Latest News From Enterprise Europe Scotland

University of Exeter
PNAS

Scientists in France, the United Kingdom and the United States have found that modern man can learn a lot about land management by taking a look at what happened in the past. The study, presented in the journal PNAS, put the spotlight on the Amazonian area, indicating that its earliest inhabitants managed their farmland sustainably. The data suggest that indigenous people who lived in the savannas around the Amazonian forest farmed without the use of fire.

Led by the College of Humanities at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the University of Montpellier in France, the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and the University of Utah in the United States said their findings could shed fresh light into the sustainable use and conservation of one of the planet's most important ecosystems. Researchers around the globe are studying ways to save these ecosystems that are being destroyed quite rapidly. With respect to the Amazonian savannas, the land is being targeted for industrial agriculture and cattle ranching.

The researchers evaluated records of pollen, charcoal and other plant remains, such as phytoliths, spanning more than 2 000 years. They developed an accurate picture of land use in the Amazonian savannas in French Guiana, giving us a fresh perspective on the land before and after the 1492 appearance of Europeans.

Based on the data, the early inhabitants of this specific area practised 'raised-field' farming. This type of activity focused on building small agricultural mounds with wooden tools, effectively providing improved drainage, soil aeration and moisture retention. This practice was particularly significant for the savannas, an area that experiences both drought and flooding.

Increased fertility from the muck continually scraped from the flooded basin and deposited on the mounds also proved to be an advantage for the fields, according to the researchers. The farmers of this time restricted the use of fire, which in turn helped them conserve soil nutrients and organic matter. They were also able to preserve the structure of the soil.

'We used radiocarbon dating to establish the age of the raised beds,' said Dr Mitchell Power of the University of Utah, one of authors of the study. 'We came to the conclusion that corn pollen we found dated to 800 years ago, by dating charcoal deposits from above and below the sediment where the pollen was found.'

This study helps put to rest the theory that indigenous people used fire as a way to clear the savannas and manage their land. The results point to a sharp increase in fires with the arrival of the first Europeans, the so-called 'Columbian Encounter'.

Commenting on the results of the study, lead author Dr José Iriarte of the University of Exeter said: 'This ancient, time-tested, fire-free land use could pave the way for the modern implementation of raised-field agriculture in rural areas of Amazonia. Intensive raised-field agriculture can become an alternative to burning down tropical forest for slash-and-burn agriculture by reclaiming otherwise abandoned and new savannah ecosystems created by deforestation. It has the capability of helping curb carbon emissions and at the same time provide food security for the more vulnerable and poorest rural populations.'

For his part, co-author Professor Doyle McKey of the University of Montpellier said: 'Amazonian savannas are among the most important ecosystems on Earth, supporting a rich variety of plants and animals. They are also essential to managing climate. Whereas savannas today are often associated with frequent fire and high carbon emissions, our results show that this was not always so. With global warming, it is more important than ever before that we find a sustainable way to manage savannas. The clues to how to achieve this could be in the 2 000 years of history that we have unlocked.'

30,000 Prize fund for best new consortium business ideas.

Wed, 9 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) is offering £30,000 worth of cash and support to develop new consortium co-operatives in Scotland.

The inaugural Collaboration Prize aims to encourage businesses to consider working with others to form a new consortium co-operative. Co-operatives are collaborative vehicles that play an important role in creating globally competitive businesses. They enable employees, businesses and communities to work together to fulfil shared interests.

CDS is calling for interested parties to pitch an idea for a new consortium co-operative with up to three winning concepts each receiving a cash prize of £5,000 and a further £5,000 of support to get the business off the ground.

“I hope the new prize will stimulate new thinking.”

With a combined turnover of £4bn and employing around 28,000 people, Scotland’s 550 co-operative businesses currently play a key role in driving Scotland’s economic growth.

The deadline for entries is 31 July 2012 and winners will be announced later this year in August.

For more information about the Collaboration Prize or Co-operative Development Scotland, please visit: www.scottish-enterprise.com/cds-collaboration-prize or call 0141 951 3055.

EU pedalling on Europe Day

Wed, 9 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Grandparents on a bike course in Riga, bicycles mixing smoothies when pedalling in Brussels, and a bicycle parade in Warsaw's streets with local EU ambassadors, politicians and journalists. These are just some of the many green events Danish embassies organize around Europe Day on 9 May.

Under the headline "Green economics - Green Mobility", a wide range of activities put focus on a green transition in everyday life and hopefully get more European citizens to support the green agenda and the ambition of a 30 per cent reduction of the EU's CO2 emissions in 2020.

"Europe Day is an important occasion to mark the activities and achievements of the EU. This year, the Danish EU Presidency has chosen to focus on sustainable transport in the European capitals, because a green economy can create jobs and boost the economy, while improving the environment and the public health," says Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen.

Inspiration from the Danish cycling culture

Today, more than half of all traffic in the EU consists of trips of less than five kilometres. If these short distances can be covered by bicycle or foot rather than by car, it will result in signif-icant improvements for the environment, the climate and the individual health. For many Danes the bike is the primary mean of transportation and more than 35 per cent of Copenhagen’s inhabitants are biking to and from school or work every day - in many other EU countries, bicycles are less visible in the streets and therefore the Europe Day activities inspires to greener mobility in the future.

In order to mark Europe Day the Minister for European Affairs will participate in an event entitled “Europe build bridges” arranged by the Danish European Movement that will take place on Knippelsbro (Knippel Bridge) in Copenhagen on 9 May at 8.00 AM. Passing cyclists and pedestrians will be able to stop on the bridge for an informal talk about the EU with Nicolai Wammen. More than 20.000 cyclists pass Knippel Bridge on a daily basis on their way to or from work.

Europe Day

9 May 1950 Robert Schuman presented his proposal for the creation of an organized Europe as a prerequisite for the maintenance of peace between France and Germany. This proposal, known as the ‘Schuman declaration’, is considered to be the foundation for the creation of what we today call the European Union. This is marked in the days around the 9th May each year with a series of events throughout Europe.

Open Days 2012: behind the scenes in Parliament

Wed, 9 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Parliament will mark this year's anniversary of the Schumann Declaration by opening its doors to citizens and offering them many activities that provide behind-the-scenes insights into Parliament's activities.

On Saturday 12 May, the European Parliament will join other EU institutions in Brussels in opening its doors from 10.00 to 18.00. It will offer many activities, including meeting political groups and European Parliament departments and to following and taking part in debates with Members of the European Parliament in the plenary chamber.

Outside Parliament, too, there will be many attractions for all ages and all tastes: street-basketball, laughter-yoga or Tai Chi, chess, and a children's village. Various NGOs will attend to present their EU activities in the sphere of this year's theme, active ageing and solidarity between the generations. An official opening dance ceremony will take place at 12, and at 17.30, veteran British DG Ruth Flowers, alias Mamy Rock, will host a concert outside Parliament on the Place du Luxembourg.

On Sunday 20 May, the European Parliament will celebrate Europe at its Strasbourg seat. After the raising of the European flag on the square, Members of the European Parliament will debate active ageing and solidarity between generations in the plenary chamber.

All the information stands of Parliament's political groups and departments will be open to the public from 10.00 to 18.00. On the square there will be musical and culinary attractions. A special Europa 2012 stamp will be issued to mark the occasion.

Energy efficiency deal 'possible' by July 2012

Wed, 9 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Euractiv

on 1 July, according to a European Commission official who has drafted the bill. The announcement came amid warnings from green campaigners, who say the amended text is too weak.

"There is a political agreement to get a deal by the end of June, we have quite a lot of trialogue meetings left," said Krzysztof Gierulski, an official at the Commission's energy efficiency unit who was speaking on Tuesday (8 May) at a conference on smart meters.

Member states have taken a commitment to reduce their consumption of primary energy by 20% by 2020 – or 202 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe). The Energy Efficiency Directive is seen as the EU's main tool to achieve this target.

But the Council of Ministers, which represents the 27 EU member states, has watered down the draft directive. As a result, the amended text is now estimated to reduce primary energy consumption by about only 58.1 Mtoe, the Commission said in a non-paper circulated at the beginning of the negotiations on the bill.

The first meeting between the European Parliament, Commission and Council took place on Tuesday evening (8 May) and all the important articles of the energy efficiency bill were tabled for discussion, EurActiv understands.

“Both sides are willing to compromise,” an EU source close to the discussions told EurActiv, referring to the Parliament and the Council, which have had very diverging views on the bill.

According to the Commission's non-paper, the Council's version of the text would represent only 38% of savings foreseen in the original draft. The Parliament's more ambitious version of the directive, on the other hand, represented 130% of the Commission's initial text.

Gierulski believes, however, that the meetings planned for May and June will be enough to wrap up the discussions.

"I believe it is possible to reach this political agreement. There will be work under the Cyprus presidency to make sure that all translation work is done," he said.

"We are moving towards political agreement on the most important issues," Gierulski added.

Full Story at Euractiv

Scientists probe diabetes in Slovaks

Wed, 9 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Monogenic diabetes is triggered by mutations of a small number of genes, resulting in disrupted insulin production. Around half of the patients suffering from monogenic diabetes seem to carry a mutation in the glucokinase (GCK) gene. To date, more than 600 GCK mutations have surfaced, and around 65% of these are missense, what experts define as a genetic change resulting in the substitution of one amino acid in a protein for another. Researchers in Slovakia and the United Kingdom have identified the minimum prevalence of GCK-monogenic diabetes among Slovaks. They sequenced GCK in 100 Slovaks with a phenotype consistent with GCK-monogenic diabetes. The team also investigated, through family and functional studies, how identified variants can cause disease. Presented in the journal PLoS ONE, the study was backed by the CEED3 ('Collaborative European effort to develop diabetes diagnostics') project, which has clinched EUR 3 million under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Researchers from the Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, the Children Diabetes Centre and the Centre for Molecular Medicine at the Slovak Academy of Science, as well as from the Oxford Centre for Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism, and the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom identified 22 mutations, of which 7 were new, in 36 families.

After performing bioinformatic analysis, the researchers predicated all missense mutations, which totalled 22, that were damaging. In total, nine mutations were functionally evaluated. They found pathogenicity for seven mutants with apparently lower glucokinase activity. According to the researchers, the minimum prevalence of GCK-monogenic diabetes amongst Slovakian patients with diabetes was 0.03%.

Identifying patients with GCK-monogenic diabetes (also called maturity-onset diabetes of the young, MODY) is significant because their diagnosis has an impact on their clinical management and prognosis. It also affects members of their families.

'We have screened 100 Slovakian probands with a phenotype consistent with GCK-monogenic diabetes and identified variants in 36% (36/100) of cases,' the authors wrote in their study. 'The majority (77%), of variants are missense and a recent study has highlighted the importance of using a combination of family, bioinformatic and functional studies to correctly assign pathogenicity.'

The researchers chose all new missense mutations as well as those that had no clear consensus on pathogenicity from bioinformatic analysis to investigate this issue further and to complement their genetic and in silico studies.

'We calculated the minimum prevalence of the GCK-monogenic diabetes in Slovakia as 20.0 cases per million which is higher than in 2 recent studies from the United Kingdom,' the authors wrote. 'This number is still very likely to be underestimated since a substantial proportion of cases will remain undiagnosed as GCK-monogenic diabetes is largely an asymptomatic disorder.'

Because symptoms are not always obvious, the researchers said it is important to perform population studies in order to accurately determine the prevalence of GCK mutations. 'Interestingly, two non-synonymous mutations, L315H and I436N, have previously been identified only in Czech families, and a recent study showed that L315H is one of the most prevalent GCK mutations in the Czech population,' the authors wrote. 'This finding could suggest potential existence of the founder effect in Slovak and Czech families.'

The researchers said their findings offer the first evaluation of the prevalence of GCK-monogenic diabetes in Slovakia, showing that family, bioinformatic and functional studies can be used in combination to assign pathogenicity to missense GCK mutations.

For more information, please visit:

Slovak Academy of Sciences: http://www.sav.sk/?lang=en

University of Oxford: http://www.ox.ac.uk/

Scientists find link between biological processes and young breast cancer patients

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Breast cancer in young women is linked to age-related biological processes, a new study shows. Because it is a biologically unique disease, it calls for tailor-made management strategies, researchers reported at the IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference in Brussels, Belgium from 3 to 5 May. The findings, presented in the journal Annals of Oncology, could impact potential treatment methods, especially because breast cancer in young women is often aggressive and diagnosed at an advanced stage. The prognosis for young patients is not good.

Led by the Institut Jules Bordet in Belgium, the researchers discovered that breast cancer in women aged 45 years or younger is enriched with the aggressive basal-like tumours. These women are also at greater risk of relapse independent of stage, histological grade, breast cancer molecular subtypes and treatment received.

'While some investigators could refer this to poor compliance of young women to hormonal therapies, we performed another analysis in 1 188 women who did not receive any systemic therapy, and indeed, found significant poor outcome in young women both in luminal-A and luminal-B tumours,' said Dr Hatem A. Azim Jr of the Institut Jules Bordet.

Luminal-A cancers are ER+ and low-grade, while luminal-B cancers are ER+ but often high grade.

The team analysed the expression of different genes in women with breast cancer to determine if they correlated with age. In order to consider the tumour size at diagnosis, Dr Azim and his colleagues adjusted the results. They examined whether the disease had spread to lymph nodes, and the breast cancer molecular subtype, as well as other variables.

Their analysis was carried out on two independent data sets, including 1 188 and 2 334 patients. The findings were the same in both cases.

'What we found was that even after adjustment for these parameters, there are several genes and gene signatures that are significantly associated with age in breast cancer patients,' Dr Azim said. 'Some were highly expressed in young women - including stem cells, luminal progenitors, RANK-ligand (RANKL) and c-kit - while others were down-regulated, such as genes related to programmed cell death, or apoptosis.'

According to the researchers, various signalling pathways in the breast cancers of young women could be potential targets for treatment. A case in point is a gene signature of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase molecular pathway closely linked with young age.

'PI3k is an important targetable signalling pathway in breast cancer and perhaps these results could encourage investigating its role in breast cancer arising in young women,' Dr Azim explained.

Another gene, RANKL, is also highly expressed in young breast cancer patients. Experts say this gene contributes to bone metastasis. Based on the results of emerging preclinical data, RANKL appears to have an anti-tumour effect besides contributing to the spread of bone cancer.

'Putting all the information in context, we hypothesise that perhaps targeting RANKL could be particularly interesting in young breast cancer patients,' Dr Azim concluded.

For more information, please visit:

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO): http://www.esmo.org/

Annals of Oncology: http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/

Europe's most innovative inventors up for European Inventor Award: nominations announced

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Recognising the great minds behind the new inventions that drive the Innovation Union is the aim of the European Patent Office's (EPO's) annual European Inventor Award (EIA) competition, and the nominations for the accolade have just been announced. The aim of the award is to acknowledge the contribution inventors make to technological, social and economic progress.

An international jury, made up of leading personalities from industry, science, politics and the media, whittled down nearly 200 inventors and entrepreneurs to 15 finalists who are up for awards in 5 categories: Industry, Research, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Non-European countries, and Lifetime achievement.

EPO President Benoît Battistelli comments: 'Patents play a key role in stimulating innovation, in securing jobs and advancing society. Behind every invention, there are men and women, driven by the passion of discovery, to whom the European Patent Office would like to pay tribute. They are the true heroes of the 21st century economy.'

The finalists hail from seven European and two non-European countries. They are experts in various fields: medical technology and medicine, telecommunications, wastewater treatment, battery recycling, energy storage and environment, clothing, laser technology, railway manufacturing and construction.

In the Lifetime achievement category, there are three nominees: Austrian engineer and entrepreneur Dr Josef Theurer, who established the company Plasser & Theurer, the world market leader for railway track-laying machines; laser eye correction specialist Professor Josef Bille from the University of Heidelberg in Germany, whose laser eye surgery (LASIK) invention can correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism; and founder of Italian company GEOX Mario Polegato, who invented an improved vapour-permeable shoe as a solution to foot odour.

In the Research category, the nominees are made up of three teams.

First up is Professor Jason Chin from the United Kingdom and Professor Oliver Rackham from Australia; they created a way to incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins, enabling molecular biologists to control and elucidate the functions of proteins in cells with unprecedented precision. Their invention has the potential to revolutionise the way patients are treated in protein-like therapeutics such as insulin treatment, as well as to detect prostate, ovarian, and colon cancer.

The second team up for the accolade comprises French researchers Dr Gilles Gosselin, Professor Jean-Louis Imbach and Dr Martin L. Bryant; they developed a hepatitis B drug that is more effective than any other of its kind.

The third group in the category, Professor Mark van Loosdrecht, Dr Merle Krista de Kreuk and Dr Joseph Heijnen from the Netherlands, invented an advanced wastewater treatment technology that uses aerobic granular biomass and is already in commercial application. The process, named NEREDA, reduces nitrogen and phosphate levels by 95% without relying on extra chemicals.

The EIA is organised in cooperation with the European Commission and the country holding the Council (of the European Union) Presidency at the time of the award ceremony, this year Denmark. The winners of the EIA will be revealed on 14 June at an award ceremony in Copenhagen.

The EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the European states in the field of invention protection. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain patent protection in the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation.

For more information, please visit: European Patent Office (EPO): http://www.epo.org/index.html

Better use of health data will transform the healthcare landscape

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

A high-level group of experts have warned that Europeans will only be able to benefit from the affordable, less intrusive and more personalised healthcare which Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) can bring if agreement is reached on how to use health data.

The group, headed by the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, delivered this and other recommendations for redesigning health in Europe to Vice President Neelie Kroes and Commissioner John Dalli at eHealth Week 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The eHealth Task Force was established a year ago (see IP/11/551) to advise the Commission on how to unlock the potential of eHealth for safer, better and more efficient healthcare in Europe.

Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda and John Dalli, European Commissioner for Health & Consumer Policy said "Information and communication technologies are making our health systems more efficient and sustainable. This report from the eHealth Task Force puts the spotlight on the importance of health data, health literacy and exchange of good practice on eHealth. How we'll manage data will be critical for the effectiveness of our health research, diagnostics and healthcare delivery. It will enable people to play a more central role in the management of their health. Supporting health literacy is also key for patient empowerment and for building trust in eHealth solutions. We believe Member States have much to gain from learning from one another's eHealth experience rather than reinventing the wheel."

The five recommendations to the European Commission:

To create a legal framework and space to manage the massive amounts of health-related data. Implement safeguards so that citizens can use health applications ("apps") with the confidence that their data will be handled appropriately. This could boost the integration of user-generated data with official medical data, leading to healthcare that is more integrated and personalised and therefore delivers better outcomes.
Support health literacy: Health data needs to be available in a form that patients can understand. More needs to be done to explain to people how integrating appropriately anonymised data into a central system can improve healthcare for them.
Create a 'beacon group' of Member States and regions committed to open data and eHealth, including pioneers in eHealth applications.
Use data power: eHealth applications must prove worthy of users' trust. Only then will users make their data available for feedback on preventive care or for benchmarking and monitoring performance of health systems.
Re-orient EU funding and policies - specific eHealth budget lines need to be responsive and to enable the development of good ideas into fast prototyping and testing. Transparency should be required from health institutions through procurement and funding criteria.

The Task Force's recommendations will feed into eHealth-related EU initiatives, including the eHealth Network, which is being established according to the provisions of the Directive on patients' rights in cross border healthcare.

Background

The eHealth Task Force presented its report during the conference "Smart Health – Better Lives” in Copenhagen, co-organised by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. This 10th High Level eHealth Conference 2012 brought together health ministers, government officials and stakeholders to promote innovation for smart health.

The Task Force's recommendations are based on the following critical preconditions for the effective implementation of eHealth:

Individuals are the owners and controllers of their own data, with the right to make decisions on access to their data and to be informed about how it will be used.
Large amounts of data currently sit in different silos within health and social care systems. Using this data more effectively could transform the provision of care.
Patients will increasingly demand that their health professionals and institutions use the same technology which they use in everyday life.
Transparency on the performance of health professionals and institutions enables patients to make more informed choices about where and how they wish to be treated. This will have real impact on resource allocation in health, as funding follows the patient.
Service providers need to be aware that there may be sub-groups of the population that are beyond the reach of eHealth, such as - those who, willingly or otherwise, do not have access to the internet.

The Commission has been investing in eHealth research for over 20 years. Since 2004, when the first eHealth Action Plan was launched, it has also been developing targeted policy initiatives aimed at fostering widespread adoption of eHealth technologies across the EU.

Most recently, the Commission launched the European Innovation Partnership on Active & Healthy Ageing. This brings together the public and private sectors, researchers, health practitioners, patients and carers with the aim of adding 2 years to the average number of healthy life years in the EU by 2020. In the second half of 2012 the Commission will present the eHealth Action Plan 2012-2020 to scale-up eHealth for empowerment, efficiency and innovation.

Useful links

Task Force Report:http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/health/policy/ehtask_force

eHealth at the EC: http://ec.europa.eu/ehealth

Follow eHealth on twitter: @EU_ehealth

Follow eHealth Week on twitter: @EU_ehealthweek

latest report on safety of products shows fewer dangerous items reaching the EU market

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

This process involves a chain of actions including upstream efforts to design out risks at source, better risk assessment and close co-operation between EU authorities, notably customs, to identify risks at the points of entry.

John Dalli, Commissioner in charge of Health and Consumer Policy, said: "The fact that fewer dangerous items enter the EU market is good news for consumers. But we must remain committed so that we can tackle the challenges of the global supply chain and address any new product safety issues as they emerge. That is why building the system of 'Seamless Surveillance' by strengthening co-operation here in the EU and enhancing co-operation with international partners remains a key priority".

RAPEX : a rapid alert system to keep EU consumers safe

RAPEX has matured significantly since 2004 (when the General Product Safety Directive was transposed into national law). Member States have spent up to 100 million € and employed up to 6000 inspectors to work on product safety enforcement. The 2011 report highlights the achievements:

earlier detection

better market surveillance and product safety enforcement by national authorities, including through specific projects;

better risk assessment by authorities;

more focus on quality and usefulness of notifications;

growing co-operation with customs authorities;

continued network-building and training coordinated by the European Commission.

RAPEX 2011 Report: what about the countries of origin:

Although China remains – with more than half of the RAPEX notifications – the number one country for the number of notifications on products, there has been a decrease from 58% in 2010 to 54% in 2011.

19% (293 notifications) were of European origin. 15% were from other countries. 8% were of unknown origin (compared to 23% in 2004 - decreasing steadily with better identification).

Dangerous products of European origin accounted for 293 notifications (19%), including 44 products of French origin (3%), 43 products of German origin (3%) and 32 products of Italian origin (2%).

Full Story at Europa

34.8 million in new funding to bring environmental solutions to market

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The call is open to eco-innovative products, techniques, services and processes that aim to prevent or reduce environmental impacts, or which contribute to the optimal use of resources. The call for applications is open until 6 September 2012, and around 50 projects will be selected for funding.

Janez Poto�nik, European Commissioner for the Environment said: "For the past four years, CIP Eco-Innovation has helped more than one hundred innovative green products reach the marketplace. The programme shows how businesses can help our economies to grow in an environmentally sustainable way, once they have the right support. I would particularly encourage SMEs to apply for funding – they have a vital role to play in driving forward the EU economy, and last year they made up more than 65 % of applications."

This year's call has five main priority areas:

materials recycling

water

sustainable building products

green business

the food and drink sector

The call is targeted particularly at SMEs that have developed an innovative green product, process or service, which is struggling to find its place in the market. The call offers co-funding to cover up to 50 % of the project cost, and is likely to support around 50 new projects this year.

Some 50 projects are now set to launch from last year's call, and over 140 projects are already underway. Examples of current schemes include converting old discarded TVs into tiles, new waste sorting mechanisms, innovative eco- packaging for milk, and a new technique for recycling textiles.

Full Story at Europa

Portholes into the past: building energy-efficient windows for heritage sites

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

An international team of experts is working on an EU-funded project that hopes to make historic buildings more energy efficient by reducing the amount of energy that is lost through windows.

While we often seek ways to make our homes and public buildings more energy efficient, it is less often we spare a thought for the energy lost at badly insulated historical sites. The project 3ENCULT ('Efficient energy for EU cultural heritage') wants to change all that.

3ENCULT, which received almost EUR 5 million of funding from the 'Environment' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), brings together researchers from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria and the United Kingdom.

The first stage of the project has involved upgrading the windows of the Waaghaus (Public Weighing House), a building located in Bolzano, Italy, that is over seven centuries old.

Many windows in ancient buildings have been badly renovated, and as a result are neither aesthetically nor historically accurate. For this project, the building's curator, Waltraud Kofler-Engl, and the expert window designer, Franz Freundorfer, were given free rein to come up with a new energy-efficient window design that integrated well into the building's existing façade. The resulting design is called the SmartWin Historic Window, and the first prototype was installed in the Waaghaus building in February 2012.

Alexandra Troi, vice-head of the Institute for Renewable Energy at the European Academy of Bozen/Bolzano (EURAC) and scientific coordinator of 3ENCULT, overlooked the development of the new window: 'With our window, we believe we have a solution for all historic buildings. The SmartWin Historic Window is not only a very good insulated window that fits perfectly in historic buildings; it's also affordable.'

Alexandra Troi continues: 'We will now measure and analyse different parameters of this prototype and compare it to one of the old windows from the 1950s. Having a prototype installed now, which can be touched and examined, is a good starting point for multidisciplinary discussions.'

The 3ENCULT project runs until 2012; now the team will continue to refine the next prototype, which must meet criteria of feasibility and cost-efficiency.

From an aesthetic point of view, curator Mrs Kofler-Engl comments on what can be done to improve on this first prototype: 'The narrow frame and the two [sash bars] of the double-winged window look very good. But in my opinion the triple glazing doesn't fit the look of the building. And I think the antique styling of the glass used for the outer windowpane is a bit exaggerated. Perhaps a double glazing inside and a simple, single glass layer on the outside might be enough.'

For more information, please visit:

European Academy of Bozen/Bolzano (EURAC): http://www.eurac.edu/en/eurac/welcome/default.html

Call for proposals for ARTEMIS 2012

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The European Commission has published a call for proposals for ARTEMIS 2012 within the framework of the Seventh EC Framework Programme.

The objective of the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking (ARTEMIS-JU) is to increase the efficiency of technological development and enhance European competitiveness of the market in the supply of embedded systems technologies.

Embedded systems can be found in a wide variety of everyday products and services, from children's toys and mobile phones to space probes and from transportation vehicles to healthcare systems. They perform a range of functions, from providing intelligence on the spot and capabilities to connecting to an abundance of systems, either physical or at cyber-space level, in real time.

In a sense, embedded systems bridge the gap between cyberspace and the physical world. In the future, systems are expected to be more autonomous and robust, operating dependably even in the presence of network degradation or temporary failure.

This call will cover a number of priorities and sub-programmes:

reference designs and architectures;
seamless connectivity and interoperability;
design methods and tools;
foundational research topics;
methods and processes for safety-relevant embedded systems;
embedded systems for healthcare and wellbeing;
embedded systems in smart environments;
embedded systems for manufacturing and process automation;
computing platforms for embedded systems;
embedded systems for security and critical infrastructures protection;
embedded systems supporting sustainable urban life;
human-centred design of embedded systems.

Deadline: 06 September 2012 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)

To see the official call announcement, please consult:
OJ No C 114 of 19 April 2012 and the following link

EU researchers making clean lakes a priority

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Water is a critical element for all living creatures on Earth, and then some. Not only do humans, animals and plants require this odourless and transparent liquid to survive, water also impacts the planet's climate regulation cycle and the economies of countries the world over. So protecting Earth's resources of water, whether they stem from salt or freshwater ecosystems, is a responsibility that all Europeans must assume.

A case in point is LAKEADMIN ('Regional administration of lake restoration initiatives'), a project funded under the EU Interreg IVC programme of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to the tune of EUR 1.48 million. The LAKEADMIN project partners are evaluating good lake restoration practices, which will be shared throughout Europe.

While officials and business actors have been effective in reducing nutrient loading from municipalities and industries, a number of European lakes continue to suffer. For the most part, the issues affect densely populated areas where local and regional significance of lakes is great. The LAKEADMIN partners say better lakes could help boost the economical value of ecosystem services provided by lakes. They add that the optimal water management practices are collected in a lake restoration database.

The European Water Policy targets a good state in all watercourses within the next three years. It should be noted, however, that because obstacles are expected, the timeline has been extended to 2027 at a number of watercourses.

One of the most important aspects of improving the state of lakes is that Europeans share their knowledge of lake restoration as well as their experiences. For the LAKEADMIN project, more experienced lake restoration experts, namely those from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary and Finland, are working together with less experienced ones to achieve the results they anticipate. Together, they will evaluate experiences from all partner countries in more detail and develop mechanisms to fuel the transfer of both knowledge and experience.

Led by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), the LAKEADMIN team brings together researchers from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Malta and Finland.

'Each partner country will contribute to the process of collecting best lake restoration practices and ways to integrate them into regional policies better than before,' says SYKE's Ari Mäkelä, who is coordinating the LAKEADMIN project.

The project's kick-off seminar, 'Lake management in regional policies: good practices and need for knowledge', will take place on 3 and 4 May. The Finnish capital city of Helsinki is hosting the event, which is organised by SYKE.

For more information, please visit:

Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE): http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?node=5297&lan=EN

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF):
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/employment_and_social_policy/job_creation_measures/l60015_en.htm

Urban living ups chances of heart problems, new study says

Tue, 8 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A study of both city slickers and country bumpkins has shown that those living in urban areas are almost twice as likely as are their country cousins to suffer from coronary artery calcification (CAC), a condition that can lead to heart disease.

Writing in the Journal of Internal Medicine, the Danish researchers present the findings of their analysis, based on a study of 1 225 men and women aged 50 and 60 living both in and out of town.

The study found people who lived in the city centre were 80% more likely to develop CAC than those living in other areas, and that males, older participants, diabetics and smokers were also more at risk.

Lead study author, Dr Jess Lambrechtsen from the Department of Cardiology at Svendborg Hospital, Denmark explains: 'Our study aimed to evaluate the association between living in a city centre, which is often used by researchers to indicate exposure to air pollution, and the presence of coronary artery calcification in men and women showing no other symptoms of heart disease.'

Participants were selected at random from a government database; once they had consented to take part, they filled out questionnaires about their medical condition to determine that they had not suffered from any previous heart problems. The team also needed to know about any prescribed medications, smoking habits, and whether there was a history of heart disease in participants' families. The clinical examination included height, weight, blood pressure, blood tests and scans.

CAC was found to be more common in people living in city centres than for those living in urban or rural areas: in men (69% v 56% respectively), women (42% v 30% respectively), 50 year-olds (48% v 32% respectively) and 60 year-olds (61% v 53% respectively).

After looking at the odds ratio, it transpired that people living in city centres were 80% more likely to develop CAC than were those living in urban or rural areas. Men were more than three times as likely as were women to develop CAC, with a 220% higher odds risk.

Those aged 60 were approximately twice as likely to develop CAC as were 50-year-olds (120% higher); likewise, smokers were found to be more susceptible than non-smokers (90% higher), as were people with diabetes when compared with those without diabetes (100% higher).

Having high cholesterol raised the odds of developing CAC by 60%; high blood pressure and a family history of heart disease both raised the odds by 50%.

Dr Lambrechtsen sums up the implications of the research: 'Our study shows that living in a city centre and traditional risk factors for heart disease were independently associated with the presence of CAC in a group of middle-aged subjects who did not display any symptoms. The place where a person lives is often used as a surrogate for exposure to air pollution in research. In this study we found that, even after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, where people lived was independently associated with CAC, and that CAC levels were highest in people living in city centres. A number of factors can also influence CAC, such as noise and stress levels, and it could be assumed these would be higher in city centres. However, in this study, stress levels, as measured by average blood pressure, were actually lower in city centre dwellers than people living in urban areas. Heart rates, another predictor of stress, were the same across the groups. The mechanisms by which air pollution may contribute to CAC are not well understood. But what is clear from this study is that the links between air pollution and CAC need further investigation.'

For more information, please visit:

Odense University Hospital and Svendborg Hospital (OUH): http://www.ouh.dk/wm360630

New foundry could make Scotland world leader in supply of turbine parts

Sun, 6 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) are poised to invest in a plan worth "hundreds of millions of pounds" that aims to make Scotland a worldwide exporter of offshore wind turbines.

The plan centres around a proposal for a foundry next to Methil docks in Fife to use "game-changing new technology" to become the only one of its kind in Europe and would create 150 jobs. The plant would make the cast-metal components for nacelles – the "cockpit" parts of turbines that generate the electricity.

The company behind the proposal is a London-based start-up, RGR Foundry, which is a front for Chinese-based British financier turned turbine supplier Antos Glogowski and Austria-based technical specialist, Dieter Rabus.

If RGR gets planning permission for the foundry, which it hopes will happen by the end of June, SSE and BiFab are set to invest along with various other backers from outside Scotland that have already committed. The intention is that this plant would start casting components in the latter months of next year.

With RGR in negotiations with landowner Forth Ports about leasing the site, the vision is that these components would be combined with other turbine parts for supplying wind farm developers in the UK and overseas.

BiFab, which is 15%-owned by SSE, already makes the steel foundations ("jackets") and is said to be looking at moving into towers. There are hopes that a blade manufacturer might set up in the area in due course. Samsung has already announced that it will build a 7MW demonstrator offshore wind turbine at Methil, in a tie-in with Scottish-owned gearbox manufacturer David Brown.

Glogowski told the Sunday Herald that RGR had developed a technology that would enable a Scottish plant to compete with China, whose two specialist foundries are the only ones in the world that would be capable of shipping the components for the 5MW-plus turbines that will become commonplace over the next three years.

He said: "The plan is to build a very large foundry with modern European technology that's semi-automated and specialised to provide the castings for the offshore wind industry that is competitive with Chinese castings but of higher quality.

"We have a special way to manage the casting which reduces the amount of sand that's needed by something like 80% and that speeds up the process. It is also semi-automated, which means we need about 150 people against a Chinese plant that would require about 450 people. We have been testing it in several European locations for several years and we think it is a game changer."

Glogowski would not say what the plant would cost except that it would be in the "hundreds of millions of pounds". He said it would be capable of producing 45,000 tonnes of components for about 250 turbines each year, or about one-third of the UK requirement to meet the 2020 renewable energy targets. In his view, Methil is well placed to supply turbine companies such as Siemens in Hull and Gamesa in Edinburgh.

Assuming the plant goes ahead, he said that the order book was already full for the next five years. All being well, the plan would be to extend the plant further down the line.

"It is about putting Scotland on the map as possibly the world supplier for offshore wind turbines, so we're working very hard on the complete value chain, trying to evolve just-in-time delivery," he said.

"Most of the funding is in place. And the rest is tentatively offered subject to us getting the planning permission."

Glogowski, whose Chinese company ADL Supplies provides components for BiFab's jackets, thought that planning permission would be relatively straightforward, since the plant would run on electricity and would create almost no pollution or noise.

Gordon Edge, director of policy at RenewableUK, said that no other company had committed to the "really significant investment" required to build this kind of specialist foundry in the UK.

He said: "You would not want to be shipping really large bits of metal all the way from China. Our members have been flagging up this issue to us for a while."

John Robertson, chief executive of BiFab, said: "It's something the industry really needs. There's nothing wrong with RGR's thinking. We're sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what happens."

A spokeswoman for SSE, which develops wind farms, said: "We are aware of the planning application but it's at a very early stage. Securing the supply chain for offshore wind is always something that we are interested in."

Scotland in running for marine HQ

Sun, 6 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

Scotland is in the running to secure the headquarters of a major new engineering services company being launched to capitalise on a predicted boom in wave and tidal energy projects.

Swedish energy giant Vattenfall, UK engineering support services firm Babcock and Spanish technology group Abengoa have joined forces to establish Nautimus, the world’s first company of its kind focused on marine renewables.

A decision on the location for the company has not yet been taken, but a spokesman for Vattenfall, which has a base in Edinburgh, confirmed Scotland’s leadership in the ocean energy sector made it “a contender”.

The company’s first client is likely to be Aegir, a ten megawatt (MW) wave farm planned by Vattenfall and Edinburgh-based wave power device develop Pelamis off Shetland.

Scottish energy minister Fergus Ewing said the creation of the company was “further evidence of the momentum building behind the marine renewables industry as it makes strides towards commercialisation and the economic potential that this sector offers to supply chain companies”.

Nautimus will provide engineering, procurement, integration and construction services on wave power and tidal stream projects on behalf of utility companies.

The partnership aims to address what it sees as a gap in the sector for engineering services providers “capable of handling the challenges” involved in constructing major offshore marine energy projects.

Veijo Huusko, Vattenfall’s head of low emitting energy R&D, said: “These projects are large and difficult. The participation of large industrial players with the strength and capability to deliver is critical to the ocean energy sector. We are very pleased to see experienced engineering specialists coming together in Nautimus to ensure the significant global ocean energy opportunity is realised.”

Babcock, which owns the Rosyth shipyard and manages the Clyde naval base, has previously signalled its intention to become a major player in the renewables industry as a long-term replacement for its aircraft carrier work.

Last year it struck a deal with SSE to store 68 turbines destined for the onshore Griffin wind farm near Perth at the shipyard and is also developing designs for support vessels, substations and weather stations for the sector.

Ian Lindsay, director of technology for Babcock, said: “We are pleased to be supporting this new company at a time when there is significant potential opportunity in the installation of wave and tidal projects. We are building our renewables capability and by engaging early we can utilise our extensive skills and experience to improve the success of ocean energy projects.”

Abengoa played a leading role in the rapid development of commercial scale solar power, and Javier Camacho, general manager of its seapower business, said: “We see that wave energy could be poised for the same transformation. There is no time to lose if ocean energy is to become a commercial reality.”

In March, Vattenfall – the sixth largest generator of electricity in Europe – said it had reserved a berth at Orkney’s European Marine Energy Centre to test a single Pelamis machine.

If that testing is successful the device will be joined by eight or more other machines at the Aegir project which – if it secures the necessary consents – could start generating in 2016. Scotland has up to 25 per cent of Europe’s tidal power resource and 10 per cent of its wave power potential.

Scotland to host Disney media junket for film Brave

Sun, 6 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

The film is set for release. The talent has been lined up. Now all that’s needed is millions of bums on seats.

Up to 100 film critics and journalists from around the world will be flown into Scotland at the end of May for a lavish, four-day “junket”to promote the new Disney-Pixar animation Brave. All expenses are being paid for the trip where the critics will be put up at one of the city’s top hotels, the Balmoral, and treated to archery classes, clan fighting events, a trip to Edinburgh Castle and a lavish private dinner at five-star Prestonfield House.

In return, they will be expected to interview stars of the film and give glowing reports about the upcoming movie, set in a mythical Scotland.

Disney’s last film, John Carter, a science fiction action movie based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs with a budget of $250 million (£164m), on a par with Avatar, was a box office flop in America, and is believed to have generated a big overall loss for the studio after splits with cinema owners and marketing executives. Brave, made by Pixar Animation Studios, which was bought by Disney in 2006, is therefore being viewed as a hugely-important movie for the world-famous company. An industry insider said: “This is a really important film for Disney. John Carter flopped and was a massive disappointment, so they’re throwing everything they have at this. Meanwhile, Pixar really need a hit as their last movie, Cars 2, didn’t do great business. Brave is a huge deal as a Disney-Pixar film.”

The schedule released by the studio for the “global junket” describes the Balmoral – where rooms cost around £230 a night, as “the junket hotel”, promises a “Brave dinner and activities at Prestonfield House” and says it will treat TV media to a “clan fighting and archery opportunity”. TV crews and movie critics will be flown in from the US, Japan and all over Europe to interview “the talent”.

The film, which premieres at the Edinburgh Film Festival in June, is expected to be this summer’s Hollywood cartoon blockbuster. A fairy story set in 11th-century Scotland, it follows the fortunes of Merida, a red-haired Scottish Disney princess and accomplished archer, played by Scots actress Kelly Macdonald. The film also stars Billy Connolly as King Fergus and Kevin McKidd, who takes on the dual roles of Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin, and Emma Thompson, who plays Queen Elinor.

Although ‘junkets’ – where members of the press are gathered in a luxury hotel in order to interview the stars of an upcoming film – are common in the movie world, even by lavish Hollywood standards the junket for Brave stands out, film critics say.

“This is actually quite a rare thing now because the film industry has cut back on all this sort of stuff in the last few years,” said the insider. “Studios used to spend millions making a big deal of the film, creating a lot of interest and awareness and selling the film by getting good coverage. They would spend a lot of money flying people out to exotic places for luxury junkets.

“But it happens a lot less these days, so the fact they’re pushing the boat out for this tells you how big a deal it is to Disney.”

Studios will typically hire out several floors of a hotel to conduct strictly monitored interviews with “the talent”.

“It’s quite heavily policed,” said another industry insider. “People in headsets herd everyone around – it’s like an action movie in itself and very highly co-ordinated.”

Journalists will often receive “goodie bags” of film-related merchandise. “There will be a big slap up feed at Prestonfield House, with champagne and lots of Scottish delicacies,” said the industry insider. “There will probably be a ceilidh, the kind of night that will help really promote Scotland.”

The national tourism agency, VisitScotland, is also involved in planning the event. In March, it announced it had teamed up with Disney in a £7m campaign to promote the country, and the film, which it is hoped could take as much as $1 billion at the box office worldwide.

Tricia Wilber, of the Walt Disney Company, said at the time: “It’s fitting to create a global campaign with VisitScotland to further bring to life the iconic Scottish landscapes and folklore that inspired the film.”

Studios like to try to ensure that their big-budget films are received well. In April, a group of ‘mommy’ bloggers were treated to a similar experience at Pixar’s animation studios in San Francisco, where they were taught archery, given a bagpipe lesson and received a class in “Kilts 101”.

Another insider said: “They got all these experiences that would set the scene for Brave so that they would go off and blog about what fun it is and how interesting Scotland seems and that Brave seems like a really cool movie to take your kids to – which is exactly what the bloggers did of course.”

A spokesman for VisitScotland said: “The release of Disney-Pixar’s Brave represents a fantastic opportunity for Scottish tourism, particularly with the European premiere taking place in Edinburgh next month. We have been working closely with Disney to bring the world’s media to Scotland, which will be another excellent chance to put Edinburgh and Scotland in the global spotlight.”

A spokesperson for Disney said: “It will be a global junket with journalists from all over the world. It’s still in the early stages of planning so we cannot confirm anything at this stage.”

Service Innovation - Call for Expressions of Interest to Select Six Model Demonstrator Regions

Thu, 3 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Technology Innovation International (TII)

The Support for Industrial Innovation Unit at DG Enterprise of the European Commission invites regional organisations to take advantage, free of charge, of new types of advisory support services offered by the forthcoming European Service Innovation Centre in view of better capitalising on service innovation for promoting regional development and facilitating industrial change. The aim is to assist regions in designing better policies based on the transformative power of service innovation.

The European Service Innovation Centre is being established through a separate call for tender which will bring together a pool of experts to support the model demonstrator regions. Interested regional organisations are invited to submit by 15 June 2012 a short concept note (maximum 5 pages) that describes the potential role which service innovation could play for regional development or industrial change in the region and identifies the type of advice needed to further develop policies unlocking the potential of service innovation.

The text of the call for expressions of interest may be obtained at http://www.europe-innova.eu/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=736469&name=DLFE-13436.pdf

EPO's 2011 Statistics Now Available

Thu, 3 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Technology Innovation International (TII)

2011 was a record year at the EPO with almost 250,000 patent filings, the highest number ever in its 34-year history. In global terms, the demand for patent protection is on the rise (4% increase in filings in 2011 compared to 2010). The share of the 38 EPO member states fell slightly to 38% of the total and filings from the USA, showing a similar trend, accounted for 24% of all filings. In contrast, China, Japan and Korea experienced a patenting boom in 2011 and together now make up 32% of total European filings, with China growing by an impressive 33%.

Medical technology was the leading technical field with 9,351 applications in 2011. Since 2001, the number of EPO filings in that field has doubled. Other technical fields showing an increase were electrical machinery, apparatus and energy (8 550 applications), computer technology (7 561 applications), and digital communications (7 161 applications). The strongest decline in comparison to the previous year was in the fields of pharmaceuticals and telecommunications.

Among the EPO member states, Germany again filed the most applications (13.6%), followed by France (5.0%), Switzerland (3.2%), the UK (2.6%) and the Netherlands (2.5%). While filings from France were 3.3% up on the 2010 mark, the figures for Germany were practically unchanged (+0.1%) and those for Switzerland (-1.0%), the UK (‑9.4%) and the Netherlands (-13.4%) dropped below the 2010 levels.

The top applicants were Siemens (2,235 applications), Philips (1,759) and Samsung (1,733). Although European companies have managed to keep top positions in the rankings, Asian companies are gaining ground and of the top 50 applicants with the EPO, 18 now have their headquarters in Asia (4 more than in 2010).

The full report can be downloaded from the EPO.

Commission opens public consultation on how to reduce the cost of rolling out high speed internet

Thu, 3 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In particular, the Commission wants to explore how to reduce the costs associated with civil engineering, such as the digging up of roads to lay down fibre, and which can account for as much as 80% of the total cost. The Commission believes it could cut the cost of broadband investments by a quarter. Input is sought from all interested public and private parties including telecoms and utility companies for instance, investors, public authorities and consumers.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: "We need to cut the engineering costs of rolling-out broadband networks if we want to spread faster broadband across Europe. We need to test practical ideas on how to cut costs and how to make it easier to access, re-use and share this infrastructure. There is nothing more annoying for citizens than road-digging, and nothing more annoying to businesses than pointless red tape."

Up to 80% of the total broadband investment cost is related to civil infrastructure works. The cost is so high because of a lack of coordination of civil engineering projects, insufficient re-use of existing infrastructure and lack of cooperation between the various actors. For example, water, energy, and railway companies often have their own infrastructure, and dig up roads without coordinating with telecoms companies. Faster roll-out is then further impeded by lengthy, non-transparent and cumbersome procedures for clearing rights of way and obtaining all necessary permits at national or local level.

The Commission seeks views on:

obstacles to invest in broadband infrastructure,

ways of improving the use of current infrastructure,

coordination of civil engineering works,

measures increasing coordination between competent authorities and simplifying permit procedures,

'readiness' of new buildings for high speed internet infrastructure.

The public consultation runs until 20th July 2012. The results will contribute to reducing the costs of investments and ultimately the final retail price of broadband.

Full Story on Europa

Commission opens public consultation on how to reduce the cost of rolling out high speed internet

Thu, 3 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Commission seeks views on:

obstacles to invest in broadband infrastructure,

ways of improving the use of current infrastructure,

coordination of civil engineering works,

measures increasing coordination between competent authorities and simplifying permit procedures,

'readiness' of new buildings for high speed internet infrastructure.

The public consultation runs until 20th July 2012. The results will contribute to reducing the costs of investments and ultimately the final retail price of broadband.

Full Story on Europa

Galileo September launch will spur innovation

Thu, 3 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

This also means that European enterprises can start to develop and test innovative products based on the Galileo satellite navigation signals. Today's announcement by European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani together with Jean Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, in the presence of industry CEOs involved in the programme, was reached in agreement with the European Space Agency. The ramp up of the system progresses on schedule with more frequent launches in the planning for 2013. All launches take place from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana.

Europe's investment in satellite navigation technology opens the global market for European industry. This market is currently valued at €125 billion and expected to increase to €250 billion by 2020. Galileo will provide possibilities for a wide variety of applications in many sectors of the European economy, such as electricity grids, fleet management companies, financial transactions, shipping industry, rescue operations or peace-keeping missions.

Antonio Tajani, European Commission Vice-President, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship said: "Galileo continues to deliver, is on track and within the agreed budget. I call upon European companies and in particular on the many small and medium size enterprises to get down to business, to innovate and be ready with their products when we deliver Galileo in 2014. European industry should be ready to seize a vast market which is there for the taking. This is what we urgently need in the current economic climate".

More information on Galileo:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/satnav/galileo/index_en.htm

Full story at europa

A brief overview of R&D Tax Credits for SMEs

Wed, 2 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Click here to see the document...

More consistent EU-Russia relationship 'absolutely essential'

Wed, 2 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv.com

It is absolutely essential to have more coherent, structured, well-framed relations between the EU and Russia, said Thierry de Montbrial, founder and Director General of the French Institute for International Relations IFRI, in an exclusive with EurActiv, on the occasion of Putin's coming inauguration on 7 May for a new mandate as president.

De Montbrial, who just published a new book, Journal de Russie 1977-2011, spoke as a connoisseur of Russian political life and the country's leaders, many of whom, including Putin, he has met repeatedly.

He said that Putin's decade (from 2000 to 2010) had been a "quite positive one", but expressed doubts as to the success of the new term in office of the Russian leader.

Putin served as President from 2000 to 2008, after having been re-elected in 2004. Under the Russian Constitution, he was barred from a third consecutive term and served from May 2008 as Prime Minister, maintaining his political dominance. Amendments to the Russian constitution changed the term of duty of the President from four to six years, implying that if re-elected in 2018, Putin could lead the country until 2024.

De Montbrial said it was "extremely unlikely" that Putin would do a second term and it might even be quite difficult for him to end this first term.

He said that in spite of his positive record, Putin had recently made a number of mistakes, by failing to anticipate Russians' surge for freedom and democracy, initiated by those who achieved "a certain social status and certain economic level" thanks to his governance.

But the biggest mistake, De Montbrial said, was the deal with the outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev, with whom Putin's decided to switch roles.

Indeed, during a choreographed congress of the ruling United Russia party on 24 September, Medvedev agreed to lead a list of candidates for a parliamentary election on 4 December in view of becoming the next premier, and won a standing ovation for Putin by proposing that he run for president in the 4 March 2012 elections.

"My […] conclusion is that it is extremely unlikely that [Putin] will do a second term and it might even be quite difficult for him to end the first term. Because the next six years will I think see a continuation of huge social changes in Russia. Especially if Russia is developing well economically," De Montbrial said.

Asked about the geopolitical future of a declining Europe with or without Russia, De Montbrial said to reverse such trends the EU must be capable to put its house in order following the eurozone crisis, and that Russia "continues to develop gradually in its own way in a democratic direction".

"It is absolutely essential to have a more coherent, structured, well-framed policy between the EU and Russia. And this of course is directed against nobody," De Montbrial insisted.

He also expressed his conviction that the French Socialist candidate François Hollande would win the milestone French presidential elections on 6 May, just one day ahead of Putin's inauguration.

New flight from Edinburgh to Iceland

Wed, 2 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A new air route between Scotland and Iceland will open this summer.

Budget airline Iceland Express is offering a £99 return from Edinburgh to Reykjavik between June and August this year.

The low-fare airline will be flying to the Icelandic capital from Edinburgh on Mondays and Thursdays from 23 June.

Heimir Mar Petursson, of Iceland Express said: "The flights are well-timed to offer travellers a long weekend away in the colourful capital.

"Reykjavik is the perfect city break, and with nature on its doorstep, the options for your Iceland getaway are endless."

If it is popular, the airline plans to extend the route.

Young Scots among happiest in Europe, says major report

Wed, 2 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

A major international survey has found young people in Scotland are some of the happiest in Europe, with fewer smoking and using drugs and more brushing their teeth regularly.

A report published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found young Scots had high levels of satisfaction with life, better than many of their counterparts in other countries.

However, there continue to be concerns about the amount of exercise Scottish teenagers are getting and ongoing health inequalities linked to social background.

• In full: The WH0 report (PDF)

The Scottish research, which was carried out by St Andrews University on behalf of the WHO, also found that 15-year-old girls in Scotland are drinking more and have more unprotected sex than those in many other European countries.

Published today, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) report is based on a wide-ranging survey conducted in 2009-10.

The research, which is undertaken every four years, provides a health check of young people aged 11, 13 and 15 in 39 countries across Europe and North America. The main aim of the report is to address inequalities between countries.

Trends in Scotland show young people are smoking less, using cannabis less, drinking fewer fizzy drinks and brushing their teeth more.

The findings also suggest that young people are performing well at school and are generally happy with their lot, thanks to a good, close network of friends.

Compared with teenagers across Europe, Scots rated themselves among the top at having a high life satisfaction and having at least three close friends they can talk to.

One of the researchers, Dr Jo Inchley, assistant director of the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit at St Andrews, said: “Despite having typical teen problems, such as poor communication with parents, Scottish youngsters are generally a sociable bunch and not at all isolated.

“Not all young people have equal access to opportunities for good health and wellbeing, but generally they appear to be content with their lives. It may be that we see Scottish grit coming through.”

Young people across Europe were asked to answer questions on 60 topics related to health and wellbeing, social environments and behaviour.

One area in which young Scots ranked themselves particularly highly was in the use of electronic media, such as Facebook and texting.

The researchers said this was possibly one of the reasons why young people were so content, as using social media and mobile phones was allowing them to spend more time with friends than ever before.

The report, which takes into account differences across age, gender and socio-economic circumstances, has been issued every four years since 1996.

NHS Health Scotland, the national agency for health improvement, has been one of the main funding bodies for the international co-ordination of HBSC for eight years. It also funded the Scottish side of the study.

Gerry McLaughlin, chief executive of NHS Health Scotland, said: “Research studies like the HBSC survey are significant. They give us access to the true picture of the challenges faced by young people today.

“Scotland’s results provide cause for both comfort and concern. On the whole, the health of Scotland’s young people compares well to that of their European counterparts.”

Mr McLaughlin continued: “However, what is worrying is that, despite the fact that young people are showing signs of more positive health awareness, it is apparent that socio-economic factors play a key part in determining better health.

“Persistent health inequalities are highlighted within the report, predominantly linked to family affluence, and therefore it is more important than ever that we continue to focus our efforts on creating a fairer, healthier Scotland.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It is good news that young Scots are among the happiest in Europe and see themselves performing well at school.

“Reductions in cannabis use, smoking, soft drinks consumption and an increase in tooth-brushing are all to be welcomed and show that the action that the Scottish Government and our partners are taking in these areas is starting to bear fruit.

“However, the report also highlights a number of areas where we know work remains to be done, and we have a range of measures in place to help to tackle issues like underage drinking, sexual health and physical activity.

“In particular, we have launched our Take Life On initiative to highlight simple steps parents can take to help their children get active and achieve health benefits as a result.”

Linking up, cashing in

Tue, 1 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

You’ll probably know by now that the Enterprise Europe Network team loves to bring people together – especially when this involves introducing like-minded companies who can collaborate to usher innovative ideas into the marketplace.

Millions of pounds of Technology Strategy Board (TSB) funding for collaborative research and development (R&D) projects will be up for grabs this year, giving companies with bright ideas the support they need to develop new products and services.

The TSB is at the forefront of UK innovation and has already given cash backing to groups who have teamed up to research cool technologies like low carbon vehicles, new uses for satellites in orbit and futuristic methods for detecting diseases.

This summer, up to £30 million is up for grabs through a series of competitions and groups who have bright ideas on how to contribute to the civil nuclear power industry or make the food manufacturing and processing sector better are urged to get together and bid.

Hopefuls looking to claim a slice of the funding pie need to identify their partners first, but many just don’t know where to start.

Enterprise Europe Network has a wealth of contacts across the UK with the potential to track down like-minded partners.

Your local Network team is equipped and ready to help with business match-making – from Scotland to London and Northern Ireland to Northern England.

Enterprise Europe Network has pledged to help any businesses keen to get involved find the partners they need to strengthen their TSB bid.

For more information on upcoming competitions, keep an eye on the TSB website.

Opening the public sector door to SBRI-ght ideas

Tue, 1 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Scottish company bosses who are scratching their heads about how to win business from the public sector are being switched on to a new technology funding programme.

The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) is focused on sourcing bright, innovative solutions to particular public sector problems and is aimed at small, smart companies who are in the market for funding to help progress their products at an early stage of development.

The scheme works when government departments or other public bodies identify specific challenges they need solutions to.

These challenges become open competitions for new technologies and ideas and small companies are invited to team up to submit applications outlining how they would address the problem.

Managed by the Technology Strategy Board, the SBRI programme and can help businesses find suitable partners and with the application process.

There are currently five open competitions and Enterprise Europe Network Scotland is ready, willing and able to help more Scottish businesses become involved.

The five competitions are:

UK Space Agency - Identify and develop the capabilities necessary to enable Public Regulated Service (PRS) access management. Closes 27 June 2012.
Department of Health - Establish whether stratified medicine can be used to improve the current clinical care pathway in the UK by addressing the risks of adverse reactions to drugs and/or by identifying those unlikely to respond. Closes 13 June 2012.
Department of Health - Support the development of powerful technologies to change behaviour and reduce the impact of obesity and alcohol related diseases. Closes 1 June 2012.
Ministry of Defence - Maintain the effectiveness of deployed forces in extreme environments and provide rehabilitative support to injured personnel. Closes 31 May 2012.
Department of Health - Find innovative new products and services that will support improved medicines management. Closes 18 May 2012.

Forthcoming competitions are being launched in the coming weeks by the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Scottish companies have already succeeded in winning funding through the SBRI. Aberdeen-based Technabling won the SBRI Making Waves competition which was launched to find innovative technologies capable of converting gestures or sign language into digital data.

Technabling’s Portable Sign Language Translator software is designed to translate British Sign Language into text, allowing people with hearing difficulties to communicate with others much more easily.

Thanks to £150,000 of funding from SBRI, the company is working to extend the technology to capture the whole set of British Sign Language and aims to transform the prototype into a fully fledged product affordable for the average person.

Anis Mourad from Enterprise Europe Network Scotland said: “Gaining access to government departments and other public bodies can often appear baffling or fruitless for small companies in Scotland, but SBRI offers a real meaningful way in.

“It is particularly appealing for businesses with products at a critical stage of development, as winning companies receive a contract for the full cost of demonstrating the feasibility of their technologies.

“Enterprise Europe Network is here to guide interested businesses through the mechanics of the programme as best we can and ideally, bring companies together to help improve your chances of launching a successful bid.”

More information is available from the SBRI or by contacting the SBRI directly at sbri@tsb.gov.uk.

Details of how Enterprise Europe Network can help are available by contacting Anis Mourad at anis.mourad@scotent.co.uk.

Swot up on a SMART way to fund your projects

Tue, 1 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

At Enterprise Europe Network, we see a lot of companies with ingenious, pioneering ideas up their sleeves but who struggle to get them off the drawing board due to a lack of cash.

If you’re one of them, SMART: SCOTLAND could be the answer.

Determining whether a new product or service is technically or commercially viable can be a costly business. Thankfully, SMART can provide grants of up to £600,000 for projects.

One business to benefit is Highlands-based SureSensors. The life sciences company designs, develops and manufactures diagnostic devices targeted at the home glucose testing market for those with diabetes.

The company applied for a SMART: SCOTLAND award to investigate the feasibility of creating a test strip for use in a self monitoring blood glucose test system.

Dr Geoff Hall of SureSensors said: “The SMART: SCOTLAND programme has greatly assisted SureSensors in moving the company forward in that we have been able to demonstrate that our concept is feasible.

“Further work is required to turn this into a product, but we are now better placed to raise the necessary funds. It is hard to see how we could have achieved this without SMART: SCOTLAND support."

Research and development (R&D) is a vital step in developing a pre-production prototype of a new product or service. If you’re in the R&D phase for the next six to 36 months, SMART can also offer your company a grant of up to £600,000 to get you on the right track.

Anis Mourad from Enterprise Europe Network Scotland said: “Innovation and technology is a real money spinner for Scotland.

“Of course, developing new ideas for the market takes time and money, but SMART: SCOTLAND is ready to fund worthwhile projects with real-world potential."

Vicki Ronaldson SMART: SCOTLAND Programme Executive said: “The SMART: SCOTLAND scheme has been supporting technologically innovative and commercially viable projects for 20 years.

“Many of our funded projects would not have gone ahead without this intervention, due to the technical risk, which can make it tricky to attract funding. Applications are accepted at any time and SMART: SCOTLAND’s case officers provide guidance throughout the application process.”

More information, including an initial enquiry form, visit the SMART: SCOTLAND website.

Going green? There'll be an app for that...

Tue, 1 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A whopping £50,000 prize is up for grabs for the software geniuses who can design a handy app which can help Scottish businesses cut their carbon.

The Scottish Government, SSE, SEPA and Microsoft have teamed up to launch the SME EnviroApp competition.

Software developers are being invited to create an app which is related to climate change, carbon management and energy efficiency and which can raise awareness of Scotland’s ambitious climate change targets.

The app should be targeted specifically at small and medium-sized businesses to help them measure, manage and reduce their carbon emissions.

Competition entries can be any kind of software application for the web and can be designed to operate on personal computers, mobile handheld devices or any software platform widely available to the public.

First round entries should be submitted by 10 June and finalists will be invited to make full presentations in July or August.

Enterprise Europe Network Scotland can assist and offer more information on the competition. Contact EEN Scotland at info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com or by calling 0141 228 2797.

More information on the competition can be obtained by visiting the SME enviroapp competition website.

Tap into the latest developments at Scotland's largest technology event

Tue, 1 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Scotland’s largest technology event, the Scottish Technology Showcase 2012, is calling all tech-y trend setters to discover tomorrow’s world firsthand.

The free event – which takes place 12 June at the SECC in Glasgow – brings together some of Europe’s top industry boffins creating the perfect platform to showcase all the latest innovative technology advances.

Enterprise Europe Network hopes Scottish companies will log on and connect like-minded groups to form partnerships and business links, whatever the industry.

Last year, energy generation and storage of the future was a key focus and robot doctors stole the show highlighting the innovative advances zapping their way into the workplace.

This technology has since been used in hospitals throughout the UK and significantly improves the quality of life of elderly people and individuals living with long-term illnesses.

In 2012, minds will boggle as speakers from Microsoft, BT and IBM discuss global trends in the industry and delve into how technology is shaping the future of business.

The dark side of the industry will also be explored after recent statistics revealed more than one million households in the UK are believed to be harbouring criminals inside their family computers.

John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth will also be beamed on stage to give his view on how these ground-breaking developments can impact on your business.

Once again we’ll be back hosting our socks off at the Matchmaking Zone – the ideal place to connect with your perfect business match.

Last year, 365 meetings took place on the day and of the 182 meetings rated, 88% have remained in close contact.

You know the score by now, participants are urged to create an online profile prior to the event to help arrange more structured, one-to-one meetings with potential bright sparks.

One of the companies who participated in the matchmaking is data analysis expert, Accountagility.

Neville Sankey of Accountagility said: “I thought overall the whole event was very good and well worth my trip to Glasgow. In particular, the Matchmaking Zone was very valuable and well organised.”

To register for this event please visit the Scottish Technology Showcase website.

For your chance to take part in the Matchmaking Zone please complete a separate registration form.

There's something healthy in the state of Denmark

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

The people of Denmark are not only concerned about what they eat, but they are willing to pay more tax to eat healthier and make more informed eating choices. The results of this study come at a time when healthy eating and increasing rates of obesity are becoming a major concern for people the world over. Despite this concern, however, government policy actions have rarely been evaluated. The findings are an outcome of the EU-funded EATWELL ('Interventions to promote healthy eating habits: evaluation and recommendations') project, which has received EUR 2.5 million under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' (KBBE) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). EATWELL is looking into a variety of European policies aimed at reducing obesity and the lengths people would go to become healthy.

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that obesity is responsible for 10% to 13% of deaths and 2% to 8% of health costs in Europe alone. In the case of the United Kingdom, it is believed that the over-consumption of salt, sugar and saturated fats, combined with an under consumption of fruit and vegetables, are responsible for 70 000 premature deaths.

These startling figures have led many EU Member States to design and implement a raft of policies aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits through the promotion of fruits and vegetables, and at discouraging advertising certain foods to children. Other actions undertaken have included nutrition labelling, engaging with the food industry to improve the composition of food products that are manufactured, as well as regulating public sector canteens to ensure healthy food offerings. While all these efforts are encouraging, what has been lacking for many of these policy actions is a proper evaluation done in a systematic manner.

Enter the EATWELL project that is investigating these policies over 36 months; the project is set to end in October 2012. In particular, it aims at reviewing the policy actions undertaken and at identifying gaps, success and failure factors for these campaigns. Its final objective is to provide EU Member States policymakers with best practice guidelines, and with valuable insights from private sector and communication agencies to develop appropriate policy interventions that will encourage healthy eating across Europe.

At a recent workshop to discuss the EATWELL results, it was revealed that consumers in Denmark were both more willing to eat healthier and pay more to do so. 'Danes have the most positive attitude towards economic interventions within the nutritional area, and are also willing to pay more to eat more healthily,' said Jessica Aschemann-Witzel from Aarhus University, Business and Social Sciences in Denmark, a doctoral student who worked on the project.

The EATWELL project partners evaluated more than 3 000 consumers from 5 European countries, asking them whether they were willing to accept 'national economic interventions to promote healthy eating habits'. Close to 36% of Danes responded they were prepared to pay more tax in return for policies to promote consumption of healthier food and more information on what constitutes healthy food (only 16% called for a tax reduction). When the researchers turned to the other countries represented in the study, the answer to the same question plummeted to 30% or less. For some specific measures, like increasing taxes to subsidise the price of healthy foods, the gap is even larger, with almost 42% of Danes being supportive, compared to an average below 29% in other countries.

One reason for such a large difference is that the Danes have greater trust in their public institutions, the EATWELL partners found. 'Danes often have more faith in the public authorities and are used to paying high taxes, and therefore they are not as dismissive to changes in these areas as other populations,' commented Jessica Aschemann-Witzel.

The EATWELL consortium is focusing its efforts in reviewing the policy actions of Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.

For more information, please visit: EATWELL: http://www.eatwellproject.eu/en/

Ageing: how long can we expect to be healthy into our twilight years?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

The number of European citizens aged 65 and over is set to double over the next 50 years; while data on life expectancy (LE) for this ageing European population can help us make predictions for the future, they still only tell us half the story. The next piece of the puzzle is working out how many of those years will be healthy years, and new data has just been published for each EU Member State showing how long people can expect to live without a disability.

These 'Healthy Life Years' (HLY) figures were presented at the first annual meeting of the European Joint Action on Healthy Life Years (EHLEIS) which was held in Paris on 19 April, and hosted by EHLEIS coordinator Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM).

LE at birth is the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if current mortality rates continue to apply. In 2009, the LE at birth for men living in any of the 27 EU Member States (the EU-27) is 79.7 years, and the figures show that of these, they can expect 61.3 HLY, nearly 80% of their LE at birth. For the same year, women in the EU-27 could expect 62 HLY, 75% of their LE at birth: 82.6 years.

HLY is an important European policy indicator put in place as part of the Lisbon Strategy to assess the quality of life and functional health status of Europeans. The HLY indicator is also part of the European Community Health Indicators (ECHI), and was set as the overarching target of the first European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Active and Healthy Ageing that was launched in February 2011. The aim of the Active and Healthy Ageing EIP is to ensure care for Europe's ageing population is sustainable in the long term, with the target being an increase of two years of healthy life in the EU by 2020.

The data also show that in 2010 in the EU, Sweden had the longest LE at birth, at 79.6 years for men, while Lithuania had the shortest, at 68 years. Swedish men can also expect to be healthy up to the age of 71.7 years, whereas men in Slovakia have the lowest HLY rate at 52.3 years.

Interestingly, the findings show that over the period spanning 2008 to 2010, and despite its low LE and HLY rate for men, Lithuania experienced the largest HLY gain, almost three years, whilst the Netherlands saw the largest decline: a loss of 1.3 years. This shows that there is therefore often a tendency for health expectancies in Europe to move closer together: the gap between Lithuania and the Netherlands fell by more than four HLY in just three years.

In 2010 in the EU, France and Spain had the longest LE at birth (85.3 years) for women, and Bulgaria the shortest (77.4 years), a gap of nearly 8 years. In 2010, Malta had the highest HLY rate (71.6 years) for women and Slovakia the lowest (52.1 years).

It is again Lithuania that experienced the largest HLY gain in women (2.4 years) over the period from 2008 to 2010, confirming the observation made for men, whilst Finland saw the largest decline (a loss of 1.7 years). As in men, women's health expectancies show some convergence.

HLY data are obtained by applying the prevalence of disability observed in the general population to a standard life table, to distribute the years lived into those lived with disability and those lived free of disability. For the HLY indicator, the prevalence of disability comes from the annual European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey coordinated by EUROSTAT.

The prevalence of disability is measured by a general question on activity limitations: To what extent has an individual been limited for at least six months, due to health problem, in activities people usually do?

For more information, please visit:

Healthy Life Years (HLY): http://ec.europa.eu/health/indicators/healthy_life_years/hly_en.htm

Creating a quiet environment

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Do you know someone who is doing something to create a healthy soundscape in your working environment, neighbourhood or municipality—implementing innovative solutions to noise problems or creating quiet green areas where the sounds of birds and bees can be enjoyed? If so, encourage them to apply for the European Soundscape Award 2012 which is open for submission from 25 April, the International Noise Awareness Day.

Across Europe, at least 100 million people are exposed to damaging levels of noise from road traffic alone. Exposure to unwanted noise can cause stress and interfere with basic activities such as sleep and study. Prolonged exposure can also trigger illnesses as serious as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Giving people the opportunity to enjoy greater access to quiet, natural areas can on the other hand improve mental and physical health.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Noise Abatement Society (NAS) want to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy soundscape and to reward European initiatives in the field of noise control or soundscape management. Any product, campaign, innovation or scheme offering a creative solution to a noise problem can be nominated for the award. The award will be presented at a ceremony in London on 6 November 2012.

For more information on how to submit an application, visit the European Soundscape Award webpage. The deadline for applications is 7 September 2012.

Seeing inside the nose of an aircraft

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source :CORDIS Wire

Radio signals reach pilots on board an aircraft through the “radar dome“, the rounded nose of the aircraft. But if errors occur during the production of this “nose“, – tiny foreign particles, drops of water or air bubbles – this can impede radio traffic. In the future, a non-destructive testing system will identify just such imperfections during production. Researchers will be presenting the new testing system at the Control trade fair, May 8-11 in Stuttgart (Hall 1, stand 1502).

The planned arrival time, the request to land or the landing direction – this is the kind of information pilots discuss via radio with ground staff in the control tower. The nose of the aircraft, the „radar dome“, receives incoming radio signals and transmits radio signals sent by the pilot as well. It is made of a fiberglass composite. But if even tiniest imperfections arise during production – if, for instance, little foreign particles, drops of water or air bubbles become enclosed in the resin – over time they can cause fine cracks through which moisture can seep. This causes interference in radio traffic through the aircraft nose, introducing static into the signal.

As part of the Dotnac project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM in Kaiserslautern are working with partners in industry and research to develop a new testing system: the system uses terahertz waves to completely scan the aircraft nose, which is several centimeters thick, and immediately identify any flaws. The frequency of terahertz waves falls between that of microwaves on the one hand and infrared light on the other. They are completely harmless to humans. The waves are generated in a rolling cabinet not unlike those found in many offices: it contains a microwave source and all electronics to control the system and to collect the data. A frequency mixer multiplies the frequency of the microwave radiation generated into the terahertz range. Researchers have connected the actual measurement module to this container by means of electrical wires. This module emits the terahertz waves toward the radar dome. The material reflects the radiation, and the detector integrated in this module analyzes the reflected terahertz radiation. If there are any air bubbles or little imperfections embedded in the material, they turn up in the reflected signal. The main challenge facing researchers was to find out which terahertz frequencies they would have to use to bombard the material to achieve the most effective results for the various imperfections. Higher frequencies create better resolution, while lower frequencies have less difficulty penetrating the material. The researchers select from a range of different frequencies depending on the errors the researchers are looking for in the case concerned. The scientists have already developed a prototype of the testing system. It will be presented at the Control trade fair, May 8-11, in Stuttgart (Hall 1, stand 1502). Around a year from now, the scanner will have advanced to the point that it will scan and analyze aircraft noses automatically. Thus far, simple scanners for level and rotations symmetrical objects are available.

Researchers have come up with another terahertz testing system as well, one that analyzes the thickness of layers – such as are found on aircraft and cars. “Our terahertz measuring system is one of the few robust enough for industrial use,“ according to Dr. Joachim Jonuscheit, deputy head of department at Fraunhofer IPM. Just like the system that checks aircraft noses, this one also consists of a rolling cabinet along with a transmitter and a receiver connected to the container by cables five meters long. This system works with very short terahertz pulses. Each pulse is partially reflected off of the interfaces of the layers: the surface of the first layer, the interface between layer one and two, and so on. The deeper the layer reflecting the pulses, the longer the pulses take to return to the detector. Using the time each pulse takes to make its way back to the detector, built-in software automatically calculates the thickness of the various layers.

The system‘s great advantage is its robustness. But how did researchers accomplish this? “First of all, we no longer shoot the laser that excites the system by open beam as typically used in terahertz systems; instead, we feed it through optical fibers. And secondly, we have fixed and arranged the optical elements to make them mechanically robust. We have also improved the manufacturing processes for the semiconductor components – the transmitters and detectors – to make the individual elements more resistant,“ Jonuscheit explains. At the Control trade fair, the researchers will demonstrate live measurements on multi-layered plastic films of varying thicknesses.

Those tell-tale signs that say who you are

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS Technology Marketplace

Forget about fingerprints or iris recognition; the way you walk or move your hands, even your pulse, can be analysed for unique characteristics. EU-funded researchers are looking at ways this new technology could protect your security and make identity checking less obtrusive and more accurate.

You might think that PIN codes and fingerprints are pretty secure identity systems, but they are in fact simple to hack. The criminal community has found it too easy to steal PIN numbers just using cameras, card copiers or the point of a knife at the cash point. And James Bond famously tricked an adversary to believing his false identity by wearing 'fake fingerprints'.

The use of biometric identification - using the unique properties and characteristics of an individual to help identify them - continues to grow in popularity. Modern electronic passport checks use face recognition, and iris scanning has also been tested in some airports.

Recognising the growing market for less obtrusive biometric identification, the project 'Unobtrusive authentication using activity related and soft biometrics' (Actibio), has been part-funded by the EU to look at whether more dynamic features, such as the way people walk, talk or respond to specific stimuli, could also be used for user verification purposes.

'We are each so unique,' remarks Dr. Dimitrios Tzovaras, who coordinates Actibio. But it is not just how you look and your physical features. The way you move and respond, even the pattern and shape of your heartbeat, these all have unique features too. Our project is one of the first to look seriously at these more dynamic features and find ways of spotting those unique characteristics that categorically say that this is you, not someone else.'

The project builds on the findings of its predecessor, the Humabio project, which demonstrated the feasibility of using multimodal behavioural and physiological biometrics for reliable user authentication. Actibio is now using and refining the algorithms developed by the Humabio team and testing them in several real-world workplace and security applications.

'We have tested our technologies with more than 100 volunteers in several different settings including vehicles and control rooms. So far we are very encouraged with the results,' remarks Dr. Tzovaras. 'We have found that the use of these "soft" biometric measures really enhance recognition rate when you combine them with existing biometric systems.'

Dr. Tzovaras says that using the technology alongside face recognition could enhance security in banks and cash points, for example. Faces could be scanned at the counter or the ATM, but the way someone walks up to the cash point could also be scrutinised providing a double check for the facial system.

The project is also testing a special sensing seat or cushion which you can put in the cab of a truck, for example, and use it for extracting so-called 'anthropometric profiles' based on the user's weight distribution on the seat and the way the seat cover deforms. These metrics can then be used to identify the driver. This would make it impossible for the vehicle to be hijacked or stolen.

Of course all these biometric systems must first be 'trained', for example to recognise what makes your gait different to everyone else's. Typically, you would be filmed as you walked in highly controlled conditions. Image analysis software can track your body joints as you move; the Actibio algorithms then look for the distinguishing features in this movement.

'On the surface the results from our dynamic recognition trials as a technology on its own do not look that impressive. They have an equal error rate of about 3 %, which means that there is a mismatch for about 3 in every 100 people,' says Dr. Tzovaras, 'but this is a revolutionary improvement for dynamic recognition. And when we combine dynamic and static biometric systems the equal error rate drops to zero; the identification is correct every time. We can see many excellent applications for authenticating individuals and monitoring their behaviours without having to intrude into or interrupt what they are doing.'

The Actibio project received EUR 3.2 million (of total EUR 4.4 million project budget) in research funding under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), ICT programme.

Useful Links:

- 'Unobtrusive authentication using activity related and soft biometrics' website
- Actibio factsheet on CORDIS
- Humabio project website

Robotic arm with tact and finesse, the EU way

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Europeans are strong innovators, and the latest example of their hard work is a robotic hand able to hold and grasp bottles and cups. The novel 'helping hand' is an outcome of the DEXMART ('Dexterous and autonomous dual-arm/hand robotic manipulation with smart sensory-motor skills: a bridge from natural to artificial cognition') project, which was backed with EUR 6.3 million under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Scientists from Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom created the robotic hand that is just slighter bigger than a human arm by using a string actuator, a type of motor used to move or control a mechanism or system. In this particular case, small electric motors were used to twist strings.

'We wanted to impart our robotic hand with a broad spectrum of human traits,' says Chris May, an undergraduate student from the Laboratory of Actuation Technology at the University of Saarland in Germany. 'Its artificial muscles should be able to deliver enormous forces by simple and compact means.'

'When robots help around the house or should save people from a burning building, they need to have hands which can grasp with strength but at the same time gently,' says Hartmut Janocha, a professor of Process Automation at Saarland University.

What the researchers have to do is develop the technology needed to make the robotic arm as close as possible to that of the human arm, both in terms of size and form.

'We came up with a simple, yet extremely effective idea: using strings that are twisted by small, high-speed motors, we are able to exert high tensile forces within a compact space,' explains Mr May. 'The sensorised and controlled robotic hand is able to touch diverse objects, to grasp and lift them and place them gently in a new position,' he adds.

'Each robotic finger, which like a human finger [comprises] three segments, can be controlled precisely by means of the individual tendons. The capability of the robotic hand is so near to that of humans that the vision of robots as personal assistants in the household, in the operating room as well as in industrial settings is becoming ever more realistic. We presume that the combination of small electric motors with twisted string is interesting for other applications as well.'

Overall, researchers believe that robots can play as much a significant role in people's homes as they do in manufacturing plants. Handling objects with more finesse and ensuring safety with humans will definitely make the difference.

For more information, please visit:

University of Saarland: http://www.uni-saarland.de/en/home.html

DEXMART: http://www.dexmart.eu/

New push to attract key business to Scotland

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiregov

Two hundred of the UK’s biggest businesses are being targeted as part of a new Scottish Development International campaign to attract inward investment to Scotland.

The First Minister has made a direct pitch to hundreds of company chiefs as part of his speech to the annual Institute of Directors convention at the O2 in London. Alex Salmond is also writing personally to the CEOs of some of Britain’s biggest businesses highlighting the benefits of investing in Scotland.

Aiming to reach major UK companies that currently do not have operations here, the campaign is spreading the message that Scotland is open for business – and for some key functions costs can be 30 per cent cheaper than other parts of the UK.

The First Minister said:

“Scotland is already an economic success story and we make no apologies for going after new business at every opportunity. We perform better economically than everywhere else in the UK bar the south-east of England and that brings major business opportunities.

“Even without our offshore oil and gas reserves Scotland has the highest GDP in the UK outside London and the south-east.

“We have 10 per cent of Europe’s wave energy resources, 25 per cent of its tidal energy resources and 25 per cent of its offshore wind – and less than 1% of Europe’s population.

“We have five universities in the world’s top 200, we rank first in the world in research productivity per unit of GDP and second in the world in research impact.

“Business operating costs for key functions can be almost a third lower here.

“This campaign takes that message right to the heart of the City, taking over the Reuters Digital Billboard at Canary Wharf where it will be seen by more than 600,000 people per week.

“Scottish Development International’s campaign is backed by a number of companies already investing in Scotland – Amazon, Gamesa, Avaloq, GlaxoSmithKline, Mitsubishi and Ceridian – and the message is absolutely clear.

“Scotland is a land of major opportunity and it is open for business.”

Anne MacColl, chief executive of Scottish Development International, said:

"This campaign is part of a global drive to attract new investment to Scotland. There has been a significant level of inward investment success over the last twelve months and SDI is building on this with a continued focus on securing new, sustainable jobs and opportunities.

“It is clear that Scotland remains a location of choice due to our winning combination of qualities. These include our highly skilled and educated workforce and highly efficient operating costs.

“During challenging economic times, this is an excellent opportunity to highlight our competitive advantages to some of the UK’s biggest companies."

SDI uses advertising as part of an integrated marketing strategy, targeting specific geographies and sectors to spread the message as widely as possible that Scotland is open for business. Results have shown this to be an effective strategy with independent research demonstrating the spontaneous ranking of countries likely to be considered for inward investment by senior decision-makers in France, Germany and the USA. This research shows that Scotland is now among the top ten countries likely to be considered as destinations for inward investment by these important markets.

Recent SDI campaigns include an advertising campaign in Asia which was designed to raise awareness of Scotland as a business location, position Scotland as a hub for Asian companies to do business in Europe and leverage the inward investment success we have had from leading Asian-based global brands. In addition, SDI has developed a global campaign around Patent Box, the forthcoming UK tax regime that offers a preferential regime for profits arising from patents. The campaign positions the incentive alongside, and in the wider context of, the complete range of financial incentives available in Scotland for inward investors.

Related information:

Video footage of the First Minister’s speech to the Institute of Directors will be available for download from the Scottish Governments youtube page.

A bite-sized look into the past

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Scientists in Australia and the United Kingdom have discovered the sharpest teeth ever recorded in history - with tips measuring just two micrometres across - that belong to a long-extinct prehistoric fish. The study, presented in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, was funded in part by the EVOLVING TEETH ('Uncovering developmental and functional constraints on the occupation of conodont tooth morphospace') project, which is backed by a Marie Curie Action grant worth EUR 198 260 under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The project involved teams from University of Bristol, UK, and Monash University, Australia, working together and using a very big machine to see some of the world's smallest fossils.

The results of this study provide insight on the potential eating habits of these conodonts, early vertebrates that kept their skeleton in their mouth and that lived some 500 million years ago. Fossils of conodonts, animals which resemble eels, are extremely rare. For a long time, what scientists knew about them was only what they derived from their tooth-like microfossils. This research suggests that conodonts evolved the first vertebrate dentitions.

'Conodonts had no other skeleton than the teeth in their mouths,' said Dr Alistair Evans from the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University in Australia, one of the study's authors. 'These came together a bit like scissors, to slice up food.'

Being so microscopic, the scientists realised that the teeth must work differently from the teeth of other animals, including humans. So with such small teeth, no jaws and weak muscles, researchers asked how could they possibly have worked as teeth?

The researchers found that the teeth indeed worked differently thanks to their sharpness.

'The conodonts took an alternative route through evolution to humans, who developed less efficient, but less breakable, blunter teeth, to which greater force can be applied by jaw muscles,' Dr Evans said. 'The sharpness of conodont teeth allowed them to overcome the limitations of their small size. Since pressure is simply force applied divided by area, to increase pressure you must either increase the force or shrink the area. Conodont evolution took the latter route, allowing them to apply enough pressure to break up their food,' he added.

'So next time you're struggling through a tough Sunday roast, remember that conodonts evolved the tools for the job 500 million years ago,' said Dr David Jones from Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, another author of the study.

One of the major challengers the researchers faced was to determine how to analyse something which in size is one twentieth the width of a human hair.

