Here you'll find archived Newsbriefs as published on our homepage during 2006.

2006

FP7 Calls for proposals published
26 December 2006 - In what is hailed as the researchers Christmas present, the EU's largest ever funding programme for research, the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) got underway with the publication of 42 calls for proposals worth almost €4.3 billion on 22 December 2006. The total budget for FP7 is €50.521 billion, with an additional €2.7 billion available through Euratom.

Call for individuals to establish database of FP7 experts
December 2006 - The European Commission has published a call for proposals for the establishment of a database of independent experts to assist the Commission's services for tasks in connection with the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Call for organisations to propose FP7 independent experts
December 2006 - The European Commission has published a call for proposals for organisations to propose lists of prospective independent experts to assist the Commission's services in connection with the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

IST-Africa website accepted for Best IST Project Website Award consideration
1 October 2006 - The IST-Africa website has been accepted as one of the FP6 websites for consideration under the Best IST Project Website contest sponsored by NOKIA in association with IST2006. Please vote for the IST-Africa website to ensure that it has the opportunity to be short-listed.

ESASTAP at Bio2Biz SA 2006
26 September 2006 - ESASTAP will be exhibiting at Bio2Biz, the annual biotechnology forum for South Africa, supported by the country's leading biotechnology businesses and organisations. A highlight of the conference is the keynote presentation by Dr Line Matthiessen-Guyader of the European Commission. He will be speaking at the conference about perspectives for biotechnology research and international cooperation under the 7th EU Framework Programme for Research.

Updated IPR Guidelines for FP6
8 September 2006 - The guidelines have been updated and are available for download.

More on FP7 on CORDIS
7 September 2006 - CORDIS has updated its Towards FP7 Service, a gateway to information on the preparation of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The service now includes even more information on this upcoming programme for research and technological development.

Cristina joins Wits Enterprises
August 2006 - ESASTAP bids a fond farewell to Cristina Pinto, a key member of the ESASTAP project team, who has recently taken up an exciting position as Business Development Manager for Biotechnology at Wits Enterprises. Her contribution to the project on behalf of the CSIR has been instrumental in the early success of ESASTAP. We wish Cristina every success in her future endeavours and will continue a relationship with her in her new capacity at Wits Enterprises.

New FP6 contract clauses decided
August 2006 - The European Commission has decided on the text of two new contract clauses that might be applied in specific FP6 contracts. The new Clause no. 41 regards the possible use of average cost rates for expenditure in SUSTDEV projects, specifically the cost of construction of infrastructures, pilot plants, installation of power systems etc. The new clause no 42 represents a restriction for the consortia in INCO projects for Targeted Third Countries (TTC) to shift their budget among the partners internally in the project.

Updated and new information available for the FP7 - 7th Framework Programme
3 July 2006 - On 6 April the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new EU programme for Research. The proposal provides new impetus to increase Europe's growth and competitiveness, recognising that knowledge is Europe's greatest resource.

European Parliament adopts report on FP7
16 June 2006 - The European Parliament has adopted the report outlining the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) by an overwhelming majority.

Portal seeks to increase involvement of African scientists in EU water research
16 June 2006 - A new website - africanwater.net - designed to encourage participation of African scientists in EU-funded water research, was launched on 12 June.

SIMBA sets the scene for increased international transport cooperation
13 June 2006 - Road transport stakeholders from China, Brazil, South Africa and India met with their European counterparts in Brussels on 6 May for the SIMBA project’s first Steering Committee meeting, setting out a roadmap for future road transport cooperation between the four nations and Europe.

Twenty six percent budget increase a boost for South Africa's Science and Technology
26 May 2006 - Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena today outlined the 2006/7 budget allocation for his department, which has seen an inflow of R1,2 billion of new money for the country's publicly funded science and technology (S&T) system.

UK-South Africa renew strategic partnership
25 May 2006 - The 7th UK-South Africa Bilateral Forum was held from 23 - 24 May 2006 to renew our strategic partnership with the United Kingdom. The main theme of the two-day event was 'The UK and South Africa: Building Together on the Year of Africa'.

