Sustainable development is an overarching objective of the European Union: we need to ensure that our present development does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Current EU policies are based on the renewed Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) of June 2006, that deals in an integrated way with economic, environmental and social issues and where research and development (R&D) plays an important and multifaceted role.
The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) has been set up to allow European research to live up to the R&D needs expressed in the EU renewed sustainable development strategy.
This web portal is the entry point to consolidated information on FP7's contribution to sustainable development.
Focus on...
Key publication: Researchers' role in knowledge co-production: experience from sustainability research in Kenya, Switzerland, Bolivia and NepalA reflection on the roles that a researcher can assume in the indeterminate social space where knowledge is co-produced.
Sustainable development indicatorsAn overview of relevant Framework Programme funded research and identification of further needs in view of EU and international activities.
Updated! Monitoring system on FP7 contribution to sustainable development: Geographical viewThe second release of the web-based tool www.FP7-4-SD.eu launched by the European Commission in April is now available.
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Development Strategy
Five years after the Göteborg European Council, the EU Sustainable Development Strategy was renewed in June 2006, calling for an integrated approach to policy making.
Find out about the SD policy context at European and at Member State level.
FP7 tailored for Sustainability
The renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS) assigns an important role to research and development.
The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is tailored to allow EU research to live up to the multifaceted expectations for R&D in the SDS.
Learn about the articulation of FP7 to the renewed EU SDS.
In line with the mirror effect between EU SDS and FP7, the need for putting research at the service of sustainable development is highlighted in several EU policy documents and initiatives.
Get an introduction to the sustainability potential of research in Europe.