Said Dr Jones: 'The first problem is: how do you analyse such tiny teeth? The answer: with a very big machine. We created high resolution three-dimensional models of the conodont elements using x-rays from a particle accelerator in Japan, using it like a giant computed tomography scanner. These virtual models were examined, leaving the original specimens untouched.'

For more information, please visit:

EVOLVING TEETH: http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/90949_en.html

Monash University: http://www.monash.edu.au/news/

Bristol University: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/

Global Warming has driven Europe's Mountain Plants to Migrate 2.7 m Upwards in 7 Years

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Wire

Vascular plants have moved 2.7 m upwards, which might lead to the extinction of high-mountain species.

Researchers at the University of Granada Department of Botanic have participated in an international study that has confirmed that global warming is causing plants to migrate to higher altitudes. The study –recently published in Science– analyzed species diversity shifts in 66 summits of 17 European ranges between 2001 and 2008.

In the Iberian Peninsula, two target regions were selected in the Pyrenees (Ordesa) and Sierra Nevada (Granada). Researchers found that the species under study had migrated an average of 2.7m upwards. “This finding confirms the hypothesis that a rise in temperatures drives Alpine flora to migrate upwards. As a result, rival species are threatened by competitors, which are migrating to higher altitudes. These changes pose a threat to high-mountain ecosystems in the long and medium term” the authors state.

Boreal-Temperate and Mediterranean Summits

The study also reveals an average increase of 8% in the number of species growing in summits of European mountains. However, such increase is not general, as of the 66 peaks in boreal and temperate areas, the majority revealed an increase in species diversity, while 8 out of the 14 summits in the Mediterranean area revealed a decline in the number of species represented.

Furthermore, the study revealed that species diversity has changed more significantly at low elevation sites –at the upper limit of the forest or an equivalent altitude– in the Mediterranean region than in other regions.
In Mediterranean mountains (Sierra Nevada, Corsica, Central Apennines and Crete), the rise in temperatures is causing a decline in annual average rainfall, which results in longer summer droughts. Consequently, temperature rise and droughts pose a threat to unique endemic species.
The mountains that present the most significant shifts in species diversity are Mediterranean mountains –located in Southern Europe–, where climate is different to that of the rest of Europe. In general, moist-soil species are more vulnerable to climate change, though high-mountain endemic species are also affected.”For example, in Sierra Nevada, the observation plots revealed a decrease in the number of emblematic species such as Androsacevitalianasubsp. Nevadensis and Plantagonivalisy Artemisia granatensis”, the University of Granada professor, Joaquín Molero Mesa, explains.

Another Sampling Site

Sierra Nevada has very special characteristics, as it is the only mountain range in the Iberian Peninsula that has Mediterranean climate from top to the hill foot. Consequently, the research group coordinated by professor Molero Mesa –with the special collaboration of Mª Rosa Fernández Calzado– placed another sampling site (four summits located at an elevation above 2500m high) in 2005. The purpose was to increase the sample size and obtain more reliable results. In two years, a comparative study of the results obtained in the first and second study will be conducted.

Thus, Sierra Nevada is the only mountain range with two target regions under observation. The research group is coordinated with the Observatorio de Cambio Global de Sierra Nevada, and has established –in collaboration with a research group from Morocco– another target region in the high Western Atlas, where observation plots and thermometers will be installed next summer. The purpose of this action is to better understand climate and species variations in the most vulnerable environment: the Mediterranean region.

This study is part of the Project GLORIA (The Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) initiated in Europe in 2000 and which has spread worldwide.

Schengen: internal border checks must be a last resort

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Schengen Treaty Member States may reimpose checks at internal borders in the event of a serious threat to their public policy or to internal security, for up to ten days, after which the decision to do so must be collective, says draft legislation as amended by the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday. In a separate vote on visa legislation, MEPs also backed a clause allowing the emergency reimposition of visa requirements for third country nationals crossing the EU's external frontiers.

The Schengen Treaty allows its Member States to reimpose checks at their shared borders: one clause, used 26 times to date, permits this in the event of "a serious threat to public policy or to internal security". This clause has been activated for international sports events, and more recently, after the Utøya massacre in Norway.

Rebuilding trust

It was the reimposition of checks at the Franco-Italian border, in April 2011 (at a time of heightened mistrust among Member States), that led to the proposed reform now before Parliament. The reform seeks to strengthen security mechanisms so as to restore trust in the Schengen area.

By approving a rapport by Renate Weber (ALDE, RO), with 47 votes in favour, 7 against and 2 abstentions, the committee gave her a mandate to negotiate with the Council.

Migration, as such, is not a threat to security

MEPs reiterate that "migration and the crossing of external borders by a large number of third-country nationals should not per se be considered a threat to public policy or internal security". They stress that reimposing border checks must remain an exceptional measure, and a last resort.

The report sets out several scenarios that might justify reimposing checks: in the event of a serious and imminent threat to public order or internal security, checks could be reimposed for up to six months. The initial text would have empowered the European Commission to take this decision, which is currently a matter for Member States. MEPs would prefer it to remain a matter for Member States, but propose that the decision-taking process should be better-coordinated and more collegial.

In the event of an emergency requiring immediate action, a Member State may reimpose checks, on its own initiative, for up to five days. The committee inserted an amendment increasing this period to ten days.

Finally, in the event of "persistent, serious deficiencies" in a Member State's management of its portion of an EU external frontier, the Commission could decide that checks must be reimposed.

New rules allowing temporary suspension of visa waivers

The committee also approved a report by Agustín Díaz de Mera (EPP, ES), with 51 votes in favour, 3 against and 3 abstentions, on a proposal to insert a safeguard clause to allow the rapid, temporary suspension of visa waivers for third countries in emergencies.

MEPs describe this as a "mechanism for rapid, temporary suspension", and stipulate that this, too, may be used only as a last resort. In the event of a "sudden and substantial" increase in the number of third-country nationals staying illegally on a Member State's territory, or in the number of asylum requests rejected, and if this seriously affects the situation as regards migrants in the Member State concerned, then the European Commission may reimpose the visa requirement.

The proposal also seeks to strengthen the "reciprocity mechanism" which provides for the reimposition of visa requirements for the nationals of third countries that reimpose them for the nationals of a Member State.

Next steps

After this straw vote, the rapporteur will enter into talks with the Council, with a view to reaching a first-reading agreement.

Wind farms and tourism research welcomed

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has yesterday welcomed independent research which shows wind farms do not affect the choice of eight in ten tourists to visit Scotland and most people do not feel wind farms spoil the countryside.

The independent research, commissioned by VisitScotland, shows that:

83 per cent of Scottish respondents and 80 per cent of UK respondents stated their decision to holiday in the UK would not be affected by the presence of a wind farm.
80 per cent of Scottish respondents and 81 per cent of UK respondents either disagreed with or neither agreed nor disagreed that wind farms spoil the look of the Scottish countryside.
83 per cent of Scottish respondents and 82 per cent of UK respondents either disagreed with or neither agreed nor disagreed, that they would tend to avoid an area of the countryside if there were a wind farm.
46 per cent of Scottish respondents, and 40 per cent of UK respondents, would be interested in visiting a wind farm development if it included a visitor centre.

The survey comes a week after figures which show tourism in Scotland increased 9 per cent between 2010 and 2011, and money spent by visitors increased by 14 per cent.

Energy and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“These figures prove what we have long known – that the vast majority of visitors to Scotland do not see wind farms as a problem.

“Four in five visitors say their decision to come to Scotland would not be affected by wind farms.

“These figures show that those who speak out against the impact of wind turbines on the landscape do not represent the vast majority of Scots, or of potential visitors from within the UK – the vast, but too often silent majority, have said that wind farms simply do not affect their decision making.

“This research is borne out by the fact that the most recent tourism statistics show Scotland is growing in popularity with visitors, with a 9 per cent rise in overnight stays.

“Scotland has vast natural resources and huge renewable energy potential and we have a responsibility to ensure the people of Scotland benefit. These figures show that it is possible both to enjoy Scotland’s stunning natural beauty, and to benefit from the potential of renewable energy.“

Read the full survey.

Transport research - the road to recovery

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Sourece: CORDIS

One of the most important European forums for the transport sector is being held this week in Athens. The Transport Research Arena (TRA) Conference, which opened on 23 April and runs until 26 April, brings together more than 1,200 stakeholders from across the transport sector.

The Conference is organised by the European Commission, the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, the Conference of European Directors of Roads, the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC), the European Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC) and the European Technology Platform (ETP) WATERBORNE. Held every two years, it aims to contribute to innovation in sustainable mobility for Europe and to major policy.

The organisers note that this is the first time that all modes of surface, road, rail and waterborne transport are being represented. With this new expanded format, it gives everyone attending the ability to exchange ideas and share their experiences across different research sectors.

Expert speakers from Europe and abroad have been invited to speak over the week in plenary and strategic sessions about future prospects of the transport system, its role in the societies of tomorrow and the steps to be taken towards desired targets.

Opening the conference on 23 April, EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn spoke to a packed conference hall and stressed the important role that research and innovation can play in generating growth and employment.

'Our future depends on competitive industries that are able to create jobs. This means investing in research, in new technologies and in creating a climate that boosts innovation. Europe 2020 sets a clear goal of investing 3% of GDP [gross domestic product] in research and innovation by 2020. Many Member States, however, still have some way to go,' she stated.

Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn also added that it is Europe's leading knowledge and innovation economies that are 'weathering the economic crisis better.'

The latest statistics compiled in the 2011 Innovation Scoreboard show that while overall innovation performance has improved across Member States, there is a strong correlation between the economic rebound of Member States in 2010 and their average level of research and development (R&D) investments over the period 2004-2009.

'The rule seems to be: the higher the average R&D intensity in the past, the better the economic growth today,' said the Commissioner.

She also emphasised the role Horizon 2020 will play: 'From 2014 onwards, it will make our support for research and innovation simpler, more efficient, and more effective at delivering the bigger impacts needed to sustain growth and tackle societal challenges such as climate change and energy security. Horizon 2020 aims to strike the right balance between supporting scientific excellence, boosting industrial competitiveness and finding answers to societal challenges.'

Following the opening speeches, the Commissioner then visited the individual stands showcasing European research as well as those of companies representing the transport industry.

First stop was the stand for the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)-funded project SAFERIDER ('Advanced telematics for enhancing the safety and comfort of motorcycle riders'), which received EUR 3,473,899 of funding under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) theme.

Representing the project was Stella Nikolaou who showed the Commissioner the innovative advances that had been developed as part of the project. Speaking to CORDIS News, Mrs Nikolaou commented that the Conference gave researchers like herself the chance to expand their knowledge and get inspired by new ideas. 'This conference allows researchers like myself the ability to share more technical data in person as well as allow the cross-fertilisation of ideas across the different modes of transport.' She said another important part of the conference was the ability to showcase research: 'Research like SAFERIDER are not well known, not even in Greece, and this event allows us to show what we and Greece are capable of.'

This was a sentiment echoed by many other attendees.

'The conference is an occasion to meet stakeholders involved in research for all transport modes and discuss common challenges,' said Xavier Aertsens from the ERTRAC stand.

Meanwhile, the staff at the ETP WATERBORNE stand were pleased at the inclusion of water transport in this year's conference. 'We mustn't forget that in many parts of Europe, inland waterways are used just as much for freight transport as roads are. Ports meanwhile are the interface between road and rail transport with water transport. A third importance of including water transport in this conference is that we all share the same technical issues such as reducing pollution so there is a lot that we can share and learn from each other,' said one staffer.

Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn was also on hand to present the awards to the winners of the Young European Arena for Research (YEAR) 2012 competition. The YEAR awards are open to early stage researchers (ESRs) of all ages and just as the TRA conference has been expanded to include more modes of transport, so have the YEAR awards been expanded beyond the original focus on road transport.

The winners were: Rawia El Rashidy from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom, who won in the field of Governance of the transport system; Nan Zheng from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, in the field of Transport, mobility and infrastructure; Anthony Winterlich from the National University of Ireland, Galway, in the field of Safety and security; Pejman Keikhaei Dehdezi from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the field of Energy, environment and resources; Riccardo Panciroli, University of Bologna, Italy, in the field of Design and production (vehicles, vessels and infrastructure); and finally Lijun Wei from the Université de Technologie Belfort-Montbéliard, France, in the field of Complementarities of transport modes.

All 30 nominees had the opportunity to present their posters and showcase their efforts at the conference.

For more information, please visit: Transport Research Arena Conference: http://www.traconference.eu/

Enabling Co-operatives to better contribute to growth and jobs

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Wiredgov

Co-operatives are an important part of European economic life and industry. There are 250,000 co-operative enterprises in the EU, owned by 163 million citizens (1 in 3 EU citizens) and they employ 5.4 million people. A conference organized by the European Commission and Cooperatives Europe in Brussels yesterday is aimed to highlight the social and economic importance of cooperatives. Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship will use this opportunity to consult stakeholders on whether and how to simplify the regulation on the European Cooperative Society (SCE from its Latin name ‘Societas Cooperativa Europaea’).

Co-operatives are enterprises that serve the needs of their members who contribute to their capital, own and control them, rather than to provide a return on investment. The objective of the statute for a SCE is to provide co-operatives with adequate legal instruments to facilitate their cross-border and trans-national activities. However, the success of the SCE has been relatively limited, mainly due its complexity (e.g. with its multiple references to national legislation).

United Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2012

The United Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2012 is intended to encourage governments and relevant stakeholders to establish policies and legislation conducive to co-operative growth. The Year highlights the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative way of doing business and sustainable socioeconomic development.

The importance of cooperatives is recognised by the Commission in its strategic documents Single Market Act¹ and Social Business Initiative². The last one envisages that depending on the results of the consultation with the parties concerned, the Commission will present a proposal for simplification of the SCE Regulation. Following its Report on the implementation of SCE Regulation³, the Commission intends to consult stakeholders on the need and the ways to proceed to simplification. For this purpose, the Commission is co-hosting two large conferences to celebrate the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives. The current conference is attended by stakeholders' organisations. The second will take place in September 2012, during the Cyprus Presidency, and will bring together representatives of the Member States.

Background

Co-operatives hold substantial market shares in important industries in most Member States, especially in agriculture (83% in Netherlands, 79% in Finland, 55% in Italy and 50% in France), forestry (60% market share in Sweden and 31% in Finland) banking (50% in France, 37% in Cyprus, 35% in Finland, 31% in Austria and 21% in Germany) retailing (consumer cooperatives hold a market share of 36% in Finland and 20% in Sweden), pharmaceutical and health care (21% in Spain and 18% in Belgium) and information technologies, housing and craft production. In Italy cooperatives represented almost 15% of the total economy. Cooperatives also provide services such as catering, accounting, legal advice or marketing for a group of enterprises (e.g. plumbers, hair dressers, taxi owners etc.). In recent years cooperatives have also been present in sectors of general interest like education, transport, energy provision.

More detailed information on Commission policy on cooperatives

New motor can cut space exploration costs

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A European team of researchers led by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland has developed a prototype of a new, ultra-compact motor that will enable small satellites to journey beyond Earth's orbit. The objective of this new motor is to make space exploration less expensive. The result is an outcome of the MICROTHRUST ('Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based electric micropropulsion for small spacecraft to enable robotic space exploration and space science') project, which is supported under the Space Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), to the tune of EUR 1.9 million.

The compact motor weights only a few hundred grams and is specifically designed to propel small satellites, weighing from 1 to 100 kilograms. The conventional thruster can change orbit around our planet and travel to more distant destinations, but it is usually used for large and expensive spacecraft. The researchers say their prototype will probably be used on CleanSpace One, a satellite currently being developed at EPFL that will clean up space debris, as well as on OLFAR, a swarm of Dutch nanosatellites able to record ultra-low radio-frequency signals on the far side of the Moon.

The prototype weighs only around 200 grams, with the fuel and control electronics included. The motor can be mounted on satellites as small as 10 x 10 x 10 square cubic centimetres. It is also very efficient.

'At the moment, nanosatellites are stuck in their orbits. Our goal is to set them free,' said Herbert Shea, the head of EPFL's Microsystems for Space Technologies Laboratory and the coordinator of the MICROTHRUST project.

Research into the development of small satellites has intensified in recent times, due mostly to the low cost of production and launch. The price tag for the small satellites is around USD 500 million; the price for larger ones runs into the hundreds of millions. The problem with nanosatellites lay in the lack of an efficient propulsion system ... until now.

The new mini motor does not run on combustible fuel but rather on an 'ionic' liquid, and in this project, it is a liquid chemical compound, EMI-BF4, used as both a solvent and an electrolyte. It is made up of ions, electrically charged molecules, which are extracted from the liquid and then ejected to produce thrust. The fuel is expelled, not burnt.

'We calculated that in order to reach lunar orbit, a 1-kilogram nanosatellite with our motor would travel for about 6 months and consume 100 millilitres of fuel,' said Muriel Richard, a scientist in EPFL's Swiss Space Center.
'Our prototype still has a few flow problems at the nozzle extremities, which could cause short-circuits,' Dr Shea concluded.

Researchers from the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, members of the MICROTHRUST consortium, also contributed to this study.

For more information, please visit:

EPFL: http://www.epfl.ch/

MICROTHRUST: http://microthrust.live.valentnet.nl/home/93-23.aspx

Researchers pioneer molecular catalyser

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Scientists in Sweden have developed a molecular catalyser with the ability to quickly oxidise water to oxygen. Presented in the journal Nature Chemistry, the results are a significant contribution to the future use of solar energy and other renewable energy sources, especially since gasoline prices continue to soar.

The team from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm is the first to attain speeds that are comparable to those in nature's own photosynthesis, thus succeeding in clinching a world record. Researchers in Europe, Japan and the United States have been investigating ways of refining an artificial form of photosynthesis for over 30 years. No team ever succeeded in generating a sufficiently rapid solar-driven catalyser for oxidising water.

'Speed has been the main problem, the bottleneck, when it comes to creating perfect artificial photosynthesis,' explains Professor Licheng Sun from the Department of Chemistry at KTH.

The molecular catalyser developed by Professor Sun and his team is so fast that it can reach more than 300 turnovers per seconds. The speed with which natural photosynthesis is carried out is between 100 and 400 turnovers per seconds.

'This is clearly a world record, and a breakthrough regarding a molecular catalyser in artificial photosynthesis,' remarks Professor Sun. 'This speed makes it possible in the future to create large-scale facilities for producing hydrogen in the Sahara, where there's an abundance of sunshine. Or to attain much more efficient solar energy conversion to electricity, combining this with traditional solar cells, than is possible today.'

This is especially important as society continues to deal with rising gasoline prices. According to the scientists, the fast molecular catalysers can form the basis for many changes to come. Not only do they enable sunlight to be used for the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into different fuels like methanol, but the technology can be used to convert solar energy directly into hydrogen.

The next step for the researchers is to develop this technology at lesser cost.

'I'm convinced that it will be possible in 10 years to produce technology based on this type of research that is sufficiently cheap to compete with carbon-based fuels,' the chemist says. 'This explains why [US President] Barack Obama is investing billions of dollars in this type of research.'

Professor Sun has been conducting research in this field for almost 20 years, saying that he and his colleagues believe efficient catalysers for oxidation of water can be the missing piece of the solar energy puzzle.

'When it comes to renewable energy sources, using the Sun is one of the best ways to go,' Professor Sun says.

Researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden and the Dalian University of Technology (DUT) in China contributed to this study.

For more information, please visit:

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH): http://www.kth.se/en

Nature Chemistry: http://www.nature.com/nchem/index.html

Online predators still loom charge, new research warns

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Results from a three-year EU-funded study into the methods and behaviours of sex offenders show that online paedophiles who seek out children in chat rooms are abandoning the traditional 'grooming process'; instead, they are adopting a highly sexualised tone within two minutes of starting a conversation.

The European Online Grooming Project, funded in part under the European Commission's Safer Internet Plus programme, a multiannual Community programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies, brought together researchers from Belgium, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The team carried out a detailed examination of convicted sex offenders' online chat logs, provided by a British and Italian police force. The team also had access to in-depth interviews with male paedophiles convicted of online grooming in Belgium, Norway and the United Kingdom.

'It is clear from the recent police chat logs we were given access to that the conversation between an online offender and a child can now become sexualised within two minutes,' says one of the study authors, Professor Julia Davidson, from Kingston University in the United Kingdom. 'On social networking sites, if the child does not respond, the offender will simply move on to the next child. During our interviews, offenders said they didn't need to bother with a grooming process when they could immediately ask children for sex or to meet so they could abuse them.'

Although there was still evidence that some paedophiles use a longer term grooming approach in some cases, the final outcome of online sexualised chat was often a physical meeting. These meetings frequently take place at hotels, car parks, parks, bus stops or even the offender's or victim's bedrooms.

Some paedophiles would spend up to six hours online a day. Many carried out 'fishing trips' where they added hundreds of children as contacts on social networking sites and worked through the list until they found a child willing to interact with them.

'Sometimes offenders have several children on the go at once, with paedophiles assuming several different identities,' comments Professor Davidson. 'They keep across many different conversations and keep meticulous notes on each child in a very calculating way.'

The research also revealed that some young people still have a very stereotypical view of online groomers, as project leader Stephen Webster from the National Centre for Social Research in the United Kingdom explains:
'Young people think of them as "fat old men" - a perception that our research proves to be untrue. The online groomers we spoke to were all ages and some of them significantly altered their identity when targeting a young person.'

Stephen Webster notes that the problem can often be increased when young people add people they do not know as friends on social networking sites:
'Many youngsters feel a sense of competition for friends when social networking, with the result that profile pages and identifying details are readily available online. Groomers told us they used this information to help identify potential victims. The Internet industry can also help, by ensuring accounts default to the highest privacy setting when they're first set up.'

The advice for parents is to set up basic parental controls on all computers in the home, and to not let children under the age of 13 use social networking sites. Professor Davidson emphasises the importance of dialogue: it can be trickier to communicate the dangers to older children without scaring them.

Although parents and teachers have been alert to the dangers of social networking sites for a while, the report also highlights how new gaming platforms, such as the Xbox Live, are now also used to target children, particularly boys.

For more information, please visit:

Kingston University:
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/

Call for proposals for areas related to green technology and aircraft

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative has published a call for proposals for areas related to green technology and aircraft.

Budget: € 32 336 250

Deadline: 10 July 2012 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)

The areas covered by the call include:
- eco design;
- green regional aircraft;
- green rotorcraft;
- sustainable and green engines;
- smart fixed wing aircraft;
- systems for green operations;
- technology evaluator.

Aircraft have a 30-year service life, and new aviation design takes more than a decade to develop. The aim of Clean Sky is to develop breakthrough technologies to significantly increase the environmental performance of airplanes and air transport. This will result in less noisy and more fuel efficient aircraft, bringing a key contribution in achieving the Single European Sky environmental objectives. The accelerated research process used by Clean Sky is an opportunity for rapid progress in the introduction of green technology into aviation.

The joint technology initiative (JTI) started in 2008 and is a public-private partnership between the European Commission and industry stakeholders.

To see the official call announcement, please consult the following
link

Remarks: Before contacting the Commission, proposers are strongly advised to consult the original call text.

Researchers replicate Doctor Who's famous sonic screwdriver

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

For fans of the hit series Doctor Who, the Sonic Screwdriver will be a familiar device. But now an international team of EU-funded researchers has taken equipment designed for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided focused ultrasound surgery and demonstrated a real Sonic Screwdriver, lifting and spinning a free-floating 10 cm-diameter rubber disk with an ultrasound beam.

The team used energy from an ultrasound array to form a beam that can both carry momentum to push away an object in its path and, by using a beam shaped like a helix or vortex, cause the object to rotate.

The research was supported by the NANOPORATION ('Drug delivery to cancer cells using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) guided focused ultrasound') project, which was granted more than EUR 2 million by the Marie Curie Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) funding scheme, part of the 'People' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

NANOPORATION, which started in 2009 and will run until 2013, brings together researchers from Israel and the United Kingdom with the aim of developing new solutions to overcome the current challenges of cancer chemotherapy. The programme focuses on exchange of expertise in MRI-guided therapeutic ultrasound, drug nano-capsules, nano-scale sonication research, cell biology and preclinical oncology research for targeted delivery of existing chemotherapy drugs.

The findings are set to appear in a forthcoming study in the American Physical Society's journal, Physical Review Letters.

Dr Mike MacDonald, of the Institute for Medical Science and Technology (IMSAT) in the United Kingdom, comments: 'This experiment not only confirms a fundamental physics theory but also demonstrates a new level of control over ultrasound beams which can also be applied to non-invasive ultrasound surgery, targeted drug delivery and ultrasonic manipulation of cells.'

The theory the team were testing had not previously been proved in a single experiment; it is valid for both sound and light, and is used in fields like quantum communications and biophotonics. The theory states that the ratio of angular momentum to energy in a vortex beam is equal to the ratio of the number of intertwined helices to the frequency of the beam.

Dr Christine Demore from IMSAT comments: 'For the first time, our experimental results confirm directly the validity of this fundamental theory. Previously this ratio could only be assumed from theory as the angular momentum and power in a beam had only ever been measured independently.'

The ultrasound beam generated by the researchers resembles the 'double-helix' structure of DNA but with many more twisted strands, or helices. This vortex beam generates a rotating, angular component of momentum that can exert torque on an object. In the recent publication, they showed how they could generate vortex beams with many intertwined helices, using a 1 000-element ultrasound transducer array as an acoustic hologram. These beams are so powerful they can levitate and spin the 90 g-disk made of ultrasonic absorber in water.

Dr MacDonald says that as part of the NANOPORATION project, the consortium are 'already starting to push the boundaries of what ultrasound can do in terms of targeted drug delivery and targeted cellular surgery', a field that has 'great potential for developing new surgical techniques, among other applications.'

But one can't help but wonder what the Doctor would think of the sonic device. It's anyone's guess, but here's hoping he would be impressed.

As Dr MacDonald puts it: 'Like Dr Who's own device, our sonic screwdriver is capable of much more than just spinning things around.'

For more information, please visit:

The Sonic Screwdriver can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2DfEhjipLE

University of Dundee: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/

European Medicines Agency recommends authorisation of novel treatment for type 2 diabetes

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : Wiredgov

SGLT2 transporter protein inhibitor improves glycaemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the granting of a marketing authorisation for Forxiga (dapagliflozin), a novel treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

There is a need for additional treatment options for type 2 diabetes mellitus, due to the increasing global prevalence of the disease, its progressive nature, which eventually requires combination therapy in most patients, as well as the fact that some patients may experience undesirable side effects from currently available therapies.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in August 2011 there were 346 million people worldwide with diabetes. Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, and 50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease. In 2004 an estimated 3.4 million people died from consequences of high blood sugar, and the WHO projects that diabetes deaths will double by 2030.

Forxiga (dapagliflozin), from Bristol-Myers Squibb / AstraZeneca EEIG, is the first diabetes treatment to work by inhibiting the sodium‑glucose co‑transporter 2 (SGLT2), a transporter protein in the kidneys that allows glucose to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Its mechanism of action allows improvement of glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes without increasing insulin secretion.

In clinical trials, Forxiga has shown to improve glycaemic control when given alone or in combination with various antidiabetics, with effects similar to those of glipizide and metformin. The effect of dapagliflozin appears to be maintained in the long term (up to 102 weeks).

Safety concerns with Forxiga identified in the clinical trials included an increased number of bladder and breast tumours in dapagliflozin-treated patients, limited data available in patients above 75 years, the use in patients at risk of volume depletion, hypotension and electrolytes imbalances. The CHMP assessed these concerns and found that they are satisfactorily addressed in the product information and in the risk management plan for Forxiga.

As the effects of dapagliflozin are dependent on kidney function, the efficacy of the medicine is reduced in patients with kidney impairment. Therefore, the use of Forxiga is not recommended in patients with moderate to severe kidney impairment.

Overall there was no imbalance of malignancies between dapagliflozin-treated patients and those on control. The unexpected finding of more bladder (0.16% as compared to 0.03% in the controls) and breast cancers (0.40% as compared to 0.22% in the controls) in dapagliflozin-treated patients is of concern especially in the light of potentially long treatment periods and a possible widespread use. Even though data from carcinogenicity studies in animals did not indicate a genotoxic or carcinogenic effect of dapagliflozin, the CHMP considered it necessary to keep this potential risk under close observation and requested the applicant to conduct an epidemiological study with dapagliflozin.

The potential risk of cancer will also be looked at in the planned cardiovascular outcome study further investigating potential cardiovascular risks of dapagliflozin.

Following the review of all available data, the Committee concluded during its April 2012 meeting that the benefits of Forxiga outweigh its risks, and recommended that a marketing authorisation be granted.

Notes

The Committee’s recommendation has now been forwarded to the European Commission for the granting of a binding Commission decision.
The scientific assessment of the CHMP will be published after the granting of the Commission decision as part of the European public assessment report and will be available on the Agency’s website.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.
Type 1 diabetes is characterised by deficient insulin production and requires daily administration of insulin. Type 2 diabetes results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Type 2 diabetes comprises 90% of patients with diabetes around the world, with over 55 million in Europe.
More information on diabetes can be found on the WHO website.

Designers fly high at Scotland Week 2012

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : Wiredgov

New York’s most influential buyers and media turned out in force to meet 12 of Scotland's top designers in fashion and textiles last week, as an official part of Scotland Week 2012 (April 6 – 14).

The Scotland Re:Designed project, launched earlier this year in association with the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, enables Scottish talent to work collectively; pooling resources to achieve strong business results. The collective exhibited their wares in a chic Chelsea gallery in Manhattan and welcomed buyers and media over an intense four days of activity.

During the initiative's launch in New York, a solid mix of traditional print and new social media influencers were on the scene. Designers held meetings, desk side appointments and interviews with US Vogue, Nylon, Style.com, Vogue.com, Blackbook, Bloomberg News and Conde Nast Travel + Leisure, The Bloggers Collective, New York Girl Style, Cinderella's Closet and The Huffington Post. Over 200 relevant industry contacts came through the doors.

Avril Graham, Executive Fashion & Beauty Editor of Harpers Bazaar USA, spent two hours discussing the collections with each designer, offering invaluable expert advice and contacts to the 12 exhibitors. She commented: “A wonderful showcase of fabulous artistic talents from Scotland. All very different and incredible testament to Scottish design.”

Exhibitors also met with many buyers from major stores like hip boutique Jeffrey, Saks, Barney's, some of New York's top interior designers and a variety of sales agents and stylists, all interested in presenting the talented 12 to the American market. Many leads were generated: a conservative estimate to date places the value of orders at well over £100,000.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:

“This project is a great example of the direction we've taken for Scotland Week in 2012, securing orders for Scottish businesses. The welcome that Scotland Re:Designed received from New York's fashion industry shows that with sustained efforts this initiative can play a valuable role in Scotland's creative fashion and textile economy. Scotland is a creative nation, and we've certainly enhanced our international reputation for quality design and textiles through this project.”

Belinda Robertson OBE, 'Queen of Scottish Cashmere' and UKFT Board Member, added:

“Scotland Re:Designed has been a great opportunity to debut our new Black Label bespoke collection in the US to a good calibre of press like Harpers Bazaar US and attracted buyers from Bendl's to Barney's.”

Caroline Parkinson of Creative Scotland commented:

“Seeing Scotland Re:Designed come to life in New York was hugely exciting and many great new business relationships are underway, benefitting the exhibitors involved and showcasing the best of Scottish fashion and textiles internationally.”

Scotland Re:Designed displayed at 558 West 21st, & 12th, Chelsea, New York, NY 10011 from April 9 – 12, and will be at The Lighthouse in Scotland from June 28 – July 1. Scotland Re:Designed received investment from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, the private sector and contributions from the participating exhibitors

Scotland Re:Designed in New York was part of the official Scotland Week programme 2012. Just completed its fifth year, Scotland Week is a week long programme of events in the USA and Canada. Kicking off with Tartan Day on Friday April 6, Scotland Week ran until Saturday April 14, with the finale of New York’s famous Tartan Day Parade.

Related information:

A sea-change in CO2 data records

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Scientists have gained a new tool in their efforts to research the world's changing environment: the Surface Ocean CO2 (carbon dioxide) Atlas (SOCAT). This is the most comprehensive dataset of surface water carbon dioxide measurements for the world's oceans and coastal seas, made up of 6.3 million global observations generated from research vessels, commercial ships and moorings around the world since 1968. The information provides researchers with a 40-year record of CO2 accumulation in the surface ocean. The study was funded in part by the CARBOOCEAN and CARBOCHANGE projects, which received EUR 14.5 million and EUR 7 million under the EU's Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes (FP6, FP7), respectively.

It is estimated that oceans store 93% of the world's CO2; the remaining 7% is stored in the land biosphere and in the atmosphere, which at about 750 petagrams of carbon holds the least amount of carbon. However, this CO2 storage comes at a cost: the more CO2 that is stored, the less heat the ocean can absorb. Another result is that the more CO2 is absorbed, the more acidic the waters get. The more acidic the water, the more aquatic life is adversely affected. Mussels, for example, cannot create their protective shells, and coral - composed of the same material - could be affected as well.

So it is of utmost importance to increase our knowledge of the year-to-year and decade-by-decade changes in ocean CO2 absorption if scientists are to accurately assess the feedbacks between climate change and the ocean carbon cycle.

A team of more than 100 scientific experts from all around the world put together this new dataset. Dr Dorothee Bakker of the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom, which spearheaded the efforts, said: 'Assembling this dataset has been a major undertaking by sea-going marine carbon scientists from across the world for the last four years. We believe SOCAT will become an invaluable resource for anyone studying the ocean carbon cycle and its influence on global temperatures.'

Gathering the information was only part of the challenge. Once the data had been collated, it had to be combined and presented in a format that could be easily understood by other researchers wishing to find out more. This part of the effort was undertaken by Dr Are Olsen from the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Norway, which physically assembled the dataset. Dr Olsen said, 'The unique aspect of this dataset is that the observations have been combined into a single uniform format and quality controlled. Reformatted input data and recalculated output data are publicly available at http://www.pangaea.de. The methods we have used are transparent and fully documented.'

This information is now freely available over the Internet and includes a sophisticated online data visualisation and manipulation tool called the Live Access Server. This server provides interactive maps that enables users to interrogate the data.

'Our objective from the beginning was to make these products freely available to everyone. We are excited to see how the data will be used by professional and amateur scientists alike,' commented Dr Christopher Sabine from the NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in the United States.

CARBOOCEAN ('Marine carbon sources and sinks assessment') aimed to create an accurate assessment of the marine carbon sources and sinks, while CARBOCHANGE ('Changes in carbon uptake and emissions by oceans in a changing climate') sought to provide the best possible process-based quantification of net ocean carbon uptake under changing climate conditions using past and present ocean carbon cycle changes for a better prediction of future ocean carbon uptake.

Contact person:For more information, please visit:

SOCAT:
http://www.socat.info/

CARBOOCEAN:
http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/80821_en.html

CARBOCHANGE:
http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/97547_en.html

Energising Development

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Brussels, 16 April 2012 - A new EU energy initiative which will provide access to sustainable energy for an additional 500 million people in developing countries by 2030 was today announced by European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso. Speaking at the EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit in Brussels, the President unveiled this EU commitment in the framework of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4All) launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last year.

The Commission's proposals include a new EU Technical Assistance Facility worth €50 million over the next two years, which will support those developing partners that "opt in" to the initiative by providing EU expertise in the field; thereby promoting sustainable development and inclusive growth.

President Barroso also emphasized that in the run-up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio in June, the "Rio+20" conference, the EU and Member States will look to mobilise additional support of up to several hundred million euros to support concrete new investments in sustainable energy for developing countries – working with banks and the private sector to create a leverage effect to multiply this amount many times over. As the largest provider of development assistance in the world, the EU plays a crucial role in efforts to end energy poverty around the globe.

Wind farms: new perspective needed to assess risks to birds

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Although most recorded collision rates of birds at wind farms are low, some poorly sited farms have caused higher mortality rates. In an attempt to prevent this, environmental authorities conduct environmental impact assessments (EIA) of proposed wind projects, which cover likely effects to the site’s bird population. These EIAs are conducted at the scale of the wind farm.

This study analysed the relationship between the risk prediction according to EIAs, and the actual recorded mortality of the birds for wind farms in Southern Spain after they became operational. Twenty wind farms (consisting of 252 turbines) were investigated in Andalusia, Spain near the Strait of Gibraltar, an important bird migration route. The EIAs for these wind farms included risk assessments of bird mortality from collision, which was calculated using two indices, both of which assumed that mortality risk is strongly dependent on abundance of birds.

The proposed wind farm locations were classified into three risk levels (1, 2 or 3) with 1 representing lowest risk and 3 representing highest risk. Most of the farms that finally obtained permission were at risk level 1, although some had a risk level of 2. Between 2005 and 2008, when the farms were operational, the actual bird mortality caused by collision with turbines was monitored on a daily basis. Using these data, the study calculated two mortality rates: total bird mortality across all species and mortality for just raptor (bird of prey) species. The researchers conducted daily surveys of the number of dead birds found in the close vicinity of the turbines between 2005 and 2008. 596 dead birds were found in total for all the wind farms. Taking into account the amount of time the wind farms were operational (between 11 and 34 months), the (mean) average number of bird mortalities per turbine per year was estimated to be 1.33. This is one of the highest mean collision rates reported for all bird species. There were 214 raptor mortalities (36% of total mortality), the majority of which were griffon vultures (138 birds, 23% of total mortality).

Ensuring bio-based plastics are truly sustainable

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Plastic is very useful, but there is increasing concern about its impact on the environment and human health. Two major sustainability concerns are: it relies on non-renewable resources, and it cannot degrade. Traditional plastics are manufactured using carbon from petroleum. Bio-based plastics are considered more sustainable because they use carbon from renewable resources, such as corn starch, soybean protein and cellulose. In some cases, they can be biodegradable.

For more information click here.

Bioengineered microbes turn seaweed into biofuels

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Harvesting algae as a feedstock to produce biofuels could be part of a future mix of renewable energy sources. One type of algae suitable for this purpose, macroalgae (seaweed), grows naturally in the sea, which could help overcome the contentious issue of whether land should be used to grow crops for food or fuel – an issue that concerns biofuels produced from land-based crops, such as maize. Unlike many other biofuels, its cultivation requires no fertilisers or freshwater. An additional advantage of macroalgae is that it does not contain lignin, the stiff plant material found in land crops that require energy-intensive pre-treatment to break down the biomass before conversion to biofuels. Seaweed simply needs to be milled or crushed before fermentation.

To read on please click here.

Positive link between High Nature Value farmland and bird biodiversity

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

HNV farmland supports, or is associated with, either a high species and habitat diversity or the presence of species that are rare or endangered. Typical examples of HNV farmland are extensively grazed uplands, alpine meadows and pastures, and areas combining crops, trees and pasture (agro-silvo-pastoral areas) in Spain and Portugal (dehesas and montados). It can be identified with a score or index which assesses the use of environmentally sound practices such as minimum use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, crop rotation and farmland structure in terms of presence of natural and semi-natural vegetation. Due to agricultural intensification there have been dramatic losses in HNV farmland.

For more information click here.

Fukushima's effects on nuclear policy in Germany and the UK

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When disaster hit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011, political debate on the future of nuclear energy came to the forefront worldwide. Interestingly, there were very different responses in EU Member States, illustrated by this study which compares reactions of the UK and Germany to the event.

In the UK, policymakers have stood firm on their decision to increase nuclear power generation, whereas in Germany, the federal government has decided to at least temporarily shut down older nuclear reactors and to reevaluate the safety of all nuclear power facilities. As with all political responses, these decisions were not made in a contextual vacuum and the study identified five possible influences that are likely to have affected policymakers’ choices in these two countries.

Microbes degrade oil from Deepwater Horizon spill

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil were spilled into the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon explosion in April 2010. Initially, most of the oil was found to be trapped in a deep sea plume at around 10001200m, but oil is now barely detectable at this depth. Scientists have therefore been uncertain as to the ultimate fate of the oil in the marine ecosystem.

In the new study, researchers used GeoChip-based metagenomic technologies (which comprises an array of gene probes that can be used to detect a large number of functional genes at one time) to test the hypothesis that the microbial communities living in the sea played an important part in degrading the oil and thus reducing the long-term effects on marine life. The scientists took eight seawater samples from within the plume and five samples from outside the plume, all between 1099-1219m deep. For each sample, they analysed the genes present in the microbial population using GeoChip and compared the results to the presence of benzene, toluene and other hydrocarbons found in crude oil.

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/news/documents/factsheet_womensday_en.pdf

New motor can cut space exploration costs

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Delivering savings for Europe: moving to full e-procurement for all public purchases by 2016

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Public entities that have already implemented e-procurement report savings of between 5% and 20% of their procurement expenditure. The total size of the EU's procurement market is estimated to be more than 2 trillion euro, so each 5% saved could result in about 100 billion euro of savings per year – which is equivalent to building more than 150 large size hospitals. These savings would maximise the efficiency of public spending in the current context of fiscal constraints.

E-procurement can also participate in providing new sources of economic growth and jobs. E-procurement can significantly simplify the life of companies, especially SMEs, by increasing the transparency of and access to tender opportunities and by reducing the costs of participating in a tender (reduced mail costs, less printing, etc.). Experience in the EU and beyond shows that the use of e-procurement has increased the participation of SMEs in public procurement procedures.

Despite these undisputable benefits, the EU is lagging behind both its own targets and internationally. E-procurement is still used in only 5-10% of procurement procedures carried out across the EU despite ambitious political targets.

The Digital Agenda for Europe and the eGovernment Action Plan 2011– 2015 highlighted the importance of connecting e-procurement capacities across the Single Market. In the context of the modernisation of the European Public procurement Directives, adopted in December 2011, the Commission has proposed to make e-procurement the rule rather than the exception, by making it the standard method of procurement in the EU by mid-2016.

Commissioner Barnier said: "It's time to act. E-procurement represents a significant untapped potential for the EU economy. It can simplify the way procurement is conducted, reduce burdens and costs, increase the participation of SMEs and deliver better quality and lower prices. The sooner the transition is initiated, the sooner we will reap the benefits offered by e-procurement."

Today's Communication sets out a strategy to achieve this ambitious transition. It proposes a series of flanking measures meant to support all stakeholders, including SMEs, in completing the transition on time. These measures include:

Supporting financially and technically the development of e-procurement infrastructure via EU programmes and funding

Identifying and sharing best practice in the area of e-procurement

Monitoring the level of take-up and the benefits of e-procurement

Implementing a wide-ranging dissemination strategy to inform stakeholders about the opportunities and benefits offered by e-procurement.

The Communication also announces that the European Commission itself will move towards full e-procurement by mid-2015 – a full year ahead of the deadline for Member States – and that the Commission will make its e-procurement solutions available to Member States.

Full Story at Europa

Europeans diverge over alcohol taste, tax and marketing

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Euractiv

Major brewer SAB Miller yesterday (18 April) released a report examining the impact of "responsible drinking messages" it has put on bottles across Europe, including results of a survey of 4,000 drinkers across eight EU member states.

The results showed widely divergent recognition of health messages about alcohol, with more than two-thirds of Slovakians recalling messages unprompted, set against only 18% Dutch.

Amongst canvassed drinkers, Romanians and Hungarians were half as likely (48%) to recognise health messages about alcohol as British, Dutch and Slovakians (more than 90% in each case).

Beer in the north, wine in the south

SAB Miller’s bottle messages are part of formal commitments given by industry in the context of the European Union’s alcohol strategy.

Currently under review, a revamped strategy will try to tie together issues surrounding marketing, pricing and advocacy on harmful drinking across member states with strongly diverging views and traditions.

Cultural mores reflect a broader beer-drinking tradition in the northern countries, with significant economic viticulture in the south along the Mediterranean.

These cultural habits feed into arguments about taxation. Wine is traditionally spared more than a token excise duty in major producing countries, but with higher taxes slapped on in the beer-producing states. Meanwhile beer-producers are more frequently hit – and at higher levels – by excise duties charged on the size of brewing production premises.

Spirits manufacturers, paying excise at the highest levels, demand a "level playing field".

The impending arrival of minimum pricing strategies in Scotland and potentially the rest of the UK will add a new dimension to cross-border sales as supermarkets and suppliers decide how to divide the additional payments between themselves.

Differences on tax, price, culture and marketing

Minimum pricing will not directly affect costlier spirits, but European manufacturers, which dominate the international spirits market, are rattled that their efforts to export will meet with tit-for-tat tariffs overseas.

The European Commission will avoid any direct discussion over tax or pricing in its strategy update but will come under pressure to give clear guidance on how member states can impose pricing measures, especially since they are likely to be challenged under EU competition law.

Meanwhile, the alcohol industry's marketing practices – including the sponsorship of major sporting or cultural events – continues to raise concerns at the European the Commission, which is threatening to legislate if the sector fails to self-regulate.

In France, a blanket ban on advertising prevents alcohol manufacturers from associating themselves with sporting events such as the Olympic games. But the UK has taken a different view and has allowed Heineken to be one of the principal sponsors of the London 2012 Olympics.

Commission presents new measures and identifies key opportunities for EU job-rich recovery

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The proposal focuses on the demand-side of job creation, setting out ways for Member States to encourage hiring by reducing taxes on labour or supporting business start-ups more. It also identifies the areas with the biggest job potential for the future: the green economy, health services and ICT. The policy communication underlines the need for a stronger employment and social dimension to EU governance and lays down ways to involve employers' and workers' representatives more in setting EU priorities.

President Barroso said: "Europe needs a job-creation strategy to tackle its unacceptable level of unemployment. The EU has a large untapped potential to boost job creation. All together, the green economy, the health and new technology sectors will create more than 20 millions of jobs in the years to come. Member States need to seize these opportunities,mobilise existing resources and stimulate their labour market in close cooperation with the social partners. Together we can make it happen."

Presenting the new package in Strasbourg, László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion said: "current levels of unemployment in the EU are dramatic and unacceptable. Job creation must become a real European priority". He added: “If we are to restore growth and cope with major structural changes like the greening of the economy, an ageing population and technological change, the EU needs a dynamic and inclusive European labour market ".

Full Story at Europa

Ski teachers 'Green Card' tests EU job mobility goals

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Euractiv

Ski instruction is just one among hundreds of other professions that the European Commission wants to harmonise at the EU level by allowing mutual recognition of qualifications across borders.

The Commission has been conducting case studies on a possible 'European Professional Card' to ease movement across national borders of engineers, medical professionals and property agents.

By simplifying administrative requirements, the EU executive hopes to encourage job mobility and stimulate economic growth.

"All citizens seeking the recognition of their professional qualifications should be able to go to a one-stop shop rather than being passed around between different government bodies," the Commission said in December last year as it presented a review of the 2005 Professional Qualifications Directive.

A key element of the updated directive is the introduction of a European professional card that will offer easier and quicker recognition of qualifications across borders.

"The card will be made available according to the needs expressed by the professions," the Commission said, adding that nurses and mountain guides had voiced a strong interest in the idea.

France protecting its market

However, any significant opening of the job market is bound to generate resistance among the professions concerned. And ski instruction may well be emerging as a case in point at the European level.

At present, only ski instructors who pass the so-called 'Eurotest' – a tough downhill slalom – can apply for teaching in the countries that have signed up to it – currently Austria, France, Germany, Italy and the UK.

In practice though, few foreigners have been able to teach in a country like France, where the 'Eurotest' has to be complemented by a safety diploma showing that instructors are qualified to handle extreme circumstances such as avalanches.

Britain is so far the only country to have matched the demanding French requirement by putting in place its own equivalent – called BASI 4. For others, teaching in France has proved next to impossible.

"The British have made big efforts to train good instructors to work in France and they have reached the required standard," said Gilles Forte, a technical director at the French Ski Schools (ESF).

"But there is a problem with Belgian and German instructors who don't have the necessary skills," he told the BBC.

Ski instruction in France: A €400 million industry

The challenging French professional requirements have de facto shielded the country from foreign competition in the ski instruction sector, which generates around €400 million every year.

According to some in the profession, this turnover is attracting a great deal of interest among foreign ski instructors.

"The entire ski instruction sector in France is private," says Philippe Camus, a former ski instructor who is now president of the Syndicat International des Moniteurs de Ski (SIMS), an independent professional organisation.

"This is a competitive industry," Camus told EurActiv. "What we're doing is a business. There are €350 or 400 million that are generated in four months. This is not trivial."

As many ski instructors are self-employed, the potential gains can be handsome. "A ski instructor today is paid on average between €35 and €40 per hour. If they do well, they can do 700 hours in the winter season and make €30,000 in four months."

France is not alone in erecting hurdles for foreign ski instructors. In Italy, the system is even more complex as rules vary from one region to another.

Ski teachers' Green Card may prove test case

At European level, several countries have expressed interest in broadening the 'Eurotest' to more countries in order to make it simpler for aspirant ski instructors to pass the exam.

The office of Michel Barnier, the EU's internal market Commissioner, has already hosted several meetings with representatives of European ski instructors to agree on a reform of the 'Eurotest'.

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Romania, Spain and the UK signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in February establishing a pilot project for a professional card to be issued for ski instructors in the European Union. A signature by Italy is expected in the near future, said Chantal Hughes, spokesperson for Barnier.

"The MoU provides that ski instructors who have passed the 'Eurotest' and have acquired in their member state of origin safety-related competencies in accordance with the requirements of the 'Euro-Security' test, as well as pedagogical competencies required for the diploma of highest qualification, will receive a pilot professional card from their country of origin," Hughes told EurActiv.

The professional card will be recognised by all the signatories of the MoU and enable ski instructors to benefit from automatic recognition of their qualifications in the countries concerned, she said.

Full Story at Euractiv

Over two million on Organ Donor Register

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register in Scotland has reached a record high of over two million.

New figures show that as of 31 March, 38.8 per cent of the population are signed up to be organ donors.

The year 2011/12 also saw the highest ever number of deceased organ donors, 81, which was an increase of nine on the previous record high from 2010/11, and represents the achievement of the 50 per cent increase on 2007-08 levels set by the NHS Organ Donor Taskforce.

To highlight the importance of organ donation, new dad David Speers, who is waiting on a kidney transplant, is calling for more people to join the Register.

Newlywed David was looking forward to the future with new wife Linda in 2009 when he found out he had chronic kidney failure and would need a transplant to save his life.

David, whose baby daughter Zoe was born in December, has been on the transplant list since June last year and is waiting for the life saving phone call that will allow him to live a normal life again.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “It is a fantastic achievement that we have passed the two million mark. The number of Scots on the NHS Organ Donor Register is higher than ever before, and higher than the UK average.

“These figures also show that we have achieved the target of a 50 per cent increase on the number of diseased donors which the UK Organ Donation Taskforce set in its January 2008 report.

“However, we know that there is still more to be done. The tragic fact is that more than 600 people in Scotland are still waiting for a life-saving transplant and across the UK three people die every day because they don’t get the organ they need in time.

“David’s story is a very real example of how important organ donation is, and how joining the Register could save a life.

“I am very grateful to David for telling his story and for backing our campaign to increase the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

“Signing up to the register takes a couple of minutes, but could mean the difference between life and death for those waiting for a transplant.”

In recognition of the achievements over the past year, the Health Secretary is writing to all members of staff involved in organ donation and transplantation across Scotland to thank them for their hard work.

A routine medical examination for life insurance ahead of buying a new home in 2009 revealed David was suffering from IgA Nephropathy, an autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys.

David, 34, who works as an oil and gas contracts consultant in Aberdeen, said: “I was at that point in life where I was doing all the adult things you do, getting married, getting a mortgage, life insurance and looking forward to starting a family. It all seemed routine but fortunately the doctor doing my medical picked signs of excessive blood and protein in my urine and referred me to a consultant who, after doing a biopsy, told me I had kidney failure. I count myself lucky that it was diagnosed when it was, I had no symptoms and was always fit and healthy.”

Doctors closely monitored David and put him on a restricted diet to manage his condition but warned him that he would soon need dialysis and eventually a kidney transplant.

He said: “It was the ultimate shock for us both but I had to keep positive and stay as fit and healthy as I could. I decided to train for and take part in an Olympic distance triathlon in July 2011 but in June 2011 I was told I was being registered on the organ transplant list

“I decided to participate in the triathlon as I had spent nine months training, it was my way of doing something positive before my life changed completely and also achieving a major goal. I wanted to do it as my way of saying this wasn’t going to beat me and nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it.

“I was also determined to ensure I was fit enough so that when the call does come for a kidney transplant, I’m in good shape to help me through the operation.”

David was not just fighting for his life, his wife Linda had just found out she was pregnant and they were expecting a baby in December 2011.

He said: “It really gave me something to focus on and fight for. I want to be able to run around after my children and live a normal life without worry so this was my way of showing that kidney disease wasn’t going to get me down.”

David ran the triathlon, completing a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and a 10km run. Just two weeks later he had a catheter fitted to start his kidney dialysis which he now does four times a day, every day.

He said: “It was a major achievement to finish it and I’m so glad I did. I started my dialysis just two weeks later which means now I can’t run or swim or do much physical activity.

“My whole focus since then has been on my daughter Zoe. When she was born it was amazing, the best moment of our lives, we have so much hope, plans and excitement for the future. Zoe puts it all into perspective; both Zoe and Linda are my inspiration and energy for life, I’m not going to let this beat me.

“My story is not unique or special; I am just a normal guy, with a positive outlook on life, a loving wife and daughter, while also waiting on a life changing transplant.

“There are so many people waiting on transplants and coping with a lot more than me, if from reading this, just one extra person joins the NHS Organ Donor Register then I have achieved something.

“Please, join the Register now, you can text or go online, it’s that easy and you could help save and change lives after you’re gone.”

Related Information

Join the NHS Organ Donor Register

New partnership between EU and UN Women to enhance gender equality worldwide

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

A new partnership between the EU and UN Women set up to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations on their work on empowering women and gender equality, was today signed by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice President of the Commission Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, with Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet.

The new Memorandum of Understanding signed on the margin of the EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit in Brussels, reaffirms the partnership between the two organisations to support gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world and ensures closer collaboration; sharing information, expertise and analysis in order to effectively advance women’s rights.

Cooperation will primarily focus on ensuring women’s representation in decision- making in the fields of economics, politics and justice worldwide, as well as better access for women to work and social opportunities.

Crucially, the partnership will see the two organisations coming together to take action on combating sexual and gender-based violence. This will include a commitment to provide more support and protection to survivors of violence and increasing access to support and services for those women affected.

Catherine Ashton said: "Discrimination against women and girls remains the most pervasive and persistent form of inequality. Together with UN Women we will work to improve the role of women in political and economic decision-making. We will also fight impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence, ensure better protection of women and improve their access to justice. These are issues that need our full attention and this new partnership enhances our ability to work even harder to reach these goals."

EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs added: "As I travel around the world, I can see that women are the agents of change. There will be no human and economic development without a sound respect of women’s rights and conditions. This is a fundamental part of the development policy that I wish to champion. I'm convinced that this partnership will take our collaboration with UN Women to a new level, ensuring more efficiency and better support to women all over the world."

UN Women Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director Michelle Bachelet said: “The full participation of women strengthens democracy, peace and sustainable development globally. By signing this strategic partnership, the European Union and UN Women reaffirms their strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. This partnership builds on on-going collaboration in several areas of work. The EU is a very important partner to UN Women and the MoU will enhance our co-operation on policies and programmes which make a difference in the lives of millions of women and girls worldwide.”

The partnership will involve the two organisations working together on policies and programmes on gender equality and women's empowerment. It will also mean that relevant information, analysis and strategic assessments are regularly shared in order to improve collaboration.

Background

The EU and UN Women are already working together regularly, for example, on the Increasing Accountability in Financing for Gender Equality Progamme, set up to help national governments; civil society and donors to improve resources and accountability on gender equality in 15 countries. A program recently started on enhancing women’s participation in peace-building and post-conflict planning in Liberia, Timor-Leste and Kosovo. The new Memorandum of Understanding confirms this partnership.

EU's work on gender

As the world’s second largest donor, the Commission has a crucial role to play in furthering the development of women and girls. Since 2004, for example, thanks to EU support: more than 85,000 new female students have been enrolled in secondary education, more than 4 million births attended by health personnel and 10.8 million consultations on reproductive health carried out.

EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit – the Gender dimension

On 16 April, the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the EU Council are organising the EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit. The afternoon session of this event will focus on gender and access to sustainable energy for women where Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet will provide the keynote address.

Women are disproportionately adversely affected by the lack of modern energy services. Energy plays a major role in women's daily lives; in practical uses, such as cooking and processing food and collecting water, and in meeting their wider needs; allowing them to study in the evenings, providing street lighting for safety, and enabling communication.

This Summit is being hosted by President José Manuel Barroso and EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs. Other high level participants include the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, as well as representatives from developing countries, industry and civil society organisations committed to achieving sustainable energy for all by 2030. This ambitious goal was set up by a High Level Group, led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, of which Commissioner Piebalgs is a member.

For further details about the EU's work with women, go to:

To find out more about UN Women, go to:

http://www.unwomen.org/

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to implement these standards.

http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/energy/sustainable/se4all_en.htm

To find out more about the EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit, go to

http://www.cvent.com/events/eu-sustainable-energy-for-all-summit/event-summary-ecd2a79dca4245f281c8f1bdc9936c08.aspx

http://www.sustainableenergyforall.org/

EU budget 2011: 1% surplus

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The €123 billion EU budget for 2011 shows a 1% surplus (€1.49 billion). In other words, 99% of the budget were implemented last year. These are the figures in the draft amending budget 3 adopted by the European Commission yesterday. This is the lowest surplus in recent years (see table below).

According to budgetary rules, the €1.49 billion will reduce accordingly the contributions of the Member States to next year's EU budget.

The surplus consists mainly of competition fines cashed in towards the end of the year (about €0.7 billion) and of minor under implementation of various parts of the EU budget (about €0.7 billion, of which €0.3 billion from the Commission).

"Of course, one could find it contradictory that the 2011 budget shows a small surplus when we announced that we could not pay €11bn worth of bills that arrived last December, says EU Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget Janusz Lewandowski. This is mainly due to two reasons: on the one hand it is immensely difficult to shift funds from one part of the EU budget to another; on the other budgetary procedures are very slow and late sources of income cannot always be processed by the end of the budgetary year. This is also why the European Commission keeps pressing Member States and the European Parliament to agree to make the EU budget more flexible, more in line with real life. Regrettably, so far we have not been successful in achieving the flexibility that we need to react quickly to new developments. With the existing rigid rules, achieving a 1% surplus is the best possible result".

For more information

Homepage of Janusz Lewandowski, Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/lewandowski/index_en.htm

Homepage DG Financial Programming and Budget:

http://ec.europa.eu/budget/index_en.cfm

European Commission makes fundamental rights a reality for citizens

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – now in force and legally binding for more than two years – has guided EU law-making from the very first draft all the way through to the statute book. The Charter sets out fundamental rights – such as freedom of expression and the protection of personal data – that reflect Europe’s common values and its constitutional heritage. The European Commission's second annual report on the Charter finds that fundamental rights concerns are increasingly embedded in EU policy-making. For example, travellers will be entitled to opt out of security scanning at EU airports and be screened using other methods thanks to Commission action to take on board privacy concerns in a new EU law. The EU Court of Justice increasingly refers to the Charter, notably in landmark decisions on sex discrimination and Internet privacy. Yesterday's report is part of the Commission's efforts to raise people's awareness of the Charter, when it applies, and the role of EU institutions in the field of fundamental rights.

"My primary goal over the last two years, since the Charter became legally binding, was to create a solid EU-wide fundamental rights culture. I have made the Charter the compass of all policies decided at EU level," said Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. "We now need to help citizens exercise their rights in practice by working with Member States to ensure people know where they can turn if their rights are infringed."

The primary role of the Charter is to guarantee that the EU institutions respect fundamental rights in preparing new European laws. Fundamental rights concerns are now an inherent part of the preparation of new EU laws. For example, in 2011, this helped ensure that EU rules on the use of security scanners at airports respect the fundamental rights to protection of personal data, private life and dignity (IP/11/1343).

Click here for full press release

Sea turtles find protected cover

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : EU Research and Innovation

Sea turtles are using marine protected areas (MPAs) to protect themselves from the threats of fishing and to forage for food, a new international study shows. Presented in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, the findings show that more than a third of the world's green turtles are found within MPAs. This figure is much higher than what they anticipated because just a small number of shallow oceans are designated as MPAs

Led by the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, researchers from Australia, the Cayman Islands, Greece, Guadeloupe, Indonesia, Italy, La Reunion and the United Kingdom used data on the movements of 145 green turtles from 28 nesting sites. They used extensive satellite tracking to capture the data. According to the researchers, green turtles are able to travel for thousands of kilometres from their breeding sites to their feeding grounds. The team identified that 35% of the turtles foraged in MPAs. Overall, 21% were found in MPAs that are the most strictly protected and older MPAs were more likely to contain turtles.

'Notwithstanding limitations in the satellite tracking data currently available, results clearly show that foraging adult green turtles are found in association with MPAs far more often than expected by chance,' the authors write. 'We might reasonably expect MPAs to be in better health than other areas of coastal seas and thus a better/safer habitat for exploited species, especially if there is a positive feedback loop with these large consumers maintaining habitat quality.'

MPAs are areas in the ocean where marine activities are restricted. Governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are responsible for regulating these areas. MPAs in the tropics are often rich in seagrass and algae, which in turn are used by turtles for food. It should be noted that foraging also helps maintain these habitats.

Several categories of MPAs exist, and the most strictly protected ones are managed solely for scientific purposes.

'Our global overview revealed that sea turtles appear in Marine Protected Areas far more than would be expected by chance,' says Professor Brendan Godley from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at the University of Exeter. 'There has been debate over the value of MPAs, but this research provides compelling evidence that they may be effective in providing safe foraging habitats for large marine creatures, such as green turtles. The satellite tracking work that the University of Exeter has played such a lead role in developing allows us to assess the value of MPAs in a way that would never have previously been possible.'

Commenting on the results of the study, British Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon said: 'This study unlocks some of the secrets surrounding the life cycle of marine turtles, whose movements have long been a mystery. The results will mean we will better manage the oceans and protect turtle habitats which are key to helping them survive.'

Shocking Olives

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There is a electrifying new way to squeeze more from an ancient resource - olives.

“We have improved the olive oil extraction process by using a technology based on a pulsed electric field,” explained Arturo Portugal, a research engineer at CRIC.

In Malagón in central Spain, a small company is testing out a shocking new form of oil extraction.

The idea is to shock the olives with an electrical pulse before squeezing them.

The brief pulses of a strong electrical field enlarge the pores in the cellular membranes, simplifying the extraction of oil.

Arturo Portugal told us: “The electric pulses, generated by this machine, are directed to this electric box where they pass through the olive paste, pumped through the pipes.”

The result is more oil from the same amount of raw material.

What is more, punching open the pores of the fruit with an electric pulse makes it simpler to get the best oil from unripe olives.

The owner of Aceites Malagón, Aniceto Gómez said: “To ensure the best quality of oil, it’s important to extract it without heating. This project facilitates that process, making it possible to extract oil from the best green olives at ambient temperature.”

The pilot plant is treating six litres of olive paste per second.

Once proven, the technology, developed within an EU project, will be scaled up to full production levels.

Arturo Portugal said: “The emerging markets outside Europe nowadays produce goods at much lower price. This project means we can improve the competitiveness of our olive oil sector by increasing its productivity.”

Study finds mums and babies benefit from salmon intake

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

12 June 2012 FP7 Trans-national Brokerage Event in Lyon (France)

Pregnant women can eat two servings of fish-farmed salmon each week, as it is beneficial to them and their children, according to a new study from Spain. The fish should be enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Presented in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study was funded in part by the SIPS ('Salmon in pregnancy study)' project, supported under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Researchers from the University of Granada in Spain observed that the consumption of salmon boosts omega-3 fatty acid levels in both the mother and child, and fuels their antioxidant defences. What triggers this increase in their fatty acid levels and defences? Selenium and retinol concentrations in salmon are responsible for the boost. They also found that salmon does not modify oxidative stress levels, inflammatory response or vascular homeostasis.

The researchers assessed subjects split into two groups: the 'salmon group' consumed 2 servings of 'treated' salmon from 20 weeks of gestation until term, and the control group maintained a regular diet.

The team provided the subjects with farmed fish, under a controlled diet that consisted of special ingredients like vegetable oils and food as algae and zooplankton. Thanks to this special diet, increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids along with high concentrations of antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamins A and E, and selenium, were found in the salmon. According to the researchers, the fish also contained very low contaminant levels.

The team also obtained blood and urine samples from both groups. All subjects completed a questionnaire of food habits at weeks 20 and 34 of gestation. The generated data would provide information about food intake during the previous 12 weeks. They took blood and urine samples again at week 38 of gestation, and at labour. The researchers also obtained cord blood samples once the babies were born.

Their findings show that omega-3 fatty acid concentrations improved when pregnant women ate two servings of salmon each week when they normally did not. They obtained similar results for the newborns. The end result is that two servings of salmon per week give mothers and babies the means to secure the minimum recommended omega-3 fatty acid intake.

The team also discovered that the biomarkers for lipid oxidation and oxidative damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) remained unchanged after the salmon was consumed.

In a nutshell, consuming two servings of salmon each week during pregnancy will not boost oxidative stress. Selenium and retinal concentrations also rose in the plasma of pregnant women, and selenium concentrations increased in the newborns.

Every cloud has a green lining

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Everything is going online - or into 'the cloud' - as we call it today. We expect access to our emails, photos and files from any device. With zettabytes of data to process and deliver, data centres are becoming major power consumers. An EU-funded project is using some clever 3D design to build an energy-efficient super server chip.

Climate change dominates the political agenda, but we all still use an awful lot of energy, especially with our growing number of electronic devices. We have laptops and smart phones to charge and iPods to sync. We use the Internet for shopping, entertainment and education and easily forget that even a simple web search uses power.

The market analyst firm IDC estimates that the digital universe had 1.8 zettabytes (one zettabyte is a billion terabytes; one terabyte is a thousand gigabytes) of information in 2011; they predict this to grow to 35 zettabytes by 2020. Within 15 years there will also be trillions of 'things' - devices, sensors, objects - connecting to the internet and flooding data centres with massive amounts of raw data that will have to be stored, processed and analysed.

When seen in these terms it is perhaps less surprising to discover that a typical data centre consumes up to 20 megawatts (MW) of energy (a typical commercial wind turbine has an output of up to 1.5 MW).

'Server energy consumption and hardware costs are becoming a great concern in the data centres in which the servers are built,' says Dr. Emre Ozer, an R&D Staff engineer at chip technology company ARM. 'Cloud servers use high-end, expensive and energy-hungry processors and the chip manufacturers are now at the limit of what they can easily do to minimise energy wastage.'

Serve up some greens

Dr. Ozer is coordinating the EU-funded FP7 project 'The energy-conscious 3D server-on-chip for green cloud services', known as EuroCloud-"247779", which is looking into the potential for 3D server chips as one way to make them less energy hungry. EuroCloud-"247779" is one of Europe's flagship projects in Computing Systems.

The idea is to embed processing cores and memory in close proximity and in three dimensions. Access to on-chip memory uses significantly less energy because the physical distances between components are shorter and there are fewer 'junctions' for electrons to cross on their journey from memory to processor.

'3D chip technology has been around for a while, in particular in mobile computing where miniaturisation and energy efficiency are essential for devices. The main barrier to 3D chip technology becoming mainstream has been high manufacturing costs,' Dr. Ozer continues, 'but semiconductor companies are now investing in significant R&D to overcoming this hurdle.'

So far the EuroCloud partners have developed their design concept for the new server-on-chip architecture. The project has also developed a framework for monitoring the thermal behaviour of 3D chips (their efficiency is closely coupled to how much heat they generate and how easy they are to keep cool).

Chips in

'We have already shown that multiple servers on a chip design increases the server chip performance density by 15 % compared to existing server chip architectures built with today's technology,' explains Dr. Ozer.

These early results are taken from simulations of chips containing multiple servers, but without integrated 3D memory. 'We are still in the process of measuring the chip performance density and energy to cost efficiency of multiple servers on a chip with integrated 3D memory,' he continues. 'Our target is to make these chips 10 times more energy-efficient.' Scaling this increased energy-efficiency to the data-centre level will result in huge energy savings.

Having developed a 'proof of concept', the project hopes that the server-on-chip design will provoke the industry to develop server chips containing perhaps hundreds of embedded cores. ‘‘We expect that data centres with one million processors will one day become a reality,' predicts Dr. Ozer. 'We know we need them to meet the demand for cloud services, but we want to do it without a massive rise in energy consumption.'

EuroCloud-"247779" received EUR 3.3 million (of total EUR 5.4 million project budget) in research funding under the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), ICT 'Computing Systems' programme.

Useful Links:
- 'The energy-conscious 3D server-on-chip for green cloud services' website
- Eurocloud factsheet on CORDIS

Keeping up with our galactic neighbours: the nearby planetary system that might have more planets than us!

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS

A European astronomer has just published new findings that show the planetary system around the star named HD 10180 may have more planets in its orbits than our own Solar System.

At 130 light years away from Earth it would be impossible for humans to travel to the star, but in astronomical terms it is still considered to be a solar neighbour.

Mikko Tuomi, an astronomer at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, carried out his analysis as part of work being conducted in an EU-funded Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) called 'Rocky Planets Around Cool Stars' (RoPACS) which is supported by EUR 3,211,716 of funding under the 'People' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Although astronomers originally thought HD 10180 was being orbited by 7 planets, after re-analysing data from HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher), a high-precision echelle spectrograph located on ESO's (European Southern Observatory) .6m telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile, it now seems that the star can actually boast to having 9 planets in its orbit. This discovery is significant as most planetary systems discovered so far have far fewer planets.

Mikko Tuomi's study will soon be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, and as well as being the first evidence that two additional planets likely exist, his work also verifies the existence of the previously discovered seven planets.

His findings suggest the 2 newly detected signals come from 2 planets classified as hot super-Earths with orbital periods around the star of 10 and 68 days. This means that these new planets are closer to the star's surface than the Earth is to the Sun which makes them too hot to be able to maintain water on their surfaces in its liquid form. They have masses of 1.9 and 5.1 times that of Earth which suggests that they are solid rocky bodies and make them among the smallest planets outside of our Solar System detected to date.

Now further observations will be required to verify the existence of these potential new planets, and confirm whether the HD 10180 star system can indeed be heralded as the richest planetary system we know of.

The main aim of the RoPACS network is to discover and study extra-solar planets that surround cool stars, by far the most common potential planet hosts. The network brings together astronomers from Germany, Spain, the Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

By November 2012 when the RoPACS project comes to an end, the researchers involved hope to have found the answers to the following outstanding conundrums: how planet formation depends on the host star; the full range of stars around which habitable planets may be found; how our Solar System relates to the full diversity of planetary systems; and how we can best use future technology to discover and measure the full variety of potentially habitable extra-solar planets.

The core principle of the network is to train early stage researchers (ESRs) and equip young experienced researchers (ERs) with astronomical, computational, mathematical and technical skills to measure, simulate and interpret scientific observations of extra-solar planets and the technologies used to observe and characterise them. It will also provide transferable skills such as multi-language programming, pipeline analysis techniques, the use of mathematical algorithms, spectroscopy, effective use of databases, engineering design techniques and education/outreach practices.

For more information, please visit: University of Hertfordshire: http://www.herts.ac.uk/home-page.cfm

3D planning tool for the city of tomorrow

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Noise levels, fine particulate matter, traffic volumes – these data are of interest to urban planners and residents alike. A three-dimensional presentation will soon make it easier to handle them: as the user virtually moves through his city, the corresponding data are displayed as green, yellow or red dots.

Fine dust, aircraft noise and the buzz of highways have a negative impact on a city‘s inhabitants. Urban planners have to take a lot of information into consideration when planning new highways or airport construction. What is the best way to execute a building project? To what extent can the ears – and nerves – of local residents be protected from noise? Previously, experts used simulation models to determine these data. The latest EU directives provide the basis for this. They obtain the data as 2D survey maps; however, these are often difficult to interpret, since the spatial information is missing.

That will get easier in the future: urban planners will be able to virtually move, with computer assistance, through a three-dimensional view of the city. In other words, they will “take a walk” through the streets. No 3D glasses required, though they would be a good idea for the perfect 3D impression. The corresponding values from the simulation “float” at the associated locations on the 3D map – where noise data might be displayed using red, yellow or green boxes. The distances between data points currently equal five meters, but this can be adjusted according to need. The user determines how the map is displayed – selecting a standpoint, zooming in to street level or selecting a bird’s-eye perspective. This can provide quick help in locating problems such as regions with heavy noise pollution. The 3D map was developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO and the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP. “For the simulations, we used standard programs that are oriented around EU directives on noise-pollution control,” says Roland Blach, department head at IAO. “The main challenge was to come up with a user-friendly way of displaying different simulation results.”

Electric cars do not reduce noise levels

Another interesting consideration that the researchers were able to visualize with this tool: if electric vehicles alone were driven in the city, instead of cars with internal combustion engines, how would this change the volume level? What if both gas-driven and electric motor vehicles were on the roads? “Admittedly, you can barely hear electric cars when starting up. At about 30 kilometers per hour, however, you start to hear rolling noises that can get really loud at speeds of 50 kilometers per hour. Initial simulations found that the conventional simulation models stipulated by public agencies tend to average too sharply: we have yet to see any significant difference in the noise level in electric vehicles or gas-driven cars, since apparently it‘s the rolling noise that predominates,” says Blach. Researchers are presenting these simulations, using Stuttgart as an example, at the Hannover Messe from April 23–27 (Hall 26, Booth C08).

The 3D map is only one of the tools developed by researchers in the “Virtual Cityscape” project. Another is parametric modeling. Here, a structure is designed such that any subsequent changes to dimensions can be made simply by entering the new measurements. If new buildings are to be planned, the scientists first analyze the logistical flows. How many people pass through which halls and corridors? What goods have to get through? “The program takes these usage parameters into account, and automatically incorporates them into the planning,” explains Blach. For example, if only standard windows are supposed to be used in a building, and the architect enlarges a space, then the program automatically places the windows at the appropriate distances or even inserts another one if space allows.

Detecting material defects in ship propellers

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS

Ship propellers are as large as a single-family home – and manufacturing them is quite a challenge. During the casting process, pores and miniscule cracks can form that in the worst case may cause a blade to break. Now these massive components can be inspected for defects in a non-invasive manner, using a new kind of ultrasound process.

They can weigh up to 150 tons, and it’s not uncommon for them to measure nine meters or more in diameter: the ship propellers on huge tankers, container ships and cruise liners are invisible giants. Damage to these massive propellers could render a ship unmaneuverable – with unpredictable consequences for people and the environment. Many defects do not come from external influences, but instead originate in the production or repair process. For example, when the molded parts are being cast, any turbulence could lead to sand inclusions and pores. Left undetected, critical imperfections could lead to breakage of a blade.

Until now, propellers have been inspected manually for inner defects when necessary. To make them visible, the inspector guides an ultrasound test probe over the component by hand – an error-prone procedure that fails to capture the entire volume of the component. This method cannot detect cracks inside the propeller in certain circumstances. To identify defects in a timely manner, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM developed a mechanized ultrasound process that can be used for the non-destructive testing of complex components. The scientists received support from the GL Group (Germanischer Lloyd) and propeller manufacturer Wärtsilä Propulsion Netherlands.

Mobile scanner can be positioned freely

“With our mobile ultrasound test system, we can inspect copper-nickel-aluminum bronzes up to 450 millimeters thick and detect fissures down to a few millimeters in length. Because we emit the ultrasound at defined angles, we also find defects positioned at an angle to the surface”, says Dr. Martin Spies of ITWM in Kaiserslautern. The system is capable of recording large volumes of digitized ultrasound test data, taking into account the many and variously intense curvatures of the propeller surface. The device currently scans test grids of 700 by 400 millimeters, achieving a rate of up to 100 millimeters per second. The mobile scanner can be positioned anywhere on the propeller, and, thanks to its suction feet, it can be attached in a horizontal as well as vertical test position. “We obtained the 3D data about the inside of the component by an imaging procedure known as SAFT. It provides a detailed display of inclusions and welding-seam defects. It basically works like computer tomography in medicine,” explains Spies.

With the aid of special computational processes and algorithms, the experts have succeeded in reducing interference signals and intensifying error signals – a complicated task, since the various areas of the blade do not have a homogenously coarse grain. This can weaken the echo substantially. The specialists also use simulations to calculate in advance which ultrasound test probe they have to deploy.

The researchers use the mobile scan system for their on-site testing at foundries, at propeller manufacturers, on deck and in dry dock, and are currently improving scan times and 3D defect imaging. Only recently, they were able to put the efficiency of their procedure to the test at the world‘s largest shipbuilder in Korea. “The customer wanted to document the quality of its propellers, to gain an edge over the competition,” says Spies. “With our procedure, we can test not only propellers but also other complex components made of materials that are difficult to test, like offshore components made of duplex steels,” he stressed. ITWM researchers Alexander Dillhöfer, Hans Rieder and Dr. Martin Spies recently received the Innovation Award from the Deutsches Kupferinstitut for their outstanding accomplishments with copper and its alloys.

Innovative pellets to benefit organic farmers

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS

Researchers in Germany and Hungary have engineered novel pellets that are able to repel pests in a way that does not harm the environment and that could fertilise the plants. These pellets are made of cyanobacteria and fermentation residues from biogas facilities. The organic farming industry could stand to benefit from this innovative development since organic farmers stand to lose entire crops when pests, such as cabbage root flies, lay their eggs on freshly planted vegetables.

The purchase and consumption of organic vegetables keeps growing, with most people saying they prefer buying and eating products that are neither treated with pesticides nor laden with chemicals. But organic farmers must deal with the challenge of keeping their plants safe from pests, a task that is next to impossible. So when cabbage root flies, for instance, lay their eggs in the spring and fall on freshly planted greens, an entire harvest can be lost. Farmers say they can help protect their plants by planting seeds after the fly's flying time is over.

But good news has finally arrived for these farmers. Thanks to scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), in collaboration with researchers from the University of West Hungary in Mosonmagyaróvár, and on behalf of several organic agriculture associations, these innovative pellets will prove advantageous for all.

'The pellets primarily consist of fermentation residues from biogas production, but they also contain 0.1% cyanobacteria,' says Dr Ulrike Schmid-Staiger, group manager at IGB. Soil flora degrade the cyanobacteria, which release a scent that repels cabbage root flies, after the pellets are placed around the planted vegetables. The fermentation residues, which are rich in nutrients, also fertilise the plants.

The team used a flat-panel airlift reactor originally developed for microalgae to cultivate cyanobacteria. They used only light, carbon dioxide (CO2) and mineral nutrients to cultivate the bacteria. The task was not easy, especially because the bacteria had to be mixed thoroughly and to rise to the surface. Both air and CO2 had to flow into the reactor. It should be noted that the cyanobacteria are very sensitive. Their structure looks like a long string of pearls, which can be damaged if too much pressure is placed on it. The researchers regulated the air inflow to allow the mass to be thoroughly mixed without damaging the bacteria.

They later used super-heated steam to dry the cyanobacteria, which was then mixed with the fermentation residues and pressed into pellets. The team acquired the fertilising fermentation residues from eco-certified farms in which liquid manure is decomposed into biogas. Within 2 weeks, they generated 300 litres of biogas per kilogram of organic dry mass. The remnants that cannot be further fermented are dried.

The pellets were tested in open-field studies in Spain and Hungary. They found that the cabbage root flies did not attack any of the growing cabbage or kohlrabi.

For more information, please visit:

Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB): http://www.igb.fraunhofer.de/en.html

University of West Hungary: http://www.uniwest.hu/index.php/2362/?&L=4

Study shows teeth are testament to diet

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Are we really 'what we eat' as the common platitude says? Apparently so, according to a team of scientists from the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom: they have shown that our teeth are literally shaped by what food we choose to put in our mouths.

Research from the team shows that evidence from teeth can be used to determine what has been eaten by a particular animal. This means scientists can now find out about wild animals' diets without having to look at the contents of their stomachs. The team also claim their method could be use to investigate diets of extinct animals such as giant marine reptiles and dinosaurs.

Writing in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the team explain that the roughness of tooth surfaces can reveal what an animal has been eating. This shows there is a close link between roughness of teeth and diet, with teeth from animals that eat hard foods having rougher surfaces than those from animals that eat soft foods.

Professor Mark Purnell from the University of Leicester, comments: 'Run your tongue over your teeth. Some may feel rougher than others. The question we are trying to answer is can the roughness of the tips of teeth, worn by contact with food, be used to work out what an animal has been eating? But before we can start to answer that question, we need to ask, what is roughness? This is tricky to measure. Smooth and rough surfaces are intuitively easy to distinguish, but is tree bark rougher than a road surface? Is the microscopic surface of chalk rougher than cheese? It's hard to make the comparison.

'But the question does matter. For example, as hip replacements wear, do they get rougher or smoother? If an engine cylinder is too smooth it won't retain enough oil on its surface, leading to friction and seizing, but how smooth is too smooth? In order to answer questions like this, engineers have been working on ways to measure roughness for decades. International standards are now being developed, based on new ways of measuring surfaces very precisely using special 3-D microscopes, and it is this approach that has been applied to the teeth in this study.'

These new methods will provide a useful new way of investigating fish diets. This means researchers will be able to see how changes in diet can control the disappearance of a species, or the evolution of new ones - and will be especially useful for analysing fossils of animals whose diets are hard to determine.

Ole Seehausen was the team member responsible for identifying stomach contents. He adds: 'To our surprise, we found that in some cases tooth roughness is a more reliable guide to diet than looking in a fish's stomach, because stomach contents tell you only what an animal was eating in the few hours before it was caught, not what it usually eats.'

For more information, please visit: University of Leicester: http://www2.le.ac.uk/

Powering a beating heart: German researchers find innovative solutions for a new generation of pacemakers

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

While battery operated cordless devices dominate how we communicate today, their short power lifespan is a limiting factor when it comes to their application in medical settings, such as in implants or probes that are designed to stay in the body for many years and can't be taken out and charged like an mp3 player or a phone. Although this problem has largely been overcome with radio wave-based (HF) and inductive systems, such as pacemakers, which have been in use for the best part of half a century, there remain problems surrounding their efficiency in terms of location, position and movement and they are also often limited in range.

Now, a team of German researchers, from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in Hermsdorf, has released details of their latest invention which they hope will go some way to overcoming some of these difficulties. They have come up with a new power transfer system, which has already been patented, to get around these location, position and movement limiting factors that currently plague radio wave-based (HF) and inductive systems.

The team successfully managed to wirelessly transmit power from a portable transmitter module to a mobile generator module or 'receiver'. The transmitter provides an electric current of over 100 milliwatts and has a range of about 50 centimetres. As a result, the receiver can be placed almost anywhere in the body.

Dr. Holger Lausch from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS comments:
'The cylindrical shaped transfer module is so small and compact that it can be attached to a belt. With our portable device, we can remotely supply power to implants, medication dosing systems and other medical applications without touching them - such as ingestible endoscopic capsules that migrate through the gastrointestinal tract and transmit images of the body's inside to the outside.'

The generator module can be traced any time - regardless of power transfer - with respect to its position and location. So if the generator is located inside a video endoscopy capsule, the images produced can be assigned to specific intestinal regions. If it is placed inside a dosing capsule, then the active ingredient in the medication can be released in a targeted manner. In the transfer module, a rotating magnet driven by an EC motor generates a magnetic rotary field. A magnetic pellet in the receiver connects to the alternating exterior magnetic field and as a result, is set in rotation itself. The rotational movement is transformed into electricity, thus the power is produced right in the generator module.

