant areas and disciplines through specific support for
   spontaneous research proposals, including by joint calls; to nurture novel ideas and radically new
   uses and to explore new options in research roadmaps in particular linked with a potential for
   significant breakthroughs; adequate coordination with the activities carried out under the "Ideas"
   programme will be guaranteed in order to avoid overlap and ensure an optimum use of funding.
   This will be implemented through:
          –     open, "bottom up" research on topics identified by researchers themselves to develop
                new scientific and technological opportunities ("Adventure" actions) or to assess new
                discoveries or newly-observed phenomena which could indicate risks or problems to
                society ("Insight" actions),
          –     initiatives focused on specific, highly challenging objectives in emerging scientific
                and technological fields that promise major advances and a large potential impact on
                economic and social developments, and may involve groups of complementary
                projects ("Pathfinder" actions).
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• Unforeseen policy needs: to respond in a flexible way to new policy needs that arise during the
   course of the Framework Programme, such as unforeseen developments or events requiring a
   quick reaction like new epidemics, emerging concerns in food safety, natural disaster responses
   or actions of solidarity. This will be implemented in close relationship with the relevant
   Community policies. The annual work programme may be altered in the event of urgent research
   needs.
Dissemination, knowledge transfer and broader engagement
The dissemination and transfer of knowledge is a key added-value of European research actions and
measures will be taken to increase the use and impact of results by industry, policy makers and
society. Dissemination will be considered an integral task under all thematic areas with appropriate
restrictions for the security theme due to the confidentiality aspects of the activities, including
through the funding of networking/brokerage initiatives, seminars and events, assistance by external
experts and electronic information services. This will be implemented in each thematic area by
means of:
–         integration of dissemination and knowledge transfer actions within projects and consortia,
          through suitable provisions in the financing schemes and reporting requirements,
–         offering targeted assistance to projects and consortia to provide them with access to the
          necessary skills to optimise the use of results,
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/106          EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
–         specific dissemination actions which take a proactive approach to disseminating results
          from across a range of projects, including those from previous Framework Programmes
          and other research programmes, and which target specific sectors or sets of stakeholders,
          with special emphasis on potential users,
–         dissemination to policy makers, including standardisation bodies, to facilitate the use of
          policy relevant results by the appropriate bodies at international, European, national or
          regional levels,
–         CORDIS services to foster the dissemination of knowledge in a user-friendly way and the
          exploitation of research results,
–         initiatives to foster dialogue and debate on scientific issues and research results with a
          broader public beyond the research community, including civil society organisation.
Coordination of dissemination and knowledge transfer across the Framework Programme will be
ensured. Complementary and synergies between this programme and other Community
programmes will be ensured, in particular in the field of education with the aim of promoting
careers in research. Actions to support innovation will be implemented by the Competitiveness and
Innovation Programme.
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SME participation
The optimal participation of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) will be facilitated across
the thematic areas, in particular by improved financial and administrative procedures, and more
flexibility in choosing the appropriate financial scheme. Furthermore, the research needs and
potential of SMEs are duly taken into account in developing the content of the thematic areas of this
Specific Programme, and areas which are of particular interest to SMEs will be identified in the
work programme. Concrete measures, including support actions to facilitate SME participation, will
be taken throughout the programme in the framework of a strategy to be developed under each
theme. These strategies will be accompanied by quantitative and qualitative monitoring against the
objectives set. The aim will be to enable at least 15 % of the funding available under this
programme to go to SMEs.
Specific actions to support research for the benefit of SMEs or SME associations are included in the
"Capacities" Specific Programme, and actions to promote SME participation across the Framework
Programme will be funded under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/108         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
Ethical aspects
During the implementation of this Specific Programme and in the research activities arising from it,
fundamental ethical principles are to be respected. These include, inter alia, the principles reflected
in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, including the following: protection of human
dignity and human life, protection of personal data and privacy, as well as animals and the
environment in accordance with Community law and the latest versions of relevant international
conventions, guidelines and codes of conduct, e.g. the Helsinki Declaration, the Convention of the
Council of Europe on Human Rights and Bio-medicine signed in Oviedo on 4 April 1997 and its
Additional Protocols, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Declaration on
the human genome and human rights adopted by UNESCO, UN Biological and Toxin Weapons
Convention (BTWC), International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture,
and the relevant World Health Organisation (WHO) resolutions.
Account will also be taken of the Opinions of the European Group of Advisers on the Ethical
Implications of Bio-technology (1991-1997) and the Opinions of the European Group on Ethics in
Science and New Technologies (as from 1998).
In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity and the diversity of approaches existing in Europe,
participants in research projects must conform to current legislation, regulations and ethical rules in
the countries where the research will be carried out. At all events, national provisions apply and no
research forbidden in any given Member State or other country will be supported by Community
funding to be carried out in that Member State or country.
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Where appropriate, those carrying out research projects must seek the approval of the relevant
national or local ethics committees prior to the start of the RTD activities. An ethical review will
also be implemented systematically by the Commission for proposals dealing with ethically
sensitive issues or where ethical aspects have not been adequately addressed. In specific cases an
ethical review may take place during the implementation of a project.
No funding will be granted for research activities that are prohibited in all the Member States.
The Protocol on protection and welfare of animals annexed to the Treaty requires the Community to
pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals in formulating and implementing Community
policies including research. Council Directive 86/609/EEC of 24 November 1986 on the
approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States regarding
the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes1 requires that all
experiments:
–         be designed to avoid distress and unnecessary pain and suffering to the experimental
          animals,
–         use the minimum number of animals,
–         involve animals with the lowest degree of neurophysiological sensitivity, and
–         cause the least pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.
1
        OJ L 358, 18.12.1986, p. 1. Directive as amended by Directive 2003/65/EC and of the
        European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 230, 16.9.2003, p. 32).
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/110         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
Altering the genetic heritage of animals and cloning of animals may be considered only if the aims
are ethically justified and the conditions are such that the animals' welfare is guaranteed and the
principles of bio-diversity are respected.
During the implementation of this programme, scientific advances and national and international
provisions will be regularly monitored by the Commission so as to take account of any
developments.
Research on ethics related to scientific and technological developments will be carried out in the
"Science in Society" part of the "Capacities" Specific Programme.
Collaborative research
Collaborative research will constitute the bulk and the core of Community research funding. The
objective is to establish, in the major fields of advancement of knowledge, excellent research
projects and networks able to attract researchers and investments from Europe and the entire world,
strengthening the European industrial and technological base and supporting Community policies.
This will be achieved by supporting collaborative research, which will include the active
participation of industry, through the range of funding schemes: collaborative projects, networks of
excellence, and coordination/support actions.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/111
Joint Technology Initiatives
In a very limited number of cases, the scope of a RTD objective and the scale of the resources
involved justify setting up long-term public private partnerships in the form of Joint Technology
Initiatives. These initiatives, mainly resulting from the work of European Technology Platforms and
covering one or a small number of selected aspects of research in their field, will combine private
sector investment and national and European public funding, including grant funding from the
Research Framework Programme and loan finance from the European Investment Bank. Each Joint
Technology Initiative will be decided individually, either on the basis of Article 171 of the Treaty
(this may include the creation of a joint undertaking) or on the basis of a modification of this
Specific Programme in accordance with Article 166(3) of the Treaty.
Joint Technology Initiatives are identified in an open and transparent way on the basis of a series of
criteria including:
–         inability of existing instruments to achieve the objective,
–         scale of the impact on industrial competitiveness and growth,
–         added-value of European-level intervention,
–         the degree and clarity of definition of the objective and deliverables to be pursued,
–         strength of the financial and resource commitment from industry,
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/112         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
–         importance of the contribution to broader policy objectives including benefit to society,
–         capacity to attract additional national support and leverage current or future industry
          funding.
The nature of the Joint Technology Initiatives must be clearly defined, in particular with regard to
matters concerning:
–         financial commitments;
–         duration of the commitment of the participants;
–         rules for entering and exiting the contract;
–         intellectual property rights.
Considering the particular scope and complexity of the Joint Technology Initiatives, strong efforts
will be made to ensure their transparent operation and that any allocation of Community funding by
the Joint Technology Initiatives will take place on the basis of the Framework Programme
principles of excellence and competition.
Particular attention will be paid to the overall coherence and coordination between Joint
Technology Initiatives and national programmes and projects in the same fields1, while respecting
their existing implementation procedures, as well as to ensuring that the participation in their
projects is open to a wide range of participants throughout Europe, and in particular SMEs.
1
        In particular with the activities carried out by the intergovernmental structure EUREKA. In
        addition, the experience gained by EUREKA clusters could be relevant to Joint Technology
        Initiatives in related areas.
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An indicative list of Joint Technology Initiatives is identified in Annex IV. Further Joint
Technology Initiatives may be identified on the basis of the above criteria and be proposed during
the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme.
Coordination of non-Community research programmes
The action undertaken in this field will make use of two main tools: the ERA-NET scheme and the
participation of the Community in jointly implemented national research programmes (Treaty
Article 169). The action will also be used to enhance the complementarity and synergy between the
Framework Programme and activities carried out in the framework of intergovernmental structures
such as EUREKA, EIROforum and COST. Financial support for the administration and
coordination activities of COST will be provided so that COST can continue to contribute to
coordination and exchanges between nationally funded research teams.
Where the actions are within the scope of one of the themes, they will be supported as an integral
part of the activities under that theme. Where the actions are of a horizontal nature or not directly
linked to the ten themes, they will be supported jointly across all of the relevant themes.1
Where the actions are within the scope of another Specific Programme implementing the
Seventh Framework Programme, they will be supported under that Specific Programme.
1
        This could include possible joint implementation of programmes in the field of Metrology.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/114         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
The ERA-NET scheme will develop and strengthen the coordination of national and regional
research activities by:
–         providing a framework for actors implementing public research programmes to step up the
          coordination of their activities. This will include support for new ERA-NETs as well as for
          the broadening and deepening of the scope of existing ERA-NETs, e.g. by extending their
          partnership, as well as mutually opening their programmes. Where appropriate,
          ERA-NETs could be applied for programme coordination between European regions and
          between Member States to enable their cooperation with large-scale initiatives,
–         in a limited number of cases, providing additional Community financial support for those
          participants that pool resources for the purpose of joint calls for proposals between their
          respective national and regional programmes ("ERA-NET PLUS").
The participation of the Community in national research programmes jointly implemented on the
basis of Article 169 is especially relevant to European cooperation on a large scale in "variable
geometry" between Member States sharing common needs and/or interests. In well identified cases,
such Article 169 initiatives will be launched in areas identified in close association with the
Member States, including the possible cooperation with intergovernmental programmes, on the
basis of the criteria defined in the Seventh Framework Programme decision.
An indicative list of initiatives for the joint implementation of national research programmes is
identified in the description in Annex IV and could be the subject of a separate decision on the basis
of Article 169 of the Treaty. Further initiatives may be identified and proposed during the
implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/115
International cooperation
International cooperation actions, showing European added-value and being of mutual interest, will
support an international Science and Technology policy that has two interdependent objectives:
–         to support and promote European competitiveness through strategic research partnerships
          with third countries including highly industrialised and emerging economies in science and
          technology by engaging the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe,
–         to address specific problems that third countries face or that have a global character, on the
          basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit.
The international scientific cooperation policy of the Community will stress and develop
cooperation to generate, share and use knowledge through equitable research partnerships taking
into account the international, country, regional and socio-economic context and knowledge base of
partner countries. The strategic approach is to enhance EU competitiveness and global sustainable
development through such partnerships between the EU and third countries at bilateral, regional and
global levels based on mutual interest and benefit. To this end the EU's role as a global player
should be also promoted through multilateral international research programmes. The international
cooperation actions supported will be connected to mainstream policy issues in order to support
fulfilling international commitments of the EU and contribute to sharing European values,
competitiveness, socio-economic progress, environmental protection and welfare under the
umbrella of global sustainable development.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/116        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
International cooperation will be implemented in this Specific Programme in each thematic area and
across themes through:
• An enhanced participation of researchers and research institutions from all International
   Cooperation Partner countries and industrialised countries1 in the thematic areas, with
   appropriate restrictions for the security theme for all third countries other than associated
   countries due to the confidentiality aspects. In addition, there will be a particular emphasis to
   encourage third country participation in identified areas of mutual interest.
• Specific cooperation actions in each thematic area dedicated to third countries in the case of
   mutual interest in cooperating on particular topics to be selected on the basis of their scientific
   and technological level and needs. The identification of specific needs and priorities will be
   closely associated with relevant bilateral cooperation agreements and with ongoing multilateral
   and bi-regional dialogues between the EU and these countries or groups of countries. Priorities
   will be identified based on the particular needs, potential and level of economic development in
   the region or country.
To this end, an international cooperation strategy and implementation plan will be developed with
specific targeted actions within or across the themes, e.g. in health, agriculture, sanitation, water,
food security, social cohesion, energy, environment, fisheries, aquaculture and natural resources,
sustainable economic policy and information and communication technologies.
1
        As defined in the Rules for Participation and Dissemination.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/117
These actions will serve as privileged tools for implementing the cooperation between the
Community and these countries. Such actions are, in particular, actions aiming at reinforcing the
research capacities and cooperative capacities of candidate, neighbourhood, and developing and
emerging countries. The actions will be the subject of targeted calls and particular attention will be
paid to facilitating access of the relevant third countries, notably developing countries, to the
actions.
These activities will be implemented in coordination with international cooperation actions under
the "People" and the "Capacities" specific programmes. An overall strategy for International
Cooperation within the Framework Programme will underpin this activity.
                                                  THEMES
1.        Health
Objective
Improving the health of European citizens and increasing the competitiveness and boosting the
innovative capacity of European health-related industries and businesses, while addressing global
health issues including emerging epidemics. Emphasis will be put on translational research
(translation of basic discoveries in clinical applications including scientific validation of
experimental results), the development and validation of new therapies, methods for health
promotion and prevention including promotion of child health, healthy ageing, diagnostic tools and
medical technologies, as well as sustainable and efficient health care systems.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/118        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
Approach
This research will advance our understanding on how to promote good health more efficiently, to
reduce the health differences across Europe, to prevent and treat major diseases and to deliver
health care. Basic bio-medical research will be an integral part of this theme; multidisciplinary
approaches are of particular importance in the health theme.
This research will help integrate the vast amount of genomics, epidemiological, biological and
bio-technology data and develop key technologies for health-related industries with a view to
developing knowledge and capacity for intervention. It will foster translational health research,
which is essential to ensure practical benefits including the improvement of life quality from
bio-medical research. It will allow Europe to contribute more effectively to international efforts
combating diseases of global importance, as illustrated by the ongoing programme on "European
and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership" (EDCTP) for combating HIV/AIDS, malaria
and tuberculosis (Article 169)1. It will reinforce health policy-driven research at the European level
and especially the comparisons of the models, systems and data of national databases. The
networking of relevant databases is particularly important in this respect.
1
        Other new important initiatives regarding the coordination of national research programmes
        may be supported where needed.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/119
This research will help improve the competitiveness of European health care bio-technology and
medical technology sectors, where SMEs are the main economic drivers, and pharmaceutical
industries. It may include support for the European Technology Platform1 on Innovative Medicines,
aiming at overcoming the research bottlenecks in the drug development process. Special attention
will be given to bridging the gap between research activities and exploitation by providing support
for demonstrating proof of concept and clinical validation. This research will also contribute to the
development of norms and standards for new advanced therapies (e.g. regenerative medicine)
needed to help EU industry face worldwide competition. Global leadership in European research
and innovation in the field of alternative testing strategies, in particular non-animal methods, should
be ensured.
Gender aspects in research will be considered and integrated in the projects2 whenever appropriate.
Special attention will be given to communicating research outcomes and engaging in dialogue with
civil society, in particular with patient groups, at the earliest possible stage, of new developments
arising from bio-medical and genetics research. A wide dissemination and use of the results will
also be assured.
1
        Strategic research agendas of other European Technology Platforms may be supported
        where they are of major importance for health-related industries.
2
        Risk factors, biological mechanisms, causes, clinical manifestation, consequences and
        treatment of disease and disorders often differ between women and men. Therefore, all
        activities funded within this Theme must reflect the possibility of such differences in their
        research protocols, methodologies and analysis of results.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/120        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
The strategic issues, child health1 and the health of the ageing population will receive specific
attention and will have to be taken into account whenever appropriate across all activities in this
theme, with priorities highlighted in the work programme. Other multi-disciplinary areas will also
be included. This will ensure a visible and coherent approach to these issues across the Theme,
whilst avoiding duplication.
Ethical, legal and socio-economic issues will be taken into account within each of the following
activities2.
Activities
• Bio-technology, generic tools and medical technologies for human health
This activity aims at developing and validating the necessary tools and technologies that will make
possible the production of new knowledge and its translation into practical applications in the area
of health and medicine.
–         High-throughput research: to catalyse progress in developing new research tools for
          modern biology including fundamental genomics that will enhance significantly data
          generation and improve data and specimen (bio-banks) standardisation, acquisition and
          analysis. The focus will be on new technologies for: sequencing; gene expression,
          genotyping and phenotyping; structural and functional genomics; bio-informatics and
          systems biology; other "omics".
1
        Support will in particular be given to specific clinical studies to provide evidence for the
        appropriate use of off-patent products currently used off label in paediatric populations.
2
        Specific research on ethical, legal and socio-economic issues will be undertaken in the
        Theme Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities under the Specific Programme
        "Cooperation", and in the Specific Programme "Capacities".
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/121
–        Detection, diagnosis and monitoring: to develop visualisation, imaging, detection and
         analytical tools and technologies for bio-medical research, for prediction, diagnosis,
         monitoring and prognosis of diseases, and for support and guidance of therapeutic
         interventions. The focus will be on a multidisciplinary approach integrating areas such as:
         molecular and cellular biology, physiology, genetics, physics, chemistry, bio-medical
         engineering including nano-technologies, microsystems, devices and information
         technologies. Non- or minimally-invasive and quantitative methods and quality assurance
         aspects will be emphasised.
–        Predicting suitability, safety and efficacy of therapies: to develop and validate the
         parameters, tools, methods and standards needed for bringing to the patient safe and
         effective new or improved bio-medicines1. The focus will be on approaches such as
         pharmacogenomics, developing and validating biological markers, targeting and delivery
         approaches, in silico, in vitro (including alternatives to animal testing) and in vivo methods
         and models2.
