EU Research :: Institutions
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The Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) Directorate-General is an integral part of the European Commission. It is a research based policy support providing independent scientific and technical advice to the Commission and EU Member States in support of EU policies. The mission of the JRC is set out below:
"The mission of the JRC is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the Union. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, whether private or national."
http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/default.asp@sidsz=quick_tour.htm
The JRC has seven scientific institutes that carry out research of direct concern to EU citizens. They technical knowledge and ability, both directly, and indirectly through co-ordinating and contributing to numerous broader networks linking industry, universities and national institutes. The JRC is also playing an important role in helping establish the European Research Area (ERA).
The seven scientific institutes
- The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)
- Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU)
- Institute for Energy (IE)
- The Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC)
- Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES)
- The Institute for Health & Consumer Protection (IHCP)
- The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS)
Organisation of the JRC
Our Directorate General and our Directorate for Institutional and Scientific Relations, who are responsible for the positioning of the JRC in relation to ERA, are located in Brussels. The Directorate for Programme ands Resources Management is based at Ispra, Italy and Brussels. The seven JRC institutes are located at five different sites in Geel (Belgium), Ispra, Karlsruhe (Germany), Petten (Netherlands) and Seville (Spain).
Figure 1 :: Map showing the locations of the JRC in Europe
In total, the JRC employs about 2000 staff, including a large number of Europe's most skilled scientists. JRC staff are recruited from all over the EU. The JRC also works with more than 2000 public and private organisations, such as research centres, universities, regulatory bodies, local authorities, industrial associations and companies.
Figure 2 :: JRC funding breakdown
The JRC has a budget of €1050 million for 2003-2006. This comes from the Commission research budget within Framework Programme six. The budget is split as € 760 million for non-nuclear and €290 for nuclear activities.
Role of the JRC
The JRC is independent of any private or national interests and so we can provide EU policymakers with impartial expertise and sound scientific evidence on which to base their decisions. The JRC concentrates on three key areas: food, chemicals and health; environment and sustainable development; and nuclear safety and safeguards.
Food, chemical and health
Through the JRC's Institute for Health & Consumer Protection (IHCP), we have developed a high level of expertise in the safety and quality of the food chain. A key priority is maintaining confidence in food production by analysing food quality and safety, and supporting the implementation of EU food legislation.
IHCP's work includes developing and harmonising tests for the presence such things as genetically modified food and finding faster ways of testing for dioxins.
The JRC is also involved in other areas of technology that impact on our daily lives, e.g. ensuring new medical equipment is safe and effective.
Environment and sustainable development
In this area the JRC works to keep the EU at the forefront of the debate regarding climate change, as well as helping preserve water and air quality. Measuring and checking various forms of pollution is a key area of work for the JRC's Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), whether it be water contamination or traffic fumes. The JRC contributes to Europe's standards for CO2 emissions by examining measuring methods and developing a better understanding of the complex processes that affect the earth's atmosphere.
The JRC co-ordinates a wide range of research networks to help the rapid dissemination of new technologies. It also plays a key role in encouraging technology transfer, particularly in support of small and medium-size enterprises. The JRC is also heavily involved in the harmonisation of technical regulations to simplify trade.
Nuclear Safety and Safe Guards
The JRC's Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) is the European analytical reference laboratory in the nuclear safeguards area. It supports the European Commission's Euratom Safeguards Office (ESO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in developing and operating advanced tools for analysing nuclear materials and detecting clandestine activities.
JRC experts have a wide experience and high reputation in the nuclear energy field, and can provide answers to scientific questions on managing and storing nuclear waste and reducing the risks from nuclear installations.
The JRC also provides support to EU policies for the protection of the citizen. The Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) is involved with internet security and the fight against fraud; natural, technological and economic risks; humanitarian security; and non-proliferation and nuclear safeguards.
For further information go to the JRC website at:-
http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/default.asp@sidsz=quick_tour.htm
CO-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research - COST
Introduction
COST is the acronym for the European research body, CO-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical research. It is the oldest and widest European intergovernmental network for cooperation in research. COST was set up by a Ministerial Conference in November 1971, bringing together ministers responsible for research and technology from 19 countries and laying the foundations for scientific and technical cooperation at European level. Since 1971 three more conferences at Ministerial level have taken place to provide political guidance for COST: Vienna in 1991, in Prague in 1997 and in Dubrovnik 2003. The next Ministerial Conference is planned for 2007. COST is presently used by the scientific communities of 35 European countries in common research projects.
