Here you'll find archived Newsbriefs as published on our homepage during 2005.

2005

CSIR young researcher wins contest and represents SA at international workshop
19 December 2005 - CSIR researcher Gerda Lombard attended the International Young Scientists Workshop, in Prague, Czech Republic on 1 November 2005. Lombard was the winner of the European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP) scientific paper contest, coordinated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The aim of the workshop was to promote debate on the opportunities and challenges facing young scientists in food safety and quality research.

EU companies turn the tide in R&D investment, but can't match competitors
13 December 2005 - The 2005 industrial R&D (research and development) investment scoreboard shows a turnaround in spending by European companies, with investment increasing. With a growth rate of 0.7 per cent (compared to a decline of two per cent last year), Europe's companies are however still behind the top non-EU companies, who this year saw a growth in R&D investment of seven per cent.

Social scientists urged to seize the initiative
13 December 2005 - The President of the South African Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Dr Olive Shisana was one of the keynote speakers at the European Commission's Conference on Social Sciences and the Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities, held in Brussels on 12 and 13 December 2005. Dr Shisana participated in a panel discussion on international cooperation in the social sciences and the humanities. The discussion focused on the opportunities for researchers from countries such as South Africa in the social sciences and humanities activities of the Seventh Framework Programme.

Third European Research Infrastructures Conference participation
7 December 2005 - The Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Rob Adam, was one of the keynote speakers at the Third European Research Infrastructures Conference, presented by the European Commission on 6-7 December 2005, at Nottingham University in the United Kingdom. Dr Adam's address was focused on the role played by comparative advantages in international research infrastructure partnerships. Exploiting South Africa's key geographical advantages in for examples areas such as astronomy, or other comparative knowledge advantages, will be the major thrust of promoting South Africa's participation in research infrastructure partnerships under the future Seventh Framework Programme. The Conference was addressed by the European Research Commissioner, Janez Potocnik.

R&D investment for renewable energy technologies will ensure sustainable energy mix for Europe
23 November 2005 - European institutions and industry stakeholders came together on 21 and 22 November for a conference on research into renewable energy for Europe. There was broad agreement on the need for research to contribute to the development of the sector and the reduction in cost of renewable energy technologies in order to meet the challenges of climate change and a secure energy supply.

Visit the ESASTAP exhibit at the Communicating European Research 2005 Conference in Brussels
13 November 2005 - From 14 - 15 November 2005, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research is hosting the second "Communicating European Research" conference. The event will focus on the manifold aspects of science communication and will provide an excellent forum and meeting place for scientists, communication professionals and journalists. The conference will also take stock of the way towards the Seventh Framework Programme. If you are in Brussels, be sure to visit the ESASTAP exhibit.

Rich potential for R&D cooperation in the field of e-Government
27 October 2005 - On 26 October 2005 the Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Rob Adam, addressed a stakeholder consultation organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General Information Society on the e-Government research agenda of the future Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). In his address, broadcast via video conference to the high-level event held in Brussels and attended by senior representatives from the public sector, industry and academia, Dr Adam pointed out the rich potential for R&D cooperation in the field of e-Government between research partners from the developing world and Europe under the FP7. Dr Adam for example highlighted the important part to be played by social scientists, in dealing with cultural differences as well as the scope for leapfrogging technologies.

Feedback - Europe of Knowledge: A Common Interest to Europe and to the World" Conference
7 October 2005 - South Africa participated in the International Dimension of the Europe of Knowledge: A Common Interest to Europe and to the World" Conference, which took place from 6 to 7 October 2005 in Brussels. The European and non-European participants to the Conference discussed the challenges of an open "Europe of Knowledge". They shared their perceptions on what common interests mean. They also identified ways to increase the benefits gained from facilitating links between the scientific communities of Europe and the rest of the World.

FP7 Preparations
October 2005 - The European Commission has just published its proposals for the FP7 "Specific Programmes." The Specific Programmes are focused on the four main FP7 objectives of "Cooperation", "Ideas", "People" and "Capacities." The "Cooperation" Programme provides for the first time detailed content on the nine proposed FP7 research themes of: "Health"; "Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology"; "Information and Communication Technologies"; "Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies"; "Energy"; "Environment (including Climate Change)"; Transport (including Aeronautics)"; "Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities"; and "Security and Space." Kindly note that these proposals must still be approved by the European Union Member States and the FP7 will not be formally launched with calls for proposals till the end of 2006 at the earliest. In 2006, a dedicated FP7 preparation campaign for South Africa will be undertaken as part of ESASTAP.

