thank you for your attention

European COoperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research

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1 June 2006

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

COST B27 ENOC Joint WGs Meeting Swansea UK, 16-18 September 2006

Professor Mihail PASCU

Science Officer BMBS COST Office Medicine and Health

Reform & RenewalReform & Renewal

European European COCOoperation in the field of operation in the field of SScientific and cientific and TTechnical researchechnical research

Reform & RenewalReform & Renewal

Dr.-Ing. Martin GrabertDr.-Ing. Martin Grabert

Director COST Office, BrusselsDirector COST Office, Brussels


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1 June 2006

COST governanceCOST governance


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1 June 2006

What is a COST Action?What is a COST Action?

MC = Management Committee

COST OFFICE

COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS (CSO) COST National

Coordinators

9 COST Domain

Committees (from 01/06/2006)

COST Actions(~200)

BMBS ……….. ……..

WORKING GROUPS (NETWORKS) …… ~30.000 researchers

Scientific Domain

…….

CouncilCOST

Secretariat

Action WGs

MC


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COST Actions – what activities?COST Actions – what activities?

• Science management meetingsScience management meetings• Scientific workshops and seminarsScientific workshops and seminars• Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)• Training Schools and Research ConferencesTraining Schools and Research Conferences• DisseminationDissemination

Nationally funded projects (min. 5 signatories) with a Nationally funded projects (min. 5 signatories) with a

joint work programme are receiving financement for:joint work programme are receiving financement for:


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• COST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006 to COST published an “Open Call” 3 April 2006 to improve improve transparency, secure quality and introduce an element of transparency, secure quality and introduce an element of competitivity to the selection of COST Actionscompetitivity to the selection of COST Actions

• selection criteria are published and transparentselection criteria are published and transparent

• emphasis will be on young researchers to foster their joint emphasis will be on young researchers to foster their joint efforts to become better known and recognisedefforts to become better known and recognised

• specific collection dates: (i.e. 31 Mayspecific collection dates: (i.e. 31 May 2006)2006)

• 2 stage process / peer reviewed 2 stage process / peer reviewed

• first COST Actions following the “Open Call” to start early first COST Actions following the “Open Call” to start early 20072007

COST Open Call for proposals (1)COST Open Call for proposals (1)


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Selection process – Preliminary Proposals:Selection process – Preliminary Proposals:

Elig

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BMBSBMBS

CMSTCMST

FAFA

FPSFPS

ISCHISCH

ICTICT

MPNSMPNS

TUDTUD

ESSEMESSEM

Collecti

on

Date

Collecti

on

Date

1 week1 week 3 weeks3 weeks 3 days3 days


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Selection process – Criteria Preliminary Proposal:Selection process – Criteria Preliminary Proposal:

• Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific issues?issues?

• Would the proposed network make a significant difference?Would the proposed network make a significant difference?

• What is the level of innovation and/or originalityWhat is the level of innovation and/or originality in the proposed in the proposed Action?Action?

• Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the proposed Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the proposed Action?Action?

• Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives?Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives?

• Is the proposed Action presented in a clear and understandable way?Is the proposed Action presented in a clear and understandable way?


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Selection process – Full Proposals:Selection process – Full Proposals:Esta

blish

men

t of

Esta

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men

t of

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ert

Pan

els

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ssels

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Pre

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on

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posals

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on

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pro

posals

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kin

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val

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Dead

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10 weeks10 weeks 2 weeks2 weeks

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JAF

2 weeks2 weeks

Sta

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ew

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on

Sta

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ew

Acti

on

2 weeks2 weeks 4 weeks4 weeks


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Selection process – Criteria Full Proposal: IMPACTSelection process – Criteria Full Proposal: IMPACT

• Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives?Is COST the best mechanism for achieving the Actions’ objectives?

• Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific Does the proposed network address real current problems/scientific issues? issues?

• Does the proposed network make a significant difference?Does the proposed network make a significant difference?

• Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the Networking aside, how great are the potential benefits of the proposed Action?proposed Action?

