principles of sustainable development.

II.2. Programme strategy

The strategy of this programme is to focus on specific areas where the

growing knowledge base should provide solutions to some of the pressing

needs of society that need to be tackled on a European scale. Fundamental

ethical values must be respected.

Based on the criteria laid down for selecting the major research themes for

the Fifth Framework Programme, emphasis in this programme will be placed on

the following:

European added value. This will be achieved by addressing specific cross-

border challenges, such as improving health and managing and exploiting

renewable natural resources. Themes such as drug abuse, biosafety,

bioethics and issues related to agriculture, forestry and fisheries should

reinforce the scientific base in support of Community policies. Indeed many

of the activities addressed in the programme, such as genomic research,

neurosciences, infectious diseases, ageing and disabilities sustainable

management and utilisation of forestry resources, fish management and

human, animal and plant diseases, due to their size and complexity, are

more meaningful if they are addressed at the European level.

Social objectives. Research must be developed which promotes health and

quality of life, secures safe and wholesome food, preserves and restores a

healthy environment, stimulates rural and coastal communities, improves

response to consumer needs and facilitates information flow to the

consumer.

Economic development. The huge potential for economic growth and job

creation must be realised, both in the traditional industries, including

primary production and in the rapidly growing high technology industries

dominated by small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). To contribute

effectively to European competitiveness and employment, results must be

transferred from research into commercially successful products and

processes. Intrinsic to this approach is the effective use of

demonstration, training, dissemination and exploitation of research

results, along with stimulation of innovation and entrepreneurship.

II.3. Programme structure and contents

The programme is primarily built around six specific key actions that are

goal-oriented and problem solving. The key actions are targeted at

identifiable socio-economic and market needs, such as improving quality and

safety of food; controlling infectious diseases; harnessing the power of

the cell; health and environment; sustainable agriculture, forestry and

fisheries, integrated rural development, sustainable development; and

promoting healthy ageing. A unique feature of key actions is their response

to Community policy objectives, in areas like agriculture and fisheries,

industry, consumer protection, environment and health.

In addition, the generic activities of the programme aim to build up

through RTD the knowledge base in identified areas of strategic importance

for the future, in relation to chronic and degenerative diseases, genomes,

neurosciences, public health, persons with disabilities and ethical and

socio-economic issues surrounding the life sciences. Support for research

infrastructures, dissemination and exploitation of results, training and an

increased role for SMEs, and entrepreneurship are also an integral part of

the programme.

The following section represents a short overview of the programme

structure and contents. Detailed objectives and RTD priorities are

specified in the Work Programme. Be sure to consult the current version,

since the Work Programme is revised periodically.

II.3.1. Six key actions

1. Food, Nutrition and Health

To improve the health of European citizens by providing safe, healthy and

varied food products. RTD priorities include the development of safe and

flexible manufacturing processes and technologies, the detection and

elimination of infectious and toxic agents throughout the food chain, and

gaining a more profound understanding of the role of food in promoting and

sustaining health.

2. Control of Infectious Diseases

To combat established, emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases, linked

to old, new or mutated infectious agents in humans or animals. RTD

priorities include vaccine development; strategies to identify and control

infectious diseases; and aspects of public health and care delivery

systems.

3. The "Cell Factory"

To help the Community’s enterprises exploit the advances made in life

sciences and technology, particularly in the fields of health, environment,

agriculture, agro-industries and high value-added products. RTD priorities

include developing innovative health-related processes and products; energy-

efficient bioremediation and waste biotreatment processes; and new

biological processes from cell factories.

4. Environment and Health

To tackle environmentally related health issues. RTD priorities include

diseases and allergies related to or influenced by the environment; risk

assessment and risk management processes to reduce causes and harmful

environmental health effects.

5. Sustainable Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Integrated

Development of Rural Areas including Mountain Areas

To implement innovative approaches to production and exploitation and to

improve the quality of life, RTD should concentrate on: Competitiveness and

its direct implications for employment in rural and coastal areas,

especially in light of the need to adapt to the evolution of the Common

Agricultural and Fisheries Policies, to the evolving world trade situation

and globalisation of the markets, to E.U. enlargement and to the limited

availability of natural resources; Reduction of the vulnerability of the

relevant sectors through the diversification of production, taking full

advantage of Europe’s proven technological skills to develop new products

and services from natural resources; Response to societal demands for sound

environmental practices, sustainable use of renewable resources and for

products complying with consumer health and environmental requirements.