–        Innovative therapeutic approaches and interventions: to research, consolidate and ensure
         further developments in advanced therapies and technologies with broad potential
         application. The focus will be on gene and cell therapy, regenerative medicine,
         transplantation, immunotherapy and vaccines, and other medicines. Related technologies,
         such as advanced targeted delivery systems, advanced implants and prosthetics, and non-
         or minimally-invasive technology-assisted interventions will also be addressed.
1
        For conventional medicines (Pharmaceuticals and Bio-pharmaceuticals), these issues could
        be addressed by a Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines.
2
        Replacement, refinement, reduction alternatives to animal usage in biomedical research.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/122         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
• Translating research for human health
This activity aims to increase knowledge of biological processes and mechanisms involved in
normal health and in specific disease situations, to transpose this knowledge into clinical
applications including disease control and treatment, and to ensure that clinical (including
epidemiological) data guide further research.
–         Integrating biological data and processes: large-scale data gathering, systems biology.
          • Large-scale data gathering: to use high-throughput technologies to generate data for
             elucidating the function of genes and gene products and their interactions in complex
             networks in important biological processes. The focus will be on: genomics;
             proteomics, "RNA-omics"; population genetics; comparative, structural and functional
             genomics.
          • Systems biology: the focus will be on multidisciplinary research that will integrate a
             wide variety of biological data and will develop and apply system approaches to
             understand and model biological processes in all relevant organisms and at all levels of
             organisation.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/123
–        Research on the brain and related diseases, human development and ageing.
          • Brain and brain-related diseases: to better understand the integrated structure and
            dynamics of the brain, and to study brain diseases including relevant age-related illness
            (e.g. dementia, Parkinson's disease) and search for new therapies. The focus will be on
            gaining a global understanding of the brain by exploring brain functions, from
            molecules to cognition including neuroinformatics, and brain dysfunction, from
            synoptic impairment to neurodegeneration. Research will address neurological and
            psychiatric diseases and disorders, including regenerative and restorative therapeutic
            approaches.
          • Human development and ageing: use of a wide variety of methodologies and tools to
            better understand the process of life-long development and healthy ageing. The focus
            will be on the study of human and model systems, including interactions with factors
            such as environment, genetics, behaviour and gender.
–        Translational research in major infectious diseases: to confront major threats to public
         health.
          • Anti-microbial drug resistance including fungal pathogens: the focus will be on
            combining basic research on molecular mechanisms of resistance, microbial ecology
            and host-pathogen interactions with clinical research towards new interventions to
            reduce the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant infections.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/124         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
          • HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis: the focus will be on developing new therapies,
             diagnostic tools, preventive tools such as vaccines and chemical transmission barriers
             such as HIV microbicides. Research efforts will confront the three diseases at global
             level, but will also address specific European aspects of the three diseases as well as
             Hepatitis. Preclinical and early clinical research activities will be emphasised, and
             where relevant (e.g. for HIV/AIDS vaccines) collaboration with global initiatives is
             foreseen.
          • Potentially new and re-emerging epidemics: the focus will be on confronting emerging
             pathogens with pandemic potential including zoonoses (e.g. SARS and highly
             pathogenic influenza). Where appropriate, provisions will be made for rapidly initiating
             collaborative research aimed at expediting development of new diagnostics, drugs and
             vaccines for efficient prevention, treatment, and control of infectious disease
             emergencies.
–         Translational research in other major diseases1
          • Cancer: the focus will be on disease aetiology, new medicines and therapies; identifying
             and validating drug targets and biological markers that aid in the prevention, early
             diagnosis and treatment; and assessing the effectiveness of preventive prognostic,
             diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
1
        Aspects of palliative medicine and the use of active ingredients will be taken into account.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/125
          • Cardiovascular disease: the focus will be on diagnosis, prevention, treatment and
            monitoring of heart and blood vessel diseases (including vascular aspects of stroke)
            using broad multidisciplinary approaches.
          • Diabetes and obesity: for the former, the focus will be on aetiologies of the different
            types of diabetes, and their related prevention and treatment. For the latter, the focus
            will be on multidisciplinary approaches including genetics, life style and epidemiology.
            For both diabetes and obesity, special attention will be given to juvenile diseases and
            factors operating in childhood.
          • Rare diseases: the focus will be on Europe-wide studies of natural history,
            pathophysiology and on development of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic
            interventions. This sector will include rare Mendelian phenotypes of common diseases.
          • Other chronic diseases: the focus will be on non-lethal diseases with a high impact on
            the quality of life at old age such as functional and sensory impairment and other
            chronic diseases (e.g. arthritis, rheumatic and musculo-skeletal diseases and respiratory
            diseases including those induced by allergies).
• Optimising the delivery of health care to European citizens
This activity aims at providing the necessary basis both for informed policy decisions on health
systems and for more effective and efficient evidence-based strategies of health promotion, disease
prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/126         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
–         Translating the results of clinical research outcome into clinical practice including better
          use of medicines, and appropriate use of behavioural and organisational interventions and
          new health therapies and technologies. Special attention will be given to patient safety
          including adverse effects of medication: to identify the best clinical practice; to understand
          decision making in clinical settings in primary and specialised care; and to foster
          applications of evidence-based medicine and patient empowerment. Focus will be on the
          benchmarking of strategies; investigating outcomes of different interventions including
          medicines, scientifically tested complementary and alternative medicines, and new health
          therapies and technologies, taking into consideration prescription strategies, some aspects
          of pharmacovigilance evidence, specificities of the patient (e.g. genetic susceptibility, age,
          gender and adherence) and cost benefits.
–         Quality, efficiency and solidarity of health care systems including transitional health
          systems, to allow countries to learn from the experience of other health systems and their
          sustainability, taking into account the importance of national contexts and population
          characteristics (ageing, mobility, migration, education, socioeconomic status and the
          changing world of work, etc). Focus will be on organisational, financial and regulatory
          aspects of health systems (assessing the cost, efficiency and benefits of different
          interventions including as regards patient safety), their implementation and their outcomes
          in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and equity (including disadvantaged groups). Special
          attention will be paid to investment issues and human resources including home care
          strategies. The question of independence, life quality and mobility of the ageing population
          will be covered.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                   L 400/127
–        Enhanced health promotion and disease prevention: to provide evidence for the best public
         health measures in terms of life styles, work and living circumstances and interventions at
         different levels and in different contexts. Focus will be on the wider determinants of health
         and how they interact at both the individual and community level (e.g. diet, stress, tobacco,
         alcohol and other substances, physical activity, cultural context, socio-economic and
         environmental factors). In particular, mental health will be addressed in a life-course
         perspective.
International cooperation
International cooperation is an integral part of the Theme and is of particular importance for areas
addressing global health problems, such as anti-microbial resistance, HIV/AIDS, malaria,
tuberculosis, neglected diseases and emerging pandemics. This may also involve priority setting in
the context of international initiatives, such as the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise. Subject to the
consolidation of a long-term sustainable partnership in clinical research between Europe and
Developing countries and subject to the integration of national programmes or activities from
participating countries, further support may be provided to the European and Developing Countries
Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) in response to its achievements and future needs1. The
EDCTP programme will remain focused on advanced clinical testing for the development of new
vaccines, microbicides and drugs against the three diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. For this purpose,
the Work Programme may foresee a Community contribution to the EDCTP-European Economic
Interest Grouping for carrying out the programme to be agreed by the Commission, including the
reallocation of the Community contribution.
1
        The Commission will carry out an evaluation of the EDCTP.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/128         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
Specific cooperation actions will be implemented in the areas formulated through bi-regional
dialogues in third Countries/Regions and international fora, as well as within the context of
Millennium Development Goals. Such priority areas adapted to local needs and through
partnerships may include: health policy research, health systems and health care service research,
maternal and child health, reproductive health, control and surveillance of neglected communicable
diseases and emerging unforeseen policy needs in those regions.
An annual subscription to the international Human Frontier Science Programme Organisation
(HFSPO)1 will be made jointly with the "Information and Communication Technologies" theme.
This will allow EU non-G8 Member States to fully benefit from the Human Frontier Science
Programme (HFSP) and provide increased visibility for European research.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Research on emerging needs will be implemented on the basis of "bottom up" and "focussed"
initiatives, in coordination with other Themes and this will include a broad and inter-disciplinary
research portfolio. Support for unforeseen policy needs may address, for example living and work
conditions, health impact assessment, risk assessment, statistical indicators, management and
communication in the public health domain, as well as obligations under international health treaties
including the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control2 and the International Health
Regulations3. This will complement the health policy-driven research supported above.
1
         The European Community is a member of the HFSP Organisation (HFSPO) and has funded
         HFSP under previous Framework Programmes.
2
         Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Decision 2004/513/EC.
3
         International Health Regulations 2005 – Resolution 58.3 of the 58th World Health
         Assembly, 23 May 2005.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/129
2.        Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology
Objective
Building a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy1 by bringing together science, industry and
other stakeholders, to exploit new and emerging research opportunities that address social,
environmental and economic challenges: the growing demand for safer, healthier, higher quality
food and for sustainable use and production of renewable bio-resources, the increasing risk of
epizootic and zoonotic diseases and food related disorders; threats to the sustainability and security
of agricultural, aquaculture and fisheries production; and the increasing demand for high quality
food, taking into account animal welfare and rural and coastal context and response to specific
dietary needs of consumers.
1
        The term "bio-economy" includes all industries and economic sectors that produce, manage
        and otherwise exploit biological resources (and related services, supply or consumer
        industries), such as agriculture, food, fisheries, forestry, etc.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/130        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
Approach
This theme will strengthen the knowledge base, deliver the innovations and provide policy support
for building and developing a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE). Research will
focus on the sustainable management, production and use of biological resources, in particular
through life sciences and bio-technology and the convergence with other technologies, to provide
new, safer, affordable, eco-efficient and competitive products from European agriculture, fisheries,
aquaculture, feed, food1, health, forest based and related industries. Research will make important
contributions to the implementation and formulation of Community policies and regulations and
specifically address or support: the Common Agricultural Policy; agriculture and trade issues;
safety aspects of GMOs; food safety regulations; Community plant health legislation; Community
Animal Health Policy, disease control and welfare standards; environment and bio-diversity;
European Forestry Strategy; and the Common Fisheries Policy aiming to provide sustainable
development of fishing and aquaculture and the safety of seafood products. Research will also seek
to develop new and existing indicators supporting analysis, development and monitoring of these
policies.
Recognising the multifunctional role of agriculture, research will support the role and opportunities
for rural economies to deliver sustainable development objectives.
1
        Food includes seafood.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/131
Agro-food industries, of which 90 % are SMEs, will particularly benefit from many research
activities, including targeted dissemination and technology transfer activities, in particular as
regards the integration and uptake of advanced eco-efficient technologies, methodologies and
processes and the development of standards. High-tech start-ups from the bio-, nano- and ICT are
expected to provide important contributions to the areas of plant breeding, improved crops and plant
protection, advanced detection and monitoring technologies for ensuring food safety and quality,
and new industrial bio-processes.
Several European Technology Platforms, covering the areas of plant genomics and bio-technology,
forestry and forest based industries, global animal health, farm animal breeding, food, aquaculture
and industrial bio-technology, can contribute in setting common research priorities for this theme,
in identifying possible future large-scale initiatives such as demonstration projects, and help ensure
broad participation and integration of all stakeholders. Actions to enhance the coordination of
national research programmes will be pursued wherever appropriate, in close coordination with
ERA-Net projects, Technology Platforms and other relevant actors, such as the Standing Committee
on Agricultural Research (SCAR) or any future European maritime research coordination structure.
Consideration of the social, ethical, gender, legal, environmental, economic and wider cultural
aspects and potential risks and impacts (foresight) of the scientific and technological development
will form a part of the activities, where relevant.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/132         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                  30.12.2006
Activities
• Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest, and aquatic
   environments1
–         Enabling research on the key long-term drivers of sustainable production and management
          of biological resources (micro-organisms, plants and animals) including the exploitation of
          bio-diversity and of novel bio-active molecules within these biological systems. Research
          will include 'omics' technologies, such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and
          converging technologies, and their integration within systems biology approaches, as well
          as the development of basic tools and technologies, including bio-informatics and relevant
          databases, and methodologies for identifying varieties within species groups.
–         Increased sustainability and competitiveness, while safeguarding consumer health,
          decreasing environmental impacts, and taking account of climate change, in agriculture,
          horticulture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture through the development of new
          technologies, equipment, monitoring systems, novel plants and production systems, crop
          management through selected plant breeding, plant health and optimised production
          systems, the improvement of the scientific and technical basis of fisheries management,
          and a better understanding of the interaction between different systems (agriculture and
          forestry; fisheries and aquaculture) across a whole ecosystem approach. Research into
          maintenance of autochthonous ecosystems, development of bio-control agents, and
          micro-biological dimension of bio-diversity and metagenomics will be undertaken.
1
        Complementary research relating to sustainable management and conservation is addressed
        under "Environment including Climate Change". Research on other tools and technologies
        that support sustainable production and management will be done under the relevant themes.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/133
          • For land-based biological resources, special emphasis will be placed on low input
            (e.g. pesticides and fertilisers), and organic production systems, improved management
            of resources and novel food and feeds, and novel plants (crops and trees) with respect to
            their composition, resistance to stress, ecological effect, nutrient and water use
            efficiency, and architecture. This will be supported through research into bio-safety,
            co-existence and traceability of novel plants systems and products, and monitoring and
            assessment of impact of genetically modified crops on environment and human health
            as well as the possibility of their broader benefit for society.
          • Plant health and crop protection will be improved through better understanding of
            ecology, biology of pests, diseases, weeds and other threats of phytosanitary relevance
            and support to controlling disease outbreaks and enhancing sustainable pest and weed
            management tools and techniques. Improved methods will be developed for monitoring,
            preservation and enhancement of soil fertility.
          • For biological resources from aquatic environments, emphasis will be placed on
            essential biological functions, safe and environmentally friendly production systems and
            feeds of cultured species and on fisheries biology, dynamics of mixed fisheries,
            interactions between fisheries activities and the marine ecosystem and on fleet-based,
            regional and multi-annual management systems.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/134         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
–         Optimised animal health, production and welfare, across agriculture, fisheries and
          aquaculture, inter alia through:
          • the exploitation of genetic knowledge, new breeding methods, improved understanding
             of animal physiology and behaviour; and
          • the better understanding and control of pests, parasites and infectious animal diseases
             and other threats to the sustainability and security of food production, including
             zoonoses.
          The latter will also be addressed by developing tools for monitoring, prevention and
          control, by underpinning and applied research on vaccines and diagnostics, studying the
          ecology of known or emerging infectious agents and other threats, including malicious
          acts, and impacts of different farming systems and climate.
          New knowledge for the safe disposal of animal waste and improved management of
          by-products will also be developed.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/135
–        Providing the tools needed by policy makers and other actors to support the
         implementation of relevant strategies, policies and legislation and in particular to support
         the building of the European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) and the needs of
         rural and coastal development. The Common Fisheries Policy will be supported through
         the development of adaptive approaches supportive to a whole ecosystem approach for the
         harvesting of marine resources. Research for all policies, including the Common
         Agricultural Policy, will include socio-economic studies and cost-benefit analysis,
         comparative investigations of different farming systems including multifunctional ones,
         cost-effective fisheries management systems, the rearing of non-food animals, interactions
         with forestry and studies to improve rural and coastal livelihoods.
• Fork to farm: Food (including seafood), health and well being
–        Understanding consumer behaviour and consumer preferences as a major factor in the
         competitiveness of the food industry and the impact of food on the health, and well-being
         of the European citizen. The focus will be on consumer perception and attitudes towards
         food, including traditional food, understanding societal and cultural trends, and identifying
         determinants of food choice and consumer access to food. The research will include the
         development of data bases on food and nutrition research.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/136         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
–         Understanding beneficial and harmful dietary factors as well as the specific needs and
          habits of population groups as a major controllable factor in the development and reduction
          of occurrence of diet-related diseases and disorders including obesity and allergies. This
          will involve the investigation of new dietary strategies, the development and application of
          nutrigenomics and systems biology, and the study of the interactions between nutrition,
          physiological and psychological functions. It could lead to reformulation of processed
          foods, and development of novel foods and ingredients, dietetic foods and foods with
          nutritional and health claims. The investigation of traditional, local, and seasonal foods and
          diets will also be important to highlight the impact of certain foods and diets on health, and
          to develop integrated food guidance.
–         Optimising innovation in the European food industry through the integration of advanced
          technologies into traditional food production including fermented food, tailored process
          technologies to enhance the functionality, quality and nutritional value of food including
          organoleptic aspects in food production including new foodstuffs. Development and
          demonstration of high-tech, eco-efficient processing and packaging systems, smart control
          applications and more efficient valorisation and management of by-products, wastes, water
          and energy. New research will also develop sustainable and novel technologies for animal
          feed, including safe feed processing formulations, and for feed quality control.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/137
–        Assuring chemical and micro-biological safety and improving quality in the European food
         supply. This will include understanding the links between microbial ecology and food
         safety; developing methods and models addressing the integrity of the food supply chains;
         new detection methods, traceability and its further development, technologies and tools for
         risk assessment, including emerging risks, management, and communication, as well as
         enhancing the understanding of risk perception. This will also include science based
         methods for risk benchmarking in the field of food safety.
–        Protecting both human health and the environment through a better understanding of the
         environmental impacts on and of food/feed chains. This will involve study of food
         contaminants and health outcomes, monitoring of environmental effects, developing
         enhanced tools and methods for the assessment and management of impacts on, and
         resistance of, food and feed chains to global changes in particular to the environment.
         Assuring quality and the integrity of the food chain requires new models for commodity
         chain analysis and total food chain management concepts, including consumer aspects.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/138          EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
• Life sciences, bio-technology and bio-chemistry for sustainable non-food products and
   processes
–         Strengthening the knowledge base and developing advanced technologies for terrestrial or
          marine bio-mass production for applications in industrial processes and in energy
          production. This will include plant, animal and microbial genomics and metabolomics to
          improve the productivity and composition of raw materials and bio-mass feedstocks for
          optimised conversion to high added-value products including biological resources
          utilisable in pharmaceutical industry and medicine, while exploiting natural or enhanced
          terrestrial and aquatic organisms as novel sources. This will fully incorporate life cycle
          analysis of bio-mass production practices, transportation, and storage and market
          deployment of bio-products.