Dr Lausch discusses the systems' advantages:
'With magnetic coupling, power can be transported through all non-magnetic materials, such as biological tissue, bones, organs, water, plastic or even a variety of metals. Moreover, the magnetic field produced has no harmful side effects on humans. It doesn't even heat up tissue.'

These new types of miniature, intelligent systems are set to soon take over therapeutic and diagnostic functions. Scientists hope that in the future implantable sensors will be able to measure glucose levels, blood pressure or the oxygen saturation of tumorous tissue, as well as transmit patient data via telemetry, a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, via radio wave or IP network transmission and reception of the information.

As the modules available as prototypes are scalable in terms of range, size and performance capacity, they can also be used for more than medical technology applications. They can also supply power wirelessly to hermetically sealed sensors - such as those inside walls or bridges. Therefore this makes them suitable for use in mechanical engineering and plant construction.

In the future they could also be used for charging power storage units and activating electronic components.

For more information, please visit:

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS:
http://www.ikts.fraunhofer.de/en/

Europe on the cutting edge: 'Organic', the new electronics revolution

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

An 'organic' revolution is unfolding in the electronics industry. From flat-screen TVs and flexible displays to windows, lighting and solar panels, organic electronic components are offering unprecedented features, design flexibility and versatility at relatively low financial and environmental cost. EU funding is helping Europe strengthen its R&D lead in this fast-developing field by encouraging greater cooperation and coordination across national and commercial research efforts.

'Organic and large-area electronics' (OLAE) is focused on materials and devices built from organic carbon-based molecules that are able to conduct electricity. Because these are lighter, more flexible and less expensive than inorganic conductors, such as copper or silicon, they are a viable alternative for many electronics applications.

More significantly perhaps, their unique properties create possibilities for many new applications that would simply be impossible with standard inorganic materials. Organic electronics could lead to intelligent packaging, low cost radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponders, rollable displays, flexible solar cells, disposable diagnostic devices and printed batteries.

'The range of applications for OLAE is extremely diverse... we are probably only just scratching the surface of what organic electronics can do, and, to top it off, OLAE materials are more cost-effective to manufacture and more environmentally-friendly than traditional electronics,' explains Herman Schoo, a senior research fellow at Dutch research organisation TNO.

Dr. Schoo coordinated the Polymap* project to help ensure funding for OLAE research is distributed and used as effectively as possible within the European research community. Supported by EUR 600,000 in funding from the European Commission, the project team helped to establish an ERA-Net Plus network. This will build cooperation and coordinate funding streams from national governments and regional organisations. They also set up an online database to maintain up-to-date information on OLAE research and provided support and training workshops for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) active in this technology.

'Organic light-emitting diodes' (OLEDs) are the most common commercial application of the technology. They are behind the bright, ultra-high-contrast screens in high-end portable devices, and, increasingly, are replacing inorganic LED and standard lighting in homes and buildings.

But other organic electronic materials are also being used for flexible displays and 'electronic paper;' for 'smart glass' that can switch from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button; for new types of semiconductors; for ultra-thin printed batteries; for smart clothing; and for flexible photovoltaic panels that can cover entire buildings.

Much of the pioneering work on organic electronics has been led by European researchers ever since Henry Letheby, a British analytical chemist created a partially conductive organic material by anodic oxidation of aniline in sulphuric acid in 1862. Today, innovative European companies such as Nanoident, PolyIC, Polymer Vision and Philips are working on devices, while leading materials suppliers such as Degussa and Merck are actively involved in R&D.

'Europe - particularly European academia - continues to lead R&D in organic electronics. We want to make sure we maintain and strengthen our competitiveness in that area,' Dr. Schoo says.

The team's efforts were closely coordinated with three other EU-funded projects working in the OLAE domain: Opera, Prodi and Polynet. Together, the four projects are called the 'Quadriga' projects.

'We began by analysing funding across Europe for OLAE research and, unsurprisingly, found it to be very fragmented with little to no coordination between the research programs of different countries and organisations. Often, we found that money was being invested in the same sort of research in more than one country - that is simply not efficient, in fact it's wasteful,' Dr. Schoo says.

The Polymap team sought to reduce this multiplicity of research through better coordination and collaboration between researchers and funding programs.

'Surely it is better to pool resources into projects that lead to world-class results than having many overlapping projects that produce mediocre outcomes,' the Polymap coordinator emphasises.

The OLAE+ ERA-Net Plus network made an important step in improving the use of resources. Launched with the involvement of eight countries, it is continuing to grow and has received around EUR 18 million in funding from national research programmes including EUR 6 million from the European Commission. The money is being used to fund pan-European OLAE research from leading research groups.

Meanwhile, the Polynet team also focused on helping technology SMEs strengthen their position in the OLAE sector or break into the field for the first time, organising a series of workshops and providing technology and training support, and guiding them on how to access public and private sector funding. The Polymap online database, an open Wikipedia-style website now maintained by the Organic and Printed Electronics Association (OE-A), was set up primarily with SMEs in mind to allow easy access to up-to-date information on OLAE research, which smaller companies may not have the resources to uncover for themselves.

'Though much of the OLAE research in Europe is carried out by academia, SMEs have an important role to play,' Dr. Schoo notes. 'Crucially, the barriers to entry into the OLAE industry aren't as large as in traditional electronics. For one thing, the start-up costs are substantially lower than the billions needed to set up a factory to produce silicon-based devices for example.'

Organic electronic devices are most commonly produced via printing or coating processes that use relatively cheap equipment and comparatively little energy, making OLAE devices not only cost-effective but also more environmentally friendly.

In Dr. Schoo's view, efforts to coordinate research funding such as those carried out in the Polymap project should help Europe maintain its competitive edge in OLAE R&D, but the biggest challenge remains in putting European OLAE technology on the map commercially. Currently, only around 25 % of the major companies worldwide that make printed transistors and memory, crucial for the future of organic and large area electronics, operate in Europe.

'Go to a conference or look at a scientific journal and you'll see that the big advances in research in the field are taking place in Europe,' Dr. Schoo says. 'Industry, on the other hand, is still not doing enough... but there is still time for that to change.'

Polymap received research funding under the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

* 'Technology roadmap of processes and materials for organic electronics'

Useful links:

- 'Technology roadmap of processes and materials for organic electronics' website
- Polymap factsheet on CORDIS

Call for proposals for areas related to green technology and aircraft

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative has published a call for proposals for areas related to green technology and aircraft.

The areas covered by the call include:
- eco design;
- green regional aircraft;
- green rotorcraft;
- sustainable and green engines;
- smart fixed wing aircraft;
- systems for green operations;
- technology evaluator.

Aircraft have a 30-year service life, and new aviation design takes more than a decade to develop. The aim of Clean Sky is to develop breakthrough technologies to significantly increase the environmental performance of airplanes and air transport. This will result in less noisy and more fuel efficient aircraft, bringing a key contribution in achieving the Single European Sky environmental objectives. The accelerated research process used by Clean Sky is an opportunity for rapid progress in the introduction of green technology into aviation.

The joint technology initiative (JTI) started in 2008 and is a public-private partnership between the European Commission and industry stakeholders.

Deadline: 10 July 2012 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)

To see the official call announcement, please consult the following link

FP7 Health Information Day on 11th April - resources.

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We held the annual FP7 Health Information Day in Scotland's People, Edinburgh on 11th April 2012.

The purpose of all of our Information days is to give attendees access to accurate up-to-date information and key speakers as well as to hear about the experiences of an organisation that has participated in FP7.

On April 11th we were delighted to welcome the new National Contact Point (NCP) for FP7 Health Theme, Dr Octavio Pernas and providing the compnay perspective, Crispin Kirkman who talked about his experience as an evaluator and the Fit for Health Network (http://www.fitforhealth.eu/).

For those who attended as well as those who couldn't, here is some information from the day.

Presentations from the day

Octavio’s presentations: FP7 - Overview and the 2013 Health call and FP7: How do you participate?

Crispin's presentations is being checked and we'll put it on this page when it is available.

The Scottish Enterprise support presentations is here.

The much mentioned FP7 Health orientation paper is available here: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/health/docs/fp7-health-2013-orientation-paper-120402_en.pdf

Forthcoming Events

25th April KTN FP7 Masterclass, Glasgow. Event Registration Website

1st May 2012 EU Funding for Sustainable Surface Transport, Opportunities from Economic Downturn Event| Edinburgh. Event Registration Website

29th May 2012 EC Open Information Day on FP7 Health research

30th May 2012 FP7 Health Partnering event organised by "Fit for Health" and "Health-NCP-Net"

Coming Soon

EU Funding Opportunities In The Field Of Water And Eco-Innovation | 10th May 2012
FP7 Environment & KBBE Event 17th May 2012
FP7 NMP Information day 18th May 2012
Eco-Innovation Workshop 31st May 2012

If you want to ensure that you are notified about the upcoming events please do not hesitate to contact us and we will insure that you are advised when ticket registration is launched.

Contacts

Remember that if you are based in Scotland and want support and advice in participating in FP7, get in touch with us using the email: fp7@scotent.co.uk or by calling 0845 607 8787.

Contact Octavio using : octavio.pernas@betatechnology.co.uk , telephone: +44 (0) 1302 322633, web: https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/fp7-uk-health

Contact Crispin using : crispin.kirkman@emtechna.com , telephone +44 1276 855777, web: http://www.fitforhealth.eu/events/all,upcoming.aspx

Scottish Tourism continues to increase.

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Scotland’s tourism industry is continuing to grow as the number of overnight visitors to Scotland rose by 9 per cent in 2011 according to the latest figures.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics publication “Overseas travel and tourism: Quarter 4: 2011”, combined with those from the Great Britain Tourism Survey show that there was an 14 per cent increase in expenditure by overnight visitors to Scotland in 2011 compared to 2010.

The domestic “staycation” market continued to perform well with a ten per cent increase in visits to Scotland from within Great Britain, and a 20 per cent rise in the amount domestic visitors spend.

Internationally, the number of visitors showed relatively little change decreasing by 1 per cent but the number of tourists coming from North America rose by 15 per cent from 2010 levels.

The news comes as Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing visits North America as part of Scotland week, and follows VisitScotland research which shows that “Daycations” – day visits – are worth over £6.2 billion to the Scottish Economy.

Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“These encouraging figures show just how resilient Scottish tourism is.

“The nine per cent increase in visitors to Scotland shows growth in one of our key sectors and is good news for Scotland’s wider economy, especially in the current global economic climate. These figures are a reflection of the hard work being done by Scotland’s tourism industry, and of the innovative marketing campaigns VisitScotland has created, both at home and overseas.

“The staycation market is continuing to boost visitor numbers and the average spend has carried on rising. We will continuing to invest in this market, and in this Year of Creative Scotland will see many more opportunities to do so.

“The 15 per cent increase in visitors from North America shows Scotland’s appeal continues to expand after a difficult time. This week I am touring North America as part of Scotland Week, promoting Scotland as a tourist destination to people all over the USA and Canada, and I have experienced first hand the tremendous enthusiasm for visiting Scotland.

“Over the next three years we have an enormous number of opportunities to promote Scotland, including the release this summer of Disney-Pixar’s Brave, the Year of Homecoming, the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games 2014.

“The Scottish Government will work with VisitScotland, and other agencies, to ensure our tourism industry is in the best possible shape to make the most of these major events and milestones.”

Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive, said:

“Working together with the tourism industry we sell Scotland to the world, bringing millions of visitors and billions of pounds to the economy. For every £1 we invest more than £20 comes back into the Scottish economy - no other industry delivers such a return in such a short time frame. These results are of course also testament to the hard work and dedication of the Scottish tourism industry and it’s great to see that even against challenging economic times globally, Scottish tourism continues to thrive.”

Related information

Anti-Money Laundering: creating a modern EU framework capable of responding to new threats

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Without effective rules to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, the soundness, integrity and stability of the financial system could be seriously compromised. The threats associated with money laundering and terrorist financing are constantly evolving, which requires periodic revision of the legal framework. In light of the recent adoption of revised international standards (MEMO/12/113) and of the Commission's own review process, a report on the application of the Third Anti-Money Laundering Directive was adopted by the Commission yesterday.

The Report analyses how the different elements of the existing framework have been applied and considers how the framework may need to be changed. It contains an examination of the provisions of the Directive, and in general concludes that although the existing framework appears to work well and that no fundamental shortcomings have been identified which would require substantial changes, some modifications are necessary to adapt to the evolving threats posed. The Commission plans to bring forward a proposal for a fourth anti-money laundering Directive in autumn 2012.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said: "Today, we are taking an important step towards updating and enhancing the European rules designed to safeguard the soundness, integrity and stability of the financial system. We are committed to rapidly incorporating the new international standards and to ensuring that the European system responds appropriately to evolving threats of money laundering and terrorist financing. The ingenuity of criminals to exploit gaps in the framework knows no bounds. Our aim is to propose clear and proportionate rules which both protect the Single Market and avoid overburdening market participants."

Background

The Third Anti-Money Laundering Directive sets out a framework which is designed to protect the financial system against the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing and is to a large extent based on international standards adopted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Further to the publication of a revised set of international standards on 16 February 2012, the Commission committed itself to rapidly updating the EU legislative framework to incorporate the necessary changes. Parallel to this process, the Commission has also undertaken a review of the Third Anti Money Laundering Directive, with a view to addressing any identified shortcomings.

The Commission will give further consideration to the following issues:

Accommodating changes to the international standards in order to incorporate more risk-based elements which should allow a more targeted and focussed approach to assessing risks and applying resources to where they are most needed;
Possible extensions of the scope of the rules, for example to ensure a more comprehensive coverage of the gambling sector, as well as the incorporation of tax crimes as a new predicate offence for money laundering;
Possible clarification of the rules on customer due diligence – which require that banks and other obliged entities have in place adequate controls and procedures so that they know the customers with whom they are dealing and understand the nature of their business. In particular, revised rules will need to ensure that simplified procedures are not wrongly perceived as full exemptions from customer due diligence;
Incorporating new provisions to deal with politically exposed persons (PEPs) – at a domestic level and those working for international organisations;
Strengthening powers and cooperation between the different national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) whose tasks are to receive, analyse and disseminate to competent authorities reports about suspicions of money laundering or terrorist financing in order to facilitate their cooperation
Clarifying how AML supervisory powers apply in cross-border situations;
Incorporating new provisions on data protection, in light of the Commission proposals published in January 2012 (IP/12/46).

The report also provides an assessment of the Directive's treatment of lawyers and other independent legal professionals.

Vancouver bagpipe ban lifted

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the reversal of Vancouver’s bagpipe ban.

Buskers had been barred from playing bagpipes, bongos and other percussion instruments on the city’s streets as a result of new noise regulations. The ban has now been lifted by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who proudly claims Scottish descent.

Ms Hyslop, who is in Vancouver for Scotland Week 2012, said:

"Having personally spoken to Mayor Robertson, I can confirm that Vancouver’s ban on bagpipes has now been lifted. I welcome the fact that common sense has prevailed, the Mayor has acted decisively and that bagpipes will once again be heard on the streets of Vancouver.

“Mayor Robertson and I both recognise that bagpipes are part of the cultural heritage shared by Scotland and Vancouver. With more than five million Canadians claiming Scottish roots - many of them here in British Columbia - and Simon Fraser University home to one of the world’s leading pipe bands, I am delighted that people in Vancouver can continue to hear bagpipes played in public places.”

Related Information:

More information about the lifting of the ban can be found at Mayor Robertson's website.

Scotland Week 2012 will run from April 6 -14, with Ministerial engagements taking place in New York, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Chicago, San Francisco and Houston. For a full programme of events and for further information on Scotland Week, please visit www.scotland.org or keep up to date with #scotweek on Twitter.

Cloud computing jobs

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

A leading cloud computing company has chosen Edinburgh for its European base, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs has announced.

enStratus plans to create up to 30 highly-skilled jobs in Scotland by the end of 2014 and is currently recruiting key staff in preparation for its Edinburgh office opening later this year. The company’s expansion to Scotland is supported by a Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant totalling 240,000 pounds.

Fiona Hyslop made the announcement during a visit to Chicago for Scotland Week 2012, where she is meeting enStratus Chief Technology Officer George Reese.

Ms Hyslop said:

"Scotland is globally renowned for innovation, enterprise and technology. The quality and skills of our workforce in the digital sector have played an important part in the company’s decision to locate its European office in Edinburgh, as has the research excellence of our institutions and the competitiveness of our business environment.

"This investment by enStratus demonstrates commitment to Scotland and confidence in what we have to offer. It can only enhance our international reputation for creativity – in this, our Year of Creative Scotland - and as a fantastic investment location.

“The Scottish Government and our enterprise agencies are doing all we can to build sustainable economic growth for Scotland, including providing relevant support where appropriate, and the hard work by our partners at Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise deserves praise.”

George Reese, enStratus Chief Technology Officer, said:

“enStratus is excited to work with Scottish Development International to open our new office in Edinburgh, Scotland, to serve our expanding customer base as well as our development and support needs. We have selected Scotland to establish our new European Office because of the excellent development resources, transport infrastructure, and the favourable exchange rate.”

Anne MacColl, chief executive, Scottish Development International, said:

"That a world-leading cloud computing company such enStratus has chosen Edinburgh as its European base it testament to Scotland's growing reputation as the ideal place to invest and do business.

“Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise have worked closely with enStratus to provide an integrated package of support towards the opening of this new office, including RSA funding, helping establishing potential site locations and assistance with staff recruitment.

"We look forward to helping the company realise its ambitious growth plans in Scotland - driving long-term sustainable growth back into the Scottish economy."

enStratus™ is a cloud infrastructure management solution for deploying and managing enterprise-class applications in public, private and hybrid clouds. For the enterprise, managing multiple teams delivering tens or hundreds of applications to the cloud requires consistent governance and automation, as well as the independence to choose the clouds and operations tools that meet business needs.

Built around the annual Tartan Day celebrations in the USA and Canada on April 6, Scotland Week is an annual week long programme of business, political and tourism engagements aimed at the promotion of Scotland as a great place to live, visit, do business, study and invest with key North American markets in the USA and Canada. Scotland Week will run from April 6 -14, with Ministerial engagements taking place in New York, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Chicago, San Francisco and Houston.

Related information

Have Your Say! Commission consults on rules for wirelessly connected devices - the "Internet of Things"

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The "Internet of Things" (IoT) is a future in which everyday objects such as phones, cars, household appliances, clothes and even food are wirelessly connected to the Internet through smart chips, and can collect and share data.

The European Commission wants to know what framework is needed to unleash the potential economic and societal benefits of the IoT, whilst ensuring an adequate level of control of the devices gathering, processing and storing information. The information concerned includes users' behavioural patterns, location and preferences. The Commission wants to ensure that the rights of individuals are respected and is launching a public consultation inviting comments by 12th July 2012.

Find more information and feedback links by clicking this link: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/360&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en

Commission consults on rules for wirelessly connected devices - the "Internet of Things"

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Today, an average person has at least 2 objects connected to the Internet and this is expected to grow to 7 by 2015 with 25 billion wirelessly connected devices globally. By 2020 that number could double to 50 billion. This means a possible future in which many everyday things are linked. For example, if a university teacher cancels a morning lecture because they are sick, students' alarm clocks and coffee machines could automatically be reset, giving them an extra hour in bed. If an elderly person forgets to take an essential pill, a warning text message could be sent to a close family member, or even to a local emergency centre, so that somebody could call round to check that everything was ok.

Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, said: "An Internet of Things with intelligence embedded into everyday objects is the next big thing. I want to promote an Internet of Things that serves our economic and societal goals, whilst preserving security, privacy and the respect of ethical values."

Realising the enormous economic and societal potential of the IoT requires a level playing field where all players can compete on an equal footing, without gate keepers and locked-in users. Its societal acceptance requires the definition of an ethical and legal framework, supported by technology and providing people with control and security. Through the consultation, the Commission is seeking views on privacy, safety and security, security of critical IoT supported infrastructure, ethics, interoperability, governance and standards. The results of the consultation will feed into the Commission's Recommendation on the IoT, which will be presented by summer 2013. Boosting the IoT is a priority for the Digital Agenda for Europe.

Full Story at Europa

Scot in the Arctic

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Scotland’s physical activity champion Dr Andrew Murray is competing in the world’s coolest race - the North Pole Marathon.

Dr Murray is one of 40 competitors representing 14 nationalities who will have to overcome the extreme sub-zero temperatures to finish 26.2 miles in one of the remotest parts of the planet, through water and on ice in the high Arctic Ocean.

Also acting as the Race Doctor, Dr Murray is encouraging Scots to follow his example and get active over the Easter break.

Dr Murray said:

“Getting active and staying active is such an important message, we are taking it to the ends of the earth.

“It’s great to hear competitors promoting the value of physical activity at this event. Getting active and staying active is the best thing you can do for your health.

“The North Pole Marathon is an experience of a lifetime. Whilst running, the views and the shapes of the ice are the best painkillers. What the race encapsulates is the sheer determination of everyone to succeed.

“Remember that everything counts - any form of activity 30 minutes a day will help massively. I urge everyone to get active over the Easter break. Running at the North Pole is similar underfoot to running through bogs in the highlands - although it’s a fair bit colder!”

Sport Minister Shona Robison said:

"We want to make Scotland a fitter and healthier nation and I hope that other Scots can be inspired by Dr Murray’s example by getting active over the holiday weekend.

"By increasing levels of physical activity we can make serious inroads into tackling some of the serious challenges facing Scotland's population - not least the health implications that arise from being inactive.”

Richard Donovan, from Ireland, is the Race Director and the first man to run a marathon at the north and south poles. He said:

“This is a truly international event - with at least 18 nationalities taking part. We have had some amazing characters and athletes at the race previously, and this year is no exception. It’s a genuine challenge, running in temperatures likely to be -30 Celsius, and running not on land, but the frozen Arctic Ocean. But with determination, and the right training it is achievable. Keeping active is definitely one of the best ways of keeping healthy, although there are easier ways of going about it than running a marathon at the North Pole.”

Related information

Scientists identify gene behind blood orange pigmentation

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers in China, Italy and the United Kingdom have discovered what gene is responsible for blood orange pigmentation, and how it is controlled. The results, presented in the journal The Plant Cell, could help improve the growth of health-promoting blood oranges and lead to novel solutions for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. The study was partially supported by two EU-funded projects: FLORA and ATHENA. FLORA ('Flavonoids and related phenolics for healthy living using orally recommended antioxidants') received EUR 3.3 million under the 'Food quality and safety' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). ATHENA ('Anthocyanin and polyphenol bioactives for health enhancement through nutritional advancement') has received almost EUR 3 million under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Led by the John Innes Centre in the United Kingdom, researchers said blood oranges usually need a period of cold as they ripen in order to develop red pigmentation. While many areas around the world produce these oranges, the Sicilian area around Mount Etna in Italy is the best place to produce them reliably. Sunny days and cold nights, as well as sunny days and warm nights make for the best orange-producing conditions, found in this Italian area.

In their study, researchers gave the name Ruby to the gene they identified as playing a key role in the pigmentation of the blood orange.

'Blood oranges contain naturally occurring pigments associated with improved cardiovascular health, controlling diabetes and reducing obesity,' said Professor Cathie Martin from the John Innes Centre on Norwich Research Park. 'Our improved understanding of this trait could offer relatively straightforward solutions to growing blood oranges reliably in warmer climates through genetic engineering.'

The pigments are anthocyanins, flavonoids that give red, purple and blue fruit their colour. Former studies, based on research regarding other high-anthocyanin foods, identified how the consumption of blood orange juice reduces oxidative stress in diabetic patients, protects DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) against oxidative damage and could potentially reduce cardiovascular risk factors more generally. The Ruby gene was isolated from the flesh of blood and blonde oranges. The team found that it is controlled by mobile genetic elements activated by the stress of cold.

'Our results offer little hope of conventionally breeding or identifying new varieties of blood orange that are free from cold dependency,' Professor Martin said. 'We are now experimenting with hooking the Ruby gene up with a specific fruit promoter so it can be induced in another way.'

Blood oranges are a derivative of sweet orange, the most commonly grown fruit tree in the world. This latest study confirmed that sweet oranges are a hybrid between the south-east Asian pomelo and mandarin.

For more information, please visit:

John Innes Centre: http://www.jic.ac.uk/corporate/index.htm

The Plant Cell: http://www.plantcell.org/

Scottish Business incentives for four new areas.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Finance Secretary John Swinney outlined the range of new business incentives that are available to encourage private investment in Scotland’s four new Enterprise Areas, during a visit to the Port of Dundee yesterday.

Incentives and actions to stimulate investment include: business rate discounts worth up to £275,000 per business or enhanced capital allowances; new streamlined planning protocols across all sites; skills and training support; and an international marketing campaign to promote the sites.

The Finance Secretary announced the creation of four enterprise areas, across 14 sites, earlier this year. The areas are sectorally focused on the industries with the greatest potential to boost economic growth: life sciences; general manufacturing and growth sectors; low carbon/renewables east; and low carbon/renewables north.

The Port of Dundee is part of the Low Carbon/Renewables East Enterprise Area and is a key renewables site identified within the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP). There is currently strong interest from renewables manufacturing companies in the site, which is 67.0 hectares in total, split between waterfront land at the port and an industrial site two miles inland at Claverhouse East.

The following incentives will apply across Scotland’s Enterprise Areas:

On most Enterprise Area sites businesses can claim up to 100 per cent rates relief worth up to £275,000 over the five year timeframe of the Enterprise Area policy.
A framework to facilitate a swift planning process has been developed and agreed by local authorities and COSLA to ensure a speedy approach to handling planning consents in Enterprise Area sites.
Prioritising the delivery of next generation broadband to every EA site by 2015 at the latest, in line with targets set out in the Scotland’s Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan.
An international marketing drive to promote Enterprise Areas - led by Scottish Development International.
Instead of rates relief, Enhanced Capital Allowances on plant and machinery at Dundee, Nigg and parts of Irvine to encourage investment.
Skills Development Scotland, as part of its ongoing contribution to the Team Scotland approach, will offer a customised, client-focused service to deliver appropriate and tailored support to employment opportunities.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, said:

“The Scottish Government and our enterprise agencies are working hard to retain Scotland’s position as the most competitive environment for business in the UK. We are doing all we can to support jobs and secure new investment in our communities, and Enterprise Areas are another means to help us achieve this.

“To help stimulate private investment we have established a range of incentives including business rates discounts, new planning protocols, an international marketing campaign to target overseas investors and a commitment to deliver next generation broadband to these sites before 2015.

“The Scottish Government has worked closely with our enterprise agencies to select these sites, which are strategic locations for some of our key growth sectors. Our Enterprise Areas are now open for business and Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will work closely with local authorities and the business community to maximise the economic potential of each site.”

Charles Hammond, Chief Executive of Forth Ports, owner of the Port of Dundee, said:

“The creation of the Low Carbon/Renewables East Enterprise Area is excellent news for inward investment and jobs in Dundee as we set about establishing the city as a renewables hub centred around the Port of Dundee. The location of the port, with its deep water capability and land availability, makes it attractive to the offshore renewables manufacturing industry and we continue to progress a number of strong enquiries from companies keen to locate at the port. This is a great example of the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Dundee City Council and the private sector working closely together to bring these important opportunities to Dundee.”

The four Enterprise Areas are:

1. Life Sciences Enterprise Area

Irvine (N Ayrshire) – covers three co-located sites and a total area of 132 hectares; i3 Irvine Innovation and Industry Park (formerly Riverside Business Park). This site is a strategic 200 acre fully serviced, single user inward investment site – the largest in the North of the UK. Annickbank. This site has full site infrastructure in place for an office park development of 9,000 m2 Expansion land at GSK Irvine.

Forres (Moray) – This 9.3 hectare site offers a strong opportunity to build on the cluster of expertise in the P4 Digital Healthcare sector which has developed along the Inverness-Elgin corridor, the sector having expanded from 50 to 80 active businesses between 2009 and 2011.

Inverness Campus (Highland) – a 5.5 hectare site which is part of a larger site housing the University of the Highlands & Islands, the Centre for Health Science and the Scottish Agricultural College, the site will provide opportunities in research and development as well as in the provision of incubation units.

BioQuarter (Edinburgh) – a flagship life sciences site in Scotland which offers manufacturing as well as research and development opportunities at the 40 hectare site. It is also located adjacent to Parc Craigmillar URC and will reinforce the wider regeneration efforts for that section of Edinburgh.

Biocampus (Midlothian) - a 11 hectare site which is unique in that it supports possibilities for large scale biomanufacturing activity and will complement the activity undertaken at Edinburgh BioQuarter. The site also presents opportunities to diversify the local economy into high value adding sectors and away from the reliance in recent years on mining and other primary industries.

2. Low Carbon / Renewables North Enterprise Area

Hatston (Orkney) – a 11 hectare marine site identified in the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP). Construction of six workshop units is underway and there are potential agglomeration benefits when considered together with Lyness and Scrabster.

Arnish (Western Isles) – sited in Lewis this is the only industrial site of scale (43.9 hectares) in the Outer Hebrides. It offers short-term opportunities in off-shore wind generation and medium to long term opportunities in wave generation and was identified in N-RIP as an integrated manufacturing site.

Nigg (Highland) – this site, identified as a strategic location for integrated manufacturing in N-RIP, has recently been purchased by Global Energy Group who intend to develop the site as a service hub for the energy industry. The Enterprise Area site is 66 hectares.

Scrabster (Highland) – identified as a priority site in the Northern Marine cluster by the N-RIP this 17 hectare site is ideally situated on the Pentland Firth to take advantage of wave and tidal opportunities. There are potential agglomeration benefits when considered in combination with Hatston and Lyness. The site aims to support marine energy projects planned for the South of Orkney and in the Pentland Firth.

Lyness (Orkney) – a key N-RIP marine site which is currently being developed to support the assembly, storage and servicing of marine energy devices, this 14 hectare site offers agglomeration benefits when considered along with Hatston and Scrabster. The site is a deep harbour facility located within Scapa Flow, which is a perfect location for the wet storage of marine devices and can be used to assemble, test, fix and repair marine energy devices.

3. Low Carbon / Renewables East Enterprise Area

Dundee Port (Dundee) – a key renewables site identified within N-RIP there is currently strong demand from manufacturing companies in the site. The Enterprise Area site is 67.0 hectares in total, split between waterfront land at the port and an industrial site two miles inland at Claverhouse East.

Port of Leith (Edinburgh) – providing uninterrupted access to the Forth estuary and North Sea, this is a key N-RIP site which offers significant opportunities to develop an offshore wind sector supply chain, especially as the 60 hectare site is the largest potential development area across all Scottish east coast ports.

4. General Manufacturing and Growth Sectors Enterprise Area

Creative Clyde (Glasgow) – a 14.5 hectare site based at Pacific Quay offering opportunities for creative industries. This will build on the success of the Digital Media Quarter which in the last 10 years has attracted Headquarter functions for Scottish Television and BBC Scotland among others to Pacific Quay.

Prestwick International (South Ayrshire) – the vast majority of the Scottish aerospace industry, including the high value-adding space manufacturing sector, is based in the west of Scotland with Prestwick accommodating 12 companies in the sector. The site is 29.1 hectares.

Related information

Enterprise Areas assessment process

Scotland Week 2012 - set to wow audiences.

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Scotland’s five National Performing Companies are set to wow audiences across Europe, the USA, China and beyond during the Year of Creative Scotland.

Government funding for each of the Companies’ international tours in 2012-13 has been confirmed by the Culture Secretary, who is in New York for Scotland Week.

Fiona Hyslop made the announcement at a National Theatre of Scotland ‘Extreme Ceilidh’ workshop for high school students in Brooklyn.

The Cabinet Secretary said:

“Scotland is known worldwide as a place of creative and cultural excellence, with our National Performing Companies attracting international acclaim.

“Their overseas tours showcase Scotland’s creative talent on a world stage, further enhancing our global reputation. They also strengthen cultural and diplomatic links with countries identified as a priority in our framework for international engagement.

“That is why I am maintaining the International Touring Fund at £350,000 in this, the Year of Creative Scotland, and I look forward to our National Performing Companies once again delighting audiences at home and abroad.”

During Ms Hyslop’s visit to Brooklyn’s Uncommon Charter High School, students performed an ‘Extreme Ceilidh’ - a mix of hip hop and drum ‘n’ bass with traditional dance and Celtic sounds. Ten pupils from the school are participating in the National Theatre of Scotland’s international exchange programme and will travel to Scotland in July 2012.

Ms Hyslop added: “The ‘Extreme Ceilidh’ fuses street and traditional dance and this project is a fantastic example of the international appeal of Scotland’s creative cutting edge. The National Theatre of Scotland’s work with these students in Brooklyn is deepening our cultural ties with the USA, one of our key objectives during Scotland Week 2012.”

Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, said: “The ‘Extreme Ceilidh’ is an exhilarating piece of performance which emerged from a highly successful National Theatre of Scotland community project in Aberdeen last year. We are honoured that our Learn team – whose brilliant work in Scottish communities has attracted international attention – is able to take a part of Scotland to the young people of Brooklyn.”

The International Touring Fund (ITF) allocations for each company are:

£140,000 for the National Theatre of Scotland towards world tours including that of the award-winning The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart starting in May 2012 with performances in the UK, Europe, North and South America and Australasia. In addition, NTS will be touring Black Watch in Chicago in October, following the Ryder Cup, and Alan Cumming’s Macbeth in New York this July.
£110,000 for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s planned tour, details of which will be announced at a later date.
£75,000 for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s Tour of Europe in which Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati will lead the SCO and world-class pianist Maria Joao Pires on a tour encompassing some of Europe’s leading cities and most prestigious concert halls between 31 October and 12 November.
£15,000 towards Scottish Opera’s third visit to China in 12 months – the company is working with the Confucius Institute at the University of Strathclyde on an education project collaboration with Tianjin Experimental High School which will include a version of their Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme for teachers.
£10,000 to Scottish Ballet for their planned international tour, details of which will be announced at a later date.

Ms Featherstone continued: “I am also delighted that the National Theatre of Scotland’s international opportunities continue to go from strength to strength due to the Scottish Government’s International Touring Fund. That our national theatre is able to showcase to the world work created in Scotland by a wealth of hugely talented theatre-makers is testament to the rich seam of creativity to be found in all areas of Scotland’s culture. The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig, which will tour North and South America, Australia and New Zealand in late 2012 and early 2013, has already been taken to the hearts of all who have seen it and we are sure that international audiences will be equally enchanted.”

RSNO chief executive Michael Elliott said: “The RSNO has benefited greatly from the International Touring Fund in the past, helping facilitate some of our more recent trips, including our high-profile European tour at the beginning of 2010, which was met with critical and public acclaim. We are currently in the process of planning an ambitious international project, details of which we look forward to announcing in due course, and are of course very thankful for the support the ITF provides.”

Jane Davidson, Scottish Opera's Director of Education and Outreach, said:

“Our CPD programme is based on work we have been doing with Scottish teachers for the last five years, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to share our experience with teachers in China. Scottish Opera animateurs, artists and musicians will work with the teachers to help them find new ways of engaging children across the whole curriculum. Our aim is to help teachers unlock their own creativity as this in turn helps them find and use the natural creativity in their pupils - it’s a more balanced way to enhance a child’s capacity to learn.”

Roy McEwan, Scottish Chamber Orchestra chief executive, said:

“This will be one of the most extensive European tours which the Scottish Chamber Orchestra has undertaken in recent years and it will be a crucial step in sustaining and building on our already high reputation in Europe. It will also be an opportunity for the Orchestra and our Principal Conductor, Robin Ticciati to celebrate their exceptional musical achievements on the European stage, showcasing one of the great success stories of music in Scotland. The Scottish Government’s generous support has been crucial in bringing this tour to fruition and the SCO is extremely grateful for the confidence which the Cabinet Secretary and the rest of the Government have shown in our work.”

Cindy Sughrue, Chief Executive, Scottish Ballet, said:

“Support from the Scottish Government's International Touring Fund is giving Scottish Ballet the opportunity to take award-winning work to new markets and to show the world what Scotland can produce. We are extremely proud to be cultural ambassadors through our international touring programme.”

Scottish Opera are proposing to return to China for a third visit in September/October 2012, using the contacts made during the last two visits. Scottish Opera, together with the Confucius Institute at University of Strathclyde, is proposing entering into a collaboration with Tianjin Experimental High School in the city of Tianjin and will include a version of their CPD programme for primary teachers, Hitting The High Notes. There will also be performances of the primary performance project involving pupils – The Big Bang Show – a science-based children’s opera that has successfully toured Scottish Primary Schools that looks at universal attitudes and uses of the three principal energy sources on earth: Renewable, Fossil and Nuclear - as a practical illustration of how to harness integrated learning in the context of the performing arts.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) Principal Conductor Robin Ticciati will lead the SCO and world-class pianist Maria Joao Pires on a tour between 31 October – 12 November encompassing some of Europe’s leading cities and most prestigious concert halls including Rotterdam’s De Doelen, Toulouse, Halle aux Grains, Brussels, Palais des Beaux Arts, Luxembourg, Philharmonie, Vienna, Konzerthaus, Luzern KKL Concert Hall, and Frankfurt, Alte Opera. This European tour will be an opportunity for the SCO to build the international profile of Robin Ticciati’s partnership with the Orchestra and on return to Scotland, the programme will be performed at London’s Barbican and in the SCO’s Winter Season series in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.

Related information

'Generation 1992': European Commission reaches out to young people with a creativity competition on the single market

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

For this reason, the European Commission is targeting this 'Generation 1992' with a creativity competition aimed at tapping into the views, experiences, insights and expectations of what the single market means to young Europeans today. The competition, which is being launched today, is open to all European citizens born between 1 January and 31 December 1992. Entrants can submit an original essay, video, photograph, cartoon or smart phone application and can chose to focus on one of four categories: education and citizenship; jobs and entrepreneurship; culture and leisure and consumers and environment.

Michel Barnier, Commissioner for internal market and services, said: "In 1992, we had great hopes for the single market. Looking back, it has indeed helped citizens work anywhere they want, made trade easier and brought more jobs. However, 20 years on there is a feeling that progress towards a true single market has stalled. We need to relaunch the single market in order to give young adults born in 1992 renewed hope and greater opportunities. And we need this future generation to contribute to the development of our internal market policies for the next 20 years."

ore information

Generation 1992 Website:

www.generation1992.eu

20th anniversary website:

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/20years/

Full Story at Europa

Britain opens 20 mln wave power contest

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Euractiv

Marine power has the potential to provide up to 20% of current electricity demand in the United Kingdom, as well as help the country reach its climate targets and support thousands of jobs, the Department of Energy and Climate Change said.

"This scheme will help move marine power to the next stage of development, the demonstration of a number of wave and tidal devices in array formation out at sea," Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said in a statement.

"Marine power has huge potential and the UK is already leading the way for the rest of the world to follow," the statement added.

Companies and organisations across the UK will be able to bid for a share of the £20 million (€24 million) prize that was first announced last summer. Winning bids will be announced by the government towards the end of the year.

Lobby group RenewableUK has estimated that at least £120 million (€145 million) is needed for the UK industry to reach full-scale deployment.

Every pound of public funding in the UK has unlocked £6 (€7.2) of private investment, but more is needed, according to the lobby group.

The technology, like other renewables such as solar and biomass, needs government funding to reach commercial scale and then subsidies after that as it grows to be more cost efficient.

Wave and tidal energy could provide 15% of Europe's energy needs by 2050, according to the European Ocean Energy Association (EU-OEA).

New project for breeding drought- and disease-proof crops

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Express

A new EU-funded project that aims to speed up the development of crops resistant to drought and disease has just got under way.

ABSTRESS ('Improving the resistance of legume crops to combined abiotic and biotic stress'), which will run for 5 years, is funded to the tune of almost EUR 3 million under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). It brings together researchers from 13 participating institutions across the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary and the United Kingdom.

The aim is to revolutionise the way in which new plant varieties are produced by using molecular and computational techniques to identify processes associated with the way drought and disease combine to make crops' life doubly difficult. The project will also identify novel genes and biochemical pathways that improve plant resistance to these factors.

The researchers will use a clover-like plant as a model to develop the approach. Under laboratory conditions, hundreds of these plants will be subjected to drought and/or infection with a type of soil fungus called Fusarium. Fusarium was chosen as an example of disease stress because this type of infection affects the way in which plants can mobilise water and so the damage it causes is compounded during drought conditions. The commonness of this economically devastating fungal disease is predicted to increase due to climate change.

Once the plants are being subjected to these conditions, the team will use the latest high-throughput imaging technology to monitor the performance of the plants without disturbing them. The information obtained from studying the model plants will then be applied to the breeding of new pea varieties.

These new varieties will be compared with existing commercial crops and the scientists will identify which perform better when challenged with a combination of Fusarium and drought. The plants that perform best will undergo field trials at different sites across Europe.

Dr Adrian Charlton, project leader from the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) in the United Kingdom, comments: 'This project brings together the very best expertise in plant-based molecular biology and biochemistry in Europe and should lead to groundbreaking improvements in the techniques used for crop breeding. Fera scientists will be studying the biochemical profiles from the best performing plants and linking these back to the genes responsible using advanced computational techniques.'

Pea plants are being studied initially as they are well characterised genetically. Peas, like other legumes, have a key role as a sustainable source of protein in both human and animal diets. In addition, they can replace imported soybeans, which currently represent over 75% of feedstock protein in the EU. Legume farming has a low carbon footprint compared with other crop types; leguminous plants also replenish nitrogen in the soil for the following crop cycle. Legumes don't require, and reduce the need in other crops for, nitrogen fertilisers - a major source of greenhouse gases and farm energy consumption.

By increasing cultivation rates of drought and disease-resistant legumes, the team hope to improve food security and mitigate the effects of climate change at the same time.

For more information, please visit:

Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera): http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/

Controlling obesity in Europe, EU-funded researchers work on new strategy

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Express

A new and innovative EU-funded project that aims to develop and test new food products that fill you up quicker has just got underway. Satiety-enhanced food can help control appetite, manage weight and combat obesity, and the SATIN ('SATiety Innovation') project aims to bring together energy intake and weight control experts from academia and industry to produce new food products using the latest processing innovation techniques.

With a EUR 5,992,880 funding boost from the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), the SATIN researchers, who hail from Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and the United Kingdom, will look at the biological processes in the stomach and the brain that make us feel full.

The researchers from the participating institutions, which include leading research institutes, large companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food and retail industry that specialise in novel food formulation and production, aim to determine whether this approach works for weight management.

Obesity is a major public health issue facing the EU and reducing it is a priority for all European governments. In the United Kingdom, for example, it is estimated that 60% of men, 50% of women and 25% of children will be obese by 2050.

Obesity has a severe impact on people's health, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and heart and liver disease - not to mention the increased costs to health services as a result of obesity: in several European countries the cost of obesity has already reached 5% of public health expenditure.

Professor Jason Halford, from coordinating institution the University of Liverpool, says: 'People who are obese find successful weight loss and maintenance notoriously difficult. Obesity is typically a consequence of overconsumption driven by an individual's natural sensitivity to food stimuli and the pleasure derived from eating high fat and high sugar foods. Obese and overweight people are less likely to feel full after eating, partly because of the energy-dense foods they prefer have a reduced impact on gastrointestinal hormone signals that help promote feelings of satisfaction and fullness. SATIN aims to draw upon our improved understanding of appetite expression - how the foods we eat affect eating behaviour and appetite. If we can produce foods that fill people up quicker and for longer and taste good then we can help moderate appetite whilst maintaining a healthy balanced diet.'

SATIN will use advanced food processing technologies (such as advanced forms of fermentation, vacuum technology, enzyme application, emulsification, ultra-filtration, drying, sublimation and freezing, heat treatment, protein modification and encapsulation) to modify the structure of the foods which accelerate satiation, enhance satiety and reduce appetite.

For more information, please visit: University of Liverpool: http://www.liv.ac.uk/

Novel technique for single protein observation

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Express

Researchers must be able to recognise how proteins work so that they can understand the related biological processes that occur at the molecular level. They get this information by labelling proteins with fluorescent substances. The problem with this method, however, is that it alters the proteins and influences the biological processes under investigation. A new study from Germany has pioneered a novel method able to observe individual proteins. Presented in the journal Nano Letters, the research was funded in part by the SINGLESENS ('Single metal nanoparticles as molecular sensors') project, led by Professor Carsten Sönnichsen, who in 2010 received a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant worth EUR 1.5 million under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Researchers at the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) in Mainz, Germany are responsible for the new technique. 'Our method allows live tracking of individual proteins without having to label them first,' explains Professor Carsten Sönnichsen of the Institute of Physical Chemistry at JGU, the senior author of the study,. 'We are now gaining entirely new insights into molecular processes and can see, for example, how things are constantly in motion even on the very smallest scale.'

This innovative method is based on the use of gold nanoparticles, which act as glistening nano-antennas that change their frequency (or colour) when single, unlabelled proteins are detected. 'This is an enormous leap forward technologically,' says Professor Sönnichsen. 'We have managed to achieve a very high time resolution for the observation of individual molecules.'

Researchers can now precisely observe the dynamics of a protein molecule down to the millisecond. This latest development will allow scientists to push forward with research related to proteins, particularly by tracking the fluctuation of protein population densities and by monitoring protein absorption processes in real time.

'We can see how molecules move, how they dock at particular locations, and how they fold - this has given us a window into the molecular world,' says Dr Irene Ament, a member of Sönnichsen's group and the lead author of the study.

This new technique could benefit the fields of chemistry, biology and medicine. Experts say this development is a key element in research into non-equilibrium phenomena at the molecular level.

For more information, please visit:

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU):
http://www.uni-mainz.de/eng/

Nano Letters:
http://pubs.acs.org/journal/nalefd

Viking wind farm approved

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has recently granted consent for the Viking wind farm on Shetland, which will power more than 175,000 homes and bring around £30 million annual income for the local community.

The 370 MW wind farm, the third biggest in Scotland, will be able to power more than sixteen times the number of households on Shetland.

Viking wind farm is expected to bring an estimated £566 million of capital expenditure, and an annual income of £30 million per year to the Islands including £20 million to the Shetland Charitable Trust which will support projects such as community enterprises, community energy, skills and training, as well as around 140 jobs during the five years of construction and around 34 operational jobs. Scottish Ministers expect the developer to maximise the potential for local employment and use of local businesses.

The wind farm will allow the construction of an interconnector allowing Shetland to export electricity to the mainland, opening up further opportunities for the Islands to benefit from renewables, including community schemes and marine renewables.

The application was for 127 wind turbines, Ministers have withheld consent for 24 turbines in the northern Delting Parish section of the wind farm which would impact on Scatsta Airports instrument flight procedures.

The wind farm is the 50th renewable energy project consented by Scottish Ministers since May 2007.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“This wind farm will bring enormous benefits to the people of Shetland, generating more than £30 million annual income for the entire Shetland community. Around £20 million of that will go directly to the Shetland Charitable Trust.

“The development will create jobs and bring income, and makes the case for an interconnector to connect Shetland for the first time to the National Grid - paving the way for more exports and further renewable energy opportunities for the Islands, including community projects and marine energy developments.

“The development includes an extensive habitat management plan covering around 12,800 acres, which will restore peatland and offer benefits to a whole range of species and habitats.

“Last week, figures showed Scotland exceeded our ambitious renewable electricity targets for 2011, with more than a third of our electricity demand coming from renewables.

“Developments like Viking will help us meet our 2020 target, and will make a huge contribution to our target of 500MW from community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020, while benefiting communities, cutting emissions, and helping to keep energy bills lower.”

Related Information

Viking Energy, is a partnership between SSE Viking Ltd (a subsidiary of SSE) and Viking Energy Ltd, a company representing the renewable energy interests of Shetlands Islands Council and 90 per cent owned by the Shetland Charitable Trust.
In May 2009, Viking Energy Partnership applied for consent to construct and operate Viking wind farm. The original development consisted of 150 turbines. To satisfy concerns of statutory consultees including Scottish National Heritage, the Civil Aviation Authority, SEPA, Historic Scotland and Serco Aviation Defence and Nuclear, the operators of Scatsta Airport, the company submitted Supplementary Environment Information in October 2010 which included reducing the size of the proposed wind farm to 127 turbines with a ground to blade tip height not exceeding 145 metres. The application has received 2772 objections and 1115 support.
The Scottish Government has now determined 65 energy applications, including approval for 50 new renewable 19 Hydro, 26 Onshore wind, 1 Offshore wind and 4 Wave & Tidal and 15 non-renewable projects, since May 2007. The Scottish Government is currently considering another 47 applications of more than 5 Gigawatts of capacity, including 39 renewables: 2 Hydro, 3 Biomass ,32 Onshore wind, 1 wave and 1 offshore wind.
Information on latest figures for Scotland’s energy targets.

EUCARINET Call for Proposals

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The EUCARINET ('Fostering EU-Caribbean research and innovation networks') project has launched a call for proposals for its Travel Grant Scheme. The 2012 EUCARINET Travel Grant Scheme call is open from the 2nd of April 2012 to the 20th of July 2012

The aim of the scheme is to promote exchange between Caribbean and European researchers as well as to encourage contacts between research institutions so that they may explore possibilities for joint participation in the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

The Travel Grant consists of two components:
1. The participation of Caribbean researchers at 2012 info-days and brokerage events in the following areas:
- health;
- information and communication technology (ICT);
- knowledge-based bio-economy;
- energy;
- environment (including climate change).
2. Visits to specific research centres / institutions with existing contacts or acquaintance between the grantee and European or Caribbean researcher or research group. The travel grant works as a mechanism to facilitate further networking or even joint proposal writing.

EUCARINET is a four-year coordination action supported by the European Commission. Its main goal is to strengthen bi-regional sustainable dialogue on science and technology between Europe and the Caribbean.

Better inspection that offers better security

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS Express

Scientists have developed a new method to detect chemicals inside a container over distances that top the 100-metre mark. This will help people assess explosive substances from a distance, making such tasks safer. The study was funded in part by the OPTIX ('Optical technologies for the identification of explosives') project, which is backed with EUR 2.49 million under the Security Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Part of the OPTIX consortium, researchers from the Vienna University of Technology (TU Vienna) in Austria say the laser light that makes up this new technique is scattered in a very specific way by various substances. This light is used to help researchers assess the contents of a closed, non-transparent container.

'The method we are using is Raman spectroscopy,' explains TU Vienna's Professor Bernhard Lendl. The team irradiated the sample with a laser beam. When the sample's molecules scatters the light, the energy changes. Photons, for instance, can transfer energy to the molecules by exciting molecular vibrations. The light's wavelength changes, as does its colour. Scientists evaluate the colour spectrum of the scattered light to find out which molecules have scattered.

'Until now, the sample had to be placed very close to the laser and the light detector for this kind of Raman spectroscopy,' explains Dr Bernard Zachhuber of TU Vienna. Measurements can now be made over long distances because of this sophisticated technology. 'Among hundreds of millions of photons, only a few trigger a Raman-scattering process in the sample,' Dr Zachhuber says.

According to the team, these scattered particles of light are scattered uniformly in all directions. Only a small fraction returns to the light detector. From this very weak signal, as much information as possible has to be extracted. This can be done using a highly efficient telescope and extremely sensitive light detectors, they say.

The researchers tested used explosives, such as trinitrotoluene (TNT), ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO) or Research Department Explosive (RDX), in many instances, generating very positive results. 'Even at a distance of more than 100 meters, the substances could be detected reliably,' says Engelene Chrysostom from TU Vienna.

The team says Raman spectroscopy works over long distances even if the sample is inside a non-transparent container. The laser beam is scattered by the container wall, but a tiny portion of the beam penetrates the box. According to the researchers, it can still excite Raman-scattering processes. 'The challenge is to distinguish the container's light signal from the sample signal,' says Professor Lendl.

An easy, geometric trick makes this possible. The laser beam hits the container at a specific spot, and the light signal emitted by the container stems from a tiny region. The team says this innovative method could help airports with their security checks. But other areas would benefit as well, especially those that need to investigate closely and securely.

The OPTIX consortium is led by Indra Sistemas from Spain, and is made up of experts from Germany, Spain, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden.

For more information, please visit:

TU Vienna: http://www.tuwien.ac.at/en/tuwien_home/

OPTIX: http://www.fp7-optix.eu/

EU is biggest donor of development aid

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : Wiredgov

With €53 billion of development aid in 2011, the European Union and its 27 Member States remains the world biggest donor, providing more than half of global official aid, preliminary figures on official development aid published by the OECD reveal yesterday. At a time of heavy budgetary constraints, 16 Member States managed to increase their aid, three of them are ranked among the five largest donors worldwide and four of them have already reached the target of spending 0.7% of their Gross National Income (GNI) on aid. EU official development aid reached 0.42% of EU GNI, which exceeds the efforts of other major donors. However, efforts are still needed to reach the agreed target of 0.7% EU GNI by 2015.

Commissioner Piebalgs commented: "Despite the crisis, Europe reaffirms its solidarity with the poorest across the world. EU aid has pulled millions of people out of poverty and saved countless lives over the last ten years. Development aid is both solidarity and an investment to make the world safer and more prosperous. I therefore call on Member States to reaffirm their commitment to achieving the goal of increasing ODA to 0.7% of GNI by 2015".

After growing for three consecutive years despite the financial and economic crisis, EU official aid declined by about €500 million compared to 2010, a drop from 0.44% of GNI in 2010 to 0.42% in 2011. This has been based on mixed results in Member States.

Click here for full press release

European Get Online Week: over 200.000 Europeans online!

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, more than 10.000 telecentres across more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa were full of excitement. Education venues, libraries, NGOs or Internet Access Points offered support to use technology and the internet, through out a series of stimulating activities.

The Get Online Week counter stopped at 142.544 people involved, but this doesn’t tell the whole story of the campaign this year. Another almost 10.000 people took the youth ICT skills assessment tool Skillage and more than 60.000 Get onliners have been captured by other internet tools used by telecentres during the last week.

The Get online week team at Telecentre-Europe would like to THANK all telecentres, national partners, stakeholders and supporters for another fruitful campaign, and we will follow up with more detailed stories and statistics from the campaign soon.

» The campaign has been officially launched in Brussels on International Women’s Day March 8, at a special event with stakeholders: watch the video (4min6s) | read Neelie Kroes’ blogpost

Scottish Enterprise partners 2-B Energy

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Dutch renewables company 2-B Energy has joined forces with Scottish Enterprise to deliver cutting-edge offshore wind technology with the potential to reduce costs by up to 45 per cent.

The organisations will work together to support commercialisation of 2-B’s unique two-bladed offshore turbine concept through development of offshore test and demonstration facilities in Scotland – potentially by the end of 2014.

Recognised as potentially game-changing technology, the 2-B concept bucks the trend toward the more conventional three-bladed horizontal axis onshore wind technology currently being deployed offshore.

Its revolutionary design significantly reduces the number of components required throughout the lifetime of the turbine, which should result in significantly lower operation and maintenance costs.

The 2-B wind plant size harmonises well with the state of the art size of 6 MW, and a rotor diameter of 140 metres, but distinguishes itself from other turbines with its two bladed rotor on a full lattice structure that goes all the way down to the seabed.

The Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC), based in Aberdeen, has supported 2-B’s application for European funding, through the EU Framework Programme 7, for development of the company’s technology and offshore demonstrator in Scotland.

This project is targeted for development at the Scottish Enterprise-owned Fife Energy Park in Methil where 2-B Energy has stepped up its ambitions and focus has shifted from a single-near shore unit to two units offshore in a broader project.

The project will be part of a test and demonstration hub of activity which will accommodate a range of potential interests in the Scottish offshore wind sector.

Announcing the new partnership, First Minister Alex Salmond, said:

"2-B Energy is developing an innovative and exciting offshore wind turbine which has great potential to reduce costs for clean energy generators across Europe. I’m delighted that the Scottish European Green Energy Centre has been able to support their plans and that the company has now signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Scottish Enterprise.

"This strategic agreement with our enterprise agency is another important development for Scotland’s burgeoning offshore renewables industry, which is bringing jobs and investment to communities across the country. 2-B Energy’s decision to develop its technology here underlines the increasing international recognition that Scotland offer’s the optimum business and natural environment for clean-tech developers to pursue their ambitions."

Mikael Jakobsson, chief operating officer for 2-B Energy, held further discussions on the project with SE last week during a visit to Scotland, where he also met the First Minister.

Mr Jakobsson said:

"We will continue to work closely with Scottish Enterprise to implement our development strategy for the commercialisation of our innovative new offshore wind technology. We have reached an exciting point in the development of our company and technology and we could envision that this partnership and the support from SEGEC will help open up further opportunities for growth options of our business in Scotland."

Adrian Gillespie, director of energy and low carbon technologies at Scottish Enterprise, said:

"We recognise the significant potential 2-B Energy holds for the next generation of offshore wind technology. We have joined forces with the company to support the long term development of its technology and to reach a key step of technology evolution in Scotland. 2-B’s exciting approach has the potential to play an important part in Scotland's future renewables wind development and create a possible step-change in future reduction of power generation cost.

"We are working closely with the company and our network of partners to look at potential funding models that will help expedite the final stages of demonstration and commercialisation for this exciting technology."

Chris Bronsdon, CEO of SEGEC said:

"Over the last year the Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC) has been working closely with 2-B Energy in order to structure and deliver the funding application for a multi-million Euro flagship demonstration project for this technology under the EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7).

"The technology approach maximises the potential for cost reduction from the outset, whilst minimising technology risk through using existing, proven components that have already been operating and financed in the market for several years. The project will demonstrate the significant improvements in operations and maintenance that can be achieved and will confirm the position of the technology within the global offshore wind supply base.

"The support from SEGEC has helped 2-B Energy confirm the siting of the demonstration project in Scotland and given direct access into significant EU support. This latest development with Scottish Enterprise is a very strong step forward as it will enable the company to tie into the strong supply chain and research base that already exists in Scotland and open up access to additional funding opportunities."

Offshore wind is set to become Scotland’s next industrial revolution with the potential to attract billions of pounds of investment and create tens of thousands of highly-skilled and sustainable jobs.

The industry represents the biggest opportunity for sustainable economic growth in Scotland for a generation and will play a vital role in meeting the Scottish Government’s target for renewables to generate 100 per cent of the country’s domestic electricity demand, alongside other sources to enable Scotland to remain a net exporter of power.

Related information:

A Sweet Solution

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : EU Research and Innovation

European scientists are sharing a sweet new solution to one of the bitter enemies of chocolate making.

“We have developed technical solutions to extend the shelf life of pralines,” explains Lilia Ahrné, Director of Process and Technology Development at SIK, the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology.

She continues: “We have been looking at using microscopic techniques to (study) the structure of chocolate, and we have been using this knowledge to identify solutions that could be used by SMEs (small and medium sized companies).”

Getting the recipe just right to produce the perfect praline is a tricky process.

All kinds of chemical, physical and structural problems can occur inside chocolate, including what is known as fat bloom.

“Fat bloom, is a grey or white veil on top of the pralines; this problem is due to migration of fats from the inside of the praline, from the filling to the surface where they solidify,” Lilia Ahrné says.

She heads a European project called ProPraline to overcome fat bloom.

That scientific knowledge is then passed on to smaller chocolate producers, like Szamos Marcipan in Hungary.

Edina Rosza is an Export Assistant at Szamos Marcipán: “The engineers took samples from our chocolate, and analysed it in the laboratory, so they could give us the values that we should have in our chocolate in order to make really good chocolate.”

After that analysis, Szamos invested in new tools to process their product.

The key to creating a stable praline that will not suffer from fat bloom is careful tempering.

Edina Rosza explains: “Tempering means that you heat chocolate up to 42 degrees, then it has to be cooled down to 27 degrees, and before mixing you heat it up again to 32 degrees. And then when this tempering procedure is done in the right way the chocolate will be shiny and really crunchy.”

Mastering the science of praline production should open up tasty new possibilities, according to Lilia Ahrné: “I think we are going to get new products in the market, because if we understand better how to control this migration we can develop fillings that are much more exotic, with a high water content, fruit taste.”

See also Futuris, the European research programme - on Euronews.

Transforming energy: flexible, printed-plastic solar panel project kicks off

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Express

Transforming how and where we harvest power is essential for meeting the objectives set out in the Europe 2020 strategy. One alternative energy source is printed-plastic solar technology: a new EU-funded project that has just got under way aims to advance this innovative technology, and design advanced flexible plastic solar panels that can be integrated into new consumer mobile applications and buildings.

The four-year long SUNFLOWER ('Sustainable novel flexible organic watts efficiently reliable') project is being boosted to the tune of more than EUR 11 million under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). It brings together researchers from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The project partners aim to generate solar energy from highly efficient and recyclable printed-plastic solar panels: this electric power is safe, green and locally produced. Printed plastic solar cells are among the newest generation of technologies in solar power generation and result in solar panels that are flexible, low weight, and low cost. However, while this new technology has so far been a positive step in the right direction, there is still work to be done when it comes to improving the panels' efficiency and lifetime.

The SUNFLOWER researchers believe this problem can be tackled by using large-scale printing machines to mass-produce the panels on rolls of flexible materials. This would be an improvement on the rigid, silicon-based panels in use today. By simultaneously increasing the cells' efficiency and lifetime while decreasing production costs through environmentally friendly technologies, the project partners hope their work will bring us closer to a world where everyone can have access to environmentally friendly and efficient power.

Project coordinator Dr Giovanni Nisato from the Centre Suisse d'Electronique et Microtechnique (CSEM): says: 'We have the chance to develop a technology that is ideally suited to manufacturing in the EU due to its high level of automation, need for highly trained personnel, low energy consumption, and close proximity to suppliers and markets.'

Flexibility, low weight, and low cost are the key advantages of printed plastic solar panels. They will enable the development of consumer applications like roll-up solar panels or panels integrated three-dimensionally into architectural structures, and will eventually make possible more economical and robust solar-panel fields for energy production farms. This is a key opportunity for the EU to further expand its innovation base in alternative energies.

The project consortium brings together industrial, institutional, and academic partners with the aim of getting solutions to market as soon as possible. The industrial project partners are well positioned along the supply chain of future products based on printed plastic solar cells, which is an important prerequisite for the creation of a substantial socioeconomic footprint for this project.

For more information, please visit:

Centre Suisse d'Electronique et Microtechnique (CSEM): http://www.csem.ch/site/

Commission slashes unnecessary burden for registering a car in another Member State

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It takes on average 5 weeks to complete the procedure and the cost is estimated at €400 for citizen and for businesses. Moreover, these problems also represent a significant barrier to the free movement of goods, services and workers, and therefore for growth and jobs creation in Europe. This is why the European Commission is acting today to dramatically reduce this unnecessary administrative burden. The proposal presented by Vice-President Antonio Tajani would lead to a very substantial administrative simplification with total savings of at least € 1.5 billion per year for businesses, citizens and registration authorities.

The proposal is straightforward and tackles very concrete issues. The re-registration of vehicles coming from another EU country will be limited, for example citizens who work in another EU country using a car registered by their employer will not need to re-register it. Generally administrative formalities for the re-registration within the EU of cars, vans, buses and trucks will be greatly simplified, for example when moving residence from one EU country to another and when purchasing a second hand car from another EU country. It will also become impossible to register a stolen car in another EU country. Car-rental companies will save substantially, as they will be able to transfer cars to another EU country during the holiday periods without re-registration. This is good news for tourists as it is expected that renting a car will become cheaper, once today's proposal will be approved.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: "With today's proposal the Commission wants to make it as easy as possible for citizens and companies to move and register cars across borders in the European Union. Greatly simplified rules for cross-border car registration and a substantial reduction of administrative burden will bring us a step closer to a smooth functioning Single Market, our engine for growth and jobs."

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship said: “20 years after the entry into force of the internal market it is unacceptable that there are still so many obstacles for citizens and business. Our proposal puts an end to many car registration formalities and lengthy procedures. This means substantial savings for rent-a-car companies. Economy as a whole will win, and in particular the tourism industry.”

Registration of motor vehicles coming from another EU country

Formalities for re-registering a car in another EU country will be radically reduced

The proposal put forward today means an improvement for persons who spend a part of the year in another EU country who are currently often requested to re-register their vehicle. The proposal introduces the principle that a car should be registered in the EU country where its owner lives, and that all other Member States may not ask her/him to register the car with them, even if the car owner spend a longer period there.

When the proposal is adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, this will imply:

Citizens who spend part of the year in a holiday residence in another EU country will not have to re-register their car there.

Citizens who move permanently to another EU country will have 6 months to re-register their car there.

Citizens who buy or sell a second-hand car in another EU country will not have to face additional technical controls and administrative problems.

Citizens who work in another EU country and use a car registered by their employer there will no longer have to register it in their home country.

Car-rental companies will be able to transfer cars to another EU country during the holiday periods without re-registration (e.g. keeping the same cars at the sea side during summer and in the Alps during the winter). This should lower the price of car rentals.

For companies, the same principle applies: the cars, buses, vans and trucks should be registered in the EU country where the main office is established, and other EU countries must accept this.

Registration authorities will increasingly cooperate with each other, making it easier to track stolen cars. It will become impossible to register a stolen car in another EU country.

Many controls will be abolished altogether, with authorities getting any technical information they need about the car directly from their colleagues in the country where it is already registered.

Full Story Europa

Commission warns against slow take up of ultra-fast Internet

Thu, 5 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Euractiv

“In general, migration to NGA is taking place at a moderate pace,” reads a Commission working document circulated among experts last week.

Brussels underlines that most main telecoms operators are simply upgrading their copper networks, if they are doing any investment at all, to increase Internet speed across Europe. “Only a minority have sizeable fibre investments at this stage or plan a complete copper switch-off,” adds the document.

This is in stark contradiction with EU’s 2020 targets to have 100% coverage for high-speed connections (30 Megabytes per second) and at least 50% penetration of super-fast internet, which goes at a minimum speed of 100 Mbps.

Indeed, currently only 6.5% of broadband connections work on 30 Mbps speed, and just 0.9% of them rely on 100 Mbps.

Fibre is considered the technology capable to narrow this gap and provide Europe with a state-of-the-art infrastructure for future decades, but not many operators and public authorities seem to be willing to make an effort in this direction. Only 2% of internet connections in Europe are currently based on fibre.

Public funding vs creative financing

Brussels estimates that relying on the upgrading of existing copper networks to achieve the 30 Mbps coverage for all by 2020 would cost between €38 billion and €58 billion.

The more ambitious and long-lasting solution, which implies deploying fibre to at least half of the EU population, has instead a cost “between €181 billion and €268 billion,” according to the Commission’s estimates.

It is unlikely that this money can come from public authorities. “At a time of public spending austerity, a near-term structural overhaul of positions on public broadband funding is not in sight,” acknowledges the Commission in its working document.

A few original solutions are suggested in the EU executive report. For instance, their are proposals to use project bonds, credit enhancements or other innovative financial instruments. “These instruments improve the risk-return trade-off of private investors associated with a given NGA investment, making projects commercially more attractive,” Brussels reckons.

The proposed EU long-term budget includes such measures, although the backing of member states on the overall figures available for EU spending is still subject to protracted negotiations.

Another alternative source of financing could involve the final users in areas where the building of networks cannot be justified by commercial reasons. This happens for example in wealthy but low-densely populated Finland, where end-users pay to build the last-mile to connect backbone NGA networks to their homes.

They obtain in exchange important tax deductions. Though this model seem to have been attracting some interest, it is unlikely to be extended to other member states.

The urge of private investment

Large operators such as Deutsche Telekom in Germany or Telefónica in Spain are widely considered to be those who should carry the heaviest financial burden in the transition from copper to fibre.

The most radical views see this move as an obligation. It is indeed regarded as a compensation for companies, which have inherited existing networks built with public money and they should be urged to build new networks with their money, goes the radical argument.

More moderate opinions suggest that incumbents should do these investments on pure commercial grounds. Fibre is indeed a new market with an enormous potential, especially for those who will enter it first and soundly.

But telecoms operators are dragging their feet in deploying fibre networks as they fear losing customers in the transition from copper. They have called on regulators to allow charging higher prices for granting competitors’ access to their networks, saying higher margins will facilitate investment in fibre.

The Commission is however expected to take the opposite view. The EU commissioner in charge of telecoms, Neelie Kroes, made no secret in the past months that she is considering an approach based on incentives for those who invest and penalties for those who don't invest in NGA.

An EU recommendation on access pricing is expected in the coming weeks, spelling out the methodology to calculate access pricing, and likely including measures to bring down prices to access telecoms networks where no investment is made. Companies are expected to react furiously at such a proposal.

A technical study should back the Commission’s line, making it less vulnerable to critics.

Hard lobbying is however going on these days and the final outcome is far from certain. Kroes has a reputation for often changing her mind. The recent departure of an influential member of her cabinet, who has been a strong supporter of a tough line to spur NGA investment, may be a signal that the commissioner is considering backtracking.

Have Your Say! Commission wants your views on priority objectives for the environment

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The Commission has launched a public consultation to gather views on the 7th EU Environmental Action Programme (7th EAP), which will set out priority objectives to be pursued up until 2020. The consultation remains open until 1 June.

European Commissioner for Environment Janez Potočnik said: “The EU is home to some of the most ambitious environmental rules to be found anywhere in the world. These rules are doing a lot to protect our environment and people. But their strength depends on their implementation on the ground and we need to make them fit for new challenges. We would like to hear from citizens what we can do, together with our Member States and all other stakeholders, to better protect our environment and sustain our prosperity within the planet's limits. The EU may not be able to do everything, but we would like to hear where it can have the biggest impact, and how, for improving the quality of our environment - for ourselves and for the children of our children. ”

In recent months, the Commission has adopted a number of strategic initiatives on environment policy – the Resource Efficiency Roadmap, the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and a Communication on improving the implementation of EU law. They aim at improving Europe's competitiveness and enhancing its ecological resilience and are an integral part of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The 7th EAP should provide an overarching, coherent framework for these strategic initiatives, setting out priority objectives and showing clearly how environment policy can contribute to green growth and deliver better health and well-being. It should secure the commitment of all actors concerned – EU institutions, Member States, regional and local administrations, businesses and private sector stakeholders, NGOs and civil society – to a common agenda.

In particular, the 7th EAP should secure commitment to:

improving the implementation and enforcement of EU environmental rules in order to deliver better environmental outcomes
making sure that other EU policies also deliver on climate and environment objectives
having access to sound evidence and the latest scientific knowledge as a basis for environmental policy-making and implementation
filling significant policy gaps, where justified by the latest scientific information and in line with the precautionary approach.

Next steps

The results of the public consultation, together with the views of the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, will inform the further development of the Commission's proposal for the 7th EAP, which it plans to present before the end of this year.

Background

Environment Action Programmes have guided the development of EU environment policy since the early seventies. In addition to the results of this consultation, in preparing its proposal for a 7th Environment Action Programme, the Commission will be guided by the challenges highlighted in the European Environment Agency's 2010 State of the Environment Report and the conclusions of the 6th EAP Final Assessment, as well as input from other EU institutions on the results of the 6th EAP.

Further information:

The consultation can be filled in at:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/7eap_en.htm

For more details on the EAP see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/newprg/7eap.htm

Commission to examine tax measures for cross-border workers

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Member States' tax provisions are to be scrutinised to ensure that they do not discriminate against cross-border workers, in a targeted initiative launched by the Commission. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million people work cross-border in the EU. Gross wages paid to cross-border and seasonal workers in 2010 amounted to €46.9 billion. Worker mobility has been identified as one of the key potentials for increasing growth and employment in Europe. However, tax obstacles remain one of the key deterrents to citizens looking for work in another Member State.

This is why, throughout 2012, the Commission will carry out a thorough assessment of national direct taxes to determine whether they create unfair disadvantages for workers that live in one Member State and work in another. Where discrimination or breaches of the EU's fundamental freedoms are found, the Commission will flag them to the national authorities and insist that the necessary amendments are made. Should the problems persist, the Commission will take infringement procedures against the Member States in question.

Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner for Taxation, Customs, Anti-Fraud and Audit, said: "EU rules are clear: all EU citizens must be treated equally within the Single Market. There cannot be discrimination, and workers' right to free movement must not be impaired. Most Member States respect these core principles but I am ready to take any measure necessary to ensure that they are reflected in all Member States' tax rules. "

As tax obstacles remain one of the key deterrents to cross border mobility, the Commission is working on many fronts to tear down barriers for EU workers, for example, in its proposal to tackle double taxation (IP/11/1337) or to boost protection for posted workers (IP/12/267).

Background

In this latest initiative, the Commission is scrutinizing:

whether citizens who earn most of their income in another Member State are taxed more heavily than the citizens of that same Member State. In this context, the Commission checks that all the personal and family deductions available to residents are in practice also available to these non-residents.
whether Member States differentiate between their own citizens and citizens from other Member States who occasionally work in their territory, particularly as regards the right to deduct expenses and the application of different tax rates.

The Commission will not only look at the situation for employed and dependent workers but also self-employed individuals and pensioners.

The main principles to be applied to the taxation of cross border workers were established in some landmark judgments of the EU's Court of Justice, such as Schumacker (C-279/93), Wielockx (C-80/94), Turpeinen (C-520/04) and Gerritse (C-234/01).

The right to live and work anywhere in the EU is both a fundamental right for European citizens and a key instrument for developing a Europe-wide job market. The Commission supports Member States in designing policies to address legal and administrative obstacles to working mobility (e.g. Youth on the move - IP/10/1124) but also ensure that cross-border workers are not treated differently from national workers and they shall enjoy the same social and tax advantages as national workers (more info).

Two services that help European citizens and businesses understand and defend their rights in the EU are Your Europe Advice and SOLVIT. Your Europe Advice answers questions from citizens asking about their rights, for example their health insurance or unemployment benefit entitlements when going to live and work abroad. SOLVIT provides practical and timely solutions to citizens and businesses who encounter administrative obstacles, such as getting professional qualifications recognised in another Member State so they could work there. Both of these services have enabled thousands of European citizens and businesses to benefit from the opportunities afforded by the Single Market.

Homepage of Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta, EU Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-fraud Commissioner:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/semeta/index_en.htm

EFSA and EU Member States work together to tackle Schmallenberg virus

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has yesterday published its second report on the Schmallenberg virus (SBV). The virus that to date has been identified in eight EU Member States can affect domestic1 and wild ruminants, leading in some cases to severe birth defects. Although uncertainties and gaps in data remain, yesterday's report importantly shows that when based on worst case scenario assumptions, the number of infected ruminants is low compared to the total number of these animals in each Member State.

Strong cooperation from Member States is reflected in the calibre of data collected according to guidance provided by EFSA which was published last month in response to an urgent request from the European Commission. The data collected by Member States have allowed the Authority to analyse the current geographical distribution and impact of the disease in the European Union.

Some caution nevertheless should be exerted when interpreting the data as underreporting or lack of diagnostic confirmation may affect the picture that we have today of the prevalence of the disease. Although all Member States have submitted detailed information about confirmed cases, only two also reported on suspected cases. Data recommendations stated in this report will be used to refine further data collection. To ensure that an - as accurate as possible - evolution of SBV is known, EFSA will publish periodical reports on the status and analysis of the data collected. Furthermore, EFSA will assess the overall impact of the SBV infection on animal health, animal production and animal welfare together with a characterisation of the pathogen by 31 May 2012.

The results of EFSA’s report are being shared at a scientific seminar held in Brussels today organised by the European Commission’s Health and Consumers Directorate General (DG SANCO) that aims to present the current state of play on the latest scientific information on SBV and the risk management approach taken by the EU.

There is currently no evidence that the Schmallenberg virus could cause illness in humans.

"Schmallenberg" virus: analysis of the epidemiological data

Commission fires starting gun on European Citizens' Initiatives

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Sunday marked the launch of European Citizens' Initiatives. From that day, a million citizens from across Europe can come together on an issue that is important to them, and ask the Commission to do something about it.

Vice-President Šefčovič said: "I am delighted that after all the hard work and long wait, Europeans will finally be able to launch Citizens' Initiatives by requesting their registration on the Commission's website. Personally, I am very excited to see what ideas citizens come up with.

"This is an unprecedented expansion in participatory democracy. It is a powerful agenda-setting tool in the hands of citizens. I hope it will also encourage the development of a genuine European 'demos', as citizens come together across borders to debate issues that are important to all of them."

Registering initiatives is a key early step in the process. The request must be made by a citizens' committee made up of at least seven EU citizens who are resident in at least seven different EU Member States.

Once registered, the committee will have 12 months to collect the necessary statements of support from at least seven Member States. The threshold to count as one of those seven Member States is fixed at 750 times the number of MEPs for that Member State. Anyone of voting age for European Parliament elections (currently 18 in all Member States except Austria, where it is 16) can support an initiative.

The number of statements of support has to be certified by the competent authorities in the Member States. The Commission will then have three months to examine the initiative and decide how to act on it. It will meet the organisers so they can explain the issues raised in their initiative in more depth. The organisers will also have the opportunity to present their initiative at a public hearing organised at the European Parliament.

The Commission will then adopt a Communication explaining its conclusions on the initiative, what action it intends to take, if any, and its reasoning.

The European Commission has worked hard to make the process as simple as possible for citizens, while ensuring the necessary safeguards are in place so that initiatives which are manifestly abusive, frivolous, vexatious, contrary to European values or outside the scope of the Commission's powers are not registered. Measures are also in place to ensure the data of those supporting initiatives is properly protected.

Background

The ECI was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty. It will allow 1 million citizens from at least one quarter of EU Member States to invite the European Commission to bring forward proposals for legal acts in areas where the Commission has the power to do so.

The Regulation governing European Citizens' Initiatives was adopted on 16 February 2011. However, at the request of Member States who needed time to put mechanisms in place for certifying statements of support, citizens can only launch ECIs from 1 April 2012.

Link to ECI website: http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative

Link to ECI Regulation: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:065:0001:0022:EN:PDF

A grid-based 'Google' to fight neurological disease

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS marketplace

Grid computing, long used by physicists and astronomers to crunch masses of data quickly and efficiently, is making the leap into the world of biomedicine. Supported by EU-funding, researchers have networked hundreds of computers to help find treatments for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. They are calling their system the 'Google for brain imaging.'

Through the Neugrid project, the pan-European grid computing infrastructure has opened up new channels of research into degenerative neurological disorders and other illnesses, while also holding the promise of quicker and more accurate clinical diagnoses of individual patients.

The infrastructure, set up with the support of EUR 2.8 million in funding from the European Commission, was developed over three years by researchers in seven countries. Their aim, primarily, was to give neuroscientists the ability to quickly and efficiently analyse 'Magnetic resonance imaging' (MRI) scans of the brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. But their work has also helped open the door to the use of grid computing for research into other neurological disorders, and many other areas of medicine.

'Neugrid was launched to address a very real need. Neurology departments in most hospitals do not have quick and easy access to sophisticated MRI analysis resources. They would have to send researchers to other labs every time they needed to process a scan. So we thought, why not bring the resources to the researchers rather than sending the researchers to the resources?,' explains Giovanni Frisoni, a neurologist and the deputy scientific director of IRCCS Fatebenefratelli, the Italian National Centre for Alzheimer's and Mental Diseases, in Brescia.

Five years' work in two weeks

The Neugrid team, led by David Manset from MaatG in France and Richard McClatchey from the University of the West of England in Bristol, laid the foundations for the grid infrastructure, starting with five distributed nodes of 100 cores (CPUs) each, interconnected with grid middleware and accessible via the internet with an easy-to-use web browser interface. To test the infrastructure, the team used datasets of images from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative in the United States, the largest public database of MRI scans of patients with Alzheimer's disease and a lesser condition termed 'Mild cognitive impairment'.

'In Neugrid we have been able to complete the largest computational challenge ever attempted in neuroscience: we extracted 6,500 MRI scans of patients with different degrees of cognitive impairment and analysed them in two weeks,' Dr. Frisoni, the lead researcher on the project, says, 'on an ordinary computer it would have taken five years!'.

Though Alzheimer's disease affects about half of all people aged 85 and older, its causes and progression remain poorly understood. Worldwide more than 35 million people suffer from Alzheimer's, a figure that is projected to rise to over 115 million by 2050 as the world's population ages.

Patients with early symptoms have difficulty recalling the names of people and places, remembering recent events and solving simple maths problems. As the brain degenerates, patients in advanced stages of the disease lose mental and physical functions and require round-the-clock care.

The analysis of MRI scans conducted as part of the Neugrid project should help researchers gain important insights into some of the big questions surrounding the disease such as which areas of the brain deteriorate first, what changes occur in the brain that can be identified as biomarkers for the disease and what sort of drugs might work to slow or prevent progression.

Neugrid built on research conducted by two prior EU-funded projects: Mammogrid, which set up a grid infrastructure to analyse mammography data, and AddNeuroMed, which sought biomarkers for Alzheimer's. The team are now continuing their work in a series of follow-up projects.

An expanded grid and a new paradigm

Neugrid for You (N4U), a direct continuation of Neugrid, will build upon the grid infrastructure, integrating it with 'High performance computing' (HPC) and cloud computing resources. Using EUR 3.5 million in European Commission funding, it will also expand the user services, algorithm pipelines and datasets to establish a virtual laboratory for neuroscientists.

'In Neugrid we built the grid infrastructure, addressing technical challenges such as the interoperability of core computing resources and ensuring the scalability of the architecture. In N4U we will focus on the user-facing side of the infrastructure, particularly the services and tools available to researchers,' Dr. Frisoni says. 'We want to try to make using the infrastructure for research as simple and easy as possible,' he continues, 'the learning curve should not be much more difficult than learning to use an iPhone!'

N4U will also expand the grid infrastructure from the initial five computing clusters through connections with CPU nodes at new sites, including 2,500 CPUs recently added in Paris in collaboration with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), and in partnership with 'Enabling grids for e-science Biomed VO', a biomedical virtual organisation.

Another follow-up initiative, outGRID, will federate the Neugrid infrastructure, linking it with similar grid computing resources set up in the United States by the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the CBRAIN brain imaging research platform developed by McGill University in Montreal, Canada. A workshop was recently held at the International Telecommunication Union, an agency of the United Nations, to foster this effort.

Dr. Frisoni is also the scientific coordinator of the DECIDE project, which will work on developing clinical diagnostic tools for doctors built upon the Neugrid grid infrastructure.

'There are a couple of important differences between using brain imaging datasets for research and for diagnosis,' he explains. 'Researchers compare many images to many others, whereas doctors are interested in comparing images from a single patient against a wider set of data to help diagnose a disease. On top of that, datasets used by researchers are anonymous, whereas images from a single patient are not and protecting patient data becomes an issue.'

The DECIDE project will address these questions in order to use the grid infrastructure to help doctors treat patients.

Though the main focus of all these new projects is on using grid computing for neuroscience, Dr. Frisoni emphasises that the same infrastructure, architecture and technology could be used to enable new research - and new, more efficient diagnostic tools - in other fields of medicine.

'We are helping to lay the foundations for a new paradigm in grid-enabled medical research,' he says.

Neugrid received research funding under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Useful links:

- 'A grid-based e-infrastructure for data archiving/communication and computationally intensive applications in the medical sciences' website
- Neugrid project factsheet on CORDIS
- 'Expansion of NeuGRID services and outreach to new user communities' website
- NeuGRID for you project factsheet on CORDIS
- 'A worldwide e-infrastructure for computational neuroscientists' website
- outGRID project factsheet on CORDIS

The Swedish knack for technology

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Marketplace

What do the names Celsius, Linnaeus, Pasche, Nobel, Ericsson, Zennström and Ek have in common? These famous innovators all hail from Sweden, a country of just 9 million people with a long history of inquiry and a proven ability to deliver significant scientific and technological breakthroughs.