6. The Ageing Population and Disabilities

To mobilise research (a) in order to enhance the quality of life, autonomy

and social integration of older people with an emphasis on healthy ageing

and well-being in old age and (b) in order to improve quality, efficiency

and user-friendliness of care and welfare provision and to enable older

people to stay in their own homes. RTD priorities include age-related

illnesses and health problems to prevent, treat or delay onset;

determinants of healthy ageing and well-being in old age; demographic and

social policy aspects of population ageing; coping with functional

limitations in old age; health and social care services to older persons.

II.3.2. Research and Technological Development Activities of a Generic

Nature

These activities aim to reinforce the knowledge base in chosen areas of

strategic but generic importance for the Life Sciences related to humans,

animals (both terrestrial and aquatic) and plants. This is in contrast to

the mission oriented problem solving approach in the Key Actions, which

place the emphasis on the linkage between discovery and exploitation.

Projects will be encouraged that promote interaction between basic and

applied research and that involve both the research and health sectors in

order to ensure maximum transfer of knowledge between research and its

users, including industry. The networking of projects will also be promoted

in order to create a critical mass for optimum exploitation of results.

The generic research activities are:

7. Chronic and Degenerative Diseases, Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular

Diseases and rare Diseases

8. Research into Genomes and Diseases of Genetic Origin

9. Neurosciences

10. Public-health and Health-services Research (including drug-related

problems)

11. Research relating to Persons with Disabilities

12. Bioethics

13. Socio-economic Aspects of Life Sciences and Technologies

II.3.3. Support for Research Infrastructures

Within the QoL Programme, the term "research infrastructures" refers to

facilities and resources that provide essential services to the research

community in the life sciences[viii]. The objectives of the Programme in

supporting research infrastructures (in this action line as well as

elsewhere in the Programme where research infrastructures are supported)

are: (i) to encourage the optimum use of Europe's research infrastructures,

notably by fostering transnational cooperation in their rational and cost-

effective use and development and, in conjunction with the QoL system of

Marie Curie Fellowships, by broadening access to these infrastructures

particularly for young researchers; (ii) to improve the European-wide

consistency and complementarity of these infrastructures and their

competitiveness at world level; and (iii) to help improve the quality and

user-orientation of services offered to the European research community.

The role of the Programme’s activities in support for research

infrastructures is to add value at the European level in the context that

the construction and operation of research infrastructures is the

responsibility of national authorities.

This particular action of the QoL Programme will provide support for

research infrastructures in the following fields: biological collections,

biological information resources, clinical research facilities, pre-

clinical research facilities, facilities for aquaculture and fishery

research .

It should be noted that the QoL Programme will not provide support for

tasks that involve the construction and routine operation of research

infrastructures, nor for the collection of data (unless the collection is

an integral component of the research in an infrastructure RTD project).

The cost of activities aimed at stimulating the introduction and use of

trans-European broadband communication networks for research will however

be considered eligible.

II.4. Synergies with other programmes

Interactions with horizontal activities and across programmes are described

in Annex 3 of the Work programme.

II.5. Implementation of the programme

II.5.1 Types of Calls for Proposals

The following types of Calls for proposals are envisaged:

Periodic calls: These will be open for the submission of proposals for RTD

projects and related activities, within a defined scope and with fixed

deadlines, to be specified in the Official Journal of the European

Communities and outlined in the indicative timetable for programme

implementation.

Open calls: Calls for SME specific measures (exploratory awards and co-

operative research), support for Research Infrastructure (thematic

networks, concerted actions and RTD projects), training, international

initiatives and accompanying measures, will be launched at the start of the

programme and remain open until the last year of the Fifth Framework

Programme. Periodic evaluations will be carried out at least twice a year.

Dedicated calls: These will be published in the Official Journal normally

once or twice per year and be limited to a number of very specific topics

and/or activities. The Commission may also publish a request for interested

parties (Expression of Interest /Needs) to suggest ideas for activities

that could be included.

II.5.2 Implementation Modalities (“Types of actions")

The “Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources” programme is

implemented through the following types of actions:

1. Shared-cost actions, excluding “Support for access to research

infrastructures”[ix]

2. Concerted actions

3. Thematic networks

4. Marie Curie Training Fellowships

5. Accompanying measures

6. INCO bursaries

In addition to these types of action, the Quality of Life programme

encourages the submission of “Cluster” proposals, which are essentially a

Страницы: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8