–         Addressing the application of industrial bio-technologies within whole crop and forest
          bio-mass chains to realise the full potential of the bio-refinery approach (e.g. green
          chemicals), including socioeconomic, agronomic, and ecological and consumer aspects.
          This will be enhanced by an increased understanding and control of plant and microbial
          metabolism at the cellular and sub-cellular level, and how this is integrated into whole
          system performance in the production of high value commodities deploying bio-processes
          with increased yield, quality and purity of conversion products, including bio-catalytic
          process design.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN               Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/139
–         Using or developing bio-technologies for novel and improved high quality, high
          added-value and renewable forest-based products and processes to increase sustainability
          of wood and wood production, including timber, renewable materials and bio-energy
          stocks.
–         Addressing the potential of bio-technology to detect, monitor, prevent, treat and remove
          pollution.
–         Maximising the economic value of waste and by-products through new and potentially
          energy-saving bio-processes, alone or in combination with plant systems and/or chemical
          catalysts.
International cooperation
International cooperation is a priority aspect for Food, Agriculture and Bio-technology research and
will be strongly encouraged throughout the entire area. Research of specific interest for developing
countries and emerging economies will be supported, taking into account Millennium development
goals and already ongoing activities. Specific actions will be undertaken to foster cooperation with
priority partner regions and countries - particularly those involved in bi-regional dialogues and
bilateral S&T agreements as well as neighbourhood countries and emerging economies and
developing countries.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/140         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
Furthermore, multilateral cooperation will be carried out to address either challenges requiring
broad international efforts, such as the dimension and complexity of systems biology in plants and
micro-organisms, or to address global challenges and EU international commitments (security and
safety of food and drinking water, global spread of animal diseases, equitable use of bio-diversity,
the restoration, in cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, of world fisheries to
Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2015 and the influence of/on climate change).
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Research on emerging needs may address, for example, the development of new concepts and
technologies, such as on crisis management systems and the integrity of the food chain.
A flexible response to unforeseen policy needs will take particular account of relevant policies for
building a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN               Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/141
3.        Information and Communication Technologies
Objective
Improve the competitiveness of European industry and enable Europe to master and shape the
future developments of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) so that the demands of
its society and economy are met. ICT is at the very core of the knowledge-based society. Activities
will strengthen Europe's scientific and technology base and ensure its global leadership in ICT, help
drive and stimulate product, service and process innovation and creativity through ICT use and
ensure that ICT progress is rapidly transformed into benefits for Europe's citizens, businesses,
industry and governments. These activities will also help reduce the digital divide and social
exclusion.
Approach
Information and communication technologies (ICT) play a unique, proven role in fostering
innovation, creativity and competitiveness of all industry and service sectors. They are essential for
addressing key societal challenges and modernising public services and they underpin progress in
all science and technology fields. Europe must therefore master and shape the future developments
of ICT and ensure that ICT-based services and products are taken up and used to deliver the
maximum possible benefits for citizens and businesses.
These are the targets of the Community's Information Society policy, as highlighted in the
i2010 initiative, aiming at a competitive convergent information economy in Europe, a significant
rise in European investment in ICT research and innovation and a very high level of accessibility in
the Information Society.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/142         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
New ICT technologies will open up many new opportunities for higher-value products and services,
many of which are in areas where Europe already enjoys industrial and technological leadership.
Partnering at European level is the optimal approach to ICT investment. ICT research activity based
on "open source" development model is proving its utility as a source of innovation and increasing
collaboration. More than ever before, such efforts are needed to keep pace with soaring research
costs in an era of global competition, and increasingly complex and interdependent technologies.
The ICT theme prioritises strategic research around key technology pillars, ensures end-to-end
integration of technologies and provides the knowledge and the means to develop a wide range of
innovative ICT applications. The activities will leverage industrial and technological advance in the
ICT sector and improve the competitive edge of important ICT-intensive sectors – both through
innovative high-value ICT-based products and services and from new or improved organisational
processes in businesses and administrations alike. The theme will also support other policies of the
Community, such as health and environmental protection, by mobilising ICT to meet public and
societal demands, in particular demands of people with special needs including the ageing
population and the disabled.
Activities will cover collaboration and networking actions and could support Joint Technology
Initiatives1 and national programme coordination initiatives2. The priorities of the activities will
include topics relying, among other sources, on the work of European Technology Platforms.
Thematic synergies will also be developed with related activities in other Specific Programmes.
1
         These could include selected aspects of research in the areas of Nanoelectronics
         Technologies, Embedded Computing Systems.
2
         This could include possible joint implementation of programmes in the field of
         Ambient-Assisted Living.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/143
The active participation of small and medium-sized enterprises and other small entities in the
activities is essential given their role in promoting innovation. They play vital roles in the
development and nurturing of new visions in ICT and their applications and in transforming them
into business assets.
Activities
• ICT Technology Pillars:
–         Nano-electronics, photonics and integrated micro/nano-systems: process, device, design
          and testing technologies and methodologies to improve size, density, performance, energy
          efficiency, manufacturing and cost-effectiveness for components, systems-on-a-chip,
          systems-in-a-package and integrated systems; basic photonic components for wide range of
          applications including ultra fast components; radio frequency (RF) systems;
          high-performance/high-density data storage systems; very large area/highly integrated
          display solutions; sensing, actuating, vision and imaging devices; ultra low power systems,
          power components, alternative energy sources/storage; heterogeneous
          technologies/systems integration; smart systems; multi-functional integrated
          micro-nano-bio-info-systems; large-area electronics; integration in different
          materials/objects; interfacing with living organisms; (self-)assembly of molecules or atoms
          into stable structures.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/144         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
–         Ubiquitous and unlimited capacity communication networks: cost-effective, reconfigurable
          and flexible mobile and broadband network technologies, systems and architectures,
          including terrestrial and satellite networks and optical switching and other technologies for
          high speed end-to-end connectivity; convergence of different fixed, mobile, wireless and
          broadcasting networks and services spanning from the personal area to the regional and
          global area; interoperability of wired and wireless communications services and
          applications, management of networked resources, service reconfigurability; complex
          networking of ad-hoc intelligent multimedia devices, sensors and microchips.
–         Embedded systems, computing and control: more powerful, secure, distributed, reliable
          and efficient hardware/software systems that can perceive, control and adapt to their
          environment while optimising the use of resources; methods and tools for system
          modelling, analysis, design, engineering and validation to master complexity; open
          composable architectures and scale-free platforms, middleware and distributed operating
          systems to enable truly seamless collaborative and ambient intelligent environments for
          sensing, actuation, computing, communication, storage, and service delivery; computing
          architectures incorporating heterogeneous, networked and reconfigurable components
          including compilation, programming and run-time support, high performance systems and
          services; control of large-scale, distributed, uncertain systems.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/145
–        Software, Grids, security and dependability: technologies, tools and methods for dynamic
         and trusted software, architectures and middleware systems that underpin
         knowledge-intensive services, including their provision as utilities; service-oriented,
         interoperable and scale-free infrastructures, grid-like virtualisation of resources, including
         domain-specific platforms, network-centric operating systems; open source software; open
         standards platforms and collaborative approaches for development and validation of
         software, services and systems; composition tools including programming languages;
         mastering emergent behaviours of complex systems; improving dependability and
         resilience of large-scale, distributed and intermittently connected systems and services;
         secure and trusted systems and services, including privacy-aware access control and
         authentication, dynamic security and trust policies, dependability and trust meta-models.
–        Knowledge, cognitive and learning systems: methods and techniques to acquire, create and
         interpret, represent and personalise, navigate and retrieve, share and deliver knowledge,
         recognising the semantic relationships in content for use by humans and machines;
         artificial systems that perceive, interpret and evaluate information and that can cooperate,
         act autonomously and learn; theories and experiments that move beyond incremental
         advances benefiting from insights into natural cognition, in particular learning and
         memory, also for the purpose of advancing systems for human learning.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/146         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
–         Simulation, visualisation, interaction and mixed realities: tools for modelling, simulation,
          visualisation, interaction, virtual, augmented and mixed reality and their integration in
          end-to-end environments; tools for innovative design and for creativity in products,
          services and digital audio-visual media; more natural, intuitive and easy-to-use interfaces
          and new ways to interact with technology, machines, devices and other artefacts; language
          technology including multilingual and automatic machine translation systems.
–         New perspectives in ICT drawing on other science and technology disciplines
          (mathematics and physics, materials, bio-technologies, life-sciences, chemistry, cognitive
          and social sciences, the humanities, etc.) are provided in the whole of the ICT theme.
          These are bringing breakthroughs that lead to innovation in ICT and to entirely new
          industry and service sectors. They span from miniaturisation of ICT devices to sizes
          compatible and interacting with living organisms (like novel ICT components and
          computing systems based on synthetic bio-molecular structures), to new computing and
          communication sciences inspired by the living world, to fully eco-compatible ICT devices
          inspired by natural systems, and to modelling and simulation of the living world (like
          simulation of human physiology across several biological levels).
• Integration of Technologies:
–         Personal environments: integration of multimodal interfaces, sensing techniques and
          micro-systems, personal communication and computing devices, ICT systems embodied in
          personal accessories, wearable systems and implants and their connection to services and
          resources, placing emphasis on integrating all facets of a person's presence and identity.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/147
–        Home environments: communication, monitoring, control and assistance of the home,
         buildings and public spaces; seamless interoperability and use of all devices taking account
         of cost efficiency, affordability, usability and safety; new services and new forms of
         interactive digital content and services including entertainment; access to information and
         management of knowledge.
–        Robotic systems: flexible and dependable robot systems operating in human and
         unstructured environments and cooperating with people; networked and cooperating
         robots; miniaturised robots; humanoid technologies; modular design and modelling of
         integrated robotic systems.
–        Intelligent infrastructures: ICT tools making critical infrastructures more efficient and
         user-friendly, easier to adapt and maintain, more robust to usage and resistant to failures;
         data integration tools; ICT for systemic risk assessment, early warning and automated
         alerts, planning and decision support.
• Applications Research:
–        ICT meeting societal challenges: To ensure that all European citizens can reap the
         maximum benefit from ICT products and services, to improve inclusiveness, seamless
         access and interactivity of services of public interest, and to strengthen the innovation role
         of public sector services, improving their efficiency and effectiveness.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/148         EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
–         For health: personal non-obtrusive systems that enable citizens to manage their well-being
          such as wearable or implantable monitoring devices and autonomous systems for
          supporting a healthy state; emerging techniques such as molecular imaging for improved
          prevention and individualised medicine; health knowledge discovery, management and
          application in clinical practice; modelling and simulation of organ functions; micro- and
          nano-robotic devices for minimally invasive surgical and therapeutic applications.
–         For governments at all levels: use of ICT in an interdisciplinary approach in public
          administrations combined with organisational change and new skills in order to deliver
          innovative, citizen-centric services for all; advanced ICT based research and solutions to
          improve democratic and participatory processes and the performance and quality of public
          sector services, interaction with and between administrations and governments, and
          support legislative and policy development processes in all stages of democracy.
–         For inclusion: to empower individuals and their communities and improve equal
          participation of all citizens in the information society, while preventing digital divides due
          to disability, low skills, poverty, geographic isolation, culture, gender or age, inter alia
          through support to assistive technology, promoting independent living, increasing e-skills,
          and developing products and services designed-for-all.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   L 400/149
–        For mobility: integrated ICT-based safety systems for vehicles based on open, secure and
         dependable architectures and interfaces; interoperable cooperative systems for efficient,
         safe and environment-friendly transport, based on communication between vehicles and
         with the transport infrastructure and integrating accurate and robust location and
         navigation technologies; personalised, location-aware info-mobility and multi-modal
         services, including intelligent service solutions for tourism.
–        In support of the environment, risk management and sustainable development: risk and
         emergency management; smart sensor networks to improve hazard forecasting, natural
         resources management including systems for reduction of pollutants; increasing energy
         efficiency; managing human response to environmental stresses and to sustain
         bio-diversity; alert systems and timely and reliable public safety communication; assistive
         technologies and support systems for operation under harsh, hazardous or risky conditions;
         eco-efficient and sustainable production of ICT including electronics; advanced data and
         information management for environmental monitoring and risk assessment, contributing
         to INSPIRE; GMES and GEOSS.
–        ICT for content, creativity and personal development:
          • novel forms of interactive, non-linear and self-adaptive content including for
            entertainment and for design; creativity and enriched user-experience; cross-media
            content customisation and delivery; combining all-digital content production and
            management with emerging semantic technologies; user-oriented use, access to and
            creation of content;
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/150        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
          • technology-enhanced learning systems, tools and services, adapted to different learners
            in different contexts; issues underlying human learning including pedagogical theories
            when the process is mediated by using ICT; improving people's abilities to become
            active learners;
          • intelligent services for access to cultural heritage in digital form; access to and use of
            scientific resources; tools for communities to create new cultural memory based on
            living heritage; methods and tools for preservation of digital content; making digital
            objects usable by future users whilst keeping authenticity and integrity of their original
            creation and context of use.
–         ICT supporting businesses and industry:
          • dynamic, network-oriented business systems, including their monitoring in real time, for
            product and service creation and delivery; decentralised control and management of
            intelligent items; digital business ecosystems, in particular software solutions (also
            based on grids) adaptable to the needs of small- and medium-sized organisations;
            collaboration services for distributed context-aware workspaces; augmented group
            presence, group management and sharing support; knowledge sharing and interactive
            services;
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/151
          • manufacturing including traditional industry: networked intelligent controls for
            high-precision manufacturing and low-resource utilisation; wireless automation and
            logistics for rapid plant reconfiguration; integrated environments for modelling,
            simulation, optimisation, presentation and virtual production; manufacturing
            technologies for miniaturised ICT systems and for systems interwoven with all kinds of
            materials and objects.
–        ICT for trust and confidence:
          • tools supporting the trust and confidence of ICT and its applications; multiple and
            federated identity management systems; authentication and authorisation techniques;
            systems meeting privacy needs deriving from new technological developments; rights
            and asset management; tools to protect against cyber threats, in coordination with other
            themes, in particular the "Security" theme.
International cooperation
International cooperation will be encouraged in the ICT theme to address issues of common interest
aiming at interoperable solutions with strategic partners with high mutual benefits, and to contribute
to the spread of the information society in emerging economies and developing countries. Specific
actions will be identified for the countries or regions with which Europe needs to focus
collaboration, with a particular emphasis on cooperation with emerging economies and developing
countries and neighbourhood countries.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/152         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
A subscription will be made available jointly with theme 1 "Health" to the international Human
Frontier Science Programme (HFSP) to promote interdisciplinary research and novel collaborations
between scientists from different fields, and provide the possibility for non-G8 Member States to
fully benefit from the programme.
Activities under this Theme support the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) scheme, which
allows RTD cooperation between its member regions1.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
A Future and Emerging Technologies activity will attract and foster trans-disciplinary research
excellence in emerging ICT-related research domains. Foci include: exploring the new
miniaturisation and computing frontiers including for example the exploitation of quantum effects;
harnessing the complexity of networked computing and communication systems including software;
exploring new concepts of and experimenting with intelligent systems for new personalised
products and services.
Research that aims at better understanding trends and impacts of ICT on society and the economy
may include, for example: impacts of ICT on productivity, employment, skills and wages; ICT as a
driver for innovation in public and business services; obstacles to wider and faster innovation and
use of ICT; new business models and exploitation paths, in coordination with other themes where
ICT will play an important role in changing the approach to production and services; usability,
utility and acceptability of ICT-based solutions; privacy, security and trust of ICT infrastructures;
ethical issues of ICT developments; links to ICT-related legal, regulatory and governance
frameworks; analyses of ICT support to, and impact on, Community policies.
1
         The agreement for scientific and technical cooperation in the domains of IMS concluded
         between the European Community and the United States of America, Japan, Australia,
         Canada, Korea and the EFTA States of Norway and Switzerland.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN               Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/153
4.       Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies
Objective
Improve the competitiveness of European industry and generate knowledge to ensure its
transformation from a resource-intensive to a knowledge-intensive industry, by generating step
changes in knowledge and implementing decisive knowledge for new applications at the crossroads
between different technologies and disciplines. This will benefit both new, high-tech industries and
higher-value, knowledge-based traditional industries, with a special focus to the appropriate
dissemination of RTD results to SMEs. These activities are primarily concerned with enabling
technologies which impact all industrial sectors and many other Seventh Framework Programme
Themes.
Approach
To enhance its competitiveness, European industry needs radical innovations. It must concentrate its
capabilities on high added-value products, related processes and technologies to meet customer
requirements, as well as environmental, health and other societal expectations. Research is integral
to meeting these competing challenges. The competitiveness of the industry of the future will
largely depend on nano-technologies and their applications. RTD in nano-sciences and
nano-technologies taken up by several areas can accelerate European industry's transformation. The
EU has recognised leadership in fields such as in nano-sciences, nano-technologies, materials and
production technologies which must be strengthened in order to secure and increase the EU position
in a highly competitive global context. The competitiveness of more mature industries is also
largely dependent on their capacity to integrate new technologies.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/154         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
A key element of this theme is the effective integration of nano-technology, materials sciences,
design and new production methods so as to achieve and maximise the impacts for industrial
transformation and, at the same time, supporting sustainable production and consumption. In this
respect, materials with new properties are in particular important for the future competitiveness of
European industry and the basis for technological progress in many areas. The theme will support
industrial activities operating in synergy with other themes. Applications in all sectors and areas
will be supported including materials sciences and technologies, high performance manufacturing
and process technologies, nano-bio-technology and nano-electronics.
The medium-term approach is to focus on a convergence of knowledge and skills drawn from
different disciplines exploiting application-driven scientific and technological synergies. In the long
term the theme aims to capitalise on the enormous prospects of nano-sciences and
nano-technologies for the creation of a true knowledge-based industry and economy. In both cases
it will be essential to ensure uptake of the knowledge generated through effective dissemination and
use of the results.
Strong contributions to industrial needs and complementarities through initiatives and funded
projects will be ensured in particular through activities like the European Technology Platforms
(e.g. in the potential areas of sustainable chemistry, energy, new manufacturing, power generation,
industrial safety, nano-medicine, steel, textiles, ceramics, forest-based sector, etc) and possible
support to Joint Technology Initiatives.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/155
The theme is particularly relevant to SMEs due to their needs and role in advancing and using
technologies. Areas of particular relevance include: nano-instruments, -tools, and -devices as well
as aero-space systems (due to the concentration of high-growth, knowledge-intensive SMEs in these
sectors); technical textiles including their coating, (typical of a traditional sector undergoing a rapid
transformation process affecting many SMEs); mechanical industries (e.g. machine tools- where
European SMEs are world leaders); high added-value chemicals, as well as other sectors which
involve many SMEs that will benefit from the introduction of new business models, materials and
products.