Being home to the Nobel Prize is more than a symbolic nod to great achievements in science and the humanities; Swedish ingenuity continues to drive progress in a range of fields, in particular information and communications technologies (ICT).

The meteoric rise of the music-streaming service Spotify is big news in the growing list of countries where the Swedish-founded company has launched since it kicked off in 2008. Spotify's founders Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon have shot to fame in the vanguard of European entrepreneurs of the Internet age.

These two innovators are joined by another Swede who is not only changing the tools we use to communicate, but also the language we speak while using them. Keep this in mind, next time someone says 'Skype me!' For the 10 people on the planet who don't know what this means, Skype is a system using voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) that allows people to make low-cost telephone calls via the web. The company was co-founded by Swedish-born Niklas Zennström and sold in 2011 to Microsoft, by which time it had around 700 million users.

Going back in time, we see communications technology could indeed be in the Swedish blood. Lars Magnus Ericsson (1846-1926) started the company bearing his name around a century ago. Today, it is one of the largest telecom companies in the world.

Meanwhile, earlier in the 19th century, Alfred Nobel put his great wealth towards creating the Nobel Prize reportedly to atone for the harm to the world that his most famous invention - dynamite - had caused. Today's great scientists and thinkers are recognised with great ceremony in Sweden as the year's Nobel Laureates.

Further again in history, Carl Linnaeus' contribution to botany, zoology and even modern-day taxonomy is still being felt today. His binomial nomenclature (two-part names) for animal and plant species has helped create order in the natural world. Many also credit him as the father of ecology. And Anders Celsius was the astronomer who came up with the 100-point thermometer scale in the early 1700s, a system used across the world today.

This brief history of famous scientific Scandinavians is just a prelude to the Swedish pioneers of today. In academia, research labs and industry, Swedish researchers are pre-eminent in fields ranging from conservation sciences to cytogenetics; software development to Internet safety.

To this day, Sweden has one of the highest levels of public investment in research compared to the size of its population. According to ERAWatch, Swedish governments have tended to maintain public outlays for research at almost 1% of GDP. Add in private investment, and Sweden is one of the only two EU countries that has managed to surpass the target of 3% of GDP invested in R&D annually.

Show me the IT!

Swedish pragmatism and leadership is on show in the EU-funded SHOWE-IT (1) pilot study aimed at reducing energy and water consumption in social housing in three locations: Rochdale (UK), St Etienne (FR) and Botkyrka (SE). Each of the initial 211 households chosen for the trial has been equipped with easy-to-use 'smart' meters and other ICT-based tools which will help them reach a target of 20% savings in energy and water consumption - a threshold for the SHOWE-IT approach to be considered commercial viability.

Meanwhile, the BECA (2) project, which involves Swedish housing specialists ÖrebroBostäder AB, is taking the 'big picture' approach to domestic energy and water conservation across Europe. Social housing organisations in seven European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Spain and Sweden) and their partners are cooperating in the project to provide ICT-based energy management and energy awareness services directly to around 5,000 social housing tenants and service operators. Following a year of investigation and prototypes, the three-year project is now entering an important operational phase and will conclude at the end of 2013.

Sweden is taking a leadership role in global efforts to make the Internet a safer place for young people. For example, the Safer Internet Centre Sweden and related Awareness Node scheme, as well as the Internet Safety Helpline, are keeping parent and student groups, governments, industry, associations and educators to informed of the latest trends and dangers young people face using online technologies.

Meanwhile, the Robert (3) project is studying the tactics that Internet predators use to groom young people and using the findings to equip children, especially the more vulnerable ones, for their forays online. And the FIVES (4) project is developing novel forensic techniques and tools tailored to help police investigate the vast amounts of evidence (videos and images) collected of child sex abuse cases.

'[Looking] for illegal images and videos or other investigative leads in the large amounts of data found on seized storage devices,' the project team explains. 'An average investigation could have several terabytes of data stored in different media and formats.'

The FIVES project, led by Karlstad University with support from NetClean Technologies Sweden AB, is using perceptual optimisation techniques, object matching and image similarity techniques, among other methods, to allow details of crime scenes to be linked between different image sets or videos and lift the burden on investigators.

Healthy respect for technology

Swedish partners are also active in the field of eHealth, which supports wider eGovernment initiatives. Take for example, the EU-funded Sustains (5) project which is trialling 'Electronic health record' (EHR) technologies in 11 pilots across nine European countries. The project is looking to empower patients and improve the overall quality of care for Europeans while making health care more efficient and cost-effective.

Meanwhile, the EU-supported epSOS (6) pilot project is making it easier for people to receive medical assistance anywhere in the EU by removing linguistic, administrative and technical obstacles. According to the project's coordinator Fredrik Linden, of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), some 30,000 health professionals will use the new services developed (ePrescriptions and Patient Summaries) within the project.

Addressing the challenge of an ageing European population, Swedish researchers are also active in field of palliative care, seeking answers to the question: What can caregivers do during the final days of their patients' lives, apart from administer drugs?

According to Dr Olav Lindqvist of Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, 'Palliative care is all about satisfying fundamental human needs, but … it entails so much more than one might at first assume. If we are to further develop palliative care, we must learn more about this type of daily care-giving and tease out its nuances.'

The research team, supported under the EU-funded OPCARE9 (7) project, analysed 16 palliative outpatient and inpatient clinics in nine countries. Nursing staff, doctors and volunteers from each clinic were all asked to record non-pharmacological activities that were carried out during the final days of a patient's life, for three to four weeks. The results were recently reported in the journal 'PloS Medicine' and promoted on CORDIS News.

A mercurial bug

The last example of Swedish ICT prowess, if further evidence is needed, comes from the recently concluded EU-funded project 'Property-based testing' ( Protest) which has developed cutting-edge software engineering approaches to improve the reliability of software systems. According to reports, the Protest team, which includes Swedish partners Ericsson, Quviq AB and Chalmers University of Technology, was able to find bugs in systems that had been used for years and, while they sometimes demonstrated strange behaviour, no previous tests could find the cause.

According to the EU Commission official in charge of the project, Protest has delivered an outstanding set of results: 'One of the best projects I have ever had.' And in true Swedish spirit the research will find its way into technological innovations which stand to improve industry and Europe's bottom line.

'Their tools will be used in the telecom industry (Ericsson) and also the car industry (Volvo) where they can test if software systems are functioning according to the Autosar standard,' according to the Commission.

Continued investment in skills and research capacities should help ensure that Sweden maintains its vital contribution to the European Research Area, with many more names to join the list of illustrious Swedish scientists. And perhaps someday soon, a Nobel laureate who will not have so far to travel to attend the Stockholm ceremony honouring them!

---

The projects featured in this article have been supported by the Competitive and Innovation Programme's (CIP) ICT-Policy Support scheme or the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for research.

(1) 'Real-life trial in social housing, of water and energy efficiency ICT services'
(2) 'Balanced European conservation approach'
(3) 'Risktaking online behaviour - Empowerment through research and training'
(4) 'Forensic image and video examination support'
(4) 'Support users to access information and services'
(5) 'Smart open services - Open eHealth initiative for a European Large Scale Pilot of patient summary and electronic prescription'
(6) 'A European collaboration to optimise research for the care of cancer patients in the last days of life'

Useful links:

- FP7 on CORDIS
- CIP on CORDIS
- SHOWE-IT on Europa
- BECA on Europa
- Safer Internet SE AC-HP on Europa
- Safer Internet SE AN-HELP on Europa
- Robert on Europa
- FIVES on Europa
- Sustains on Europa
- epSOS on Europa
- OPCARE9 on CORDIS
- Protest on CORDIS

A new bus that's just the ticket

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

You wait and wait and then three come at once, so the old joke about buses goes.

But the bus has been getting a makeover.

Umberto Guida, the co-ordinator of the European Bus of the Future (EBSF) project said: "Half of public transportation in Europe is done with buses. But buses are still widely considered as the least efficient and least attractive transport system. So our idea was to bring about the renaissance of the bus."

A brand new Number 16 bus running on one of the busiest routes in Gothenburg is part of the plan to re-kindle a love affair between Europeans and their buses.

And it's a magic bus with a few tricks built-in to give passengers 20 percent more space.

Lars Carlden, an engineer with Volvo Technology explained: "To start with, we have these two new wider, sliding doors that allow a better flow of passengers. We also have foldable seats. We have 15 of them. During the peak hours, the drivers can lock them in the upright position. We have also put the driver in the centre between the front wheels, and we have moved the front wheels forward so that more space is generated. In the back, we have the new bellows (the concertina section linking the front and back parts of the bus) that are transparent. And by that means, we get more light into this area, because usually this area of the bus is very dark."

It is the final prototype from a European Union research project aimed at developing quieter, cleaner and more user-friendly buses.

The vehicle seems popular with passengers in Gothenburg.

"It looks very modern, very nice," said one. "It is very quiet, which I like. I guess it is a good thing with all these seats being flexible, good to fit more people in here."

"It is easier to enter, and you have more free space," said another.

Driver Thomas Thimour from Veolia Transport had his own perspective from the cab.

"You have different reference points," he said. "As a driver, you are situated in the centre, and in all other buses, on the left. That means that if you use your old bus-driver brain when driving this bus, you are at least one metre too far to the left. One (difficult) thing is the communication with the passengers, since you are almost totally walled-off in here. That is not a too big problem, but it can be sometimes."

Researchers used complex mathematical models to calculate passenger flows and accessibility with various layout designs at different times and stations for bus routes all over Europe.

One of Volvo Technology's electrical engineers, Atieh Hanna, told euronews: "We wanted to investigate these conceptual changes in the bus layout. And we wanted to know how these conceptual changes affect the performance of the bus in terms of dwell time, capacity or accessibility."

They tested these and other theoretical models in life-sized mock-up made of wood.

Design engineer Oskar Rexfelt from Chalmers University of Technology explained: "That wooden bus was built up with modules so that we could change different aspects of the bus. We could for instance have a new front, new types of seats, or we could change the number of doors of the bus. And then we could see how those changes affected the passengers flow on and off, where do people chose to stand or sit, and so on."

At the same time, scientists near Paris were developing a new all-in-one computer system that brings together the vehicle's Information Technology features.

Drivers can control all the on-board electronics from a small screen, including GPS, real-time traffic information, energy consumption, ticketing, passenger counting, video surveillance, vehicle maintenance and driver assistance systems.

Emmanuel de Verdalle, an Embedded Systems engineer at Veolia, explained: "For a bus builder, this architecture will allow us to supply vehicles that are ready to receive this system. For the transport operators, this architecture will make it easier to install and maintain information systems. And for the public-transport passenger, this architecture will allow us to supply a multi-mode service – continuous travel information from the start of their journey to the end."

In Dresden, researchers on ergonomics used a bus simulator to pinpoint the needs and priorities of European drivers.

They studied two different scenarios; the more ordered streets of Dresden, and the more chaotic streets of Rome.

Professional drivers gave their feedback to help design their ideal cabin layout.

DVB driver Rene Wodni said: "The overall structure is well thought out. I can easily reach the controls now without having to lean forward. I would love to have an analogue speedometer instead of digital. And it would be good to have some storage space for my bag and to keep some water bottles."

They looked at space, adjustability, comfort and visibility.

And the research helped unveil some distinct differences between the priorities of bus drivers in northern and southern Europe.

Günther Nirschl is an ergonomics engineer at the Fraunhofer IVI.

"They assess some things quite differently in Rome and Dresden," he said. "Drivers in Rome, for instance, are more concerned about security – they're not very taken with a driver's position that's open to the public. For Dresden drivers, the main thing was storage space – that's what they commented on most – but that wasn't at all a priority for the drivers in Rome."

The road ahead for the researchers is now about installing the newly developed design layouts in more fuel efficient buses, with far more highly developed computer systems.

And, they say, they are not short of new ideas.

EBSF co-ordinator Umberto Guida told us: "In 20 years we will have modular buses that will be able to adapt themselves to the quantity of passengers that they will have to transport in a given time or place. In 20 years we will also have buses whose 'state of health' - the functioning of the motor, the doors, etc – will be completely remote-controlled from a distant computer office. That will prevent a bus from breaking down in the middle of a street."

The researchers say that for bus techno-evolution to become fully efficient, there will also have to be a new generation of urban infrastructure.

EBSF web site

Breaking science's gender barrier

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/promotion/index_en.htm

"I have never seen women scientists, I've only seen men."

"Girls get this upbringing where they shouldn't be scientists, they should do something else."

"Girls are very interested in science. Maybe they don't know that, but they are."

These opinions, from three Danish girls and boys, could have come from any young person around Europe. Gender-based ability differences are laughed out of the playground, so why do they rear up in adult life?

The Experimentarium in Copenhagen is a science centre with a difference. Using the facility is 15 year-old Cecilie Kaspersen, who is dissects a lung to show how it works. Cecilie is a ‘Young Science Communicator’, trained to get teenagers switched on to science.

“I think that it’s great that I can be whatever I want to be, that all paths are open, including a career as a scientist. For me that’s an option - I haven’t decided yet, but I like the idea,” she says.

Studies show that girls are as interested and as good at science as boys. However, a researcher’s career remains a rare choice for young women: gender stereotypes undermine girls’ confidence, excluding them from male-dominated fields.

One approach might be projects like TWIST (Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology). Its co-ordinator, Sheena Laursen, told euronews: “Often we get comments such as - oh, what’s the problem, women can do science as well - and yes, I think people do think that today; but the situation is, and definitely in Denmark, that the higher up in the hierarchy - the less women, and I think that’s a shame for both genders.”

This EU-funded TWIST project aims to challenge the social prejudices that cause gender discrepancy. In Europe, male scientists dominate, especially in maths and engineering. Many women miss career opportunities, while European science wastes a large pool of potential talent.

One interactive exhibit presents positive counter-examples: it is a collection of video interviews with leading female European scientists, including Danish Associate Professor in Astrophysics at the Neils Bohr Institute Anja Andersen.

“This is about establishing role models for young women and showing what a female scientist is, so to get away with the prejudice ideas either that there are no female scientists, or that female scientist has to be in a specific way. And I think that’s the great way about the project that you see women from all the European countries, and they are very different, they do different kinds of science, and they’re all very excited about the science,” Andersen said.

One way to make gender prejudices obvious is to question them - and that is where Twisty comes in. The remote-controlled “virtual puppet” talks to the science centre visitors, probing at the tough ethical questions about women’s role in society.

“I’m a bio-technical computer,” he says. “That means that there is someone who has taught me what to ask. But I’m a computer too.”

Sara Clausen, who Twisty’s puppeteer, said: “It’s a nice way to talk to people without them realising that it’s an actual person. They throw off the masks that they would be wearing in front of other persons, and just say that they think.”

“Most of them think that women are not really capable of thinking logically, and they think that women should just be at home,” adds Twisty.

While the TWIST project wants to raise public awareness of the “glass ceiling” that prevents women from getting to the top in research, another European initiative targets high school girls, encouraging them to pursue scientific education.

Budapest’s Ã“buda University is one of Hungary’s leading computer sciences and engineering centres. It lacks female students, who generally have low expectations that these fields will want them. The GENDERA project invites high school students to visit research and academic institutions to dispel this misconception.

“It is very important to show them what these faculties, these universities, are doing, how the teaching is going, what they can learn there, and also to persuade them that they are equal with the boys, and they should try to get there,” says GENDERA co-ordinator Dora Groó.

In fact, leading roles in computer engineering throughout its history have been played by women such as “the first programmer” Ada Lovelace or Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, a developer of the first electronic computer.

“This is a great field for women, because women see the world differently to men. A man usually focuses more, and women usually consider many more things, and that is a great enhancement and great opportunity for the future,” said Kutor László, Professor of Computer Engineering at Óbuda.

AnnamÃ¡ria Cserfalvi sees no reason why science education has to remain a field in which women are under-represented. And she has an added obstacle to overcome; she is hearing-impaired.

But with her degree in Computer Engineering, she has developed a training course for other hearing-impaired people. She has taught the course at the university for 10 years.

“I chose computer engineering because this field of knowledge opens unlimited opportunities for everyone - including hearing-impaired people. Everyone can advance in this direction, and I believe women can perform just as well as men. We simply need more concrete action to make that a reality,” she says.

A biotech lab is under development, setting up a system of wireless sensors to monitor elderly patients and alert health services in case of an emergency. Computerised healthcare and telemedicine are growing, providing career opportunities for female graduates brave enough to enter this field.

“These things are not explained in schools. I think it’s a very hard thing, because these girls are going into the unknown, and they don’t have any information about their future and the way they’re going to study and live their scientific career,” said Laura Patik, a 10th-grade student at the SEK Budapest International school.

So should society maintain the barriers of traditional gender roles, or would we all benefit from more diversity? Back in Denmark, the TWIST project holds a series of high school debates to prepare a national conference on gender equality in science.

“I think it’s important to hear what young people have to say. If I were just standing there and telling them stuff it would have another effect - I think you really need to bring them on, hearing their opinions,” said TWIST debates moderator Victoria Alexandra Bjerregaard. She turns to her audience; “In science, only 11 percent of European professors are women. Do you see this as a problem?” she asks. The responses are not wanting:

“We have 100 percent of professors who are good, and it doesn’t matter if they’re men or if they’re women.”

“I think it’s the society that puts us in two boxes - that girls are supposed to think with feelings and artistically, and boys are supposed to think logically.”

“We have to accept the fact that men and women are different. But not in a ‘better’ way or a ‘worse’ way.”

One huge problem is that often a successful scientific career seems incompatible with family and children. With already-groaning researchers’ workloads getting ever-heavier, many young women fear having to choose between their personal and professional lives.

“You need a change in the whole of society if you want to see women as just as good scientists as men. But I don’t know what to do. I think it’s too difficult,” says Thor Banke Hansen, a Political Science teacher at Øregård Gymnasium.

As these and other experts from around Europe prepare their recommendations for the decision-makers, one thing is clear: science and society will have to work together to break the gender barrier.

Documentation

Promoting the tastes of Europe

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Commission has recently adopted a Communication entitled 'Promotion measures and information provision for agricultural products: a reinforced value‑added strategy for promoting the tastes of Europe'. The Communication is the second stage of the promotion policy reform process launched in July 2011, which aims to make the agriculture and agri‑food sector more dynamic and more competitive and to promote sustainable, intelligent and inclusive growth.

On this occasion Dacian Cioloș, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said: 'The European Union has a good hand to play to make its economy more dynamic and boost growth and jobs by further optimising the benefits of its agricultural and agri‑food products, both on the European market and world markets. Exports in this sector already represent more than €100 billion. In an increasingly open world, the success of European agriculture also depends on its capacity to strengthen and develop its position. This entails new ambition for our promotion policy and putting in place a real Community strategy for optimising the use of our products.'

This new ambition is expressed in the key objectives set for the future promotion policy, centred around four themes:

real European added value;
more attractive programmes with a bigger impact;
simpler and more effective management;
new synergies between the different promotion instruments.

This Communication reflects the in‑depth consideration launched in July 2011 by the adoption of a Green Paper¹ about the policy of information and promotion for agricultural products which was a leading initiative to strengthen the competitiveness of EU agriculture and which generated a broad public debate, as well as the information in the report on the external evaluation carried out in 2011 on the present promotion policy².

This document opens the debate on the content of the future promotion policy at interinstitutional level. Once these discussions have been concluded, the Commission will present legislative proposals before the end of the year.

Background

The EU rules in force on information and promotion in the agri‑food sphere were drawn up in the 1980s. They have been adapted over the years, particularly thanks to the increase in the number of quality labels. The EU budget spent on promotion under Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 was €47 million in 2011 and €55 million is earmarked for 2012.

Between 2001 and 2011, 518 programmes were approved, mainly three‑year programmes, representing a total of €576 million from the EU budget. (NB: These programmes must be cofinanced by the proposing organisations and may be the subject of a financial contribution by the Member States). For the period 2001‑2011, the majority of the programmes were centred on the EU market (70% by number and value of programmes) and about 9% were multinational programmes (borne by several Member States).

This horizontal promotion system coexists with other promotion measures within the CAP, implemented within the framework of the Common Organisation of the Market wine sector for third countries (€112 million in 2011) and the fruit and vegetable sector, through producer organisations' operational programmes (€34 million on average in 2008/09), as well as within the framework of Rural Development.

Further information

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/promotion/policy/communication/index_en.htm

The European Commission updates the European safety list of airlines subject to an operating ban.

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Commission has yesterday adopted the 19th update of the European list of air carriers which are for safety reasons subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. Conviasa, an air carrier certified in Venezuela, was added to the list due to safety concerns. Following constructive consultations, Libyan authorities decided to adopt strong measures applicable to all air carriers licensed in Libya, which exclude them from flying into the EU until at least November 2012.

The Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for transport, Siim Kallas, said: "The Commission is ready to spare no effort to assist its neighbours in building their technical and administrative capacity to overcome any difficulties in the area of safety as quickly and as efficiently as possible. In the meantime, safety comes first. We cannot afford any compromise in this area. Where we have evidence inside or outside the European Union that air carriers are not performing safe operations, we must act to guarantee to exclude any risks to safety."

The European Commission has also adopted the 19th update of the European safety list of air carriers subject to operating bans and other operational restrictions within the EU, better known as "the EU air safety list". The decision is based on the unanimous opinion of the Air Safety Committee, composed of representatives of the 27 Members States of the EU, Croatia, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The new list replaces the previous one established in November 2011 and can be consulted on the Commission’s website.

In order to ensure that safety risks are contained, an operating ban on Conviasa certified in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was rendered necessary due to numerous safety concerns arising from accidents and the results of ramp checks at EU airports. The safety performance of two other Venezuelan air carriers, Estellar Latinoamerica and Aerotuy, was also reviewed in depth; however, measures were not considered necessary at this stage. Nonetheless, these two air carriers remain subject to increased monitoring.

Serious concerns were identified regarding the safety oversight of air carriers licensed in Libya. So, intense consultations were held with the civil aviation authorities of Libya and with the Libyan Minister of Transport. As a result, the Libyan civil aviation authorities have adopted restrictions applicable to all air carriers licensed in Libya, which exclude them from flying into the EU with immediate effect and until at least 22 November 2012.

On this basis, the Commission, with the full support of the Air Safety Committee, considered that inclusion of Libyan air carriers in the EU air safety list was not necessary. Nonetheless, implementation of the measures decided by the Libyan authorities remains subject to close monitoring.

The European air safety list was also updated to reflect air carriers in existence in States referenced on the list in previous decisions: for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jet Congo Airways was added; for Equatorial Guinea, Punto Azul was added whilst GETRA, Guinea Airways, UTAGE, Euroguineana de Aviacion y Transportes, General Work Aviacion, Star Equatorial Airlines and EGAMS were removed upon evidence they ceased operations; for Indonesia, TransNusa Aviation Mandiri, Enggang Air Service, Surya Air, Ersa Eastern Aviation and Matthew Air Nusantara newly certified in Indonesia were added, whilst Megantara was removed upon evidence they ceased operations; for Mauritania, Mauritania Airlines was added whilst Mauritania Airways was removed upon evidence it ceased operations; for the Philippines, Aero Equipment Aviation Inc, AirAsia Philippines, Certeza Infosys Corp., Mid-Sea Express, Southern Air Flight Services, NorthSky Air Inc., Island Helicopter Services were added.

Finally, the Commission recognises the efforts of the safety oversight authorities of Albania, Aruba, Indonesia, Libya, Pakistan and Russia to reform the civil aviation system and notably to improve safety to guarantee that international safety standards are effectively and consistently applied. The Commission is ready to provide active support for these reforms in cooperation with ICAO, EU Member States and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The Commission remains fully committed to supporting better compliance with international safety standards whenever possible and has in this perspective mandated the European Aviation Safety Agency to carry out a series of technical assistance missions to support the competent authorities of a number of states in their efforts to enhance safety.

The updated European air safety list includes all carriers certified in 21 States, accounting for 279 known air carriers, whose operations are fully banned in the European Union: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon (with the exception of three carriers which operate under restrictions and conditions), Indonesia (with the exception of six carriers), Kazakhstan (with the exception of one carrier which operates under restrictions and conditions), Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Swaziland and Zambia.

The list also includes five individual carriers: Blue Wing Airlines from Surinam, Meridian Airways from Ghana, Rollins Air from Honduras and Silverback Cargo Freighters from Rwanda and Conviasa from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Additionally, the list includes 11 air carriers which are subject to operational restrictions and allowed to operate into the EU under strict conditions: Air Astana from Kazakhstan as mentioned before, Air Koryo from the Democratic People Republic of Korea, Airlift International from Ghana, Air Service Comores, Afrijet, Gabon Airlines and SN2AG from Gabon, Iran Air, TAAG Angolan Airlines, Air Madagascar and Jordan Aviation.

Patients law comes into force

Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

An independent advice service has been set up to offer advice and support to NHS patients across Scotland.

As part of the Patients Rights Act, from April 2, the Patient and Advice Support Service (PASS) will raise awareness of patients rights and provide support to patients on how to give feedback about their healthcare.

The advice service is among a series of initiatives from the Act which come into force on 2 April.

Patients will also now have a legal right to complain, give feedback or comments, or raise concerns about the care they have received from the NHS.

PASS will be delivered through local Citizen’s Advice Bureaux offices and in some health board areas through Patient Information Centres.

Patient Advisers will be on hand to provide advice and encourage patients to give feedback on their experiences to help further improve NHS healthcare.

A set of healthcare principles for NHS staff and guidance on giving feedback on health services will also be implemented from 2 April

And patients are also being given the opportunity to give their views on the draft Patient Rights Charter.

The Charter of Patient Rights and Responsibilities will bring together, in one place, a summary of the rights and responsibilities that patients have when using NHS services.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Patients Rights Act marks an important step forward in giving patients more say in their health service.

“These measures will help reassure people that if they have concerns about care or services, they will receive the help and support they need, and that they have the legal right to complain.

“We know that while our health service does a fantastic job, it is not perfect and that is why we need our patients to give us their feedback so that health boards can continually improve the care they provide.

"In particular, the Patient and Advice Support Service (PASS) will provide information and help patients and members of the public to know and understand their rights and responsibilities when using health services.”

The Patients Rights Act will also introduce a 12 week treatment guarantee from autumn 2012 for eligible patients who are receiving planned inpatient or day-case treatment.

This could include hip or knee replacements, hernias, or cataracts, although there are a small number of exceptions to this guarantee due to the specialist nature of the treatment.

Related Information

The consultation can be accessed from 4pm on Monday 2 April
Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS)

MEPs push for clear and enforceable air passenger rights

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Airlines should give stranded passengers better information and immediate help, MEPs say in a resolution adopted by Parliament yesterday. They call on the Commission to tighten the rules on help and compensation for flight cancellations or delays, including luggage delays over 6 hours.

"While EU legislation has already gone some way towards improving the rights of air passengers, more needs to be done to get them a fair deal and to ensure broader rights for all travellers", said rapporteur Keith Taylor (Greens/EFA, UK) before the vote. The definitions of "extraordinary circumstances" and "cancellation", in particular, need to be clarified, he added, to oblige airlines to take their responsibilities.

Improve information services and assistance

Air carriers should be obliged to ensure that stranded passengers can turn to competent contact personnel in each airport and over the telephone who can give them useful information on alternative travel options and take immediate decisions on assistance, rerouting and rebooking, says the resolution.

MEPs call on the Commission to draw up a standard form for complaints in all EU languages, to be handed to passengers in the event of disruption. Passengers stranded when airlines go bankrupt should be repatriated free of charge, they add.

Advertised prices must be final prices

The resolution also urges the Commission to harmonise rules on hand luggage and to put an end to unfair commercial practices such as unclear pricing and non-optional-extra fees when booking online, unilateral rescheduling of flights and price discrimination against passengers based on their country of residence. The trip's environmental impact should be indicated airline tickets.

Passengers should have the right to withdraw or change their ticket reservations free of charge within two hours and get full access to information about their "Passenger Name Record" (PNR) data and be informed of how their PNR data are used and with whom they are shared, says Parliament.

MEPs insist that passengers with reduced mobility or with disabilities must be granted barrier-free access to air travel, including the right to use mobility devices. Finally, safe child seats should be provided on each plane.

The resolution was passed with 509 votes in favour, 20 against, and 53 abstentions.

Further information

Links

Antibiotic contamination of soils mapped across Europe

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Previous studies have found that releasing antibiotics into the environment contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. A major source of antibiotics entering the environment is through agricultural use, in the prevention and treatment of livestock diseases. The drugs are transferred to soils when manure from the animals is spread on farmland. Under Directive EC 92/18/EC, all drugs used in veterinary medicine are subject to ecotoxicological assessment of their environmental risks, but after a product is marketed, there is no requirement to monitor build up in the environment, or resistance.

The characteristics of different antibiotics and soils affect how the drugs accumulate in the environment. In environmental risk assessment, the contamination risk associated with an antibiotic depends on its behaviour in the environment, including how quickly it breaks down and how well it sticks to particles in the soil. Soil factors, such as organic matter content, as well as the chemical nature of the drug itself, can influence this behaviour.

Crop yields largely unharmed in geoengineered climate

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Unless emissions of CO2 from human activities are reduced, climate change will affect crop yields, particularly through changes in rainfall and temperature. The impact will vary across regions and there is the risk that food supply, particularly in already vulnerable areas, could be threatened.

One short-term measure proposed in the fight against climate change is to reflect back some of the sun’s radiation before it reaches the Earth, thereby counteracting global warming. An example of such an approach, called solar radiation management (SRM), is to deflect sunlight off sulphate particles that have been injected into the stratosphere (upper atmosphere). However, there are concerns that such ‘sunshade’ geoengineering schemes could reduce crop yields and lower the global production of food by causing changes in precipitation.

For more information please click here.

Concentrating Solar Power's potential for Europe

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The EU is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20% by 2020, and by 80-95% by 2050, compared with 1990 levels. In addition, the share of renewable energy in the energy mix should reach 20% by 2020. The electricity sector is required to achieve zero GHG emissions by 2050.

This study examined the role that CSP could play in helping the EU meet its GHG reduction targets and increase the share of renewable energy in the European electricity grid by 2050. CSP is a reliable, renewable technology, which captures the sun’s energy to produce electricity. Using curved mirrors or lenses, sunlight arriving at the Earth's surface is concentrated to 25-3000 times the intensity of natural sunlight. There are different configurations of CSP, but typically the captured energy heats water, which drives a steam-turbine generator to produce electricity.

eTwinning for cross-border learning: School projects of the year announced

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Now in its eighth year, the European Commission's 'eTwinning' scheme involves more than 155 000 teachers in 31 countries who are using information and communication technologies (ICT) to set up cross-border educational projects. 500 teachers are meeting in Berlin on 29 - 31 March to share ideas for future eTwinning initiatives and to celebrate the best eTwinning projects of the year, involving schools from Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Turkey, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Greece, Romania, Portugal and Slovenia.

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: “eTwinning is much more than an online support tool to promote ICT at schools. It has created a grassroots community and become a catalyst for change in many schools. This is all thanks to enthusiasm of thousands of teachers and pupils. The Commission has proposed to expand eTwinning as part of the new 'Erasmus for All' programme from 2014-2020 to make it a platform for all schools that co-operate across borders with EU support.”

eTwinning awards

The six winning projects were selected from more than 300 submissions and are divided into three age categories: 4-11, 12-15 and 16-19. Each is an example of innovative practice in which at least two schools from different countries have been learning together in a new and creative way.

For example, “Reporting without borders” brought together students from the Lycée Marguerite Yourcenar (France), the Grupul Scolar "Dr Mihai Ciuca" (Romania) and the Zespół Szkół nr 1 from Pszczyna (Poland). eTwinning allowed them to draw on each other's strengths and talents to write an e-magazine together.

The eTwinning awards have separate categories for language learning in French and Spanish, as well as a special "Marie Skłodowska-Curie prize" for science projects. The latter is sponsored by the French and Polish eTwinning National Support Services.

What is eTwinning?

eTwinning uses ICT-based support, tools and services to make it easier for schools to form partnerships in any subject area.

The scheme is part of the EU's Comenius programme and receives around €10 million in funding each year. It does not finance individual projects but offers tools and support to teachers and pupils such as the eTwinning portal and seminars for teachers.

National Support Services, organisations or institutions which represent and promote eTwinning in all EU countries plus Croatia, Iceland, Norway and Turkey, provide training and support by phone and online, organise meetings and national competitions, and run PR campaigns.

To find out more:

eTwinning prize winners 2012

eTwinning Portal

eTwinning Conference website

European Commission: Comenius programme

European Commission: Erasmus for All (2014-2020)

Androulla Vassiliou's website

Twitter@VassiliouEu

Call for framework contract for the provision of support for atmospheric composition modelling

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The European Commission has published a call for a framework contract for the provision of support for atmospheric composition modelling.

The aim of the tender is to provide scientific and technical support services available on demand, in the fields of regional and inverse modelling and emission inventory development. It is organised into three sections:
- development expertise in regional atmospheric chemistry-transport modelling;
- development expertise in emission inventories;
- development expertise in inverse modelling of emissions.

To study the chemical composition of the atmosphere over Europe, a model requires high spatial and temporal resolution. The current global three-dimensional, chemistry-transport models have rather coarse resolution. For the ECHAM model, the maximum resolution is about 200 km, with the advantage that this model is a real climate model with feedbacks between meteorology and atmospheric composition. The TM5 model has no meteorological feedbacks, but has a higher resolution up to 100 km or even higher in zoom mode over selected areas. Due to its potential for higher resolution, the TM5 model will be used to explore regional tracer composition, while maintaining consistent global boundary conditions.

Also part of this call, the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) describes global anthropogenic emissions over the last decades. The latest version covers the period 1970-2008 and provides annual total emissions for greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6) and air pollutants (CO, NOx, NMVOC, SO2, NH3) as well as emissions specified by source category. The inventory is used to analyse current emissions, historical trends, and is used as input to climate and air-quality models.

Development expertise in inverse modelling of emissions is the third part of this call. Inverse modelling activities focus on 'top-down' emission estimates of the greenhouse gases CH4 and N2O, using four-dimensional variational-optimisation techniques. Source strengths (and locally also sinks) of these gases are estimated using inverse modelling on a resolution of a global scale in selected regions. The temporal resolution is currently one month, allowing for seasonal fluctuations in emissions from, for example, biomass burning, rice cultivation and wetlands.

To see the official call announcement, please consult:
OJ No S 59 of 24 March 2012

Shark protection measures an EU first

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Changes introduced by the Scottish Government mean vulnerable species of sharks, skates and rays now have greater protection, over and above EU legislation.

The Scottish Government is the first in Europe to introduce legislation protecting such a wide range of species. The Sharks Skates and Rays (Prohibition of Fishing) Order came into force last week and covers 26 species – including angel sharks, tope sharks, common skate and undulate rays.

The legislation extends current protection measures with a landing ban for recreational anglers, as well as prohibiting commercial fishermen from catching vulnerable tope.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“Sharks, skates and rays form an important part of Scotland’s rich marine biodiversity. Some of these species are critically endangered and this legislation will mean that we have gone above and beyond EU legislation to offer greater levels of protection.

“With a landing ban across both commercial and recreational fisheries, we can help support stock recovery for vulnerable shark, skate and ray species. This legislation builds on Scotland’s leading protection measures for sharks – including our proactive decision in 2009 to strengthen the ban on barbaric shark finning.

“Recreational anglers will still be permitted to fish using the 'catch and release' method, while the tagging programmes undertaken by anglers can continue. This important initiative is providing invaluable data about sharks in Scottish waters and will help inform policies about how best we can protect these stocks in the future.”

Ali Hood, Director of Conservation for the Shark Trust, said:

“A legacy of unregulated fisheries worldwide has heavily impacted on a number of populations, with certain species found in Scottish waters now critically depleted. Adoption of the Scottish Elasmobranch Protection Order is extremely proactive, complementing existing fisheries management and consequently aiding the recovery of these endangered species. The Shark Trust will now look to the rest of the UK to follow Scotland’s example.”

Ian Burrett, the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network's (SSACN’s) Project Director said:

"Now that tope has joined common skate and porbeagle in being given the highest levels of protection in Scottish waters, SSACN would like to see the EU extend that protection in all European waters.

“Sea angling attracts over 110,000 participants and contributes around £150 million each year to the economy. Without the efforts of all involved any other management solutions could have had serious implications for our sport and all those businesses and coastal economies reliant on it."

Willie Kennedy, SSACN's Events Manager, added:

“There is still a lot more to be learnt about the stock dynamics and migratory patterns of Scotland's inshore sharks. We will continue to gather information through the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme, to help ensure the future of shark stocks and sea angling in Scotland."

Mike Park, Chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, said:

"It is right that we take all steps possible to protect vulnerable species and groups of species. Bringing recreational sea angling into line with restrictions currently imposed on commercial fishers makes a great deal of sense."

The Sharks, Skates and Rays (Prohibition of Fishing, Trans-shipment and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2012 means that Scotland now goes beyond EU protection measures.

Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays) generally have slow reproductive rates, making them highly vulnerable to over-exploitation.

The species covered by the Scottish Order are: angel shark, common skate, white skate, porbeagle, spurdog, knifetooth dogfish, sailfin roughshark (sharpback shark), greater lanternshark, undulate ray, leafscale gulper shark, Portuguese dogfish, blackmouth catshark (blackmouth dogfish), longnose velvet dogfish, black dogfish, Greenland shark, six-gilled shark, velvet belly, deep-water catsharks, frilled shark, birdbeak dogfish, kitefin shark.

Related information

The shark finning ban was strengthened in Scotland in 2009.

The Scottish Shark Tagging Programme is run by the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network.

Just how safe is ibuprofen? European researchers are on the case

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

The 6 000th patient has just been recruited in a European study into the safety of some of the world's most widely used medicines.

The 'Standard Care versus Celecoxib Outcome Trial' (SCOT), which is being carried out by researchers from Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, is comparing the safety of commonly prescribed, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and diclofenac. The study involves the participation of 6 000 patients and 685 general practitioner (GP) practices from across the 3 countries.

The researchers, led by Professor Chris Hawkey from the University of Nottingham, hope their findings will benefit millions of arthritis sufferers around the world; they are keen to continue recruiting medical practices and patients to the study. Professor Hawkey comments: 'This study is designed to answer an important scientific question, which has the potential to improve the care of the thousands of arthritis sufferers. It is the first large-scale safety study of its kind, and really will make a difference to future prescribing within primary care.'

NSAIDS are commonly prescribed to relieve joint pains associated with arthritis. They are very effective and millions of prescriptions are issued annually, not to mention the numbers sold over the counter in chemists and shops. However NSAIDs do have side effects, including irritation of the digestive system and effects on blood pressure and the heart.

The study will focus on finding out how safe a new group of NSAIDs, called Cox-2 inhibitors, are. These were recently developed and have been proved to be less harsh on the digestive system than some of the existing NSAIDs. The SCOT study will find out whether one of these new drugs, Celecoxib (Celebrex (R)), has similar or dissimilar effects on the cardiovascular system as the older drugs. The study will test the hypothesis that Celecoxib is no different from the older NSAIDs.

The overall aim of the study is to help arthritis patients and doctors make the best choice among the available treatments for joint pains. Professor Tom MacDonald, chief investigator on the study from the coordinating institution the University of Dundee, comments: 'This information will be of great value to everyone who needs to take these drugs on a regular basis, which is millions of people around the world. The findings will allow doctors and people with arthritis to make the best choice, not just for their joint pains but also for their general health.'

Arthritis is a common condition that causes swelling of the joints and bones, and symptoms include pain, stiffness, restricted movements of the joints, inflammation and swelling, and warmth and redness of the skin over the joint. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Professor MacDonald described the recruitment of the 6 000th patient as a 'major achievement' and said it marked a 'milestone in the success of the project'. He also hailed the 'world class scientists and research facilities that Scotland, England, Denmark and the Netherlands have to offer' and the 'collaborative effort of all involved'.

The researchers are still looking for patients to take part in the study. People aged 60 or over who regularly take prescribed NSAID-type painkillers for arthritis may be eligible to take part. Patients who have had angina, a heart attack or a stroke are not eligible for participation.

For more information, please visit:

SCOT study: http://www.scottrial.co.uk

Report warns of urbanisation swell by 2050

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

We hear and read a lot about our human carbon footprint but what do we know about our urban footprint? According to a new United Nations (UN) report, this urban footprint will expand by another 1.2 million square kilometres if we fail to make changes to our cities' development patterns. This huge increase is the size of France, Germany and Spain combined. The report's highlights were presented at the recent international science meeting, 'Planet Under Pressure', in London, United Kingdom.

Experts say the urbanisation choices we make play a key role in the sustainability of the environment. UN estimates indicate that the human population will grow by 2 billion to 9 billion within the next 38 years, and urban centres will absorb the bulk of this increase. In essence, around 1 million more people are expected on average each week between now and 2050. Cities will likely feel more pressure as rural dwellers (another 1 billion people, according to projections) make their way to cities. The data indicate that the urban population will swell to 6.3 billion in 2050, up by 2.8 billion from today's estimates.

Dr Michail Fragkias of Arizona State University in the United States says it is important to determine how to urbanise, not whether we have to. But it should be noted that today's ongoing pattern of urban sprawl puts humanity at severe risk, triggered by environmental problems, according to the researcher.

For his part, Dr Shobhakar Dhakal of the Global Carbon Project in Japan points out that we can gain environmental benefits if we implement reforms in existing cities and carry out better planning of new ones. 'Re-engineering cities is urgently needed for global sustainability,' says Dr Dhakal, noting that emerging urban areas 'have a latecomer's advantage in terms of knowledge, sustainability thinking, and technology to better manage such fundamentals as trash and transportation'.

More than two thirds of the planet's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions relate to city needs. Urban area CO2 emissions were estimated to be around 15 billion metric tonnes in 1990 and 25 billion metric tonnes in 2010. These figures are expected to jump to 36.5 billion metric tonnes by 2030 if no changes are implemented. Dr Dhakal adds how the focus should be on 'enhancing the quality of urbanisation - from urban space, infrastructure, form and function, to lifestyle, energy choices and efficiency'.

Meanwhile, Yale University's Professor Karen Seto says: 'The way cities have grown since World War II is neither socially or environmentally sustainable and the environmental cost of ongoing urban sprawl is too great to continue.'

And Professor Sybil Seitzinger, Executive Director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, says: 'A truly sustainable planet will require cities to think beyond city limits. Everything being brought into the city from outside - food, water, products and energy - need to be sourced sustainably. We need to rethink the resource flow to cities.'

For more information, please visit:

Planet Under Pressure: http://www.planetunderpressure2012.net/

Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences: http://www.kva.se/en/

Call for proposals from European Metrology Research Programme

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A call for researcher grant proposals has been published by the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP).

Applications are invited for:
- Stage 3 of the Researcher Grants Call for Researcher Excellence Grants (REG) and Researcher Mobility Grants (RMG);
- Early-Stage Researcher Mobility Grants (ESRMG).

The European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) is a metrology-focused European programme of coordinated research and development that facilitates closer integration of national research programmes. It is jointly supported by the European Commission and the participating countries within the European Association of National Metrology Institutes.

The call encompasses a two-stage process for joint research projects and includes opportunities for researcher grants.

To see the official call announcement, please consult: http://www.emrponline.eu/adverts/index.html

Please note that the calls have different deadlines:
- The Stage 3 of the Call closes on 7 May 2012;
- The Early-Stage Researcher Mobility Grants have deadlines of 7 May 2012 and 15 October 2012. After the second cut-off date this call remains open until 2017.

Low protein level triggers TAR syndrome

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A European team of scientists has discovered that thrombocytopenia with absent radii (TAR), a rare inherited blood and skeletal disorder, is triggered by low levels of the protein Y14. Presented in the journal Nature Genetics, the findings could help lead to the development of a medical exam that permits prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling in families affected by TAR. The study was funded in part by the NETSIM ('An integrated study on three novel regulatory hubs in megakaryocytes and platelets, discovered as risk genes for myocardial infarction by a genome-wide association and platelet systems biology study') project, which is backed by a Marie Curie Action 'Networks for Initial Training' grant worth EUR 2.85 million under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Platelets, the second most abundant cell in the blood, are a natural source of growth factors whose primary role is to plug and repair any damaged blood cells. People can be born with a low number of platelets; it is a rare condition that researchers believe to be inherited. Led by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, researchers used genetic sequencing to determine how the syndrome occurs by a unique inherited mechanism.

According to the researchers, TAR syndrome combines the features of low platelet count and prominent bleeding, as well as skeletal abnormalities that impact the body's upper limb, including an absence of the radial bone in the forearm to a total absence of upper limb. Researchers tried for to determine the genetic basis of TAR syndrome for half a century with no results. But this latest study bore fruit.

'Without the use of modern genomics technologies, the discovery of this unexpected mechanism of disease inheritance would have been much more difficult,' said lead author, Dr Cornelis Albers from the Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge. 'To achieve our latest findings, we deciphered about 40 million letters of genetic code in 5 patients.'

Experts identified how many people with TAR were known to have a deletion in one copy of chromosome 1: this was thought not to be the whole story, since parents who carry the same deletion are not diagnosed with TAR. So other variants had to play a role. In this study, the researchers sequenced the genomes of people affected by the disorder who also carried the deletion and found that most of them had one of two variants of a gene called RBM8A. TAR is triggered when the genetic deletion and one of the variants are co-inherited by a child.

RBM8A controls Y14 production. The combination of the genetic deletion of one copy of the RBM8A gene and the variants on the other copy decreases the level of Y14. So low levels of Y14 impact platelet formation and lead to TAR syndrome.

'The lack of production of adequate amounts of the protein Y14 in TAR patients only seems to effect the formation of platelets but not of other blood cells,' said Dr Cedric Ghevaert from the University of Cambridge, senior author of the study. 'We have shed some light on how some inherited disorders can present with such striking features associating seemingly unconnected characteristics such as skeletal and blood defects.'

Said co-author and the University of Bristol's Dr Ruth Newbury-Ecob: 'The discovery of the gene for TAR will make it simpler to diagnose more accurately future cases with a simple DNA test. This new test is currently being developed for the NHS as part of the international ThromboGenomics initiative led by Professor Ouwehand.'

For more information, please visit:

University of Cambridge: http://www.cam.ac.uk/

Nature Genetics: http://www.nature.com/ng/index.html

Food security: project set to tackle parasitic worm infections in livestock

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Parasitic worms wreak havoc among farm animals, and various changing environmental factors are only exacerbating the problem. Step in a brand new EU-funded project that aims to mitigate the economic and welfare burden these worm infections put on the European ruminant livestock industry, by examining the impact these environmental changes are having on the pesky pathogens.

GLOWORM ('Innovative and sustainable strategies to mitigate the impact of global change on helminth infections in ruminants'), which received nearly EUR 3 million as part of the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), brings together researchers from 14 partner institutions across Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Following a successful kick-off meeting in Berlin at the end of February, researchers are getting to work on developing innovative and sustainable strategies to counteract the recent spike in the numbers of highly pathogenic parasitic worms, or helminths, inflicting serious economic damage on the EU ruminant farming industry. Subclinical infections cause production losses that affect the production of meat, milk and the value of fibre, fleece/hide and skin products.

Ruminants are animals with a four-compartment stomach, such as cattle and sheep; they regurgitate partially digested food from the first stomach compartment back into their mouth for a second chewing, a process known to farmers as 'chewing the cud'. Worms are omnipresent pathogens present on every animal farm, and animals grazing in fields are particularly at risk from worm infection. Most worms have a development stage that occurs outside the animal host, and as a result, they are sensitive to any changing environmental factors: disease epidemics, seasonality and geographic distribution of parasitic worm infections - all changes that are attributed to climate change.

These effects, coupled with the impact of other environmental changes such as land use and intensification and altered management practices, have only increased the number of parasitic worm infections. The spike in worm infections is also in part due to increasing parasite resistance to drugs, meaning current control programmes are costly and unsustainable in the long term.

The aim of GLOWORM is to obtain a detailed understanding of how all these factors contribute to worm infections: the researchers will design improved innovative diagnostic tests to enhance surveillance of infection levels in Europe. They will also work on EU-wide modelling of infection risk with the aim of both supplying farmers with improved, up-to-date information on changing patterns of infection, and translating this information into practical new worm-control strategies, which will be tested on farms.

The GLOWORM researchers warn that if nothing is done about these increasing levels of parasitic worm infections, European farmers will be ill-equipped to deal with the problem. Senior Lecturer and European Veterinary Specialist in Parasitology Dr Theo de Waal from University College Dublin in Ireland, one of the project partners, comments: 'Wormer resistance is a real problem for European farmers and is threatening their livelihood. This project will provide farmers with up-to-date information and also bring forward new strategies to control parasitic worms in cattle and sheep that will be both realistic and sustainable in the long-term.'

The GLOWORM project builds on work carried out as part of two previous projects funded in part by the EU under the 'Food quality and safety' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6): PARASOL ('Novel solutions for the sustainable control of nematodes in ruminants') which received nearly EUR 3 million of funding; and DELIVER ('Design of effective and sustainable control strategies for liver fluke in Europe'), funded to the tune of more than EUR 3.5 million. GLOWORM researchers will also work closely with researchers on another FP7 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' project, titled DISCONTOOLS ('Development of the most effective tools to control infectious diseases in animals'), which was boosted by almost EUR 1 million of EU funding.

Dr Theo de Waal highlighted the importance of EU funding to the project: 'The challenges of improved food security demand that we collaborate internationally to solve problems and deliver solutions - without financial support this would not be possible. Through FP7 funding we are provided the opportunity to set up consortia of experts to meet these challenges.'

For more information, please visit: GLOWORM : http://www.gloworm.eu

What next for effective emission and air quality targets?

Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The GAINS model1 identifies cost-effective emission control strategies to improve air quality at the least cost. It places the many aspects of air pollution into context, including interconnections between different air quality problems and interactions between pollutants in the atmosphere. With the help of funding through the LIFE EC4MACS project 2, the researchers used GAINS to develop projections of future emissions and air quality impacts, assuming that existing trends continue (baseline projections). For the EU’s 27 Member States, the projections imply a 6% decline in CO2 emissions 3 between 2005 and 2020 and an 11% increase for non-EU countries.

Assuming a full implementation of emission control legislation, significant changes are expected in the EU-27: a decrease of two-thirds in sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, one half in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and one third in emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as well as of particulate matter (PM 2.5). These reductions will alleviate harmful effects of air pollution, for example, the GAINS model estimates that the average loss in life expectancy attributable to exposure to fine particulate matter will decline from 7.4 months in 2005 to 4.4 months in 2020.

For more information please click here.

New PVC material coming up

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Wire

The composite materials are developed through the synthesis and treatment of nanoclays that are inserted into matrix of the polymer.

Researchers at the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) are working on a project to design and manufacture composite PVC materials based on nanofillings and intended for multi-sectoral applications. The ultimate aim of the Vinilclay project is to control and optimize the properties of the plastic material; specifically, its photostability, thermal resistance and gas permeation.

The company Compuestos y Granzas, S. A. (CYGSA), which is acting as the co-ordinator, and the L’Urederra R+D Centre are also involved in the project. The researchers from the Public University of Navarre are Antonio Gil-Bravo and Sophia A. Korili, lecturers from the Department of Applied Chemistry, and Saioa Albeniz, the project assistant. They all belong to the Environmental Technologies and Applications Research Group.

The nanofilled polymer composite materials are developed through the synthesis and treatment of nanoclays inserted into the matrix of the polymer. According to Antonio Gil, “the main aim is to improve their photostability properties: ultraviolet rays, responsible for the accelerated degradation of the polymers, cause discolouration and loss of performance of the materials, thus shortening their useful life. Inserting molecules capable of absorbing light radiation increases the composite’s resistance to UV radiation.”

The molecules tend to be of an ionic type and can be inserted using various methods, such as ion-exchange. Depending on the chosen option, the photoresistance properties and the range of absorption in the UV-visible region may be altered, which means that each method can be adapted to the two main groups of material synthesis applications: opaque plastic nanocomposites, and coloured products. In the latter group, the desired colour in the final product will determine the type of colouring molecule used.

Enhancement of refractory properties

The second objective is to enhance the refractory properties relating to the capacity of the nanofillers to act simultaneously as mechanical and flame-retardant reinforcements. “The flame retardants used are currently based on aluminium or magnesium hydroxides or on flame-retardant plasticisers and high loading percentages need to be used, which leads to a deterioration in the mechanical properties of the final composite,” says Prof. Gil.

The new nanofillers being developed can increase the thermal stability of the material, reduce smoke emission in the case of combustion, and halt the deterioration of mechanical properties caused by other fire retardants. “Thanks to the synergy effect between the nanofilling and the flame retardant material, it is even possible to reduce the proportion of the conventional flame retardant materials used in the standard formulations.”

Finally, the improvement in the permeation properties of the materials can pave the way, thanks to the addition of the nanofillers, for the development of new formulations with barrier properties against gases and volatile organic molecules with low molecular weight. This way, an attempt will be made to reduce the diffusion of gases through the modified polymers.

The Vinilclay project is receiving funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation within the framework of the INNPACTO programme, and is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER); it is scheduled to continue until the end of this year.

Study probes genetics and chimp populations

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Scientists in Cameroon, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States have discovered that chimpanzee populations living in pretty close proximity are considerably more different genetically than are humans living on different continents. The study shows that genomics can play a key role in chimpanzee conservation. Presented in the journal PLoS Genetics, it was funded in part by the EUPRIM-NET ('European primate network: specialised infrastructures and procedures for biological and biomedical research') project, which clinched more than EUR 4.7 million under the Infrastructures Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). EUPRIM-NET allowed in particular the scientists to access samples available at the partner research infrastructures.

Scientists identified how common chimpanzees in equatorial Africa belong to one of three distinct populations, or subspecies: western, central and eastern chimpanzees. While researchers suggest a fourth group, the Cameroonian chimpanzee, lives in western Cameroon and southern Nigeria, some have started to question whether this constitutes a distinct group. Enter researchers in this latest study who analysed the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from 54 chimpanzees, measuring the DNA at 818 positions across the genome that was different between individuals. The researchers found that Cameroonian chimpanzees are distinct from the other groups.

'These findings have important consequences for conservation,' says lead author Dr Rory Bowden of the University of Oxford. 'All great ape populations face unparalleled challenges from habitat loss, hunting and emerging infections, and conservation strategies need to be based on sound understanding of the underlying population structure. The fact that all four recognised populations of chimpanzees are genetically distinct emphasises the value of conserving them independently.

'Genomics can also provide tools for use in chimpanzee conservation. Genetic tests could cheaply and easily identify the population of origin of an individual chimpanzee or even a sample of bushmeat.'

Levels of genetic differentiation between the groups were compared with those based on similar data from humans from varied populations. The researchers discovered that although all the chimpanzee populations lived in relatively close proximity - a river separated the habitats of two groups - chimpanzees from different populations were considerably more different genetically than are humans living on different continents.

Commenting on the results, Professor Peter Donnelly, Director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford and a senior author on the study, says: 'Relatively small numbers of humans left Africa 50 000 to 100 000 years ago. All non-African populations descended from them and are reasonably similar genetically. That chimpanzees from habitats in the same country, separated only by a river, are more distinct than humans from different continents is really interesting. It speaks to the great genetic similarities between human populations, and to much more stability, and less interbreeding, over hundreds of thousands of years, in the chimpanzee groups.'

The findings could help researchers develop a catalogue of genetic variation in order to identify genetically distinct groups and to produce easy and inexpensive tests of population of origin.

For his part, Dr Nick Mundy of the University of Cambridge, the other senior author, says: 'Because they are humans' nearest relatives, the structure and origins of chimpanzee populations have long been of wide interest. Future studies will be able to use genome data to uncover the adaptations that are unique to the Cameroonian chimpanzees.'

For more information, please visit:

PLoS Genetics: http://www.plosgenetics.org/home.action

University of Oxford: http://www.ox.ac.uk/

Permafrost thawing fast, alert scientists

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

When permafrost thaws, it releases greenhouse gases into parts of the Arctic, exacerbating the effects of climate change. And now, detailed satellite images have picked up on changes in land surfaces at northern latitudes, indicating that there are worrying levels of thawing permafrost.

The findings were made by European Space Agency (ESA) scientists using several different satellites including the Environmental Satellite (Envisat). The researchers were able to get a panoptic view of permafrost phenomena from a local to a circum-Arctic dimension. Although permafrost cannot be measured directly from space, satellites can capture indicating factors such as surface temperature, land cover and snow parameters, soil moisture and terrain changes.

Permafrost is ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years; it usually appears in areas at high latitudes such as Alaska, Siberia and northern Scandinavia, or at high altitudes like the Andes, the Himalayas and the Alps. About half of the world's underground organic carbon is found in northern permafrost regions, this amount is more than double the amount of carbon in the atmosphere in the form of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane.

While in many of the world's urban areas, the effects of climate change can, for now, be brushed under the carpet by sceptics, in the Arctic, the region hit hardest by climate change, its effects are severe and undeniable: it is causing permafrost to thaw fast. This thawing triggers the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and in turn heightens the global effects of climate change.

Dr Hans-Wolfgang Hubberten, head of the Alfred Wegner Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany and President of the International Permafrost Association, comments:
'Combining field measurements with remote sensing and climate models can advance our understanding of the complex processes in the permafrost region and improve projections of the future climate.'

The ESA will continue to monitor the permafrost region with its Envisat satellite and the upcoming Sentinel satellite series under the EU-led Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme.

ESA is developing five families of Sentinel missions specifically for GMES, the first of which is scheduled to launch in 2013. The Sentinels will provide a unique set of observations for GMES, starting with the all-weather, day and night radar images from Sentinel-1 to be used for land and ocean services.

Sentinel-2 will deliver high-resolution optical images for land services and Sentinel-3 will provide data for services relevant to the ocean and land. Sentinel-4 and Sentinel-5 will provide data for atmospheric composition monitoring from geostationary and polar orbits, respectively.

GMES is made up of several projects partly financed through the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), and is organised in partnership with the ESA, in charge of the Space Component, and the European Environment Agency (EEA), in charge of collecting data from airborne and ground sensors.

The most ambitious Earth observation programme to date, the global aim of GMES is to provide, accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. Accurate information delivered in time can help us manage natural resources and biodiversity, observe the state of the oceans, and monitor the chemical composition of our atmosphere.

For more information, please visit: European Space Agency: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/index.html

Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy 2011

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Scotland’s Chief Statistician yesterday published the results of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN).

This is the first of what will be an annual sample survey monitoring national performance in literacy and numeracy in alternate years, for school children at P4, P7 and S2.

Some of the main findings are:

About 76 per cent of P4 pupils were performing well or very well in numeracy at first level, at P7 about 72 per cent of pupils were performing well or very well at second level and at S2 about 42 per cent of pupils were performing well or very well at third level.
The percentage of pupils not yet working within their respective levels in numeracy was less than one per cent in P4, about two per cent in P7 and about 32 per cent in S2.
Boys tended to outperform girls in numeracy at P4 and P7.
S2 pupils living in areas with lower levels of deprivation were twice as likely to be performing well or very well as pupils living in areas with higher levels of deprivation.
The vast majority of pupils said they enjoyed learning, though the strength of agreement reduced among older pupils. Over 90 per cent of pupils agreed that what they were learning would be useful to them outside school.
Over 90 per cent of primary school teachers and over 80 per cent of secondary school teachers reported they were very or fairly confident that they can improve learning using the CfE experiences and outcomes for their area.

Related information

An EU Cybercrime Centre to fight online criminals and protect e-consumers

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

It is estimated that, worldwide, more than one million people become victims of cybercrime every day. The cost of cybercrime could reach an overall total of USD 388 billion worldwide.

Yesterday, the European Commission proposed to establish a European Cybercrime Centre to help protect European citizens and businesses against these mounting cyber-threats. The centre will be established within the European Police Office, Europol in The Hague (The Netherlands). The centre will be the European focal point in fighting cybercrime and will focus on illegal online activities carried out by organised crime groups, particularly those generating large criminal profits, such as online fraud involving credit cards and bank credentials.

The EU experts will also work on preventing cybercrimes affecting e-banking and online booking activities, thus increasing e-consumers trust. A focus of the European Cybercrime Centre will be to protect social network profiles from e-crime infiltration and will help the fight against online identity theft. It will also focus on cybercrimes which cause serious harm to their victims, such as online child sexual exploitation and cyber-attacks affecting critical infrastructure and information systems in the Union.

"Millions of Europeans use the Internet for home banking, online shopping and planning holidays, or to stay in touch with family and friends via online social networks. But as the online part of our everyday lives grows, organised crime is following suit - and these crimes affect each and every one of us," said Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. "We can't let cybercriminals disrupt our digital lives. A European Cybercrime Centre within Europol will become a hub for cooperation in defending an internet that is free, open and safe."

By 2011, nearly three quarters (73 percent) of European households had Internet access at home and in 2010 over one third of EU citizens (36 percent) were banking online. Eighty percent of young Europeans connect through online social networks and approximately USD 8 trillion exchanges hands globally each year in e-commerce.

Consequently, cybercrime is on the raise and cyber-criminals have created a profitable market around their illegal activities where credit card details can be sold between organised crime groups for as little as €1 per card, a counterfeited physical credit card for around €140 and bank credentials for as little as €60.

Cybercrimes are also targeting social media: up to 600 000 Facebook accounts are blocked every day, after various types of hacking attempts and over 6 700 000 distinct bot-infected computers were detected in 2009.

The European centre will warn EU Member States of major cybercrime threats and alert them of weaknesses in their online defences. It will identify organised cyber-criminal networks and prominent offenders in cyberspace. It will provide operational support in concrete investigations, be it with forensic assistance or by helping to set up cybercrime Joint Investigation Teams.

To achieve its tasks and to better support cybercrime investigators, prosecutors and judges in the Member States, the Centre will fuse information from open sources, private industry, police and academia. The new Centre will also serve as a knowledge base for national police in the Member States and it will pool European cybercrime expertise and training efforts. It will be able to respond to queries from cybercrime investigators, prosecutors and judges as well as the private sector on specific technical and forensic issues.

The Centre will serve as a platform for European cybercrime investigators, where they can have a collective voice in discussions with the IT industry, other private sector companies, the research community, users' associations and civil society organisations. Finally, the Centre is to become the natural partner for wider international partners and initiatives in the field of cybercrime.

The centre is expected to start operations in January of next year.

For the Centre to be established, the Commission's proposal now needs to be adopted by the budgetary authority of Europol.

For more information : MEMO/12/221

SME helps mass production of iPhone shells

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Wire

We often hear of start-ups starting in a garage and going international a few years later. They are usually North American and selling software, social-media services or iPhone apps. Imagine instead that one of them was European and involved in the production of essential components for the iPhone itself? This success story exists and is called RocTool.

Participating in the Eurostars Programme is often a good way for small companies to go international. The IM-ITSHT project is a good example of this positive impact. When back in 2000, four associates started to work on this new technology they never thought that it would one day revolutionise manufacturing. The mass production of the outstandingly designed gadgets that have bewitched consumers over the last few years would have never been possible without the outcome of this Eurostars project. The concept is simple: realising complex mouldings without any apparent joints. Hard to grasp the idea until you examine an iPhone, a computer tablet or some of the best designed car interiors on the market. The beauty of the object lies in its appearance: a perfectly flawless surface.

A man on a mission
Of the original gang of four, Alexandre Guichard was the only one that was neither an engineer nor a doctor, yet one of the company’s investors calls him the ‘driving force behind RocTool’. Now CEO of a company with a turnover of 4 million euro a year, Guichard will never forget that the start-up first went through seven tough profitless years. RocTool is not Guichard’s first trial: at a younger age, he had successfully launched a business producing bicycle parts in composite materials. He soon realised that it was not enough: ‘I wanted to have something that was really mine, I didn’t want to be a subcontractor.’

This first experience however helped the young entrepreneur to build-up a network and, a few months after the launch of RocTool, he managed to bring in the first investors. His first challenge was to carefully select investors that would be ready for a long-term investment. ‘A start-up in the heavy industry is not a common thing, and it does not appear to investors as an easy exit’ says Guichard. The technology developed by RocTool and perfected in the Eurostars project IM-ITSHT allows components to be produced in just two minutes, with traditional techniques, 20 minutes was the minimum.

The expertise of the company still lies in composite materials, but taking part in Eurostars, a joint programme between EUREKA and the European Union, helped it to move into plastic injection, a market 20 times bigger. The company first developed a car part production process, but at the worst point of the financial crisis, at the end of the last decade, the car market could not remain the company’s sole priority. Now RocTool develops more refined products such as car interiors for Audi but also every kind of electronic device.

‘Alexandre knew how to go get new market share’, says Olivier Denigot, an early stage investor in the SME. ‘This is how the company was able to develop processes for the manufacture of smartphones, computer tablets and ultra-slim laptops.’ iPhone shells are currently one of the flagship products for which RocTool’s processes allow rapid production at an affordable cost and in an environmentally-friendly way. Guichard’s real breakthrough was for his company to get listed on NYSE Euronext Paris in 2008, just before the crisis really hit. It managed to leverage 3.2 million euro on the markets during its first year.

The move has enhanced the company’s credibility amongst its cautious industrial partners and has allowed the work force to be reinforced with highly qualified specialists in the industry, helping the company to remain at the cutting edge. ‘One of RocTool’s divisions is now responsible for the monitoring of new technologies, the next big thing that will come onto the market and that we want to help produce,’ says Guichard. ‘As we do not produce anything ourselves: we sell licenses to our customers so that they can use the technology that we own’.

The European star
Another of Guichard’s coups was to create a demonstrator that would prove the quality of its technology. In 2008, in a single day, Guichard’s PR team managed to gather no less than 200 companies, including some industry moguls in the small company premises in Le Bourget du Lac, a town in the South of France. Some of the world’s biggest car producers had made the trip but not a single one was French. The managers and investors of the company concede that the scepticism of their compatriots was also a key motivation in the development of RocTool as they knew from the start that they needed an international clientele.

The SME’s primary market is now Asia. ‘France can be a difficult market for innovative companies and we sometimes have an issue with going international,’ admits investor Olivier Denigot. ‘It is a kind of therapy for French companies to participate in European programmes such as Eurostars.’ Building up on the success of its first demonstration, RocTool launched a tour in 2010, with events held in France, Germany, Japan and the USA. Approximately 1500 companies world-wide have participated in these events and discovered the SME’s techniques first hand, helping the company to greatly grow in value.

‘We sold our Roctool shares to another European company and not to the Americans or Asians as it usually happens, which is something we are hoping to do more in the future,’ says Denigot. ‘Unfortunately, it is often difficult to find a European player willing to buy this kind of company’, he adds. Compared with the United States, we still have an issue in leveraging low-cost technologies onto the markets.’ Olivier Denigot says this issue arises because of the fragmentation of the European market. He thinks that Eurostars is however showing the way for Europe to become an innovative economy: ‘In Europe, we should capitalise on hard science and innovation not software, that is where our know-how truly lies.’

Hacking IT systems to become a criminal offence

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Cyber attacks on IT systems would become a criminal offence punishable by at least two years in prison throughout the EU under a draft law backed by the Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday. Possessing or distributing hacking software and tools would also be an offence, and companies would be liable for cyber attacks committed for their benefit.

The proposal, which would update existing EU legislation on cyber attacks, was approved with by 50 votes in favour, 1 against and 3 abstentions.

"We are dealing here with serious criminal attacks, some of which are even conducted by criminal organisations. The financial damage caused for companies, private users and the public side amounts to several billions each year" said rapporteur Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, DE). "No car manufacturer may send a car without a seatbelt into the streets. And if this happens, the company will be held liable for any damage. These rules must also apply in the virtual world" she added.

The proposal would establish harmonised penal sanctions against perpetrators of cyber attacks against an information system - for instance a network, database or website. Illegal access, interference or interception of data should be treated as a criminal offence, MEPs say.

The maximum penalty to be imposed by Member States for these offences would be at least two years' imprisonment, and at least five years where there are aggravating circumstances such as the use of a tool specifically designed to for large-scale (e.g. "botnet") attacks, or attacks cause considerable damage (e.g. by disrupting system service), financial costs or loss of financial data.

IP spoofing

Using another person's electronic identity (e.g. by "spoofing" their IP address), to commit an attack, and causing prejudice to the rightful identity owner would also be an aggravating circumstance - for which MEPs say Member States must set a maximum penalty of at least three years.

MEPs also propose tougher penalties if the attack is committed by a criminal organisation and/or if it targets critical infrastructure such as the IT systems of power plants or transport networks.

However, no criminal sanctions should apply to "minor cases", i.e. when the damage caused by the offence is insignificant.

Cyber-attack tools

The proposal also targets tools used to commit offences: the production or sale of devices such as computer programs designed for cyber-attacks, or which find a computer password by which an information system can be accessed, would constitute criminal offences.

Liability of legal persons

Legal persons would be liable for offences committed for their benefit (e.g. a company would be liable for hiring a hacker to get access to a competitor's database), whether deliberately or through a lack of supervision. They would also face penalties such as exclusion for entitlement to public benefits or judicial winding-up.

To resist cross-border cyber-attacks, Member States need to ensure that their networks of national contact points are available round the clock, and can respond to urgent requests within a maximum of eight hours, says the text.

Background

Large-scale cyber-attacks took place in Estonia in 2007 and Lithuania in 2008. In March 2009, public and private sector IT systems in more than 103 countries were attacked using a "zombie" network of compromised, infected computers.

Next steps

The Rapporteur aims for a political agreement between Parliament and Council on this Directive by the summer.

Further information

Links

HELIOS makes silicon breakthrough

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers in Europe have succeeded in presenting an integrated tuneable transmitter on silicon - the first time this has ever happened. This results are an outcome of the HELIOS ('Photonics electronics functional integration on complementary metal oxide-semiconductor, CMOS') project, which is backed under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 8.5 million. The team presented the results at the recent Optical Fiber Communication conference in Los Angeles, United States.

Experts from the Electronics and Information Technology Laboratory of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA-Leti) and III-V lab, a joint lab of Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs France, in cooperation with Thales Research and Technology in the United Kingdom, say the tuneable laser source integrated on silicon is a groundbreaking achievement in efforts to secure fully integrated transceivers. Researchers at Ghent University and the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) in Belgium, and the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, who designed the modulator, supported the research.

The group from CEA-Leti and III-V lab also demonstrated single wavelength tuneable lasers, with a 21 mA threshold at 20o Celsius, a 45 nm tuning range and a side mode suppression ratio larger than 40 dB over the tuning range.

The researchers say silicon photonics is a powerful technology. Silicon photonics have the potential to bring the large-scale manufacturing of CMOS to photonic devices that are not cheap because the technology is missing. Another challenge to silicon photonics is the lack of optical sources on silicon, the base material on CMOSs, according to the researchers.

'We can overcome this problem by bonding III-V material, necessary for active light sources, onto a silicon wafer and then co-processing the two, thus accomplishing two things at once,' says Martin Zirngibl, Bell Labs Physical Technologies Research leader. 'Traditional CMOS processing is still used in the process, while at the same time we now can integrate active light sources directly onto silicon.'

Commenting on the results, CEA-Leti France Photonics Program Manager, Laurent Fulbert, says: 'We are proud to jointly present with III-V lab the results of the integrated silicon photonics transmitter and the tuneable laser. The ability to integrate a tuneable laser, a modulator and passive waveguides on silicon paves the way of further developments on integrated transceivers that can address several application needs in metropolitan and access networks, servers, data centres, high-performance computers as well as optical interconnects at rack-level and board-level. We are pleased to bring our contribution to these state-of-the-art results which can truly revolutionise optical communications.'

Contact person:For more information, please visit:

CEA-Leti:
http://www.leti.fr

HELIOS:
http://www.helios-project.eu

Hungry for investment? Check out our menu of funding opportunities

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A slice of a €36 million European funding pie is up for grabs for Scottish food and drink businesses with the appetite for innovation.

The Eco-innovation fund can cater for up to 50% of eligible costs for cooking up worthwhile projects which reduce the environmental impact of doing business and promote the more efficient use of resources and raw materials.

Priorities for the fund for this year are likely to include food & drink, as well as recycling, sustainable building products, greener business and water.

Projects already enjoying funding from the Eco-innovation fund include one which seeks to recover CO2 from fermentation processes for use in the production of beer and soft drinks.

To be considered for funding, projects must be economically viable in the long term and be able to be adapted for the benefit of the wider market. Eco-innovation looks to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation. It therefore does not fund Research and Development activities.

The main mechanism for distributing research funding within the EU is the €50 billion Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for Research and Technological Development.

FP7 encourages companies and organisations to work together, form bidding partnerships and pioneer groundbreaking research and is open to both businesses and universities and research institutes.

A new series of FP7 funding calls are due to announced shortly in July of this year and we already know that food & drink and related industries will be among the priority sectors.

For dessert, Scottish SMEs are being urged to taste some of the assistance available from Sustainable Food & Drink, the joint venture support scheme whipped up between the European Regional Development Fund and SEEKIT.

Sustainable Food & Drink serves up free support - up to eight days of private consultancy - to help businesses cut their carbon emissions, save energy, slash waste and boost their networking and collaboration efforts.

Enterprise Europe Network Scotland offers gourmet support and can ensure you have the right ingredients to launch successful funding bids.

Anis Mourad of Enterprise Europe Network said: "Food and drink is a real growth industry in Scotland and one where we can rightly claim to lead the world in terms of quality and innovation.

"It's not just food and drink producers who can benefit from accessing European funding - the industry in Scotland encompasses everything from biotechnology to packaging.

"Some of these funds can play a major role in bringing new technologies to market and offer tremendous opportunities for helping Scotland remain at the forefront of the global industry.

"Enterprise Europe Network can short-cut the process of accessing these funds and also help link Scottish businesses up with suitable research or commercial partners overseas."

More information on Eco-innovation is available from their website.

Further Information on Sustainable Food & Drink can be obtained from their website.

To register your interest in FP7, contact Enterprise Europe Network at info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com or on +44 (0)141 228 2667.

Where business and industry meet

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

So, you’ve read about how we can help you, but you can’t beat being in on the action and devouring what’s on offer at one of our events.

Everyone who’s anyone in the industry is already cooking up their plans for the largest seafood trade fair in the world, European Seafood Expo (ESE), which takes place 24 to 26 April in Brussels.

You might already be familiar with the format, but for those who don’t know about our partnering events, they offer organisations the chance to exchange knowledge and meet future customers, suppliers and potential business partners – with the option to arrange one-to-one meetings in advance.

Last year’s partnering event attracted 104 organisations - from sole traders to multinationals – hailing from all over, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Iceland.

Some of ESE 2011’s best catches involved a Scottish company agreeing a product trial of their shellfish preservation product with a Turkish partner and two Scottish SMEs negotiating international sales, both direct results of meeting at the event.

James Mackay of Armadale Salmon Fishing said: “We completed a profile for the online partnering catalogue which allowed us to promote our company to European companies and detail what we offer in advance of the ESE.

“Receiving a schedule in advance of the meetings was helpful, allowing us to make better use of our time at the event.

“We still have good contacts with companies we met at the partnering event which could potentially turn into customers.”

The EEN Scotland team will be on hand to host the matchmaking and advise all visitors to register by 11 April.

If seafood isn’t your speciality the Enterprise Europe Network team is working on other partnering opportunities around food and drink.

The team is currently working with colleagues in Korea to deliver a mission at the end of May around functional food. Some early profiles focus on food additives such as medical herb preparations, bioadhesives for medical, health and cosmetic use and enzyme supplements for animal feed.

The team is also hard at work on an Innovation in Food Safety event to be held in Istanbul in May. If you would like to register your interest in the events please get in touch.

For more information on upcoming events, contact the team at Enterprise Europe Network on +44 (0)141 228 2797 or info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com.

EU project kick-starts groundbreaking global stroke study

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

An international team of researchers has clinched a near EUR 11 million grant under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to develop a novel stroke treatment. This groundbreaking, phase 3 clinical study is investigating 1 500 volunteer stroke victims with mild hypothermia. Past pilot studies have found that when the brains of stroke victims are cooled within six hours of their attack, damage to the brain can be reduced. The EUROHYP-1 ('European multicentre, randomised, phase 3 clinical trial of hypothermia plus best medical treatment versus best medical treatment alone for acute ischaemic stroke') project partners say this procedure could potentially help thousands of Europeans each year.

Led by the Universitätsklinikum Erlangen in Germany, the EUROHYP-1 consortium is made up of researchers from 36 universities and hospitals across 25 countries.

'A project of this scale would not be possible without a pan-European approach - no one country or smaller group of Member States has yet managed to organise a clinical trial of therapeutic cooling for stroke despite widespread acknowledgement that this is an important and promising therapy,' explains Dr Malcolm Macleod, senior lecturer and head of experimental neuroscience in the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

How does therapeutic cooling, or hypothermia, work? It mitigates damage by putting the brain into a kind of hibernation. This helps cut the need for oxygen and stops any further damage from occurring.

The EUROHYP team is helping drive stroke research. 'Stroke is a major killer,' says Dr Macleod. 'Every day 1 000 Europeans die from stroke - that's 1 every 90 seconds - and about twice that number survive but are disabled. Our estimates are that hypothermia might improve the outcome for more than 40 000 Europeans every year.'

'The challenge now is to recruit in a fairly short time 1 500 patients with acute ischaemic stroke, with particular focus on those who currently do not have access to a truly effective treatment or who exhibit limited response to the existing, standard interventions,' says Professor Stefan Schwab from the Department of Neurology at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, who has been at the forefront of some pilot hypothermia stroke trials conducted in the past, and now leads the EUROHYP-1 consortium. 'Based on current evidence, the personal and economic benefits of avoiding stroke-related death and disability means that the trial would pay for itself in less than a year. As the population ages, a benefit of cooling demonstrated in the study will set the stage for future studies with hypothermia, extending the eligibility of the treatment to even greater numbers of patients.'

EUROHYP-1 will use cooling data obtained from the phase 2 clinical studies. The team also believes that in the future this groundbreaking treatment could be rolled-out in underdeveloped countries that have little, if any, access to brain imaging tools for stroke care.

Experts estimate stroke cases will number 1.4 million by 2016. If this cooling technique bears fruit, some 350 000 patients could be helped each year. This could lead to 14 700 fewer deaths and 25 000 more disability-free patients following stroke.

The EUROHYP-1 consortium consists of experts from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

For more information, please visit:

EUROHYP-1: http://www.eurohyp.org/

Health Research in FP7: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/health/

Coast & Glen hooks the European market

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Since buying his own boat and setting up the business two years ago, Magnus Houston of Coast & Glen has made a big splash in the Scottish seafood industry.

By engaging with Enterprise Europe Network, Magnus has been able to expand his business and net valuable new business all over the continent.

Based in the north east of Scotland close to the picturesque Cromarty Firth, Coast & Glen has access to some of Scotland’s best seafood bounty and associated fishing ports.

Coast & Glen initially sold its catch to an external buyer – a Scottish firm exporting to Spain – but this involved an 80-mile daily round trip for deliveries, cutting deep into Magnus’s profit margins.

After around six months, he began selling his seafood directly to the restaurant trade around the north east, which meant he gained valuable intelligence on local demand and seasonal preferences.

Fortunately, it also led the fisherman to Enterprise Europe Network’s Highland offices, located above one of his restaurant clients.

Ross Thomson and Michelle Hardie of the Enterprise Europe Network Highland team recalled their first meeting with Magnus. Ross said: “The day Magnus first came to speak to us coincided with the start of the European Seafood Exposition (ESE) in Brussels.

“ESE was one of the first things we discussed and Magnus was really keen to travel over and get involved with the event.

“He immediately packed a bag and organised a Eurostar ticket, which proved how keen he was to improve his knowledge of the wider industry and move Coast & Glen forward beyond UK shores.”

Having heard about the event too late to create an online profile for Coast & Glen prior to ESE, Magnus sought contacts from the EEN team and hooked up with a representative from Seafood Scotland during the show. This signalled the dawn of new opportunities for Coast & Glen and opened up a new network of European contacts.

This first experience of the European Seafood Exposition spurred Magnus on with his ambitions to export shellfish directly to Europe but also made him realise the importance of creating a clear business plan. Working with Ross and Michelle, he received support with Coast & Glen’s strategic planning and was given help to set up the company website.

He was also given the guidance he needed to obtain the necessary funding from the Princes’ Trust to buy a forklift truck and refrigerated van, while an introduction to a local seafood distributor led to Magnus being able to rent vital cold store premises with a specialised wet room facility.

Magnus said: “Things have moved really quickly since I met the Enterprise Europe Network team.

“They’ve been really understanding and easy to deal with throughout the whole process – if they don’t know the answer, they always find out.

“I’m an incredibly determined person and working with the Network teams in Scotland and Spain as well as a local French sales agent has given me access to new markets and allowed me to find some great contacts.

“I dispatched my first export to France two weeks before Christmas and have been exporting regularly since last month.

“It’s quite exciting to think that about 50 restaurants in France were serving up fresh Scottish shellfish caught by me during the busy festive season.”

With this year’s ESE fast approaching, Michelle and the team are hard at work to help Magnus make the most of his opportunities to connect with potential wholesalers and agents to make 2012 another profitable year for Coast & Glen.

Five reasons global food and drink companies want to trade with you

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Scotland is often referred to as a land of food and drink, but if you’ve ever questioned the importance of our nation to this vast global business, read on.

1. World-class research

Scotland’s rich research and development (R&D) landscape puts its food and drink companies at the top table for innovation and growth. Brewing and distilling, land use, animal genetics and life sciences are just some of the areas in which Scottish research projects are already serving up developments.

Even better, plans from the Scottish Food and Drink Executive Group to increase R&D spend from 0.25% to 0.75% of food and drink manufacturing GVA over the next five years seem sure to keep Scottish SMEs ahead of the curve.

2. Overflowing natural larder

Clean air and water put Scotland on the map as the world’s second largest salmon producer and provider of 70% of the UK’s total fish catch. Scottish salmon has been revered with the French Label Rouge accolade for two decades and contributes over £1 billion annually to the economy.

But it’s not just fish – a quarter of the UK’s beef herd is reared on Scottish soil, 40% of the UK’s soft fruit is grown here, not to mention oats, lamb, spring water, potatoes, dairy and confectionery.

3. The water of life

Natural resources and expertise hoist Scotland to the top of the board when it comes to whisky. Officially the world’s most popular spirit, Scotch whisky is sold in over 200 markets across the globe, with 36 bottles exported every second.

Development and excellence in the field is quite rightly led from the spirit’s homeland as well, by Scotland’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling – the only institution in the UK to offer both honours and master’s degrees in brewing and distilling.

4. A business melting pot

With such a sumptuous offering of products and expertise packed into Scotland, the food and drink business environment is rich and varied. Large-scale native operations work alongside global inward investors, while smaller firms can also cash in on the appetite for both traditional and innovative products.

Plans to propel Scotland’s food and drink sector towards a turnover of £12.5 billion within the next five years open up huge growth potential for SMEs.

5. More than just scran and bevvy

Lucrative prospects in this multi-billion-pound sector aren’t limited to those serving up the goods. Scotland’s food and drink industry takes in much more than just farmers, fishermen, brewers and bakers. Enterprise Europe Network can flag up appetising opportunities for companies across a host of sectors to get involved with food and drink; such as tourism, life sciences, energy, packaging, manufacturing, waste, and technological innovation.

