15 years of European research and innovation information

Brussels, 14 November 2005~
CER 2005

The Community Research and Development Information Service, CORDIS, marks its 15th anniversary at the Communicating European Research Conference 2005 in Brussels (14-15 November 2005), where the service will announce its new home on the European Union's Europa portal, http://cordis.europa.eu, and demonstrate a new e-mail facility for news on the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7 (2007-2013). These developments highlight the role of CORDIS as Europe's official research and innovation Web publisher, offering news and information on EU research programme funding and results.

Originally launched on 18th November 1990 to provide transparency on the distribution of the EU research budget, CORDIS has evolved from a basic information service to today's interactive web site that links together policy makers, managers of European Union R&D; activities, and key players in research and industry. It provides in-depth coverage of European, national and regional research programmes and policies, and hosts the European Innovation Portal with access to innovation services supporting the exploitation of research results.

CORDIS is the on-line publisher of all research projects funded by the EU, with fact sheets on their activities, amount of EU-funding, start and end dates, links to websites, and opportunities to contact the research teams. News and interviews, on project launches, events and key achievements, are featured regularly by CORDIS News, and project results are promoted for business exploitation on the virtual Technology Marketplace. Every Friday, the CORDIS Express e-mail newsletter offers updates from the growing on-line repository of FP6 projects. CORDIS currently has details of all 66 992 projects launched under the successive EU R&D; programmes.

The CORDIS move to Europa means that this news and information will now be available to a wider audience, and promote a better public understanding about the benefits emerging from European research collaboration.

Recent CORDIS user surveys show that three out of four interviewees find news on research policy the most important area covered by CORDIS. To meet their needs, the service now offers a dedicated "Towards FP7" section with news, events and stakeholder positions, in order to promote informed participation in the debate on the future EU research budget (2007-2013). The new e-mail alert facility on FP7 news will make it even easier to get free and reliable information on latest developments.

During the CER2005 conference, CORDIS, in line with its innovation mandate, is organising a forum for participants; this will address the specific issues related to science-business communication, and the role of the business media in this process.

Journalists attending CER2005 are invited to the CORDIS forum and cocktail:

Monday, 14th Nov. 2005 - 14h30, room F- forum "How to reach the business media?"
Tuesday 15th Nov. 2005 - 12h30, 15th anniversary cocktail at the CORDIS stand No 2014

For more information: Virginia Mercouri, press contact - CORDIS contractor, GSM + 32 495 38 11 54
E-mail: CORDIS Press Service; Web site: /press/