Innovation Union
Innovation Union
Meeting of Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn with Bill Gates, Brussels, 23 January 2012
"Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, met today with Mr Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. They discussed topics related to the remit of the Commissioner and of interest to both sides, including poverty-related diseases, rare diseases, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and food security."
Following the meeting, Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn said:
"In times of economic crisis, the EU's determination to help developing countries is strengthened, not diminished. People's lives are at stake, and as the world's largest donor, the EU has an important role to play in improving public health and alleviating hunger and poverty.
As Commissioner for Research and Innovation, I strongly support research projects leading to innovative solutions in tackling major global challenges such as health and food security. Mr Gates and I agreed that international cooperation is particularly important in these areas.
Success stories exist and should inspire us. The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is one of them. Created in response to the global health crisis caused by the three main poverty-related diseases: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, EDCTP has effectively paved the way to potential breakthrough treatment. On this occasion, I would like to thank again the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their partnership with EDCTP and their support for other critical global health research and development projects.
Only through collective efforts can we effectively tackle the really big issues affecting the world's most vulnerable, and respond to current and emerging research needs and priorities. Partnerships across regions and public-private initiatives are the way forward. The European Commission and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation share many research goals and priorities and already work together well. I am looking forward to cooperating even more closely together in the coming years."