• Is the dissemination plan adequate in relation to the objectives of the Is the dissemination plan adequate in relation to the objectives of the Action?Action?


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Selection process – Criteria Full Proposal: QUALITYSelection process – Criteria Full Proposal: QUALITY• What is the level of innovationWhat is the level of innovation in the proposed Action?in the proposed Action?• What is the level of originality of the proposed Action?What is the level of originality of the proposed Action?• What is the level of scientific quality of the proposed Action?What is the level of scientific quality of the proposed Action?• How relevant is the proposed Action to European economic or societal needs?How relevant is the proposed Action to European economic or societal needs?• To what extent does the proposed Action contribute to the development of the To what extent does the proposed Action contribute to the development of the

scientific or technological field?scientific or technological field?• To what extent does the proposed network aim at involving young To what extent does the proposed network aim at involving young

researchers?researchers?• To what extent does the proposed network aim at being gender balanced?To what extent does the proposed network aim at being gender balanced?• Does the number of countries the proponents come from reflect a wide Does the number of countries the proponents come from reflect a wide

European dimension?European dimension?• Are the proponents aware of the state-of-the-art of the scientific/technical field Are the proponents aware of the state-of-the-art of the scientific/technical field

covered by the proposal?covered by the proposal?


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1 June 2006


Selection process – Criteria Full Proposal: MANAGEMENTSelection process – Criteria Full Proposal: MANAGEMENT

• To what extent is the plan of activities and the management To what extent is the plan of activities and the management organisation appropriate?organisation appropriate?

• To what extent are the time schedule and the targets appropriate?To what extent are the time schedule and the targets appropriate?

• To what extent has provision been made for monitoring and To what extent has provision been made for monitoring and evaluating the achievement of objectives?evaluating the achievement of objectives?

• To what extent has provision been made for assessing potential To what extent has provision been made for assessing potential application, and fostering exploitation, of results?application, and fostering exploitation, of results?


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COST invites researchers throughout Europe to submit COST invites researchers throughout Europe to submit proposals for research networks and use this unique proposals for research networks and use this unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and to embark on opportunity to exchange knowledge and to embark on new European perspectives.new European perspectives.

www.cost.esf.org/opencall

This continuous call is thematically open. Proposals This continuous call is thematically open. Proposals from all Scientific Domains are welcome. A first from all Scientific Domains are welcome. A first collection date for preliminary proposals was 31 May collection date for preliminary proposals was 31 May 2006.2006.


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1 June 2006


COST Open Call:response at first collection date (824 proposals)

020406080

100120140160

BMBS

CMST

ESSEM

Explo

rato

ria FAFPS

ICT

ISCH

MPNS

TUD


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1 June 2006


COST Open Call:response at first collection date (824 proposals)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

AT BE BG CH CS CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IL IS IT LT LU MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR


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1 June 2006

Contact:Contact:

Dr.-Ing. Martin GrabertDr.-Ing. Martin Grabert

Director COST OfficeDirector COST Office

Av. Louise 149Av. Louise 149

B 1050 BrusselsB 1050 Brussels

[email protected]@cost.esf.org

www.cost.esf.orgwww.cost.esf.org


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1 June 2006

COST EXPLORATORY WORKSHOP

“INTEGRATION AND SYNERGY ONENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH”

Brussels, Belgium

16 - 18 February 2005


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1 June 2006

COST EXPLORATORY WORKSHOP“INTEGRATION AND SYNERGY ONENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH”

The large and diverse area of Environment and Health has been identified by the COST Technical Committees for Environment and Medicine & Health as a key area of interaction and development between them.


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1 June 2006

COST EXPLORATORY WORKSHOP“INTEGRATION AND SYNERGY ON

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH”: The first major strategic workshops supported by COST

MAIN OBJECTIVES (I)* To address good health issues: wanted for

ourselves, our children and for the wider economic and social benefits it brings to society. It plays a major role in long-term

economic growth and sustainable development.


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1 June 2006


MAIN OBJECTIVES (II)* A social component to be put into placeapart from medical and environmental research.