IST-Africa 2006 focuses innovation spotlight on Africa and cooperation with Europe
13 April 2006 - Welcoming IST-Africa 2006 presenters and delegates to Pretoria, Mosibudi Mangena, Minister of Science and Technology, South Africa, noted that "South Africa views the IST-Africa Conference, strategically convened during the preparatory phase of the FP7, as a valuable platform to promote improved ICT research cooperation between African and European partners. Such cooperation will provide invaluable support for the implementation of the ICT activities of the African Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, as adopted by African Ministers responsible for Science and Technology in September 2005. South Africa, through its Meraka Institute, is therefore proud to be the host country for IST-Africa 2006. It is an event, which will also strengthen our own close and strategic science and technology partnership with the European Union. It is my hope that the Conference deliberations will serve to further our understanding of, and commitment to, harnessing the immense potential of knowledge and innovation, especially in the field of ICT, to promote global sustainable development and fight poverty in Africa."

Boost for national earth observation through SA/Flanders collaboration
28 March 2006 - Earth observation and remote sensing technologies skills will be strengthened nationally with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by South Africa and Flanders in March 2006. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Flemish VITO made a mutual commitment to cooperate across international boundaries in areas of common concern.

Major new SA-EU S&T funding opportunity
23 February 2006 - The long-awaited so-called "top-up" call for proposals of the European Union's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) has now been published. This call offers many valuable opportunities to South African researchers to (i) secure participation in the FP6 through simplified modalities and (ii) lay a solid foundation for future Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) participation. The "top-up" call seeks to address the poor participation of "third countries" in the FP6. The call covers all FP6 priority areas, except the Priority 2 Information Society Technologies. A total budget of 20 million euro has been allocated to the call. Also read the SciDev.net article: EU to open projects to developing country scientists.

Appointment of Dr Phil Mjwara as Director General
9 February 2006 - Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr Philemon Mphathi Mjwara as Director General of the Department of Science and Technology in South Africa. Dr Mjwara is currently group executive responsible for Research and Development (R&D) at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and he will most likely begin at DST on 1 April 2006. The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, said; "I am delighted to have appointed a DG that has been an active and key role player in the National System of Innovation."

European-African Pact on ICT for Development
2 February 2006 - Developing countries need the deployment of ICTs for accelerated and sustainable development. A quantum leap in development is required for developing countries to achieve the "Millennium Development Goals - MDGs". It is widely accepted today that a decisive accelerator for development processes are information and communication technologies - ICTs. ICTs are seen as the key solution to meet the needs in rural and under-served areas and bring services to widely distributed citizens rapidly and cost efficiently. For the European Information Society Technologies community the forging of close links with counterparts in developing countries is a highly relevant mission today. European R&D projects have started to include African partners. A specific inclusive approach of European IST projects, directed toward developing countries, is however just in its start-up phase.

South Africa Day in the United Kingdom
1 February 2006 - The South African Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, visited the UK from 30 to 31 January 2006 to participate in South Africa Day at the Royal Society in London. This initiative is the result of continued discussions between representatives of the science and technology communities of both countries. This is a joint collaborative effort, between the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation on the South African side and on the UK side, the Office of Science and Technology and the Royal Society.

EU agrees part-funding of world's largest telescope
19 January 2006 - Planning for the giant 'Square Kilometre Array' (SKA) radio telescope will be part-funded by the European Commission, under infrastructures priority of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The Commission will fund 27 per cent of the cost, 38 million euro over the coming four years. The project will develop the largest telescope ever constructed, and the four-year design study will bring together some of the greatest minds in astronomy to agree the final plan. The projected final budget for the project is 1 billion euro.

South Africa contributes to annual EU Collaboration@Work report
14 January 2006 - The European Commission has published its annual Collaboration@Work Report 2005. This year again, the report on new working environments and practices illustrates developments towards new information and communication technology supported working environments and processes. It gives a view on collaboration in the working environment, in Europe and in the world. South Africa, through its Sixth Framework Programme Information Society Technologies National Contact Point, Johan Eksteen, has contributed to the report for the first time.