For more information on how to get your fill from our services, contact the Enterprise Europe Network team on info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com or +44 (0)141 228 2797.

New initiatives to assist small enterprises to go international

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

These initiatives include new European Commission projects to support clusters of SMEs in the sectors of clean technologies, renewable energy, bio-technology, and sports goods so SMEs can take full advantage of the strong growth in these sectors in Asia, Latin America, North America and Russia. The EU's China Intellectual Property Rights SME Helpdesk has broadened its range of interactive services and each year enables thousands of EU SMEs to secure and defend their intellectual property in this key market. Furthermore, more than 600 business support centres from the Enterprise Europe Network help SMEs to become successful in Europe and beyond. Finally organisers can register events to promote entrepreneurship during the European SME week in October 2012.

The new public procurement initiative (IP/12/268) will increase the incentives for the EU's trading partners to open up their public procurement markets to EU bidders, including SMEs. Proposed by the Commission on 21 March, it will ensure that EU companies of all sizes can compete with third country companies on a more equal footing. This initiative shall increase business opportunities for EU companies, both in the EU and internationally; boost the potential for SMEs to operate in a globalised economy and increase employment and promote innovation in the EU. In this context the SME envoys who met in Brussels for the third time (MEMO/12/53) discussed issues related to access improving SMEs access to markets.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, presenting these initiatives, stressed: "To promote growth and job creation in Europe, we need to remove obstacles for our small businesses to access growth markets abroad. We aim with these initiatives to provide SMEs with effective and concrete support so they can take full advantage of the opportunities of the new growth markets worldwide. At the same time, we must ensure that in a time of crisis we do not put unnecessary regulatory burden on our small businesses."

For more information click here...

Partnership specials with something for every palate

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Think you’re full up of business opportunities and there aren’t any more to digest?

At Enterprise Europe Network our team of experts work hard to get to the core of individual business needs before cooking up plans for European success. Advisors work closely with SMEs to create business profiles to help find overseas manufacturers or distributors, connect with European subcontractors or source partners for joint ventures.

All profiles are displayed on our extensive network and we’ll support you through the entire partnership process.

Below is just a sample of some of the exciting partnership opportunities available on le menu du jour.

Are you looking for a Russian company which specialises in the wholesale and retail food trade? Match your business with a sales representative for food and alcoholic beverages.

View the profile
Is meat your bag? If so, a Polish SME is looking for technology to assist with high pressure packaging of meat.

View the profile
Brewing up a feast for the beer industry? This Italian company has developed a new method to transport and sell high gravity beer easily all over the word and is looking to connect with breweries and distributors.

View the profile
An anti-microbial package designed to extend food products’ shelf life is the latest fresh idea from this company in Russia, which is seeking partners for technical cooperation and joint venture agreements.

View the profile
Is your business in need of alternatives to drinking directly from a bottle? A Croatian inventor has developed and patented a pass-through bottle cap that might whet your appetite.

View the profile
Preserving and enhancing the quality of fruit and vegetables post harvest time is vital in this industry – find out how an Irish company are doing just that and dig up opportunities to work together here.

View the profile
No one likes mouldy bread. An SME in Sweden has developed a patented lactic acid bacterium proven to effectively prevent mould growth, increasing the shelf life of bakery goods.

View the profile

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out our free database for more tempting tit-bits.

For more information on any of these opportunities or to find out how we can help your business please contact us on info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com or +44 (0)141 228 2797.

Smarter computing systems make society better

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Smarter computing systems can help give our lives a big boost - in education, healthcare, transportation, security and even the environment. But these computing systems need to be adjusted constantly, to help meet the changes that emerge every year. The HIPEAC ('High performance and embedded architecture and compilation') project is driving innovative computing systems, effectively making our lives much easier. HIPEAC is backed with EUR 3.8 million under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

The HIPEAC partners presented their vision in a report at the European Future in Computing Systems during the recent Architecture of Computing Systems (ARCS) conference in Munich, Germany.

Elements that form part of smarter computing systems include smart houses and smart grids. Professor Koen De Bosschere from Ghent University in Belgium, who is also coordinator of HIPEAC, says computing systems can meet the challenges that impact society. With this in mind, the HIPEAC network is supported by more than 1 000 researchers from European universities and companies working to identify and evaluate the problems that computing systems will face in the coming decade.

'To continue to be a source for new and innovative solutions, the computing systems community must dramatically improve the efficiency, complexity, and dependability of the future computing systems,' Professor De Bosschere says.

In the report, the HIPEAC consortium highlights how clear trends are emerging: 'An unseen data explosion in all domains (much faster than the explosion in computing power), an increased demand for connectivity and for dependable and reliable systems across all fields.'

According to the project partners, the big challenge is to convert the increasing transistor density (Moore's law) into similar performance improvements required to bring new and innovative solutions out in the open. They add that there is a fast-growing gap between the raw performance of hardware devices, and the actual performance triggered by the use of common tools and practices.

The report also notes that specialising computing devices is probably a good solution for both the short and medium terms, but it could prove challenging for improving the performance of future computing systems. Keeping this in mind, the HIPEAC partners have identified seven concrete research objectives related to the design and the exploitation of specialised heterogeneous computing systems for the data deluge and for reliable ubiquitous computing.

Tools that can automatically use and optimise the resources of such heterogeneous computing devices is key, according to the partners. In the longer term, according to the HIPEAC vision, new devices and new computing paradigms including bio-inspired systems, stochastic computing and swarm computing, will be important.

If the challenges posed by such novel resources are not met, the result will be a drop in the European ability to leverage computing systems' potential to boost global competitiveness and make it better for society.

For more information, please visit: HIPEAC http://www.hipeac.net/ Ghent University http://www.ugent.be/en

Researchers developing innovative brain measurement devices

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers in Finland are pushing the research envelope, especially in terms of investigating the brain mechanism in preterm babies. Their latest work is helping develop treatments to protect the brain as well as research methods for use in hospital settings. Presented in The Journal of Visualized Experiments, the study was funded in part by the BRADIMO ('Brain diagnostics and monitoring in early neonatal period') project, which has received a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development grant worth more than EUR 266 000 under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The findings will improve brain health and the lives of infants, and help develop monitoring devices to keep an eye on the well-being of infant brains during treatment in hospital intensive care units.

Premature birth or intrapartum asphyxia increases a child's risk of suffering from brain problems. Researchers say a brain cannot be saved just by keeping a baby alive.

'When developing brain treatment, a key challenge is to find ways to study and monitor the well-being of the brain in the neonatal intensive care unit environment,' says Dr Sampsa Vanhatalo, docent of pediatric clinical neurophysiology at the University of Helsinki in Finland. 'The research and development work carried out in the basic neurobiology laboratory in the University of Helsinki has provided a whole new level of insight into the electrical activity of the brain in newborns. Now we know that many previously unexplained brain events seen in an EEG are essential for the development and maturation of the brain in premature babies.'

The innovative electroencephalography (EEG) techniques developed by researchers at the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) have attracted considerable international attention, particularly because of their precise measurement of EEG in premature infants.

'These dense array EEG caps and the related full-band EEG (FbEEG) that we have developed have disclosed crucial forms of newborn brain activity that have so far been overlooked,' Dr Vanhatalo said. 'We have also developed a method to study sensory functions of premature babies when the tracts are still in the process of forming in the brain and the yield of a traditional neurological examination is still negligible.'

Other research centres around the globe have already started producing FbEEG devices, and dense array EEG caps are being built. Officials in the EU and the United States have clinically approved these devices.

'Multi-modal EEG analysis of newborns may help us to recognise the children in need of immediate care or neurological rehabilitation early on, as preterm babies,' Dr Vanhatalo says. 'Today, often the diagnosis cannot be made until the child is a toddler. It is critical for the development and quality of a child's life that appropriate treatment and rehabilitation is started as soon as possible.'

Contact person:For more information, please visit:

University of Helsinki: http://www.helsinki.fi/university/

Journal of Visualized Experiments: http://www.jove.com/

Commission proposes tighter laws on ship breaking

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Commission recently proposed new rules to ensure that European ships are only recycled in facilities that are safe for workers and environmentally sound. More than 1000 large old commercial ships, such as tankers and container vessels, are recycled for their scrap metal every year, but many European ships end up in substandard facilities on the tidal beaches of South Asia. These facilities mostly lack the environmental protection and safety measures needed to manage the hazardous materials contained in end-of-life ships. These include asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tributyl tin and oil sludge. This leads to high accident rates and health risks for workers and extensive environmental pollution.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Although the ship recycling sector has improved its practices, many facilities continue to operate under conditions that are dangerous and damaging. This proposal aims to ensure that our old ships are recycled in a way that respects the health of workers as well as the environment. It is a clear signal to invest urgently in upgrading recycling facilities.” Commissioner Potočnik presented the regulation jointly with Vice President Siim Kallas, Commissioner for Transport.

The new rules, which will take the form of a Regulation, propose a system of survey, certification and authorisation for large commercial seagoing vessels that fly the flag of an EU Member State, covering their whole life cycle from construction to operation and recycling.

This system builds upon the Hong Kong Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, which was adopted in 2009. Today's proposal aims to implement the Convention quickly, without waiting for its ratification and entry into force, a process which will take several years. To speed up the formal entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention, the Commission also presented recently a draft decision requiring Member States to ratify the Convention.

Under the new system, European ships will have to draw up an inventory of the hazardous materials present on board, and apply for an inventory certificate. The amount of hazardous waste on board (including in cargo residues, fuel oil, etc.) must be reduced before the ship is delivered to a recycling facility.

Ship recycling facilities will have to meet a set of environmental and safety requirements in order to be included on a list of authorised facilities world wide. European ships will be allowed to be recycled only in facilities on the list. Some of the requirements to be met by the ship recycling facilities are stricter than those foreseen by the Hong Kong Convention. This will ensure better traceability for European ships, and will guarantee that the waste resulting from dismantling (and any hazardous materials it contains) is managed in an environmentally sound way.

To ensure compliance, the proposal requires ship owners to report to national authorities when they intend to send a ship for recycling. By comparing the list of ships for which they have issued an inventory certificate with the list of ships which have been recycled in authorized facilities, authorities will be able to spot illegal recycling more easily. The sanctions proposed in the Regulation will also be more specific and precise.

Next Steps

The Council and the European Parliament will now discuss the Commission proposal.

Background

At present, the recycling of ships is governed by the Waste Shipment Regulation, which prohibits the export of hazardous waste to non-OECD countries. However, the existing legislation is not specifically designed for ships and is often circumvented. This stems from a lack of adequate recycling capacity in OECD countries – but it is also difficult to determine when a ship becomes waste and which country is exporting the ship. The new proposal aims to address the shortcomings of this legislation and to allow, under strict conditions, the recycling of EU-flagged ships in non-OECD countries.

In 2009, more than 90 % of European ships were dismantled in ship recycling facilities in non-OECD countries, some of which were substandard. The quantity of European end-of-life ships is significant, since 17 % of world tonnage is registered under an EU flag. This makes it a priority for the EU to improve ship dismantling practices worldwide.

Highly concerned about the negative health and environmental impacts of ship recycling, the Commission adopted an EU strategy for better ship dismantling on 19 November 2008. This strategy proposed a number of measures to improve ship recycling as soon as possible, without waiting for the entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention.The recent proposal builds on ideas contained in the strategy.

The Hong Kong Convention needs to be ratified by at least 15 major flag and recycling countries to enter into force. These countries should represent at least 40 % of the world fleet and a significant part (almost 50 %) of the recycling capacity available worldwide.

Further information:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/ships/index.htm

Renewables industry in Scottish jobs claim

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

The body representing the renewables industry has published research which claims it supports more than 11,000 full-time jobs in Scotland.

Scottish Renewables predicted the total will increase as the sector develops.

The survey indicated direct employment of 1,526 people, with a further 8,701 in the supply chain and 909 jobs in academia and the public sector.

The industry warned that political support is key to its continued success.

Scottish Renewables Chief Executive Niall Stuart said: "The report shows that renewables are not only a major part of our energy mix, they are now a major part of our economy and our daily working day lives, supporting more than 11,000 jobs across Scotland.

"The report also highlights that for every job in renewable energy development, there are around six more in the direct supply chain.

"These numbers are actually just the tip of the iceberg, with many thousands more employees supported indirectly by the growth of the renewables sector which have not been captured by this study."

The report from Scottish Renewables was based on a survey of more than 200 companies working in a variety of technologies including wind, wave and tidal, bioenergy, solar and hydropower.

It was published to coincide with the Scottish Renewables annual conference.

Mr Stuart added: "With continued political support, the right market framework, the right balance in the planning system, and investment in grid and ports and harbour infrastructure, we will ensure the creation of many thousands more jobs in this exciting new sector."

Regions commit to green policies ahead of Rio+20

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

European regions are gearing up for the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June by drawing up a list of “key ingredients” in a bid to make sustainable urban development a focal point of the Brazil discussions.

In a declaration adopted on 23 March at their fifth annual summit, cities and regions committed to start the transition to a green economy through a bottom-up approach, but asked for a decentralisation of power from the national level as well as financial support from Brussels.

Representatives of regions made a total of eight requests to EU leaders which they claimed would help develop more inclusive, competitive and greener cities, a legacy they hope to leave at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro.

Countries will be asked in Brazil to start making the transition to green economies and sign up to 10 new sustainable development goals at the 20-22 June event.

“This vision of tomorrow’s cities, the role of urban policy and the European social model should be upheld and championed at the Rio+20 Earth Summit and within other sustainable development initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors,” the so-called Copenhagen declaration says.

Cities hold the key

The declaration was signed by over 300 members of the Committee of the Regions, elected representatives of the EU’s local and regional authorities, who committed to promoting sustainable regional development and a carbon-free economy. To achieve this, they asked the EU to strengthen their role in framing and piloting European policies.

National governments should decentralise more power to cities and regions and grant them greater financial autonomy, the declaration says. The EU could also contribute with funds to help reduce disparities between regions, at a time when budgets have been shrinking because of the financial crisis, the statement says.

Members asked in the declaration to make their participation in multi-level governance compulsory. For this, “local task forces" made up of elected representatives, practitioners and civil society players “who are capable of successfully bringing about change” should be created, the statement reads.

Speaking at the summit, Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, called cities “systems of innovations” and said equal, open and free access to public services are the cornerstone of the European social model.

“We need to urgently put in a place a European framework for public services that aims to create legal certainty while guaranteeing local autonomy and security, especially in these times of economic crisis,” Schulz said.

“Cities hold the key to a European genuine renaissance,” added Mercedes Bresso, president of the Committee of the Regions, an EU consultative body. In order to face the current challenges of scarce resources and climate change, cities should be equipped with new laws on housing, renewable energy, waste management, water usage and pollution should be revamped, she said.

A vision for the crisis

“If we want growth, we need to own it. It is not enough to talk about it, it is for all levels of governance, including regional, to make it work,” said European Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the opening of the regions’ summit.

Policies taken at regional and local level are essential for moving to a green economy and making it a practical, daily life reality, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said, calling regions “the front line of sustainable development”.

“In this context of crisis, can Europe really afford the transition towards a green economy? For the people queuing up at job centres, sustainable development may seem a fairly remote goal. But it would be a big mistake to leave it at that,” she said.

Swarming and transporting

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Wire

On its own, an ant is not particularly clever. But in a community, the insects can solve complicated tasks. Researchers intend to put this „swarm intelligence“ to use in the logistics field. Lots of autonomous transport shuttles would provide an alternative to traditional materials-handling technology.

The orange-colored vehicle begins moving with a quiet whirr. Soon afterwards the next shuttles begin to move, and before long there are dozens of mini-transporters rolling around in the hall. As if by magic, they head for the high-rack storage shelves or spin around their own axis. But the Multishuttle Moves® – is the name given to these driverless transport vehicles – are not performing some robots‘ ballet. They are moving around in the service of science. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML in Dortmund, Germany, researchers are working to harness swarm intelligence as a means of improving the flow of materials and goods in the warehouse environment. In a research hall 1000 square meters in size, the scientists have replicated a small-scale distribution warehouse with storage shelves for 600 small-part carriers and eight picking stations. The heart of the testing facility is a swarm of 50 autonomous vehicles. “In the future, transport systems should be able to perform all of these tasks autonomously, from removal from storage at the shelf to delivery to a picking station. This will provide an alternative to conventional materials-handling solutions,“ explains Prof. Dr. Michael ten Hompel, executive director at IML.

But how do the vehicles know what they should transport, and where, and which of the 50 shuttles will take on any particular order? “The driverless transport vehicles are locally controlled. The ›intelligence‹ is in the transporters themselves,“ Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Albrecht, head of the Autonomous Transport Systems department explains the researchers‘ solution approach. “We rely on agent-based software and use ant algorithms based on the work of Marco Dorigo. These are methods of combinational optimization based on the model behavior of real ants in their search for food.“ When an order is received, the shuttles are informed of this through a software agent. They then coordinate with one another via WLAN to determine which shuttle can take over the load. The job goes to whichever free transport system is closest.

The shuttles are completely unimpeded as they navigate throughout the space – with no guidelines. Their integrated localization and navigation technology make this possible. The vehicles have a newly developed, hybrid sensor concept with signal-based location capability, distance and acceleration sensors and laser scanners. This way, the vehicles can compute the shortest route to any destination. The sensors also help prevent collisions.

The vehicles are based on the components of the shelf-bound Multishuttle already successfully in use for several years. The researchers at IML have worked with colleagues at Dematic to develop the system further. The special feature about the Multishuttle Move®: the transporters can navigate in the storage area and in the hall.

To accomplish this, the shuttles are fitted with an additional floor running gear. But what benefits do these autonomous transporters offer compared with conventional steady materials-handling technology with roller tracks? “The system is considerably more flexible and scalable,“ Albrecht points out. It can grow or contract depending on the needs at hand. This is how system performance can be adapted to seasonal and daily fluctuation. Another benefit: It considerably shortens transportation paths. In conventional storage facilities, materials-handling equipment obstructs the area between high-rack storage and picking stations. Packages must travel two to three times farther than the direct route. “It also makes shelf-control units and steady materials-handling technology,“ Albrecht adds. Researchers are now trying to determine how these autonomous transporters can improve intralogistics. “We want to demonstrate that cellular materials-handling technology makes sense not only technically but also economically as an alternative to classic materials-handling technology and shelf-control units,“ institute executive director ten Hompel observes. If this succeeds, the autonomous vehicles could soon be going into service in warehouses.

Boom! Boost for photonics technologies and high-speed Internet

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Results from a recently completed EU project that developed components for new-generation high-speed broadband core networks bode well for the future of nanotechnologies, European researchers report.

The BOOM ('Terabit-on-chip: micro and nano-scale silicon photonic integrated components and sub-systems enabling Tb/s-capacity, scalable and fully integrated photonic routers') project received more than EUR 3 million from the 'Information and communication technologies' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme's (FP7), and brought together nano-specialists from Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands .

The researchers systematically advanced silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photonic integration technology, and as a result developed compact, cost-effective and power-efficient components that enable photonic terabyte per second (Tb/s)-capacity systems for current and new-generation high-speed broadband core networks.

BOOM, which kicked off in 2008, was set up to respond to the increasing demand for bandwidth-hungry Internet applications.

The team perceived problems with the existing available capacity and performance of optical core networks. Power efficiency, physical size and equipment cost are key issues in these networks and they are increasingly difficult to keep within acceptable limits, particularly when electronic carrier routing systems consume and expend large amounts of electrical power and heat respectively. Therefore, by bringing photonics technologies deeper within these routers, their performance can be improved and power consumption can be decreased.

The main focus of BOOM was on the development of a photonic routing platform relying on hybrid SOI photonic integrated circuits (ICs) to implement all the routing functionalities: label detection, control signal generation, wavelength conversion and wavelength routing.

Tasked with investigating the label detection functionality, the Belgian project partners, based at Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (Imec) in Leuven, developed an optical label extractor consisting of a high-resolution demultiplexer integrated with highly efficient photodetectors. In the proposed routing architecture, the optical data packets are labelled with a wavelength code, which has to be extracted from the packet and sent to the routing unit. The label extractor consists of an optical demultiplexer with very high resolution (12.5GHz) fabricated on the Imec silicon photonics platform and integrated with high-efficiency photodetectors. The Belgian team report that reaching the required resolution turned out to be very challenging and required an in depth study of silicon microring resonators.

The researchers were able to reach the required specifications using single-ring resonator-based filters, which allow fine-tuning of the wavelength channels (bottom electrodes) through the thermo-optic effect. They were connected to fleetingly coupled indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) photodetectors using heterogeneous integration technology. The detectors had an efficiency of close to 1A/W and were operating at the specified speed of 1GBit/s (up to 5GBit/s).

Finally, a routing machine with more than160Gb/s aggregate capacity was built; this stage of the project was managed by the German project partners from the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM) group in Berlin.

For more information, please visit:

Imec: http://www2.imec.be/be_en/home.html

Researchers developing innovative brain measurement devices

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers in Finland are pushing the research envelope, especially in terms of investigating the brain mechanism in preterm babies. Their latest work is helping develop treatments to protect the brain as well as research methods for use in hospital settings. Presented in The Journal of Visualized Experiments, the study was funded in part by the BRADIMO ('Brain diagnostics and monitoring in early neonatal period') project, which has received a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development grant worth more than EUR 266 000 under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The findings will improve brain health and the lives of infants, and help develop monitoring devices to keep an eye on the well-being of infant brains during treatment in hospital intensive care units.

Premature birth or intrapartum asphyxia increases a child's risk of suffering from brain problems. Researchers say a brain cannot be saved just by keeping a baby alive.

'When developing brain treatment, a key challenge is to find ways to study and monitor the well-being of the brain in the neonatal intensive care unit environment,' says Dr Sampsa Vanhatalo, docent of pediatric clinical neurophysiology at the University of Helsinki in Finland. 'The research and development work carried out in the basic neurobiology laboratory in the University of Helsinki has provided a whole new level of insight into the electrical activity of the brain in newborns. Now we know that many previously unexplained brain events seen in an EEG are essential for the development and maturation of the brain in premature babies.'

The innovative electroencephalography (EEG) techniques developed by researchers at the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) have attracted considerable international attention, particularly because of their precise measurement of EEG in premature infants.

'These dense array EEG caps and the related full-band EEG (FbEEG) that we have developed have disclosed crucial forms of newborn brain activity that have so far been overlooked,' Dr Vanhatalo said. 'We have also developed a method to study sensory functions of premature babies when the tracts are still in the process of forming in the brain and the yield of a traditional neurological examination is still negligible.'

Other research centres around the globe have already started producing FbEEG devices, and dense array EEG caps are being built. Officials in the EU and the United States have clinically approved these devices.

'Multi-modal EEG analysis of newborns may help us to recognise the children in need of immediate care or neurological rehabilitation early on, as preterm babies,' Dr Vanhatalo says. 'Today, often the diagnosis cannot be made until the child is a toddler. It is critical for the development and quality of a child's life that appropriate treatment and rehabilitation is started as soon as possible.'

For more information, please visit:

University of Helsinki: http://www.helsinki.fi/university/

Journal of Visualized Experiments: http://www.jove.com/

Commission acts to ensure implementation of EU rules in the area of defence procurement

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Commission has recently acted to ensure that two Member States (Bulgaria and Luxembourg) comply with their obligations to implement EU rules on defence procurement. The Commission is concerned that they have failed to fulfil their commitments under the Directive regarding procurement of arms, munitions and war material (and related works and services) for defence purposes, and also the procurement of sensitive supplies, works and services for security purposes. If the Directive is not fully implemented in all Member States, companies and taxpayers alike cannot reap the benefits of easier access to a transparent and open - hence more competitive - defence market.

These rules are tailored to the specificities of defence and security equipment and markets (2009/81/EC).

The deadline for implementing the rules in question was 20 August 2011. Timely and correct implementation of the Directive is necessary to achieve this aim. The Commission's request to Bulgaria and Luxembourg takes the form of a reasoned opinion. If the national authorities do not reply satisfactorily within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the Court of Justice and ask for the payment of financial penalties.

What is the aim of the EU rule in question?

The Directive introduces at European level:

fair and transparent rules to help companies access defence and security markets in other EU countries;
flexibility for contracting authorities to negotiate in detail all features of complex contracts;
the option for contracting authorities to require safeguards (from suppliers) to ensure the protection of classified information against unauthorised access and security of supply so that armed forces receive deliveries in time, particularly in times of crisis or armed conflict.

It covers specific security and defence procurement contracts for:

Military equipment¹ and related works and services.
Sensitive security equipment, works and services which involve access to classified information.

Procurement of non-sensitive and non-military equipment, works and services by contracting authorities in the fields of defence and security is covered by the general public procurement Directive 2004/18/EC.

Both directives are subject to Article 346 of the Treaty, which means that EU countries can exempt defence and security contracts where the rules of Directive 2009/81/EC are not sufficient to safeguard their essential security interests.

How are Member States not respecting this rule?

While the majority of the Member States have either fully implemented the Directive or are finalising the adoption of transposing measures, in these two Member States - Bulgaria and Luxembourg - all of the Directive's provisions still have to be implemented and the transposition process is very slow.

More information

http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/company/simplification/index_en.htm

Latest information on infringement proceedings concerning all Member States:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/index_en.htm

For more information on infringement procedures, see MEMO/12/200

Member States support revision of EU rules on groundhandling services

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice-President with responsibility for transport, yesterday welcomed Member States support for the Commission's proposal on the revision of current EU rules on groundhandling services.

Vice-President Kallas said: "Airports are facing a capacity crunch and three out of four flight delays are caused by problems on the ground, not in the air. There is an urgent need to improve the quality and efficiency of groundhandling services. The agreement today strikes the right balance between giving airlines more choice of quality service providers while strengthening protection for workers in what is a very labour-intensive sector."

The agreement with ministers safeguards the two key elements at the heart of the Commission's groundhandling proposals:

1. Airlines need more choice in who provides their services on the ground – that means at least three providers at every major airport.

Ensuring full opening of the self-handling market for airlines and increase in the minimum number of service providers (in restricted services) from two to three at large airports: this will ensure that airlines have an increased choice of groundhandling solutions at EU airports.

2. High-quality services rely on a high-quality workforce – that means reinforcing stable employment terms for those working on the ground.

Allowing Member States to go further in protecting workers' rights so staff can transfer under existing conditions when a contract goes to a new provider: this is essential to provide the stable employment conditions necessary to maintain a high-quality workforce in what is a labour-intensive sector.

The Commission's groundhandling proposals

A comfortable, safe and reliable flight requires a whole range of ground services such as cabin cleaning, refuelling, de-icing in wintertime and baggage handling.

The Commission's proposals aim to ensure airlines have a greater choice of groundhandling solutions, give airports more control over the coordination of groundhandling services, and clarify the rules on the training and transfer of groundhandling staff.

To achieve these goals, the Commission adopted on 1 December 2011 a proposal for a regulation on groundhandling services at EU airports, in the context of the "Better airports package", together with proposals on airport slots and noise restrictions at airports (see IP/11/1484 and MEMO/11/857). On groundhandling, the Commission proposed to repeal Directive 96/67/EC and to replace it by a new regulation.

Groundhandling covers a wide variety of services for airlines delivered at airports to support the airline's operations. It includes not only technical services such as aircraft maintenance, fuel and oil services and freight handling, but also services which are essential to passenger safety and comfort, such as passenger check-in, catering, baggage handling and surface transport at the airport

Next steps

The proposal must still be voted by the European Parliament in first reading. The proposed regulation on groundhandling services is the first of three legislative proposals of the "Better airports package". Further to today's discussion on groundhandling, the Commission expects the Council to work on the noise and slot regulations, with the Presidency indicating that it will start with noise as early as next week in the working group.

Commission requests the United Kingdom to amend its corporate tax legislation providing for exit taxes on companies

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Commission has formally requested the United Kingdom to amend its legislation providing for exit taxes on companies.

The UK legislation at stake results in immediate taxation of unrealised capital gains in respect of certain assets when the seat or place of effective management of a company is transferred to another EU/EEA State. However, a similar transfer within the UK would not generate any such immediate taxation and the relevant capital gains would only be taxed once they have been realised.

The Commission considers that the United Kingdom has failed to fulfil its obligations under EU rules by maintaining these restrictive provisions. Exit taxes may breach the freedom of establishment as they make it more expensive to transfer a company seat or place of effective management to another Member State than to another location in the UK.

The Commission's request takes the form of a reasoned opinion (second step of EU infringement proceedings). In the absence of a satisfactory response within two months, the Commission may refer the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Background

Exit taxes are taxes typically levied when a legal or natural person leaves a given tax jurisdiction (i.e. change of tax residence), in the case at stake this refers to companies that move their registered seat or place of effective management to another EU/EEA State. For press releases on infringement cases in the taxation or customs field see:

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/common/infringements/infringement_cases/index_en.htm

For more information on EU infringement procedures, see MEMO/12/200

For the latest general information on infringement measures against Member States see: http://ec.europa.eu/eu_law/infringements/infringements_en.htm

Untangling the science Web

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

People can now access millions of scientific data resources about our planet thanks to the EUROGEOSS project. EUROGEOSS ('European approach to the global earth observation system of systems' (GEOSS)), backed under the Environment Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 6.1 million, has developed an innovative way to search thousands of Earth observation catalogues. This has increased the number of datasets and products publicly available for scientific research, from a few hundred in 2011, to more than 28 million in 2012.

The uniqueness of this novel application, what the consortium calls the EUROGEOSS broker, is that it is a software middleman that makes all this possible. It bridges the multitude of complex standards used by scientists.

Previously independent information catalogues and systems can now be connected to each other. The scientific resources they contain are also made available to a much wider audience. A family of multiple components is responsible for this deceptively simple solution, enabling the discovery of datasets and their transformation into a common geographical reference system and timeframe. The result is the ability to access and use data in scientific models running on the Internet, and to publish the resulting information through Web services and social networks.

The value of the EUROGEOSS broker is significant. A case in point is how it relates to Natura 2000, the largest network of protected areas in the world with nearly 26 000 sites covering almost 18% of the EU. Natural phenomena, such as forest fires, as well as man-made pressures threaten these areas.

Overall, 60 000 hectares of protected areas went up in smoke in forest fires in Spain, Italy and Portugal in 2010 alone. When such events take place, it is important to identify areas that have similar ecosystems to the ones damaged and which may contain endangered species in need of additional protection.

To do so requires running a simulation with key data, including a mean drought index, percentage of forest cover, temperature, rainfall and elevation. Finding these data across multiple databases for any part of Europe used to be a challenge. The EUROGEOSS broker now makes it much simpler and faster not only to find the data, but also to run the model on the Web and get results without having to download data or modelling tools. This means that you can run these simulations anytime, anywhere, even in areas with slow Internet connections.

Through the broker it is also possible to mine social networks and find observations made by the public that are relevant to the protected areas, as well as to consult the list of endangered species managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is end-to-end service for science, policy and citizens.

The EUROGEOSS broker is developed by the National Research Council of Italy, which has committed to maintaining it for the next three years, and the Joint Research Centre (JRC)-the European Commission's in-house science service.

According to Ivan De Loach, Executive Director of the United States Federal Geographic Data Committee, EUROGEOSS is an excellent example of the way EU-funded research is contributing to the development of the GEOSS, a high-profile worldwide initiative to advance our understanding of the complex relationship between environment and society.

Remarking on EUROGEOSS, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: 'I am delighted to see this truly remarkable achievement by an EU-funded project which is revolutionising the way we can access and use Earth observation data for the benefit of society.'

For more information, please visit:

EUROGEOSS: http://www.eurogeoss.eu

Joint Research Centre: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm

Better monitoring needed for pollutant-free European seas

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

In the latest Marine Board-European Science Foundation (ESF) Position Paper, experts point out how more work needs to be performed on the monitoring and regulation of chemical pollution in Europe's seas.

'Monitoring Chemical Pollution in Europe's Seas: Programmes, Practices and Priorities for Research' provides fresh insight on how regulatory frameworks and monitoring programmes fail to address the full range of potentially damaging pollutants. They also ignore many of the 'new' pollutants being used by industry.

Pollution is the biggest concern for Europeans. This finding is an outcome of the CLAMER ('Climate change and marine ecosystem research results') project, which polled more than 10 000 people from 10 European countries on what they consider to be the most significant issues putting the marine environment at risk. CLAMER was funded under the Environment Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of almost EUR 1 million. The paper also notes how public concern is justified, particularly because it is supported by scientific evidence.

Data show that approximately 30 000 of the chemicals available on the EU market have a production volume higher than 1 tonne each year. Seas, rivers and estuaries are the recipients of the growing number of substances that can adversely affect processes, ecosystems and marine organisms.

The EU believes oceans and seas are strategic points, playing instrumental roles on both economic and social fronts. Meanwhile, marine ecosystems are increasingly feeling the pressure from human activity, with chemical pollution playing havoc more than ever.

'The level of knowledge and awareness of the presence and potential impacts of new and emerging marine pollutants is still very limited,' says working group co-chair Patrick Roose from the Belgian Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM) in Belgium.

For his part, co-chair Colin Janssen from the University of Ghent in Belgium says: 'To be genuinely effective, monitoring programmes will need to be dynamic and take into account a continually expanding list of chemical pollutants, the impact that different pollutants can have on organisms, ecosystems and processes, and to attribute efforts and resources according to the perceived risk.'

The paper points out that there should be better cooperation, coordination and harmonisation between the monitoring efforts currently in use and those that are being developed. Taking these steps will help ensure that efforts are not replicated, expertise is not lost and that people will work to meet the standards found across the region. Furthermore, sophisticated and more integrated environmental risk assessment procedures are needed in order to assess how chemical substances are affecting the various compartments of coastal and open sea systems.

'Until today, the monitoring of European seas has been largely based on the measurement of chemical concentrations in water, sediments and biota,' explains Marine Board chair Kostas Nittis. 'As such, they are failing to take sufficiently sophisticated approaches to gain insights on the true impacts of chemicals on individuals, populations and whole marine ecosystems. Until a more scientifically robust and sophisticated approach is adopted, existing monitoring programmes are only providing a part of the picture.'

For more information, please visit:

CLAMER: http://www.clamer.eu/

Environment Research in FP7: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/environment/home_en.html

To download the Marine Board-ESF Position Paper 16, click: http://www.marineboard.eu/images/publications/Monitoring%20Chemical%20Pollution-71.pdf

GlaxoSmithKline to invest 100m in Scotland

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : Wiredgov

First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney yesterday welcomed plans by pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline to invest more than £100m and create 100 new jobs across its two Scottish operations in Irvine and Montrose.

This new investment will be used to make the Irvine site a centre of excellence for the production of antibiotics, as well as backing the development of respiratory medicines and vaccines in Montrose and increasing the firm’s move to sustainable green energy production.

The First Minister yesterday met staff at the company’s Irvine facility and said the announcement demonstrated Scotland’s competitive business environment continues to secure new investment from leading global firms.

Mr Swinney visited and toured GlaxoSmithKline’s Montrose site today, welcoming the substantial inward investment.

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“The Scottish Government and our enterprise agencies are doing all we can to secure new jobs and investment to Scotland. GlaxoSmithKline’s announcement to create new jobs at their Montrose and Irvine operations demonstrates this international company’s commitment to working in Scotland.

“The key aspect for Montrose is the moving of vaccine production to Angus and for Irvine it will mean they become the centre of excellence for the production of the most widely used antibiotic in the world. Both plants will have considerable investment in renewable energy, which will help secure their future.

"The quality and skills of the local workforces in Montrose and Irvine have played an important part in the company's decision to expand their operations. This new investment reinforces Scotland’s global reputation for research excellence and the competitiveness of our business environment. It also highlights Scotland’s international profile in life sciences.

“Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International have worked closely with the company on their growth plans and I am delighted that this leading international pharmaceutical manufacturer firm is investing further in its Scottish manufacturing sites.”

Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth Secretary John Swinney added:

“Today’s very welcome announcements build on Scotland’s success in attracting inward investment.

“Ernst & Young's UK attractiveness survey shows a 35 percent increase in FDI projects in Scotland compared to 2010, with 69 projects creating over 4000 new jobs.

“Scotland is now attracting FDI jobs at levels not seen since the start of the global recession and is outperforming both the rest of the UK and the rest of Europe.

“This record of success is testament both to the skills of our workforce and to this Government’s commitment to build in Scotland the most competitive business environment anywhere in the UK.”

Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said:

"GSK is a global leader in the pharmaceuticals industry and their expansion in Scotland is an endorsement of the world class skills and capabilities within our life sciences sector.

"In recent months, we have been working with our partners across the public sector to support the company's ambitious plans and we're delighted they have recognised the contribution that Scotland can make to its global competitiveness.

"Today's announcement will be a significant boost to the local economies around Montrose and Irvine, providing much needed jobs for people locally."

GSK currently employs over 330 people at its Irvine site and 250 at its Montrose facility.

Scotland's five national performing companies attract growing audience

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Scotland’s five national performing companies performed to almost half a million people in 2010-11, an increase of 19 per cent on the previous year.

An annual report published yesterday shows the National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ballet, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Opera gave 903 performances, reaching a combined audience of 457,774 people.

Over the same period, the five companies provided 3,999 education and outreach events, attracting and engaging 111,468 participants.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said:

“In the four years since Scotland’s five national performing companies came into a direct funding relationship with Government, they have delivered more than 3,500 performances to over 2.2 million people.

“In 2010-11, people the length and breadth of Scotland were given opportunities to experience and participate in the fantastic work of the companies – with activity delivered across all of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas, and I am delighted to see that their combined audience grew by a fifth over the year.

“This remarkable achievement highlights the huge contribution the companies make to Scotland’s rich cultural life.

“As well as stimulating pride in Scotland’s rich heritage at home, our National Performing Companies have attracted significant artistic acclaim abroad – showcasing Scotland’s modern, vibrant and diverse culture to audiences around the world.”

Notable achievements include:

The National Theatre of Scotland enjoyed continued international success with 'Black Watch' touring in Washington DC, North Carolina, Austin, Texas and Chicago. The Company performed Peter Pan in Scotland and London, and Beautiful Burnout, which appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe before touring in the UK and to New York. NTS presented a month-long Reveal season which included new works Girl X an exploration of disability rights and Somersaults by Gaelic playwright Iain Finlay Macleod.
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra delivered performances of Roussel’s ballet The Spider’s Feast, Rachmaninov’s 2^nd Symphony and Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony. Their Ten out of 10 project showcased 21^st Century works and the RNSO chorus was the first amateur chorus to perform Magnus Lindberg’s Graffiti. Their BBC prom concert sold out and the Company performed twice during the Edinburgh International Festival including a rare Scottish performance of L’heure espagnole.
Scottish Ballet revived its popular production of Romeo and Juliet and toured to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Belfast with Cinderella. The Company presented a large-scale programme of 1940’s inspired pure dance with Scenes de Ballet, Still Life and Fearful Symmetries to audiences throughout Scotland.
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra toured to New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Hanover with Polish pianist Piotr Anderzewski and appeared at the Herrenchiemsee Festival in Germany, East Neuk Festival and BBC proms. The Company’s appearance at the Edinburgh International Festival included the world premiere of a new symphony by Kevin Volans.
Scottish Opera had huge success with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and performed four other main stage operas: La Boheme, The Adventures of Mr Broucek, Orlando, and The Cunning Little Vixen. The Company toured with Carmen and gave a concert performance of La Fanciulla del West for the Edinburgh International Festival. Its Opera Highlights tour went to 15 of Scotland’s smaller communities.

The annual report on activity is compiled as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to transparency, setting out the Government’s return on investment in the national performing companies.

The national performing companies increased their combined income from non-public sources from £9.2 million in 2009-10, to £11 million in 2010-11 in line with Scottish Government requirements.

Related information

National Performance Companies - Annual Report 2010-11

Cancer 'smart bomb' plant in Grangemouth opens

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A new drugs plant in Grangemouth producing cancer "smart bombs" has been officially opened.

The new cancer drugs - called ADCs - have been approved for use in the US and could soon be licensed for the European market.

About 85 people are working at the factory, which is run by pharmaceutical giant Piramal.

The plant was upgraded following a grant from Scottish Enterprise of £145,000.

ADCs are said to "hunt out" and kill cancerous cells, and so have been dubbed "smart bomb" drugs.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "I am delighted to be officially opening Piramal's latest state of the art suite - and see first hand the manufacture of the only licensed cancer drugs of this kind in the world.

"These new drugs will be reviewed for a European licence soon - providing an opportunity for them to be considered for use in the NHS in Scotland ahead of the rest of the UK."

About 15 jobs have been created by the opening of the new manufacturing suite.

Terry Cooke, from Piramal, said: "We're very excited about this new class of anti-cancer medicine that we manufacture here at Piramal Healthcare in Grangemouth and we all take great pride in the fact that they are so effective in saving peoples lives.

"This visit by the deputy first minister to open our new manufacturing suite is fantastic recognition of the work that's done here and complements the invaluable support we've received from Scottish Enterprise."

Edinburgh gives more to UK than any other city

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

Edinburgh businesses contribute more to the economy per head of population than any other major city in the UK, according to a new study.

Analysts made their calculations using gross value added (GVA) – the measure of a region’s contribution to the UK economy according to the value of the goods and services it provides.

Latest figures show the city had a GVA of £34,950 for 2009, down 0.52 per cent on the previous year. This figure puts it ahead of London, where the GVA fell from £34,964 to £34,779, a decrease of 0.53 per cent.

The report also claimed Scottish cities as whole performed well in the GVA league table, with places in the top five towns and cities going to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

The report also discovered that oil-rich Aberdeen was the only major UK city to grow its economy during the recession as its GVA per resident grew in 2010. The accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, which carried out the study, said that in Aberdeen there was a rise of 1.1 per cent in GVA from £28,442 to £28,731 in the year to 1 January, 2010.

Experts believe the city was “largely unaffected” by the financial crisis because of the oil and gas industry.

Marc Waterman, partner at the accountancy firm said that London had been damaged by the credit-crunch.

“For years, London easily outpaced other UK towns and cities in its economic contribution, driven by its huge wholesale financial services industry.

“But the credit crunch hit this sector hard and has damaged London’s ability to generate wealth for the economy,” he said.

He added: “Although Edinburgh also boasts a large financial services sector, it was never as dominant as London’s and so the downturn did not have the same devastating result.

“Thousands of high-paying banking jobs, along with advisers, such as lawyers, have been shed in London. The capital also has significant areas of poverty and high unemployment.”

Unemployment is a crucial factor according to the study, which points out that government figures for 2010 show unemployment in London stood at 9.1 per cent, while in Edinburgh it was 6.3 per cent.

Unemployment in the UK as a whole was 7.7 per cent.

Mr Waterman added: “It might sound obvious, but people who are out of work do not contribute to the economic wealth of the country.

“London’s comparatively high unemployment rate will have had a sharp impact on its wealth-creating potential.”

According to UHY Hacker Young, GVA for the British economy as a whole contracted by 2.7 per cent in the year to 1 January, 2010, and the average Briton generates £20,341 per year.

Mr Waterman said: “The situation in Aberdeen is unique within the UK. It’s the only major city in the UK that has an economy based almost entirely around the oil and gas industry.

“Not only is it benefiting from a revival in North Sea exploration, but Aberdeen is now a global leader in oil services companies.

“Many Aberdeen-headquartered oil and gas exploration companies and oil services companies operate on a global basis.

“Aberdeen has become a global centre of excellence for oil services companies, so it directly benefits from the exploration boom in emerging markets.”

Tom Faichnie, corporate finance partner at Campbell Dallas, the only Scottish member of UHY International, added: “While drilling in the North Sea was significantly curtailed in the period, the impact of this on the Aberdeen economy was less severe than other areas of the UK.

“Unemployment has remained relatively low and the local oilfield service sector which has been developed in the region continued to be in demand to support and maintain the producing assets in the North Sea.”

Mr Faichnie added: “This was helped by the growing international business being done by Aberdeen companies – the latest export survey produced by Aberdeen city and shire councils showed 75 per cent of oil and gas companies surveyed provide their goods and services to international markets.

“Aberdeen-led oil and gas technology continues to be in demand throughout the world, helping Aberdeen businesses buck the trend seen everywhere else in the UK.”

David Bell, professor of economics at Stirling University, said the Aberdeen results were “not surprising”.

He added: “It is good that Aberdeen is becoming an international hub for oil expertise.”

However, Prof Bell said caution should be taken when looking at such results.

“Using GVA to calculate a particular city’s wealth might not be that accurate.

“It would need all the people who worked in the city to live in the city, but people might work in Edinburgh but live, for example, in East Lothian. That needs to be taken into consideration.

“The Edinburgh result is a little surprising, but if true, then it is good news.”

Scots food and drink firms taking a bigger bite of export market

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman.com

Scottish firms are leading the charge overseas as figures published today reveal that the UK’s food and soft drink exports topped £12 billion for the first time last year.

A raft of food and drink producers north of the Border have reported growing international sales, including Fochabers-based soup and sauce maker Baxters, Aberlour-based biscuit and cake producer Walkers Shortbread and the Mackie’s of Scotland crisp joint venture between the ice cream giant and potato firm Taypack.

UK food and soft drink exports rose by 12 per cent last year, driven by a strong demand in emerging markets such as Eastern Europe and the Far East.

China entered the top 20 export destinations for the first time with a 55 per cent increase on 2010, partly due to changing tastes and an increasingly westernised diet.

Moodiesburn-based sausage skin maker Devro has noted a similar trend, with demand for its casings rising in emerging Asian markets.

South Korea increased its imports of British food and drink by 37 per cent, while Hong Kong was up by 41 per cent.

The Scotch whisky sector has also toasted growth in emerging markets in recent years.

News of the rising exports comes after Bill Black, a Scots-born senior vice-president at Swiss engineering firm ABB, told Scotland on Sunday this weekend that he will use his speech at tomorrow’s Scottish manufacturing conference in Dunblane to call for a “Made in Scotland” brand to help promote Scottish products to the growing middle classes in emerging markets such as China and India.

Flora McLean, director of the Scottish Food & Drink Federation (SFDF), said: “Scotland has one of the greatest food and drink larders in the world and it is pleasing to see that our products, along with those made by producers and manufacturers across the UK, are increasing in popularity across the globe.

“In spite of this coup for the food industry, there is still work to be done. SFDF, representing Scottish manufacturers, will continue to work with the UK government to help create the optimum conditions for food businesses to realise their potential in new and existing export markets. Food manufacturing is a priority industry in Scotland, making a significant and vital contribution to innovation, employment and sustainable economic growth.”

Established markets outside the European Union (EU) also performed well last year, with exports to the United States rising by 25 per cent.

In total, the EU accounted for 77 per cent of Britain’s food and drink exports, with Ireland remaining the top export destination, closely followed by France and the Netherlands.

Dutch interest in UK products increased by 30 per cent, a trend echoed by Belgium (30 per cent) and Germany (15 per cent).

Mackie’s at Taypack, the joint venture between the ice cream maker and the potato grower, said that exports accounted for about 10 per cent of its £2.5m turnover last year.

After pushing into North America, the company is now targeting £500,000 in sales in the US this year, with an order already coming in from Fresh ‘n’ Easy, Tesco’s US division.

Tim Gardiner, managing director of Mackie’s at Taypack said: “We consider an international approach to be vital to the continued growth of our brands.

“Early research with consumers in the US has been very encouraging – they like our products, our natural flavours and that we grow our own potatoes here in Scotland.”

America’s crisp market alone is worth £3bn a year.

Scotland's space race - to Mars and beyond

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

The first Scottish-built satellite will be launched in 2013 – but that's just the beginning. Scottish space companies are now involved in everything from mapping deep space to hunting for signs of microbial life in the solar system, and contributing its expertise to dreams of missions to Mars – the ultimate space-age adventure.

The £500,000 UKube-1 satellite, being built by Glasgow-based space engineering company Clyde Space, will lift off next year to orbit just inside the Earth's atmosphere. filled with six experimental payloads.

Just last week, the most detailed infra-red image ever taken of the far reaches of the universe was released by a team led by the University of Edinburgh. The image from the European Southern Observatory's VISTA telescope reveals more than 200,000 galaxies, including the most distant seen to date.

The design and construction of VISTA was also led from the city, at the UK Astronomy Technology Centre, which designs and builds instruments for many of the world's major telescopes.

Meanwhile, Glasgow University's new Space Glasgow Research Cluster is involved in the kind of work that inspires future astronauts. Its key research and development areas include building vital hardware for next year's unmanned space missions and working alongside international organisations to develop safety assessments for human space flight.

Other projects include drilling technology for Mars Rovers, and research into the presence of water and the evolution of microbial life in the solar system.

The PANGU planet and asteroid simulation tool developed at Dundee University's Space Technology Centre has also helped the European Space Agency (ESA) design navigation systems for planetary landing craft.

The centre has strong ties with STAR-Dundee, which was involved in writing the language for SpaceWire, a data-communications test kit now being installed in spacecraft across the world. The company also works with Nasa, ESA and space agencies in Japan and China.

Without question, all of this cutting-edge work means jobs and money and kudos for the country.

Scottish Enterprise views space-related business as a major area of economic growth – and satellite services in particular are expected to be a major source of revenue in the next decade. The organisation's target is for Scotland to contribute 10% of UK space employment and revenue by 2030. The UK space sector contributes some £5.6 billion to the UK's GDP and supports about 68,000 jobs.

Ross White, senior executive of aerospace, defence and marine at Scottish Enterprise, said: "Scotland has loads of capability and lots of fantastic companies and university research laboratories. We're seeing clusters of companies working together, universities working together and, even better, companies and universities working hand in hand on research and development projects."

"What's really exciting is that previous commercial satellites were roughly the size of a family car. Clyde Space's satellites are potentially 30cm by 30cm. They've been the poster boy of the industry and we're starting to see a cluster of companies forming around them. From a Scottish perspective, we have all the ingredients for real success in the space market."

Clyde Space is also working on "deployable optics" – a series of mirrors which can extend from a UKube satellite and deliver highly focused images. Several potential US customers are said to be "very interested" in the technology.

Strathclyde University has one of the UK's largest clusters of space researchers. The Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory (ASCL) is pioneering new ways of using space, while the Centre for Future Air-Space Transportation Technology is investigating the technology required for future high-speed airlines and space flight systems.

ASCL director Professor Colin McInnes said 'future technologies' were also being explored, and his team has been "working with the European Space Agency and others on solar sail spacecraft and other future concepts". A solar sail technology envisages a very large reflective membrane unfolding from a spacecraft, generating thrust from the pressure of sunlight. A solar sail spacecraft could aid missions to planets, asteroids and even comets, and enable craft to reach the outer edge of the solar system.

Leading figures from the UK and Europe's space research sector were in Glasgow earlier this month for the second Scottish Space Symposium.

Like many in the field, McInnes believes the country's great strides in space engineering have gone largely unacknowledged in Scotland. But with Scots researchers' cutting-edge work now gaining an international reputation, and a roster of clients that includes space agencies and some of the world's largest companies, Scotland's reputation looks set to go stellar.

Spanish wind farm giant will invest in Leith

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

A major Spanish wind farm manufacturer is to create 800 permanent jobs in Scotland in a highly ambitious renewable energy investment package worth £125 million.

The port of Leith was chosen as the site for the factory ahead of Hartlepool, in the north-east of England, by Gamesa.

Javier Perea, Gamesa managing director for commercial projects, told The Scotsman that building work would start on the 80-acre site in spring 2013, with the bulk of the 800 posts be created within the next two to three years.

The Gamesa corporation is to recruit within Scotland to fill the posts in the factory to manufacture enormous blades for offshore wind turbines, as well as the generator units that sit at the top of the turbine.

Jobs created at the Edinburgh factory, which will be leased by Gamesea from Forth Ports, will include posts in assembling machinery, electrical and mechanical work, product quality testing and packaging.

First Minister Alex Salmond welcomed yesterday’s decision by the Spanish firm, which last year opened a research and development centre in Glasgow alongside its offshore wind headquarters in London.

Mr Salmond, who has heavily promoted renewable energy, said: “I’m delighted that Gamesa has chosen Scotland and the fantastic Port of Leith as its preferred location for the manufacture of its new model of offshore wind turbines.

“This is terrific news, meaning around 800 jobs and €150m of investment in Scotland. Their decision, coming less than a year after opening their offshore wind technology centre near Glasgow, follows many detailed discussions with the Scottish Government.”

Meanwhile, Gamesa boss Mr Perea revealed that the company could be set to announce further investments in “more capacity” for Scotland during the next few years, as he talked about the plans for the Leith factory.

Mr Perea said: “We need to ramp up the factory during 2014-15, but people will have to be contracted before that time.

“We did a study and got it down to two locations – Hartlepool and Leith. We also looked at Dundee, but decided to switch to Leith.

“The reason for the decision is that we need to have access to a harbour and deep water for the factory. Also we already have a research and development centre in Glasgow and we wanted to be able to have a cluster for the business in the area.”

The head of Scottish Government quango Scottish Enterprise said that the body had been in talks with Gamesa to secure the £125m investment.

Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson said: “Scotland’s strength in offshore wind is key to Gamesa’s decision to identify Leith as its preferred wind turbine manufacturing location.

“We look forward to continuing to support the company’s development plans.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore seized on the announcement to claim Scotland would attract increased investment by remaining in the UK.

He said: “Gamesa’s decision is a vote of confidence in Scotland and the whole United Kingdom. It reinforces the fact we have the skills to attract investment from around the world and that the UK Government’s commitment to the offshore renewables sector acts as an attractive prospect for business.”

But SNP Edinburgh Central MSP Marco Biagi said the Gamesa announcement “demolishes” claims from anti-independence politicians that investment in Scotland is at risk due to uncertainty about the referendum.

Highland training academy 'could create thousands of jobs'

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: STV

A new training academy to be created at a mothballed fabrication yard will help to create thousands of jobs in the Highlands.

The Nigg Skills Academy (NSA) will deliver training for up to 3000 people over the next three years, for a range of jobs from engineers to project managers.

The new facility, established with more than £900,0000 of public funding, was officially opened by First Minister Alex Salmond on Friday.

It is established at the Nigg Energy Park in Easter Ross, which was bought by the Global Energy Group (GEG) in October last year.

Highlands & Islands Enterprise has already committed £1.8m for developing the 240-acre site on the Cromarty Firth, which could hold up to 2000 employees within four years.

The NSA will operate as a 12-month pilot and hopes to start 290 modern apprenticeships in its first year.

The First Minister said: "Nigg has one of the world’s largest dry docks and its workforce has been responsible for some of the biggest energy-related structures ever built, so it is well positioned to host the Skills Academy pilot.

"With some one trillion pounds of oil & gas reserves remaining and huge export opportunities for supply chain companies, Scotland’s offshore energy sector remains vibrant, while our burgeoning renewables sector is set to reindustrialise communities across Scotland.

"Clearly the energy industry needs continued access to world-class talent to meet Scotland’s global energy ambitions and Nigg Skills Academy is a perfect example of how the public and private sector can work together quickly and decisively to deliver just that."

The NSA has already received more than 800 applications since adverts were put out last month.

Roy MacGregor, GEG, chairman, said: "There is recognition within the wider energy industry of the need for additional skilled labour if we are to meet the demands of both oil & gas and the emerging renewables industry over this next three to five years.

"A lot of discussion has taken place around the skills agenda, and I am delighted, following our purchase of Nigg Energy Park, to have entered into early dialogue with the various public sector bodies.

"They were able to move quickly in their understanding of the critical skills issues facing the industry if it is to grow and look to attract inward investment into the area."

Europe agrees core transport plan, funding elusive

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

A €31.7-billion EU plan to streamline and integrate Europe’s segmented and rattling transport network into a cohesive whole was agreed by EU transport ministers in Brussels yesterday (22 March). Debate can now start over the most difficult issue, funding.

Removing cross-border bottlenecks, upgrading infrastructure, and streamlining cross-border transport operations would all fall under the proposed regulation on guidelines for the development of Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T).

Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for Transport, said that although crunch discussions on financing lay ahead, the deal was “a very important achievement” that would start to move Europe away from a patchwork of national networks towards a pan-European hub.

“Ministers have today given strong political backing for plans to build the strategic transport connections necessary to fuel Europe's future economic growth,” he said.

The proposed regulation still needs to be approved by the European Parliament. The Commission says that “with political will” this could happen in the first half of 2013.

But funding is likely to remain elusive as member states expressed concerns regarding the budgetary consequences of the proposal.

"The text agreed upon makes it possible for member states not to implement certain projects if the financial resources required are not available or if the projects are not mature enough," the ministers said in a statement after the meeting.

The list of core network projects will be attached to the proposed €50 billion Connecting Europe Facility proposed by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso in October.

Transport corridors

Under the new plan, a core EU transport network will be built by 2030, using 10 major transport corridors.

Several member states were apparently won round after having reportedly objected to the plan’s division of the core hub between priority projects and a ‘comprehensive network’ of longer-term projects, to be completed by 2050.

The proposed new connections, which will cover all long-distance modes of transport – road, rail, air, inland waterways, maritime transport, and intermodal platforms – include:

86 main European ports with rail and road links
37 key airports with rail connections into major cities
15,000 km of railway line upgraded to high speed
35 major cross-border projects to reduce bottlenecks

The EU envisions the projects being built using common technical requirements, inter-operable across the network. Road and tunnel safety standards would also be harmonised, as would future electric car charging point infrastructure.

Libor Lochman, the director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies welcomed the plan but cautioned against any whittling away of the €31.7 billion funding, promised under the Connecting Europe Facility last October.

“Rail services are only as good as the infrastructure they run on,” Lochman said. “Adequate funding is therefore essential for a well-developed European railway network. That’s why we urge member states to ensure the necessary financial means to make the proposed networks reality.”

Baggage handling

A separate Commission proposal revising the current rules on ground-handling to increase competition was also approved at the Transport Ministers Council.

The proposal was first announced in the Commission’s ‘better airports’ package last December but faced opposition from European trades unions, who say that increased liberalisation degrades workers’ protection, without improving services.

Kallas told a press conference in Brussels that a compromise had been reached.

“The agreement today strikes the right balance between giving airlines more choice of quality service providers while strengthening protection for workers in what is a very labour-intensive sector,” he said.

Airlines will now be offered a “full opening” of the self-handing market, and a choice of at least three service providers in every airport, as opposed to the current minimum of two.

In return, when a baggage handling contract is changed, member states would be allowed to transfer their workers’ existing rights to the new provider.

A Guide To Exporting

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Check out our latest guide which goes over the things you need to consider before you start to export your product around the world:

...Click here to view our Exporting Guide...

Barroso sees 'green' Danish cities as an example for Europe

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has called for an end to “artificial” growth, fuelled by “irresponsible financial behaviour”, and asked for Europe's cities to follow the example of green capitals such as Copenhagen.

“We need sustainable growth from a financial, but also environmental point of view,” Barroso said on the opening day of the fifth European summit of regions and cities taking place in Copenhagen on 22-23 March.

To support growth, the Commission president flagged the EU’s 2020 strategy and the €1 trillion multi-annual budget for Europe currently being negotiated for the 2014-2020 period.

“But if we want growth, we need to own it. It is not enough to talk about it, it is for all levels of governance, including regional, to make it work,” he said in an apparent reference to the Lisbon Strategy, adopted in 2000 and which notoriously failed to turn the EU into the world's most competitive region by 2010.

European cities set the example

But economic growth is not everything, Barroso suggested. Quality of life is also important and Europe’s cities are ahead compared to other parts of the world. “We should be proud of this. The Chinese want to learn from us,” Barroso said, referring to the recently launched EU-China partnership for sustainable urbanisation.

In July, Chinese officials will come for a two-week training trip to Brussels on regional policy legislation and multi-level governance. Also, on 19-20 April, the Committee of the Regions will host a panel debate on green urbanisation called “The EU and China - Partners for a Green World".

Barroso said that cities are important in green growth, because political discussion, including on the EU’s next 2014-2020 budget, should also take place at local level.

“This is critical for the results of the discussions. The word citizen comes from city,” he remarked, calling for local authorities to play a greater role in the budget negotiation. The next EU budget should be conceived like a pot of money for targeted investment, Barroso added, saying that “a cohesion policy with an urban agenda is taking shape”.

Mercedes Bresso, president of the Committee of the Regions, said cities have a crucial role to play in the current economic crisis. "The transition to a green economy will require appropriate funding and EU policies and the development of innovative financial systems involving local partners, banks, private companies and civil society,” Bresso said.

Hungarian MEP Zita Gurmai, in charge of the European Citizens' Initiative together with MEP Alain Lamassoure, said that current discussions were lacking the concept of solidarity. Citizens should be involved in the urban development and ongoing budget negotiations, through short, medium and long-term planning, Gurmai said.

“There is a growing gap amongst our citizens, we have to do more to address it, for example through the European Citizens Initiative… But do citizens know about it?,” Gurmai said.

“Cities have to be at the table as equal partners,” added Burkhard Jung, mayor of the German city Leipzig.

‘Green’ investment

Green growth was the running theme throughout the first day of the summit. Frank Jensen, mayor of Copenhagen and president of the Eurocities network, said there was no contradiction between high quality of life and economic success. “High quality of life helps us to secure investments in our regions.”

Copenhagen aims to become carbon-free by 2050 and Jensen has the recipe for getting there. “Investments are an opportunity to design a more sustainable, energy-efficient society," he said, adding that "this should be done in other parts of the world, too.”

Copenhagen, he said, was taking a full-picture approach to urban development. “Think about the potential – saving energy will create jobs. Sustainability is no longer a choice, it is a must, so let’s get to work.”

European Commission levels the playing field for European business in international procurement markets

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Europa

The European Commission proposes to improve business opportunities for EU firms in procurement markets. The main objective of the initiative is to help open worldwide public procurement markets and to ensure European businesses have fair access to them.

The proposal also aims to ensure that all companies (both European and non-European firms) are on an equal footing when it comes to competing for business in the EU's lucrative public procurement market.

Public procurement affects a substantial share of world trade flows and amounts to €1000 billion per year. In the EU, public procurement represents up to 19% of GDP and is an essential lever for kick-starting growth again, especially during an economic crisis. The EU's public procurement market is traditionally very open. However, this is not always matched by a similar degree of openness by our trading partners. Worldwide, only a quarter of the world's procurement market is open for international competition. The restrictions applied by our trading partners affect sectors where the EU is highly competitive, such as construction, public transport, medical devices, power generation and pharmaceuticals.

The new initiative proposed by the Commission today will increase the incentives for the EU's trading partners to open up their public procurement markets to EU bidders. It will ensure that EU companies can compete in the internal market with foreign companies on an equal footing. This initiative shall increase business opportunities for EU companies, both in the EU and internationally; boost the potential for small- and medium-sized enterprises to operate in a globalised economy; and increase employment and promote innovation in the EU.

Michel Barnier, European Commissioner responsible for the Internal market and Services, has declared: "The EU should no longer be naïve and should aim for fairness and reciprocity in world trade. Our initiative builds on Europe's belief that the opening up of public procurement generates benefits at global and European levels. We are open for business and we are ready to open up more, but only if companies can compete on an equal footing with their competitors. The Commission will remain vigilant in the defence of European interests and European companies and jobs."

Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Trade, said: "I am a firm believer in making sure trade flows freely and government procurement must be an essential part of open trade markets worldwide. It's good for business, good for consumers and brings value for money for taxpayers. This proposal will increase the leverage of the European Union in international negotiations and with our partners to open up their procurement markets for European companies. I am confident that they will then get a fair opportunity at winning government contracts overseas and so generate jobs."

The EU commitments taken in the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and bilateral trade agreements are fully respected with this initiative. The initiative clarifies EU international commitments for the European contracting authorities in a legally binding manner.

Key aspects of the proposal for a Regulation are the following:

The important levels of openness of the EU's public procurement market are confirmed.

The Commission may approve that EU contracting authorities, for contracts above €5 million, exclude tenders comprising a significant part of foreign goods and services where these contracts are not covered by existing international agreements.

In the event of repeated and serious discrimination against European suppliers in non-EU countries, the Commission will have at its disposal a mechanism allowing it to restrict access to the EU market, if the country outside the EU does not engage in negotiations to address market access imbalances. Any restrictive measures will be targeted, for example by excluding tenders originating in a non-EU country or imposing a price penalty.

Finally, the proposal increases transparency on abnormally low offers in order to combat unfair competition by non-EU suppliers on the European market.

New diagnostic test for oesophageal cancer

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

European scientists have made a major breakthrough in the development of a diagnostic test for oesophageal cancer that will hopefully lead to improvements in diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

The findings were made by scientists from the United Kingdom using the Accelerators and Lasers in Combined Experiments (ALICE) facility, which is housed at the Daresbury Laboratory's Accelerator Science and Technology Centre of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The diagnostic test was developed by imaging tissue obtained by endoscopy from patients with a precursor condition called Barrett's Oesophagus.

Oesophageal cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the world; as well as being extremely difficult to diagnose, it is also highly aggressive. Unfortunately patients often go to their doctor when the tumour is at an advanced stage and surgical removal is no longer possible; even when surgery is performed, it is often unsuccessful. There is therefore an urgent need to develop new technologies which can detect early changes in individual cells prior to cancer development

The researchers used ALICE's InfraRed Free Electron Laser, a unique and extremely intense source of infrared light, to image historical endoscopic samples and carry out a blind study of patients with Barrett's Oesophagus, with the aim of detecting any changes that took place in the samples.

As patients suffering from Barrett's Oesophagus are more likely to develop oesophageal cancer, they are regularly monitored so that medical practitioners can detect any changes in their condition straight away. If precancerous changes are detected in these patients, they can undergo potentially curative treatment without the need for major surgery, because the tumours have been detected at a much earlier stage.

Lead researcher on the project, Professor Weightman, from the University of Liverpool, comments on the results: 'Early diagnosis is the most important factor for improving the prognosis for patients with oesophageal cancer. But it is extremely hard to diagnose accurately - a false negative test can be fatal, whereas a false positive means unnecessary major surgery. Eventually we hope to develop a diagnostic test that can be used in an endoscope. The most promising approach may be to develop a test using the intense terahertz light also generated by ALICE. ALICE is Europe's most intense band source of terahertz light and the only one in the world equipped with a tissue culture facility for research on cancer. This would lead to much cheaper and more efficient diagnosis of the disease. However this development is some way off.'

Professor Susan Smith from the STFC also comments on the development: 'It is fantastic news that, through ALICE, we now have an improved technology that could lead to significant advances in the treatment of cancer. With ALICE we have an opportunity to look at cancer cells in a way that has not been done before. It is particularly exciting that these experiments are now pointing towards an accurate diagnostic test that could change the lives of thousands of patients and we look forward to continuing to work with Professor Weightman as he takes this invaluable research to the next level.'

The first of its kind in Europe, ALICE is a prototype for the next generation of particle accelerators. It is based on a new mode of operation known as energy recovery, where the energy used to create its high-energy beam is captured and re-used after each circuit of the accelerator, so less power is required, making it cheaper to run. Electrons are sent round the accelerator at 99.99% of the speed of light, and 99.9% of the power at the final accelerator stage is recovered and re-used.

ALICE has great potential for use in a large variety of projects ranging from dedicated accelerator research and development (R&D) to numerous applications projects. The research capabilities of ALICE are enhanced by hosting a variety of light sources from THz to the Compton Back-Scattering X-ray source.

Some examples of projects ALICE currently has on the go are a range of research activities related to optical timing distribution systems, electro-optic time-of-arrival monitors, bunch longitudinal profile feedback systems, and fibre laser oscillators and clocks. This particular research is in part funded by the IRUVX-PP (Preparatory phase of the IRUVX-FEL consortium) project, which received more than EUR 5.5 million under the 'Research Infrastructures' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

For more information, please visit: STFC: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/

Genes transfer helps stimulate plant evolution

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers in France, the United Kingdom and the United States have shed new light on how plants swap genes from plant to plant to help stimulate their evolutionary development. The findings, presented in the journal Current Biology, highlighted that enzymes key to photosynthesis had been shared among plants with only a distant ancestral relationship, and that the metabolic cycle of the recipient plant absorbed the genes, contributing to adaptation. The study was funded in part by a Marie Curie grant under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Most scientists believe that the passing of genes from parent to offspring, whether it be animals or plants, contributes to their evolution. Genetic modifications are known to emerge throughout this process. But in this latest study, researchers from Brown University in the United States, the Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique in France, the University of Liverpool and the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom have identified how genes travel from plant to plant between species with only a distant ancestral kinship.

The researchers observed that a grouping of grasses passed genes many times over millions of years; the genes that were transferred played a crucial role in the plants' photosynthetic machinery. This is especially true in C4 plants, found in hot and tropical climates. These plants also represent 20% of the vegetational covering of our planet.

'As far as we know, this is the first case where nuclear genes that have been transmitted between plants have been incorporated into the primary metabolism and contributed to the evolution of a new trait, in this case C4 photosynthesis,' explained Dr Pascal-Antoine Christin from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Brown University.

The researchers probed the ancestry of two genes encoding enzymes that are integral in C4 photosynthesis: phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ppc) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pck). They also assessed the enzymes' historical presence and function in Alloteropsis, a common and commonly studied grass.

The team first assessed the genes in closely related species, three C4 plants (Alloteropsis angusta, Alloteropsis cimicina and Alloteropsis semialata) and one C3 plant (Alloteropsis eckloniana). They aimed to provide insight on the evolutionary history of the ppc and pck genes, which were found in their C3 common ancestor and were believed to have been adapted in order to stimulate photosynthesis in the offspring C4 plants.

'People were wondering how these genes evolved,' Dr Christin said. 'The global assumption was that an ancestor had the genes, but they weren't involved in photosynthesis, and so were later modified to become C4 photosynthetic agents.'

They evaluated C4 plants whose ppc enzyme was needed for photosynthesis as well as plants whose enzyme was present but that did not impact photosynthesis at all. The researchers hypothesised that the ppc enzymes used in C4 photosynthesis would be closely related to the non-photosynthetic genes from closely related C3 plants, given their common ancestry. But what they found was that the ppc genes involved in C4 photosynthesis were closely related to ppc genes of other C4 species with no close relation in the phylogeny, or family tree. The team also discovered that these plants sharing photosynthetic ppc enzymes had split as many as 20 million years ago. So in spite of the ancestral divergences, the researchers identified an exchange of genes.

'We've long understood how evolutionary adaptations are passed from parents to offspring,' said Dr Colin Osborne of the University of Sheffield, one of the authors of the paper. 'Now we've discovered in plants that they can be passed between distant cousins without direct contact between the species.'

Added Professor Erika Edwards of Brown University: 'What is so exciting here is that these genes are moving from plant to plant in a way we have not seen before. There is no host-parasite relationship between these plants, which is usually when we see this kind of gene movement.'

For more information, please visit:

University of Sheffield: http://www.shef.ac.uk/

Current Biology: http://www.cell.com/current-biology/

350 companies in Highlands and Islands get funding to go digital

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

More than 350 companies in Highlands and Islands are being supported to get online and make better use of broadband through an initiative launched yesterday by Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment.

With a quarter of Scottish businesses currently not online, the ICT business engagement programme - a collaborative project between the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway – will invest £864,000 in the Highlands and Islands, to help small and medium sized companies (SMEs) exploit digital opportunities.

By developing an online presence, companies can attract new customers, increase their productivity and improve the skills of their staff.

Support will include workshops, seminars and events to help companies develop their own ICT action plans, and an online Business IT Guide with factsheets, diagnostics and an ‘ask the expert’ resource.

Announcing the programme at the Think Digital Conference, Mr Neil said:

“Businesses can reap substantial benefits from getting online. They can reach new markets and customers, increase productivity and, ultimately, grow their company.

“As part of Digital Infrastructure Action Plan, we are keen to improve business skills and digital participation rates across Scotland. To do this we need to support our SMEs to build an online presence and drive business through the internet.

“The ICT Engagement Programme in the Highlands and Islands will complement the next generation roll-out activities already underway led by Highland and Islands Enterprise. The programme will provide additional resources to engage with businesses not online and support and develop their knowledge and capability to exploit the benefits of having an online presence and trading online.

“Today’s announcement comes as BT announces enhanced connectivity to over 150,000 homes and businesses as part of its £2.5 billion fibre broadband programme. Superfast broadband opens many doors for our business communities, and we need to work closely with SMEs to make sure they have the insight, skills and capability to benefit from the opportunities open to them.”

Businesses adopting and fully exploiting ICT will increase their productivity gains. This programme ensure that SMEs in the region are able to upskill, and thereby to increase their business turnover, which will in turn, boost the local and national economy.

The two-year ICT engagement programme will lever in additional investment from Highland and Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway. It is anticipated that up to 365 businesses across H&I will be supported to get online and to make better use of the broadband available to them. Support will include workshops, seminars and events to help companies develop their own ICT action plans, an online Business IT Guide with factsheets, diagnostics and an ‘ask the expert’ resource.

The programme is set to roll out across the rest of Scotland in the coming months. The Scottish Government has already committed funding of up to £1 million each year over the spending review period to support work in relation to the digital economy.

Related information :Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan

Games tax credit will boost investment and innovation

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: HeraldScotland

More than 100 games companies in Scotland, which boost the economy by £30 million a year, look set to benefit from a tax credit introduced in the Budget.

Scotland is ranked third in the list of top games developer locations in Europe, with a cluster of games businesses around Dundee and Tayside employing 2300 staff and generating a turnover of more than £100m a year.

The Budget brought in new tax credits for video games, animation and "high end" TV production – which could also benefit large independent television producers in Scotland such as Shed, which recently moved its TV hit Waterloo Road from Rochdale to Greenock.

The tax credits for games and TV were greeted positively by both industries in Scotland. TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, which is the biggest in Europe, said the tax relief for the UK video games industry was a "brilliant" decision and "terrific" news for the games development sector.

Colin Anderson, managing director at Denki Games in Dundee, said: "Games tax relief will stimulate much-needed investment and innovation in one of the UK's leading knowledge-based industries. The leadership TIGA has demonstrated throughout this debate has played a decisive role in getting games tax relief on the political agenda and proposed into today's Budget."

Many high-profile console, computer and mobile phone games have been developed north of the Border – Dundee's Dynamo Games produced the award-winning Soccer Tycoon for Facebook and followed it up with Championship Manager 2011, and games such as Crackdown on Xbox 360, Championship Manager 5 Solo, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on Playstation 3, Spinword on Windows Vista and the Grand Theft Auto series were all developed in Scotland.

Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee West and the convener of the cross-party group on video games technology at the Scottish Parliament, said: "I have been campaigning on this point for some time alongside games companies and am delighted to hear the Chancellor is now offering support for the sector. Earlier this month I wrote to Mr Osborne urging him to take this course of action, and I explained that games tax relief would, as TIGA suggests, 'more than pay for itself'."

TIGA said tax relief would create 5000 jobs in the UK, lead to £188m investment in games and generate £172m for the Treasury in the next five years. It said: "Tax breaks for games production will ensure the UK remains at the forefront of video game development – it will also help to rebalance the UK economy away from an over-reliance on financial services towards a high-skill, R&D-intensive and export-focused industry."

In his response to the Budget, Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "We have long made a compelling case for video games tax relief and I welcome the Chancellor's moves here. Scotland’s computer games industry is a global success, and tax relief should help level the playing field and let the country's video games industry compete internationally to reach its full potential."

Overall, the UK games development sector contributes approximately £1 billion a year to the UK’s gross domestic product.

The tax incentive for high-budget scripted television production was welcomed by the TV Coalition, which comprises some of the biggest names in UK and international TV production. The announcement, they said, could put an end to the "exodus" from the UK of dramas. Shows such as Birdsong, Strike Back, The Tudors, Camelot, and the Julian Fellowes drama Titanic were all made abroad to take advantage of tax incentives.

New research carried out by the TV Coalition estimates a targeted tax credit in the UK, similar to that received by the film industry, would generate at least £350m per year as a result of high-budget scripted production relocating to the UK, and create thousands of jobs.

GlaxoSmithKline create 100 new jobs with 100 million reinvestment in Scottish sites

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: DailyRecord

Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline has announced £100million of investment at its two Scottish sites, creating 100 new jobs.

The move is part of a bigger £500 million of investment revealed by the company today, which is expected to create up to 1000 UK jobs.

This includes a new £350 million biopharmaceutical factory in Ulverston, Cumbria, as well as the £100 million for its manufacturing facilities in Irvine, North Ayrshire, and Montrose, Angus.

The additional funding includes the production at Montrose of the key materials for Glaxo's respiratory medicines. It will also be the first of Glaxo's UK sites to be part of the company's vaccine manufacturing supply chain.

At Irvine, Glaxo will increase production capacity for antibiotics.

The announcement was welcomed by the First Minister and the Finance Secretary, who visited the company's Irvine site today.

Alex Salmond said: "GlaxoSmithKline's announcement to create new jobs at their Montrose and Irvine operations demonstrates this international company's commitment to working in Scotland.

"The key aspect for Montrose is the moving of vaccine production to Angus and for Irvine it will mean they become the centre of excellence for the production of the most widely used antibiotic in the world.

"This new investment reinforces Scotland's global reputation for research excellence and the competitiveness of our business environment. It also highlights Scotland's international profile in life sciences."

But Central Ayrshire Labour MP Brian Donohoe, whose constituency covers Irvine, said the SNP administration had "failed" to secure the bulk of the GlaxoSmithKline investment, and had "created a climate of fear and uncertainty amongst major players in the business world" with its independence plans.

He said: "I am livid that Salmond's madness around his holding off of a referendum has made such a huge dent in the investment we should have got here at Irvine, I told the Prime Minister two weeks ago that I fully expected the Scottish plants to lose out on this major investment as a direct result of Salmond's inaction on the referendum."

However, in a statement, the company said the SNP's proposals for independence were not a factor in its decision to locate its new factory in Cumbria.

A spokeswoman said: "Our decision to locate in Ulverston is independent from the SNP Government's plans for independence.

"The key criteria we used to assess the four potential sites included whether the sites have active ingredient manufacturing expertise and capability and also sterile manufacturing capability.

"Both of these requirements are key strengths which differentiate the GSK Ulverston site. In addition, the Ulverston site benefits from its proximity to the vibrant Bio-cluster in the north-west of England and Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester universities."

A spokesman for the First Minister said: "Mr Donohoe is wrong and should apologise for his totally baseless scaremongering about jobs and investment in Scotland."

BP given consent for deep-water well North Uist west of Shetland

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Oil giant BP has been given consent to drill a controversial deep-water well west of Shetland.

The North Uist well is about 125km (78 miles) to the north west of the islands, at a depth of nearly 1,300m.

The UK government's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said it had thoroughly examined BP's environmental impact and emergency response plans.

Environmental organisations have expressed concern at the news.

Energy Minister Charles Hendry said: "Oil and gas plays an important role in our economy and makes a significant contribution to our energy security, but exploration should not come at a cost to the environment.

"That is why, before giving consent, my department has very carefully scrutinised BP's plans and their emergency response measures to ensure their operations are conducted to the highest possible standards."

WWF Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said: "New deep-water drilling is just not worth the risk because we should be phasing out our use of oil instead of chasing ever more difficult sources.

"A major spill from this well would be a disaster for fishing, tourism and wildlife, with oil washing up in the Northern Isles and as far away as Norway."

BP has been exploring the deep waters west off Shetland since the 1970s and producing oil from the area for more than 15 years.

FirstGroup creates trust for historic buses

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Transport operator FirstGroup has created a new trust to restore and preserve some of the company's historic vehicles.

The FirstGroup Heritage Trust already has four buses from First's operations in Aberdeen, dating as far back as the 1930s.

The collection includes a 1965 Daimler, a 1975 Leyland Leopard and a 1930 Albion.

The company said more vehicles would be added from First depots across the UK.

Trust secretary Joe Mackie said: "It's important we protect and preserve our heritage vehicles.

"In Aberdeen, for example, our 1930s Albion bus has a rich and varied history - to condemn it to the scrapheap or consider selling it would be a great loss."

'Historical significance'

He added: "In setting up the trust, vehicles with historical significance such as the Albion are protected.

"There are a number of buses throughout our operations in the UK that we will take ownership of, and subsequently restore and preserve them."

The original chassis of the 1930 Albion was discovered by a London resident in his back garden a number of years ago.

It later emerged the bus was in service in Aberdeen in the 1930s before being commissioned during World War II and taken to London.

It was transported back to Aberdeen 10 years ago and restored to its former glory.

All four vehicles held by the trust are now on display at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire.

Winners of 2012 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards announced

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Europa Press Release

The winners of the 2012 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are announced today by the European Commission and Europa Nostra (see list below). The awards will be presented on 1 June during a ceremony at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon in the presence of Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Plácido Domingo, the world-renowned tenor and President of Europa Nostra. The event is taking place under the patronage of Aníbal Cavaco Silva, President of Portugal, who will also be present, and José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission. Of the 28 winning projects, six will be named as 'grand prix' laureates as 2012’s most outstanding heritage achievements.

"I am very pleased that the European Commission is once again Europa Nostra's partner in celebrating outstanding work in the field of cultural heritage. I also wish to congratulate the Commission for having confirmed its commitment to supporting our shared objectives through the proposed 'Creative Europe' programme. European funding is vital: it boosts creativity and innovation, which helps us to bring our past alive and to safeguard our treasures for the future," added Europa Nostra’s President, Plácido Domingo.

Background

The 28 winners were selected from among 226 submitted projects from 31 countries. The awards are split into four categories – conservation, research, dedicated service, and education, training and awareness-raising. Each category has its own specialist jury, composed of independent experts from across Europe. All the winners receive a plaque or trophy. The six 'grand prix' winners also receive €10,000 each.

Cultural heritage brings a significant – and often underrated – contribution to job creation and growth. The sector represents an important part of the cultural and creative industries, which provide jobs for 8.5 million people in the EU and contribute up to 4.5% to Europe's GDP. Spending on conservation of cultural heritage by public and private bodies is worth an estimated €5 billion a year. Figures published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that 40% of worldwide tourism has a cultural dimension. Cultural heritage is also a key resource for sustainable development and social cohesion.

The awards are supported by the Culture Programme of the European Union, which has invested around €30 million in co-financing heritage-related projects since 2007. Other EU-funded programmes also provide support: the European Regional Development Fund has allocated for €6 billion for culture in 2007-2013. Of this, €3 billion supports the protection and preservation of cultural heritage, €2.2 billion aids the development of cultural infrastructure and €775 million co-funds cultural services such as vocational training, arts and heritage education, promotion of heritage routes, etc; a further €150 million has been made available through EU Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development since 1998.

To find out more:

Presentations on each winning project please vidit the Europa Nostra website.

2012 Award Winners (listed alphabetically by country)

Category 1 — Conservation

Category 2 – Research

Category 3 — Dedicated service

Category 4 — Education, training and awareness-raising

European Seal of e-Excellence 2012 - Winners Announced

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Wire

The winners of the European Seal of e-Excellence 2012 were announced on 6 March at CeBIT in Hannover, Germany. Innovative and market driven companies from 18 countries joined the award ceremony to receive their award from the hands of jury members. www.seal-of-excellence.org

The prize has been awarded annually since 2003 by EMF-The Forum of e-Excellence and its Partners Organisations at the CeBIT, and is widely known for distinguishing companies with innovative products & services and outstanding marketing.

The Seal is getting more and more international with winners from different countries around the word. In 2011, several Latin American companies were awarded for the first time and this year we have winners from new countries such as China and Canada. The Seal of e-Excellence partners and sponsors' network has also grown with new partners from China, Hungary, Bulgaria and Ukraine for this edition of the award.