* Filling the knowledge gap by strengthening research and addressing the emerging issues on environment and health”.


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MAIN OBJECTIVES (III)

* to address the specific ENHE multi-disciplinary research requires involvement of all the disciplines in research programme from the outset in both the planning and the execution of the programme.


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“INTEGRATION AND SYNERGY ONENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH”PARTICIPATING INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS and COUNTRIES: 50 selected experts* COUNCIL OF EU * EC: FP, DG- RTD, DG – ENV, JRC - ISPRA* ESF – EMRC* WHO* ECOPA & CEFIC* COST* 17 COUNTRIES: AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, IT, NL, NO, SE, SK, South Korea, UK


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MAIN FINDINGS* Integrated approach of risk assessment* Variability in susceptibility* Biomarkers genetics; biomarkers as hazard indicators* Heterogeneity of exposure – homogeneity in methodology* Clinically oriented long term studies* Mathematical modeling of multiple exposure* Better mechanistically based animal models


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1 June 2006


CONTACTCOST DOMAIN COMMITTEE BIOMEDICINE AND BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCES (BMBS)SCIENCE OFFICERSCIENCE OFFICERProf. Mihail PascuProf. Mihail Pascu149 Av. Louise 149 Av. Louise B 1050 BrusselsB 1050 [email protected]


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1 June 2006

COST & Cultural Heritage

COST STRATEGIC WORKSHOP

COST AND CULTURAL HERITAGE:CROSSING BORDERS

Florence, 19-21 October 2005


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1 June 2006

COST & Cultural HeritageAim of the Workshop

- To underline the need for protection of cultural heritage

- To promote conservation research on a European level

- To encourage networking

- To explore potential synergies


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1 June 2006

COST & Cultural HeritageAttendance: more than 100 participants

- Experts in different scientific disciplines

- Stakeholders at different levels

- Politicians and decision makers

- Managers of artistic collections

- Managers of archeological sites

- Representatives of international and intergovernmental organisations


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1 June 2006


Characteristics of COST Actions for Cultural Heritage:

- Broad international consortium - Multi-disciplinary

- Broad variety of topics


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1 June 2006

COST & Cultural HeritageCOST ACTIONS/NETWORKS* Artwork Conservation by Laser (Miscellaneous, G7)* Non-destructive analysis and testing of museum

objects (Miscellaneous / Physics, G8)* Built Heritage: Fire Loss to Historic Buildings (Urban

Civil Eng., C17)* 3-D monitoring of active tectonic structures

(Environment, 625)* Understanding pre-industrial structures in rural and

mining landscapes (Social Sciences and Humanities, A27)


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1 June 2006

Contact:Contact:

Dr. Hannelore RoemichDr. Hannelore Roemich

Science OfficerScience Officer

149 Av. Louise 149 Av. Louise





COopération Européenne dans le domaine de la Recherche Scientifique

et Technique

STRATEGIC WORKSHOP ON

FOOD AND HEALTH: THE WAY FORWARD

BRUSSELS, 1 – 3 FEBRUARY 2006


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1 June 2006

TWO TECHNICAL COMMITTEES:

MEDICINE AND HEALTH and

AGRICULTURE, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND FOOD

SCIENCE


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1 June 2006

QUESTIONS (1):

* WHAT DO WE EAT?* WHAT SHOULD WE EAT?

* WHEN DO WE EAT?* WHEN SHOULD WE EAT?

* HOW DO WE EAT?* HOW SHOULD WE EAT?

EAT TO LIVE OR LIVE TO EAT?


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QUESTIONS (2):* CONSUMERS ARE TARGET OF INFORMATION FOR:- FOOD PRODUCERS, FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, RESTAURANTS- MEDICAL/DRUG INDUSTRY- MEDIA

ARE THEY REALLY INFORMED? HOW SHOULD THEY CHOOSE?


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QUESTIONS (3)* GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD (GMF)- TO ACCEPT OR TO NOT ACCEPT?- TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT?- TO PRODUCE OR NOT TO PRODUCE?