Specific actions to coordinate programmes and joint activities conducted at national and regional
level will be carried out through the ERA-NET and ERA-NET PLUS schemes so as to promote
convergence of research programmes, and to reinforce critical mass and synergies within the
European Technology Platforms. Industrial research will also benefit from the coordination of
activities in areas such as metrology, toxicology, standards and nomenclature.
Activities
• Nano-sciences and nano-technologies
The objective is to create materials and systems with pre-defined properties and behaviour, based
on increased knowledge and experience with matter at the nano-scale. This will lead to a new
generation of high added-value, competitive products and services with superior performance across
a range of applications, while minimising any potential adverse environmental and health impacts.
Interdisciplinarity, integrating theoretical and experimental approaches, will be promoted.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/156         EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
The focus will be:
–         new knowledge of the interactions of atoms, molecules and their aggregations with both
          natural and artificial entities,
–         the realisation of nano-structures, systems or materials using this knowledge,
–         activities aiming at understanding or imitating the natural processes at nano-metric scale,
–         processes for nano-fabrication, surface functionalisation, thin layers, self assembling
          properties,
–         methods and processes for measuring and characterisation.
The research will also address the relevant instruments, tools, pilot lines and demonstration
activities required for highly novel approaches to nano-technology-based manufacturing in the most
promising industrial sectors.
Moreover, the activity will focus on related challenges and the societal context and acceptance of
nano-technology. This will include research on all aspects of risk assessment (e.g. nano-toxicology
and eco-toxicology), as well as safety, nomenclature, metrology and standards which are becoming
increasingly important to pave the way for industrial applications. Specific actions may also be
launched for establishing dedicated centres of knowledge and expertise as well as a focal point to
implement the Commission's integrated and responsible approach towards nano-technology as
outlined in the associated Action Plan1.
1
        Commission Communication, Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies: an action plan for
        Europe 2005-09 – COM(2005) 243.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                  L 400/157
• Materials
New advanced materials and surfaces with higher knowledge content, new functionalities and
improved performance are increasingly critical for industrial competitiveness and sustainable
development. According to the new models of manufacturing industry, it is the materials
themselves which are becoming the first step in increasing the value of products and their
performance, rather than the processing steps.
Research will focus on developing new knowledge-based multifunctional surfaces and materials
with tailored properties and predictable performance for new products and processes as well as for
their repair. The emphasis will be on high performance multifunctional materials with a wide range
of applications.
This requires the control of intrinsic properties and performance, processing and production, and
taking into account potential impacts on health and the environment throughout their entire life
cycle. Emphasis will be placed on new advanced materials and systems obtained using the potential
of nano-technologies and bio-technologies and/or "learning from nature", in particular higher
performance nano-materials, bio-materials, hybrid materials and artificial materials with
electro-magnetic properties not found in nature.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/158         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
A multidisciplinary approach will be fostered, involving chemistry, physics, engineering sciences
including computational modelling and increasingly the biological sciences. Materials
characterisation, design and simulation are also essential to better understand materials phenomena,
in particular the structure-property relationships at different scales; to improve materials assessment
and reliability including resistance to ageing, and to extend the concept of virtual materials for
materials design. The integration of nano-molecular-macro levels in chemical and materials
technologies will be supported for developing new concepts and processes such as in catalysis, and
process intensification and optimisation. Issues related to process development and scaling up and
industrialisation of new materials will also be addressed.
• New Production
A new approach to manufacturing is required for the transformation of EU industry from a resource
intensive to a sustainable knowledge-based industrial environment and will depend on the adoption
of totally new attitudes towards the continued acquisition, deployment, protection and funding of
new knowledge and its use, including towards sustainable production and consumption patterns.
This entails creating the right conditions for industry to engage in continuous innovation (in
industrial activities and production systems, including design, construction, devices, and services)
and for developing generic production "assets" (technologies, organisation and production facilities
as well as human resources) while also meeting safety and environmental requirements.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/159
The activities will focus on:
–        the development and validation of new industrial models and strategies covering all aspects
         of product and process life-cycle;
–        adaptive production systems that overcome existing process limitations and enable new
         manufacturing and processing methods,
–        networked production to develop tools and methods for cooperative and value-added
         operations at a global scale,
–        tools for the rapid transfer and integration of new technologies into the design and
         operation of manufacturing processes,
–        the exploitation of multidisciplinary research networks and of the convergence of the
         nano-, micro-, bio-, geo-, info-, optical and cognitive technologies to develop new
         added-value hybrid technologies, products and engineering concepts and the possibility of
         new industries.
Particular attention should be paid to promoting activities which support the adaptation and
integration of SMEs to the new needs of the supply chain as well as to giving an impulse to the
creation of high tech SMEs.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/160         EN              Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
• Integration of technologies for industrial applications
The integration of knowledge and technologies of the three areas of research above is essential in
order to speed up the transformation of European industry and its economy, while adopting a safe,
socially responsible and sustainable approach.
The research will focus on new applications and novel, step-change solutions responding to major
challenges, as well as to the RTD needs including those identified by the different European
Technology Platforms. The integration of new knowledge from nano-, materials-, and
production-technologies will be supported in sectoral and cross-sectoral applications such as health,
food, construction and building including cultural heritage, aero-space industry, transport, energy,
chemistry, environment, information and communication, textiles, clothing and footwear,
forest-based industry, steel, mechanical and chemical engineering, as well as in the generic subjects
of industrial safety and measurement and testing.
International cooperation
The increasingly international dimension of industrial research requires a well-coordinated
approach to working with third countries. International cooperation will therefore be important
across the theme.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN               Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/161
Specific actions may include: activities with industrialised countries and those having signed a
S&T cooperation agreement in the fields of the Theme; specific initiatives with emerging
economies and developing countries to secure their access to knowledge; dialogue with major
countries on a "code of conduct" for the responsible and safe development of nano-technology; and
the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) scheme, which allows RTD cooperation between its
member regions1. Initiatives to coordinate and exchange research data will be encouraged (such as
in environmental and health safety issues for nano-technologies), paving the way for a common
understanding of regulatory needs by policy makers across the world.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Research on emerging needs will be implemented notably to develop and consolidate European
capabilities in specific emerging and interdisciplinary research areas with high potential for the
future. Any unforeseen policy needs will be addressed in a flexible way and may, for example,
relate to standardisation, to support the safe transformation towards a knowledge based industry, or
to potential environmental and health impacts arising from nano-technologies.
1
         The agreement for scientific and technical cooperation in the domains of IMS is between the
         European Community and the United States of America, Japan, Australia, Canada, Korea
         and the EFTA States of Norway and Switzerland.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/162        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
5.        Energy
Objective
Adapting the current energy system into a more sustainable one, less dependent on imported fuels
based on a diverse mix of energy sources, in particular renewables, energy carriers and
non-polluting sources; enhancing energy efficiency, including by rationalising use and storage of
energy; addressing the pressing challenges of security of supply and climate change, whilst
increasing the competitiveness of Europe's industries.
Approach
Current projections in the EU and worldwide show most of the crucial energy indicators
(e.g. energy consumption, fossil fuel dependency, the finite nature of conventional oil and natural
gas reserves, import dependency, CO2 emissions, energy prices) to be moving away from a
sustainable and reliable energy system. Energy research will facilitate reversing these trends,
striking a balance between increasing the efficiency, affordability, acceptability and security of
existing technologies and sources of energy, whilst simultaneously aiming at a longer-term
paradigm shift in the way Europe generates and consumes energy. Energy research will thus
directly contribute to the success of Community policy and, in particular, the achievement of
current and future EU energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   L 400/163
Following a broad technology portfolio approach, in accordance with the conclusions of the
2000 Green Paper "Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply"1, the
2005 Green Paper on Energy Efficiency2 and the 2006 Green Paper on a European strategy for
sustainable competitive and secure energy3, research will focus on the identification and
development of cost-effective technologies for a more sustainable energy economy for Europe (and
world-wide), based on affordable energy costs for our citizens and industries, and allow European
industry to compete successfully on the global stage. Activities will address all time horizons,
separately or in combination, and embrace the whole chain from fundamental and applied research
and technological development through to large-scale technology demonstration, underpinned by
cross-cutting and socio-economic research to validate research results and to provide a rational
basis for policy decisions and market framework development.
Wherever possible, an integrated approach will be adopted, stimulating the necessary feedback and
cooperation between the various stakeholders concerned. Integrated actions that cut across or
exploit the synergies between different research areas will be encouraged.
Strengthening the competitiveness of the European energy sector, in the face of severe global
competition, is an important objective of this Theme, providing the capability for European industry
to maintain and develop its world leadership in key energy generation and energy efficiency
technologies and materials. This will require large R&D efforts and international collaboration. In
particular, SMEs are important actors in the energy sector play a major role in the energy chain and
will be key to promoting innovation. Their strong participation in research and demonstration
activities is essential and will be actively promoted.
1
        COM(2002) 279, 29.11.2000.
2
        COM(2005) 265.
3
        COM(2006) 105.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/164         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
The strategic research agendas and deployment strategies developed by European Technology
Platforms are an important input for the research priorities in the Theme. Such platforms are
established on hydrogen and fuel cells and photovoltaics and the concept is being extended to
bio-fuels, zero emission power generation and future electricity networks and other energy-related
areas. Actions to enhance the coordination of national programmes will be pursued wherever
appropriate.
Increasing efficiency throughout the energy system, from source to user, is essential and underpins
the whole of the Energy Theme. Recognising their important contribution to future sustainable
energy systems, renewables and end-use energy efficiency will be the major part of this Theme.
Particular attention will be paid to stimulating research, development and demonstration and
promoting capacity building in this area. Synergies with the Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme
component of the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme will be fully exploited in this regard.
The potential for future large-scale initiatives integrating funding from various sources (e.g. JTI)
will also be explored.
In order to strengthen the diffusion and use of the output of research, the dissemination of
knowledge and transfer of results, including to policy makers, will be supported in all areas.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/165
Activities
• Hydrogen and fuel cells
The integrated research and deployment strategy developed by the European Hydrogen and Fuel
Cell Technology Platform provides the basis for a strategic, integrated programme for transport,
stationary and portable applications, aimed at providing a strong technological foundation for
building a competitive EU fuel cell and hydrogen supply and equipment industry. The programme
will comprise: fundamental and applied research and technological development; demonstration
projects at an appropriate scale to validate research results and provide feedback for further
research; cross-cutting and socio-economic research activities including infrastructure issues to
underpin sound transition strategies and provide a rational basis for policy decisions and market
framework development.
The industrial applied research, demonstration and cross-cutting activities of the programme could
be implemented through a Joint Technology Initiative. This strategically managed, goal-oriented
action will be complemented and closely coordinated with more upstream collaborative research
effort aimed at achieving breakthrough on critical materials, processes and emerging technologies.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/166         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
• Renewable electricity generation
Research into, development and demonstration of integrated technologies for electricity production
from renewables, suited to different regional conditions where sufficient economic and technical
potential can be identified, in order to provide the means to raise substantially the share of
renewable electricity production in the EU. Research should increase overall conversion efficiency,
cost efficiency, significantly drive down the cost of electricity production from indigenous
renewable energy resources including bio-degradable fraction of waste, enhance process reliability
and further reduce the environmental impact and eliminate existing obstacles. Emphasis will be on
photovoltaics, wind and bio-mass including CHP. Furthermore, research will aim at realising the
full potential of other renewable energy sources: geothermal, thermal solar, ocean (e.g. wave, tidal
power) and hydropower.
• Renewable fuel production
Research into, development and demonstration of improved fuel production systems and conversion
technologies for the sustainable production and supply chains of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels
from bio-mass (incl. bio-degradable fraction of waste). Emphasis should be on new types of
bio-fuels in particular for transport and electricity as well as on new production, storage and
distribution routes for existing bio-fuels, including the integrated production of energy and other
added-value products through bio-refineries. Aiming to deliver "source to user" carbon benefits,
research will focus on improving energy efficiency, enhancing technology integration and use of
feedstock. Issues such as feedstock logistics, pre-normative research and standardisation for safe
and reliable use in transport and stationary applications will be included. To exploit the potential for
renewable hydrogen production, bio-mass, renewable electricity and solar energy driven processes
will be supported.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/167
• Renewables for heating and cooling
Research into, development and demonstration of a portfolio of technologies and devices including
storage technologies to increase the potential of active and passive heating and cooling from
renewable energy sources to contribute to sustainable energy. The aim is to achieve substantial cost
reductions, increase efficiencies, further reduce environmental impacts and optimise the use of
technologies in different regional conditions where sufficient economic and technical potential can
be identified. Research and demonstration should include new systems and components for
industrial applications (incl. thermal seawater desalination), district and/or dedicated space heating
and cooling, building integration and energy storage.
• CO2 capture and storage technologies for zero emission power generation
Fossil fuels will inevitably continue to contribute a significant share of the energy mix for decades
to come. To make this option compatible with the environment, particularly as regards climate
change, drastic reductions in the adverse environmental impacts of fossil fuel use are needed,
aiming at highly efficient and cost-effective power and/or heat generation with near zero emissions.
The research into, development and demonstration of efficient, cost effective and reliable CO2
capture and storage technologies, in particular underground storage, are crucial across different
types of CO2 geological reservoirs, aiming at decreasing the cost of CO2 capture and storage to less
than EUR 20/tonne, with capture rates above 90 %, as well as proving the long-term stability, safety
and reliability of CO2 storage.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/168        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
• Clean coal technologies
Coal fuelled power plants remain the workhorse of electricity generation worldwide, but have
considerable potential for further efficiency gains and emissions reductions, particularly concerning
CO2. To maintain competitiveness and contribute to the conservation of resources and the
management of CO2 emissions, the research into, development and demonstration of clean coal and
other solid hydrocarbons conversion technologies will be supported, both for existing and future
power plants. Conversion technologies, including chemical processes, producing secondary energy
carriers (including hydrogen) and liquid and gaseous fuels will also be supported. This will
significantly increase plant efficiency and reliability, minimise pollutant emissions and reduce
overall costs, under various operating conditions. Looking towards future zero emission power
generation, these activities will be linked to and prepare for CO2 capture and storage technologies
and co-utilisation of bio-mass.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                        L 400/169
• Smart energy networks
To facilitate the transition to a more sustainable energy system, a wide-ranging R&D effort is
required to increase the efficiency, flexibility, safety, reliability and quality of the European
electricity and gas systems and networks notably within the context of a more integrated European
energy market. For electricity networks, the goals of transforming the current electricity grids into a
resilient and interactive (customers/operators) service network, controlling the real time flows and
removing the obstacles to the large-scale deployment and effective integration of renewable energy
sources and distributed generation (e.g. fuel cells, micro turbines, reciprocating engines), will
necessitate the research, development and demonstration of key enabling technologies
(e.g. innovative ICT solutions, storage technologies for RES, power electronics and
superconducting devices) including the development of new control and reliability tools for
electricity systems. For gas networks, the objective is to demonstrate more intelligent and efficient
processes and systems for gas transport and distribution, including the effective integration of
renewable energy sources and the use of bio-gas in the existing networks.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/170        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
• Energy efficiency and savings
The vast potential for final and primary energy consumption savings and improvements in energy
efficiency1 need to be harnessed through the research into, optimisation, validation and
demonstration of new concepts, optimisation of proved and new concepts and technologies for
buildings, services and industry. This incorporates the combination of sustainable strategies and
technologies for increased energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy and co- and
poly-generation and the integration of demand management measures and devices at large scale in
cities and communities, and the demonstration of minimum climate impact buildings
(eco-buildings). These large-scale actions may be supported by innovative R&D addressing specific
components or technologies, e.g. for poly-generation and eco-buildings (including lighting). A key
aim is the optimisation of the local community energy system, balancing a significant reduction in
energy demand with the most affordable and sustainable supply solution, including the use of new
fuels in dedicated fleets2.
• Knowledge for energy policy making
Development of tools, methods and models to assess the main economic and social issues related to
energy technologies. Activities will include the building of databases and scenarios for an enlarged
EU and the assessment of the impact of energy and energy-related policies on security of supply,
environment, society, competitiveness of the energy industry and issues of public acceptability. Of
particular importance is the impact of technological progress on Community policies. Activities will
include scientific support for policy development.
1
        As recognised by the Green Paper on Energy Efficiency or "Doing More for Less" –
        COM(2005) 265, 22.6.2005.
2
        Building upon the experience of the CONCERTO and CIVITAS initiatives supported in the
        6th Framework Programme.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/171
International cooperation
Given the global nature of the challenges, threats and opportunities, international collaboration is an
increasingly important element of energy research. Specific actions will support strategically
important multi-lateral cooperation initiatives, such as the International Partnership for the
Hydrogen Economy (IPHE), the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) and the
Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC). Other specific actions will be supported,
addressing issues such as the environmental consequences of energy policies, energy supply
inter-dependency, technology transfer and capacity building and will engage emerging economies
with significant energy needs.