The goal of COST is to ensure that Europe holds a strong position in the field of scientific and technical research for peaceful purposes, by increasing European co-operation and interaction in this field.
The goal of COST is to ensure that Europe holds a strong position in the field of scientific and technical research for peaceful purposes, by increasing European co-operation and interaction in this field.
As a forerunner of advanced multidisciplinary research, COST has played an important role in the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA). It anticipated and complemented the activities of the Framework Programmes, constituting a bridge towards the scientific communities of emerging countries, increasing the mobility of researchers across Europe and fostering the establishment of "Networks of Excellence" in 17 scientific and technical areas. Areas such as: Physics, materials, chemistry, information science, nanotechnologies, environment, medicine, health and agriculture.
COST represents an estimated volume of national funding of more than €2 billion per year. An average of €80,000 per Action is available for co-ordination depending on the size and activity of the Action. This expenditure represents less than 1% of the overall national funding, providing good value for money. However, it is important to note that the budget is not spent funding research, it is spent co-ordinating research activities.
Methodology and composition
COST immediately adopted what is known as a "bottom up approach", where the initiative of launching a COST Action comes from the European scientists themselves. This approach also means that only countries interested in the Action participate. Unlike other EU research institutions, COST also promotes "equality of access", whereby participation in each Action is also open to the scientific communities of countries not belonging to the European Union.
The geographical framework of COST goes beyond the boundaries of the European Union. In terms of multinational collaboration it can be regarded as a driving force behind pan-European research cooperation. At present COST includes 34 Member States and one co-operating State:
United Kingdom; Turkey; Israel (co-operating state); Serbia and Montenegro; FYR of Macedonia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Switzerland; Finland; Sweden; Norway; Austria; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Hungary; Latvia; Lithuania; Malta; Netherlands; France; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Luxembourg; Denmark; Germany; Greece; Spain; Estonia; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic.
Participation from non-COST countries or international organisations
COST's open structure also allows those from non-COST countries to participate in ongoing Actions, if the participant meets certain criteria. In this context, research institutes or Universities from Armenia, Russia and Ukraine participate in different Actions.
The participation is agreed on a case-by-case basis by the COST Senior Officials Committee and attracts partners from all over the world, e.g. Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Eritrea, India, Japan and USA. Finally, international organisations can also become partners in COST Actions. For example, The European Space Agency participates in Actions in the field of telecommunications.
COST Actions
COST is based on Actions. These are networks of co-ordinated national research projects in fields, which are of interest to at least five participants from different Member States. The Actions are defined by a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Governments of the COST states wishing to participate in the Action. The duration of an Action is generally 4 years. The increase in the umber of Actions by COST indicates its appeal, from just seven Actions in COST's year of formation to 200 Actions annually at present.
Organisation
The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) is the main decision-making body of COST. It reports directly to the Ministerial Conferences, formulates the general strategy of COST, appoints the various Technical Committees, approves the research Actions to be launched and prepares the relevant Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by the interested countries.
The CSO is composed of 2 representatives of each of the COST Member States, one of whom in each case acts a Cost National Co-ordinator. A President elected for a period of three years chairs the CSO. The work of the CSO is prepared by what is known as the JAF group, whose members are elected by the CSO from amongst its members for a maximum of three years.
Figure 3 :: COST structure
The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
This provides the secretariat for the CSO and JAF Group. All arrangements concluded in the framework of COST and all Memoranda of Understanding are given to the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union. The Secretary-General is responsible for forwarding any relevant information to the parties concerned.
Technical Committees (TC) are responsible for a particular research area and are formed by representatives of the COST countries and report to the CSO. They evaluate the proposals for new Actions, monitor the Actions in progress and evaluate the results obtained by completed Actions. When necessary, they act as a catalyst to promote proposals for new Actions in particular areas.
For each Action a Management Committee (MC), formed by national experts of the signatory countries, is responsible for the activities of the Action. They are co-ordinated by the relevant TC and prepare annual progress reports and a final report.
The COST Office provides the scientific and administrative secretariat for Technical Committees and Actions.
