Introduction of the Biotechnology Programme PROGRAMME OUTLINE | AREAS OF RESEARCH | KEY FIGURES PROGRAMME OUTLINE Council Decision: Official Journal L 361 of 31.12.1994 Duration: 15.12.1994 - 31.12.1998 EU contribution: ECU 595.5 million Aims: To improve our basic biological knowledge of living systems and increase productivity in respect of applications to agriculture, industry, health, nutrition and the environment. Consideration of ethical and socio-economic implications of biotechnology. Previous programmes: BRIDGE, Biotechnology (1992-94) AREAS OF RESEARCH Biotechnology ("life technologies") is about to open up vast new markets in sectors of the economy such as farming, food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and industrial equipment. The biotechnology programme will focus on the following 8 research areas : "Cell factories" the aim being to move on from bioscience (biochemistry, genetics, bioinformatics, etc.) to bioprocesses (cell culture and fermentation, etc.); "Genome analysis" the aim of which is to develop methodologies for the sequencing of genomes and identification of the biological functions of genes; "Plant and animal biotechnology" in order to develop plant molecular engineering techniques, protein engineering, and animal genome mapping, etc.; "Cell communication in neurosciences" the objective of which is to promote multidisciplinary research into nerve cell physiology and communication in order to encourage the neurosciences; "Immunology and trans-disease vaccinology" "Structural biology" "Prenormative research , biodiversity and social acceptance" "Infrastructures" The programme will also encourage demonstration activities, analysis of the ethical, social and legal aspects, public perception surveys, and the assessment of indirect socio-economic effects. KEY FIGURES See the press release of 10 June 1998: European Commission launches 154 research projects in biotechnology, including the annexes: Distribution of projects per area in the fourth call - Analysis of results of Biotechnology programme (1994-1998) - Some projects to be funded under the Biotechnology programme. BIOTECH PROGRAMME | 10.02.2000