EU research funding

he European Commission proposed the Seventh EU Research Programme (FP7) in April last year. The text has just gone through its first readings with ministers from national governments and with MEPs.

Finland, current holder of the presidency of the Council of Ministers, is now under pressure to broker a final deal so the seven-year plan can take effect on 1 January 2007.

FP7 covers the period 2007-13.

As originally proposed by the Commission, FP7 would have had a research budget of 73 billion euro, with 8.3bn euro set aside for health research.

At the end of the first reading, these amounts have been cut to 50bn euro overall and 6bn euro for health research.

The research programme is divided into four sections, or pillars. The first pillar, known as co-operation, is split into nine themes. Health is the first of these.

Specific health research topics proposed for funding include: biotechnology, diagnostic tools and technologies, early warning systems, human development and ageing, infectious diseases, pandemics, and healthcare systems.

The previous research programme, FP6 ran for four years, from 2003 to 2006. It had a total budget of 17.5bn euro, with 2.5bn euro for health.

he European Commission proposed the Seventh EU Research Programme (FP7) in April last year. The text has just gone through its first readings with ministers from national governments and with MEPs.