An excellent slideshow detailing what COST is can be found at
cost.cordis.lu/src/doc/cost_slides.ppt
For more information on COST visit cost.cordis.lu/src/whatiscost.cfm
EUREKA
EUREKA is a pan-European network for market-oriented, industrial Research & Development (R&D).
Created as an intergovernmental initiative in 1985, EUREKAaims to enhance European competitiveness through its support to businesses, research centres and universities who carry out pan-European projects to develop innovative products, processes and services. Through its flexible and decentralised Network, EUREKA offers project partners rapid access to a wealth of knowledge, skills and expertise across Europe and facilitates access to national public and private funding schemes.
Through a EUREKA project, partners develop new technologies for which they agree the Intellectual Property Rights and build partnerships to penetrate new markets.
By encouraging and assisting businesses to innovate, the EUREKA Initiative complements the European Union's Framework Programme in working actively towards the common European objective of raising investment in R&D to 3% of GDP by 2010.
Figure 4 :: Promotional banner for Eureka's 20th anniversary - 1985-2005
Organisation and Structure
The Ministerial Conference (MC)
This is a bi-annual meeting of ministers from each EUREKA member country and a Commissioner from the European Commission The MC is the political body of EUREKA officially announces the new EUREKA projects endorsed during the Chairmanship year. Ministers also take decisions on the further development of EUREKA and give approval on the admission or dismissal of members.
An Inter-Parliamentary Conference (IPC)
This takes place alternate years with the MC. The IPC raises the public awareness of EUREKA's role and possibilities and makes recommendations on strategic issues to be presented to ministers.
The Chairmanship
The Chairmanship country hosts the MC or IPC. The Chairmanship of EUREKA rotates between member countries on a yearly basis and each mandate runs from July to June the following year. The role of the Chair is to sustain the momentum of the work of EUREKA, to organise the MC or IPC, as well as High-Level Group, Executive Group and National Project Co-ordinator meetings, which it also chairs. It implements the three-year rolling programme of the Initiative in co-operation with the previous and future Chairs (known as the 'Troika').
The High-Level Group (HLG)
This is the key decision-marking body of EUREKA and meets three times a year. Each EUREKA member appoints a representative to this group, which endorses new EUREKA projects, takes decisions on the management of EUREKA as well as preparing new EUREKA policy discussions for the MC. The ministry responsible for EUREKA in each member country generally names its High-Level Representative (HLR).
The Executive Group (EG)
This is a small group comprising members from the Troika countries (past, present & future Chairs), plus others representing a balance of EUREKA members, whose role is to act as an executive body on behalf of the HLG, to whom it reports. In addition to its role of implementation of the decisions taken by the HLG, the EG is responsible for debating key issues of policy, deciding on issues delegated by the HLG, as well as advising successive Chairs. The EG meets at least eight times a year.
National Project Co-ordinators (NPC)
NPCs are at operational level, running the National EUREKA Offices. They are the direct contact with project participants and potential project participants in each member country. NPCs facilitate the setting-up and running of a project and are responsible for project generation, national and international support and follow up. Given the NPC's role in the core activities of EUREKA, their meetings, four or five times annually, are a good forum for exchange of experiences and discussions on best practice.
EUREKA Clusters
These are longer-term, strategically significant industrial initiatives. They usually have a large number of participants, and aim to develop generic technologies of key importance for European competitiveness, e.g. in energy and biotechnology. Initiated by industry in close collaboration with national funding authorities, each Cluster has a technological 'roadmap', defining its most important strategic domains.
EUREKA Umbrellas
These are thematic networks, which focus on a specific technology area or business sector. The main goal of an Umbrella is to facilitate the generation of EUREKA projects in its own target area.
The EUREKA Secretariat (ESE)
The EUREKA Secretariat (ESE)in Brussels is an international association, which acts as the central support unit for the Initiative. The ESE manages the EUREKA project database and undertakes marketing, communications and network-development activities. It is also responsible for the collection and dissemination of information on projects and on EUREKA, as well as promoting the EUREKA philosophy, in co-operation with the Chair and the National Offices.
EUREKA Member Countries
Austria; Belgium; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Monaco; The Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Republic of San Marino; Serbia and Montenegro; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; United Kingdom; European Union.
National Information Points (NIPs)
Albania: Bulgaria; Ukraine
EUREKA associated country
Morocco
For further information and a slideshow detailing some of EUREKA's work visit
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