International scientific co-operation in FP6

International co-operation is an important dimension within FP6 and is intended to promote collaboration between:

• the 25 EU Member States, the four candidate countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey), the FP6's Associated Countries (Israel, Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland), and
• third countries, which are defined as all the remaining countries in the world. FP6 identifies a group of nearly 150 third countries as INCO (INternational CO-operation) targets. These are major developing, emerging and transition economies. These target countries are listed on the backpage of this leaflet
  

Forging partnerships in food quality and safety research

Legal entities from almost anywhere in the world can take part in joint research efforts under FP6’s thematic priorities, including Food Quality and Safety (FQS).

FQS has a particular focus on international co-operation with INCO target countries and countries with which the EU has a bilateral science and technology agreement. By 2004, the Union had signed such S&T accords with the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, India, Mexico, Morocco, Tunisia, Russia, South Africa, the Ukraine, and the United States. In the near future, other countries are also expected to sign up.

The FP6 Priority 'Food quality and safety' has set aside nearly €16 million to fund the participation of INCO target countries.