The Commission, listening to requests from the Council and the European Parliament, has decided to increase R&D investments in this area and has changed INCO's work programme. New calls were published focusing specifically on the need to develop new drug treatments and vaccines. In the autumn, a number of innovative projects were selected, to be carried out locally including one to assess vaccine effectiveness against TB, and another to shorten TB treatment time.

Future action

Future activities funded under INCO will seek to increase co-ordination between Members States' work and that of other international partners. For example, planning has started to establish a platform for clinical trials that will link work being carried out by national bodies with Commission activities.
Best estimates are that the Commission will spend around €120 million on R&D during the lifetime of the Fifth Framework Programme for research to specifically combat poverty-related diseases. What's more, R&D work in this area is likely increase under the next framework programme.
Michel Pletschette, from the INCO unit said: "The 2001 INCO calls demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to emerging needs. Research partnerships based on an equal footing are a key element for success and these INCO methods really do bring a high level of innovation to tackling global problems."