The Fifth Framework
Programme of the European Community for research, technological development
and demonstration activities (1998 to
2002)
The Fifth Framework Programme is implemented through eight specific programmes, four of which correspond to the four themes of the first Community activity, three are linked to the second, third and fourth Community activities respectively, and the eighth is a programme specific to the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The scientific, industrial and user communities are closely involved throughout this implementation process. Two themes are of particular importance for people with disabilities :
Quality of life and management of living resources
Improving the quality of life and health is a major challenge and the Community plans to tackle it by helping to increase knowledge and develop technologies in the field of the life sciences. In this context, the need is to improve the quality of life of all Europe's citizens, taking into account the particular problems of certain sectors of the population such as the ageing and the disabled. The following issues are to be mentioned :
Key action on the ageing population and disabilities
This key action aims to help Europe meet the challenge of the growing ageing population through RTD to underpin the development of policies and interventions to extend the quality of life and independence of older people, and to reduce the need for long-term care and its consequential costs. It gives priority to multidisciplinary RTD relating to processes leading to healthy ageing, including demographic, social and economic aspects, and to interventions leading to the postponement and improved management of disability. It aims to generate competitive advantage for a wide range of health related industries and sectors.
Generic Activities:
- Research relating to disabled people - The aim of this activity is to enhance the quality of life and independence of disabled people, notably through improving their social and physical environment (e.g. technology for rehabilitation and assistance) and the effective and efficient delivery of the health and social care services available to them.
- Chronic and degenerative diseases (in particular cancer and diabetes), cardio-vascular diseases and rare diseases - Major challenges in biomedical research are the elucidation of the aetiology and pathogenisis of diseases for which there is more than one interacting cause (genetic, environmental, lifestyle). There is an urgent need to improve diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance through epidemiology and application of modern technology, requiring a multinational approach.
- Research into genomes and diseases of genetic origin - The aim of this activity is to identify the physiological functions of genes and to improve the understanding of the meaning of sequence information. The new knowledge and technologies deriving from this generic action should promote the exploitation of genomic information to the benefit of European health, industry and the environment.
- Neurosciences - This activity should provide new insights and understanding of the mechanims governing the interrelationship of biological and psychological processes, to promote new diagnostic (e.g. imaging) and therapeutic approaches to neurological and psychiatric disorders and to underpin opportunities for innovation in health care industries.
The User friendly Information Society
The advent of the information society is opening Iup the possibility of a wide range of new activities for both individuals and companies in the Community, e.g. in the fields of commerce, work, transport, the environment, education and training, health and culture. Continuous efforts in relation to research, technological development and technology take-up and demonstration are necessary to realise the full potential of the Information Society. The technological range of the key actions allows the possibility of a dynamic concentration and a flexible implementation of the activities, reflecting socio-economic priorities.
These efforts must, in all activities, tackle the universal issues such as access, ease of use, cost-effectiveness and interoperability and standardisation. They should also address the socio economic impact of the activities, in particular the social changes brought about by the introduction and more widespread use of new information and communications technologies, including their effect on different population groups, with particular attention to their effect on women and young people.
One of the key actions addresses the systems and services for the citizen. As regards persons with special needs, including the disabled and the elderly, the priorities will concern interfaces and on tele-systems to integrate the elderly and the disabled into society.
