Recent startling progress in life science research is heralding dramatic new developments in food, pharmaceuticals, health care and agriculture - as well as new ethical dilemmas. While European science in this area is second to none, urgent changes are necessary if Europe is to turn this scientific capacity into competitive and marketable products which improve the quality of life, reinforce the competitiveness of industry and protect the environment. This website provides an overview of the European Union's Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources research programme, which aims to provide some of the answers.

After an introduction outlining the importance of research in this area for Europe, and an overview of the programme, the site describes each key action - the new, multi-disciplinary, problem-solving approach to research introduced in the Fifth Framework Programme - in turn, highlighting in schematic form its main priorities and concepts. A description of the generic research and support for infrastructure included in the programme follows, while a history of related research and some case studies are presented in parallel. The site also provides an overview of the whole Fifth Framework Programme and details of where the reader can obtain further information.