The event ended with a cocktail sponsored by Seal partner SOFTEX, The association for the Promotion of Brazilian Software Excellence.

Margaretha Mazura, EMF Secretary General, declares: "2012 is a special year for the Seal:

It is its 10th anniversary. In the quick-changing world of ICT, this is an achievement we are proud of. The Seal is increasingly gaining recognition and becoming a major focal point not only for Europe’s most successful digital media companies, in term of products and services, but also in terms of marketing. For the first time, we have 5 winners from China among the 42 winners from altogether 18 countries. This is an important step forward towards collaboration with emerging economies that started already years ago with Indian winners, and continued last year with winners from Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. Our virtual "Club of e-Excellence" shows European high-level companies paired with their global counterparts for fruitful future cooperation".

Award website: www.seal-of-excellence.org

Neolithic horned cairns near Caithness wind farm scanned

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A wind farm developer has paid for archaeologists to scan a cluster of seven Neolithic horned cairns near to where 21 turbines will be erected.

The 5,000 year old structures at Hill of Shebster, near Thurso, in Caithness, were used for burials and rituals.

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) equipment was used to map the cairns.

Edinburgh-based AOC Archaeology also recorded 300 new Bronze and Iron Age sites in the £100,000 project funded by Baillie Wind Farm.

The new sites included hut circle settlements.

'Good example'

Archaeologists have produced three-dimensional images of the horned cairns from the scans.

The stone structures are more than 60m (196ft) in length and have two projecting walls at their entrances that create small courtyard areas.

A car park and path are to be built near the cairns to allow the public to visit them.

Consultant Dr Graeme Cavers, of AOC Archaeology, said: "The Shebster area is an unusually good example of a well-preserved cluster of sites.

"They are essentially burial and ritual monuments, much like the chapels and shrines of more recent times, and each of them is likely to have been used exclusively by individual local groups or communities."

He added: "The survey makes an invaluable contribution to the archaeological record of Caithness, and is really the first large-scale survey of its kind undertaken in Scotland."

Caithness is rich in ancient sites.

It has more examples of massive stone wall roundhouses, known as brochs, per square mile than any other part of Scotland, according to Highland Council.

The remains of a broch at Nybster have been dated to 700 to 500 BC, but archaeologists believe the site may have been occupied long before the Iron Age and also for many years after, including up to medieval times.

The Duke of Rothesay toured an archaeological dig at the site in August 2011.

Prince Charles was staying at Castle of Mey, the late Queen Mother's summer residence in Caithness, at the time.

Finds from the more recent past have also been made in Caithness this year.

In February, a man with a metal detector found nine coins believed to date to 1279.

BT to expand super-fast broadband roll-out across Scotland

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Business7

A total of 18 towns across Scotland to get access to high speed broadband by spring 2013.

BT has announced plans for further expansion of its super-fast broadband services across Scotland. The latest phase, part of an overall £2.5 billion fibre broadband programme, will give another 150,400 homes and businesses access to high speed connections by the spring of 2013.

This latest phase will take the number of Scottish homes and businesses on the new super-fast network to almost 836,000.

More than 245,000 Scottish premises currently have access to super-fast speeds and BT has already announced it will add another 439,700 later this year, not including this latest announcement.

BT Scotland director Brendan Dick said: “This is a further major BT investment for Scotland. Our roll-out of fibre broadband is going from strength to strength.

“In these tough economic times, this exciting technology will give a big boost to local businesses and households.

“Sophisticated communications are the lifeblood of any successful community.

“Super-fast broadband can give our businesses a significant competitive edge, helping them save money and improve their services at the same time.

“Fibre broadband also has the potential to change the face of public services and revolutionise entertainment at home. Local families will be able to experience entertainment, shopping and a myriad of services delivered the super-fast way.”

BT’s local network business, Openreach, has a target of making super-fast broadband available to around two-thirds of UK homes and businesses by the end of 2014.

It is using a mix of fibre to the cabinet (FTTC), which currently offers download speeds of up to 40Mbps with up to 10Mbps upstream, and fibre to the premises (FTTP) technologies, where the fibre goes directly to homes and businesses, offering speeds of up to 100Mbps, rising to up to 300Mbps later this year.

In the most recent research unveiled by regulator Ofcom last month, the average speed of all UK broadband was 7.6Mbps.

The latest areas being added by BT are: Aberdeen North, Aberdeen; Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire; Forfar, Angus; Davidsons Mains, Edinburgh; Glasgow Kirkintilloch, East Dumbartonshire; Bo'ness, Falkirk; Falkirk; Grangemouth, Falkirk; Larbert, Falkirk; Glasgow, Maryhill; Inverness, Highland; Gourock, Inverclyde; Stanecastle, North Ayrshire; Motherwell, North Lanarkshire; Glasgow Paisley, Renfrewshire; Ayr, South Ayrshire; Troon, South Ayrshire; and Broxburn, West Lothian.

Taking action on shadow banking: avoiding new sources of risk in the financial sector

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

So that the EU learns all the lessons from the crisis, it is implementing ambitious regulatory reforms in the financial sector in general and in the banking sector in particular. This will contribute to creating a stronger and sounder financial sector at the service of the real economy. As part of these reforms, it is now time to deal with the growing area of non-bank credit activity, or so-called "shadow banking", which has so far not been a prime focus of prudential regulation and supervision. To a certain extent, shadow banking performs important functions in the financial system. For example it creates additional sources of funding and offers investors alternatives to bank deposits. But it can also pose potential threats to long-term financial stability because unknown sources of risk accumulate in the financial sector and there are potential spill-over effects from the shadow banking sector to the regular banking sector.

In response to invitations by the G20 in Seoul in 2010 and in Cannes in 2011, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) is in the process of developing recommendations on the oversight and regulation of these entities and activities. With today's consultation in the form of a Green Paper, the Commission is participating actively in the ongoing FSB work.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said: "The European Union has shown global leadership in implementing ambitious reforms in the area of financial regulation, in particular for banks. What we do not want is for financial activities and entities to circumvent existing and foreseen rules, allowing new sources of risk to accumulate in the financial sector. That is why we need to better understand what shadow banking actually is and does, and what regulation and supervision may be appropriate, and at what level. We must shed light on all parts of the financial sector."

Background

According to the Financial Stability Board, the shadow banking system is "the system of credit intermediation that involves entities and activities outside the regular banking system". Possible shadow banking entities and activities include:

Money Market Funds (MMFs) and other types of investment funds or products with deposit-like characteristics
Investment funds that provide credit or are leveraged, including Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and hedge funds
Finance companies and securities entities providing credit or credit guarantees or performing liquidity and/or maturity transformation without being regulated like a bank
Insurance and reinsurance undertakings which issue or guarantee credit products, and
Securitisation and securities lending and repurchase agreement (repo) transactions.

Yesterday's Green Paper sets out how existing and proposed EU measures already address shadow banking activities. For example, off-balance sheet vehicles, such as Special Purpose Vehicles, are regulated indirectly through banking regulation. Hedge fund managers are regulated directly through the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive, which addresses a number of shadow banking issues. Some Member States also have additional national rules for the oversight of financial entities and activities that are not regulated at EU level.

Although these measures go some way towards addressing shadow banking entities and activities, there is still further progress to be made given the continually evolving nature of shadow banking and our understanding of it. In coordination with the FSB, the standard-setting bodies and the relevant EU supervisory and regulatory authorities, the aim of the Commission's current work is to examine existing measures carefully and to propose an appropriate approach to ensure comprehensive supervision of the shadow banking system, coupled with an adequate regulatory framework.

In this context, there are five key areas relating to banking, asset management, securities lending and repurchase agreements, securitisation, and other shadow banking entities where the Commission is further investigating options and next steps.

Next steps

Stakeholders are invited to respond to the consultation before 1 June 2012.

A conference on shadow banking will take place in Brussels on 27 April.

All this work will inform the Commission's position in the international arena and its decision on the appropriate follow-up to be given.

Embryo development in the spotlight

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers in the United Kingdom have identified a vital process in the development of the early mammalian embryo. They have developed a tool able to mimic the soft tissue of the mammalian uterus in which the embryo implants. The results could help lead to the development of novel treatments for various diseases. Presented in the journal Nature Communications, the research was funded in part by the MASC ('Materials that impose architecture within stem cell populations') project, which has received a European Research Council (ERC) grant worth almost EUR 2.3 million under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Led by Professor Kevin Shakesheff, from the Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering division at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, this groundbreaking study makes it possible to see never-before-seen aspects of embryonic development. The team observed in real time the processes of growth during a vital stage between the fourth and eighth days of development.

'Using our unique materials and techniques we have been able to give our research colleagues a previously unseen view of the incredible behaviour of cells at this vital stage of an embryo's development,' says Professor Shakesheff. 'We hope this work will unlock further secrets which could improve medical treatments that require tissues to regenerate and also open up more opportunities to improve in vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques. In the future we hope to develop more technologies which will allow developmental biologists to understand how our tissue forms.'

In the past researchers cultured a fertilised egg for four days, as it grew from a single cell into a blastocyst. But what happened after this stage was never clarified... until now. In this study, the team monitored and recorded new aspects of an embryo's development after four days. They observed the first step in the formation of the head, involving pioneer cells moving at a large distance within the embryo. They identified clusters of extra-embryonic cells that signal where the head of the embryo should form.

The researchers determined how the cells emerged from one or two cells at the blastocyst stage before migrating to the position at which they signal development of the head.

'Everyone reading this article grew themselves from a single cell,' Professor Shakesheff says. 'Within weeks of the embryo forming all of the major tissues and organs are formed and starting to function. If we could harness this remarkable ability of the human body to self-form then we could design new medical treatments that could cure diseases that are currently untreatable. For example, diseases and defects of the heart could be reversed if we could recreate the process by which cardiac muscle forms and gets wired into the blood and nervous system.'

For more information, please visit:

University of Nottingham: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pharmacy/research/ddte/tissueengineering.aspx

Nature Communications: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/index.html

European Research Council: http://erc.europa.eu

Coming in to land: EU project results put human element into airport security training

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Airports are hubs of activity at the heart of modern life: infrastructures that handle the movement of people and goods 24 hours a day. And with governments increasingly apprehensive about the possibility of a terrorist attack occurring on their territory, investment in airport security systems has increased exponentially in today's post-9/11 world.

But who is operating these systems and how do their decisions impact on operations in the airport? These were the central questions of the EU-funded BEMOSA ('Behavioural Modelling for Security in Airports') project, whose interim results were presented at a special workshop held at the European Commission in Brussels on 19 March.

From the project offset in 2009, BEMOSA, with EUR 3,399,934 of funding earmarked under the 'Transport' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), highlighted that although investment in additional technologies for airport security remains high, there exists a dearth of additional investment in training for the people who operate this technology.

The project partners, who hail from the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom, carried out a large ethnographic study which involved observing the behaviour of security and non-security employees in four European airports and writing up script-like transcripts of the observed activities. The aim was to get to the heart of how staff makes decisions and how their judgements affect security in the whole airport.

The project left no stone unturned by studying all parts of the airport environment and not simply the security checkpoints, as project leader Professor Alan Kirschenbaum from Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa explains: 'Whether it is the cleaner who encounters a bag left on a luggage carousel or the police officers who patrol the airport, all staff is required to make a decision about what to do next.'

The results show that airport employees don't tend to make individual decisions and that they are rarely alone. However, despite these group patterns, training for security and non-security professionals is still carried out on an individual basis.

The team also found that when making an individual decision, employees tended not to follow the rules and regulations, yet when in a group they tended to be more compliant. Therefore, actual security behaviour may deviate from rules and regulations to adapt to specific situations.

However, Professor Kirschenbaum also points out that this is not always a bad thing. He says that often staff is required to 'show initiative and creativity to handle situations' for which the 'current procedures are not sufficient or relevant.'

Professor Kirschenbaum notes that the results suggest it is a good idea to place teams of two in bottlenecks and high impact situations and frequently rotate these teams. The results show that when people work in pairs they take turns at being the 'working one' and the 'idle one'. The 'idle' staff member acts as an extra pair of eyes free to scan the surrounding environment while the 'working' employee carries out the core function.

In-depth interviews with staff also revealed strong negative interaction with hierarchy and that colleagues with an equal status tended to interact more effectively with each other.

Researcher Simon van Dam, also from Technion, stressed that BEMOSA put a lot of emphasis on applied activity in the design stage of the project. This was important for showing airports the benefits of participating in the project.

The importance of applied research in security and transport projects was echoed by David Ryder from Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade representative for the world's airports. He said that many airports are often reluctant to get involved with projects that are too academic as they are sceptical about the value of the outcomes. He hailed BEMOSA for putting the focus on applied practical results: 'The more projects engage with end users, in this case the airports, the better. The very fact that BEMOSA put the emphasis on applied results saw take-up and interest in the project improve exceptionally.'

Simon van Dam adds: 'David at ACI was very helpful in advertising the project among his member airports, which led to the participation of 8 airports in the initial scoping stage.'

Now the BEMOSA project partners will use the findings from their extensive airport observations to put together an innovative and cost-effective training programme that will involve a predictive model of behaviour in real life crisis situations. The aim is to develop a training programme that blends current procedures with actual security behaviour.

For more information, please visit: BEMOSA: http://www.bemosa.eu/

SIINN First Call for Proposals

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Wire

ERA-Net SIINN allocates 8 million € for joint European research focusing on understanding potential safety and toxicity issues of commercially relevant nanosciences and nanotechnology.

The commercial application of products based on nanomaterials is increasing rapidly, but their safety still represents a barrier to their wide use. The ERA-NET SIINN (Safe Implementation of Innovative Nanoscience and Nanotechnology) aims at developing a consolidated framework to address nano-related risks and the management of these risks for humans and the environment by investigating the toxicological behaviour of nanomaterials through innovative technologies and solutions. Since the data on toxicological behaviour is often unavailable, unreliable or contradictory, SIINN projects will focus on ways of remedying this situation.

The ERA-NET SIINN is supported by the EU and brings together funding organizations, managers and experts from Austria, Region Wallonia (Belgium), France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Region Veneto (Italy), the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Region Madrid (Spain), Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Project Management Agency Jülich (located in the Research Center Jülich, Germany) is coordinating this ERA-NET project. National and regional resources will be used for funding of a transnational programme of research.

After the start of the ERANET SIINN in August 2011, the partners have identified the most important knowledge gaps. This first call addresses some of those knowledge gaps as a first phase of investment.

Austria, France, Germany, Israel, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, Wallonia-Belgium and United Kingdom have between them allocated over 8 million Euros for joint transnational research projects. The funding of partners from these countries will be provided by their national funding organizations according to the standard national procedures. The call is targeted at universities, research institutes and companies who can contribute to the goals of SIINN. Project consortia consisting of at least three parties from two different countries/regions participating on the call are eligible. A maximum of two partners per project from countries not participating in this call can join the proposals at if they are able to secure their funding. The proposals must be submitted to the SIINN Call Office by the 5 June 2012, 12:00 hours.

Emphasis will be put on proposals adressing industrially relevant environmental, health and safety (EHS) aspects of nanoscale technologies and innovative technologies that can contribute to a further understanding of any potential risks.

Proposals will be evaluated internationally with a corresponding check at national/regional level. Only proposals that satisfy the 3 evaluation criteria (scientific and/or technological excellence, implementation and management, potential impact) to a high standard will be proposed for funding. Final funding decisions will be made by the respective national organizations during the second half of the year 2012.

e-Skills week 2012: There is a job waiting for you

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Virtually all young people are familiar with electronic games and social networking and might be considered as "digital natives", but they are not "digitally competent" in the sense that they do not know sufficiently how to use the digital world in a business context. Therefore the European Commission has launched the European e-Skills Week 2012 to mobilise stakeholders to inform young people on how to acquire e-skills and find jobs in the digital economy. By 2015, 90% of jobs will need e-skills. The number of ICT practitioners in Europe was 4.7 million in 2007 and is forecast to reach 5.26 million in 2015. In more general terms, jobs for highly-qualified people are expected to rise by 16 million between now and 2020, while those held by low-skilled workers will decline by around 12 million. This huge amount of up-skilling can only be achieved with e-skills. It is a precondition to become employable, learn and find a job online.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "Young people need to appreciate the professional aspects of the new digital world. I am worried, as supply has become a bottleneck for growth in the tech sector, creating a leaky pipeline that threatens to hamper European innovation and global competitiveness. This is more important than ever in the current economic context. And it is crucial to increase creativity which will favour entrepreneurship and new start-ups.

Numerous activities and events will take place during the e-Skills Week in Europe. To learn about them and get the latest information, please look at the website: http://eskills-week.ec.europa.eu

Defiant in stormy times: ICT is a growth sector

The capability of the European industry to compete and innovate is increasingly dependent on the innovative and efficient use of information and communication technologies (ICT). This phenomenon will even grow faster in the future. The ICT sector is responsible for 5% of European GDP, with an annual market value of € 660 billion and it contributes far more to productivity growth through ICT investments in all sectors:

In spite of the economic crisis, the ICT workforce has continued to grow across Europe at a rate of 3%.
Within five years, 90% of all jobs will require tech skills across all sectors (IDC).
As the EU moves to a knowledge-based society, jobs requiring a high-level of education will rise from 25 to 31%.
Europe is suffering from a growing professional ICT shortage with a shortfall of as many as 700,000 professionals by 2015.

e-skills matter

Over the last ten years business leaders stressed that the EU was not producing enough ICT practitioners. e-skills bring a premium to highly-skilled workers in a fast growing area while those with low or inadequate qualifications and skills are even more vulnerable. As industry is increasingly sourcing talents wherever they are available on a world-wide basis, e-skills are crucial for the competitiveness and the attractiveness of Europe as a region.

Additionally, Europe faces growing unemployment with 23 million people out of work, and youth unemployment at 21%¹. The OECD has produced research indicating that higher education has a quantitative impact on employability and earnings potential.² Statistics released in 2011 show that across the OECD countries, 83.6% of people between 25 and 64 with tertiary education were in employment, compared to 56% of those without an upper secondary education. Similarly, the earnings gap between people with higher education and those without has been estimated at 57%.

In this context, the crisis revealed deep structural weaknesses in our labour markets. The unemployment rate hit a new high at 10.1 % in the EU in January 2012. Youth unemployment reached a new historic high of 22.4 %. It is higher than 20 % in about two-thirds of countries and close to 50 % in Spain and Greece, while it is less than 10 % in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. This growing demand contrasts with a decreasing number of ICT graduates since 2005.

To remedy this situation, the Commission adopted a Communication in 2007 on "e-Skills for the 21st Century" which include a long term e-skills strategy. Good progress has been made: a European e-competence framework is available, Member States are increasingly designing e-skills initiatives and many partnerships have been initiated by the ICT industry. But this is not enough: we need to accelerate and intensify our efforts.

The European e-Skills Week opening event took place in Brussels on 19 March in Brussels. The closing event will take place on 30 March in Copenhagen

The European Citizens' Initiative: the Ombudsman is ready to help, if problems arise

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The European Ombudsman can help resolve problems that arise in the operation of the "European Citizens' Initiative" (ECI), which will be launched on 1 April 2012.

The European Ombudsman can help resolve problems that arise in the operation of the "European Citizens' Initiative" (ECI), which will be launched on 1 April 2012. The ECI allows for one million EU citizens from at least seven Member States to call on the European Commission to propose legislation in areas falling within EU competence. The Ombudsman will be an important redress mechanism for individuals and organisations who have complaints about maladministration in the Commission's handling of citizens' initiatives.

Complaints may be lodged if problems occur in, for example, the following procedural stages:

The Commission must decide within two months whether it will register a citizens' initiative. Potential problems could include failure to reply to organisations wishing to register an initiative, delayed replies, or lack of transparency.
The Commission can refuse to register an initiative, for example, because the field of the proposed action does not fall within EU competence. Organisers may challenge this decision in a complaint to the Ombudsman, as well as by going to court.
The Commission has three months to examine an initiative which has received one million signatures and to explain which actions it will take. The Ombudsman could examine whether the Commission's conclusions are reasonable and thoroughly explained.

It is important to point out what the Ombudsman cannot do in this area. Specifically, the Ombudsman cannot examine the substantive follow-up which the Commission decides to give to citizens' initiatives. This is, rather, a political matter for the European Parliament to monitor.

The Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, stressed: "The European Citizens' Initiative is a key step forward in the democratic life of the Union. It is a concrete example of bringing Europe closer to its citizens. I am ready to help ensure that the relevant procedures and citizens' rights are respected."

The role of the European Network of Ombudsman

The national ombudsmen in the EU may also find that individuals and organisations turn to them if they encounter problems with the operation of the ECI in the Member States. Such problems could be related, for example, to the procedures for certifying the national signature collection systems.

The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, or an enterprise or association in a Member State, can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman offers a fast, flexible, and free means of solving problems with the EU administration. For more information: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu

EU-funded researchers investigate newborns' weight

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

When pregnant women experience increased levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the body, their newborn babies are likely to be underweight. This is the finding from a new EU-funded study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Researchers from Belgium, Denmark, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, and Spain had their funding boosted from two projects supported by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The team conducted a study of 8 000 pregnant women who gave birth between 1990 and 2008 throughout Europe, and tested them for concentrations of PCBs in the blood.

The researchers studied samples of human breast milk and blood from the mothers and/or blood from the umbilical cord, and tested them for the presence of the PCB congener 153 as well as dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), a product released in the breakdown of the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). They then compared these results with the weights of their newborn babies.

The research is supported by near on EUR 1 million from the ENRIECO ('Environmental health risks in European birth cohorts') project and almost EUR 3 million from the OBELIX ('Obesogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals: linking prenatal exposure to the development of obesity later in life') project. These were supported by the 'Environment' and 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Themes of FP7, respectively.

Banned in most countries for several decades due to their toxicity and classification as a persistent organic pollutant, PCBs were previously used as dielectric and coolant fluids, for example in transformers, capacitors, and electric motors. However, as they are very stable, and can accumulate in the fatty tissue of people and animals, they remain present. The main source of PCBs in people is from the consumption of fatty fish, but other sources are also found in the environment. There remains uncertainly surrounding the effects of low doses in pregnant women.

The results reveal a clear link between PCB concentration and the weight of the newborn baby. Mothers with a PCB concentration in the umbilical cord blood of 1 microgram per litre gave birth to babies that were 150 g lighter than were babies born to mothers with an undetectable concentration in their blood. Smoking serves as a comparison: mothers who smoked during their pregnancy had babies with a similar decrease in birth weight. For the other tested substance, DDE, no effect on birth weight was established.

The researchers continue to analyse the way in which the higher PCB concentrations result in a lower birth weight, as it is possible that PCBs disrupt the hormone balance and thus also the growth of the foetus.

This study therefore shows that curbing the use of PCBs was a prudent measure at the time, and that the continued follow-up of foreign substances in the human body is essential.

The overall aim of ENRIECO is to advance our knowledge on specific environment-health causal relationships in pregnancy and birth cohorts. The project supports exploitation of the wealth of data generated by past or ongoing studies funded by the European Commission and national programmes. Specific objectives are to make inventories of birth cohorts, assure quality and interoperability of exposure, health and exposure-response data, obtain data access, build databases, conduct analyses, make recommendations for data collection in the future to improve environment-health linkages and information, and disseminate the information.

The OBELIX project focuses on research into childhood obesity, which has reached epidemic proportions globally; it addresses the urgent need to increase our understanding of the impact of food contaminants on obesity development.

For more information, please visit:

VITO: http://www.vito.be/VITO/EN/HomepageAdmin/Home/home/

e-Skills week 2012: There is a job waiting for you

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Therefore the European Commission has launched the European e-Skills Week 2012 to mobilise stakeholders to inform young people on how to acquire e-skills and find jobs in the digital economy. By 2015, 90% of jobs will need e-skills. The number of ICT practitioners in Europe was 4.7 million in 2007 and is forecast to reach 5.26 million in 2015. In more general terms, jobs for highly-qualified people are expected to rise by 16 million between now and 2020, while those held by low-skilled workers will decline by around 12 million. This huge amount of up-skilling can only be achieved with e-skills. It is a precondition to become employable, learn and find a job online.

Numerous activities and events will take place during the e-Skills Week in Europe. To learn about them and get the latest information, please look at the website: http://eskills-week.ec.europa.eu

Full Story at Europa

Researchers uncover new mechanistic insight into mRNA biogenesis and export

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A team of EU-funded Spanish and Polish researchers have revealed the structure of a protein complex that is essential for messenger RNA (mRNA) biogenesis and export. Writing in the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Journal, the team describe how the data on its architecture helped identify a mechanism by which this assembly factor recognises and binds nucleic acids.

The protein complex, known as the 'THO complex', is directly associated with mRNA transcription, biogenesis and export. Although DNA is transcribed in the cell nucleus, the ribosomes that translate RNA into proteins are in the cytoplasm. Therefore export of the mRNA, a process not yet fully understood by scientists, is essential for gene expression. One reason that scientists remain in the dark about the process is THO complex's very limited solubility, which makes it impossible to purify for X-ray crystallography.

The study was supported by the project 3D-REPERTOIRE ('A multidisciplinary approach to determine the structures of protein complexes in a model organism') which received more than EUR 13 million in funding from the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

The researchers used electron microscopy with various labelling techniques to generate an atomic model. With their three-dimensional reconstruction, they discovered that the complex does not have four different proteins, as previously believed, but five; the newly identified protein is responsible for binding to other proteins that can also regulate mRNA processing, packaging and export. The team also located the portion of the complex that binds directly to nucleic acids, an unfolded region located in one of the proteins of the complex.

Their findings show that gene expression is indicated by the fact that, depending on the target gene, its alteration causes genomic instability.

The 3D-REPERTOIRE project was set up to improve our understanding of the network of interactions between genes, proteins and the functional systems that these produce.

As even the most primitive living organism is very complex and science still has much to learn about many of the intricacies, it is unlikely that in the near future scientists will reach an understanding at the level of an entire cell. To meet this goal, they will need to understand the biological function of all the genes and proteins within genomes. Proteins rarely act alone and they typically interact with other macromolecules to perform particular cellular tasks. The resulting functional assemblies are more than the sum of their parts, and their function is not easily understood by even the most systematic analyses of single proteins.

For more information, please visit:

Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC): http://www.cnb.csic.es

Europe's chief scientist warns against climate delays

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source:Euractiv

Molecular biologist Anne Glover took on the newly created role reporting to the European Commission’s President José Manuel Barroso at the start of this year, having previously served as chief scientific advisor to Scotland's devolved government.

Despite EU budgetary cutbacks, and industry warnings about the cost of climate policies, Glover said Europe cannot afford to postpone action to cut emissions.

“It has been extremely disappointing to see many member states cut back on their emission reduction efforts because they say 'we're going through a recession',” she said.

“Make no mistake, if we had unabated man-made climate change, we would go through an absolutely horrible period of conflict and migration, until the world's population started diminishing very rapidly.”

As Europe's leaders begin to switch their focus from spending cuts to boosting growth, constraints on natural resources also mean that governments cannot just spend their way out of recessions as in the past.

Dwindling resources

“The simplest way to think about increasing jobs is to make more stuff and get people to buy more stuff. But my point is that we can't do that, because we're running out of resources,” Glover said.

She pointed to estimates from scientists and campaigners that if EU consumption patterns were adopted globally, the equivalent of almost three planets would be needed to keep pace with the current rates of resource depletion.

“We have to think about alternative ways of using science, engineering and technology to live on the planet,” she said. “I think it's the biggest challenge for humans.”

Glover sees her appointment, which followed a 2009 pledge by Barroso to improve the way the EU gathers and uses scientific advice, as a positive step.

“If you look at President Barroso's advisors, currently most of them are economists, and that is understandable. But now he has a scientist there too, which was something he decided, and I think that is very healthy.”

Industrial lobbies

Various industry sectors in Europe are currently lobbying against EU policy on emissions and other measures to combat climate change policies, from airlines and shipping companies to energy utilities and aluminium producers.

“Industry is often trying to buy time, that's why they prevaricate, and you can understand that for commercial reasons,” Glover said. “But they're also setting back their ability to profit first from the opportunity, by only thinking about what they're protecting.”

She gave the example of Europe's car industry, where tough negotiations are expected to begin later this year on setting 2020 emission targets for passenger vehicles.

“If we take the automotive industries, if you ask people ‘do you think you'll have a car that runs on diesel or petrol in 2020 or 2030?’, the overwhelming answer is ‘no’. All of the citizens of Europe think that their cars will be running on some eco-fuel that won't be polluting the environment.”

“That should be a big wake-up for the automotive industry, thinking ‘our consumer wants something quite different in 10 or 15 years' time, so how are we going to deliver it?’ The Commission could be thinking how to support innovative thinking in these areas.”

Smart Irrigation bears fruit

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new irrigation system is set to reduce costs and save water.

John O’Flaherty, the Waterbee project coordinator, explained: “We’ve developed a smart irrigation system that will save 40% of water in irrigation. And we expect it to have a big impact because 60% of all fresh water globally is used for irrigation.”

Water is a precious commodity, especially in regions where rainfall is scarce. For farmers, smart irrigation means better crops for less outlay.

Growers in Spain have been among the first to try the new smart irrigation system – it lets them know when to switch their watering system on or off depending on moisture in the soil. It knows exactly how much water any crop needs to be fully grown by the day it is picked.

John O’Flaherty explained that the system involved positioning nodes with sensors – standard sensors – in the ground. The nodes then communicate via wifi to a gateway connected to a webpage on the internet which is accessible to the grower.

The developers say this system should be very cost-effective: it uses affordable components, and farmers can check the recommendations via any smartphone, tablet or computer.

Developed within an EU-funded project, this smart irrigation system is now being trialed in various climates in Spain, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Sweden & UK. The potential market could be worth half a billion euros in Europe alone.

Contacts : Unit A1 - External & internal communication,
Directorate-General for Research & Innovation,
European Commission
Tel : +32 2 298 45 40

Uncovering drugs that boost cognitive function

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers have discovered that there are a number of drugs that give cognitive function a boost. These drugs could help fuel our understanding of cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Presented in the journal PLoS Biology, the study was funded in part by the MEMSTICK ('Synaptic mechanisms of memory loss: novel cell adhesion molecules as therapeutic targets') project, which received more than EUR 2.9 million under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Synapses, which are the neuronal connections in our brain, play a crucial role in our cognitive functions. In particular, it is the synapses' pattern of activity that controls our cognitive functions. Experts say these neuronal connections are dynamic and change in their strength and properties, a process they call synaptic plasticity. Researchers believe this process forms the cellular basis for learning and memory. Some scientists also postulate that alterations in synaptic plasticity mechanisms cause multiple cognitive deficits, including autism, Alzheimer's disease and various forms of mental retardation.

Led by Drs Jose A. Esteban and Shira Knafo from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and Cesar Venero from Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia in Spain, the researchers identified how this process can be manipulated to give cognitive performance a boost.

The use of a small protein fragment, called a peptide, derived from a neuronal protein involved in cell-to-cell communication can produce a more plastic-like synapse. This peptide (called FGL) triggers a cascade of events within the neuron, which helps facilitate synaptic plasticity.

FGL triggers the insertion of new neurotransmitter receptors into synapses in a region of the brain called the hippocampus, say the researchers, adding this is known to play a role in multiple forms of learning and memory.

Commenting on the results of the study, Dr Esteban says: 'We have known for three decades that synaptic connections are not fixed from birth, but they respond to neuronal activity modifying their strength. Thus, outside stimuli will lead to the potentiation of some synapses and the weakening of others. It is precisely this code of ups and downs what allows the brain to store information and form memories during learning.'

For his part, Dr Knafo remarks: 'These are basic studies on the molecular and cellular processes that control our cognitive function. Nevertheless, they shed light into potential therapeutic avenues for mental disorders where these mechanisms go awry.'

Experts from Denmark, Spain and Switzerland contributed to this study.

For more information, please visit:

PLoS Biology: http://www.plosbiology.org/home.action

MEMSTICK: http://memstick.org/

New EU project gets to grips with globetrotting germs

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

As Germany was struck by a devastating Escherichia coli (E. coli) crisis in June 2011, the dangers of transferring life-threatening disease-causing germs in food from one country to another once again hit the headlines. Despite the alarm however, until now very few studies have been carried out into the actual danger posed by germs that enter the EU along with food. Step in a new EU-funded project that hopes to tackle pesky pathogens like E. coli head on.

The PROMISE ('Protection of consumers by microbial risk mitigation through segregation of expertise') project received almost EUR 3 million in funding from the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). It brings together 20 project partners from Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The researchers will take samples of food confiscated at major European ports and airports as well as at smaller border crossings and test them for the presence of bacteria.

As standards of hygiene in food production in many tropical and subtropical countries don't meet those applied in Europe, bringing foods into Europe from abroad can have serious implications for health. Martin Wagner, from coordinating institution the Institute for Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, explains: 'In Frankfurt airport alone, about 22 tons of food people had brought with them on over 5 000 flights were confiscated over a 15-month period. And this amount is probably just the tip of the iceberg. The authorities at Vienna airport also undertake checks and frequently find food of animal origin that is being imported illegally.'

However, few passengers seem to be aware of these rules determining what you can and can't bring back in your suitcase. Moreover, even when a security check does uncover foodstuff, rarely is an examination into which bacteria the food contains and how dangerous they could have been carried out.

Martin Wagner outlines the two main objectives of the PROMISE project: 'We would like to make a survey of germs brought in together with food and we also plan to investigate the potential the bacteria have for causing disease'.

The project partners will also pool data from throughout Europe to enable an accurate assessment of the risks posed by contaminated food of animal origin and will build up an extensive database of bacterial isolates identified in the course of the work. PROMISE also seeks to improve communication between authorities responsible for risk management in existing EU Member States and candidate countries.

A single shipment of fenugreek seeds from Egypt is thought to have been the source of the E. coli epidemic in Germany in June 2011. It claimed 48 lives in Germany alone, before the epidemic spread into other parts of Europe including France.

All humans and animals carry E. coli bacteria in their intestines, and they are usually harmless. However, there are particular strains of E. coli that are capable of producing toxins. These toxins have the potential to cause severe, bloody diarrhoea, which may result in an acute kidney failure requiring intensive care.

To reduce the risk of contracting E. coli, before preparing, serving, or eating food, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advises always washing your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or changing nappies, after handling raw vegetables, roots or meat, after contact with farm animals or after visiting a farm, and after any contact with faeces from household pets.

For more information, please visit:

Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien: http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at

Better access to public sector information moves a step closer

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The private sector and the open data community are to have greater influence over the release of public sector data to encourage the creation of high-value businesses and promote economic growth, the Government announced today.

A new independently chaired Data Strategy Board (DSB) will advise Ministers on what data should be released and has the potential to unlock growth opportunities for businesses across the UK. At least one in three members of the DSB will be from outside government, including representatives of data re-users.

The DSB will work with the Public Data Group (PDG) – which consists of Trading Funds the Met Office, Ordnance Survey, Land Registry and Companies House – to provide a more consistent approach to improving access to public sector information. These organisations have already made some data available, which has provided opportunities for developers and entrepreneurs to create imaginative ways to develop or start up their own businesses based on high quality data.

The Government is making £7m available from April 2013 for the DSB to purchase additional data for free release from the Trading Funds and potentially other public sector organisations, funded by efficiency savings. An Open Data User Group, which will be made up of representatives from the Open Data community, will be directly involved in decisions on the release of Open Data, advising the DSB on what data to purchase from the Trading Funds and other public organisations and release free of charge.

SMEs in particular will benefit from the new structure announced today and the easier access to data it supports. The real-time weather observation and forecast datasets made available for the first time by the Met Office in November are an example of the kind of data that will promote the creation of high-value businesses, while widening the marketplace and empowering the individual citizen.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts, who will be jointly responsible for DSB, said:

"The Data Strategy Board will play a vital role in expanding the opportunities for economic growth from the data and services provided by the Public Data Group but potentially from other parts of the public sector.

“Already data is being interpreted in creative and innovative ways and I will be challenging the board to widen the net in finding new opportunities for the private sector and the public to take advantage of public sector information. I look forward to listening to their ideas and seeing how they are interpreted by the public."

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude, who will be jointly responsible for the DSB, said:

“This government is a world leader in open data and transparency. We’ve already released over 40,000 data files on data.gov.uk, and this has helped create high-value businesses of real social benefit in the fields of health, transport and weather.

“The new structure for Open Data will ensure a more inclusive discussion, including private sector data users, on future data releases, how they should be paid for and which should be available free of charge.”

Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, Norman Lamb, who will be advised by the PDG, said:

"The organisations in the Public Data Group are world leaders with a wealth of information at their finger tips. By bringing them together as the Public Data Group they will work collaboratively to identify and deliver better and more efficient public services. I'm confident that these organisations will work together to create positive impacts across the economy and I look forward to seeing the results."

The DSB will provide evidence on how data from the Trading Funds – including what is released free of charge – will generate economic growth and social benefit. It will act as an intelligent customer advising Government on commissioning and purchasing key data and services from the PDG, and ensuring the best deal for the taxpayer.

This new arrangement will balance the need for more data free at the point of use, while still affordable and providing value for the taxpayer.

Examples of the Trading Funds making data available for use:

Next month the Met Office will be the European host for the International Space Apps Challenge, an initiative of the Open Government Partnership. Teams at the event will be using free data from the recently launched DataPoint web service. This gives access to operational UK weather data and observations, as well as exploiting other open data sets available from the Met Office and other participating organisations.

There are several examples of organisations using Ordnance Survey Open Data to create services for public use. These include Lovell Johns creating maps for use on the Amazon Kindle, and the development of iCoast, a map-based website that provides information about coast and marine based recreational activities. Open Data encourages the development and use of the maps and data available for innovative applications and services.

Land Registry has already begun releasing monthly Market Trend Data. In addition to the already popular House Price Index, Land Registry added “transaction data” to the information made available through their website in January 2012. By the end of March 2012 it will also include the latest monthly Price Paid information.The newly presented Market Trend Data in January saw a doubling of hits on Land Registry’s House Price Index internet pages. Coupled with downloads of the newly available transaction data, this indicates that access to detailed property related data continues to be valued and sought after in the property marketplace.

Exploring your transport options, the EU way

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

For more information, click here.

How can one drive and protect the environment at the same time? It's an important question, and one that weighs on the minds of Europeans a lot. In an effort to help consumers, the EU is backing a key project that is investigating how ecological issues in traffic are becoming increasingly pressing as personal transportation is one of the biggest contributors of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The ECONAV ('Ecological aware navigation: usable persuasive trip advisor for reducing CO2 consumption') project is backed with more than EUR 2.3 million under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Researchers led by the Center for Usability Research and Engineering (CURE) in Austria are developing a new mobile phone application (app) that will inform you of a variety of situations, such as if your driving technique is bad or if you're a worse driver than your peers. You will receive a report card at the end of the week telling you where you went wrong. The app is also being designed to motivate you to pursue eco-friendly travels.

The ECONAV consortium is made up of researchers and businesspeople from Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland. They will help bring the app to market.

Professor Brian Caulfield of Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, a member of the ECONAV team, says the app will provide directions like any satellite navigation (satnav) system, but it will also help the user make the right choice in environmental terms. Information will be integrated into the system, featuring various forms of data like a city's transport options. The system will also be able to inform users of alternatives to driving, helping them choose to keep their car at home.

'It will tell you what the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective modes are and will rank them,' Professor Caulfield says. Users will not even have to input their choice into the system because the app is linked into geopositioning satellites.

So assuming you make a bad decision, such as taking the car over the train or bus, the app will 'scold', advising you about how much money you wasted on fuel. It will also criticise you for expanding your carbon footprint.

The ECONAV team says the app will link into social media channels and compare how one user performs against another. The partners plan to test the system by December of this year, starting in the Austrian capital of Vienna. More trials are expected in Dublin as well.

The ECONAV consortium marries expertise from navigation systems, transportation sciences, environmental modelling, artificial intelligence, persuasive technology, human-computer interaction to software development to make this project a success.

Scientists discover exercise alters DNA

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers in Denmark, Ireland and Sweden have discovered that exercise can alter your deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in just a few minutes. While the underlying genetic code remains unchanged, the DNA molecules within the muscle cells undergoes chemical and structural changes, in very specific ways. They either gain or lose marks of methyl groups on specific and familiar DNA sequences. Presented in the journal Cell Metabolism, the study was funded in part by the Advanced Grants of the European Research Council's Ideas Programme, under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Led by scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, researchers evaluated how exercise impacts the DNA of healthy albeit inactive people. According to the team, the so-called epigenetic modifications to the DNA, at precise locations, seem to be a key component of the physiological benefits of exercise.

'Our muscles are really plastic,' explains Professor Juleen Zierath from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Institutet. 'We often say "You are what you eat". Well, muscle adapts to what you do. If you don't use it, you lose it, and this is one of the mechanisms that allow that to happen.'

The findings indicate that the DNA within skeletal muscle taken from people after they exercised for a short period time has fewer methyl groups than it did before exercise. The alterations also surface in DNA areas that act as landing sites for various enzymes, what experts call transcription factors. These transcription factors play a role in stimulating genes that are instrumental in muscles' adaptation to exercise.

Professor Zierath points out that transcription factors are like keys that unlock a body's genes. When methyl groups are firmly in place, these 'keys' cannot enter the DNA 'locks'. Things change when the methyl groups are not in place, enabling the keys to turn the locks and increase the muscles' capacity for work.

'Exercise is already known to induce changes in muscle, including increased metabolism of sugar and fat,' Professor Zierath says. 'Our discovery is that the methylation change comes first.'

The team contracted muscles in laboratory dishes. They discovered a loss of methyl groups here. The researchers also exposed the muscles to caffeine, finding the same effect, as caffeine triggers the release of calcium in a way that mimics the muscle contraction that results with exercise. But it should be noted that the team does not recommend people drink coffee to replace exercise, because there is no clear evidence that caffeine delivers all the beneficial effects that exercise has.

'Exercise is medicine, and it seems the means to alter our epigenomes for better health may be only a jog away,' Professor Zierath noted.

Experts from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and Dublin City University in Ireland contributed to this study.

For more information, please visit:

Karolinska Institutet:
http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp;jsessionid=amZpOZ-R0uw7wJ6tey?l=en&d=130

Cell Metabolism:
http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/home

Unsustainable consumption - the mother of all environmental issues?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Another kind of consumption is possible, however. This is the subject of Sustainable consumption in a time of crisis, a meeting hosted on 15 March by the European Environment Agency (EEA); and organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Danish Consumer Council. The event marks International Consumer Day.

“Continuing with current consumption patterns in Europe is not an option,” EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade said. “As both population and purchasing power swell worldwide, resources will be ever more overused and constrained. Europe must take the lead in exploring a new model of consumption which does not compromise the needs of others or of future generations, nor damage the environment.”

The meeting will look at ways the economy can be adjusted to drive sustainable forms of consumption. It will consider how the recession in Europe creates opportunities and constraints for policy makers hoping to boost the ‘green economy’. The meeting is particularly timely, as green economy is one of the priority discussion points of the landmark sustainable development summit in Rio de Janeiro in June this year.

Commission approves two UK schemes easing SMEs access to credit

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Commission found the National Loan Guarantee Scheme to be in line with the crisis State aid rules for banks, because it ensures that the reduced funding costs which banks will benefit from are passed on to SMEs. At the level of SMEs, the loans will not involve state aid within the meaning of EU rules. The Commission also cleared a second measure, the Business Finance Partnership, aimed at increasing the credit supply to SMEs through non-bank lending. The Commission found that investments through the scheme will be made on equal terms with that of private lenders and that the management of the fund will be chosen through an open tender. The Commission therefore concluded that the latter scheme does not involve state aid within the meaning of EU rules.

"Facilitating SMEs access to finance is a Commission priority to overcome the crisis. The National Loan Guarantee Scheme will reduce borrowing costs for SMEs thanks to a State guarantee, without unduly distorting competition" declared Joaquín Almunia, Vice-President of the Commission in charge of competition policy.

The key objective of the National Loan Guarantee Scheme is to reduce the cost of finance for SMEs that rely predominantly on banks. To this end, the UK will make available to banks government guarantees of up to £20 billion for the issuance of unsecured debt. That funding will be directed to new loans to SMEs at reduced interest rates. The Commission found the scheme to be in line with its crisis State aid rules for banks. In particular, the fees which banks have to pay for the guarantee comply with the minimum fee requirements set out in the Annex to the 2011 Prolongation Communication

A second measure, the Business Finance Partnership, is equipped with up to £1 billion in funds and is aimed at increasing the supply of credit through non-bank lending channels. In the longer term it will stimulate the further development of these channels in order to address the structural financing gap of SMEs and mid-sized businesses. The Business Finance Partnership will be operated by fund managers chosen through an open tender procedure, and the UK’s co-investment in loan funds will be on equal terms with that of private sector investors. The Commission concluded that in light of the applicable terms and conditions the Business Finance Partnership does not constitute State aid.

For the full story click here...

Eye device to detect brain tumours launched in Edinburgh

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A new device which can detect brain tumours and other serious conditions in vulnerable people has been launched by researchers in Edinburgh.

The device uses infra-red light, similar to that used in remote controls, to measure peripheral vision.

Problems with peripheral vision can be an early indicator of brain damage, tumours, strokes and conditions which can lead to blindness.

A prototype machine is already in use at Edinburgh Sick Kids hospital.

When you read a word on a page you are using your central vision but it is your side vision that tells you if the word is at the beginning or end of a sentence, or at the top or bottom of a page.

Your peripheral vision also tells you where to look if someone enters the room or if a car is approaching from the side.

Machines which currently test your peripheral vision rely on you pressing a button in response to moving or flashing lights, and sitting very still for several minutes.

They cannot be used on about 30% of the population.

The i2eye device, launched by the Edinburgh Bioquarter, an organisation set up to make the most of medical research, uses infra-red LEDs and a camera to record eye movement.

This means it can be used on far more people, including young children and those who would have difficulty quickly pressing a button.

Professor Robert Minns, an expert in childhood neurology at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Until now we've had no way to measure exactly the visual fields of young children.

"All we have been able to do is sit in front of them and try to see where we think they can look. This system uses a child's natural inquisitiveness."

Natural reactions

Youngsters at Edinburgh Sick Kids hospital have been tested with a prototype.

Children are asked to watch a cartoon icon on a TV screen, which can be programmed to make noises to hold their attention.

They can even sit on mum or dad's knee while the test is being carried out.

This is the first major device to be launched by the Bioquarter.

Peter Estibeiro, chief executive officer of i2eye diagnostics, said: "The eye tracker unit is watching your eyes, using your natural reactions to movements on the screen so it can build up a standard visual field map.

"We would expect it to be useful in most children's hospitals and eye hospitals."

Innovative medical devices with less cost, less energy

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

EU-funded researchers are driving innovation, and the healthcare sector is projected to be the latest beneficiary of this effort. Researchers from the DESYRE ('On-demand system reliability') project are developing a system that is reliable but based on unreliable components. DESYRE is backed under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 2.8 million.

Speaking to participants at the recent DATE 2012 conference in Dresden, Germany, DESYRE project leader Ioannis Sourdis from the Department of Computer Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden said devices being used by the medical world today, such as pacemakers and other implantable medical devices, rely on three critical components: reliability, small size and longevity. This is where the DESYRE consortium comes in.

Experts estimate that fault rates will increase as technology develops. The DESYRE team is creating new design techniques for future 'Systems-on-Chips' to give reliability a boost but to also cut power and performance overheads that are associated with fault tolerance.

'We focus on the design of future highly reliable Systems-on-Chips that consume far less power than other designs for high reliability systems,' Professor Sourdis explained. 'This approach allows by design devices that combine high reliability with small batteries and state-of-the-art longevity. It is perfect for safety-critical applications such as in implantable medical devices, for example pacemakers or deep brain stimulators that treat Parkinson's disease.'

Most studies that put the spotlight on reliable systems usually focus on fail-safe mechanisms that use a number of redundancy schemes. In this case, sensitive sub-systems are seen as 'fail-safe'. In order to assess faults in the sub-system, more energy is used, which in turn cuts the performance of chips. The end result is lost time and wasted energy.

The DESYRE project partners are splitting the System-on-Chip into two distinct areas. The first is extremely resistant to faults, while the second contains fault-prone processing ones. The researchers say the cores on the fault-prone area are interchangeable, and that the task of one core can be transferred to any of the other cores in case of a diagnosed malfunction. The fault-free part of the chip, meanwhile, observes the operation of the fault-prone part by executing 'sanity checks' of the processing cores. They are also responsible for guaranteeing that every core handles an assigned sub-task without any errors.

'It sounds perhaps counterintuitive to design a highly reliable System-on-Chip on the basis of components that may fail, and yet this is exactly what we propose to do,' says Gerard Rauwerda, chief technology officer of Recore Systems B.V. of the Netherlands, one of DESYRE's industrial partners. 'The beauty of the DESYRE approach is that the system continues to do its job reliably, even if one or more cores fail, extending chip longevity.'

This innovative, fault-tolerance device will help cut energy use by at least 10% to 20% and lessen penalties on performance, according to the team.

'People that need implantable medical devices will also benefit from this, as it pays off in a longer battery life and a postponed device replacement without any compromise to reliability,' Professor Sourdis says.

Experts from Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are members of the DESYRE consortium.

For more information, please visit:

DESYRE:
http://www.desyre.eu/

ICT Research:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/

Europe needs to use water more efficiently

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The report 'Towards Efficient use of water resources in Europe' from the European Environment Agency (EEA) makes the case for an integrated water management, starting with better implementation of existing legislation.

"Water resources are under pressure in many parts of Europe, and it is getting worse," EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade said.

"Agriculture, energy production, industry, public water supply and ecosystems are all important, and all competing for this limited resource. With climate change making water supply less predictable, it is extremely important that Europe uses water more efficiently for the benefit of all its users. Water resources should be managed as effectively as any other natural asset owned by countries."

Water shortages have severe consequences for economies reliant on agriculture and industry. Some shortages have even led to drinking water restrictions in parts of Europe. There are also indirect effects on the economy, as reduced river flows, falling lake and groundwater levels, and disappearing wetlands can have destructive effects on the natural systems underpinning economic productivity.

Increasingly, there is intense competition for water resources in some parts of Europe. Across the European Union, agriculture uses about a quarter of water diverted from the natural environment, though this can be up to 80% in southern Europe. In addition, public water supply accounts for approximately a fifth of water use across Europe – and over a quarter of this is used just to flush the toilet. Hydropower installations also change the natural structure and flow of rivers and lakes, with consequences for ecosystems.

Two new reports: Water high up on policymakers' agendas

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Both the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) have published reports on water scarcity to coincide with the 6th World Water Forum, currently under way in Marseille, France.

The World Water Forum, which began on 12 March and runs until 17 March, gathers stakeholders together to find solutions to water scarcity problems.

The JRC report, titled 'Current water resources in Europe and Africa', assessed available water resources and reveals that large areas in Spain and eastern Europe have on average less than 200 mm freshwater available every year, while the demand for water is 3 to 10 times higher. The EEA report, 'Towards efficient use of water resources in Europe', echoes this call for concern by highlighting that the EU's water resources are under considerable pressure and that things are set to get worse before they get better. The EEA warns that continued inefficient use of water could threaten Europe's economy, productivity and ecosystems, and makes the case for integrated water management, starting with better implementation of existing legislation.

The JRC report shows variations in yearly freshwater generation: from 10 mm to over 500 mm for Europe, and from less than 0.1 mm to over 500 mm for Africa. The report describes the existing uncertainties and points to further research that needs to be carried out for improved water management. The JRC researchers analysed available water resources, floods, droughts and water scarcity using hydrological simulation modelling. In Europe, most of the data needed for water resources assessment are already available, although access to these needs to be improved: for example, the JRC team note that the public availability of river flow observations needs to be addressed.

The EEA report highlighted the need to increase efforts to use water more efficiently in Europe: inefficient water use affects resources needed by ecosystems and people, both crucial to European productivity and security. Reduced river flows, falling lake and groundwater levels, and disappearing wetlands can have destructive effects on the natural systems underpinning economic productivity.

Presenting the new EEA report, EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade commented: 'Water resources are under pressure in many parts of Europe, and it is getting worse. Agriculture, energy production, industry, public water supply and ecosystems are all important, and all competing for this limited resource. With climate change making water supply less predictable, it is extremely important that Europe uses water more efficiently for the benefit of all its users. Water resources should be managed as effectively as any other natural asset owned by countries.'

The new study reports that some water shortages have even led to drinking water restrictions in parts of Europe, and there is also increasingly intense competition for water resources. Across the EU, the agricultural sector uses about a quarter of water diverted from the natural environment, though this can rise to 80% in southern Europe. To boot, public water supply accounts for approximately a fifth of water use across Europe, with over a quarter of this amount being used just to flush toilets. Hydropower installations also change the natural structure and flow of rivers and lakes, with consequences for ecosystems.

The EEA notes that agriculture is one sector where easy efficiency gains are possible, as a lot of water is used inefficiently to irrigate crops. Estimates show that approximately a quarter of water abstracted for irrigation in Europe could be saved simply by changing the type of pipe or channel used.

At the forum on 13 March, Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik announced that the European Commission will publish a 'Blueprint to safeguard Europe water resources' in November. This document will set out an EU strategy and strengthen efforts towards water 'prevention and preparedness', with particular attention paid to people and natural ecosystems, and the balance between demand and supply.

For more information, please visit:

European Environment Agency:
http://www.eea.europa.eu

Joint Research Centre:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm

Tay beaver watch

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Beavers living on the River Tay are to stay and be monitored for at least the next three years, Scotland's Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson announced recently.

The Tay beavers will be monitored between now and the end of the Knapdale beaver trial in 2015, when a decision will be made about the future re-introduction of beavers to Scotland as a whole.

The Minister made the decision following a report from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) which outlined three main options:

To monitor the population and take a final decision in light of further information from that work and from the licensed trial in Knapdale;
To immediately seek to remove the animals through lethal control; or
To accept that beavers have been re-introduced to Scotland

In reaching his decision Mr Stevenson considered a number of ecological, health, land use, legal and environmental factors, as well as the welfare of the beavers themselves.

Mr Stevenson said:

"There is potential for an important and unwelcome precedent to be set so we must consider environmental and other impacts when we make decisions.

“After careful consideration of all the various factors, my view is that the best way forward is to allow the beavers to remain in place for the duration of the official trial beaver re-introduction in Knapdale in Argyll. We will take a decision on the future of beavers in Scotland – both those in Knapdale and on Tayside – at the end of the trial period in 2015.

“Today I can announce that I am setting up a group, to be chaired by SNH, which will gather information and monitor impacts on other wildlife and land use. This information will help inform the eventual decision-making and develop further our knowledge and understanding of managing beavers. The group will also provide advice and practical help in relation to managing beavers to landowners in the area.”

David Bale, SNH Tayside & Grampian unit manager, said:

"I'm pleased to be asked to chair this local group, which will bring together organisations with differing viewpoints and help resolve any conflicts, as well as gather information on the beavers in Tayside. The information about Tayside beavers, along with comprehensive research from the Scottish Beaver Trail at Knapdale and other sources, should give the Minister a full range of information to make his decision in 2015. We plan to have the group up and running as soon as possible."

Related information

In Tayside, a number of beavers have either escaped or been deliberately released into the wild, an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. SNH estimate there are about 100 beavers living in the wild in the Tay catchment. The repercussions of this offence has required SNH to find additional money to manage the situation.

Monitoring Group will involve key groups such as the Tay District Salmon Fishery Board, and local landowners as well as conservation groups including Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland among others.

There is a licensed and carefully managed beaver re-introduction trial underway at Knapdale in Argyll. This trial is being carried out by the Scottish Beaver Trial (SBT), a consortium of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. SBT are working with a range of independent specialist organisations to monitor the beavers themselves and their effects, such as on the woodland, loch ecology and public health.

European Union support programmes for Small/Medium Businesses

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Three Scots universities in top 10 for millionaires

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Scotsman

Three Scottish universities are among the most successful in the UK when it comes to producing millionaires, a new study has found.

Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews were named in a top ten list of institutions that count the highest numbers of millionaires among their graduates.

The list was dominated by institutions belonging to the elite Russell Group of universities, with St Andrews and Birmingham’s Aston University the only entrants in the top ten not part of the group.

The study, carried out by the investment firm Skandia, combined results from two waves of research on British-based millionaires.

Overall, it ranked the University of London first, with almost one in ten millionaires gaining a degree or higher from one of its colleges. Oxford came second, with one in 13 millionaires, while Cambridge took third spot, with one in 20.

While the main poll included those who had gone to either private or state schools, both Glasgow and Edinburgh scored better when those graduates who had studied privately were removed from the results.

When private and state-educated students were included, Edinburgh came sixth, St Andrews seventh and Glasgow eighth. However, when the results excluded those who went to private school, Glasgow moved up to second and Edinburgh fifth. St Andrews slipped into 11th spot.

Graham Bentley, Skandia UK’s head of investment strategy, said: “Having a private school education seems to have been influential in gaining a place at the Oxbridge universities according to this research, with almost half of the millionaires who gained a degree from Oxford or Cambridge having attended private schools.

“However, what’s really interesting is the overall number who have gained places at top universities from the state school system and gone on to have successful careers that have enabled them to earn a fortune.

“With so much focus on the cost of getting a degree, it’s worth noting that having a degree can be a valuable tool in achieving financial success.”

Last week, a Times Higher Education table of the world’s top 100 institutions based on reputation saw UK universities losing ground to those in Asia, with Edinburgh slipping from 45th place to 49th.

Entrepreneurial Spark scheme for Scottish start-ups extended

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A business incubator scheme offering free services to help company start-ups has been extended.

Entrepreneurial Spark set up a centre in Glasgow last year giving new firms advice, free office accommodation, IT access and mentoring.

Now Sir Tom Hunter, who is backing the project, has turned over space at his headquarters in Ayrshire.

Up to 30 entrepreneurs will be able to use the facilities to help them get started.

East Ayrshire Council has also agreed to contribute £50,000 of funding per annum for the next three years, to be reviewed annually.

The scheme, Scotland's first business accelerator programme, was launched last November by entrepreneur Jim Duffy, as an alternative for start-ups who might otherwise go to consultants to develop their businesses.

Budding entrepreneurs are invited to take part in a 16-week accelerator programme, which runs every six months.

UK is the most internet-based major economy'

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

The internet contributes to 8.3% of the UK economy, a bigger share than for any of the other G20 major countries, a new study suggests.

The "internet economy" was worth £121bn in 2010, more than £2,000 per person, researchers at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) said.

That made it bigger than the healthcare, construction or education sectors.

The UK also carries out far more retail online than any other major economy.

Some 13.5% of all purchases were done over the internet in 2010, according to BCG, and this is projected to rise to 23% by 2016.

Chocolate v sex

The researchers said that the overall UK web economy is particularly fast-growing.

They predict it will continue to expand at a rate of 11% per year for the next four years, reaching a total value of £221bn by 2016.

That compares with projected growth rates of 5.4% in the US and 6.9% in China.

This may be particularly good news for small and medium-sized businesses that focus on the sector.

The research suggested that their revenues have grown by 12.5% each year in the last three years.

The study also provided an indication of the UK public's growing love affair with the web.

While only a quarter of those surveyed said they would consider giving up sex for a year in order to maintain their broadband connection, the figures for other indulgences were much higher.

Some 65% would give up alcohol, 76% chocolate and 78% coffee.

Scientist to put patients into 'hibernation' to treat strokes

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Scotland is to play a major role in a trial of artificial hibernation to treat strokes, it has been revealed.

Stroke patients from all over the UK will be offered a chance to take part in the Edinburgh University study.

The treatment involves cooling the body by two degrees to prevent further damage to the brain.

Cooling pads and cold intravenous fluids will be used to bring the body's temperature down from 36.8 degrees to between 34 and 35 degrees.

The technique is already used to reduce brain injury after cardiac arrests and birth injuries. It is hoped it will have the same effect in stroke victims.

'Substantial' effect

Dr Malcolm Macleod, head of experimental neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh, said: "People may have heard stories about people falling through the ice and making an amazing recovery because they've been cold at the time.

"There have been a number of small studies looking at whether cooling the body could improve outcome for stroke. It's not enough to tell us for sure if it works but it suggests there may be substantial beneficial effect."

It is not known exactly how cooling the body reduces injury to the brain.

One theory is that it reduces the amount of oxygen required by the brain, another is that it triggers a defence mechanism in the cells.

Small-scale trials suggest it is most effective when used within six hours of a stroke.

Scientists hope it will reduce the number of deaths and the number of people left disabled, and increase the number of people who make a complete recovery from one-in-13 to one-in-10.

"It looks like we'll be ready to go in September of this year, recruitment to the trial will run for about four years, so by 2016 or 2017 we'll have our answer," added Dr Macleod.

"What this trial is trying to test is whether this treatment will make a difference to everyday patients, suffering everyday strokes, in everyday hospitals."

European results

The EuroHYP-1 study will involve 1,500 patients in 15 European centres. About 200 will be in the UK, up to 80 of whom will be in Scotland.

Scottish researchers will also be involved in collecting and analysing results from all over Europe.

Upon admission to hospital, patients will be asked if they want to take part in the trial or, if they are not able to give consent because of their stroke, it is possible under certain circumstances that relatives can agree on their behalf.

The study has been met with much excitement since there are few treatment options for strokes.

About 13,000 people in Scotland have a stroke every year. A third die, and another third are left with a significant disability.

Recruitment will begin in September or October and run until 2017. Results are expected in 2018.

The study will also be watched carefully by the European Space Agency.

It is interested in human hibernation as a means for long-haul interplanetary space travel.

MEPs hold firm on lower roaming charges

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

source: Euractiv

A recent report by national regulators found that providers’ costs for these services are likely to remain below the higher caps originally suggested by the Commission and backed by many member states.
Last month the European Parliament’s industry committee voted in favour of compulsory reductions of cross-border mobile tariffs which were far stricter than what the European Commission proposed (see table) and what most national governments would prefer.

MEPs and Danish officials, who currently hold the EU’s rotating presidency and as such represent national governments, held discussions to reconcile the differences.

Last month, the association of the EU’s 27 national telecoms regulators (BEREC) issued a report which found that costs for providing data and phone roaming services were likely to be far below the price caps proposed by the Commission.

“There is no material risk that costs in earlier years will come close to exceeding the caps that have been proposed, either by the Commission or in the [industry] Committee discussions,” it said.

The report’s “cautious estimates” said that by 2014 costs would be €0.05 a minute for voice calls, €0.01 for text messages, and €0.05 per megabyte of data. These are identical the parliamentary draft’s proposed caps by that year.

Read the Full story

Telecom firms in scramble for cashless mobile wallets

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Euractiv

The EU executive’s decision on the proposed UK joint venture – code-named Project Oscar and owned by Everything Everywhere, Telefónica UK (O2) and Vodafone UK – will be watched carefully by rival companies considering similar ventures.

Consortia in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Hungary are eager to develop platforms for rolling out mobile wallets.

The Commission is simultaneously still considering an older proposal by a Dutch consortium, called Travik, for its ‘Sixpack’ mobile wallet proposal, which has sustained delays over regulatory issues.

The development of mobile and online payment systems are being closely watched by the Commission, which wants to integrate the European market and launched a public consultation on the issue in January.

Dutch proposal still in the pipeline

Travik – which includes KPN and Vodafone Netherlands, as well as banks ABN Amro, ING and Rabobank – was unveiled in late 2010, and hoped to launch this year, but since then determined that it needed regulatory approval from the European Commission.

The companies are seeking to develop technical and commercial specifications for mobile wallet platforms at a sensitive time, since the Commission is simultaneously mulling a consultation on digital payments, and competition from overseas is heating up.

Google has introduced its own mobile wallet in the United States and is targeting Europe as one of its international markets.

Last week a group of twenty American retailers, including Wal-Mart and Target, announced that it is developing its own mobile payments system.

International competition is stiffening

The retailers are attempting to nudge into an already crowded market, including Google, which has Citi, MasterCard and Sprint on board for its wallet. Another system in the pipeline is Isis, a consortium led by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, which recently signed up Barclays, Capital One and JPMorgan Chase.

Taking a different approach, PayPal has developed a mobile number and PIN-based system.

The UK consortium described the joint venture as a company that could offer a “one-stop shop” for mobile advertising, payment, ticketing and other services for the wallets.

Mobile payments systems including e-wallets form part of a public consultation on digital payments currently live at the Commission, and which closes in April (see background).

The sector is subject to increasing global competition as the market for such payments soars. Projections suggest that the mobile payments market in China will almost double in value this year from 2010. China’s m-payments industry was worth RMB2.9bn (€350 million) then, and is set to increase to RMB5.2bn this year with 212 million people doing mobile transactions.

Unrealised potential

Market penetration of mobile payments in the EU still has considerable unrealised potential, in comparison, for example, to the Asia-Pacific region. According to estimates by the research company Gartner, there were 7.1 million mobile payment users in Western Europe in 2010, compared to 62.8 million users in Asia-Pacific.

One of the key reasons for the slower market take-up in Europe is the highly fragmented mobile payment market. The key market actors (mobile network operators, payment service providers, mobile phone manufacturers) have not yet agreed on a viable business model enabling inter-operable payment solutions.

As a consequence, the largest and most promising global m-payment initiatives are currently launched outside Europe. Apple, Google and Visa have all announced major drives to enter the m-payment business.

The EU’s current consultation on digital payments aims to flesh out a framework on mobile payments, along with other digital payments, in order to boost European developments in the sector.

The amount of online shopping in Europe accounted for €141 million in 2009 and is expected to rise to €190 million by 2014, the Commission estimates.

National payments network China Unionpay, three major telecom operators and 3rd party players have all made strategic deployments of mobile payments there. In addition the rapid penetration of 3G network and smartphones in the country will lay a solid foundation for m-payments development.

Mobile wallet operators want payments to be made by their phones, allowing them access to billing and advertising businesses, by replacing debit and credit cards with applications and an ability to swipe the phone using a technology called near-field communications.

Plant biodiversity boosts ecosystem services in drylands

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Action on air pollution benefits both climate and health

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Tourists go where golden eagles dare

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Scotland on Sunday

For decades it has been a closely guarded secret. But now the nesting area of Europe’s largest concentration of golden eagles is to be revealed to the public.

The first purpose-built golden eagle observatory in Europe is to open this month on Harris – complete with panoramic views, silver birch cladding and a turf roof to help it blend into its surroundings.

The observatory, built at a cost of £10,000 on the North Harris Estate amid the spectacular Harris Hills, will provide a front-row seat for viewing the continent’s biggest golden eagle population.

It is the first time the location of the raptors’ nests has been made public, but the North Harris Trust (NHT), which commissioned and developed the project, insisted it is not concerned about wildlife crime in the glen, home to 13 nesting golden eagle pairs.

“We feel confident that even though we are attracting people’s attention to breeding eagles’ territory, there won’t be disturbances caused to the birds by persecution,” said North Harris ranger Robin Reid, the project overseer. He added that the eagles in Glen Miavaig nest on sea cliffs almost inaccessible to humans.

Last month, Matthew Gonshaw became the first person in Britain to receive a “wildlife ASBO” banning him from visiting Scotland for ten years during the breeding season after collecting more than 700 eggs from endangered species, including golden eagles and ospreys.

The trust hopes the observatory, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Scotland Rural Development Programme and the Brown Forbes Memorial Trust, will attract more visitors to the area. The 25,000-acre estate, run by NHT after a community buy-out, attracts around 3,000 visitors a year.

But a similar RSPB project on Mull, where a hide to view white-tailed eagles has been built alongside a satellite tracking project and organised tours, has generated millions for the island’s economy.

An RSPB Scotland spokeswoman said: “This is a great example of a community-led project that is committed to inspiring people about wildlife, something the RSPB strives to do on a daily basis. We wish the observatory and the North Harris Trust every success and hope visitors enjoy the spectacular sight of this majestic bird in its natural environment. Nature-based tourism raises awareness and appreciation of wildlife, and provides economic benefits. Visitors travelling to see Mull’s white-tailed eagles contribute £5 million a year to the local economy. Hopefully, Harris will see similar results.”

There are 442 nesting pairs of golden eagles in Scotland. A satellite tracking project on Harris – part of a Scotland-wide initiative – has also been set up to monitor one of the young golden eagles in the glen.

“We know what adult eagles do once they establish a territory, but they don’t reach maturity until they’re five or six,” said the spokeswoman. “We don’t know much about them when they’re young.”

In 2010, four golden eagles were found illegally poisoned, the highest number since records began 18 years ago. All were young adults trying to establish territories in eastern and south-west Scotland.

Scottish Wildlife Trust director of conservation Jonathan Hughes said: “Golden eagles are one of the great wildlife icons of Scotland, but due to habitat loss and persecution over several centuries they are now confined to sparsely populated moorland, mountain and offshore islands in western Scotland and Cumbria. The North Harris Trust’s observatory project is really inspiring. It will enable a much wider range of people to experience the thrill of seeing golden eagles.”

Robin Reid said he hopes the observatory will raise awareness about golden eagles in Scotland.

“Golden eagles are the last big predator we haven’t hunted to extinction in this country,” he said. “We used to have bears, wolves and lynxes in Scotland. We still have the golden eagle, a spectacular and iconic predator.”

Sweet success for Caithness Biscuits as Tesco expands local supply chain

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

A small family-owned biscuit maker in Caithness is expanding to keep pace with the demand for its goods from retail giant Tesco, which is ramping up its local sourcing.

Caithness Biscuits is increasing production of its handmade oatcakes and shortbread after Tesco decided to stock them in 60 of its stores in Scotland.

Stuart McConnach, who runs Caithness Biscuits with his wife, said the supply deal should provide a big boost to trading at the firm.

"These extra stores will be a huge help to us," he said.

Based near Thurso, Caithness Biscuits has been supplying biscuits for sale in Tesco's stores in Thurso and Wick for two years. Mr McConnach said sales to Tesco accounted for about 25% of the company's annual turnover, now in six figures.

The firm moved to bigger premises after winning the supply deal. It recently increased employee numbers from four to five. The company may recruit more staff depending how shoppers respond after its products go on sale more widely on Monday, March 19.

Lynne Roxburgh, Tesco local sourcing marketing manager, said Tesco had broadened the range of products it stocks from Scottish suppliers in response to demand. "In the past three years we have seen a significant increase in demand for Scottish products," she said. During that period the local sourcing team has launched more than 400 new Scottish products and worked with 24 new Scottish producers.

Sales of Scottish products totalled £2.1 billion across the UK in the year to March 2011.

Tesco has decorated 14 lorries that serve its Scottish stores with a map of the country featuring images of local suppliers.

Ms Roxburgh said Caithness Biscuits' experience showed how local businesses can benefit from working with the company. Other companies have been able to increase sales outside Scotland by working with Tesco. For example, crisps produced by Mackies the ice-cream maker are being sold in Tesco's Fresh and Easy stores in the US.

The local sourcing office in Livingston works with more than 150 producers across Scotland.

Asked to comment on claims that some large retailers do not play fair by small suppliers, Ms Roxburgh said: "With any of our suppliers they will say they have a good relationship with us. We make a point every year of doing a joint business plan with producers looking at marketing opportunities."

Mr McConnach said Tesco had been very supportive.

Michelin rates Scots B&Bs among Europe's best

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

Damp and dingy Scottish B&Bs are a thing of the past, with the country now boasting some of the best guesthouses in Europe.

Seven of the 10 small establishments recommended in the Michelin Main Cities of Europe Guide 2012 are in Scotland.

Six are in Edinburgh, including four new additions this year, and one is in Glasgow – putting the city into the guesthouse section – which covers 44 cities in 20 countries – for the first time.

The A-listed Victorian townhouse 15 Glasgow, at Woodside Place in the city's Park District, joins 94DR, Ardmor House, Millers64 and One Royal Circus in Edinburgh as new listings, while Elmview and Kew House in the capital are retained.

The prestigious guide is aimed at business travellers and tourists visiting European cities.

Michelin features a selection of more than 3600 establishments, of which 2100 are restaurants and 1500 hotels. Davenport House in Edinburgh, which was in last year's guide, has now closed.

It lists only 10 guesthouses this year, the three others being Glenogra House in Dublin, the Glorious Inn in Antwerp and Trattoria Bibe in Florence.

Rebecca Burr, author of the guide, told The Herald: "Scotland is now leading the way in B&B accommodation and we've seen a big change in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

"A new generation is taking them forward, with Nespresso machines, goosedown pillows and WiFi in rooms.

"People have never associated B&Bs with Michelin stars before, but readers are eating in our starred restaurants and staying in B&Bs. We list recommendations of where to eat close to each guesthouse.

"The guide sells all over Europe and now Scottish B&Bs are keeping company with places like The Balmoral."

The establishments do not pay for inclusion in the Michelin Guide.

Full-time inspectors go by reader recommendations and visit anonymously.

Paul Lightfoot, co-owner of the 94DR, where prices start at £80, was delighted his six-room boutique guesthouse near Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh was recommended.

He said: "It reflects the demand from AB1 travellers for a more personal touch in their hotels. Our approach is modern/minimalist Scottish and I even prepare a special breakfast every morning using Scottish ingredients.

"There's no tartan or Scottish kitsch here – apart from the Tunnock's Teacake every guest is offered on arrival."

Laura McKenzie, owner of the boutique five-room 15 Glasgow, where prices start at £95, added: "There's a huge demand for boutique guesthouses. We are so busy I would open a second one tomorrow if I could. This is great news for Glasgow."

She runs the B&B while her husband Shane does the cooking at the weekend.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: "This is fantastic news for Edinburgh and Glasgow. Our research has shown Scotland consistently delivers in terms of visitor experience and quality, with 98% of those asked likely to recommend our country to others.

"Such a ringing endorsement of our boutique guesthouses is further testament to this."

The 10 Michelin-recommended B&Bs:

EDINBURGH
94DR, 94 Dalkeith Road. £80-£150 per double room per night.

Ardmor House, 74 Pilrig Street. £85-£170.

Elmview, 15 Glengyle Terrace. £67.50 (high season) per person per night.

Kew House, 1 Kew Terrace, Murrayfield. £99-£183.

Millers64, 64 Pilrig Street. £90-£150.

One Royal Circus, One Royal Circus. From £165 plus VAT.

GLASGOW
15 Glasgow, 15 Woodside Place. £99-£180

FLORENCE
Trattoria Bibe £50-£75

DUBLIN
Glenogra Guest House. Around £125

ANTWERP
The Glorious Inn. Around £117

Vattenfall fills last Emec berth on Orkney

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

The last remaining berth at Scotland's ocean energy research centre in Orkney has been filled by one of Europe's leading energy companies.

Vattenfall said it hoped to start testing a wave energy conversion machine at the European Marine Energy Centre (Emec) in 2014.

The machine had been built by Edinburgh-based Pelamis Wave Power.

The deal is dependent on Vattenfall making progress with its 10MW Aegir ocean energy development off Shetland.

Vattenfall hopes to submit a formal planning application for Aegir to Marine Scotland in 2014.

But the project is largely dependent on an electricity cable being laid between the islands and the Scottish mainland.

Veijo Huusko, of Vattenfall, said: "If Vattenfall is to use ocean energy to support its long-term shift to low carbon generation it needs to be confident that the technology it uses will be safe, reliable and productive.

"That is why we plan to purchase Pelamis Wave Power's latest, second-generation machine and test it at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.

"However, the final decision on purchasing a machine for testing will, in part, be based on our expectation of there being an interconnector cable being laid between the Shetland Islands and the Scottish mainland."

SSE, the transmission operator in the north of Scotland, has said that it would progress a connection once there was sufficient generation capacity to justify the investment.

Mr Huusko added: "Scotland remains the most attractive place to explore the possibilities of ocean energy thanks to strong political backing, appropriate financial support and an exceptional energy resource."

Pilot array

Vattenfall hopes that, if testing of the prototype is successful and planning permission for Aegir is granted, the PWP machine will be taken to Shetland and be joined over time by more than nine machines.

If the operation of that pilot array proves successful, further expansion off Shetland would be explored.

Vattenfall, which is Europe's sixth largest producer of electricity and largest producer of heat, recently signed a partnership with Shetland Council and Shetland Charitable Trust to work jointly on investigating such opportunities.

Neil Kermode, managing director at Emec, said: "It is great to know that our facilities are attractive to the major utility companies, who are demonstrating a real commitment to marine renewables in testing these innovative technologies.

"This should instil further confidence in the value of the marine energy industry for potential investors."

'Significant milestone'

Fergus Ewing, the Scottish government's energy minister, said: "Vattenfall's announcement today represents a further significant milestone towards the deployment of commercially viable arrays and is a strong endorsement of Pelamis Wave Power's technology and Emec's unrivalled expertise.

"Vattenfall's ambitious plans for future development will contribute towards Scotland's ambitious renewable energy targets and create new and exciting opportunities for economic development."

Per Hornung Pedersen, chief executive of Pelamis Wave Power, added: "Vattenfall's commitment to securing a berth to test a Pelamis machine demonstrates further evidence of utility endorsement of our technology.

"We look forward to continuing to work closely with them on the Aegir project."

Scottish oil and gas firms to win funding

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

Ten companies in the oil and gas industry stand to pocket funding from the Business Growth Fund (BGF), which yesterday unveiled its first investment in Scotland.

The £2.5 billion fund, which was launched last year by the big five British banks, is pumping £7.8 million into Aberdeenshire-based pipeline engineering firm Stats in return for a minority stake in the business.

Simon Munro, the BGF’s Scottish director, told The Scotsman that, each week, more and more companies are approaching the fund, which will invest between £2m and £10m for a minimum stake of 10 per cent.

Munro said: “The Central Belt in particular has been starved of equity funding sources in our size range and we are seeing more opportunities than expected. Our oil and gas pipeline is active and we are currently looking at ten potential investee companies in this sector.

“Scotland is on track to make its share of the 20-25 investments that BGF expects to make this year across the UK. In the longer term, we would see this as increasing to 30-40 investments per year UK-wide, which would dramatically expand the level of investment going into the small and medium-sized business sector.”

Commenting on the Stats deal, Munro – who was previously a managing director at Lime Rock Partners, a private equity investor in the oil and gas sector – said he had “personally known and admired this business for a number of years”.

He said the investment would allow Stats to grow more quickly. Munro added: “Unlike traditional private equity investors we are not under time pressure to exit. Our main aim is to support the management team for as long as we are needed.”

Stats chief executive Peter Duguid founded the company in 1998 together with his sister, Lorraine Porter.

They have grown the business to include 130 staff spread across offices in Canada, the Middle East and the Far East.

Turnover reached £14m last year and is expected to hit £25m this year, with much of that growth forecast to come from the Middle East.

The company’s tools, which are manufactured in-house, are used to isolate sections of pipe so that pumps and valves can be safely replaced. Stats said the ability to repair a pipeline without shutting it down and without evacuation can save its clients “tens of millions of pounds” in lost production.

Duguid said the investment from the BGF would help to take Stats from being “a successful UK firm to an international business of scale”.

He also plans to draw on the fund’s “experience and contacts” to help him take advantage of opportunities overseas.

Lloyds is also making more working capital available to Stats as part of the investment deal.

Audrey Baxter, chairman and chief executive of Fochabers-based soup and sauce maker Baxters Food Group, also serves as a non-executive director of the BGF, which is funded by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Asia-focused lender Standard Chartered.

MEPs scrutinise EU hopefuls 'case by case'

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

The European Parliament adopted yesterday (14 March) resolutions on three countries, representing extremes in terms of their EU accession process: Iceland, which moves on a fast track; Macedonia, the accession talks of which are blocked for a seventh year due to a conflict with Greece; and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the reform process is stalled.

The resolutions, totaling 27 pages, represent a thorough analysis of the situation in each country, with fewer common features compared to the last waves of EU enlargement. The longest resolutions concern Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a lengthy series of concerns and recommendations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a 'difficult' case

Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle presented the Commission's positions on each of the three hopefuls. He said it was "difficult to be positive" on Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country which is slowly emerging from a year of political paralysis and unwillingness of the three ethnic communities to forge a common future.

Füle said that for the country to be able to move toward implementation of its Stabilisation and Association Agreement, constitutional changes need to be passed in order to make sure that the country would exist as a single state.

Parliament also noted concern about "extremist threats" in the Western Balkans region and called on the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina "to combat extremism, religious hatred and violence in close collaboration with the international community".

'Name dispute' looms large over Skopje

On Macedonia, which Füle diplomatically called the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", he said he was travelling to Skopje the same day to launch a "high-level association dialogue", which appears as a replacement of accession talks, which are prevented from starting because of the country's running name dispute with Greece.

Although the former Yugoslav republic became an EU candidate in 2005, Macedonia has for seven years been unable to start accession negotiations because over Greek concerns over the use of the "Republic of Macedonia".

Replying to the call by MEPs that the EU should take the lead in helping solve the "name issue", an effort currently under the auspices of the United Nations, Füle said that this could be possible only if both sides made such a request.

MEPs want Skopje to be given a date to start accession negotiations. The resolution says the European Council’s failure to set one is causing "legitimate frustration and dissatisfaction" in public opinion.

"This is a country which belongs inside the EU and accession talks must start without delay", said BritishMEP Richard Howitt of the Socialists and Democrats, who was the rapporteur on the resolution.

At the same time, MEPs list a series of concerns with regard to the policies of the government in Skopje, including its "antiquisation" - forging an ancient history at the expense of the Greek cultural inheritance, "which threatens to increase tensions with neighbour countries and create new internal divisions".

MEPs also encouraged Skopje to work with Bulgaria "with the aim of contributing to an objective, fact-based interpretation of history". Sofia accuses Skopje of distorting history for nationalistic purposes, and of stealing glorious episodes of its history.

Iceland: Speed is not a goal in itself

On Iceland, Parliament noted the "political divisions" over EU membership but expressed the hope that the country would join the Union. Iceland is one of Europe’s oldest democracies and MEPs are pleased with its progress towards meeting EU standards.

Since the official opening of the negotiations with Iceland in July 2010, 11 chapters have been opened. The ambition of the government in Reykjavik is to open up the remaining chapters, if not all then almost all, no later than the June accession conference under the Danish presidency.

But Füle made it clear that the Commission was aware of the difficulty that could pose certain chapters, and that the speed of talks was not a goal in itself.

"Let us be clear: 2012 will be a decisive year as we are getting ready to start, as soon as possible, negotiations on some of the core chapters, such as on fisheries, agriculture, food safety and environment. In doing so, we will always privilege quality over speed," he said.

Stratified Medicines Innovation Platform Funding Call Information Days

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Stratified Medicine funding call – Diagnostics for Adverse or Non-Response

The government is inviting UK companies to apply for funding to develop tests that will identify patients at risk of either suffering an adverse response or not responding to specific therapies.

The Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org) in partnership with Department of Health (www.dh.gov.uk) will invest up to £7.5 million through the award of development contracts. Selection will be made primarily on the potential value of the proposed products to the health service.

The competition aims to bring together the different players necessary to evaluate the best ways to develop and implement such diagnostic tests, establish the clinical value chain and determine the potential for commercialisation and uptake of the tests. The competition also aims to establish if Stratified Medicine approaches can be used to improve the current clinical care pathway in the UK to address the risks of side effects or adverse reactions and/or identifying non-responders to treatments.

Proposals for funding should be industrially-focussed and business-driven, and must clearly present the economic benefits to be gained through exploitation of the product. Support will be provided to projects seeking to develop innovative products such as diagnostic tests and/or analytical algorithms capable of predicting either an adverse responder to a specific therapy, those who will not respond to a therapy (non-responder) or can provide early indication that a patient is not responding to treatment. The projects must address a treatment (whether it involves a medicine, medical device or procedure) which is currently licensed for use in the UK.