International Scientific Cooperation in the field of energy will also support the aim of the
EU Energy Initiative for poverty eradication and sustainable development (EUEI) launched at the
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), namely to contribute to the achievement of
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the provision of reliable and affordable access
to sustainable energy for the poor.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Research on emerging needs will help to identify and explore new scientific and technological
opportunities in the domain of energy supply, conversion use and sustainability, often in
combination with other areas and disciplines, such as bio-technology and new materials and
production processes. Unforeseen policy needs for which a quick reaction might be required
include, for example, the developments of international climate change actions and the response to
severe disruptions or instabilities in energy supply or price.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/172        EN               Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
6.        Environment (including Climate Change)
Objective
Sustainable management of the environment and its resources through advancing our knowledge of
the interactions between the climate, biosphere, ecosystems and human activities, and developing
new technologies, tools and services, in order to address in an integrated way global environmental
issues. Emphasis will be put on prediction of climate, ecological, earth and ocean systems changes,
on tools and on technologies for monitoring, prevention, mitigation of and adaptation to
environmental pressures and risks including on health, as well as for the sustainability of the natural
and man-made environment.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN               Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/173
Approach
Protecting the environment is essential for the quality of life of current and future generations as
well as for economic growth. Given that the Earth's natural resources and the man-made
environment are under pressure from growing population, urbanisation, construction, continuous
expansion of the agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries, transport and energy sectors, land use as
well as climate variability and warming at local, regional and global scales, the challenge facing the
EU is to ensure continuous and sustainable growth while at the same time reducing negative
environmental impacts. EU-wide cooperation is motivated by the facts that countries, regions and
cities face common environmental problems and that critical mass is needed given the scale, scope
and high level of complexity of environmental research. Such cooperation also facilitates common
planning, use of connected and inter-operable databases, and the development of common
indicators, of assessment methodologies and of coherent and large-scale observation and forecasting
systems. Furthermore international cooperation is necessary for the completion of knowledge and
the promotion of better management at a global level.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/174         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
Research under this topic1 will contribute to the implementation of international commitments of
EU and Member States such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Kyoto and Montreal protocols, post-Kyoto protocol initiatives, the UN Convention on Biological
Diversity, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Stockholm Convention on persistent
organic pollutants and the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, including the
EU Water Initiative (as well as promoting sustainable production and consumption). It will also
contribute to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Group on the Earth Observation
(GEO) initiative and take into account the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. In addition, it will
support the research needs arising from existing and emerging Community legislation and policies
(e.g. Natura 2000, Reach), the implementation of the 6th Environmental Action Programme,
associated thematic strategies (e.g. marine, soil strategies) and other emerging strategies (e.g. the
mercury strategy), and the action plans on Environmental Technologies and on Environment and
Health.
The promotion of innovative environmental technologies will contribute to achieving sustainable
use of resources, to mitigating and adapting to climate change, and to protecting the ecosystems and
the man-made environment. Research will also contribute to technological developments that will
improve the market positioning of European enterprises, in particular of SMEs, in areas such as
environmental technologies. European Technology Platforms, such as those on water supply and
sanitation, sustainable chemistry, construction, and forestry, confirm the need for EU level action
and the implementation of relevant parts of their research agendas will be supported in the activities
below.
1
        Complementary research relating to the production and use of biological resources is
        addressed under the "Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology" theme.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/175
Coordination of national programmes will be reinforced by broadening and deepening the scope of
existing ERA-NETs in environmental research1.
Specific attention will be paid to strengthening the dissemination of Community research outcomes
– also through the exploitation of synergies with complementary funding mechanisms at
Community and Member State levels – and to stimulating their uptake by relevant end-users,
targeting in particular policy makers.
Where relevant, integrated concepts, tools and management strategies will be developed under the
activities below. Coordination with cross-cutting issues2 will be ensured. Activities will take the
socio-economic aspects of policies and technologies into account where relevant.
1
        This could include joint implementation of programmes in Baltic Sea research, and new
        ERA-NETs.
2
        As regards environmental technologies, coordination with CIP is particularly important.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/176         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
Activities
• Climate change, pollution, and risks
–         Pressures on environment and climate
Integrated research on the functioning of climate and the earth and marine system, including the
polar regions, is needed in order to observe and analyse how these systems evolved in the past and
predict their future evolution including observations, experimental studies and advanced modelling
and taking into account the anthropogenic forcing. This will enable the development of effective
adaptation and mitigation measures to climate change and its impacts. Advanced climate change
models from the global to the local scale will be developed and validated. These models will be
applied to assess changes, potential impacts and critical thresholds (e.g. for ocean acidity). Changes
in atmospheric composition and in the water cycle will be studied and risk based approaches will be
developed taking into account changes in droughts, storms and floods patterns. Quantification and
study of carbon and greenhouse gases (including aerosols) budget will be undertaken. Pressures on
environmental quality and on climate from natural and anthropogenic pollution of the air, water and
soil will be investigated as well as the interactions between the atmosphere, the stratospheric ozone
layer, land surface, ice and oceans. Consideration will be given to feedback mechanisms and abrupt
changes (e.g. ocean circulation), and to impacts on bio-diversity and ecosystems, including the
effects of sea level rise on coastal zones, and impacts on sensitive areas such as mountain regions.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/177
–         Environment and health
Multidisciplinary research on interactions of environmental and climate risk factors and human
health is needed to support the Environment and Health action plan and the integration of public
health concerns and disease characterisation related to emerging environmental risks. Research will
focus on the impact of global change (climate change, land use, globalisation) multiple exposures
via different exposure routes, identification of pollution sources and new or emerging
environmental stressors and vectors (e.g. indoor and outdoor environment, issues related to urban
environment, air pollution, electromagnetic fields, noise and exposure to toxic substances including
development of integrated risk assessment and methodologies for hazardous substances), and their
potential health effects. Research will also aim at integrating research activities on human
bio-monitoring regarding scientific aspects, methodologies and tools to develop a coordinated and
coherent approach. It will include European cohort studies, with attention to vulnerable population
groups, and methods and tools for improved risk characterisation, assessment and comparisons of
risks and health impacts. Research will develop bio-markers and modelling tools taking into
account combined exposures, variations in vulnerability and uncertainty. It will also deliver
advanced methods and decision support tools (indicators, data bases, cost-benefit and multi-criteria
analyses, health impact assessment, burden of disease and sustainability analysis) for risk analysis,
validation and linkage of models and systems, and for management and communication which are
supporting policy development, assessment and monitoring.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/178        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
–         Natural hazards
Managing natural disasters requires a multi risk approach, combining risk specific needs with
comprehensive planning. There is a need for improved knowledge, methods and integrated
framework for the assessment of hazards, vulnerability and risks. Furthermore, mapping,
prevention, detection and mitigation strategies including consideration of economic and social
factors need to be developed. Disasters related to climate (such as storms, droughts, forest fires,
landslides, avalanches, floods and other extreme events), and geological hazards (such as
earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis) and their impact will be studied. This research will allow the
underlying processes to be better understood. It will also allow for the detection, prediction and
forecasting methods to be improved on the basis of deterministic and probabilistic approaches. It
will underpin the development of early warning and information and rapid response systems aiming
also to reduce the vulnerability of human settlements. Societal repercussions of major natural
hazards will be quantified, including impacts on ecosystems.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/179
• Sustainable Management of Resources
–         Conservation and sustainable management of natural and man-made resources and
          bio-diversity
Research activities will be targeted to improve the knowledge basis and develop advanced models
and tools needed for the sustainable management of resources and the creation of sustainable
consumption patterns. This will enable the prediction of the behaviour of ecosystems and their
restoration, and the mitigation of degradation and loss of important structural and functional
elements of ecosystems (for bio-diversity, water, soil and marine resources). Research on ecosystem
modelling will take account of protection and conservation practices. Innovative approaches to
develop economic activities from ecosystem services will be promoted. Integrated approaches will
be developed to prevent and combat desertification, land degradation and erosion (including
rational use of water), to stop bio-diversity loss and to mitigate negative consequences of human
interference. Research will also address sustainable use and management of forests, landscape and
urban environment including post-industrialised zones addressing in particular planning, and
sustainable waste management. The research will benefit from and contribute to the development of
open, distributed, inter-operable data management and information systems and will underpin
assessments, foresight, and services related to natural resources and their use.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/180        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
–         Management of marine environments
Specific research is required to improve our understanding of the impacts of human activities on the
ocean and seas and on the resources of the marine environment, including the pollution and
eutrophication of regional seas and coastal areas. Research activities in aquatic environments
including coastal, regional and deep sea ecosystems and seabed, will be carried out in order to
observe, monitor and predict the behaviour of this environment and enhance understanding of the
sea and the sustainable use of ocean resources. The impact of human activities on the ocean will be
assessed through integrated approaches taking into account marine bio-diversity, ecosystem
processes and services, ocean circulation and seabed geology. Development of concepts and tools
for the support of strategies for the sustainable use of the ocean and its resources will be undertaken.
This will include methodologies, information systems and databases, assessment tools of policies
and instruments.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/181
• Environmental Technologies
–        Environmental technologies for observation, simulation, prevention, mitigation, adaptation,
         remediation and restoration of the natural and man-made environment
New or improved environmental technologies are needed to reduce the environmental impact of
human activities, protect the environment and manage resources more efficiently and to develop
new products, processes and services more beneficial for the environment than existing alternatives.
Research will target in particular: technologies preventing or reducing environmental risks,
mitigating hazards and disasters, mitigating climate change and the loss of bio-diversity;
technologies promoting sustainable production and consumption; technologies for managing natural
resources or treating pollution more efficiently, in relation to water, soil, air, marine and other
resources including urban environment and waste (including waste recycling). Cross-cutting
coordination will be ensured with other related themes.
–        Protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage, including human habitat
Technologies for the environmentally sound and sustainable management of the human
environment including the built environment, urban areas, landscape, as well as for the protection,
conservation and restoration of cultural heritage from environmental pollution, including
environment impact assessment, models and tools for risk evaluation, advanced and non-destructive
techniques for damage diagnosis, new products and methodologies for restoration, mitigation and
adaptation strategies for the sustainable management of both movable and immovable cultural
assets.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/182         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
–         Technology assessment, verification and testing
Research will focus on the risk and performance assessment of technologies, including processes
products and services, and the further development of related methods such as the life cycle
analysis. Moreover, focus will be given to: long-term opportunities, market potential and
socio-economical aspects of environmental technologies; forest based sector technology, water
supply and sanitation Platform, sustainable chemistry Platform; chemicals risk assessment focusing
on intelligent testing strategies and methods for minimising animal testing, risk quantification
techniques; and research support to the development of the European Environmental Technologies
Verification and Testing system, complementing third party assessment instruments.
• Earth observation and assessment tools for sustainable development
–         Earth and ocean observation systems and monitoring methods for the environment and
          sustainable development
Research activities will be devoted to the development and integration of the Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) for environment and sustainable development issues in
the framework of the GEO initiative1 to which Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
(GMES) is complementary. Interoperability between observation systems, information management
and data sharing, and optimisation of information for understanding, modelling and predicting
environment phenomena and related human activities will be addressed. These activities will focus
on natural hazards, climate change, weather, ecosystems, natural resources, water, land use,
environment and health, and bio-diversity (including the aspects of risk assessment, forecasting
methods and assessment tools) in order to produce advances for the GEOSS societal benefit areas
and contribute to GMES.
1
        Including financial support for the GEO secretariat.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/183
–         Forecasting methods and assessment tools for sustainable development taking into account
          differing scales of observation
Tools are needed to quantitatively assess the environmental and research policy contribution to
competitiveness and sustainable development, including assessments of market-based and
regulatory approaches as well as the impacts of current trends in production and consumption
patterns. Such tools will include models that consider the links between the economy, environment
and society and hence beneficial and efficient strategies of adaptation and prevention. Overall
assessment of the global environmental change including interaction between ecosystems and
socio-economic systems will be part of this interdisciplinary research. Research will also seek to
improve existing indicators and develop new ones to assess sustainable development policy
priorities, and to analyse the linkages between them, taking into account the existing set of
EU sustainable development indicators. The analysis of technology, socio-economic drivers,
externalities and governance, sustainability impact assessment as well as foresight studies, will be
included. Areas of application include land use and marine policies, urban development,
bio-diversity and the economic, political and social conflicts related to climate change.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/184         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
International cooperation
Environmental problems have invariably a transboundary, regional or global dimension and
international cooperation will be an important aspect in this theme. Particular areas relate to
EU international commitments, such as Climate Change, Bio-diversity, Desertification, Water
Resource Management and chemicals and wastes conventions as well as the Johannesburg Summit
decisions on sustainable development as well as other regional conventions. Attention will also be
given to relevant research actions stemming from EU environmental strategies and action plans1.
Scientific and technological partnerships with developing countries and emerging economies will
contribute to the Millennium Development Goals in several fields (e.g. prevention and mitigation of
the impact of climate change and natural disasters, reverse the loss of environmental resources,
improvement of water management, supply and sanitation, prevention and combat of
desertification, sustainable production and consumption and facing the environmental challenges of
urbanisation), areas where SMEs could also play a key role. Particular attention will be given to the
relation between global environmental issues and the regional and local development problems
relating to natural resources, bio-diversity, ecosystems, land use, natural and man-made hazards and
risks, climate change, environmental technologies, environment and health as well as on policy
analysis tools. Cooperation with industrialised countries will enhance access to global research
excellence; scientists from developing countries should be actively involved in particular regarding
better scientific understanding of sustainable development aspects.
1
         Examples are the Killarney recommendations for Biodiversity Research Priorities for the
         2010 Target (Malahide conference in 2004), the EU Action Plan on Climate Change in the
         Context of Development Cooperation (2004), priority actions identified by the Committee
         for Science and Technology of the UNCCD, EU and global strategies addressing chemicals
         and pesticides safe management, etc.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/185
The establishment of the GEOSS for Earth observation will promote international cooperation for
understanding Earth systems and sustainability issues, and coordinated data collection for scientific
and policy purposes with the involvement of public and private stakeholders.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Research on emerging needs in this theme may address questions such as the interactions between
people, ecosystems and the biosphere or new risks related to natural, man induced and
technologically induced disasters.
Support to respond to unforeseen environmental policy needs could, for example, relate to
sustainability impact assessments of new policies such as in environment, maritime policy,
standards and regulations.
7.        Transport (including Aeronautics)
Objective
Based on technological and operational advances and on the European transport policy, develop
integrated, safer, "greener" and "smarter" pan-European transport systems for the benefit of all
citizens, and society and climate policy, respecting the environment and natural resources; and
securing and further developing the competitiveness attained by the European industries in the
global market.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/186        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
Approach
The European transport system is a vital element to European economic and social prosperity. It
serves key roles in the transportation of people and goods in a local, regional, national, European
and international context. This theme will address some of the ongoing challenges, as recognised in
the White Paper on Transport1, in improving the contributions that transport systems make to
society and industrial competitiveness within an enlarged EU, whilst minimising the negative
impacts and consequences of transport in relation to the environment, energy usage, security and
public health.
A new integrated approach will be taken which links all transport modes, addresses the
socio-economic and technological dimensions of research and knowledge development, and
encapsulates both innovation and the policy framework.
The various Technology Platforms set up in this field (ACARE for aeronautics and air transport,
ERRAC for rail transport, ERTRAC for road transport, WATERBORNE for waterborne transport,
Hydrogen and Fuel cells) have elaborated long-term visions and Strategic Research Agendas (SRA)
which constitute useful inputs to the definition of this theme and complement the needs of policy
makers and expectations of society. Selected aspects of the SRAs may justify setting up Joint
Technology Initiatives. ERA-NET activities present opportunities to facilitate further trans-national
coordination for specific topics within the Transport sector and will be pursued wherever
appropriate.
1
        "European Transport Policy for 2010: time to decide" – COM(2001) 370.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/187
Activities of particular relevance to SMEs include efforts to ensure robust technology-driven supply
chains in the various sectors; enabling SMEs to access research initiatives; and facilitating the role
and start-up of high-tech SMEs, particularly in the advanced transport technologies and
'services-related' activities specific to transport as well as the development of systems and
applications in satellite navigation domains.
Existing policy needs as well as the development, assessment and implementation of new policies
(for example Maritime Policy and the implementation of the European Single Sky), will be
addressed within and across the different activity lines. The work will include studies, models and
tools that deal with strategic monitoring and forecasting and integrate knowledge relating to the
main economic, social, safety, security and environmental issues for transport. Activities supporting
cross-cutting thematic topics will focus on transport specificities, for example security aspects as an
inherent requirement to the transport system; the use of alternative energy sources in transport
applications; and monitoring of environmental effects of transport, including climate change; and
measures to improve the economic integration. Environmental research should cover ways of
reducing the adverse impact of transport and optimising traffic and should include boosting
transport efficiency.
Support will also be given to dissemination and exploitation activities and impact assessments, with
particular attention to the specific user needs including those of the disadvantaged and policy
requirements in the transport sector.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/188          EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
Activities
• Aeronautics and air transport
Activities will contribute to key Community policies as well as to the implementation of the
ACARE Strategic Research Agenda. The quantitative objectives correspond to the 2020 time
horizon of this Agenda. The scope of the research includes all aircraft, passenger travel and airside
related aspects of the air transport system.
–         The greening of air transport: Developing technologies to reduce the environmental impact
          of aviation with the aim to halve the emitted carbon dioxide (CO2), cut specific emissions
          of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 80 % and halve the perceived noise. Research will focus on
          furthering green engine technologies including alternative fuels technology as well as
          improved vehicle efficiency of fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft (including helicopters
          and tiltrotors), new intelligent low-weight structures, and improved aerodynamics. Issues
          such as improved aircraft operations at the airport (airside and landside) and air traffic
          management, manufacturing, maintenance, and recycling processes will be included.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/189
–        Increasing time efficiency: Realising a step-change in aviation in order to accommodate
         the projected growth of three times more aircraft movements by improving punctuality in
         all weather conditions and reducing significantly the time spent in travel-related
         procedures at airports while maintaining safety. Research will develop and implement an
         innovative Air Traffic Management (ATM) system within the context of the SESAR1
         initiative, by integrating air, ground and space components, together with traffic flow
         management and more aircraft autonomy. Design aspects of aircraft to improve handling
         of passengers and cargo, novel solutions for efficient airport use and connecting air
         transport to the overall transport system will also be addressed. The most efficient
         coordination of the development of ATM systems in Europe will be ensured through the
         SESAR initiative2.
–        Ensuring customer satisfaction and safety: Introducing a quantum leap in passenger choice
         and schedule flexibility, whilst achieving a five-fold reduction in accident rate. New
         technologies will enable a wider choice of aircraft/engine configurations ranging from
         wide body to smaller size vehicles including rotorcraft, increased levels of automation in
         all the elements of the system, including the piloting. Focus will also be on improvements
         for passengers' comfort, well being and new services, cabin logistic systems and active and
         passive safety measures with special emphasis on the human element. Research will
         include the adaptation of airport and air traffic operations to different type of vehicles and
         24-hour utilisation at acceptable community noise levels.
1
        SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) – European air traffic control infrastructure
        modernisation related to the Single European Sky implementation.
2
        For this purpose, the establishment of a Joint Undertaking for the coordination of
        ATM activities is envisaged.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/190         EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
–         Improving cost efficiency: Fostering a competitive supply chain able to halve the
          time-to-market, and reduce product development and operational costs, resulting in more
          affordable transport for the citizen. Research will focus on improvements to the whole
          business process, from conceptual design to product development, manufacturing and
          in-service operations including the integration of the supply chain. It will include improved
          simulation capabilities and automation, technologies and methods for the realisation of
          innovative and zero-maintenance, including repair and overhaul, aircraft, as well as lean
          aircraft, airport and air traffic management operations.