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QUESTIONS (4):* ARE CONSUMERS GOOD

JUDGES OF FOOD AND HEALTH INTERACTION?

HOW DO THEY JUDGE THE QUALITY OF FOOD?


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QUESTIONS (5):* WHICH IS THE REAL CONTENT OF SALT IN FOOD?* HOW TO CHARACTERISE THE FOOD FRESHNESS ?* DO CONSUMERS KNOW THAT ABSENCE OF WANTED COMPONENTS IN FOOD MAY BE DEVASTATING?


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OBJECTIVES (I)

* Identify emerging and topical issues for both domains/other COST domains

* Identify gaps to be further addressed


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OBJECTIVES (II)

* Produce conclusions to trigger novel FOHE research subjects:

- COST itself- EC’s Framework Programme- ESF- National and International

research organisations and funding bodies


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PARTICIPANTS (I)PARTICIPANTS (I)

* More than 130 scientists from 24 * More than 130 scientists from 24 countriescountries* Representatives of:* Representatives of:

- the Council of the EU- the Council of the EU- the European Commission, - the European Commission, - ESF - ESF - EUREKA- EUREKA


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PARTICIPANTS (II)PARTICIPANTS (II)

- the European Confederation of - the European Confederation of Food and Drink IndustriesFood and Drink Industries- the European Food Information - the European Food Information CouncilCouncil- the European Food Safety - the European Food Safety Authority Authority - the World Health Organisation - the World Health Organisation


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STRUCTURE OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME

* KEY NOTE TALKS* DEDICATED SESSIONS

* FINAL ROUND TABLE Chair: PROF. Francesco Fedi

The Strategy Document: Future Research on

FOOD and HEALTH in Europe


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1 June 2006

* KEY NOTE TALKS (I)- FP6 achievements and FP7 expectations for food and health - Status of food and health interactions in Europe- Eating disorders - EU actions on nutrition and resulting action plan


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KEY NOTE TALKS (II)

- Marie Curie actions and research careers in Europe (FOHE)- Food & Cultural differences: status and future- Food & Socio-economic issues: can we afford healthy food?


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SESSIONS:- Food, Information and Health - Food Research: new concepts - Food and safety - Food and life expectancy: live to eat or eat to live? Food and: Cancer, Vascular Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome - New patterns of food-induced diseases


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1 June 2006

MAIN FINDINGS OF THE WORKSHOPDEDICATED TO:

The role of the scientific community, of the food industry, food distributors, the

policy makers and the consumers


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1 June 2006

THE SITUATION IN EUROPE Obstacles to the modification of consumers habits: agricultural policies, lack of proper databases, inadequate information

Studies of the impact of these non-scientific issues need to be performed.


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1 June 2006

Production (I)

*Economic pressure on fruit andvegetable production in Europe

* Inadequate availability of “health promoting” products of vegetable origin


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1 June 2006

Production (II) * Genetically modified food (GMF) may have a potential for production enhancement; more research to demonstrate its utility * The lack of consumer acceptance of GMF is a barrier research should overcome* Integrated research (“farm to fork and fork to farm”) needed to make GMF of animal origin accepted


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1 June 2006

Processing Food may contain inorganic contaminants and/or pathogenic microorganisms. They may be present in raw materials, introduced during processing, packing, transport and/or storage.

Rapid methods to detect and quantify unwanted food components must be developed.


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Time dimension

Effects of food on health starts during the first days of life and may have important impact on future health and disease conditions. They are a major factor for life expectancy.

Long-term studies are needed to better understand the relevance of these effects.


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1 June 2006

Prevention of diseases (I) * Risk factors for the development of cancer are object of large multi-centre studies:

To be encouraged and new initiatives to be launched


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Prevention of diseases (II)

*Over-eating and the metabolic syndrome: alteration of cardiac, muscle, liver and non-adipose tissues leading to morbidity and mortality Research to better understand the patho-physiological mechanisms underlying the lesions induced by the metabolic syndrome.