The competition will be run through the SBRI programme, which provides for development contracts to be 100% funded, and it will be run in two phases. Applicants successful in the first phase will be funded to produce a development plan including a detailed assessment of the economic value of the product. The products with the best value combined with technical feasibility will be selected in phase 2 for development.

The competition opens on 26 March 2012 and the deadline for registration is 6 June 2012. Applications must then be submitted by 13 June 2012.

For further information please visit: http://www.innovateuk.org/_assets/0511/Strat_Med1303.pdf

To publicise this call the TSB is running a set of 3 information days designed to set the scene for the upcoming funding call, to supply interested parties with information about the aims of the funding call and to provide the opportunity to develop potential consortia.

The three information days will be at the following venues:

London – 23rd March, The Guoman Hotel, The Strand, London, WC2N 5HX

Edinburgh – 27th March, Apex House, 99 Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5HD

Manchester – 3rd April, The Midland Hotel, 16 Peter Street, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M60 2DS

Each day will start with coffee and registration at 9.30am and run until 2.30pm

To register for these meetings please email the HealthTech and Medicines KTN administrator stating clearly which meeting location you wish to attend.

EU-funded project champions sustainable development for the Arctic

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A new European project that is set to chart a course for sustainable development in the Arctic over the next 50 years is now well under way. ACCESS ('Arctic climate change, economy and society'), which received a EUR 10 978 468 funding boost as part of the 'Cooperation' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), aims to investigate the impact of human activities on the Arctic ecosystem - an impact expected to intensify as Arctic ice partially melts.

The project brings together researchers from 27 research institutes across nine European countries as well as Russia.

As Arctic sea ice melts, economic opportunities are created: the opening up of new shipping routes, for instance, that can save time and money. However, exploiting these opportunities in the Arctic will be accompanied by an increase in vehicular traffic, the flow of people, and the level of activity in general. This is why it is imperative that the impact of climate change and the resulting activities are measured. The overall objective of the project is to analyse how climate change and this resulting increase in activity will impact the Arctic region socially, economically and politically, as well as to examine how these changes will affect ecosystems.

The aim is to study the impact of human activity in five areas: the environment in the context of climate change; marine transportation and tourism; fisheries; resource extraction; and governance and sustainable development.

One of the project partners, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Spain is using acoustic sensors and pioneering technology to analyse the impact of noise pollution on marine animals in the Arctic Ocean. The team will be monitoring sounds of anthropogenic origin and those produced by marine animals, and analysing how one affects the other. Artificial sounds (i.e. as a result of human activity) in the marine environment constitute one of the most serious threats to the balance of the oceans.

The aim is to analyse how marine animals react to and are affected by the noise associated with increased activity during the melt season. The researchers will focus specifically on cetaceans, as these mammals depend almost exclusively on acoustic information for their survival and are regarded as ideal bioindicators.

The LAB team will map the population of marine mammals in the zone. They will thus be able to monitor these animals and analyse how they are affected by the higher noise levels generated by new human activities such as oil exploration, traffic of commercial and tourist vessels, and fishing. In previous studies, LAB researchers have shown that cetaceans and other marine animals such as cephalopods can suffer serious hearing damage as a result of continual exposure to low-frequency sounds. These species rely on their sense of hearing to navigate, hunt, interact socially and engage in other activities. Consequently, the life rhythm of marine animals and the balance of the food chain could be upset by the changes taking place in the Arctic.

Researchers will then study the mammals and their feeding habits, social interactions and migratory movements, and observe any changes in these behaviours. Information obtained by tracking the animals will allow the investigators to determine whether changes are related to the appearance of anthropogenic sounds in their ecosystems, and to determine the extent of any such effects observed.

As well as focusing on the conservation of marine ecosystems, the ACCESS project partners also want to look at the sustainable development of offshore industries in the Arctic.

For more information, please visit: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC): http://www.upc.edu/?set_language=en

ULAB project innovative outreach activities call

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The 'European laboratory for modelling the technical research university of tomorrow' (ULAB) project has issued a call for awards for European innovative outreach activities. The deadline for entries has been extended. Entries should now be submitted by 22 March 2012, 5pm (GMT).

As part of the ULAB project, the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford is organising the online competition to identify the most innovative outreach and public engagement activities carried out by European Universities. Both individuals and groups may apply for awards.

Competition submissions must be for an activity that has been initiated and sustained at any university or higher education institution within the 27 EU member states, including projects that might have involved collaboration with institutions outside the EU. The entry can be from one or a number of cooperating universities.

The three winning entries will each receive a prize for their institution as well as funding for a representative to attend the awards ceremony at the University of Oxford in the UK on 8 June 2012.

ULAB is an innovative project seeking to work together to renew university policies in research, valorisation, entrepreneurship and outreach. ULAB partners are demonstrating how networking and open innovation between universities can increase the quality of research and innovation. The new thinking emerging out of these exchanges will form a base for a white paper giving recommendations to tackle specific challenges.

For more information on the call, please visit: http://www.engageawards.org

For more information on the project, please visit: http://www.ulab-fp7.eu/

EURIAS call for 2013-2014 fellowships

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The European Institutes for Advanced Study (EURIAS) Fellowship Programme has issued a call for fellowships for the 2013-2014 academic year. The deadline for application is June 7th, 2012.

The European Institutes for Advanced Study (EURIAS) Fellowship Programme is an international researcher mobility programme offering 10-month residencies in one of the 14 participating institutes located in: Berlin (Germany), Bologna (Italy), Brussels (Belgium), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Cambridge (UK), Helsinki (Finland), Jerusalem (Israel), Lyons (France), Nantes (France), Paris (France), Uppsala (Sweden), Vienna (Austria) and Wassenaar (the Netherlands).

EURIAS Fellowships are mainly offered in the fields of the humanities and social sciences but may also be granted to scholars in life and exact sciences, provided that their proposed research project does not require laboratory facilities and that it interfaces with humanities and social sciences. The diversity of the 14 participating institutions offers a wide range of possible research contexts in Europe for worldwide scholars. Applicants may select up to three institutes outside their country of nationality or residence as possible host institutions.

For this call, EURIAS is offering a total of 32 fellowships (16 junior and 16 senior positions).

The Programme welcomes applications worldwide from promising young scholars as well as from leading senior researchers. The EURIAS selection process has proven to be highly competitive. To match the Programme standards, applicants have to submit a solid and innovative research proposal, to demonstrate the ability to forge beyond disciplinary specialisation, to show an international commitment as well as quality publications in high-impact venues.

The EURIAS Fellowship Programme is a project initiated by the Network of European Institutes for Advanced Study, Coordinated by the French Network of Institutes for Advanced Study (RFIEA) and Co-funded by the European Commission.

For more information on the call, please visit: http://www.2013-2014.eurias-fp.eu/call-applications

A groundbreaking, waterless approach to micro-chip making

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Wire

The tiny, high-speed computer chips found in every modern electronic device bear little resemblance to their bulky, slow ancestors of decades ago. Different materials, new designs and new production techniques have ensured successive generations of integrated circuits offer ever more performance at lower cost. Groundbreaking EU-funded research is helping to continue the trend.

Moore's Law - the observation by Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore that the number of transistors on a chip, and as a consequence the processing power, doubles approximately every two years - has been accurate for more than half a century. Today, we carry more computing power in the mobile phones in our pockets than could fit into a house-sized computer back then. But in order to squeeze more transistors into a smaller space - and ensure Moore's Law continues to hold true - chip developers have to be increasingly innovative as chip components are shrinking into the 'nano' scale.

Sometimes they have to think completely outside the box. That was the approach taken by the 'Copper interconnects for advanced performance and reliability' ( Copper) project, in which researchers from eight organisations - companies, research institutes and universities - in four countries solved a key problem of chip manufacturing. In the process, they have opened the door to an entirely new field of research in the semiconductor industry.

Supported by EUR 3.15 million in funding from the European Commission, the researchers focused on the methods and materials used to interconnect the billions of tiny transistors on a modern microchip. Specifically, the Copper team developed a process that enables reactive metals to be used directly as a barrier between copper interconnects and the silicon wafer of the chip by using non-aqueous solvents instead of water-based ones - a world first in the semiconductor industry.

'As the number of transistors on a chip increases, so too do the lengths of interconnects between transistors. Because interconnects have a certain resistance, this increase in length causes an increase in the time delay in communication between transistors - it's an impediment to chip performance,' explains Jan Fransaer, a researcher in the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (MTM) at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.

If the interconnects can be made smaller, chip performance improves. But now that chip features have reached the 22nm scale - around 3,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair - there are new obstacles to further reductions in length.

The problem in a nutshell

In grossly simplified terms, the problem goes something like this:

Until the mid 1990s aluminium was the metal of choice to fill the interconnect 'vias', the small trenches in the silicon that carry electrons between the transistors. Aluminium was sufficiently conductive to meet the performance requirements of the transistors - then numbered in the millions on each chip - and unlike other more conductive metals such as copper, silver and gold it did not diffuse into the silicon, a process that over time would ultimately destroy the circuitry.

But as chips got smaller and their transistor counts increased toward the billions, faster interconnect performance was needed. A more conductive metal had to be used. Hence, semiconductor manufacturers switched to copper as an interconnect material. This in turn required that they do something to prevent the copper diffusing into the silicon, a problem they solved by adding something known as a 'diffusion barrier' - a layer of another metal that protects the silicon from the copper. The diffusion barrier of choice is a metal called tantalum.

So far, so good: the tantalum diffusion barrier now protects the silicon from the copper in the interconnect vias.

The deposition of the copper interconnects is done by a process called 'electrodeposition' in which an electric current is passed through a solvent solution to coat metal ions onto the vias. An aqueous (i.e. water-based) solution is the usual solvent.

But there’s another problem: tantalum oxidises immediately in water, so until now manufacturers have had to first coat the tantalum diffusion barrier with copper - a so-called seed layer that protects the tantalum from the water just as the tantalum protects the silicon from the copper.

The seed layer is applied using a 'chemical vapour deposition' (CVD) process.

'Why can't we just use the seed layer for the interconnects? Because CVD is a line-of-sight process: it lays down enough copper to coat the tantalum but not enough to make continuous interconnects. So we still have to do electrodeposition on to the copper seed layer to fill the vias with enough copper to make the interconnects,’ Prof. Fransaer explains.

In essence, chip manufacturers have been playing 'Russian dolls' at the nanometre scale.

'It sounds stupid - solving one problem generates another problem - but this fix has worked ok until now,' Prof. Fransaer notes.

So what has changed? Scale. The copper seed layer is 5nm to 10nm thick, so at scales of less than 22nm that layer - which serves no other purpose than to protect the tantalum diffusion barrier from oxidisation during chip production - ends up taking up way too much space.

The answer? 'Change the solvent,' says Prof. Fransaer.

Solving the solvent issue

Instead of using water, the Copper project team developed an innovative process using non-aqueous solvents such as liquid ammonia and ionic liquids. These do not cause tantalum to oxidise, hence allowing electrodeposition to occur without the need for the copper seed layer. The result is that because the interconnect vias can be smaller, chip size can be further reduced, transistor count increased and chip performance greatly improved.

'Electrodeposition using liquid ammonia and ionic liquids has been done before, but this is the first time that this process has been used in the semiconductor industry,' Prof. Fransaer says. 'This technique will certainly help enable a continuation of Moore's Law at least for a few more generations.'

To develop the process, the team studied different wafer materials and electrolyte ingredients for the non-aqueous solution, investigated their physical properties and used analytical and simulation techniques to determine the best approach. They then used micro-modelling of the process before building a proof-of concept demonstrator.

'We were really delving into terra incognita. It was totally uncharted territory, as prior to the Copper project not a single paper had been published on using non-aqueous solutions in the semiconductor industry,' the project manager notes.

Unsurprisingly, the project generated considerable interest from chip makers when the team presented their results at international conferences.

'There was definitely a lot of interest, though we can't say for sure if anyone has used our research as a basis to use this process commercially. Nonetheless, I think it's only a matter of time before non-aqueous solutions start being used now that we've shown it can be done,' Prof. Fransaer says.

Though ammonia - which needs to be pressurised to stay in liquid form - or ionic liquids are less abundant and more expensive than water, the cost of using them is a 'non-issue' in the multi-billion euro semiconductor industry, Prof. Fransaer points out.

'Moving from aqueous to non-aqueous solutions would have only a miniscule impact on cost in the grand scheme of things,' he says.

Perhaps even more significantly, the team's research has opened people's eyes to other possibilities, not just with tantalum but also other metals and not just for semiconductor applications.

For example, members of the project consortium are planning a follow-up project using elements of the Copper project's research to work on improving heat dissipation for power electronics, of the sort that will be needed in the smart electricity grids now being rolled out in Europe and elsewhere.

'A lot of elements - among them all the so-called noble metals - can be electroplated from water, but a lot can't: aluminium, silicon, germanium etc. We have shown that by using a non-aqueous solution, some of these can also be electroplated. That opens up a whole new range of applications that probably weren't thought possible before,' Prof. Fransaer says.

Copper received research funding under the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)

Pincer signs US export deal for Scottish vodka

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

A Scottish vodka company has sealed an export deal to the US which will rapidly increase the size of the business.

Pincer Vodka currently produces around 1000 cases containing six bottles each year. Now, through an agreement with American distributor Double Eagle Imports, it will produce that much spirit in a month.

One director of the US company tried Pincer while waiting for a flight at Heathrow Airport and liked it so much he contacted executives in Scotland. The vodka is now being launched across parts of Atlanta, Texas and Colorado in the next few months.

Founder Jonathan Engels said: "It is a fantastic deal for us, a real game-changer.

"After they got in touch, we took about six months getting to know each other but they seem perfect for us. They are not an importer which goes around collecting brands for the sake of it.

"As craft beer has been popular in the US, one of their distributors has asked for a portfolio of craft spirits to be put together.

"They have distributors lined up already which they already sell tequila to."

The business was helped in doing background research on Double Eagle by Scottish Development International.

Pincer currently uses distilling and bottling facilities at Ian Macleod in Broxburn, West Lothian.

The vodka is made using extracts of milk thistle and wild elderflower.

Mr Engels, who was an architect prior to concentrating on Pincer full time, is also considering starting a separate distilling operation which would be used to trial new products.

He added: "Our volumes have now reached a point where it is feasible to create our own small batch distillery and so we are currently looking at potential sites in Scotland. Also, through the experience of using wild ingredients in Pincer, I have come across some other really exciting wild Scottish ingredients that could potentially be used to create a range extension."

Pincer is sold in bars across Scotland and London and is stocked in retail outlets such as Selfridges.

EU, Japan, US open WTO row with China over rare earths

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

Europe yesterday (13 March) challenged China in the World Trade Organization over its export restrictions on raw materials, simultaneously launching proceedings with the US and Japan for the first time.

The move follows a successful EU challenge at the WTO on similar restrictions for other raw materials earlier this year, the latest challenge covers exports of 17 rare-earth metals, as well as tungsten and molybdenum.

Beijing has set quotas for exports of rare earths, which are critical to the defence industry and manufacturers of high-tech products from hybrid cars to flat-screen televisions.

“These measures hurt our producers and consumers in the EU and across the world, including manufacturers of pioneering hi-tech and green business applications,” said EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, adding that China's restrictions on rare earths “violate international trade rules and must be removed”.

EU looks for knockout blow

The WTO in July 2011 ordered China to end its quotas and export duties on nine industrial raw materials, and an appeals body uphold that decision in January.

An EU official close to the case said China had made no moves to free the export restrictions since the earlier ruling and the new case was designed to get decisive results.

The official said EU companies had been compelled to relocate to China to get rare earths, and that the restrictions were costing European business “trillions of euros”.

China has denied the allegations in the WTO case, saying that it had enforced the quotas to ensure there was no environmental damage caused by excessive mining.

The EU claims that export restrictions do not address to this aim, saying there are more effective environmental protections that do not discriminate against foreign industries.

Chinese have faith in the WTO system

Wang Xining, a spokesman with the Chinese Mission in Brussels, said: “We have different views over the issue of raw materials exports, and we hope the issue will be properly dealt with within the WTO mechanism.”

Chinese experts told EurActiv they hoped that proper weight would be accorded to the environmental arguments within the WTO, adding that it would inevitably involve a “long drawn-out procedure”.

The EU official said that sanctions – which can include import bans – would only result from failure of the long trade procedure at the WTO. If sanctions are ultimately necessary, however, the official said they would correspond to the trade abuse, and would amount to ‘very, very significant numbers’.

MEPs back quotas to get more women in boardrooms

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

The European Parliament yesterday (13 March) backed the European Commission’s pledge to create binding rules to increase the number of women in top jobs, if member states have not voluntarily taken action to redress gender imbalance in the workplace.

Adopting a resolution drafted by Liberal Dutch MEP Sophia in't Veld, the Parliament reiterated its call for new laws introducing quotas to boost female representation on corporate boards, should national measures fail to achieve any satisfying result.

“Quotas are a necessary evil, because voluntary measures have got us nowhere,” Sophia in't Veld. “It is now time to act.”

The vote was 361 votes in favour, 268 against with 70 abstentions.

To boost the numbers of women in executive positions in EU companies, the resolution calls on the European Commission to table a legislative proposal to introduce quotas to step up corporate board quotas to 30% by 2015 and 40% by 2020.

EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding on 5 March kicked off a three-month debate that could result in more decisive legislative action, a year after she called on companies to take voluntary steps to increase the number of women on boards to 30% by 2015 and 40% by 2020.

The EU executive found in a report that only limited progress towards increasing the number of women on company boards has been achieved one year after Reding called for credible self-regulatory measures.

Just 13.7% of board members at Europe's top firms are women, up from 11.8% in 2010. However, it would still take more than 40 years to reach a significant gender balance (at least 40% of both sexes) at this rate.

Speaking to MEPs, Reding said that proposals to may be put forward later this year. Parliament last called for such mandatory measures in a July 2011 resolution.

German MEP Silvana Koch-Mehrin told EurActiv that “even if quota as an instrument are controversial, the outcome is convincing. Especially in Germany it is high time for measures to improve gender balance in company boards."

Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have started to address the situation by adopting legislation that introduces gender quotas for company boards. Denmark, Finland, Greece, Austria and Slovenia have adopted rules on gender balance for the boards of state-owned companies.

Tackle pay gap and boost women in politics

MEPs also called for an EU equal pay target to reduce the gender pay gap by 10% in each member state and urged EU countries to tackle equal representation in politics, by adopting zipped lists or electoral quotas.

Electoral quotas have been introduced in France, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, Portugal and Poland, and should therefore be considered as an option, notes the in't Veld resolution.

To ensure gender parity in political decision-making, including electoral lists and top EU positions, binding measures and sanctions are needed at national and EU level, says a second resolution, drafted by Finnish centre-right MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen.

While 35% of MEPs are now women, average female representation across the EU's national parliaments remains unchanged at 24%. Just 23% of ministers are women.

To improve the gender balance within the EU institutions, MEPs urge national also governments to propose, after the 2014 European elections, a woman and a man as their candidates for European Commissioner.

Brewery looks to expand as sales rise 50%

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

An independent Scottish brewery has reported a near 50% increase in sales and sealed its first export deal.

Genoa-based importer Biscaldi already looks after Glengoyne whisky and was responsible for taking Corona lager to 20 million cases a year in Italy.

Noah Beers owner Petra Wetzel said: "I met Biscaldi at a supplier conference at the Glengoyne distillery a few years ago when we had St Mungo lager on draft.

"They loved the beer and the story of the German woman brewing in Glasgow and we have kept in touch.

"A few weeks ago, I got an email from them saying they thought it was time to take WEST to Italy.

"They have a fantastic set-up in Genoa and great working relationships with restaurants, hotels and bars.

"The first container has just been shipped, so we will see what the demand is like."

Around half of income at the business comes from a Munich-style beer hall in the former Templeton carpet factory building on Glasgow Green, with the rest being made through on and off-trade sales. While beer sales have been accelerating, the company said that its brewing facilities are now running at full capacity.

Negotiations on a long-planned-for £6.6m new brewery in Glasgow are understood to be progressing, and a more detailed announcement is expected later this year.

Ms Wetzel declined to give a pre-tax profit figure but said operating profit grew from £750,000 to £1.2 million.

She said: "I'm delighted with our results as you have to be a good operator to make money in difficult times.

"However, I don't think we could cope with more growth than what we have experienced so far.

"Even though beer sales are growing faster than the restaurant, we actually have tried to slow things down as our new brewery is not up and running.

"We are trying to tweak efficiencies and are looking at how much yield we are getting from each of our existing tanks.

"But a new brewery is crucial for the long-term strategy of the business and we hope to have some exciting news soon.

"We have a philosophy which is about getting better before getting bigger as we don't like letting people down."

A new 4% lager has been launched into the on-trade and may become the first product to go into cans rather than bottles.

Ms Wetzel added: "We are thinking of targeting large outdoor events.

"Many of these festivals you cannot take glass bottles into and we are working with a canning facility in England looking at the options."

The company uses the Reinheitsgebot standards, which were set down in 1516.

Only four core ingredients – water, malt, hops and yeast – are used to brew the beers, with no artificial additives or colouring.

From Banchory bedroom to CNN, Mashable lined up for 127 million sale

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

A website launched from a Banchory-based teenager’s bedroom is expected to be sold to international news network CNN in a deal rumoured to be worth $200 million (£127.9 million).

Mashable, a popular news website about social media, now based in New York and San Francisco, was founded seven years ago by Aberdonian Pete Cashmore when he was just 19 and is estimated to have 20 million viewers a month.

The sale of the business to CNN, which already has a syndication partnership with Mashable, is set to make Cashmore a multi-millionaire although the exact size of his stake is not known. Some reports have suggested he could become Scotland’s most successful tech entrepreneur after magazine Forbes suggested he owned 100 per cent of the firm. Last year, Cashmore told a US newspaper that the business did not rely on private investors for financing.

Felix Salmon, a blogger for Reuters, yesterday reported the potential buy-out on an online video from the influential South by Southwest technology conference in Austin, Texas. The New York Times also reported that the two companies were in “advanced” talks.

Last year, Cashmore’s firm was being wooed by web services firm AOL. It was reported that Cashmore turned down their $11 million offer.

Instead, AOL went on to buy online newspaper, the Huffington Post, for $315 million. The firm also bought TechCrunch, a similar tech blog to Mashable, for $25 million in 2010, although it is largely thought that the tie ups between major media companies and the niche, cutting-edge sites have blunted their appeal amongst their core audiences.

In 2009, AOL demerged from its former owner, Time Warner, which still owns CNN – setting up the possibility of a heating up of the rivalry between the two media giants. Cashmore, 26, who describes himself as a “lifelong fan of unicorns”, was unavailable for comment.

The college dropout set up Mashable in 2005 as a one-man blog about social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. It was reported that he did it because it was “something I could do in bed and feel like I was achieving something”.

In February last year, the site which features “top ten lists” of viral favourites on social media sites, took its advertising sales operations in house after it ended an arrangement with publishing network Federated Media.

The privately-held firm generates revenues from display advertising, custom programs with marketers, event sponsorships and conferences and employs more than 40 people.

CNN said: “We do not engage in speculation about our business and we aren’t commenting on these reports.”

Rumours that a deal would be announced as soon as today were dismissed by sources close to the media giant. Twitter users suggested Cashmore denied that a deal would be announced this week in an e-mail to staff.

Time Warner last month reported that its revenues were up 8 per cent for the full year to $29 billion, bringing in profits of $2.9 billion for the year. Jeff Bewkes, Time Warner’s chief executive, said the firm planned to increase its investments in digital initiatives, which he described as be “key” to the conglomerate’s growth.

Disney/Pixar film Brave to premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Disney/Pixar's Scotland-set animated film, Brave, is to have its European premiere on the closing night of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The film, which is set in a mythical Highlands, will premiere on 30 June.

Several of the characters are voiced by Scots, including Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd and Craig Ferguson.

Kelly Macdonald provides the voice for the main character, a princess called Merida, and Robbie Coltrane voices a lord called Dingwall.

Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, Brave is to be released across the UK on 17 August.

First Minister Alex Salmond made the premiere announcement during his speech at VisitScotland's Winning Years Conference in Perth.

He said: "I am delighted to announce that Hollywood will roll into town during the Edinburgh International Film Festival when we host the European premiere of 'Brave'.

"This will present us with an immense opportunity when Scotland will be centre stage in the film with all the tourism and business opportunities this will bring.

"I fully expect that as the film launches across the world, so will awareness of Scotland increase."

He added: "Brave will be the most high-profile film ever set in, and themed around, Scotland, featuring Scottish stars.

"We are looking at a film which comes from the award-winning team behind such box office smashes as Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Up, and will create global buzz when it is released."

Scottish talent

The announcement comes just days after VisitScotland revealed it had joined forces with Disney/Pixar in a campaign designed to promote Scottish tourism across the world and bring a boost to the Scottish economy.

Chris Fujiwara, Edinburgh International Film Festival artistic director, said: "We're delighted to host the premiere of Brave and continue the festival's long relationship with Disney.

"Though we are an international film festival, we're mindful that we have a special responsibility to Scotland's cinematic image.

"It makes perfect sense that this film, which is so strongly tied to the cultural mythology of Scotland and the beauty of the Scottish landscape, and in which Scottish talent has such a significant involvement, should be part of our festival."

Mike Cantlay, VisitScotland chairman, said: "The film will showcase the scenery, humour and culture of Scotland and we are looking forward to converting cinema-goers into visitors."

Formerly called The Bear and the Bow, the film follows Merida, an impetuous girl who defies an age-old custom and inadvertently unleashes chaos, forcing her to discover the meaning of true bravery before it is too late.

EU leaders eye stronger UN role to police the environment

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

European leaders on Friday, 2 March could throw their weight behind a plan to convert the relatively powerless UN Environment Programme (UNEP) into a world body with the muscle to oversee treaties and protect the ecology.

European Commission and EU member state officials yesterday mapped out their goals for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development taking place in Rio de Janeiro in June, 20 years after the landmark Rio Earth Summit.

The European Parliament’s environment committee, which organised the hearing, is keen to give the EU a resonant voice - and a united one - on shaping the agenda at Rio.

“We shouldn’t underestimate the opportunities that we have,” said Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, a Dutch liberal MEP who is the panel’s vice president. “A lot of international environmental negotiations are paralysed, and this is the right moment … to really make some steps ahead and try to serious improve the international institutional framework.”

“The coming European Council is a huge opportunity for the European Union to show that it takes Rio+20 extremely seriously,” Gerbrandy said of the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The conference takes place 20-22 June.

Push for a world environnmental organisation

Environment Commissioner Janez Potoènik backs a move – supported by French President Nicolas Sarkozy - that would create a global environmental organisation, with greater firepower to oversee and enforce ecological treaties.

The reforms would put the current agency on par with bodies like the World Health and World Trade organisations, although the proposal is nothing new - the UNEP was created 40 years ago as a compromise to a more far-reaching organisation.

The draft conclusions for this week’s summit of EU national leaders do not specifically refer to the UNEP, but call for a “strengthened global institutional framework for sustainable development which should include a strengthened environmental dimension.”

In October, the Council of Environment Ministers also said the Rio outcome “should include a green economy roadmap with specific goals, objectives and actions at international level as well as a package of reforms, which includes the upgrading of UNEP, leading to a strengthened international environmental governance.”

One Brussels diplomat told EurActiv that Europe's ambition at Rio was to adopt "a timetable" for setting a UN environment agency, with wider powers than the current UNEP.

The agency would watch over all existing environmental treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol, the Montreal Protocol and other international accords.

"There are 500 of them. Not all have a secretariat but there are 500 legal bases and a large number of structures," the diplomat pointed out. "So there should be more consistency between these various agreements."

One of the suggestions is to streamline the various bodies advising the UN on environmental matters – such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) on biodiversity.

A 'voice for the planet'

"We have worked for years to establish a kind of IPCC on biodiversity but we will not repeat this for every subject matter," the diplomat explained, saying a number of cross-cutting analyses could be done by a single UN scientific panel.

"This would allow having a complete view of the environmental situation in each country," the diplomat said. "It would also allow identify synergies or contradictions between different environmental objectives."

Europeans are hoping that the rationalisation of UN bodies will appeal to countries like the United States or Canada, which are among the most sceptical when it comes to environmental issues and international organisations. In turn, the new UN agency and its scientific panel could be given more resources "precisely because it would bring savings elsewhere," the argument goes.

This would give environmental issues more credibility and legitimacy at global level – a so-called 'voice for the planet'.

No easy ride to Rio

But even if EU leaders bless the idea, the proposal faces a very uncertain road ahead.

Brazil's chief negotiator at Rio+20, André Corrêa do Lago, told journalists in New York recently that his country would not support a world environmental organisation.

And it is unlikely in a heated election year that President Barack Obama would warmly back such a move. He would face almost certain resistance from opposition Republicans, who have traditionally taken a dim view of the United Nations and last year sought to block money for the UN’s scientific body on climate change. The US provides 22% of the UN’s budget.

At the European level, not all member states show the same level of enthusiasm for setting up a reinforced world environmental organisation.

The diplomatic source said Britain, Sweden and Denmark have shown the greatest reluctance to the idea. Their fear is that a new, more inclusive UN body with broader responsibilities on issues such as technology transfers would redistribute the balance of power between industrialised countries and the developing world.

African countries, for their part, are seen as broadly favourable, partly because the new UN agency is likely to be based in Nairobi, Kenya - the current UNEP home - and partly because they see their own interest in terms of international aid.

"There are a hundred countries now favourable to the idea, which does not mean the remaining hundred will be easy to persuade. But we are no longer a handful of rich European countries asking for this," the diplomat said.

Broader EU agenda

Meanwhile, Europe hopes to move ahead with other topics at Rio, including backing initiatives to prove universal energy access through investments in renewable energy, and pumping more development aid into ensuring water access.

There is also emerging consensus on pushing other nations to set targets on resource efficiency and waste reduction.

In addition, the European Commission is proposing a realignment of development assistance to boost renewable energy and sustainable growth that are amongst the focus topics on the emerging Rio agenda.

Douglas joins forces with university spin-out for drug project

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

Aberdeen University is joining forces with Derek Douglas’ corporate finance house Adam Smith Limited (ASL) to raise £1.5 million for a drug development spin-out company.

Signal Pharma will use research from the university to come up with treatments for breast cancer, chronic pain, diabetes and heart failure.

Douglas told The Scotsman he was beginning the search for funding by targeting high net-worth individuals in Aberdeen, although he declined to name any of the potential investors.

“The response has been good,” said Douglas, who has raised £100 million for technology companies through ASL. “Several investors have shown interest and have asked to see the company’s business plan.

“There are so many high net-worth individuals in Aberdeen now that I would hope to be able to raise the £1.5 million.”

Douglas has been involved with technology companies for 20 years but Signal Pharma is the first drug development business with which his firm has worked.

He became involved with the project after funding scientific research at Aberdeen University.

“They asked me to take a look at Signal Pharma and I liked what I saw,” Douglas said. “I’m very excited. This is a good team and I think they will be able to deliver for us.”

Douglas’ recent funding successes have included raising £2 million from Scottish Enterprise and Dutch private equity firm SET Venture Partners for Ngentec, a spin out from Edinburgh University that is developing generators for wind turbines.

Other backers of Ngentec include David Brown, the gears business owned by Jim McColl’s Clyde Blowers Group.

Douglas also helped to found optical device maker Kymata, which was sold to telecommunications giant Alcatel in 2001.

Ruth Ross, professor of molecular pharmacology, and medicinal chemist Iain Greig are the founding directors of Signal Pharma. They will receive assistance from Michael Wyllie, founder and director at Global Pharma Consulting, and from university colleagues Professor Michael Frenneaux and Professor Matteo Zanda.

Greig said: “It is particularly satisfying to see ideas we have worked on reaching the next stage of the development process, which we hope will eventually lead to new drugs that give real benefits to the patients, saving lives and reducing suffering.”

Ross added: “The creation of Signal Pharma is a great opportunity to generate both medical and economic benefits.”

Prongwort discovery 'unique' to the Highlands

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A nature reserve in the Scottish Highlands is the only place in the world where a type of liverwort plant has been found growing.

DNA analysis confirmed northern prongwort was unique to the Beinn Eighe national nature reserve in Wester Ross.

Scientists from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh also said they had identified a previously unknown species of liverwort in Shetland.

Called Viking prongwort, it has also been found in a Norwegian fjord.

Beinn Eighe is Britain's oldest reserve, having been created in 1951. It is managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

Liverworts thrive on cool, damp, north facing mountain slopes.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and SNH said the discoveries of the northern and Viking prongworts were exciting.

Dr David Genney, SNH's specialist on mosses and liverworts, said: "We have an amazing wealth of bryophytes - mosses and liverworts - in Scotland and some of them are found nowhere else in the world.

"Beinn Eighe in Wester Ross is the only location on Earth for Herbertus borealis - the plant's botanical name - where luckily it grows in profusion on the mountain side.

"It is a special example of the Scottish liverwort heath, a miniature forest of liverworts which grows among the heather of hills in the west Highlands."

SNH said the main threat to the plants was uncontrolled moor burning.

It said hill fires which swept through the west Highlands last spring were suspected of having harmed the globally important wildlife.

David Bell, a researcher with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, added: "This population of northern prongwort is of global importance as this is the only location it is known on Earth.

"Its closest relatives are in Asia and further research is needed to determine whether the northern prongwort has its origins in the Himalayas.

"We are fortunate that this population is so well protected on the reserve because the community as a whole is extremely sensitive to burning. We now think that the species' conservation status should be reassessed due to its rarity."

New EU-funded network for plant phenotyping on the way

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Plant-derived products are proving to be an effective way of dealing with the ever increasing demand for more food, feed and raw materials, and to this end many scientists believe that more knowledge about plant phenotyping is essential. Step up a new EU-funded project that aims to investigate this emerging science that links genomics with plant ecophysiology and agronomy.

Plant performance and productivity is determined by the relationship between the functional plant body, the 'phenotype', which is formed during plant growth, and its genetic background, or 'genotype', and the physical world in which plants develop. The better scientists understand the link between the genotype and phenotype the better they can advance modern breeding and basic plant research.

To increase Europe's capacity to analyse existing genetic resources for their interaction with the environment, the EPPN ('European Plant Phenotyping Network') project will see the creation of a new plant phenotyping network. With a EUR 5,500,000 boost from the 'Research Infrastructures' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), EPPN will bring together scientists from Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel and the United Kingdom to develop sustainable plant production with higher yields that use up less resources.

The project, which will run until 2015, will fuse several different approaches in the field, from molecular to genetic. Although much progress has already been made in molecular and genetic approaches in recent years, the quantitative analysis of plant phenotypes remains a major bottleneck.

The project aim is to build up the EPPN to provide structured and efficient development of a competitive plant phenotyping community in Europe. The main goals of the EPPN project partners are to integrate European plant phenotyping efforts, enable close interaction between users of phenotyping platforms and developers of phenotyping technology, develop sensor technology, define and promote good phenotyping practice and information technology (IT) standards for plant phenotyping, and support access to major plant phenotyping facilities in Europe. The leader of this scientific consortium is German Forschungszentrum Jülich.

One of the 14 partner institutions is the Global Change Research Centre in the Czech Republic whose project 'CzechGlobe' aims to investigate the manifestations and impacts of global climate change, including modelling and climate change scenarios that focus on the interactions between the biosphere and the global carbon cycle. CzechGlobe is dedicated to innovative, high impact research and plant phenotyping.

By boosting plant productivity, researchers hope to address major economic, ecological and societal challenges that are increasingly important for the EU and the Europe 2020 goals.

As well as being used as a raw material for a new generation of products, plants today are also increasingly being used as a renewable energy source. Unfortunately, however, climate change and the scarcity of arable land bring about additional challenges for future scenarios of sustainable agricultural production. Therefore, it has never been more important to increase our knowledge of plant phenotyping to improve plant productivity.

For more information, please visit: European Plant Phenotyping Network: http://www.plant-phenotyping-network.eu/eppn/home

Scottish Referendum consultation in Ebook format

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

The Scottish Government will become the first administration in the UK to make an official publication available in digital download format for devices such as iPad and Kindle, after it was confirmed the Your Scotland, Your Referendum consultation will be issued as an eBook.

In a move that will widen access to the consultation with the aim of allowing more people to become involved in the important debate on Scotland’s future, ministers confirmed the eBook will be available to download from yesterday for iPad, iPhone, Kindle, smartphones, Android tablets and other eBook devices.

The latest development will now act as a pilot scheme for future digital distribution of Scottish Government documents, an initiative that will improve access to important public files and could drive down print costs as more and more people in Scotland rely on digital devices for published material.

Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said:

“The aim of the Your Scotland, Your Referendum consultation is to involve as many people as possible in the debate on Scotland’s future, as we look forward to the biggest decision in this country for more than 300 years.

“So far, many thousands of people and groups have accessed the consultation document via our website, or using a hard copy sent out by the Scottish Government, and thousands have then taken the time to respond and contribute to this exciting debate.

“But we want to encourage even more people to have their voice heard about how the referendum should be run, and we are looking at doing that in even more innovative and sophisticated ways.

“That is why, from today, the consultation document will be made available as a free download to devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Kindle as an eBook that people can read on-the-go and at a time that suits them – a first for a government publication in the UK.

“I hope that this is the first of many documents to be published in this way, and I hope that this exciting step will help widen the scope of our ongoing debate to include as many people as we possibly can.”

Go to the download page

EU to confront China with 'reciprocity' in public contracts

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActive.com

Tired of seeing European companies blocked from Chinese public tenders, the European Commission is preparing plans later this month that will allow individual EU countries to bar foreign bids from countries that refuse to open up their public procurement markets.

The controversial proposal is due to be presented by the end of March by Michel Barnier and Karel De Gucht, the EU commissioners for the internal market and trade.

Under the plan, seen by EurActiv, EU countries "will be given the possibility to reject foreign bids from third countries" that fail to open their own public procurement markets to European companies.

"If a third country repeatedly discriminates against European companies, the Commission will be able to take targeted restrictive measures vis-à-vis this third country and effectively close a part of the EU's procurement market," a Commission spokesperson told EurActiv.

"The procedure would be modelled on the existing anti-dumping proceedings," said Chantal Hugues, spokesperson for Barnier, the internal market commissioner.

Public contracts represent 19% of the EU's gross domestic product, said Barnier, who was speaking to journalists ahead of an EU summit last week.

But whereas €312 billion of EU public procurement is open to bidders from member countries of the WTO agreement on procurement, the value of US procurement offered to foreign bidders is just €34 billion and €22 billion for Japan, the Commission said in a consultation document released last June.

The proposal, Barnier explained, would allow treating differently countries that have an agreement with the EU on public procurement markets and those that do not.

"So typically the difference between the US and China," Barnier said.

Sarkozy request

The proposals will sound like music to the ears of Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president who has long called for reciprocity in the EU's trade relations and is fighting an uphill battle for his re-election in April and May.

"Is it normal that all European public procurement markets are open to some Asian countries and [not the opposite]?" Sarkozy asked at a press conference after the EU summit on 2 March.

"Well, I have requested for the rule of reciprocity in commercial negotiations."

"If some Asian countries do not want to open their public procurement markets to European companies, one must clearly raise the question of whether to open European public procurement markets to companies from these countries."

"This is not protectionism, this is reciprocity."

Reciprocity or protectionism?

Britain and other liberal-minded member states such as the Netherlands and Sweden are likely to see things differently however.

"The UK favours open markets," said Aled Williams, a spokesman at the British permanent representation in Brussels. "The reciprocal element of this is that foreign countries access EU markets," he told EurActiv, in comments that could signal latent UK opposition to the proposals.

These countries are indeed worried that the reciprocity plan could fuel tensions with China at a time when European firms desperately need the growth opportunities offered by emerging Asian markets.

"We're not convinced that it would work," said one diplomat on condition of anonymity, saying the initiative could lead to a "tit-for-tat response" from the countries targeted.

But the Commission rejected those fears as unfounded. "The ultimate goal of this initiative is to open foreign markets and to promote a level playing field," said Hugues, the Commission spokesperson.

"The intention is not – and it never has been – to disrupt the current trade flows," Hugues said, adding the initiative will be fully compliant with WTO and other international rules.

"We are aware of the complexity of the globalised trade exchange, the fact that goods are made of components manufactured in many countries and about the complexity of joint EU-foreign consortiums that submit tenders."

Mazovia valley fostering green chemistry research

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS

The Mazovia valley in Poland is fast becoming a hub for green chemistry research in Europe thanks to a new research infrastructure that will be used by top chemistry-related institutions from all over the country. The aim is to develop a friendly research environment conducive to dynamic development of various fields of chemistry and the fast transfer of research.

The project, named the 'Mazovian Valley of Green Chemistry' will provide access to well equipped laboratories, and provide support for educational and information programmes. Emphasis will be placed on getting innovative chemical technologies to market.

The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education is currently in the process of establishing a 'Polish Road Map for Research Infrastructures' and it has highlighted the lack of chemistry, chemical engineering and material sciences projects. The Mazovian Valley of Green Chemistry aims to address these concerns and fill in the gaps.

Since 2011 the Mazovian Voivodship region has been a member of the European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN) which is made up of 21 European regions where the chemical industry plays an important role. The Mazovian Valley of Green Chemistry project aims to ensure Mazovia remains a key chemical player in Europe. The idea is that cooperation in the Mazovia region will allow the researchers to be more efficient and make the most out of the available facilities by forming a scientific 'critical mass', necessary for the development of chemistry-related companies in Mazovia.

As well as focusing on getting innovative chemical technologies to market, the project emphasises the importance of encouraging young researchers to establish companies themselves. As Professor Robert Holyst, Director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences explains: 'We all are vitally interested that graduates, and even students, can establish spinoff companies. These companies guarantee the transfer of knowledge to the industry and offer jobs to creative people. By-and-by, after achieving a critical mass, one of them will grow to a global concern that will provide support to Polish science, which is still underfinanced compared with other European competitors. It was the case in Finland and we want to achieve the same in Mazovia.'

A whole host of institutions are involved in the project, including the Warsaw University of Technology, University of Warsaw, the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, the Industrial Chemistry Research Institute, the Pharmaceutical Research Institute and the Institute of Industrial Organic Chemistry.

One of the first activities being carried out that will put the establishment of the Mazovian Valley of Green Chemistry in motion is the eLab database of accessible laboratory equipment. The E-Lab database is being developed as part of the EU-funded project NOBLESSE ('NanOtechnology, Biomaterials and aLternative Energy Source for ERA integration') carried out by the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. NOBLESSE, which runs until 2014, received a EUR 3,321,290 boost of EU funding as part of the 'Regions of Knowledge' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

For more information, please visit:

Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences: http://www.ichf.edu.pl/indexen.html

Study counters 'cradle of language' theory

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Most researchers believe that the origins of human language are found in Africa, in particular the south-west part of the continent. But a new study from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) in Germany counters this belief, claiming there is not enough data to support the 'out of Africa' hypothesis. The research is backed by the QUANTHISTLING ('Quantitative modelling of historical-comparative linguistics') project, which is funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant worth EUR 1.93 million as part of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The findings of the study, presented in the journal Science, indicate that the search for the site of the origin of language is still on.

In 2011, Quentin Atkinson of Auckland University in New Zealand suggested that language originated in the south-west of Africa. Dr Atkinson based his theory on a comparative analysis of the numbers of phonemes found in about 500 present-day languages. Phonemes are the most basic sound units - i.e. consonants, vowels and tones - that establish semantic differentiation in all languages. Phonemes are used in natural languages, and they are many in number. The Auckland researcher had discovered that the highest levels of phoneme diversity occurred in languages spoken in south-western Africa. He also found that the size of the phoneme inventory in a language usually shrinks the further it is found from this area of Africa.

Dr Atkinson used a parallel from population genetics to shed light on what he found. Scientists have found an analogous effect with respect to human genetic diversity, and how the latter progressively decreases the further it is from Africa. Experts call this the 'founder effect'. The more people left Africa, the more the total genetic diversity present in the African population as a whole started to shrink.

But LMU's Dr Cysouw and his colleagues demonstrate that ascertaining the site of language origin is contingent on the features that are taken into account. So, according to them, while the cradle of language may well be traced to Africa, it could just as likely be found anywhere else across the globe.

For more information, please visit:

European Research Council (ERC): http://erc.europa.eu/

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU): http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/index.html

Projecting high quality videos onto walls from your mobile phone - coming soon!

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Are you old enough to remember when mobile phones seemed futuristic, or when it was customary to purport that they would 'never take off'? Fast forward to 2012 and we rarely stop to reflect about how these small devices have become ingrained into every aspect of our lives.

And now mobile phones could be set to evolve even further, if the latest results from innovative Finnish researchers are anything to go by. The forward-thinking researchers have developed a way to project high quality images and video onto any surface you have at hand - whether it be it the smooth wall of your bedroom or a bumpy dry stone dyke!

Today we might find these latest developments hard to fathom and strictly for the reserve of science fiction, but that was also the general consensus when the first phone call was made back in the late 1800s. So if the history of technological advances is anything to go by, projecting images onto walls may not be that far off. The Finns emphasise that mobile phones equipped with this type of laser light source technology could be within the grasp of ordinary mobile phone users within a couple of years.

At present, mobile phones are capable of showing high quality images and video; however, due to the relatively small size of the screen some accuracy and precision is lost. The team, from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, EpiCrystals Oy and Aalto University, believe they can overcome this detail by using a better laser light source for projectors that will be integrated into mobile phones, meaning photographs and films could be accurately and efficiently projected onto a nearby surface.

Small size laser projectors 1-2 centimetres in length can be integrated into many kinds of electronic appliances, such as digital or video cameras, gaming devices and mobile phones. Integrated micro projectors could in practice project images the size of an A3 sheet of paper onto a wall. The challenge now for the Finns' project is to develop a small, energy-efficient and luminous three-colour (RGB) light source for use in the projectors.

'The project has successfully combined multi-technological know-how from VTT and its partners in the project, from manufacturing materials and the accurate focusing of laser chips all the way to production line design. The project was launched last autumn, and we are now entering the stage where we can move from brainstorming and design to building prototypes. It is our goal to prove by next summer that large quantities of the new laser light sources can be manufactured quickly and economically,' says Timo Aalto from VTT.

By combining expertise from industry and academia, the team hopes to be able to bring the product to market as soon as it is ready.

EpiCrystals Oy will market the nifty technology and the company hopes to become the market leader in laser light sources for micro projectors by 2015. As Vice President of Business Development Tomi Jouhti from EpiCrystals Oy explains: 'We are developing an entirely new technology that is currently not in use anywhere else in the world. At the moment, there are stand-alone projectors on the market that can be connected to electronic appliances and early stage integrated projectors, but their quality and price are not competitive enough. Large electronics manufacturers are extremely interested in integrated projectors, and market research shows that demand for these micro projectors will increase strongly in the coming years. Soon, around two billion mobile phones per year will be sold in the world, and if even a couple of per cent of those contain a projector, we are talking about tens of millions of copies, and the hundred million mark is not far either.'

For more information, please visit: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: http://www.vtt.fi/?lang=en

International Women's Day on progress and fight against inequality

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS

No matter the race, age, citizenship, profession or education level, women the world over celebrated the 101st International Women's Day on 8 March. Despite advances made over the years, however, women continue to fight myriad issues that impact their lives on a daily basis. It is a rally against inequality, and one that must not be ignored.

Thousands of events were held to celebrate both women's progress and continued efforts to bring equality to all. Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, were on fire as women shared anecdotes, experiences and thoughts to raise awareness of the important role they have in our society.

World dignitaries, including United States President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, urged everyone to eliminate violence against women, both young and old, using social media initiatives. Taking action and maintaining support will trigger change and help make their lives so much better. A string of celebrities, including actor Reese Witherspoon and Scottish singer Annie Lennox, both of whom are activists for women's rights, also marked the day by attending various events.

International Women's Day gives women and girls the chance to celebrate their accomplishments as well as the opportunity to drive change, fuelling equality and positivity.

Commenting on the significance of this day, Glenda Stone, founder of the internationalwomensday.com website that has served as a global hub for International Women's Day events, news and resources, says: 'Activity on International Women's Day has skyrocketed over the last five years. This is due to the rise of social media, celebrity involvement, and corporations taking on the day sponsoring and running big events. Our twitter.com/womensday community with around 10 000 followers is phenomenal for sharing videos, information and news as it happens. Offline large-scale women's rallies have become even larger through the use of social media. It would be hard to find any country that did not celebrate the day in some way.'

The EU and its citizens support women and their efforts for change. This is especially true with respect to helping thousands of families and communities and many countries to change attitudes and stop harmful traditional practices, including genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Africa. A case in point is an EU-UNICEF project funded under the Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation (EuropeAid) to the tune of EUR 3.9 million. This project introduced a common approach based on a comprehensive understanding of how to change social norms in order to end harmful practices.

Thanks to this project, many girls in Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Senegal and Sudan are no longer being subjected to a practice that causes extreme pain, both physical and emotional. For example, more than 5 300 communities in Senegal have stopped FGM/C in the last 10 years, and experts estimate that the country will be the first to completely abandon this practice by 2015.

Raising awareness of the dangers of this practice is made possible by stimulating large-scale community discussions and national debate on various issues, including human rights.

Commenting on the results of the study, EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said: 'I find it totally unacceptable that in the 21st century, this practice, which is a clear violation of human rights, is still taking place. That is why I am so pleased to see that EU aid can make a real difference. By raising awareness on the dangers of female genital mutilation/cutting at grassroots level, we have helped to provide young women across Africa with an alternative, as well as giving them the chance to become an active part of their own communities in the future.'

For more information, please visit: EuropeAid: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

Salmon exports to the USA leap by over a third

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fresh Scottish Atlantic salmon exports experienced a 36 per cent increase to the United States in 2011. The largest ever year-on-year rise further secures the U.S. as Scotland’s number one export market.

As the total U.S. salmon imports also increased 2.6 percent in 2011, the new figures reveal Scotland has the largest share of Atlantic salmon imports outside of North and South America. With one quarter of Scotland’s salmon production - equivalent to 43,703 tonnes - sent to the U.S. in 2011, Scottish farmed salmon is the country’s largest food export. The total value of all Scottish salmon exports (fresh, frozen and smoked) to the U.S. last year was £211 million and the total U.S. salmon market is valued at £1.08 billion ($1.71 billion).

The new export figures are released as Scottish Development International leads a delegation of Scottish seafood companies to attend the International Boston Seafood Show from March 11^th – 13^th. There, firms will meet with influential seafood buyers from the retail and catering sectors to strengthen relationships and build on current success. Those exhibiting on the Scotland pavilion include Orkney Islands Seafood, The Scottish Salmon Company and Grieg Seafood Hjatland who yesterday won the retail category of the Seafood Excellence Awards at the Show for their Limoncello Gravadlax product.

With 86 per cent of seafood consumption in the U.S. coming from imports and an ever increasing 50 per cent of the world’s seafood coming from fish and shellfish farming across the globe, Scottish salmon is playing a significant role in current seafood consumption. Voted the “Best Farmed Salmon in the World” by international seafood buyers in 2011 based on superior taste, quality and appearance, Scotland is the world’s third largest producer of farmed salmon, with a retail market valued at over $1.5 billion.

Anne MacColl, chief executive, Scottish Development International, said: “These new figures strongly reinforce the importance of the North American market for the Scottish seafood industry. This is hugely encouraging and it's vital that we continue to build on our success by increasing trade relationships with influential salmon and seafood buyers across the world."

Scott Landsburgh, chief executive, Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation said: “Scottish salmon has achieved a twenty per cent share of the £1 billion U.S. salmon market. Last year was the largest ever rise of exports and it underlines the confidence that U.S. buyers and consumers place on the high-quality of Scottish salmon.

“Continuing to develop our international offering is vitally important for our sector. Recent news that the U.S. is the number one market for Scottish salmon demonstrates the increasingly successful collaboration between Scottish producers and U.S. buyers. The U.S. market remains a huge opportunity for Scotland.”

Graphene and a new dimension

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS

A growing number of scientists recognises how graphene, an allotrope of carbon, is the next silicon. But they also know graphene is too conductive to be used in computer chips. Now a research team from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom may have found a way to address this problem. Presented in the journal Science, the study demonstrates how a transistor could indeed be the missing link for graphene to become the next silicon. Their discovery opens a third dimension in graphene research.

The Manchester group, led by Nobel laureate professors Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, both of whom were knighted earlier this year, notes how graphene is a fascinating material with myriad properties, namely optical, mechanical, electronic and chemical.

Experts say graphene can be used to form the basis of computer chips, overtaking silicon as the material of choice. Companies all over the world, such as Samsung, Intel and IBM, have already expressed an interest in graphene. Single transistors with very high frequencies (up to 300 GHz) have already been demonstrated by a number of groups around the world.

The problem with these transistors, however, is that they cannot be packed densely in a computer chip because they 'leak' too much current, even in the most insulating state of graphene. This electric current quickly leads to the melting of the chip.

Despite the various studies performed to solve this problem in the last eight years, no solid solution has ever emerged. But the Manchester team may have found the missing piece to this puzzle. According to the researchers, graphene should be used in the vertical instead of the lateral direction (in plane). The team used graphene as an electrode from which electrons tunnelled through a dielectric into another metal. The researchers call this a tunnelling diode.

They focused primarily on a unique feature of graphene: how an external voltage can strongly change the energy of tunnelling electrons. What they got was a new type of a device, that is, a vertical field-effect tunnelling transistor where graphene is the key ingredient.

'We have proved a conceptually new approach to graphene electronics,' says the senior author of the study, Dr Leonid Ponomarenko of the University of Manchester's School of Physics and Astronomy. 'Our transistors already work pretty well. I believe they can be improved much further, scaled down to nanometre sizes and work at sub-THz frequencies.'

For his part, Professor Novoselov says: 'It is a new vista for graphene research and chances for graphene-based electronics never looked better than they are now.'

But graphene cannot work alone; other materials were needed as well. The Manchester group combined graphene and atomic planes boron nitride and molybdenum disulfide to develop the transistors. These transistors were made layer by layer in a desired sequence, on an atomic scale. These types of 'layer-cake' superstructures do not exist in nature, the researchers say. This innovative concept offers new degrees of functionality, with the tunnelling transistor being a vital component.

'The demonstrated transistor is important but the concept of atomic layer assembly is probably even more important,' says Professor Geim.

Adds Professor Novoselov: 'Tunnelling transistor is just one example of the inexhaustible collection of layered structures and novel devices which can now be created by such assembly. It really offers endless opportunities both for fundamental physics and for applications. Other possible examples include light emission diodes, photovoltaic devices, and so on.'

For more information, please visit:

University of Manchester: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/

Science: http://www.sciencemag.org/

European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2012 Launched

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : Wiredgov

The Commission yesterday launched its 2012 edition of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards. It rewards the success of public bodies and public-private partnerships in promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship. One of the subjects for the 2012 edition will be SME funding for those entrepreneurs that want to extend their business and enter new markets. In the current economic context, SMEs are acknowledged to contribute to growth and their job creation potential is impressive. 85% of all new jobs in the EU are provided by SMEs. Public authorities support SMEs with a large number of initiatives. The most impactful measure will be chosen by an expert jury and receive its award during the 2012 SME Assembly in November in Cyprus.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship said: "Every year the European Enterprise Awards bring to the fore successful initiatives from all over Europe that have created win-win situations for business and communities. We need to multiply these concrete success stories and make Europe more business-oriented and business-friendly. This is essential for job creation and recovery of European economy."

There are five different award categories:

Promoting the entrepreneurial spirit
Investing in skills
Improving the business environment
Supporting the internationalisation of businesses
Responsible and inclusive entrepreneurship.

The competition comprises of two stages; applicants first have to compete at national level. Each country can then select two entries to be nominated to the European competition by July 16, 2012.

For more information on how to apply.

Scientists translate sign language to text in pioneering phone software

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

Pioneering technology which translates sign language into text is being developed by Scottish scientists in a major boost for people suffering from speech and hearing difficulties.

The new software – the first of its kind in the world – has been developed for use on portable devices, such as smartphones, and will allow users to turn sign language into words. Users will even be able to customise the sign language to their own specific needs.

The Aberdeen University scientists behind the breakthrough claim the technology has the potential to transform how sign language users – from the profoundly deaf to those who have lost hearing in later life – will be able to communicate.

The Portable Sign Language Translator (PSLT ) has been developed by computing scientists at Technabling, a spin-out from Aberdeen University. The PSLT recognises sign language using a small camera which can be integrated in most mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablet Pcs and netbooks, and then renders it as text displayed on the device’s main screen.

Dr Ernesto Compatangelo, a lecturer in computing science who is director of Technabling, said: “The aim of the technology is to empower sign language users by enabling them to overcome the communication challenges they can experience, through portable technology.

“The user signs into a standard camera integrated into a laptop, netbook, Smartphone or other portable device such as a tablet. Their signs are immediately translated into text which can be read by the person they are conversing with.

“The intent is to develop an application – an “app” in Smartphone terms – that is easily accessible and could be used on different devices.”

He said the PSLT technology had the potential to be used with a range of sign languages including British Sign Language (BSL) and Makaton. More than 50,000 people with speech problems use BSL as their first or preferred language.

Dr Compatangelo said: “One of the most innovative and exciting aspects of the technology, is that it allows sign language users to actually develop their own signs for concepts and terms they need to have in their vocabulary, but they may not have been able to express easily when using BSL.”

The research is being funded by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to enhance the lives of deaf people with special emphasis in benefiting young people who are either in education or training.

A spokesman for Technabling said: “As a learning tool, the PSLT can be easily and effectively used by those who are learning to sign. So far, these learners needed a sign language expert in front of them to check that they were able to sign correctly. This is a problem, due to the scarce availability of sign language experts and to the consequent cost of such training.

“The PSLT can replace the human expert in many occasions, allowing learners to practice sign language whenever and wherever they like, driving costs substantially down.”

A university spokeswoman said: “Scientists on the project are now encouraging sign language users from Aberdeen city and shire to get in touch to become involved with its ongoing development. It is anticipated that the technology will be available as a product by next year.”

Infant eye movement and cognition

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Interactions between infants and their environment are limited because of the infants' poor motor abilities. So investigating infant cognition is no easy task. Which sensory event is the result of the infant's own motor action and which one is not? Researchers from the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies and from Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main in Germany may have found the answer. Their research was funded in part by the IM-CLEVER ('Intrinsically motivated cumulative learning versatile robots') project, which is supported under the 'Information and communications technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 5.9 million.

Despite the limitations in the study of infant cognition, eye movements can be used because they reach high accuracy early. In this latest study, presented in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers used real-time eye tracking to put six- and eight-month-old infants in direct control of their visual surroundings. This allowed the team to evaluate the problem of discovery of agency, what experts define as the ability to infer that some sensory events are triggered by one's own actions.

Their results show that infants quickly learn to perform eye movements to produce the appearance of new stimuli. Infants, therefore, have the capacity to discover new ways of controlling their environment.

'In contrast to previous paradigms for studying infant cognition based on looking behaviour, our paradigm gives infants direct control over the physical environment, allowing them to change what is "out there" with their eye movements', the authors of the study write. 'Such gaze-contingent paradigms based on eye-tracking have been explored with adult subjects before, but only recently has it become possible to apply eye tracking to infants. The ability of infants to quickly discover new ways of controlling their environment that we demonstrate here, paves the way for truly interactive new paradigms for studying infant learning and cognition, and may provide a basis for novel training and medical intervention strategies.'

Infants can discover novel forms of agency, according to the team. These babies learn to manipulate their environment by using their eyes in a gaze-contingent paradigm. This occurs when the infants select fixation targets that generate specific sensory outcomes. They also have the ability to quickly anticipate the outcomes of their actions.

'Previous approaches to studying instrumental conditioning in infants were limited by the comparatively crude and stereotyped motor skills that they considered, including sucking and leg kicking,' the authors write. 'The central advantage of the gaze contingent paradigm is that it taps into a large repertoire of discernible actions (eye movements to various objects or locations, or possibly eye blinks) that infants can perform.'

The team says gaze-contingent paradigms based on eye tracking technology could be beneficial in comparison to classic non-eye-tracking paradigms for investigating infant learning and cognition.

The team writes: 'First, they extract very rich and detailed behavioural data. Second, they allow studying various aspects of infant cognition in an interactive fashion, giving young infants, who are very restricted by their language and motor abilities, the possibility to communicate with and act on the outside world. Third, by putting infants in control of their environment, gaze contingent paradigms are likely more engaging and satisfying for the infant.'

For more information, please visit:

Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies: http://fias.uni-frankfurt.de/

Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/english/

Food education on the menu

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

A boost for food education was dished up today, with help for every pupil to learn more about the food on their plate.

Speaking at Scotland’s National Food and Drink Conference in Perth, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead pledged £2 million over three years so that every Scottish school child understands more about the food they eat and how it impacts on their health and on the environment.

An expert group, made up of industry and education representatives, will steer the three-year programme and provide advice on attracting private investment to add further value.

The fresh focus on food education will help tens of thousands of young people make informed choices about the food they eat, by ensuring:

More opportunities for children to use farms, fishing and food companies to learn about their health, the environment and their relationship with food
Pupils develop an understanding of Scotland’s growing food and drink industry and the career options available – wherever their skills lie across the curriculum
It is easier than ever before for teachers to use food as a topic in Curriculum for Excellence
Private companies are encouraged to invest in food education, either financially or in kind

The beneficiaries of today’s funding include:

The Royal Highland Education Trust who will help youngsters learn where their food comes from through organising 36 food and farming days and 36 schools farmers markets, benefiting more than 6,000 youngsters
Seafood Scotland who will support schools to develop projects around seafood which around 60,000 pupils are expected to benefit from
The Scottish Food and Drink Federation’s Future of Food scheme which will work with around 10,000 pupils to inspire them, help them make the connection with the food on their plates, what they are learning in school and encourage them to consider a career in food and drink

Mr Lochhead said:

“Whether through farm visits, working with local companies or embedding food topics in the curriculum, food education is key to helping young people understand the role food plays in their lives. By encouraging pupils to learn more about these issues they can have the facts they need at their disposal to make informed choices for their future.

“It’s no secret that Scotland faces issues around the health of our nation and – like every other country – we need to protect our environment and face up to the challenges around climate change.

“Food education has an important role to play in this, helping our youngsters make healthier choices and ensuring they are more aware of the importance of eating sustainably. That’s why every schoolchild in Scotland will benefit from the food education package announced today.

“I am convinced that the private sector and our local communities have a role in working in partnership with schools, which is why I am asking them to stand up and be counted. Simple things like paying for school buses to visit a farm or business can make a big difference.

“Part of this programme will also highlight the many and varied career options available in Scotland’s booming food and drink sector, which is underpinned by our fantastic natural larder. At a time when other industries are downsizing, food and drink is providing a welcome boost for Scotland’s economy – as well as great opportunities for our young people.”

Flora McLean, Director, Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF), said:

“By using the food and drink industry as context for learning, we can support teachers and facilitate pupils’ understanding of a range of diverse issues, from sustainability right through to science and health and wellbeing.

“Through active engagement with the passionate people who make up our industry, young people can learn about what is involved in modern food production and understand the different career opportunities that exist. SFDF’s schools programme, A Future in Food, establishes long-lasting partnerships between industry and schools; the Government’s investment in food education, announced today, will bolster this good work.”

One hundred S2 pupils on Lewis have already reaped the rewards of food education. Their challenge was to devise a new biscuit for Stornoway’s Stag Bakeries. The pupils had to use and develop many transferable skills to do everything from costing the ingredients, investigating food miles and carrying out a scientific analysis of their recipe.

Colin Daniels of Stag Bakeries said:

“We were so impressed by the standard of entries submitted, not only of the products presented, but the work that had been put into the project as a whole. Such initiatives have a positive and lasting impact on the food industry.

“Through SFDF’s programme A Future in Food, we hope to go some way to help students understand what is involved in the production of food that appears and the shop shelves and a greater understanding of the career opportunities open to people considering the food industry as a future employer.”

Pupils at Edinburgh’s Firrhill High worked with local porridge product manufacturer Stoats in a Dragons’ Den style challenge which involved more than 200 pupils from four departments. As they developed an understanding of the wider food industry, the pupils had to create a new product for the Stoats range – while simultaneously honing their presentation, marketing, business and research skills.

Firrhill High teacher Ros Ranger said:

“This is a gift to Curriculum for Excellence – as a school we didn’t have to do anything differently. Using Stoats as a context for learning ensured that the whole programme fitted with everything we planned to deliver to the pupils.”

Learning about food and health is a fundamental part of promoting health and wellbeing through the Curriculum for Excellence and enables children and young people to acquire the knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices and helps to establish lifelong healthy eating habits.

Related information

Scotland’s National Food and Drink Conference

Recipe for Success – the Scottish Government’s food and drink policy

Environment: Better implementation will lower costs and improve the environment

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Failing to implement environment legislation is thought to cost the EU economy around €50 billion every year in health costs and direct costs to the environment. In an effort to reduce that figure and deliver better environmental outcomes for people and businesses, the Commission yesterday issued a communication on better implementation of EU environment law.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "EU law is not an invention from Brussels; it is democratically adopted by all Member States and the Parliament for the benefit of citizens. Our environment is protected by some 200 pieces of well established law, but all too often they are not properly applied. This doesn't just harm the environment – it also damages human health, leads to uncertainty for industry, and undermines the Single Market. In a time of crisis, these are costs we cannot afford."

Yesterday's communication underlines the positive benefits of environment law, showing how preventing damage to the environment can cost far less than long-term remediation. Environment legislation can bring advantages to industry: full implementation of EU waste legislation would generate an additional 400,000 jobs, for example, with net costs that are €72 billion less than the alternative scenario of non-implementation.

The communication is intended to intensify the dialogue with governments and all other stakeholders on how we can work better together to achieve better implementation of EU law by improving collection and sharing knowledge and by having greater ownership by all for environmental objectives. More specifically, the communication will outline measures to help Member States achieve a fully systematic approach to knowledge collection and dissemination, including ways to encourage more responsiveness on environmental issues.

Implementation and enforcement of EU environmental law is a shared task with national, regional and local authorities. Poor implementation is often exacerbated by a lack of accurate information on environmental issues. Monitoring efforts are uneven across Europe, the information generated can be patchy and out-of-date and not enough useful information is placed online. Better and more accessible information at national, regional and local levels would allow major environmental problems to be identified earlier, saving costs in the longer term.

Good implementation involves responding effectively to actual or potential environmental problems. Suggestions for improvements include better inspections and surveillance, criteria for how Member States should deal with citizen complaints, more access to justice in environmental matters, and support for European networks of environmental professionals. In cases where there are problems, there should be clearer commitments from those responsible for implementing the rules to deliver improvements with concrete deadlines and benchmarks for performance which can be publicly assessed.

Next Steps

The Communication will be addressed to the European Parliament, Member States, their citizens and all actors in the area of implementation and enforcement. The outcome of discussions between the three EU institutions will prepare the ground for the 7th Environment Action Programme.

Background

Member States are responsible for ensuring that the EU's environment laws are implemented in their countries. The Commission's role is to check that Member States' commitments are respected and take action if they are not.

Implementation has several dimensions. Member States must adopt national laws that give detailed effect to laws agreed at EU level. They must organise their administrations to make sure that these laws are respected in practice. Required investments must be made, e.g. to treat waste properly. There should also be means of responding wherever required tasks are left unfulfilled or other problems arise, for example illegal disposal of waste or illegal hunting of protected wildlife.

Further information: Communication on implementing Environment Law

Hundreds of new affordable homes

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Stirling tenants have moved into new sixteen homes built as part of a scheme delivering hundreds of new affordable homes across Scotland, Housing Minister Keith Brown said today.

The National Housing Trust (NHT) allows developers and Councils to jointly fund homes with local authority loans to the scheme being underwritten by the Scottish Government.

Homes will be available for rent below market value for five to 10 years before being sold, with tenants given priority to buy.

Over 600 homes have been approved so far generating an estimated £90 million in investment and safeguarding around 1,000 jobs, with further completions expected this spring.

The initiative has been expanded and a further round of contracts are expected following completion of the latest procurement round which is well underway.

Almost half of Scotland's 32 Councils are taking part in this second round and the Scottish Government is working with organisations to evolve the model further.

Housing Minister Keith Brown said:

“This Government has championed NHT as an innovative way of financing construction projects built with very little taxpayers’ money.

“The initiative is delivering hundreds of affordable rented homes across the country supporting jobs in the construction sector and wider economy.

"In Stirling, the success of round one demonstrates the willingness of developers and Councils to embrace the opportunities offered by this new approach.

“As the Westminster cuts to our capital budget begin to bite, schemes such as NHT are increasingly at the forefront of our drive for innovation.”

Norman Yardley, managing director of Bett Homes, said:

“We’re delighted to have delivered the first phase of homes under the NHT initiative at our popular Stirling Waterfront development.

“Working with the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust has allowed Bett Homes to provide quality homes for rental in this established community and to support continuing employment in the construction industry and the local economy.”

Stirling Council’s Housing Portfolio Holder Councillor Alasdair MacPherson, said:

"Stirling Council is delighted see the completion of the first National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative in Stirling. The mid-market rental project has been successful and has demonstrated a demand for this type of property in our city.

“We are particularly pleased to have worked with Bett Homes to help keep construction jobs in the local area and to deliver high quality homes to meet the needs of the people of Stirling.

Barry White, chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), said:

“Opening doors to new ways of investment thinking is at the core of SFT’s work.

“NHT is one such investment model that we are spearheading across the whole of Scotland which is getting homes built that wouldn’t have happened otherwise, and we are delighted to see the first homes built and fully occupied.”

Jonathan Fair, chief executive of home building industry body Homes for Scotland, said:

“With housing output levels still half that of 2007, it is heartening to see the first homes delivered under NHT in Stirling now completed and let.

“This clearly demonstrates the direct social and economic benefits arising from this innovative scheme, both for those looking for affordable housing to rent in the area and the companies building them.”

More information about the NHT is available at National Housing Trust

The 3rd ERA-IB joint call for proposals: Industrial biotechnology for Europe: an integrated approach'

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

ERA-IB is a network of organisations from 15 countries with the vision to reduce the fragmentation of national research in the area of industrial biotechnology. ERA-IB’s objective is to support economic and academic IB players in sharing risks, costs and skills related to innovation in order to develop new knowledge, new products, technologies or supply services that could reach the market more efficiently.

The ERA-IB network aims to establish cross-border partnerships between industrial and academic IB research, to improve and accelerate technology transfer, and to strengthen European efforts in achieving sustainable industrial development. One important measure to reach these goals are common calls for trans-national R&D projects.

Funding is available to excellent innovative industrially relevant R&D and applied research projects which cover one or more of the following topics:

Improved enzyme systems for new and more efficient bioprocesses
Improvement of microorganisms by metabolic engineering and synthetic and systems biology approaches
Innovative down-stream processing
Innovative fermentation and bio-catalytic processes, e.g. for platform chemicals, including bio-monomers, oligomers and polymers
Biological processing (including separation and conversion) of biomass, including from side streams, and other renewable carbon sources into value added products
New valuable products by plant and animal cell cultures

Participating countries: Belguim, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom. To be confirmed: Croatia, Portugal and Turkey.

Projects must have between3 and 8 eligible participants from at least 3 ERA-IB partner countries.

Submissions of proposals will be in two steps:

(1) Pre-proposals must be submitted by 30 April 2012

(2) Full proposals must be submitted by 31 July 2012.

Projects are expected to start in early 2013.

More information here.

IMI 5th Call for Proposals 2012

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) has issued its 5th Call for Proposals.

The call consists of one theme, 'the European Lead Factory', which comprises two topics:
- 'European Screening Centre';
- 'Joint European Compound Collection'.

Discovery of novel small molecule lead structures is a major driver of the early drug discovery process. Among a diverse set of discovery strategies, experimental high-throughput screening (HTS) of comprehensive compound collections has provided a major avenue towards lead structure identification.

While academic screening activities are by design not intended to copy industrial hit and lead discovery, they provide a rich source of novel ideas on molecular targets, disease-relevant pathways, and assay approaches. In contrast, industry screening activities aim to deliver hits ideally combining chemical novelty with medicinal utility.

The European Lead Factory is intended to bridge the gap between academic and applied research by providing an 'industry-like' small molecule discovery platform to public investigators with innovative ideas for discovery programmes targeting both lead structures for drug development or high quality probes for target research.

The Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking is a public-private partnership aiming to foster collaboration between all relevant stakeholders including large and small biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies, regulators, academia and patients.

Contact person:For more information on the call, please visit: http://www.imi.europa.eu/content/stage-1-3

Get Online Week 2012 will be launched in Brussels today!

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Today, March 8 between 9h15 and 11h, Telecentre-Europe TV will organize a live streaming from the launch event of Get Online Week 2012.

The event will take place in the presence of Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, at Telecentre-Europe AISBL‘s headquarters in Brussels and hosted by the Belgian member organization Interface3, a telecentre network run by women for women.

As the launch event takes place on International Women's Day, one of the main themes will be addressing the role of women in ICT for empowerment, employment and growth.

Get Online Week 2012 is a digital inclusion campaign on 26th-30th March in Telecentres: public internet centres in NGOs, libraries & education venues.

Get online week 2012 will help people to get online, find work, learn new essential ICT skills, and get more out of life. It will bring together 5.000 telecentres in at least 50 countries across Europe, Eurasia and Africa to support at least 200.000 people in their online journeys.

More information here.

Megabus network expands to take in France, Belgium and the Netherlands

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Transport tycoon Sir Brian Souter will today launch budget coach services running between the UK and Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

His three Megabus routes will begin in Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester and Milton Keynes before running to London and then to the Continent.

Stagecoach, the Perth-based transport group run by Souter, is pumping £2.5 million into the new routes by buying ten coaches with toilets and wireless internet connections.

Souter said: “Megabus has already transformed inter-city travel in the UK and North America. Our new network in Europe will bring our brand to a huge new market.”

He expects the services will appeal to families, students and tourists travelling on a budget.

The services will cover the cities of Amsterdam, Boulogne, Brussels and Paris.

Bookings open today with the first coaches leaving the UK on 16 April.

Megabus already carries about three million passengers a year between 60 towns in the UK and serves more than 70 cities in Canada and the United States.

The brand was launched in Scotland in 2003 and expanded into North America in 2006, where it has so far carried more than 16 million passengers.

News of the European expansion comes just a week after Stagecoach revealed that growth at the group’s UK bus division, which includes Megabus, has accelerated in recent weeks.

Like-for-like revenues at the division stepped up to 3 per cent in the 40 weeks to 5 February from the 2.3 per cent rise reported in December.

What has the EU done after the Fukushima accident? Stress tests.

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Following last year's triple disaster in Japan, the EU decided to take a critical look at its nuclear power production and re-assess the safety and security of all nuclear power plants in the EU. All 14 Member States that operate nuclear power plants (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) and Lithuania, which is decommissioning its nuclear power producing units, agreed to participate in these voluntary stress tests.

The stress tests go beyond safety evaluations performed during normal licensing process and periodic reviews. They assess whether nuclear power plants can also cope with extreme unexpected events. The Fukushima accident showed us that two natural disasters can happen at the same time: the nuclear power plant could withstand the earthquake but could not cope with an up to 20 meter high tsunami wave which followed and cut off the power supply to the plant.

The safety and security of nuclear power plants is the responsibility of plant operators and Member States. Ensuring and continuously improving nuclear safety is nevertheless the utmost priority of the European Commission. The Commission is currently reviewing the EU legal framework and will make, if appropriate, new proposals later this year. When proposing improvements to EU legislation and new non-legislative actions, the Commission will take into account the lessons learned from the stress tests.

What is assessed by the nuclear stress tests?

The stress tests assess whether a nuclear power plant can withstand the effects of the following events:

1) Natural disasters: earthquakes, flooding, extreme cold, extreme heat, snow, ice, storms, tornados, heavy rain and other extreme natural conditions.

2) Man-made failures and malevolent actions. These events may include airplane crashes, fires and explosions close to nuclear power plants, whether accidental or resulting from terrorist attacks.

What is the state of play of the stress tests?

At the moment, we are in phase three of the stress tests: multinational teams consisting of Nuclear safety experts from EU Member States, including those who do not operate nuclear power plants (e.g. from Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg) are currently analysing the national reports and verifying open issues on-site when necessary. They are identifying key strengths and weaknesses and will present concrete recommendations for improvement on nuclear power plant level. The peer review process started in January 2012 and will be completed shortly.

This is the final phase of the stress tests which consists of three distinctive phases:

1) Self-assessments. By 15 August 2011 nuclear plant operators reported the results of their self-assessments to national regulatory authorities.

2) National reports. The national regulatory authorities had to compile final national reports and submit them to the European Commission by 31 December 2011.

3) Peer reviews. The aim of this stage is to provide a transparent, objective and comprehensive EU-wide assessment of the situation.

Which experts are members of these multinational teams? How does it work?

Since beginning of January 2012, the peer review members are examining all reports and written material on an individual basis, having also the opportunity to ask for additional information from the nuclear power plant operator via the national authority.

In the first part of the peer review process, topical review meetings (for initiating events, loss of safety functions, severe accident management) were conducted in February, involving nuclear safety experts from nuclear and non-nuclear EU Member States, Switzerland, Ukraine and the European Commission, as well as observers from other countries (Croatia, Japan, USA) and the IAEA.

As a second step, country review meetings will take place. There are six country teams consisting of six experts from national nuclear safety authorities and a representative of the European Commission.

The team members and the countries they are visiting are published on the ENSREG website:

http://ensreg.com/sites/default/files/Country%20Review%20Teams.pdf).

The national authorities could decide, to which countries they would like to send their experts to. There was no single country which opposed to specific experts checking their nuclear power plants.

The European Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), has provided the Secretariat to the stress tests and contributed to the elaboration of the stress tests modalities and peer review methodology. Building on its experience in nuclear safety, the JRC has centralised technical support on nuclear safety to the EC High Level Task Force. The JRC team is composed of 18 experts and mobilises the JRC requested expertise in all the subjects of the stress tests. It provides the secretariat for the planning and execution of the review process and takes part in the peer review missions to the participant countries. In September 2011, the Member States' Nuclear Safety Authorities participating in the stress tests agreed that the JRC would also be the "rapporteur" of the peer reviews.

How do you make sure that results are credible?

As national experts are checking the power plants in other countries, this will lead to objectivity and make results comparable. There will be no majority voting in the multinational team. If one expert has doubts about the opinion of the others, his remarks will be included in the final report. We are aiming for the highest transparency possible.

In every multinational team, there are experts from countries which have nuclear power and from countries which have not, as well as from the European Commission. This adds objectivity and credibility.

It is now a year after Fukushima. Why are there no results available yet?

The Commission presented some initial results of the stress tests in its Communication adopted on 24 November 2011. However, until the peer review process is finalised, any conclusions on overall stress test results for a particular Member State or a specific plant would be premature. While the tests are done in the fastest possible manner, it would be wrong to press for early results in exchange for thorough and in depth.

When will the final results of the stress tests be known?

The Commission will present its final report on the stress tests to the European Council in June 2012.

Will the Commission propose any concrete action?

In parallel, on the basis of initial findings, the European Commission is reviewing the EU nuclear safety legislation and working on ways for improvement.

In particular the Commission is considering:

Minimum technical safety requirements. Today different Member States apply different safety margins in nuclear power plants. EU-level technical criteria in the areas of siting, plant design, construction and operation could be set. For instance, the criteria could establish a minimum distance of the plant from the sea. These criteria should be a reference point when licensing or checking the operations of the plants.
Licensing and checks. National regulatory authorities are responsible for issuing licenses for new nuclear power plants and controlling the operation of the existing ones. To do this effectively they need to be completely independent. Their decisions and the reasoning behind them should be made available for the public.
Cross-border emergency response. A possible radiological emergency would not stop at national borders. Therefore cross-border emergency plans should be put in place. These plans should foresee the availability and sharing of healthcare and emergency response equipment, such as back-up generators in the event of loss of power in the plant.
Improving nuclear liability coverage. Different Member States apply different liability regimes. For example, some countries require unlimited liability in terms of compensation to victims while in others only limited amounts are available. Victim protection should not depend on the nationality of the victims, therefore measures are needed to improve victim compensation in the EU.

Are the results of the stress tests public?

Yes. All reports, including national reports and results of the peer reviews, are or will be available at www.ensreg.eu.

What will happen if a plant fails the tests?

In case a nuclear power plant fails the test and an upgrade is not technically or economically feasible, it should be shut down. Decisions on individual installations remain a national responsibility. However, the fact that the results of the stress tests will be public should ensure that all necessary steps will be taken to guarantee the utmost safety and security of all nuclear power plants in the EU.

What was the EU's action as regards the controls on food products imported from Japan?

On 25 March 2011, the Commission took emergency measures via a Regulation, providing that all feed and food originated in or consigned from 12 prefectures around the nuclear power plant from Fukushima in Japan have to be tested before export to the EU. These measures complement the extensive testing and controls carried out in Japan. Since then, the EU measures have been regularly amended in order to take account of developments and of the data collected. The measures provide a very high level of assurance as to the safety of food and feed placed on the EU market. About 2000 samples of feed and food from Japan were controlled in 2011 since the accident for the presence of radioactivity. Only two samples showed non-compliant results.

What relevant research is the European Commission funding?

The European Commission is funding research on the safety of nuclear fuel and fuel cycles, nuclear waste management and nuclear safeguards and security. It is also funding research into the effects and mitigation of natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis. Research is being funded through a variety of means, including:

- Euratom research and training programmes under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7). Euratom research and training programmes have existed for more than fifty years, since the Treaty was adopted. Under the 2012 work programme, a total of €53 million is available for research and training in the area of "Nuclear fission, Safety and Radiation Protection". As far as concrete collaboration with Japanese researchers is concerned, five research topics in three different activities have been identified in 2012 work programme: Impact of the nuclear accident in Japan on Severe Accident Management; Consequences of combination of extreme external events on the safety of Nuclear Power Plants; Contribution to low-dose risk research in Europe; Update of emergency management and rehabilitation strategies and expertise in Europe; and Euratom Fission Training Schemes.

For more information on FP7-funded nuclear research go to:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/euratom/index_en.cfm

- The Joint Research Centre (JRC). The JRC has long standing collaboration with Japanese research organisations in the safety of nuclear fuel and fuel cycles, nuclear waste management and nuclear safeguards and security. Following the Fukushima accident, several Japanese delegations visited the JRC - during these visits, several potential areas for collaboration were identified. The JRC's broad nuclear fuel safety competences have been and will be used in support of the Fukushima-Daiichi post-accident analysis, remediation and decommissioning. In this context, re-evaluation of existing Severe Accident works are being reviewed in collaboration with EU national research organisations and new aspects identified.

The JRC has also developed technologies and systems to provide scientific and technical support to global security and crisis management. They allow the collection of information, quantification of risks and the dissemination of warnings to mitigate both weather-driven and man-made disasters. This helps to reduce the risks to populations from events such as earthquakes and tsunamis. For instance, the JRC's tsunami alert system is part of the EU-UN Global Disaster Alerts and Coordination System (GDACS: http://www.gdacs.org/).