–         Protection of aircraft and passengers: Preventing hostile action of any kind to incur injury,
          loss, damage or disruption to travellers or citizens due to the effects of aircraft misuse.
          Research will focus on the relevant elements of the air transport system including security
          measures in cabin and cockpit designs, automatic control and landing in the case of
          unauthorised use of aircraft, protection against external attacks, as well as security aspects
          of airspace management and airport operations.
–         Pioneering the air transport of the future: Exploring more radical, environmentally
          efficient, accessible and innovative technologies that might facilitate the step change
          required for air transport in the second half of this century and beyond. Research will
          address aspects such as new propulsion and lifting concepts, new ideas for the interior
          space of airborne vehicles including design, new airport concepts, new methods of aircraft
          guidance and control, alternative methods of air transport system operation and its
          integration with other transport modes.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/191
• Sustainable surface transport (rail, road and waterborne)
–        The greening of surface transport: Developing technologies and knowledge for reduced
         pollution (air including greenhouse gases, water and soil) and environmental impact on
         such areas as climate change, health, bio-diversity and noise. Research will improve the
         cleanliness and energy-efficiency of power-trains (e.g. hybrid-solutions) and promote the
         use of alternative fuels, including hydrogen and fuel cells as mid- and long-term options,
         taking into account cost-efficiency and energy efficiency considerations. Activities will
         cover infrastructure, vehicles, vessels and component technologies, including overall
         system optimisation. Research in developments specific to transport will include
         manufacturing, construction, operations, maintenance, diagnostics, repair, inspection,
         dismantling, disposal, recycling, end of life strategies and interventions at sea in case of
         accident.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/192          EN               Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
–         Encouraging and increasing modal shift and decongesting transport corridors1. Developing
          and demonstrating seamless door-to-door transport for people and goods as well as
          technologies and systems to ensure effective intermodality, including in the context of rail
          and waterborne transport competitiveness. This includes activities addressing the
          interoperability and operational optimisation of local, regional, national and European
          transport networks, systems and services and their intermodal integration in an integrated
          approach. The activities will aim at European-wide strategies, optimised use of
          infrastructure including terminals and specialised networks, improved transport, traffic and
          information management, enhanced freight logistics, passenger intermodality and modal
          shift strategies to encourage energy efficient means of transport. Intelligent systems, new
          vehicle/vessel concepts and technologies including loading and unloading operations as
          well as user interfaces will be developed. Knowledge for policy making will include
          infrastructure pricing and charging, assessments of Community transport policy measures
          and trans-European networks policy and projects.
1
        In view of the objective to re-establish the modal split of 1998 activities addressing one
        single mode will concentrate on rail and waterborne transport.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/193
–        Ensuring sustainable urban mobility for all citizens, including the disadvantaged: Focusing
         on the mobility of people and goods by research on the 'next generation vehicle' and its
         market take-up, bringing together all elements of a clean, energy efficient, safe and
         intelligent road transport system. Research on new transport and mobility concepts,
         innovative organisational and mobility management schemes and high quality public
         transport will aim at ensuring access for all and high levels of intermodal integration.
         Innovative strategies for clean urban transport1 will be developed and tested. Particular
         attention will be paid to non-polluting modes of transport, demand management,
         rationalisation of private transport, and information and communication strategies, services
         and infrastructures. Tools and models supporting policy development and implementation
         will cover transport and land use planning including the relationship with growth and
         employment.
1
        Building upon the experiences of the CIVITAS Initiative.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/194         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
–         Improving safety and security: Developing technologies and intelligent systems to protect
          vulnerable persons such as drivers, riders, passengers, crew, and pedestrians. Advanced
          engineering systems and risk analysis methodologies will be developed for the design and
          operation of vehicles, vessels and infrastructures. Emphasis will be placed on integrative
          approaches linking human elements, structural integrity, preventive, passive and active
          safety including monitoring systems, rescue and crisis management. Safety will be
          considered as an inherent component of the total transport system embracing
          infrastructures, freight (goods and containers), transport users and operators, vehicles and
          vessels and measures at policy and legislative levels, including decision support and
          validation tools; security will be addressed wherever it is an inherent requirement to the
          transport system.
–         Strengthening competitiveness: Improving the competitiveness of transport industries,
          ensuring sustainable, efficient and affordable transport services and creating new skills and
          job opportunities by research and developments. Technologies for advanced industrial
          processes will include design, manufacturing, assembly, construction and maintenance and
          will aim at decreasing life cycle costs and development lead-times. Emphasis will be
          placed on innovative and improved product and system concepts and transport services
          ensuring higher customer satisfaction. New production organisation including the supply
          chain management and distribution systems will be developed.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/195
• Support for the European global satellite navigation system (Galileo and EGNOS)
The European Global Satellite Navigation system, encompasses Galileo and EGNOS, and provides
a worldwide positioning and timing infrastructure1.
–        Exploiting the full potential: promoting growth in the use of the services ranging from
         open to commercial access, safety-of-life to "search and rescue" and public regulated
         service; transport management applications including freight and hazardous materials
         transportation; exploiting by-product services; demonstrating the benefits and efficiencies
         of satellite navigation.
–        Providing the tools and creating the appropriate environment: ensuring safe and secure use
         of services, mainly through certification in key application domains; preparing and
         confirming the adequacy of services to new policies and legislation, including their
         implementation; addressing public regulated services according to the approved policy of
         access; developing essential digital topology, cartography, geodesy data and systems for
         use in navigation applications; addressing safety and security needs and requirements.
–        Adapting receivers to requirements and upgrading core technologies: improving receiver
         performances, integrating low-power consumption and miniaturisation technologies,
         completing in-door navigation coverage, coupling with radio frequency identification
         devices, exploiting software receiver technology, combining with other functions such as
         telecommunication, supporting key navigation ground-based infrastructure technology to
         ensure robustness and flexibility.
1
        The research activities will be managed by the European GNSS Supervisory Authority.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/196         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
–         Supporting infrastructure evolution: preparing second generation system, adapting to
          evolving user demands and market forecasts, taking advantage of infrastructure
          internationalisation to address global markets and developing world-wide standards.
International Cooperation
International cooperation is an important component of the RTD activities in this field, and will be
encouraged where there are interests for industry and policy-makers. Broad topic areas for specific
actions will be considered where there is market attraction (for example global trade development
and connecting networks and services at continental and intercontinental level); opportunities to
access and acquire science and technology that is complementary to the current European
knowledge and of mutual benefit; and where Europe responds to global needs (for example climate
change) or contributes to international standards and global systems (for example applied logistics
and satellite navigation infrastructure).
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Initiatives under emerging needs will support research that responds to critical events and
challenges of future transportation systems for example novel transport and vehicle concepts,
automation, mobility or organisation.
Unforeseen policy needs that may require specific transport-related research could include broad
societal issues such as the changes in the demographics, lifestyles and expectations of society for
transport systems; as well as emerging risks or problems of high importance to European society.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   L 400/197
8.        Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities
Objective
Generating an in-depth, shared understanding of complex and interrelated socio-economic
challenges Europe is confronted with, such as growth, employment and competitiveness, social
cohesion, social, cultural and educational challenges in an enlarged EU, sustainability,
environmental challenges, demographic change, migration and integration, quality of life and global
interdependence, in particular with the view of providing an improved knowledge base for policies
in the fields concerned.
Approach
The research priorities address key societal, economic and cultural challenges facing Europe and the
world now and in the future. The proposed research agenda constitutes a coherent approach to
addressing these challenges. The development of a socio-economic and humanities knowledge base
on these key challenges will make a significant contribution to promoting shared understanding
across Europe and to the resolution of wider international problems. The research priorities will
help improve the formulation, implementation, impact and assessment of policy including
regulatory measures in many Community policy areas at the European, national, regional and local
levels, and a substantial international perspective is included in most of the research.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/198         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
In addition to socio-economic and socio-cultural research and foresight an emphasis will be placed
on humanities research, which will provide different perspectives and make an essential
contribution across the theme on, for example, the historical, cultural and philosophical aspects,
including relevant language, identity and values questions.
The work could also build upon relevant national research programmes, complementing the
research activities below, and taking advantage of the ERA-NET scheme and the possible use of
Article 169. For certain issues, use may also be made of social platforms to discuss future research
agendas; these would involve the research community and societal stakeholders.
The research will be facilitated by research infrastructures which generate new research data,
including through surveys (both quantitative and qualitative), make available existing data for
international comparative research, and provide access to source materials and advanced research
tools as well as to the results of existing research in many fields. Some of these actions will be
carried out through the Infrastructures element of the Capacities programme and others by projects
under this theme. The research will rely on access to and the use of official statistics.
Specific dissemination actions targeted at particular groups and the general public will be
undertaken, including workshops and conferences for researchers to exchange views with
policy-makers and other stakeholders, and the diffusion of results using various media.
Appropriate coordination of socio-economic and humanities research and foresight elements across
the Cooperation and other specific programmes will be assured.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN               Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/199
Activities
• Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society
This will aim to develop and integrate research on the issues affecting growth, employment and
competitiveness in order to provide an improved and integrated understanding of these issues for
the continued development of a knowledge society. It will benefit policy and support progress
towards achieving these objectives. The research will integrate the following aspects of the
question:
–        The changing role of knowledge throughout the economy, including the role of different
         types of knowledge, skills and competences on a global scale, formal and informal
         education and lifelong learning, and intangible goods and investment.
–        Economic structures, structural change including spatial aspects such as regionalisation
         and internationalisation, and productivity issues, including the role of the services sector,
         of finance, demographics, demand and the processes of long-term change.
–        Institutional and policy questions, including macroeconomic policy, labour markets, social
         and welfare systems, national and regional institutional contexts, and policy coherence and
         coordination.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/200         EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
Research will address important new challenges and opportunities from increased globalisation,
emerging economies, relocation, and EU enlargement; as well as socio-economic stability, the role
of technology and international transfer of technology, various forms of innovation and economic
renewal, outsourcing and insourcing, youth and youth policy, economic and social
entrepreneurship, and the economic potential of European cultural heritage and the creative sector.
Employment questions will include unemployment and underemployment.
• Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European perspective
This aims to support the societal goal of combining economic, social and environmental objectives
and so improve the basis for sustainable development. The research in this activity will address two
interrelated issues:
–         How European socio-economic models and those outside Europe have fared in combining
          the objectives, the conditions under which this occurred including the role of dialogue,
          social partnership, sectoral transformation, institutional change and their ability to confront
          new challenges.
–         Economic cohesion between regions and urban and regional development in an enlarged
          EU; and social cohesion (including inequalities, social protection and social services,
          taxation policies, ethnic relations and migration, education and social exclusion, and
          health) as well as its relation to social problems such as poverty, housing, crime,
          delinquency and drugs.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/201
–        In addressing these issues, consideration will be given to
         –     the existence of trade-offs or synergies between the economic, social, environmental
               objectives in the world context,
         –     the interaction between environment1, energy and society,
         –     long-term sustainability,
         –     issues for developing countries,
         –     spatial aspects including urban planning, the role of cities, metropolitan and other
               city regions and related governance issues,
         –     cultural issues; and the socio-economic impact of European policies and legislation.
The question of welfare states as a development resource, and the employment and housing of
migrants and their descendants, will also be addressed.
1
        Global environment change will be mainly dealt in the Theme Environment.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/202          EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
• Major trends in society and their implications
The aim is to understand and assess the causes and implications of particular key trends in society
that have major consequences for European citizens, their quality of life and for policies, and thus to
provide an underpinning for many policy areas. Empirical and theoretical research will address
initially three major trends:
–          Demographic change including ageing, fertility and migration. The broad societal and
           economic implications and issues will be addressed, including societal and economic
           potential of active ageing, the effects on pension systems, the challenges of migration and
           integration and the implications for urban development.
–          Changes in the related aspects of lifestyles, families, work, consumption (including
           consumer protection aspects), health and quality of life including child, youth and
           disabilities issues and reconciliation of work and family life.
–          Cultural interactions in an international perspective including traditions from different
           societies, diversity of populations including ethnic groups, multicultural issues, differing
           identities, languages and religious practices, and possible issues in this context including
           discrimination, racism, xenophobia and intolerance.
Gender issues, inequalities and changing values will be included. In addition, changes in criminality
and crime perception will be examined, as will changes in corporate social responsibility.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/203
• Europe in the world
The aim is to understand changing interactions and interdependencies between world regions
including emerging and developing regions and their implications for the regions concerned,
especially for Europe, and the related issue of addressing emerging threats and risks in a world
context and their connection to human rights, freedoms and well-being. The research will involve
two related tracks:
–        Flows of trade, finance, investment, migration and their impact; uneven development,
         poverty and sustainability; economic and political relations, global governance including
         international institutions. This will explore cultural interactions including media and
         religions and distinctive non-European approaches.
–        Conflicts, their causes and resolution, and fostering peace; the relation between security
         and destabilising factors such as poverty, crime, environmental degradation, resource
         scarcity, uneven development, financial instability and debt; terrorism, its causes and
         consequences; security-related policies and perceptions of insecurity and civil-military
         relations.
In both, Europe's role in the world, the development of multilateralism and international law, the
promotion of democracy and fundamental rights including different notions of these, and Europe as
seen from outside, will be addressed.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/204          EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
• The citizen in the European Union
In the context of the future development of the EU, the aim is to improve understanding of, first, the
issues involved in achieving a sense of democratic "ownership" and active participation by citizens
as well as effective and democratic governance at all levels including innovative governance
processes to enhance citizens' participation and the cooperation between public and private actors,
and, second, Europe's diversities and commonalities in terms of culture, religion, institutions, law,
history, languages and values. The research will address:
–         Participation (including youth, minorities and gender aspects), representation,
          accountability and legitimacy; the European public sphere, media and democracy; various
          forms of governance in the EU including economic and legal governance and the role of
          the public and private sectors, policy processes and opportunities to shape policies; the role
          of civil society; citizenship and rights; the implications of enlargement; and related values
          of the population.
–         European diversities and commonalities, including their historical origins and evolution;
          differences in institutions (including norms, practices, laws); cultural heritage; various
          visions and perspectives for European integration and enlargement including the views of
          the populations; identities including European identity; approaches to multiple coexisting
          cultures; the role of language, the arts and religions; attitudes and values.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/205
• Socio-economic and scientific indicators
With a view to improving the use of indicators in policy, the aim is to develop a more profound
understanding of their use in policy development and implementation and to propose improvements
in indicators and methods for their use. The research will address:
–        How indicators are used in policy objectives, policy development and implementation, in a
         variety of fields and from macro to micro levels, the adequacy of existing indicators and
         their use, techniques to analyse them and proposals for new indicators and sets of
         indicators.
–        How evidence-based policy might be better supported by indicators and methods for their
         use; indicators for policy with multiple objectives, for policy coordination and for
         regulation; support by official statistics for such indicators.
–        Use of indicators and related approaches for evaluation of research programmes including
         impact assessment.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/206         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
• Foresight activities
The aim is to provide national, regional and Community policy-makers and others with foresight
knowledge for the early identification of long-term challenges and areas of common interest that
can help them formulate policy. Four types of activities will be covered:
–         Wide socio-economic foresight on a limited number of key challenges and opportunities
          for the Community, exploring issues such as the future and implications of ageing,
          migration, globalisation of the production and dissemination of knowledge, changes in
          crime and major risks.
–         More focused thematic foresight on the developments in emerging research domains or
          those cutting across existing domains, as well as on the future of scientific disciplines.
–         Foresight on research systems and policies in Europe and elsewhere and on the future of
          key actors involved.
–         Mutual learning and cooperation between national and/or regional foresight initiatives;
          cooperation between EU, third country and international foresight initiatives.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/207
International cooperation
Given the strong international dimension of the research, international cooperation will be
developed in all areas of the theme. Specific international cooperation actions will be undertaken on
a number of selected subjects on a multilateral and bilateral basis identified on the basis of the
needs of the partner countries as well as those of Europe.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Research on emerging needs will offer a space for researchers to identify and address research
challenges not specified above. It will encourage innovative thinking about challenges facing
Europe not being widely discussed up to now or other relevant combinations of issues, perspectives
and disciplines. Research to respond to unforeseen policy needs will also be undertaken, in close
consultation with those involved in policy.
9.        Space
Objective
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 (ESA).
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/208          EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
Approach
In this field, the Community will contribute to the definition of common objectives based on user
requirements and policy objectives; to the coordination of activities, to the avoidance of
duplications, to the facilitation of interoperability and to the improvement of cost-effectiveness. It
will also contribute to the definition of standards. The European Space Policy1 will serve the
objectives of the public authorities and decision-makers while strengthening the competitiveness of
the European industry. It will be implemented through a European Space Programme, and the
Seventh Framework Programme will contribute to support or complement research and
technological development actions provided by other stakeholders, public and private, in Europe.
Actions in this theme will support Community policy objectives, for example in the fields of
agriculture, forestry, fisheries, environment, telecommunications, security, development, health,
humanitarian aid, transport, science, education as well as ensuring that Europe is involved in
regional and international cooperation. Space tools are also foreseen to contribute to law
enforcement in some of these fields.
With particular focus on the use of existing capabilities in Europe, the activities set out in this
priority aim primarily at: the exploitation of space assets for the implementation of applications, in
particular GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) which together with Galileo
represents the flagship of the European Space Policy, as well as space exploration efforts; and
enabling technologies supporting the strategic role of the European Union.
1
         "European Space Policy: Preliminary Elements" – COM(2005) 208.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/209
Application-oriented activities are expected to be complementary to actions carried out under other
themes in the "Cooperation" Specific Programme (notably those carried out under "Environment" in
connection with earth observation and GEOSS, and those carried out under "Information and
Communication Technologies"). Thematic synergies will also be developed with related activities
in other specific programmes. Complementary actions are envisaged through the Competitiveness
and Innovation Framework Programme and the Education and Training Programme.
Research and technology transfer activities in the theme could be particularly appealing for SMEs
developing innovative technologies, needing familiarisation with new space technology
opportunities (spin-in), or developing application for their own space technologies to other markets
(spin-off).
Management of certain parts of the space activities could be entrusted to existing external entities,
such as ESA1, and other entities and agencies at European or national level. In the case of GMES,
research activities could be implemented through a Joint Technology Initiative (see Annex III).