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Prevention of diseases (III) * Food allergies are an important cause of morbidity

New and early detection methods, as well as specially “tailored” food products are needed


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Social and psychological dimensionsNutritional habits depend on non-biological factors: socio-economic status, regional habits or perception of “healthy food”. Often these dimensions are omitted from research projects on food-nutrition and health-disease.More research considering non-biological factors should be promoted.


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New research perspectivesAvailability of new research tools at molecular biology level (typically genomics) open new possibilities to investigate relationships between food, nutrition, health and disease Research projects using these methods are performed, but more efforts should be encouraged in the field of food and nutrition


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Information and communication (I)

* A huge amount of information supplied from many sources* The public wants information it can trust

The media are essential partners in this process. Communication is a key element in the field of “food-nutrition” and “health-disease”


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Information and communication (II)

* Scientists are skilled at unravelling complex problems, identifying the causes and pointing to solutions* They are rarely experts to communicate outside their field. Obtaining better effects of research results on the public , requires a more important and concerted effort across Europe to provide correct, balanced and unbiased information to the consumers


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1 June 2006

Information and communication (III) *Communicating correctly requires trained professionals, such as those employed by industry to advertise.

Can the research institutes, the funding bodies and councils across Europe unite to provide an information service to counterbalance the ‘communication ‘ industry?


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CONTACT: COST DOMAIN COMMITTEE BIOMEDICINE AND BIOMOLECULAR

SCIENCES (BMBS)

SCIENCE OFFICERSCIENCE OFFICERProf. Mihail PascuProf. Mihail Pascu149 Av. Louise 149 Av. Louise B 1050 BrusselsB 1050 [email protected]


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COST strategic workshop:www.cost.esf.org/nanosciences/


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1 June 2006

COST strategic workshop: nanosciences

Objectives

- to promote multidisciplinary/converging approaches on nanosciences - to encourage networking - to identify research and training priorities - to contribute to the debate on nanosciences in society and to increase public awareness - to explore synergies in the involvement of different funding agencies - to promote nanosciences and converging approaches as driving forces in the knowledge-based society


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1 June 2006

COST strategic workshop: nanosciencesTarget Audience - researchers working in nanosciences- scientists operating in multidisciplinary environments- politicians - policy/decision makers in public and private research- funding agencies for research and technology- representatives of education and training institutions- journalists - stakeholders from industry- representatives from the civil society


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COST strategic workshop:www.cost.esf.org/nanosciences/

Registration is still open!

Call for posters to present national and international networks, deadline 15 September!


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1 June 2006

CONTACT:

Dr. Hannelore RoemichDr. Hannelore Roemich

Science OfficerScience Officer

149 Av. Louise 149 Av. Louise





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1 June 2006

Joint “NATO Science for Peace and Security” and “COST”

Strategic Expert Meeting

FOOD SECURITY AND SIMULATION

6-7 November 2006,

VENUE COST Office, Av. Louise 149, B 1050

Brussels


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Joint “NATO Science for Peace and Security” and “COST”Strategic Expert Meeting: FOOD SECURITY AND SIMULATION

* Aims at a better coordination of the respective activities and to identify potential joint actions in the future.

*40 selected participants


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Joint “NATO Science for Peace and Security” and “COST”Strategic Expert Meeting: FOOD SECURITY AND SIMULATION

TOPICS:

* Session 1 “Food Chain Security”* Session 2 “Water Supply Security”* Session3 “Simulation of Critical Behavioural

Situations”


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1 June 2006

CONTACT: COST DOMAIN COMMITTEE BIOMEDICINE AND BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCES (BMBS)

SCIENCE OFFICERSCIENCE OFFICERProf. Mihail PascuProf. Mihail Pascu149 Av. Louise 149 Av. Louise B 1050 BrusselsB 1050 [email protected]

thank you for your attention

Documents

cost open

field of scientific

proposed action

brusselseuropean cooperation

new actioneuropean cooperation

actions objectives

stage process peer

best mechanism