European Commission publishes proposals for FP7 Specific Programmes
22 September 2005 - The European Commission has outlined its detailed plans for implementing the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) with the publication on 21 September of the proposed Specific Programmes. Specific Programmes have been produced for each of the four main pillars of FP7 - Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities - as well as for the Commission's in-house research facilities, the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

ESASTAP Contest for Young Food Scientists
13 September 2005 - ESASTAP is inviting young South African food scientists (below the age of 40) to participate in a special contest, writing a paper on the opportunities for South African - European Union cooperation in food science research. The laureate will be afforded the opportunity to attend at the Department of Science and Technology's expenses a series of important food science events, including a dedicated workshop for young scientists, to be held in November 2005.

South African National Research and Experimental Development (R&D) data declared official statistic by Statistics South Africa
24 August 2005 - South African National Research and Experimental Development (R&D) data has now attained national and international recognition. The Statistician-General, Mr Pali Lehohla, of Statistics South Africa has declared that the data of the 2001/02 National R&D survey meet the requirements for official data in terms of the Statistics Act of 1999.

FP6 Integrated Project looking for South African SME partners
12 August 2005 - SAFEHOSE, a Sixth Framework Programme Integrated Project funded under the Nanotechnology, Materials and Production thematic priority, which is developing a radically innovative new production process for the manufacture of fluid transmission systems, is looking for South African SMEs to join the project as partners. The SAFEHOSE development is based upon innovations in materials processing, particularly thermoplastics, that will have a wide-ranging impact in many diverse applications. Please refer to the project summary for further details.

ESASTAP launched in Mpumalanga, South Africa
4 August 2005 - The European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP) was launched in Mpumalanga on 3 August 2005. The event was held in the Mpumalanga Parks Board Auditorium. ESASTAP will also be launching in the Northern Cape on 11 August 2005, in the Free State on 25 August, and in the North West Province on 29 August.

Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) information sessions highly successful
29 July 2005 - Dr Arnd Hoeveler, Head of Unit for Diseases linked to Poverty, in the European Commission's Directorate-General Research, conducted to two very successful information sessions on the new Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) call for proposals in the Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health area in South Africa on 27 and 28 July 2005. Dr Hoeveler conducted two workshops, at respectively the Medical Research Council in Cape Town and the CSIR in Pretoria, attended by more than 60 South African researchers from a range of universities, public research organisations as well as industry. The workshops were held at a most strategic time, in the light of the recent publication of the last FP6 call for proposals in this area. The last call has rich opportunities for South African participation, which Dr Hoeveler urged the South African research community to optimally exploit. His presentation presented a comprehensive overview of the call for proposals' focus areas as well as valuable strategy advice on proposal writing. The ESASTAP team stands ready to render all necessary assistance to potential South African participants in this call.

S&T key figures reveal China breathing down EU's neck
20 July 2005 - The European Commission published its 'Key Figures 2005 on science, technology and innovation' on 19 July, revealing stagnation in research and development (R&D) investment in the EU, which Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik described as 'particularly worrying'.

ERC Scientific Council announced
19 July 2005 - The European Commission has announced the names of the 22 eminent researchers who together will make up the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC), a European-level funding organisation for fundamental research.

South Africa and EU aim to promote closer collaboration in research
15 July 2005 - The South African Department of Science and Technology has launched a dedicated platform for promoting scientific and technological (S&T) cooperation between South Africa (SA) and the European Union (EU). Implemented by the South African Department of Science and Technology, the European South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP) is supported by the European Commission as a Specific Support Action under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

ESASTAP launched in Pretoria
30 June 2005 - One of South Africa's most strategic partnerships in international science and technology cooperation, that with the European Union (EU), has been significantly boosted with the announcement today of the launch of the European - South African Science and Technology Advancement Programme (ESASTAP).

SAP invests in South African technology research skills
28 June 2005 - By launching a research group in Pretoria - its first on the African continent - global business solutions giant, SAP AG, today (Tuesday 28th June 2005) became one of the few multinationals operating on the continent to establish a South African research capacity and to invest in the development of local research skills.

FP6 project finds cure for SARS
20 June 2005 - A medicine currently used to treat schizophrenia has been found to be effective in inhibiting the coronavirus of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), according to a team of European and Chinese scientists.

GÉANT2, the latest pan-European research and education network launched
14 June 2005 - The latest pan-European research and education network, was officially launched on 14 June in Luxembourg.This modern network will reportedly ensure that researchers will be better and faster connected everywhere in Europe than anywhere else in the world.