1
        Within the terms of the Framework Agreement between the European Community and the
        European Space Agency (OJ L 261, 6.8.2004, p. 64).
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/210         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
Activities
• Space-based applications at the service of the European Society
–         Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)
The objective is to develop appropriate satellite based monitoring and early warning systems,
including for the safety of citizens, as unique and globally available data sources and to consolidate
and stimulate evolution of their operational use. This programme will also provide support to the
development of operational GMES services, which enable decision-makers to better anticipate or
mitigate crisis situations and issues relating to the management of the environment and security and
the handling of natural disasters, starting with "fast-track" services on Emergency Response, Land
Monitoring and Marine Services. Research activities should mainly contribute to maximise the use
of GMES data collected from space-borne sources and to integrating these with data from other
observation systems in complex products designed to deliver information and customised services
to end-users through an efficient data integration and information management. Other satellite
technologies (e.g. Communication, Navigation) will be integrated, where necessary, into the
development of GMES services. Research activities should also contribute to enhance monitoring
techniques and associated instrument technologies, to develop where necessary new space-based
systems or improve the interoperability of existing ones, and to enable their use in (pre-)operational
services responding to specific types of demand. Research should support the development of
sustainable space-based and in situ (including ground-based and airborne) systems in particular: for
land monitoring, ocean monitoring and crisis management, with frequent, high-resolution imagery
for zones of high importance, including sensitive, urban and rapidly evolving zones; for risk
prevention and risk management and all kinds of emergency, enhancing convergence with
non-space systems.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/211
• In the environmental domain, the demands include the acquisition of independent knowledge on
   the state and evolution of sustainable use of renewable resources (such as vegetation and forests),
   wetlands, desertification, land cover including snow and ice, and land use, the food supply,
   agricultural environment and fishing, carbon sinks and stocks; atmospheric processes and
   chemistry; and conditions of seas. The EC 6th Environmental Action Plan on environmental
   policies monitoring climate change, air, soil and water quality will be considered.
• In the security domain demands include improving acquisition, access and exchange of data and
   information needed in the context of emergency relief response and management. Support is to
   be given for prevention/mitigation, monitoring, risk management and assessment of natural and
   technological hazards as well as to humanitarian aid for the purpose of proper need assessment
   and emergency planning in the context of natural disasters (such as forest fires, floods and
   earthquakes) and humanitarian crises (refugees, internally displaced persons, etc.). Support is
   also to be considered for the implementation of the Community policies such as the
   establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice, and in the domain of border
   surveillance.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/212          EN               Official Journal of the European Union                       30.12.2006
–         Security aspects (complementary to security research and to GMES activities)
The EC SPASEC Report1 underlined that space services play such a key role in the well-being of
European society that protection of critical infrastructure in the space sector is a priority. This may
need services and capabilities for surveillance of space based assets as well as protection for
terrestrial infrastructure. The space surveillance system could for example provide information
concerning the main characteristics of satellites (e.g. orbital parameters, activity status), the main
characteristics of potentially threatening debris (e.g. trajectory, physical parameters) and pertinent
information related to space weather and Near Earth Objects. Feasibility studies and the financing
of demonstration projects can be foreseen in this area.
–         Applications of Satellite Communications
The objective is to support innovative satellite communication applications and services, seamlessly
integrated in global electronic communication networks, for citizens and enterprises in application
sectors encompassing civil protection, security, e-government, telemedicine, tele-education, search
and rescue, tourism and leisure activities, transport including fleet management and personal
navigation, agriculture, forestry and meteorology. Research emphasis will be on the development of
new applications and the deployment of demonstration missions and pre-operational systems where
satellite communications represent an efficient response to these needs in terms of GMES
downstream services.
1
         Report of the Panel of Experts on Space and Security (March 2005).
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/213
• Exploration of space
         –     The objective is to provide R&D support and maximise scientific added-value
               through synergies with initiatives of ESA or other entities and agencies at European
               or national level in the field of space exploration, including related technology
               transfer implications, and to facilitate access by the scientific community to
               results/data acquired during exploration missions undertaken in the frame of the
               European Space Programme. Research activities will be carried out, in particular,
               through supporting actions, feasibility studies and pre-operational projects.
               Additional dimensions will have to be considered: the intrinsic international
               cooperation opportunities and the importance of keeping awareness and
               disseminating results.
         –     Supporting actions and feasibility studies are also envisaged as a means to better
               coordinate efforts for the development of space-borne telescopes and detectors as
               well as for data analysis in space sciences. Actions in this context will complement
               relevant national and international programmes (notably by ESA) and will aim at
               examining international cooperation opportunities.
• RTD for strengthening space foundations
–        Space technology
         In general the objective is to support the increase of the competitiveness, cost-effectiveness
         and independent access of the European space technology sector at large.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/214         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
          In particular that objective could be met through space research and the development for
          long-term needs including space transportation, for example by: assessing the long-term
          needs; contributing to system studies taking into account the end-user requirements;
          contributing to upstream technology research for the next generation of space
          transportation and propulsion systems.
–         Space sciences
          The objective is to contribute to the development of advanced technologies to be used in
          space sciences. Space sciences not only provide deep insights into the structure of the
          universe, improved understanding of Planet Earth and the Solar System, and a new
          approach to bio-medicine and life and physical sciences, they are also a strong driving
          force for new technology developments with many subsequent applications of benefit to
          society. The Seventh Framework Programme should complement the ongoing scientific
          programmes where gaps are identified and be in support of scientific activities including
          on-board the International Space Station (ISS). Supporting activities aiming at facilitating
          access to scientific data including those obtained from previous missions are also
          envisaged.
International cooperation
Exploitation and exploration of space are, by nature, global ventures. Effective international space
cooperation will help to raise the Union's political standing in the world, strengthen its economic
competitiveness and enhance its reputation for scientific excellence. Cooperation in the space sector
will also support Community's external policy objectives (e.g. support for developing countries,
neighbourhood countries).
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/215
In this respect, focus will be on developing an overall strategy in international space cooperation as
well as an efficient coordination mechanism involving all relevant European players.
Space has to be considered a privileged sector for developing international activities, in particular in
cooperation with main and emerging space powers, such as Russia, the United States, China, India,
Canada, Japan, Ukraine and other countries carrying out space activities.
Efforts will be pursued to promote the use of space-based solutions in support of sustainable
development and prevention of risks in the context of natural disasters and humanitarian crises,
particularly in Africa. This is coherent with the global approach taken by GMES with regard to the
monitoring of the environment1 and security.
To provide better opportunities for efficient collaboration and to ensure that best international
expertise in the space field is integrated in the European Space Programme, specific cooperation
actions will be used for bi-or multilateral projects, international and global initiatives and
cooperation with emerging economies and developing countries. Activities will include assessing
and monitoring of international commitments.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
Research on emerging needs will enable innovative solutions to technological developments in the
space research area, and possible adaptations and applications in other fields (e.g. resources
management, biological processes, and new materials). Research to respond to unforeseen policy
needs may address topics such as providing space based solutions in support of developing
countries, developing new space-observation and communication tools and methods related to
relevant Community policies and contributions to social inclusion.
1
         For example, the Kyoto Protocol, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,
         UN Biodiversity Convention, 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development conclusions
         and 2005 G-8 Summit conclusions.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/216         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
10.       Security
Objective
To develop the technologies and knowledge for building capabilities needed to ensure the security
of citizens from threats such as terrorism, natural disasters and crime, while respecting fundamental
human rights including privacy; to ensure optimal and concerted use of available and evolving
technologies to the benefit of civil European security, to stimulate the cooperation of providers and
users for civil security solutions, improving the competitiveness of the European security industry
and delivering mission-oriented research results to reduce security gaps.
Approach
Security in Europe is a precondition of prosperity and freedom. The Security Research theme has an
exclusively civil application focus and it supports the implementation of Community policies and
initiatives relevant to security such as the establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice,
transport, health (including the EU Health Security Programme1), civil protection (including natural
and industrial disasters), energy, environment and external policies. Through this, the theme will
contribute to growth and employment and the competitiveness of the European security industry. It
will facilitate the various national and international actors to cooperate and coordinate in order to
avoid unnecessary duplication and to explore synergies wherever possible. It will be aimed at filling
capability gaps and will provide clear added-value to security needs in Europe. The respect of
privacy and civil liberties will be a guiding principle throughout the theme. It will not work on any
technology for lethal and/or destructive weapons.
1
         With the objective to improve preparedness and response to deliberate releases of biological
         and/or chemical agents.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                        L 400/217
The special requirements concerning confidentiality are to be enforced but the transparency of
research findings is not to be unnecessary restricted. In addition, areas are to be identified that
permit the present transparency of research findings.
These non-defence activities at Community level will address four civil security mission areas
which have been identified in response to specific challenges of high political relevance and
European added-value with regard to threats and potential security incidents, and three areas of
cross-cutting interest. Each mission area covers six phases which vary in time and emphasis. These
six phases are: identify (incident-related), prevent (threat-related), protect (target-related), prepare
(operation-related), respond (crisis-related) and recover (consequence-related); they describe what
efforts to undertake in the respective phases. The first four phases refer to efforts of avoiding an
incident and mitigating its potential negative impacts, the last two refer to efforts of coping with the
incident situation and longer-term consequences.
For each phase of the individual mission areas, a specific group of capabilities becomes relevant
which those responsible for the security of the citizens need to possess in order to effectively cope
with threats and incidents. The capabilities indicate how the efforts would be undertaken and will in
several cases contribute to more than one phase and/or mission area. Acquiring the capabilities is
based on a combination of knowledge, technologies and organisational measures. This theme will
also address ways of ensuring an effective connection between the enhanced knowledge and
technologies, better use of common ICT-systems in the fields of different operations, and processes
developed and their actual implementation by the various end-users, in order to achieve
improvements in European security capabilities.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/218         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
Research will in particular focus on filling capability gaps by developing technologies and skills
required by the specific mission area and identified by a "top-down" approach guided by a dialogue
with end-users, in conformity with objectives and priorities. As end-users of the security research,
public authorities, the private sector and EU citizens will be fully involved in the identification of
the security research requirements to be addressed. A "System Analysis" approach will be adopted
to conduct an analysis of civil security gaps and their R&D requirements in each mission area. The
activities will include the analysis of the security requirements of civil business. This identification
of research requirements should be continuously an important element of research under this
Theme.
This capability gap driven approach will be complemented by a "bottom-up" approach which
scopes and examines technologies in order to assess how they could be utilised to enhance
European security. An important aspect is to draw on the excellence of the supply side
(e.g. industry, universities, research centres) to bring forward innovative security solutions.
Research will be multidisciplinary and mission-oriented, it will range from technology and
methodology development, to technology and systems integration, demonstration and validation.
A multi-purpose nature of technologies is encouraged to maximise the scope for their application,
and to foster cross-fertilisation and take-up of available and evolving technologies for the civil
security sector. The Security Research theme will aim at preparing medium to long-term effective
solutions which are sufficiently adaptable and innovative to defy relevant threats. It will also
complement and integrate the technology- and more systems-oriented research relevant to civil
security which is carried out in other themes.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/219
Security research needs specific implementation rules to take into account its special nature with the
aim of protecting sensitive information related to security, and to providing sufficient information
on the results for the Member States and end-users.
Research will be focussed exclusively on civil security applications. Recognising that there are
areas of dual use technology relevant to both civilian and military applications, a suitable
framework will be established to coordinate with the activities of the European Defence Agency
(EDA). Moreover, to provide mutual information and to avoid unnecessary duplication of funding a
coordination of security research with other activities at national and European level will be
established.
The involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the activities is as strongly
encouraged as that of authorities and organisations responsible for the security of the citizens. The
longer term research agenda elaborated by the European Security Research Advisory Board
(ESRAB)1 will support the definition of the content and structure of the research in this theme.
1
        Established in the course of the three years Preparatory Action for Security Research
        (PASR 2004-2006).
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/220         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                       30.12.2006
Activities
Activities will address the following mission areas:
• Security of citizens: Activities will concentrate on threat aspects of potential incidents of a
   transnational importance, such as offenders, equipment and resources used by them or as
   mechanisms of attack. A series of capabilities are required to cope with this mission area, many
   of which primarily relate to the phases "identify", "prevent" and "prepare" and "respond". The
   ambition is both to avoid an incident and to mitigate its potential consequences. To build up the
   required capabilities with the aim of providing civil protection, including bio-security and
   protection against risks arising from crime and terrorist attacks, emphasis will be on issues such
   as: threat (e.g. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear, CBRN) awareness (e.g.
   intelligence gathering, collection, exploitation, sharing; alerting), detection (e.g. hazardous
   substances, explosives, agents B or C, individuals or groups, suspect behaviour), identification
   and authentification (e.g. of persons, type and amount of substances), prevention (e.g. control of
   access and movements, with respect to financial resources, control of financial structures),
   preparedness (e.g. risk assessment; CBRN protection, control of intentionally released biological
   and chemical agents; assessment of levels for strategic reserves such as manpower, skills,
   equipment, consumables; with respect to large-scale events, etc.), neutralisation (e.g. missiles,
   communications, vehicles, non-destructive systems) and containment of effects of terrorist
   attacks and crime, law enforcement data processing.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/221
• Security of infrastructures and utilities: Activities will concentrate on targets of an incident or
   disaster of transnational importance, examples for infrastructures include large-scale event sites,
   significant sites of political (e.g. parliament buildings) or symbolic (e.g. particular monuments)
   value and utilities being those for energy (including oil, electricity, gas), water, transport
   (including air, sea, land), communication (including broadcasting), financial, administrative,
   public health, etc. A series of capabilities are required to cope with this mission area, many of
   which primarily relate to the phases "protect" but also "prepare". The ambition is both to avoid
   an incident and to mitigate its potential consequences. To build up the required capabilities,
   emphasis will be on issues such as: analysing, modelling and assessing vulnerabilities of
   physical infrastructure and its operations; securing existing and future public and private critical
   networked infrastructures, systems and services with respect to their physical, logical and
   functional side; control and alert systems to allow for quick response in case of an incident;
   protection against cascading effects of an incident, defining and designing criteria to build new
   secure infrastructures and utilities.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/222        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
• Intelligent surveillance and border security: Activities will deal with issues relevant to all the
   consecutive tiers of European border security strategy, starting with visa application procedures
   in embassies and consular posts (1st level), cross-border cooperation (2nd level), measures at the
   border crossing points at land borders, harbours and airports as well as between the border
   crossing points at green and blue borders (3rd level) and finally activities inside the European
   external borders (4th level) such as exchange of information, compensatory measures, Schengen
   Information System (SIS), Judicial and Police, Customs and Border Guard cooperation (PCB). A
   series of capabilities are required to cope with this mission area, many of which primarily relate
   to the phases "identify", "prevent" and "protect". The ambition is both to avoid an incident and to
   mitigate its potential consequences.
   To build up the required capabilities, emphasis will be on issues such as: enhancing the
   effectiveness and efficiency of all security relevant systems, equipment, tools and processes used
   at border crossing points (e.g. identification of accessing people, non-invasive detection of
   people and goods, tracking of substances, sampling, spatial recognition including data capture
   and analysis, etc.); improving the security of Europe's land and sea borders (e.g. through non
   invasive and underwater detection of vehicles, tracking of vehicles, spatial recognition including
   data capture and analysis, surveillance, remote operations, etc.); maritime security; assessment
   and management of (illegal) migration flows. A suitable framework will be established to
   coordinate with the activities of the European Agency for the Management of Operational
   Cooperation at the External Borders.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/223
• Restoring security and safety in case of crisis: Activities will focus on technologies providing
   an overview of, and support for diverse emergency management operations, such as in civil
   protection (including natural disasters and industrial accidents), humanitarian aid and rescue
   tasks. A series of capabilities are required to cope with this mission area, many of which
   primarily relate to the phases "prepare", "respond" and "recover". The ambition is to mitigate the
   consequences of the incident. To build up the required capabilities, emphasis will be on issues
   such as: general organisational and operational preparedness to cope with security incidents (e.g.
   inter-organisational coordination and emergency communication, assessment of strategic
   reserves, strategic inventories, etc.), crisis management (e.g. integrated means of alert and
   management, assessment of the incident and priority requirements, integration of heterogeneous
   actors and resources, evacuation and isolation, neutralisation and containment of effects of
   terrorist attacks and crime, etc.), intervention in hostile environment, emergency humanitarian
   aid and the management of the consequences and cascading effects of a security incident
   (e.g. the functioning of the public health care system, business continuity, confidence building
   measures, restoring the disrupted or destroyed functioning of society, etc.).
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/224         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
The above areas will be supported by activities in the following areas of cross-cutting interest:
• Security Systems Integration, interconnectivity and interoperability: Activities related to
   intelligence, information gathering and civil security will enable and/or contribute to the
   performance of technology required for building up the above listed capabilities, thus focusing
   on cross-cutting issues such as: enhancing the interoperability and intercommunication of
   systems, equipment, services and processes, including law enforcement, fire fighting, civil
   defence and medical information infrastructures, while ensuring their reliability, protection of
   confidentiality and integrity of information, traceability of all transactions and their
   processing, etc. Activities will also address standardisation and training matters (including such
   with respect to cultural, human and organisational interoperability).
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                      L 400/225
• Security and society: Activities are of a cross-cutting nature and should be conducted by
   interacting between natural sciences, technology and other sciences, in particular political, social
   and human sciences. The focus will be on targeted cultural and socio-economic, as well as
   systemic risk analyses, scenario building and other research activities related to subjects such as:
   Security as an evolving concept (comprehensive analyses of security-related needs, in order to
   define the main functional requirements to address the fluctuating security landscape);
   interdependencies, vulnerabilities due to disasters and new threats (e.g. in the field of terrorism
   and organised crime); the attitude of citizens in crisis situations (e.g. perception of terrorism and
   crime, behaviour of crowds, public understanding of civil rights and socio-cultural forms of
   protection and acceptance of security (and safety) controls); preparedness and readiness of the
   citizen in case of terrorist attacks; issues related to communication between authorities and
   citizens in crisis situations; raising public awareness for threats; citizens' guidance on the internal
   security advisory and assistance systems in the Member States and at EU level; behavioural,
   psychological and other relevant analyses of terrorist offenders; ethical issues with respect to
   personal data protection and integrity of information. Research will also be directed into
   developing statistical indicators on crime to permit assessments of changes in criminality.
