Research and innovation as well as sustainable development are at the heart of the EU2020 strategy. The European Commission publishes today a web-based tool that allows tracing the contribution of cooperative research funded by the 7th Framework Programme to the EU renewed sustainable development strategy. Following this monitoring system, 65% of the total EU budget allocated to cooperative research have a positive impact on the pursuit of one or several key challenges of the EU sustainable development strategy.

The public web-based tool allows a permanent monitoring following the key challenges for sustainability. The exercise fosters the impact orientation of FP7 and aims at improving its governance. It is a useful step in preparing the next 8th Framework Programme. The tool ensures full transparency on the assessments. Any interested stakeholder can calculate figures and identify projects according to their needs.
Following the first two waves of calls (2007 and 2008), it appears that engaging on a low CO2 development path is the societal challenge attracting the biggest share of EU cooperative research with more than
€ 1.925 billion (i.e. 31% of the total allocated budget for cooperative research). The largest contribution is coming from the research in 'Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies', just followed by transport and energy research. Very close after the low CO2 challenge, public health is drawing the second most important share of EU-funded cooperative research with € 1.919 billion. At the other end of the spectrum, social inclusion is receiving the least volume of research at the level of € 276 million (i.e. 4% of the total allocated budget for cooperative research).

How it works
The monitoring comprises evaluations of expected impacts on FP7 call level through qualitative screening. It focuses on direct and causal expected impacts of funded research, dissemination of its results and consequent effects. Data for the monitoring will be updated regularly. The monitoring system was developed by WU Vienna and TU Delft.

Background:
The EU sustainable development strategy was adopted in June 2006. It addresses seven key challenges: climate change and clean energy, sustainable transport, sustainable consumption and production, conservation and management of natural resources, public health, social inclusion, demography and migration, global poverty and sustainable development challenges. These key challenges remain active political goals under the three new EU2020 priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The monitoring system webpage

The EU renewed sustainable development strategy

Contacts:
EC press officer: Florian Frank, florian.frank@ec.europa.eu, Tel.: +32 2 29 97934
EC scientific officer: Sandra Nebe, sandra.nebe@ec.europa.eu, Tel. +32 2 29 58581