Commission adopts 'research and innovation' work programme The Commission has adopted its work programme for the 'research and innovation' activity area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). This theme comes under the 'Structuring the European Research Area [ERA]' specific programme, which aims to address a number of key structural... The Commission has adopted its work programme for the 'research and innovation' activity area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). This theme comes under the 'Structuring the European Research Area [ERA]' specific programme, which aims to address a number of key structural weaknesses that prevent the maximum economic and social benefits being drawn from European research. The work programme gives an introduction to the objectives of the research and innovation thematic area, details of the technical content of the thematic area, and information on upcoming calls and tenders. The research and innovation thematic area seeks to promote a more innovation friendly environment throughout the EU, stimulate technological innovation, and encourage the setting up of innovative technology businesses. Specifically, this will be done using the following approaches: - setting up the basis of a European innovation system by networking players, promoting cooperation, breaking down barriers, and encouraging transnational learning; - investigate and test new approaches, extract lessons from Community research projects, and promote entrepreneurial innovation; - offer services that need to be provided on a European scale. Promotion of innovation is a key cross cutting priority of FP6 and is therefore a preoccupation across all the thematic areas. Aside from the 'research and innovation' activity area, it features strongly in the other themes within the 'structuring the ERA' specific priority, especially 'science and society'. It is also an important element in the 'coherent development of research and innovation policies' theme of the 'integrating and strengthening the ERA' priority. A concerted effort will be made to ensure that activities in these areas are coherent with each other and have the required degree of integration. The full involvement of candidate countries will be actively sought. When beneficial for European innovation systems, an international dimension to activities will also be considered.