• Security Research coordination and structuring: This area provides the platform for activities
   to coordinate and structure national, European and international security research efforts, to
   develop synergies between civil, security and defence research as well as to coordinate between
   the demand and the supply side of security research. Activities will also focus on the
   improvement of relevant legal conditions and procedures.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/226         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
International cooperation
International cooperation in the Security Research activities will be implemented in line with
internal and external aspects of Community policies. Due to the particular sensitivity of this area,
international cooperation will be considered on a case-by-case basis with respect to the countries
involved. Particular requirements and criteria for international cooperation may be specified in the
work programme.
Specific international cooperation actions will be considered where there is mutual benefit, such as
research relating to security activities of global applicability, e.g. management of large-scale
disasters.
Responding to emerging needs and unforeseen policy needs
The Security Research theme is by nature and design flexible. Activities will allow the
accommodation of as yet unknown future security threats including disasters, and related policy
needs that may arise. This flexibility will complement the mission-oriented character of the research
activities set out above.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006      EN                Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/227
                                               ANNEX II
                         INDICATIVE BREAKDOWN OF THE AMOUNT
The indicative breakdown is as follows (in EUR million):
         Health                                                                                6 100
         Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Bio-technology                                        1 935
         Information and Communication Technologies                                             9 050
         Nano-sciences, Nano-technologies, Materials and new Production Technologies            3 475
         Energy                                                                                2 350
         Environment (including Climate Change)                                                 1 890
         Transport (including Aeronautics)                                                      4 160
         Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities                                             623
         Space                                                                                1 430
         Security                                                                               1 400
        TOTAL1, 2, 1, 2                                                                         32 413
1
        Including Joint Technology Initiatives (including financial plan, etc.) and the part of the
        coordination and international cooperation activities to be funded within the themes.
2
        The aim will be to enable at least 15 % of the funding of the programme to go to SMEs.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/228        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
1
        Including a contribution of up to EUR 800 million to the European Investment Bank for its
        Risk-Sharing Finance Facility, as referred to in Annex III. The themes will contribute on a
        proportional basis, except the Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities theme, which
        does not contribute to RSFF.
        An amount of the order of EUR 400 million will be committed in annual instalments for the
        period 2007-2010.
2
        Of which at least EUR 210 million and up to EUR 250 million for COST, subject to the
        mid-term evaluation. This financial support will be provided through a grant which will be
        paid on the basis of a grant agreement between the Commission and a legal entity
        designated by COST as its implementing agent and communicated to the Commission by
        the General Secretariat of the Council and identified in the Work Programme.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/229
                                                ANNEX III
                                     Risk-Sharing Finance Facility
In accordance with Annex II, the Community will provide a contribution (coordination and support
action) to the European Investment Bank (EIB) which will be a risk-sharing partner for the
Risk-Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF). RSFF, which will be co-funded by the Community and the
EIB, is aimed at fostering private sector investment across Europe in research, technological
development and demonstration (RTD) as well as innovation.
The Community contribution will increase the capacity of the Bank to manage risk, thus allowing
for (i) a larger volume of EIB lending and guarantee operations for a certain level of risk, and
(ii) the financing of riskier European RTD actions that would not be possible without such
Community support, thus helping overcome market deficiencies. It will aim at:
• adding value in areas where the market cannot provide the required funding; and
• providing catalytic effect in leveraging private investment.
The Community contribution will be committed to RSFF in line with the provisions set out in
Annex II.
The EIB will lend funds raised from international financial markets and provide guarantees to its
financing partners in accordance with its standard rules, regulations and procedures.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/230         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                       30.12.2006
It will use this contribution on a "first come, first served basis", as provisions and capital allocation
within the Bank to cover part of the risks associated with its operations supporting eligible
European RTD actions.
Based on its financial evaluation, the EIB will assess the level of financial risks and decide the
value of the provision and capital allocation.
The risk assessment and grading, and the resulting decisions on provisioning and capital allocation,
will follow standard procedures of the Bank, under its Structured Finance Facility, approved and
monitored by its shareholders and as updated and modified from time to time. They will not be
altered as a result of the Community contribution.
The risk to the Community budget is limited to the amounts paid or committed to be paid. There
will be no contingent liability for the Community budget, as any remaining risk is borne by the EIB.
The Community contribution will be disbursed annually based on a multi-annual plan and taking
into account the evolution of demand. The annual amount will be established in the Work
Programme, on the basis of the activity report and forecasts presented by the EIB.
The multi-annual plan will be funded from each of the contributing themes and, if appropriate,
adapted in accordance with the principle of proportional contributions.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                    L 400/231
The agreement to be concluded with the EIB, following close consultations with Member States,
will establish terms and conditions under which the Community funds can be used as provisions
and capital allocation. It will include, inter alia, the following terms and conditions:
• The eligibility of Community RTD actions. "Joint Technology Initiatives", Collaborative
   Projects, Networks of Excellence and Research for the benefit of SMEs funded by the
   Community shall be automatically eligible provided their objectives fall within the scope of the
   contributing themes of this Specific Programme. Legal entities established in third countries
   other than Associated Countries are also eligible if they participate in FP7 indirect actions and
   their costs are eligible for Community funding.
   Other European actions (such as EUREKA) shall be eligible provided they concern research,
   technological development or demonstration activities within the scope of the contributing
   themes responding to European research principles and criteria and that the borrowers or
   guarantee beneficiaries are legal entities established in Member States or Associated Countries.
   RSFF will be offered in all Member States and associated countries in order to ensure that all
   legal entities, irrespective of size (including SMEs and research organisations, including
   universities) in all Member States, may benefit from this facility for the funding of their
   activities in eligible actions.
   Innovation activities of a commercial nature are eligible for RSFF only via the use of the EIB's
   own contribution.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/232        EN                  Official Journal of the European Union                    30.12.2006
   In accordance with the Regulation on Rules for Participation adopted pursuant to Article 167 of
   the Treaty, the agreement will also establish procedures for the Community to object, in duly
   justified cases, to the use of the Community contribution by the EIB.
   The rules for defining the share of the financial risk that will be covered by the Community
   contribution and the risk threshold beyond which the EIB can use the Community contribution as
   well as sharing of corresponding income.
   The level of the Community contribution for each operation shall depend on the financial risk
   evaluation carried out by the EIB. The level of total provisioning and capital allocation for the
   majority of RSFF operations is expected to fall within the range of 15 %-25 % of the nominal
   value of such operations. In no case shall the level of total provisioning and capital allocation
   amounts of the Community contribution exceed 50 % of the nominal loan or guarantee value.
   There will be risk sharing under each operation.
   The arrangements by which the Community will monitor the EIB lending and guarantee
   operations related to the Community contribution, including operations through the
   EIB financing partners.
The EIB may only use the Community contribution for operations approved between the date of
entry into force of this Specific Programme and 31 December 2013.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/233
Interests and incomes generated by the Community contribution during this period shall be reported
annually by the EIB to the Commission, which shall inform the European Parliament and the
Council. In accordance with Article 18(2) of the financial regulation, they shall be considered as
assigned revenues to the RSFF and entered into the budget.
When adopting the Work Programme, the Commission may decide to reallocate, for the purpose of
any other indirect actions of the contributing themes of this Specific Programme, any amount not
used by RSFF and, therefore, recovered from the EIB, after the mid-term evaluation referred to in
Annex II of the Framework Programme. The mid-term evaluation will include an external
assessment of the impact of the RSFF.
The Commission will closely monitor the effective use of the Community Contribution, including
ex-post assessments of the successful features of the action, and regularly report to the programme
committee. In addition, the Commission will include main findings in this respect to the annual
report on research and technological development activities which it will send to the European
Parliament and the Council pursuant to Article 173 of the Treaty.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/234         EN                Official Journal of the European Union                       30.12.2006
                                                ANNEX IV
       Joint Technology Initiatives and Coordination of non-Community research programmes
Joint Technology Initiatives1
The research areas for an indicative list of Joint Technology Initiatives are identified below based
on the criteria set out in Annex I. These Joint Technology Initiatives address a diverse range of
challenges. Accordingly, structures must be designed on a case-by-case basis so that they address
the particular characteristics of the research area in question. In each case, a specific structure
would be identified for the purpose of implementing the agreed research agenda of the Joint
Technology Initiative and bring together the necessary public and private investments and
coordination of European efforts. The Community could grant an amount for the implementation of
the research agenda on the basis of separate proposals. Further Joint Technology Initiatives may be
identified on the basis of the criteria specified in Annex I and be proposed during the
implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme.
• Innovative Medicines Initiative
The Innovative Medicines Joint Technology Initiative aims at increasing the competitiveness of the
European Pharmaceutical sector by providing a coordinated approach to overcome the research
bottlenecks in the drug development process, reducing drug development time and clinical attrition
rate for new medicines. This will enable faster access to more targeted medicines and an earlier
return on research investment and thus leverage more private investment for further research.
1
        The list of proposed JTIs is solely indicative and could be adjusted in the light of future
        developments. Each JTI will be decided individually (see Annex I, Chapter "Scientific and
        technological objectives, broad lines of the themes and activities").
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/235
Pre-competitive research, as defined through the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the
Innovative Medicines Initiative will include: development of tools and methods to better predict the
suitability, safety and efficacy of drugs, intelligent infrastructures for data integration and
knowledge management through close cooperation between industry, academia and clinical centres
at all necessary steps. It will also address education and training gaps to ensure that Europe has the
skills to translate research results into benefits for the patient. Close cooperation between the
European Community and the Industry and other stakeholders, such as regulatory agencies,
patients, academia, clinicians, etc., will be ensured, as well as the mobilisation of public and private
funds. The implementation of the SRA will be carried out via the Innovative Medicines Initiative
(IMI), the appropriate public-private partnership structure to be established especially for this
purpose.
• Nano-electronics Technologies 2020
Nano-electronics is of high strategic importance for European competitiveness because its products
are key enablers for innovation in other sectors (multimedia, telecommunications, transport, health,
environment, industrial processing, etc.). It requires that R&D and innovation efforts are better
structured, optimised and integrated into a larger process involving all actors crucial to achieving a
successful outcome in the domain.
The initiative will address the needs for silicon-based technologies throughout four technology
domains: (i) the shrinking of logic and memory devices to increase performance and reduce costs,
(ii) the development of value-added functions, include sensing, actuating and packaging functions,
and their embedding with logic and memory to form complex System-on-Chip or
System-in-Package solutions, (iii) equipment and materials, and (iv) design automation.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/236         EN               Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
• Embedded Computing Systems
Embedded computing systems - the invisible electronics and software that impart intelligence to
products and processes - are of strategic importance to the competitiveness of important European
industrial sectors such as automotive, avionics, consumer electronics, telecommunications, medical
systems and manufacturing. Furthermore, the increasing connectivity of these devices creates
potential for entirely new markets and societal applications in which Europe must be well placed to
benefit from.
The Joint Technology Initiative on Embedded Computing Systems will pull together and focus the
research effort, leveraging private and public investment to share the high risks and maintain a high
level of ambition. The initiative will address the design, development and deployment of
ubiquitous, interoperable and cost-effective, yet powerful, safe and secure electronic and software
systems. It will deliver reference designs that offer standard architectural approaches for given
ranges of applications, middleware that enable seamless connectivity and interoperability,
integrated design software tools and methods for rapid development and prototyping, as well as new
approaches for interaction between computers and the real world.
• Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Initiative
Hydrogen and fuel cells are energy technologies that can bring about a paradigm shift in the way
Europe produces and uses energy, offering massive development potential towards long-term
independent sustainable energy supply and providing Europe with a crucial competitive edge. The
transition to a hydrogen-oriented economy implies large research and capital investment in the
creation of new industries, new supply chain structures, infrastructure and human resources.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN               Official Journal of the European Union                     L 400/237
The Joint Technology Initiative will define and execute a target-oriented European programme of
industrial research, technological development and demonstration to deliver robust hydrogen and
fuel cell technologies developed to the point of commercial take-off. The main themes of the
JTI research agenda will be: fuel cell development for all application sectors and ranges; sustainable
hydrogen supply, including production, distribution, storage and delivery; integrated, large-scale
demonstration of maturing and advanced technologies in a real operational context; and, market
framework preparatory activities. This will be implemented on the basis of a sound and
continuously developing EU technology roadmap and business case, detailing transition strategies
and long-term goals and implementation milestones.
• Aeronautics and Air Transport
Europe must remain at the forefront of key technologies if it is to have sustainable, innovative and
competitive aeronautics and air transport industries in the future. The development of green
technologies is key to ensuring the competitiveness of the entire air transport sector. Innovative
technologies are of paramount importance in order to maintain competitiveness in areas of
increasing competitive pressure and to regain competitiveness in areas where Europe has the
potential for establishing a substantial market share, such as regional transport. As an
RTD-intensive industry, the existing competitiveness of the European aeronautical and air transport
companies in world markets has been built on significant private research investments (typically
13-15 % of the turnover) over many decades. Given the specificities of the sector, new
developments often depend on effective cooperation between the public and the private sector.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/238        EN               Official Journal of the European Union                     30.12.2006
Certain aspects of the ACARE Strategic Research Agenda require a scale of effect and continuity of
purpose which requires a Joint Technology Initiative focusing on a coherent and dedicated
programme of research on advanced technologies and fostering aspects such as integration,
large-scale validation, and demonstration.
In the field of Aeronautics and Air Transport, different areas would be addressed, such as
environmentally friendly and cost efficient air transport system ("The Green Air Transport
System"), and air traffic management in support of the Single European Sky policy and
SESAR initiative.
• Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)
Europe needs autonomous capability based on a European standard for global monitoring. This will
considerably help Europe and its industries in this area, where its competitors are investing heavily
in the development of standards for global monitoring systems.
GMES has to respond to the political mandate expressed in the Council Resolution of
13 November 2001 on the launch of the initial period of global monitoring for environment and
security (GMES)1 that followed the June 2001 Gothenburg Summit, the Action Plan on GMES
presented in February 20042, and its inclusion in the "Initiative for Growth" and the "Quick-start"
list.
1
        OJ C 350, 11.12.2001, p. 4).
2
        "Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES): Establishing a GMES capacity
        by 2008 - (Action Plan (2004-2008)" – COM(2004) 65, 3.2.2004.
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006       EN                Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/239
The future of GMES depends on significant long-term investments by both users and infrastructure
providers (both public and private). For this it is essential that GMES assert its a clear and coherent
image of itself, which can be easily identified by users, public authorities and industry.
Independently of the specific application areas of GMES, this will involve a set of accepted
standards, validation mechanisms and policies, under a single political responsibility.
To that purpose a GMES management structure in the form of a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI)
could be set up to bring together all relevant players with their resources, notably user organisations
at both national and European level.
A JTI for GMES should ensure a strong coordination of GMES-related activities, including through
the following functions:
–        consolidation of user requirements for each application area of GMES,
–        overseeing and supporting of the development of GMES operational services, associated
         capacities and infrastructures,
–        validation of such services, where appropriate,
–        development of mechanisms aiming at ensuring long-term access to data ("data buying").
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/240          EN                Official Journal of the European Union                      30.12.2006
A GMES JTI would also be an effective vehicle to promote an active involvement of the private
sector, in that it would act as a coordinating and funding agent for industry (including SMEs) and
other potential contractors wishing to contribute to the implementation of GMES through the
relevant competitive processes.
GMES will give Europe leadership in an area of management and use of major infrastructures,
including strategic space capacities. It could also provide a basis for an efficient exploitation of
finite natural resources by both public and private entities. It will, thus, help to improve productivity
in many sectors which have a need for coherent and up-to-date information on available assets.
Coordination of non-Community research programmes1
An indicative list of initiatives for the joint implementation of national research programmes are
identified below and could be the subject of a separate decision on the basis of Article 169 of the
Treaty. Further initiatives may be identified and proposed during the implementation of the
Seventh Framework Programme.
In the case of each decision, if and when adopted, a dedicated implementation structure would be
set up, together with the organisational structure and appropriate governance bodies necessary for
the implementation of the action. In accordance with Annex II, the Community could provide
financial support to the initiatives and could participate actively in the implementation by the means
which are most appropriate for the action.
1
         The list is solely indicative and the proposed initiatives are subject of separate decisions on
         the basis of Article 169 (see Annex I, Chapter "Scientific and technological objectives,
         broad lines of the themes and activities").
 ---pagebreak--- 30.12.2006        EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                       L 400/241
• Article 169 initiative in the field of Baltic Sea Research
The aim will be to launch and implement a joint R&D programme integrating a number of national
programmes in the field of marine science and sustainable development of the Baltic Sea. In line
with a number of international, European and regional conventions dealing with the Baltic Sea, this
initiative will enable the creation of a platform for synthesising and disseminating findings in the
field and will create the necessary R&D to support sustainable development of the Baltic Sea.
• Article 169 initiative in the field of Ambient Assisted Living
A joint R&D programme on Ambient Assisted Living will aim at bringing together national
research efforts to address how ICT can enhance the quality of life of elderly people and extend the
time they can live independently in their home environment and their surroundings. This includes
for example assistance to carry out daily activities, facilitating social contacts, health and activity
monitoring and enhancing safety and security. Focus will be the integration of devices, systems and
services into cost-effective, reliable and trusted solutions. This initiative will aim at a large-scale
European cooperation with sufficient critical mass and long-term commitment.
• Article 169 initiative in the field of Metrology
The aim will be to launch and implement a cohesive joint metrology R&D programme integrating a
number of national programmes, which will enable Europe to respond to the growing demands for
cutting-edge metrology as a tool for innovation, supporting scientific research and policy. The
initiative will support, in particular, the objectives of the European National Measurement Systems
delivered via the National Metrology Laboratory networks.
 ---pagebreak--- L 400/242         EN                 Official Journal of the European Union                   30.12.2006
                                                  ANNEX V
            Information to be provided by the Commission in accordance with Article 8(5)
1.        Information on individual projects, enabling the monitoring of the entire lifetime of each
          proposal, covering in particular:
          –     submitted proposals,
          –     evaluation results for each proposal,
          –     grant agreements,
          –     completed projects.
2.        Information on the outcome of each call and project implementation, covering in
          particular:
          –     results of each call,
          –     outcome of negotiations on grant agreements,
          –     project implementation, including payment data and outcome of projects.
3.        Information on programme implementation, including relevant information at the level of
          the Framework Programme, the Specific Programme and each theme.
This information (in particular, on proposals, their evaluation and grant agreements) should be
provided in a uniform structured electronically-readable and treatable format accessible through an
IT-based information and reporting system which readily enables data analysis.