For information on all research activities of the JRC, go to:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm

- The European Research Council. The European Research Council (ERC) funds top-level frontier research by awarding grants to individual scientists and their teams in any field of research. It contributes to better understand the generation process for earthquakes and tsunamis by funding several projects in these areas. Fields of study include the mechanics of faults in earthquakes, a floating robot capable of detecting seismic waves, and the action and reaction of civil protection and the population during natural disasters.

For more on the ERC go to: http://erc.europa.eu/

Green bank headquarters to be based in Edinburgh

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

The headquarters of the UK's Green Investment Bank will be based in Edinburgh after it beat off competition from 18 other cities.

The bank is being set up with £3 billion of public money to help firms finance early-stage renewable energy schemes.

The organisation will be split, with the main transaction team being based in London.

The bank is expected to employ between 50 and 70 full-time staff across the two sites.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said it was a huge vote of confidence in Edinburgh's financial sector and Scotland's role in the "green economy".

He told BBC Scotland: "We are absolutely determined that Edinburgh will be central to the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB), that's why the headquarters will be here."

Business Secretary Vince Cable said the bank would harness the strengths of both Edinburgh and London.

He said: "Edinburgh has a thriving green sector and respected expertise in areas such as asset management.

"London, as the world's leading financial centre, will ensure that the GIB's transaction team can hit the ground running.

"This decision will allow the GIB to operate effectively and achieve its mission of mobilising the additional investment needed to accelerate the UK's transition to a green economy."

'Tremendous news'

Bryan Johnston, from investment management company Brewin Dolphin's Edinburgh office, described the news as "very encouraging".

He said it continued the trend of new institutions such as Virgin Money moving into Edinburgh's financial sector.

Owen Kelly, chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said it was "tremendous news for Edinburgh".

"The Edinburgh Green Investment Bank Group represented a broad range of interests from public and private sectors and the bid's success is testament to the strength of this collaborative approach," he said.

"The establishment of the Green Investment Bank is a real step forward in the commercialisation of low carbon technologies in the UK and I am delighted that it will be based in Edinburgh."

Dr Dan Barlow, WWF Scotland's head of policy, said: "Basing the Green Investment Bank HQ in Edinburgh will help put Scotland at the centre of UK low carbon investment.

"With world leading climate targets and massive renewable resource Scotland is now well placed to show real leadership in the move to a low carbon future."

Mark Lazarowicz, Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said: "This is a victory for Edinburgh and a victory for common sense.

"Edinburgh is the perfect city for the Green Investment Bank, being close to renewable sites and with a centuries-old tradition of banking."

National Theatre forms partnership with China

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

Scotland's growing relationship with China has moved to a more dramatic stage, with an official new partnership between the countries' national theatre companies.

The National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) and the National Theatre of China are to launch a creative partnership that will see the first season of new writing from contemporary Chinese talent on show next year in the UK.

Scotland's recent connections with China have encompassed both major Chinese productions at last year's Edinburgh International Festival, as well as the arrival of the two giant pandas, Tian Tian and Yang Guang, at Edinburgh Zoo.

Now the national theatres are to engage in an intense series of collaborations which will result in new Chinese writers and plays from China being performed, with assistance from NTS staff, at the popular A Play, A Pie and A Pint season at Oran Mor in Glasgow.

The National Theatre in China has been "inspired" by the NTS and its way of working with new writers and new writing, which has seen more than 100 productions in its first six years, including works by David Greig, Gregory Burke, Rona Munro and Abi Morgan, among others.

For the launch of the partnership in Beijing and Shanghai this week, there will be events including a writing laboratory and talks by George Aza-Selinger, literary manager of the NTS.

In the "24" project, the playwright and director Davey Anderson and Aza-Selinger will lead a two-week writing course for 10 selected Chinese writers in Beijing this summer.

The writers will then be given 24 hours to write a one-act play, which will be given a public reading in Beijing and will be "considered for a production in Scotland".

The selected playwrights will be invited to Scotland this autumn to work on their plays and a selection will be produced for Oran Mor's A Play, A Pie and A Pint in 2013.

The seeds of the new partnership were sown in September last year when Vicky Featherstone, artistic director of the NTS, invited Li Dong, the executive producer, and theatre director Tian Qinxin from the National Theatre of China to participate in an artistic residency in Scotland.

During the residency, Ms Tian was given an insight into how the NTS worked, and met artists and students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow University and Sahbal Mór Ostaig.

The National Theatre of China is the largest state-level performing art organisation of the People's Republic of China.

Founded on December 25, 2001, it focuses on producing original plays as well as classical works.

Ms Featherstone said: "I am honoured and delighted to be able to announce the beginning of a long theatrical relationship Scotland will develop with China. One of the most important things we can do in theatre is to make a platform for writers and to help them achieve their potential.

"We are thrilled to be working with the National Theatre of China, in this respect, with a country with such a rich culture, and such a diverse population.

"I am delighted to be part of this new initiative and can't wait to see what new ideas and writing talent will be discovered."

Other bodies involved in the collaboration include the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, the British Council in Beijing, The Confucius Institute for Scotland in Edinburgh University and Peking University.

The development activities in China are being led by Ms Tian, who is also the vice-director of film, television and theatre at Peking University.

Zhiqiang Zhou, president of the National Theatre of China, added: "It looks like there will be many exciting possibilities for long-term collaboration between Scotland and China.

"We are thrilled to build a long-term relationship with the National Theatre of Scotland, a company of high artistic quality."

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "This lively and exciting collaboration is another example of how Scotland's relationship with China is being strengthened across a wide spectrum of cultural, business and education links.

"Artistic exchanges like this are crucial to creating a climate of mutual trust, understanding and friendship between our two countries."

EU-funded study says flexible brains help train bodies to use prosthetics

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Scientists working on the development of thought-controlled prosthetic devices for people recovering from spinal cord injuries or an amputation will be pleased to read a new EU-funded study that shows the brain is more flexible and trainable than was previously thought.

Writing in the journal Nature, a team of Portuguese and American researchers explain how through a process called plasticity, parts of the brain can be trained to do something they normally wouldn't do. The team found that the same brain circuits used for learning motor skills, such as riding a bike or driving a car, can be used to master purely mental tasks, even arbitrary ones. This is also the first study to successfully rule out the role of physical movement when learning to use a prosthetic device.

One of the study authors, Dr Rui Manuel Marques Fernandes da Costa from the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal, was awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to the tune of more than EUR 1.5 million for work carried out on his NEUROHABIT ('Neural mechanisms of action learning and action selection: From intent to habit') project, which contributed to the study.

Another study author, Jose Carmena from the University of California, Berkeley in the United States comments on the study results: 'What we hope is that our new insights into the brain's wiring will lead to a wider range of better prostheses that feel as close to natural as possible. They suggest that learning to control a BMI (brain-machine interface), which is inherently unnatural, may feel completely normal to a person, because this learning is using the brain's existing built-in circuits for natural motor control. This is key for people who can't move. Most brain-machine interface studies have been done in healthy, able-bodied animals. What our study shows is that neuroprosthetic control is possible, even if physical movement is not involved.'

The experiment carried out by the team involved seeing if rats could complete an abstract task if overt physical movement was not involved. The researchers decoupled the role of the targeted motor neurons needed for whisker twitching with the action necessary to get a food reward. The rats were fitted with a brain-machine interface that converted brain waves into auditory tones. To get a food reward, the rats had to modulate their thought patterns within a specific brain circuit in order to raise or lower the pitch of the signal. Auditory feedback was given to the rats, so that they learned to associate specific thought patterns with a specific pitch.

Over a period of just two weeks, the rats quickly learned that to get food pellets, they would have to create a high-pitched tone; to get sugar water, they needed to create a low-pitched tone. If the group of neurons in the task were used for their normal function, whisker twitching, there would be no pitch change to the auditory tone, and no food reward.

'This is something that is not natural for the rats,' comments Dr. Costa. 'This tells us that it's possible to craft a prosthesis in ways that do not have to mimic the anatomy of the natural motor system in order to work.'

Researchers hope these findings will lead to a new generation of prosthetic devices that feel natural and can be used without patients having to think too hard about moving a robotic limb.

For more information, please visit: University of California - Berkeley: http://www.berkeley.edu/

Naming the new Forth Crossing

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Transport Minister Keith Brown has today announced new details on the process for naming the new bridge being built across the Forth.

It will begin with establishing an advisory panel made up of independent civic, business and community representatives from across Scotland, who will responsible for gathering and assessing suggestions from members of the public.

All potential options will be considered by the panel before a shortlist of the most appropriate names is produced and put to a public vote to find the most popular.

It is anticipated that the public vote and formal selection of the new name will take place in 2013. Construction on the Forth Replacement Crossing began in 2011 and is on schedule to open on schedule and on budget in 2016.

Speaking on a visit to the existing Forth Road Bridge today, Mr Brown said:

“This is the biggest single infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation and will deliver an iconic world class 21st century addition to the 20th century Forth Road Bridge and the original 19th century Forth Bridge.

“It is absolutely right that the people of Scotland have a say on the identity of this historic project and for that reason I am very happy to announce that a public vote on the naming will take place next year.

“I will shortly be appointing a panel of independent advisors to undertake a consultation on potential names. They will consider all possible suggestions before producing a shortlist of the most appropriate that can be put to a public vote.

“This is an exciting project that we want the people of Scotland to take pride in and I am delighted that the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to have the final say.”

At the start of Scottish tourism week, Mr Brown also highlighted continuing efforts to have the historic 19th Century Forth Bridge recognised as a World Heritage Site:

"On behalf of the Forth Bridges Forum, Historic Scotland are preparing to submit a Technical Evaluation document in support of the Forth Bridge's application for World Heritage Status.

"This is just the first round of the process. Transport Scotland, Network Rail and the surrounding local authorities are supportive of the bid and look forward to working with Historic Scotland on this important project."

There's platinum in them thar hills says Scotgold chief Chris Sangster

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

SCOTGOLD could add copper, platinum and other precious metals to its interests following “exciting” initial findings five kilometres from its Cononish gold and silver mine near Tyndrum.

Drilling results from the Sron Garbh complex to the north of Loch Lomond have also revealed evidence of cobalt, gold, nickel and palladium.

Chris Sangster, chief executive of Aim-quoted Scotgold, said the unusual style of the deposits could indicate an extensive mineral formation.

“The style, the type of rocks and the signature of the elements are similar to other significant deposits elsewhere in the world,” Sangster said.

These include developments such as the Aguablanca nickel and copper mine in Spain, the Voisey’s Bay nickel project in Labrador, Canada, and the Lac des Iles complex in Quebec, Canada’s largest body of palladium.

Further drilling will begin at Sron Garbh within the next six months to better determine the size of the discovery and whether there are larger amounts of minerals at deeper depths.

Sangster said it is impossible right now to say whether the find is huge or small.

“There is potential for a deposit of economic significance – that is the best way to put it,” he said, adding that the presence of platinum was particularly noteworthy.

“You don’t come across platinum very often in Scotland, just one or two places,” Sangster said.

“It underlines the fact of what we have said before – Scotland is under-explored for minerals, so there is a lot of potential out there.”

Scotgold has three licenses covering 3,200sq km across central Scotland, including the Cononish site that will be the country’s only operational gold mine when it begins production later this year.

The licenses give it the right to prospect for and seek a lease to mine gold and silver, with other minerals generally belonging to the owner of the land.

However, Sangster said Scotgold would be interested in adding other metals to its portfolio, adding “an exciting new dimension” to the exploration programme.

Last month, Scotgold received formal planning permission to mine at Cononish after striking an agreement with Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to ensure the restoration of the site if Scotgold withdraws from the project.

Initial approval for a ten-year underground mine had been granted in October.

Scotgold expects to mine Cononish at an annual rate of 72,000 tonnes, producing up to 25,000 ounces of gold and 85,000 ounces of silver over the lifetime of the project. Cashflow generated from the Cononish mine would be used to fund other exploration in the region.

Scotgold in its current form was launched in 2007 and took over two Scottish gold mining companies. It floated on the Australian stock market the following year and added a listing on Aim in 2010.

Shares in Scotgold closed 7.3 per cent higher yesterday at 5.5p, valuing the business at about £10 million.

Tourism to become EU economic driver in 2012

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

72% of EU citizens travelled in 2011, and more than 80% said that they would do so in 2012, choosing to go either on short trips or longer holidays. These are the results of the new Eurobarometer survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism, which also sheds light on the preferences and travel patterns of EU citizens. The Eurobarometer revealed also that in 2011 more citizens chose to stay in Europe for their holidays; many more have said they will do so in 2012.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: "Our continent's cultural and natural richness, and long-standing traditions of hospitality, are still close to the hearts of Europeans. The European Tourism sector has performed well, and it even grew in 2011. Our data underline that the sector will further improve in 2012. This confirms that travel and tourism are powerful economic drivers for the European recovery".

The preferences of European tourists

The Eurobarometer survey provides interesting insights into the preferences of European travellers:

The majority of EU-residents are confident travellers, who prefer arranging their holidays by themselves: 53% of Europeans booked their holidays via internet. As informed and empowered consumers, 49% of those who went on holiday in 2011 organised the various elements of their trip separately, rather than booking them altogether in one package.
But they still rely on recommendations from family and friends about where to go. "Word of mouth" was relevant to 52% of EU travellers, more than internet websites (40%).
Travelling is done mostly by car and motorbike. Those who travelled in 2011 preferred to travel by these means of transport (78%), much more than in 2010 (44%). However, 2011 also recorded a slight increase in the use of aeroplanes compared to 2010 (46% compared to 39%).
Nights are spent mostly in hotels or rented accommodation: European travellers chose to stay in paid-for accommodations, regardless of the length of their holidays (this applied to 54% of those who went on short trips and 60% of those who spent at least four nights away).
European travellers seek rest and recreation: 48% of those who went on holidays in 2011 had this objective in mind, more than in 2010 (36%), followed by "sun and beach" and "visiting family and friends" (28%).
They value natural beauty and quality service: more than 50% of EU residents would go back to the same place, for its natural features. More than 90% of EU respondents were satisfied with their choice of destination and with the quality of the accommodation.
72% of Europeans travelled in 2011: the proportion of EU citizens who went away last year (72%) remained substantially unchanged compared to last year’s survey. European travellers preferred their own country (Greece 80%, Italy 74%, Croatia 73%), or another country in the EU. Spain was the most visited country in 2011 (11%), followed by Italy (9%), France (8%), Germany (5%), Austria (5%) and Greece (4%).
and Europeans will travel in 2012: 73% of the respondents will not give up to their holidays despite the crisis, although 33% have had to change their original plans. 41% of respondents who will travel in 2012 are planning longer holidays (between 4 and 13 nights), rather than short–stay trips (27%). Preference will be given again to their own country (52%) or to another country in the EU (37%). Preferred destinations in 2012 will be Spain (10%), Italy (7%), France (6%), Greece (4%), Austria, United Kingdom and Germany (3%).

The Eurobarometer survey

For this Eurobarometer survey, over 30,000 randomly selected citizens aged 15 and over were interviewed in January 2012 in the 27 EU Member States as well as in Norway, Iceland, Croatia, Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Israel. This is the fourth consecutive year that the European Commission has carried out such an extensive survey, which offers a wealth of comparable information to all tourism stakeholders, presented analytically in country specific and demographic categories. It helps to monitor the short and medium term travel and tourism trends of European citizens. This allows both the Commission and its stakeholders to react to changes in tourism demand, and is therefore an important instrument for tourism policy-making as well as for tourism industry planning, in particular as regards the types of tourism and the main tourism destinations.

Background

According to Eurostat, the European tourist-accommodation sector reached in 2011 record numbers in the EU 27, surpassing pre-crisis results. Nights spent by non-residents in hotels and other similar establishments went up by more than 7%, whereas nights spent by residents went up by 1.2%

The highest numbers of nights spent in hotels by non-residents were recorded in Spain (+14,7%) and Italy (+ 3.9%), whereas the largest increase of nights spent by residents in hotels were recorded in Lithuania (+20.6%), Bulgaria (+15.0%) and Romania (+13.4%).

For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/flash_arch_344_330_en.htm#334

Scientists refute widely held view on how Motor Neurone Disease works

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

When we imagine how research results can change society or help us make new bounds in medical science we think of proving a hypothesis or cracking a code, but sometimes research that refutes a theory can be just as beneficial, as scientists can eliminate a hypothesis from the mix and save years of wasted-time investigating dead ends. And a team of German researchers has just done exactly that.

Writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the team refute a widely accepted hypothesis about a causative step in neurodegenerative conditions. These results deal specifically with animal models of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Motor Neurone Disease, but the findings also have implications for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Huntington's disease.

Their work was supported by the iPSoALS ('Modeling sporadic ALS in motor neurons by genetic reprogramming of patient skin fibroblasts') project, which is funded under the Seventh Framework Programme's (FP7) EUR 2 million ERA-NET Neuron Scheme.

One of the ways neurodegenerative diseases manifest themselves is in the loss of axons - essentially, the transmission lines for electrical signals in individual nerve cells - and synapses, the key sites for communication between them. In the past, such damage has been attributed to deficits in the bi-directional transport of organelles, such as the intracellular power plants called mitochondria, along the axons of nerve cells.

The team, from the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen (LMU), put these previously-held assumptions to the test in one of the most thorough tests carried out to date. They used novel imaging techniques - with high resolution in both space and time - to observe changes in both axon morphology and organelle transport in several different animal models of ALS. Their results show that transport deficits and axon degeneration can develop independently of each other, throwing into question the theory that one is a direct cause of the other.

They observed axonal organelle transport in living tissue in real time - and in a way that enabled them to track the movement of individual mitochondria - using a novel imaging approach that involves transgenic labelling. They were also able to observe transport of another kind of organelle, endosome-derived vesicles. Several different animal models of ALS were investigated, all of which are based on human mutations associated with the disease.

One of the study authors, Professor Thomas Misgeld from the Institute of Neuroscience at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen, comments on their findings: 'We do think these insights have implications for other studies of ALS, or even studies of other neurodegenerative diseases. What our experiments really say is that it is not easy to develop faithful models of neurodegenerative diseases. So it might be worth spending more effort to get better animal models, as this is the only way forward for mechanistic studies, while always checking them against human pathology or human-derived cellular models. In the meantime, it is probably prudent to work with several of the available models in parallel. Moreover, in more general biological terms, our results also speak to the relationship between axonal transport disruptions and degeneration - which might not be as tight as we assumed. Here we have a lot more to understand.'

The iPSoALS project brings together researchers from France, Germany, Israel and Sweden with the aim of better understanding ALS disease mechanisms.

For more information, please visit: Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM): http://portal.mytum.de/welcome_en/

Scotland to launch Climate Justice Fund

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Scotland will launch a ‘Climate Justice Fund’ this spring in response to the impact of climate change on the world’s poorest communities, it was announced recently.

In what is understood to be the first parliamentary debate on the issue worldwide, the Scottish Parliament debated climate justice recently. The debate highlighted the increasing impact of climate change on the world’s poorest – who despite contributing the least to the causes of climate change, in terms of carbon emissions, are worst equipped to respond to it.

During the debate Minister for Environment and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson confirmed the Scottish Government manifesto commitment to co-ordinate a climate adaptation fund will be taken forward, by launching Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund in the coming months. The announcement follows the First Minister championing the need for climate justice during recent visits to China and the Gulf.

Mr Stevenson said:

“It is a travesty that it’s the poorest people in the world’s most undeveloped countries who are hardest hit by climate change. They are least able to respond to the impact of increasingly erratic weather patterns and ever more frequent climate-related disasters. This situation cannot continue and the onus is on the international community to take action.

“Therefore I’m pleased to confirm to Parliament today that the Scottish Government is progressing plans to establish a Scottish Climate Justice Fund, which will be launched in the next few months.

“Our parliamentary debate on climate justice is understood to be a world first, with Scotland making clear to other industrialised nations that action is needed – and sending a message to developing countries that we understand the urgency of the situation. I’m determined that Scotland will continue to provide leadership and take action on these key issues.”

Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund – which will meet the manifesto commitment to co-ordinate the establishment of a climate adaptation fund – is expected to be operational from the spring, with further plans to be announced in the coming months.

Related information

First Minister urges world leaders to make 2012 a year of climate justice

First Minister receives climate change award

Strengthening Research Collaboration with Singapore

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/healthcare/competitiveness/pricing-reimbursement/transparency/index_en.htm

The EU and Singapore have a long and successful history of cooperation in research and innovation especially in the field information and communication technologies. The European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn is currently visiting Singapore, the regional research and innovation hub in South East Asia, in the context of the EU-ASEAN Year of Science, Technology and Innovation 2012'.

Overcoming fragmentation

The purpose of this visit is to strengthen EU-Singapore cooperation in areas where Singapore is leader, in particular in the biomedical sciences, physical sciences & engineering, and Information and Communication technologies. The visit is also an opportunity to promote the EU-ASEAN bi-regional dialogue in science and technology in the context of the 'EU-ASEAN Year of Science, Technology and Innovation 2012' in which Singapore takes an active role. Increasing cooperation with international partners in areas of common interest is a central element of Horizon 2020: the new EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for the period 2014-2020. Through working with international partners EU researchers, including regional blocks of countries such ASEAN, will be able to tackle more effectively global research challenges, build scientific excellence and develop new and innovative industrial and enabling technologies.

While in Singapore the Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn will meet Mr. Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and his Managing Director Prof. LOW Teck Seng; as well as Dr Francis Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Foundation.

The Commissioner will also visit 'ATMOL' a FP7 project involving Singaporean researchers from A*Star. She will give one keynote speech at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), one of the greatest universities of Singapore, on 'Sharing excellence in science, technology and innovation between Europe, Singapore and the ASEAN region".

Background information:

The 'EU -ASEAN Year of Science, Technology and Innovation 2012' is a year long campaign to deepen S&T collaboration between Europe and Southeast Asia. The year will increase awareness of the importance of bi-regional collaboration within the broader research community, as well as opening up new opportunities for researchers to link up and work together. It is driven by a wide range of stakeholders from the two regions (mostly S&T policy makers, universities and research organizations) and the media. Under the umbrella of the "Year", activities will take place in ASEAN and the EU to promote co-operation across all fields of science and technology, including the organisation of a "Partnership Symposium" on EU-ASEAN Research and Innovation Cooperation during the Euroscience Open Forum in July 2012 in Dublin (ESOF 2012).

For more information on:

International science and technology cooperation, please visit: www.ec.europa.eu/research/inco
Horizon 2020, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm
'EU -ASEAN Year of Science, Technology and Innovation 2012': http://www.yearofscience2012.com/

Funding will help Scots tackle debt

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Cash totalling £7 million from the Scottish Government and the Money Advice Service will be made available over the next three years to help Scots combat the ongoing effects of the economic downturn.

Grant funding of £4.8 million from the Scottish Government and £2.2 million from the Money Advice Service will go towards a jointly funded programme which will be managed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board to help Scots resolve their legal and financial problems.

The cash boost from the Scottish Government and the Money Advice Service, which helps people across the UK manage their money better, will enable the Scottish Legal Aid Board, initially, to extend existing projects which over the last three years have supported people facing problems associated with the economic downturn. From October 2012 the Board will use the funding to establish a new programme of support for people across Scotland.

Additionally, the Money Advice Service will provide £500,000 of financial support to projects run in partnership with the Improvement Service, Accountant in Bankruptcy and Money Advice Scotland.

The establishment of the grants programme is consistent with aims of the Making Justice Work Programme, which has been established by the Scottish Government to provide an outcome-focussed programme of work to advance the wider interests of the justice system and system users, through partnership working.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, said:

“This is an important agreement that underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment through the Making Justice Work programme to ensure that people get the help they need to deal with problems such as multiple debts, repossession and eviction.

“We have all been affected in some way by the economic downturn – some more so than others. By ensuring support is in place for people across Scotland who are facing financial and other challenges, those who find themselves in difficulty can rest assured that this Government is doing all it can to assist them in these tough financial times.”

Lindsay Montgomery, Chief Executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, said:

“We are delighted to have been asked to manage this significant and expanded partnership grants programme. We very much welcome this substantial amount of financial support from both the Scottish Government and Money Advice Service. This will enable us not only to build upon the previous success of our existing programme in providing legal help to people facing the impacts of the downturn, but will also help to establish a new programme to improve upon the existing support for people across Scotland who require this type of legal assistance.”

Gerard Lemos, Chair of the Money Advice Service said:

“The Money Advice Service takes responsibility for co-ordinating personal debt advice services across the UK from 1 April 2012. As part of this approach, we are pleased to be able to provide additional funding to the Scottish Legal Aid Board to contribute to the funding of new projects that will help more people across Scotland who are encountering debt problems.”

The Scottish Legal Aid Board was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. It is a non-departmental public body responsible to the Scottish Government. The Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 made provision for the Board to pay for advice work through grant funding.

In Scotland, the Money Advice Service also plans to fund:

Capacity-building work with voluntary sector agencies to increase compliance with the Scottish National Standards for advice and supporting work, to be conducted by Money Advice Scotland.
Research to arrive at a shared understanding of best practice for local authority commissioning of debt advice services, to be conducted by the Improvement Service.

The Money Advice Service is an independent organisation. It gives free, unbiased money advice across the UK – online, over the phone and face-to-face. The Service was set up by Government and is paid for by a statutory levy on the financial services industry, raised through the Financial Services Authority.

Related information: Making Justice Work

Scots and English universities to share Viking knowledge

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Scottish and English universities are to work together in an effort to expand knowledge of Viking culture.

The University of the Highlands and Islands' Centre for Nordic Studies will work with staff and students from Oxford, Cambridge and Nottingham.

The project will include seven-day field trips for students to Viking sites on Orkney.

It will conclude with public exhibitions showcasing information gathered by the students.

Dr Heather O'Donoghue, reader in Old Norse at Oxford University and project leader, said the project would be an opportunity to share knowledge on the Vikings.

She added: "We are thrilled to be collaborating with UHI's Centre for Nordic Studies, privileged to be sharing their expertise and enormously grateful for their enthusiastic support in this important project."

Dr Donna Heddle, director of the Orkney-based Centre for Nordic Studies, said: "We were delighted to be asked to join this consortium.

"It is great recognition for the university and for the Centre for Nordic Studies' growing international reputation in Viking studies.

"Experts coming together to pass on their knowledge to students in the beautiful environments of Oxford and Kirkwall - what could be better?"

The Northern Isles and the Highlands and Islands are rich in Viking and Norse sites and remains.

Last year, a 12th Century Viking shipbuilding yard was documented on Skye.

The UK mainland's first fully intact Viking boat burial site was also uncovered in the west Highlands.

The site, at Ardnamurchan, is thought to be more than 1,000 years old.

Artefacts buried alongside the Viking in his boat suggest he was a high-ranking warrior.

Deals website Negotiate Now to create 100 jobs in Glasgow

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

An online discount deals company is planning to expand its business and create up to 100 new jobs in Glasgow.

Negotiate Now is a website for businesses and contractors, designed to offer bargains to local customers.

Most of the new jobs in the east end of the city will be in telesales, although others will be created in IT and in business development.

The company's expansion includes the launch of a new business support arm, Business Growth Now.

Negotiate Now is one of a growing number of sites which offer discounts on things like eating out, clothes and flights.

However, it also features reduced prices in home services and repairs by tradespeople, such as plumbers and electricians.

Stephen Lyall, the managing director of both companies, said: "We are delighted to be able to announce the creation of 100 new jobs and I am keen, where possible, to recruit from the ranks of the unemployed.

"We are willing to provide training, with help from public sector partners, where possible to give a chance to those who have not been lucky enough to find work in the past, or who have been out of work for some time."

Scotland's Space industry set for lift-off

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Leading figures from the UK and Europe’s Space sector descend on Glasgow on March 6 for the second Scottish Space Symposium, to explore the benefits that Space technology can provide as the multi-billion pound industry continues to grow.

The symposium, organised by the University of Strathclyde and supported by Scottish Enterprise, will focus on the downstream sector of the industry that uses space derived services such as satellite telecommunications, earth observation and navigation.

Worldwide, the space sector is expected to grow to £400 billion by 2030, The UK’s share of that sector could create as many as 100,000 high-value jobs. Scotland is well placed to play a significant role and the event will highlight the many opportunities for businesses across the country.

Dr Derek Bennet of the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Space Concepts Laboratory, said: “Information provided from Space will be a significant growth area over the next decade and beyond, not only for companies developing platforms and systems to deliver it, but for companies able to the use the data to develop new products and services.

“It is estimated that the downstream element of the sector is worth ten times more than upstream, with satellite data increasingly being used in a range of industries including transport, agriculture and renewable energy.

“At Strathclyde we are actively engaged with industry partners to develop Scotland’s capabilities and the symposium provides an ideal platform to ensure that partnership approach continues.”

Senior figures from the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency and the Technology Strategy Board will join leading downstream space companies at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow for the event.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear first hand about the Technology Strategy Board-funded Satellite Applications Catapult Centre. The new centre, expected to open in Autumn 2012, will provide in-orbit test facilities, allowing innovative UK organisations to demonstrate new satellite technologies. It will also remove significant cost barriers and expedite the development of new products and services delivered by satellites.

Ross White, Scottish Enterprise added: “Scotland’s Space industry is a dynamic and growing sector, spearheaded by companies with cutting edge specialisms, supported by a national technology centre and underpinned by world leading research groups. Scottish Enterprise is delighted to support the second Scottish Space Symposium, which brings these key Scottish groups together with UK and International partners to explore opportunities for growth.”

Electric car centre set to open in Glasgow

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Motorists will be able to test-drive and hire electric vehicles at a new dedicated facility which is set to open in the heart of Glasgow.

The facility will open alongside a permanent renewable energy exhibition at power firm SSE's Scottish Hydro Centre for Renewable Excellence.

Cars, electric scooters and bikes will be available to rent from the centre, close to Glasgow Central train station.

The facility will also allow motorists to charge their vehicles for free.

SSE said it would be the UK's first dedicated centre offering free electric vehicle charging, as well as hiring and parking.

Kevin O'Neill, from SSE, said the centre would help address common "myths" about electric cars.

He said: "What we are trying to do with these cars is prove to people that if you are living in the city centre or outwith and use one of these vehicles for 20 or 30 miles a day, they are really easy and actually fun to drive.

"That is why we are inviting people down to try them out.

"We also have a hire facility so anyone coming off the train from London, say, can come along and get a hire car for the day and go to business meetings in central Scotland and bring it back."

'Power of Now'

The facility will be next to an interactive renewable energy exhibition run by SSE.

The Power of Now exhibition will include a display showing how a hydroelectric dam works and a simulation of the electricity network, showing how renewable generation connects to the transmission network and is then transported into the home.

There will also be a visual display of a "smart home", featuring the latest technology in heat pumps, electric heating and boilers.

Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson said: "This new interactive renewable energy public exhibition will be a great educational tool for our city, especially our children.

"I am also sure the all-electric facility will help in our fight to reduce our city's carbon emissions and I'm delighted to see such a great resource now situated in the heart of Glasgow."

EU talks quotas for women in the boardroom

Tue, 6 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

The European Union is moving closer to introducing mandatory quotas for the number of women on company boards after businesses failed to make sufficient progress in gender equality over the past year.

The EU’s justice commissioner, Viviane Reding, said that – at the current rate – it would take more than 40 years for women to hold 40 per cent of board positions in Europe’s publicly-listed companies.

“I am not fond of quotas,” Reding said. “But I very much like what quotas do.”

Helena Morrissey, the chief executive of Newton Investment Management and founder of the 30% Club, which aims to increase the number of women on UK board without quotas, said: “Progress is already being made through self-regulation here in the UK and we expect this to accelerate. Investors don’t want quotas, boards don’t want quotas and women don’t want quotas.”

MEPs give go-ahead for energy efficiency negotiations in historic European Parliament energy committee vote

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS News

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) sitting on the European Parliament (EP) Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) have given the thumbs up to stronger binding targets for 2020 on energy efficiency. At their latest meeting on 28 February, the MEPs agreed on a series of amendments to the proposed Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) of 22 June 2011, as well as making the exceptional decision that interinstitutional negotiations with the Council of the European Union should begin straight away. All MEPs will get the chance to vote on the draft legislation at the next EP plenary session in March.

Discussions on the EED, the final Europe 2020 flagship initiative, have been long and complex with stakeholders across industry and politics, NGOs and academia all contributing to lively debates. The different parliamentary groups in the EP have been negotiating thousands of amendments to the draft resolution. In the end, 17 of the 18 compromise amendments were eventually adopted and the final draft was adopted by 51 votes to 6, with three abstentions.

The Commission has estimated that the EU will only achieve half of its current non-binding EU target of achieving 20% primary energy savings in 2020 if no measures are taken. Energy efficiency can help boost the EU's economy by reducing dependence on imported goods, creating jobs, freeing up financial resources, boosting competitiveness, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The ITRE committee voted for a series of binding measures to help implement the overall 20% target. They want Member States to make concrete plans for achieving energy savings of 80% in the buildings sector by 2050.

Luxembourgish MEP Claude Turmes from the Greens/European Free Alliance group has led the negotiations on the EED in his role as rapporteur on the draft legislation to the ITRE committee. He comments on the historic vote:
'This vote is the most progressive vote that the EP has ever taken on a piece of legislation on energy efficiency. It was really an important day as this is potentially a step change for energy policy in Europe. Now it will depend on the willingness of 27 EU governments to help us build the future of Europe.'

Under the draft plan, EU Member States would be required to set themselves binding national energy efficiency targets, and save energy by specific means such as renovating public buildings. The ITRE committee also gave its support for the setting aside of European Union Emissions Trading scheme (EU ETS) allowances; the related amendment would allow the European Commission to cut the supply of carbon permits from the 2013-to-2020 phase of the EU ETS.

Claude Turmes continues: 'This vote is a major sign that Parliament, with a majority including most political parties, takes rising energy costs and energy poverty seriously. Energy efficiency offers possibilities for job creation - notably in the building sector. Now governments have a choice: protect citizens against energy poverty and create many job opportunities or allow big energy companies to make ever-increasing profits.'

Ahead of the ITRE vote, energy efficiency experts from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom published a new report in which they called for new targets to reduce energy demand across the EU. In the report, published under the auspices of the Build with CaRe project, the researchers propose setting a new EU target of a 40% reduction in primary energy demand by 2050.

Build with CaRe, which is funded in part by the European Regional Development Fund, brings together local and regional authorities, universities and institutes from 10 regions in 5 countries in the North Sea Region and aims to mobilise all forces in order to make energy-efficient building design the mainstream trend.

For more information, please visit: European Parliament: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/

Commission proposes faster access to medicines for patients

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Medicines should enter the market faster. With this intention the European Commission has proposed yesterday to streamline and reduce the duration of national decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines. In the future, such decisions should be taken within 120 days for innovative medicines, as a rule, and for generic medicinal products within only 30, instead of 180 days yesterday . Commission also proposes strong enforcement measures in case the decisions do not comply with the time limits, as these are often exceeded by Member States. The new Directive represents an important simplification measure and shall repeal and replace the longstanding Directive from 1989, which no longer reflected the increased complexity of the pricing and reimbursement procedures in the Member States.

Presenting this proposal the European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, underlined: "We need faster decisions leading to pricing and reimbursement to maintain a dynamic pharmaceutical market and to offer citizens better access to pharmaceuticals. Our proposal will lead to substantial savings for public health budgets, for example by allowing earlier market entry of generic products. It also creates a more predictable environment with greater transparency for pharmaceutical companies, thus improving their competitiveness."

Background

After the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicinal products are established during the process of marketing authorisation, each Member State makes a further evaluation to decide whether the medicine is eligible for reimbursement, in compliance with the common procedural rules established under the Transparency Directive.

Complexity of national measures related to the pricing of medicinal products has increased since 1989, when the Transparency Directive for pharmaceutical products was adopted. By then, pricing and reimbursement procedures mainly involved the submission of an application followed by a decision-making process to determine the price of the medicine and/or its eligibility to reimbursement. However, the increasing diversity since 1989 led to complex pricing and reimbursement schemes (e.g. some of these schemes contain different categories of reimbursement). The Court of Justice ruled in its case-law that all national measures to control the prices of medicinal products or to restrict the range of medicinal products must comply with the Directive³. The proposal aims at reflecting the relevant case-law of the Court in the text of the Directive.

This revision is a follow up to the Commission report on the pharmaceutical sector in 2009 (Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry) which revealed long and cumbersome pricing and reimbursement decisions. Studies have shown that delays in pricing and reimbursement decisions can go up to 700 days for innovative medicines and up to 250 days for generics.

Yesterday's proposal aims at introducing the following main changes:

Guaranteeing shorter time limits for national, regional or local decisions on pricing and reimbursement of:

all medicinal products in general (120 days instead of 180 days, except for more complex procedures) and
generic medicinal products in particular (30 days instead of 180 days) when the price of the reference product has already been approved or it has already been included in the public health insurance system.

Increasing the effectiveness of the directive by proposing strong enforcement measures, i.e. in case of non-compliance with the time limits, a Member State has to designate a body entrusted with the powers to take rapid measures such as:

adopting interim measures with the aim of correcting the alleged infringement or preventing further damage to the interests concerned;
awarding damages to the applicant;
imposing a penalty payment, calculated by day of delay.

Introducing the obligation fro Member States to regularly reporting on their decisions and the time involved.
Notifying national pricing and reimbursement draft measures to the Commission to facilitate compliance from the beginning.
Ensuring legal clarity and consistency with the Court of Justice case-law and clarifying the scope of transparency obligations.
Addressing the uncertainties relating to innovative pricing and reimbursement procedures: e.g. exclusion of tendering (covered by public procurement law) and of managed entry agreements (covered by contractual/administrative law) from the scope of application of the Directive.

More information on the Commission's public consultation in preparation of yesterday's proposals

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/pharmaceuticals/inquiry/index.html

MEMO/12/148

"Orphan" works soon to be online?

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

A photo, a film or a poem still covered by copyright, but whose right holder is not identifiable, would be made publicly available across the EU, under draft legislation voted by the Legal Affairs Committee on Thursday. This legislation would allow everyone to access so-called "orphan works" and push forward the project of making Europe's cultural heritage available online.

MEPs unanimously approved a mandate for Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg (S&D, PL), to start talks with the Council to agree reach an agreement on the legislation.

Ms Geringer de Oedenberg said "This regulation would finally make it possible to get some hidden treasures out of the closet and make them available to the general public. Now it is time to start negotiating with national governments and stand up for our points".

Currently, digitising an orphan work can be difficult if not impossible, since in absence of the right holder there is no way to obtain permission. The new rules would protect institutions using orphan works from future copyright infringement claims, and thus avoid court cases like that in the US, in which a Google project to digitise and share all kinds of books, including orphan works, was blocked on the grounds that the orphan works question should be settled by legislation, not private agreements.

"Diligent" search to protect copyright

According to the approved text, a work would be deemed to be orphan if, after a "diligent" search, it was not possible to identify or locate the copyright holder. The draft legislation lays down criteria for carrying out the search.

Works granted orphan status would be then made public, through digitization and only for non-profit purposes. A work considered orphan in a single Member State would be considered as such throughout the EU.

This would apply to any audiovisual or printed material, including a photograph or an illustration embedded in a book, published or broadcast in any EU country.

Compensation if copyright holder shows up

MEPs said that the right holder should be entitled to put an end to the orphan status of a work at any time and claim an appropriate compensation for the use made out of it. The rules on compensation would be established nationally.

Next steps

Ms Geringer de Oedenberg will now lead a team from Parliament in negotiations with the Council. The two institutions have to agree on a text for the legislation to be approved.

Researchers find piece of autism puzzle

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have a complex inheritance pattern. Despite researchers having identified rare variants in synaptic proteins in patients with ASD, little work has been carried out to determine the effect at the synapse and their interactions with other genetic variations, until now. A European team of researchers has confirmed that synaptic mutations heightens the risk of ASD.

The study, presented in the journal PLoS Genetics, was funded in part by the EUHFAUTISM ('European high-functioning autism network: translational research in a phenotypically well characterised sample') project, a Neuron-ERA-NET funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of almost EUR 370 000.

Researchers led by the Institut Pasteur in France combined genetic and neurobiological approaches to determine how ASD risk increases. They also found how modifier genes influence these disorders.

ASDs are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders with a complex inheritance pattern characterised by impairments in social interaction and communication. Repetitive behaviour also restricts them.

According to the researchers, ASDs emerge before the age of three years and affect 1% of children. More boys than girls have a higher risk of being affected by ASD. The researchers say a number of genes that play a role in ASD have been identified in patients with ASD. However, researchers have only recently begun learning about their effects on neuronal functions and their interaction with other genetic variations.

'The genetic causes of ASD are diverse, but the main category of genes associated with the disorder is related to the development and function of neuronal circuits,' the authors write. 'Mutations of genes coding for synaptic cell adhesion molecules and scaffolding proteins, such as neuroligins (NLGNs), neurexins (NRXNs) and SHANK, have been recurrently reported in patients with ASD. These proteins play a crucial role in the formation and stabilisation of synapses, as well as in synaptic homeostasis.

'SHANK2 and SHANK3 code for scaffolding proteins located in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of glutamatergic synapses. Deletions of ProSAP2/SHANK3 at chromosome 22q13 are one of the major genetic abnormalities in neurodevelopmental disorders, and mutations of ProSAP2/SHANK3 have been identified in patients with ASD, intellectual disability (ID) and schizophrenia. Mutations of ProSAP1/SHANK2 have also recently been reported in both ASD and ID. The difference in clinical outcome of mutation carriers has been attributed to the presence of still uncharacterised additional genetic, epigenetic and/or environmental factors.'

Commenting on the significance of the findings, the Institut Pasteur's Thomas Bourgeron says they emphasise the importance of a synaptic gene dysfunction in ASD, and they underline a role for modifier genes confirming 'a multiple hit model for ASD. A better knowledge of these genetic interactions will be necessary to understand the complex inheritance pattern of ASD'.

Experts from Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom contributed to this study.

For more information, please visit:

Institut Pasteur: http://www.pasteur.fr/ip/easysite/pasteur/fr

PLoS Genetics: http://www.plosgenetics.org/home.action

EU-funded study calls for better protection for freshwater ecosystems

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Current methods used to plan conservation strategies are not providing adequate protection for freshwater ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide, according to African and European researchers in a new study published in the journal Conservation Letters.

The scientists, from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Senegal, South Africa, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, were supported by the EU-funded BIOFRESH ('Biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems: Status, trends, pressures, and conservation priorities') project, which is supported by a EUR 6,465,406 grant under the 'Environment' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Freshwaters are one of the most threatened ecosystems globally and although they occupy less than 1% of the Earth's surface they are home to over a third of the world's known species and around a third of all vertebrates. Human population growth and economic development have continued to threaten the health of many global freshwater ecosystems, throwing into jeopardy their ability to support biodiversity and provide ecosystem services such as irrigation, sanitation and food supply to humans.

The international researchers are calling for more primary information on freshwater biodiversity status and distribution to support more effective conservation planning and investment. The study's findings are based on a comprehensive assessment of freshwater biodiversity across Africa, the most in-depth study of freshwater biodiversity across an entire continent ever carried out.

They cross-checked data on range maps for 4,203 freshwater species and 3,521 land species across Africa with data on protected area coverage, large dam presence, rural poverty and the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, a catalogue that ranks plants and animals at risk of global extinction as either Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. With all this data they were then able to analyse the status, threats and protection for freshwater biodiversity.

The researchers found that the problem lies in where research is focused, with most support directed to land species and so-called 'charismatic species'. Charismatic species refers to the act of raising support for the protection of one particular well known and 'charismatically' appealing species, such as the panda for example. Environmental groups often try to raise support for a whole ecosystem by using one species as the 'poster species'.

However, in reality, as the new study shows, with so much emphasis on charismatic and land species, efforts to highlight the distribution and threat towards many freshwater species go relatively unnoticed. The team found that conservation priorities and investment targets based on our knowledge of birds, mammals and amphibians alone may not be appropriate for freshwater species such as fish, molluscs and crabs. Often, protection plans for freshwater ecosystems are drafted using 'surrogate' species. However, the team warns this leaves them under-protected from a variety of human and
climate-based threats. Freshwater ecosystems are dynamic and transboundary in nature meaning that their conservation needs are often not met by protected areas planned around terrestrial ecosystems.

Their study flags up a research bias towards terrestrial and charismatic species that leaves our knowledge of global freshwater biodiversity patterns and trends fragmented and incomplete, and the team therefore wants to see targeted and tailored freshwater biodiversity research and funding.

BIOFRESH aims to build a global information platform for scientists and ecosystem managers with access to all available databases describing the distribution, status and trends of global freshwater biodiversity. The project, which started in 2009 and runs until 2014, brings together 19 research institutions from Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, the Philippines, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

For more information, please visit: BIOFRESH: http://www.freshwaterbiodiversity.eu/

Call for establishment of a European Service Innovation Centre

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

The European Commission has published a call for tenders for the establishment of a European Service Innovation Centre (ESIC). The deadline for applicants is 4th May 2012.

Service innovation is not only found in service sectors or service industries that are provided by service entrepreneurs and service firms, it also takes place in manufacturing industries.

While enterprises are the main developers of new service concepts, there is a role for policymaking in facilitating industrial development and growth. This is an area where overall awareness among policymakers is still low. It is also difficult to obtain reliable data and analysis on the dynamics and impact of the transformative power of service innovation. Awareness need to be raised and examples highlighted of how to implement better policies and tools to unlock the potential of service innovation.

The main task of the ESIC will be to improve the awareness among policymakers at European, national and regional level of the contribution of service innovation and service firms to economic development. This applies in particular to the transforming powers of service innovation in shaping emerging sectors, industries and markets. Specific aims to be met by ESIC are to capture and demonstrate the dynamics and large scale impact of service innovation, provide customised advice to selected model demonstrator regions, and promote and raise awareness of the role and impact of service innovation.

To see the official call announcement, please consult:
http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:63839-2012:TEXT:EN:HTML&src=0

Before contacting the Commission, proposers are strongly advised to consult the original call text.

EU funds boosting employment in remote regions

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Grey clouds still loom large over the jobs market in much of Europe, and it is often those in rural areas who are most affected and are cut off from opportunities. With this in mind, the EU has earmarked over EUR 6 million to boost 15 different projects that help to foster economic growth and put people into employment in the Highlands region of Scotland.

The funding comes from the European Structural Fund (ESF), made up of two separate funds: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which supports research, innovation, urban regeneration and rural development; and the European Social Fund (ESF) which helps unemployed or economically inactive people upgrade their skills and prepare for work. Of the 15 projects, some have been under way for some time and others are just kicking off.

Mr Neil, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, commented on the new funding: 'This money will make a real difference across the Highlands and Islands - getting people back into work and helping revitalise local communities. This round of funding is testament to the high standard of projects and programmes in the Highlands and Islands dedicated to driving economic growth. The diversity of the projects receiving grants reflects the variety of innovative and creative industries synonymous with the Highlands and Islands. Each project in its own way will contribute to developing a skilled workforce, adding economic value and much needed jobs in the Highlands and Islands, as well as contributing to the Scottish economy as a whole.'

One of the projects being supported as part of the funding is the Harris Tweed Training and Development Programme, managed by the Western Isles local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Building on an ESF-funded training and accreditation programme that aimed to support the industry behind the famous cloth, this latest funding, to the tune of more than EUR 100 000, puts in place two additional New Start Weaver Training courses that will start in 2012. This project aims to be as flexible as possible so as to attract trainees who can't commit to the course on a full-time basis, particularly women who are currently under-represented in the industry.

The demand for weavers reflects the increasing demand Harris Tweed has experienced in recent years, as fashion designers continue to turn to the traditional cloth to add an element of heritage to their modern designs.

Archie Campbell, from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, comments: 'This is an important and extremely worthwhile project that has been developed in close liaison with the Harris Tweed industry. The project will deliver training to assist the industry to meet demand for the cloth, through activities including new weaver training and the piloting of technical skills qualifications in Harris Tweed mills.'

The project 'Aspire, Transform, Achieve', organised by New Start Highland, was awarded a grant of more than EUR 1.1 million. The 3-year project aims to help individuals facing multiple barriers to employment, and will see a team of trainers, coaches and support officers deliver training modules covering job and life skills to 286 participants. Each person will undergo a two-week assessment, and a tailored programme will then be developed. Following this, a job coach will work with the participants to help them move into employment.

Given a boost of more than EUR 250 000, the Shetland Isles-based project 'Moving on employment' was also helped out by the EU funds .The project has been running for 2 years already, and has a 75% success rate. It aims to help people facing multiple barriers to employment by providing them with short-term work projects throughout Shetland. At the start, participants are assessed so the project officers can understand their specific needs and circumstances. Then an action plan is set out to help them overcome the barriers they face. Participants subsequently have an opportunity to participate in a real life project. The project carries out employer matching and hands-on-support to people once they are in employment, and offers education and training opportunities such as the setting up and supervision of work placements.

For more information, please visit: European Social Fund: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/home.jsp?langId=en

National Museum of Scotland is most visited outside of London

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

The refurbished National Museum of Scotland was the most visited attraction outside of London last year, new figures show.

The museum has had a 141% increase in visitor numbers since it reopened last summer following a £47m refurbishment.

The Edinburgh museum's original target of a million visitors a year was passed within four months.

The British Museum in London attracted the most visitors for the fifth year in a row, with 5.8 million people.

Visits to the Natural History Museum in London rose nearly 5% to 4.87 million, while the nearby Science Museum saw visitor numbers rise 6% to 2.91 million.

The million visitor mark was also reached by Glasgow's new Riverside Museum, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, which only opened its doors last June.

'Wedding effect'

The figures, released by the Association of Leading Visitors Attractions (ALVA), included a record year for Edinburgh Castle, which remains Scotland's number one paid for tourist attraction after recording an 8% increase on the year before.

The "royal wedding effect" was credited with a huge increase in visits to Westminster Abbey, which welcomed nearly 1.9 million visitors in 2011 after millions of TV viewers watched the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in April.

This was a 36% increase on the 2010 figure and saw the Abbey included the top 10 of most-visited attractions for the first time.

And The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich saw a 31% increase in visitor numbers, rising to 1.67 million, helped partly by its starring role in films including The Iron Lady and Pirates Of The Caribbean.

In contrast, St Paul's Cathedral, where protesters set up an anti-capitalism camp, saw visitor numbers dip 4% to just under 1.82 million.

The Tower of London welcomed nearly 6% more visitors last year - up to 2.55 million - while the National Portrait Gallery numbers rose 3% to 1.88 million.

There were also increased numbers visiting Scottish attractions such as Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Bernard Donoghue, ALVA director, said: "Scottish attractions' successes demonstrate very clearly that political and financial investment in building new attractions or refurbishing existing ones results in real returns on investment for the Scottish local and national economies, for job creation, for regeneration and in delivering a truly quality Scottish experience and welcome for visitors from home and abroad.

"The Scottish government, local authorities, the Scottish Lottery Heritage Fund and the attractions themselves have had the courage to invest in a difficult economic climate but their investment has been entirely justified."

Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of National Museums Scotland, said: "These results are testimony to our achievement in creating a truly world-class visitor attraction which brings and will continue to bring huge benefits to the country's tourism economy."

AAL Joint Programme launches its Fifth Call for Proposals

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The AAL Joint Programme launches its Fifth Call for Proposals: “ICT-based Solutions for (Self-) Management of Daily Life Activities of Older Adults at Home”, which encompasses important dimensions of the broad topic of Home Care.

Download the call text here and the accompanying Guide for Applicants here.

Download the proposal template (part B) for the AAL JP Call 5 here

A proposal is composed of two parts - part A with financial and organizational information and part B with the proposal text addressing the call topics.

The part A is an integral part of the submission website.

Closing deadline: 29 May 2012

Partner search web site: http://ps.aal-europe.eu

European Commission establishes new eHealth Stakeholder Group

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : EU Information Society

European Commission establishes new eHealth Stakeholder Group

Following the recent call for expression of interest (closed in January 2012), the European Commission has selected the members to participate in its new eHealth Stakeholder Group. Members of the group, appointed for a period of three years, are expert representatives of European umbrella organisations active in the eHealth sector.

The group is expected to contribute to the development of legislation and policy related to eHealth. Policy areas of specific interest include relevant actions of the Digital Agenda for Europe on eHealth and the forthcoming eHealth Action Plan.

More here.

The protein that starves HIV

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

An international team of researchers has discovered that a protein responsible for protecting some of our body's immune cells from the most common and virulent form of HIV succeeds in its quest because it starves the virus of the molecular building blocks it requires to replicate. The study, published in the journal Nature Immunology, was supported in part by a European Research Council (ERC) grant under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The results could help us understand why some anti-HIV drugs are more effective than others.

Researchers led by the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) in France say this latest development could prove beneficial, not just for the development of anti-HIV drugs but also for the potential impact on other pathogens including herpes viruses.

'The findings may explain why certain anti-HIV drugs used today are more effective under some circumstances and not others,' says Professor Baek Kim of the University of Rochester Medical Center in the United States, one of the authors of the paper. 'It also provides new insights on how many other viruses that afflict people operate in the body.'

The research focuses on the protein known as SAMHD1, found in white blood cells that experts call macrophages as well as related cells known as dendritic cells. In 2011, researchers found that the molecule hampers the ability of HIV-1 to infect macrophages, which are responsible for 'consuming' pathogens including viruses.

In this latest study, the team discovered that the SAMHD1 molecule cuts off the supply line of raw materials that HIV requires for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) creation and replication, deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs), the building blocks of DNA.

SAMHD1 damages these building blocks, effectively thwarting HIV-1's ability to replicate inside macrophages. The study also sheds light on how a protein expressed by the other common type of HIV, HIV-2, blocks SAMHD1. The viral protein X (Vpx) degraded SAMHD1 protein, thus facilitating HIV-2 infection of macrophages.

'We don't know precisely how SAMHD1 and Vpx affect the virulence of HIV-1 and HIV-2, but it's something we're actively exploring,' Dr Kim explains. 'In this case, the ability of HIV-2 to replicate more quickly in macrophages does not help it become more virulent.'

The team hypothesises that mutations in viral DNA circumvent the pathway blocked by SAMHD1. Therein lies the biggest difficulty in treating patients.

'It makes sense that a mechanism like this is active in macrophages,' Dr Kim says. 'Macrophages literally eat up dangerous organisms, and you don't want those organisms to have available the cellular machinery needed to replicate. And macrophages themselves don't need it, because they don't replicate. So macrophages have SAMHD1 to get rid of the raw material those organisms need to copy themselves. It's a great host defence. The work suggests new ways to target virus replication in macrophages, a critically important cell population that serves as a key reservoir of virus infection and a contributor to HIV-induced disease.'

For more information, please visit:

INSERM: http://www.inserm.fr/

Nature Immunology: http://www.nature.com/ni/index.html

Have your Say! Environment: What are your views on uninvited guests?

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

There are many cases where animals and plants have been introduced to an environment that is not naturally theirs, and are now spreading so fast that they become a threat to biological diversity. Some originally "non native" species such as the tomato or potato have historically been introduced without any problem. However, numerous other species including Canada geese, American bullfrogs, Japanese knotweed and Caulerpa seaweed are now spreading in our environment and threatening local fauna and flora and causing considerable damage to ecosystems and biodiversity.

Such cases of "invasive alien species" can also threaten public health, damage crops and livestock and have serious economic effects. The European Commission is considering ways to tackle this problem, including a new dedicated legislative instrument, and seeking views through an on-line consultation on how to deal with the issue most effectively. The results of the consultation will feed into a proposal to appear later this year.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Damage caused by invasive species to our natural capital is estimated to cost up to 12 billion euros every year. The time has come to find an effective policy to counter this growing threat."

To date, more than 11,000 alien species have been found in the European environment and 10 to 15 % of them have become invasive. Existing measures to prevent them from entering our territory and spreading are fragmented and not sufficient to substantially lower the risks. The Commission is therefore attempting to close this gap with an approach based on three pillars that match the approach proposed by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity: first of all, prevention; then early detection and rapid response; and, in the last resort, eradication or management of their presence to minimise negative impacts.

The online consultation seeks views on how to tailor this approach to realities on the ground, and it covers issues such as possible trade restrictions, labelling schemes, surveillance mechanisms, eradication measures and restoration of damaged ecosystems. The consultation invites interested parties, including individual citizens, industry and consumer representatives, interest groups, the NGO community and national authorities to give their opinion before 12 April 2012.

Background

Introductions of alien species are the result of voluntary or accidental human action. While many introduced species bring considerable benefits to society and our economy, others upset the balance of ecosystems and proliferate in ways that are highly destructive. Asian tiger mosquitoes for example, which cause dengue fever enter our territory as dormant eggs on tyres, and aquatic organisms harmful to marine environments are generally introduced via ballast water in ships. As trade and travel continue to increase, the influx of alien species is expected to grow.

The problem is thought to be the second biggest threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss. The world's biological diversity is currently under significant strain from numerous threats often generating from human activity and aggravated by climate change. Biodiversity underpins a flow of ecosystem goods and services (food, fuel, fibre, air quality, water flow and quality, soil fertility and cycling of nutrients) and is key to human well-being. Yet some two-thirds of ecosystem services worldwide are in decline. In the EU, this decline is shown by collapsing fish stocks, widespread soil degradation, costly flood damages, and disappearing wildlife.

The consultation runs from 27.01.2012 to 12.04.2012 .

You can take part in the survey at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/invasive_aliens.htm

For more on invasive alien species see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm

Disney teams up with VisitScotland in tourism drive over latest film

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: STV

A global marketing campaign to promote Scottish tourism has been launched around Disney/Pixar's latest film set in the Highlands.

The animated film Brave features voices from some of the country's best-loved actors including Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane and Kevin McKidd.

Other stars involved in the project due to be released in the UK in August, include Julie Walters and Emma Thompson.

VisitScotland and Disney will work together to create a global marketing campaign around the animated adventure, including joint TV and cinema advertising across the UK, North America and Europe, digital marketing and events including premieres and screenings.

It is the first time that Disney has teamed up with a country's tourism organisation, to this scale, around the launch of one of its films.

Mike Cantlay, VisitScotland chairman, said: "This is an incredible opportunity to extend the reach of VisitScotland's marketing activity across the world. This film will be shown in more than 70 countries across the world and will give us the opportunity to convert cinema goers into visitors in the biggest campaign VisitScotland has ever launched.

"There are very few tourism destinations that get to work so closely with the world's largest entertainment companies - and this gives us an unprecedented opportunity to put Scotland on the worldwide stage with a whole new audience."

The film tells the tale of Merida, skilled archer and daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, she defies an age-old custom sacred to the lords of Scotland and unleashes chaos and fury in the family.

Tricia Wilber, Walt Disney Company chief marketing officer for Europe, said: "Brave takes its inspiration from the majesty and mystery of Scotland, and features the voices of many much-loved Scottish stars, so it's fitting to create a global campaign with VisitScotland to further bring to life the iconic Scottish landscapes and folklore that inspired the film."

Film director Mark Andrews said: "Brave is an amazing magical adventure with larger than life characters, including Scotland itself. During our research, we learned that everything in Scotland tells a story - every stone, tree, mountain - which is why we are so proud that this beautiful country is the backdrop of our film."

Brewdog and Pillow Talk finalists for this year's Lloyds TSB Best Enterprise Awards

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Business 7

Fast growing beer makers Brewdog and a start up company which makes a device enabling couples in long distance relationships hear their partners heartbeat are representing Scotland in a national business competition for young entrepreneurs later this month.

Brewdog which is headed by James Watt and Martin Dickie won the Scottish final of the Best Enterprise Category of the awards for an established company and Pillow Talk which was founded by Dundee university graduate Joanna Montgomery in 2010 won the Best Start up award.

Both companies will be representing Scotland in the grand final of the competition which is run by Lloyds TSB in Liverpool on March 13. The winner of the Best Enterprise award will receive £50,000 plus other benefits and the Best Start Up will get £10,000 plus other benefits.

Watt said it was a great accolade to win the Scottish award.

"When you start off a small business you get so many kicks and knocks and it is really tough and you have got to believe in yourself and believe in your idea and what you are trying to do," he said

"So picking up a few awards like these makes all the knocks and kicks you get at the start seem all the more worthwhile."

The company which was founded five years ago, is currently building a new brewery in Aberdeenshire which will give it ten times its current capacity.

It is also expanding its bar chain with a new outlet opening in Newcastle in a few weeks taking its total to seven. Watt is hoping to have ten bars open by the end of the year.

Montgomery is hoping to launch her product commercially later this year.

Connecting with their partner through a mobile phone app, users wear a ring that detects their own heartbeat, and put a flat panel inside their pillow.

That allows them to hear their lovers heartbeat. When one person goes to bed, their partners pillow glows softly to indicate their presence.

"I studied interaction design at Dundee university and while I was there I realised that interacting with people using technology and realised everything was two dimensional with screens and buttons and it was quite cold I thought," she said.

"I wanted to come up with a way for technology to enable people to interact in a more tactile way."

She says it is in the final stage of product design at the moment and now she has to raise the funding to pay for tooling and the first manufacturing run.

Montgomery has received great feedback on her product.

"It went viral on the internet and the concept got half a million views on youtube and we have got 12,000 fans on our Facebook page and 20,000 people who want to know when it becomes available."

The Scottish Best Start-Up received £1,000 and the Scottish Best Enterprise £5,000 as well as lega ladvice.

The national winners receive £10,000 for Start-Up category and £50,000 for Enterprise as well as legal advice and a two-year programme of business mentoring.

Industry committee sets out to lower mobile roaming rates

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Wholesale roaming service suppliers have cut prices to match the EU price cap, but must now try harder to compete below it, said the Industry Committee on yesterday. It backed new rules which from June 2012 could enable retail clients to buy roaming services from suppliers other than their home service suppliers and help alternative suppliers to enter the market. They would also cap retail data roaming charges for the first time, and also set lower roaming price caps for calls and SMS texts.

In its 2010 Digital Agenda for Europe, the Commission pledged to bring cross-border roaming tariffs into line with domestic prices by 2015, in line with Parliament’s requests. The current legislation capping roaming charges for phone calls and SMS messaging, at both wholesale and retail levels, expires in June 2012.

"We need to stimulate real competition among mobile operators and guarantee fair roaming prices for EU consumers who are on holiday or travelling for work", said Angelika Niebler (EPP, DE), Parliament's rapporteur for the draft legislation, which the committee approved with 55 votes in favour, 5 against and no abstentions.

Structural measures to boost competition

Although mobile phone operators have reduced roaming tariffs to match EU price caps, customers are still not being offered roaming tariffs that are markedly lower than the caps, because the roaming market has not developed sufficiently and structural problems persist, says a European Commission report on roaming services.

Enabling clients to buy roaming services separately

The committee also suggests requiring operators to offer retail roaming services separately from 1 March 2014, so that customers can choose an alternative roaming service supplier for foreign calls while retaining their national operator for domestic use and keeping their phone number. Home providers would have to inform their customers of this right and any switch to an alternative roaming service provider would have to be free of charge.

Domestic mobile service suppliers would also have to enable their customers to access mobile local data services temporarily while abroad - similarly to accessing a Wi-Fi hotspot - without having to unsubscribe from their existing data roaming contract or arrangement, and while keeping their mobile number.

Encouraging new operators

To boost competition, the Industry, Research and Energy Committee proposes facilitating access to the wholesale market for new alternative operators (mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs).

Transparency and consumer protection

This regulation also aims to improve price transparency and information on charges to users of roaming services, first within the EU and from 1 January 2013, outside it.

Domestic service providers would be required, to inform all their roaming customers, no later than 30 June 2012, about the Euro-data tariff that they will apply from 1 July 2012.

New price caps and first data roaming ceiling

Until proposed structural measures take full effect and stronger competition reduces retail prices, there should be a gradual reduction in current wholesale prices (charged between operators) and retail prices (charged to consumers). The draft legislation also sets lower caps for voice and SMS roaming charges and proposes the EU's first price cap for mobile data services.

The Industry, Research and Energy Committee set lower price caps than the Commission's proposal to enable best tariffs for consumers while ensuring a sufficient margin between wholesale and retail prices to assure a level of competition that can bring down prices. (See table below).

Price proposals

	Retail Prices (charged to consumers)	Wholesale prices (charged between operators)
Phone calls	From July 2012: €0.25 per minute for outgoing calls and €0.08 per minute for incoming ones From July 2013: €0.20 per minute for outgoing calls and €0.07 per minute for incoming ones From July 2014: €0.15 per minute for outgoing calls and €0.05 per minute for incoming ones	From July 2012: €0.11 per minute From July 2013: €0.08 From July 2014: €0.05
Text messages	From July 2012: €0.08 per SMS message From July 2013: €0.07 From July 2014: €0.05	From July 2012: €0.03 per SMS From July 2013: €0.02 From July 2014: €0.01
Data roaming	From July 2012: €0.50 per megabyte From July 2013: €0.30 From July 2014: €0.20	From July 2012: €0.25 per megabyte of data From July 2013: €0.15 From July 2014: €0.05

Next steps

The new rules could be put to a vote by Parliament as a whole in April (tbc).

In the Chair: Amalia Sartori (EPP, IT)

Industry committee sets out to lower mobile roaming rates

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Structural measures to boost competition

Enabling clients to buy roaming services separately

Encouraging new operators

To boost competition, the Industry, Research and Energy Committee proposes facilitating access to the wholesale market for new alternative operators (mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs).

Transparency and consumer protection

This regulation also aims to improve price transparency and information on charges to users of roaming services, first within the EU and from 1 January 2013, outside it.

Domestic service providers would be required, to inform all their roaming customers, no later than 30 June 2012, about the Euro-data tariff that they will apply from 1 July 2012.

New price caps and first data roaming ceiling

Price proposals

	Retail Prices (charged to consumers)	Wholesale prices (charged between operators)
Phone calls	From July 2012: €0.25 per minute for outgoing calls and €0.08 per minute for incoming ones From July 2013: €0.20 per minute for outgoing calls and €0.07 per minute for incoming ones From July 2014: €0.15 per minute for outgoing calls and €0.05 per minute for incoming ones	From July 2012: €0.11 per minute From July 2013: €0.08 From July 2014: €0.05
Text messages	From July 2012: €0.08 per SMS message From July 2013: €0.07 From July 2014: €0.05	From July 2012: €0.03 per SMS From July 2013: €0.02 From July 2014: €0.01
Data roaming	From July 2012: €0.50 per megabyte From July 2013: €0.30 From July 2014: €0.20	From July 2012: €0.25 per megabyte of data From July 2013: €0.15 From July 2014: €0.05

Next steps

The new rules could be put to a vote by Parliament as a whole in April (tbc).

In the Chair: Amalia Sartori (EPP, IT)

Innovations in computing systems are essential to countering European societal challenges

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soure : CORDIS Wire

Europe faces severe societal challenges in transportation, healthcare, environment and security, only solvable by using smarter systems.
The design of these systems face serious challenges in efficiency, complexity, and dependability over the next decade. The European HiPEAC network outlines its vision for the European future in Computing Systems during the Architecture of Computing Systems (ARCS).

The EU faces severe societal challenges in the fields of transportation and mobility, healthcare, demographic evolution, energy and environment, productivity, safety and security, and education. Innovations in computing systems are an essential ingredient to help Europe to cope with the societal challenges (smart houses, smart cities, grids, things, …), because computing systems have by now become the cornerstone of our civilization and are a part of just about everything that surrounds us.

Koen De Bosschere, professor at Ghent University and coordinator of the HiPEAC network of excellence, today explains at the Architecture of Computing Systems conference (ARCS 2012), how computing systems are very powerful tools for taking on Europe’s societal challenges, and he outlines HiPEAC’s research vision to ascertain Europe’s position and global competitiveness in such systems.

In this report, HiPEAC leverages the broad expertise of its 1000+ researchers from European universities and companies, to identify and analyze the key challenges for computing systems in Europe over the next decade. The report provides one of the key inputs for the planning of the EU research investments.

While advances in computing systems have been consistent and dramatic over the past fifty years, their future today is not as certain, explain Koen De Bosschere. “To continue to be a source for new and innovative solutions, the computing systems community must dramatically improve the efficiency, complexity, and dependability of the future computing systems”, he added.

Emerging trends

Clear trends are emerging, the HiPEAC report says: an unseen data explosion in all domains (much faster than the explosion in computing power), an increased demand for connectivity and for dependable and reliable systems across all fields.

From a technology point of view, it is getting increasingly more difficult to convert the increasing transistor density (Moore’s law) into similar performance improvements needed to facilitate new innovative solutions. There is a fast growing gap between the raw performance of hardware devices, and the actual performance resulting from the use of common tools and practices.

Possible solutions

For the short and medium term, HiPEAC report concludes that specializing computing devices is the most promising but difficult path for dramatically improving the performance of future computing systems. In this light, HiPEAC has identified seven concrete research objectives related to the design and the exploitation of specialized heterogeneous systems for the data deluge and for reliable ubiquitous computing. A major challenge is to provide tools to automatically exploit and optimize the resources of such heterogeneous computing devices.

In the longer term, the HiPEAC vision states that it will become critical to investigate research directions breaking with the line of classical systems and the traditional hardware/software boundary. This includes new devices and new computing paradigms, such as bio-inspired systems, stochastic computing, swarm computing, etc.

European opportunity

By addressing the seven specific research objectives and by investigating emerging technologies, Europe can continue to benefit from the promised growth of computing systems technology, concludes the HiPEAC report. Failure to address these challenges will significantly reduce European ability to leverage computing systems’ potential to improve global competitiveness and tackle society’s challenges, HiPEAC warns.

HiPEAC

The FP7 HiPEAC network of excellence is Europe’s premier organization for coordinating research, improving mobility, and enhancing visibility in the computing system field. Created in 2004, HiPEAC today gathers over 1000 leading European academic and industrial computing system researchers from about 100 universities and 50 companies in one virtual center of excellence. HiPEAC covers all computing market segments: embedded systems, general purpose computing systems, data centers and high performance computing.

More info : http://www.hipeac.net

Innovation Partnerships: new proposals on raw materials, agriculture and healthy ageing to boost European competitiveness

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Europa Press

The European Commission has today proposed decisive action to meet three key challenges facing our society, in areas that are crucial to growth and jobs: the supply of raw materials, sustainable agriculture, and active and healthy ageing.

All three require a more concerted innovation effort across the public and private sector, in order to improve quality of life and position Europe as a global leader. The Commission has therefore launched two new European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) - on Raw Materials and on Agricultural Sustainability and Productivity - and has endorsed a four-year action plan for the Active and Healthy Ageing EIP, a pilot launched in February 2011.

EIPs take a new approach to tackling the whole research-development-innovation chain, bringing together public and private stakeholders across borders and sectors in order to accelerate the uptake of innovation. They each have an ambitious target to reach by 2020, and are expected to start delivering results within 1-3 years. The announcement today comes just ahead of a European Council that is expected to reaffirm the place of research and innovation at the centre of European economic recovery.

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said: "We need to innovate to get Europe back on the path to growth and jobs, and to tackle major challenges such as access to raw materials, sustainable agriculture and our ageing society. European Innovation Partnerships will break down silos, remove bottlenecks and focus our efforts on results that matter to our citizens and our businesses."

The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) is a new concept that was introduced in the Europe 2020 flagship Innovation Union. The aim is to address weaknesses, bottlenecks and obstacles in the European research and innovation system that prevent or slow down good ideas being developed and brought to market. These include under-investment, outdated regulation, lack of standards, and fragmentation of markets. Each Partnership is led by a Steering Group chaired by the European Commissioner or Commissioners with responsibility for the policy area or areas concerned. They are joined by representatives of Member States (Ministers), Members of Parliament, industry leaders, researchers, civil society and other key stakeholders. EIPs identify what needs to be done to overcome bottlenecks – from further developing technologies to getting the market frameworks right and stimulating demand – and galvanise action across public and private sectors. They do not replace funding programmes or regulatory processes, but provide a shared platform for cooperation.

Innovation partnership to overcome Europe's raw materials shortages

The supply of raw materials, the lifeblood of today's high-tech industry, is increasingly under pressure. With a view to increasing Europe's own production, under the proposal to set up a European Innovation Partnership on raw materials, joint innovation efforts will support exploration, extraction and processing of raw materials. For example, it has been estimated that the value of unexploited European mineral resources at a depth of 500-1,000 metres is about € 100 billion. New technologies will help to extract deeper, in more remote areas and under harsh conditions. Action is also needed to develop substitutes for critical raw materials and to improve recycling of electric, electronic equipment and other waste. Improved access to minerals will enhance the development of innovative products such as thin photovoltaic layers, energy-efficient lighting, electric cars, advanced passenger jets, infra-red optics and fiber glass.

Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship said: “We need to join forces to tap Europe's enormous own potential of raw materials. Intensified action is required to make Europe the world leader in the capabilities related to exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and substitution by 2020. It will be the key to Europe’s ability to develop today the technologies of tomorrow. Such innovation is decisive for Europe's competitiveness, sustainable growth and new jobs."

MEMO/12/144

Carlo Corazza +32 2 295 1752

European Innovation Partnership for agriculture

Food security is one of the major challenges worldwide in the years ahead, with global food demand forecast to rise by 70% by 2050 (FAO), accompanied by a steep increase in the demand for feed, fibre, biomass, and biomaterial. However, this challenge is accompanied by a slow down in productivity growth – in good part because of a reduction in investment in agricultural research – and increased pressure on the environment and our natural resources. For example, 45% of European soils face problems of soil quality. Around 40% of agricultural land is vulnerable to nitrate pollution and, over the last 20 years, farmland birds have declined by 20-25%.

In short, the key challenge for agriculture in future is not only to produce more, but also to do this in a sustainable manner. These challenges will not be resolved without a major push towards embracing research and innovation – and in particular in bringing researchers, farmers and other players closer together so that we can accelerate the speed of technological transfer from science to farming practice, and provide more systematic feedback about practice needs from farming to science. The European Innovation Partnership (EIP) "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" aims to provide a working interface between agriculture, bio-economy, science, and others at EU, national and regional level. It will also serve as a catalyst to enhance the effectiveness of innovation-related actions supported by Rural Development Policy as well as the Union Research and Innovation. Two headline targets have been identified for this EIP - promoting productivity and efficiency of the agricultural sector (reversing the recent trend of diminishing productivity gains by 2020); and the sustainability of agriculture (securing soil functionality* at a satisfactory level by 2020).

EU Agriculture and rural development Commissioner Dacian Cioloş stated: "The key challenge for agriculture in future is not only how to produce more, but also how to produce better. Embracing demand driven research and innovation, as well as improved dissemination of best practices will be essential to this end."

MEMO/12/147

Roger Waite +32 2 296 1404

European Innovation Partnership on active and healthy ageing

Demographic ageing is one of the most serious challenges facing Europe today. The number of European citizens aged 65 and over will double over the next 50 years, from 87 million in 2010 to 148 million in 2060¹. While this presents a specific challenge for European care and social systems, it is also an opportunity to redesign these systems in the interest of patients, healthcare systems and the innovative industry.

The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing has been set up to respond to these challenges. In November 2011, it delivered a Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) identifying priority areas and specific actions, for public authorities, businesses and civil society (see IP/11/1309, IP/11/519).

Today's Communication from the Commission is the concrete follow-up for implementation of the specific actions. This includes: inviting stakeholder engagement; setting up a marketplace for innovative ideas; addressing regulatory and standardization issues. This will improve elderly citizens' lives, help them to contribute to society as they grow older, and reduce pressure on health and care systems - ultimately contributing to sustainable growth.

The Commission confirms its commitment to support the implementation of the SIP, in particular by:

launching, today, a first invitation for stakeholders to commit to specific actions on innovation in active and healthy ageing (find it here).;
putting in place, as of April 2012, a "marketplace for innovative ideas", helping stakeholders find partners, share good practices and disseminate evidence;
aligning and effectively using EU funding instruments such as the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP), the 7th Framework Programme for research and the Health Programme
addressing regulatory and standardization issues, e.g. by supporting the development of a new EU framework for interoperability testing, quality labelling and certification on e-Health;

Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli stressed that: "Active and healthy ageing is central for our citizens, for the viability of our health and care systems, and it offers important industrial potential. The Commission is determined to support the rapid implementation of the priority areas agreed by the Partnership in 2011. Our ambition is to achieve tangible results in the next two years."

Vice President Neelie Kroes said "The EIP on Active and Healthy Ageing will help us improve health and quality of life for older people and help ensure our care system is sustainable for the long-term. We urge all stakeholders involved to contribute to our efforts and help us tackle the demographic transition head-on".

Frédéric Vincent +32 2 298 7166

Ryan Heath +32 2 296 1716

Itsy bitsy spider with really long thread

Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers have often reported on how spider silks are rich in strong mechanical properties, regardless of the species. However, the mechanical properties of stalks of silk taken from the egg sac of the cave spider Meta menardi have never before been analysed. Enter a team of researchers from Italy and the United States that put the European Society of Arachnology's 'European spider of the year 2012' in the spotlight. The study was recently published in the journal PLoS ONE.

Scientists led by the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Nanomechanics at the Politecnico di Torino in Italy collected silk stalks directly from a number of caves in Italy. Using the field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), the team produced images showing that the stalks are made up of large threads, reaching lengths of up to 7.5 times more than their initial fibre length. European cave spiders generate silk in order to construct egg sacs that protect their developing young. Researchers also used a tensile testing machine that pulled on the silk fibres to gauge their breaking point.

The majority of species secrete seven or eight types of silk for various purposes. For example, dragline silk anchors spiders to a surface, and other silks are used for web scaffolding to envelop prey.

The female European cave spider generates tear-shaped egg sacs that hang from cave ceilings in dark and humid places. These sacs hang by short stalks made of tubuliform silk. The fibres are coated with a sticky substance that fastens them together.

The data show that the densely and randomly packed fibres of the egg sac stalk can unroll to lengths that enable it to stretch significantly.

'The shapes of the stress-strain curves that we observed have a similar shape to that of carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles,' the authors write. 'These curves present a series of kinks or load drops which are an indication of sub-bundle failures when a bundle is pulled in a direction parallel to its axis. As we can see in our data, we also have a series of kinks indicating that the failure of the bundle, once it has reached its peak load, occurs with the fracture of sub-bundles. Though our curves were similar to those of CNT bundles, they were completely different to those of the dragline silk bundles and egg sac silk stalks.

Comparing their results to ours, we see that their failure stresses and toughness are much higher. Surprisingly, the strains that our fibres sustained were impressively high: some stalks were pulled to more than 200%, reaching values of 721% to 751%, which have not been seen in any spider single thread or stalk of egg sac silk yet. Such enormous elongations suggest a huge unrolling mechanism in the stalk.'

Professor Nicola Pugno from the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Nanomechanics at the Politecnico di Torino received a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant of EUR 1 million under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The BIHSNAM ('Bio-inspired hierarchical super nanomaterials') project started earlier this year and supports research related to these results.

For more information, please visit:

PLoS ONE: http://www.plosone.org/home.action

Politecnico di Torino: http://www.polito.it/

New treatment for Scottish diabetic kids

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

All eligible under 18s with type 1 diabetes will now have access to life-changing insulin pumps under plans announced yesterday.

The pumps are small medical devices that are attached to the individual's body and are programmed to administer the correct amount of insulin needed, removing the need for insulin injections and making the condition easier to manage.

Funding of at least £1 million will be provided to NHS Boards to help them deliver pumps to under 18s who need them, as well as tripling the amount of pumps available to all Scots.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement alongside five year old Daisy Slatter – the youngest person in Scotland to receive a pump. After years of multiple, daily insulin injections Daisy’s life has been dramatically improved by the medical device.

Ms Sturgeon said:

"Insulin pumps mean freedom from having multiple insulin jags a day – giving Scotland’s youngest diabetics a normal childhood.

"By the end of March 2013, this treatment will be made available to the 480 children and teens struggling with type 1 diabetes who could benefit from it.

“Over the next three years, NHS Boards will also increase the number of insulin pumps available to all Scots to 2,000, tripling the current amount.

"Diabetes is a growing problem for Scotland - around 10 per cent per cent of overall hospital expenditure relates to diabetes treatment and complications. Not dealing effectively with diabetes can cause long term health problems and we need to make sure that the youngest people with type 1 diabetes get the best possible treatment as early as possible."

Daisy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in November 2007 when she was just 18 months old.

Daisy’s Dad Tim Slatter added:

“We immediately embarked on a strict regime of hourly blood testing, diet control and four insulin jags a day. Despite all our efforts Daisy’s blood sugar levels were still very erratic. It was obvious that such small amounts of carbohydrate or insulin could swing such a tiny frame in any direction.

“After 11 months of blood sugar highs and lows, and jags coming from all directions we finally embarked on insulin pump therapy on 29 September 2008. It really did help to stabilise Daisy’s blood sugar levels and was noticeable within hours of the pump first being fitted.

“Daisy’s sugar levels were under far better control and she was noticeably happier although she still pains a little bit when we have to change her infusion set every three days. We were so delighted that she could now eat whatever she wanted, snack whenever and treats weren’t a problem, so long as we knew how many carbs she was consuming.

“So if you feel that a better blood sugar balance might be achieved using a pump then we believe that it should be fully funded and available to all children because it will make a difference to their wellbeing.

“Daisy seems to keep smiling through whatever nature throws at her.“

Jane-Claire Judson, National Director of Diabetes UK Scotland said: “Insulin pumps are one of the most significant advances in medical technology, freeing people from the daily challenges of multiple injections, helping to reduce the risks of complications, raising quality of life and freeing up NHS time and resources. This small piece of equipment, the size of a mobile phone, can be life changing for people with Type 1 diabetes. This is why access to pumps is such an important issue for Diabetes UK Scotland and, more importantly, for those living with or supporting others with diabetes.

“Today’s announcement is very welcome news and follows years of campaigning by Diabetes UK Scotland and pump users for improved access. The announcement and the Cabinet Secretary's personal leadership on this issue will give people with Type 1 diabetes new hope that they will now have improved access to this life-changing therapy."

Insulin pumps constantly drip feed tiny amounts of insulin throughout the day and monitor blood levels, increasing the amount of insulin if required.

NICE Guidance on eligibility for insulin pump therapy suggests that between 4 per cent and 14 per cent of people with type 1 diabetes may benefit from treatment.

11.6 per cent of people with diabetes in Scotland have type 1 diabetes. The number of people with type 1 diabetes has increased from 26,294 in 2006 to 27,910 in 2010. There are 2,872 people under the age of 18 with type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes develops when there is a severe lack of insulin in the body because most or all of the cells in the pancreas that produce it have been destroyed. This type of diabetes usually appears in people under the age of 40, often in childhood.

Five reasons to develop your business in Europe

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Europe is still the most potentially lucrative and accessible location for Scottish companies to do business in.

Here, Enterprise Europe Network tells you why:

1. Free trade

Europe hosts the biggest free trade zone in the world. This unhindered movement of goods and services between Scotland and the rest of Europe means a wealth of choice when buying raw materials or distributing goods. Access to larger markets ultimately drives down operation costs.

2. Easy travel

Business hubs such as the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia are only a few hours away by aeroplane. Enterprise Europe Network can put you in touch with like-minded businesses from the continent and suggest the best overseas brokerage events to help you develop your contacts in the right regions.

3. Language

Of the 23 official EU languages, German is the most common mother tongue. But, with an estimated 38% of EU citizens choosing to learn English as their first foreign language, English dominates business in Europe, especially when trading across countries. Our Enterprise Europe Network colleagues in regional offices all over the continent will make sure you have the local know-how to make your European ventures successful.

4. Business etiquette

Similarities in business practices and etiquette put Scottish companies in a good position when dealing with European colleagues. We all know being smart and punctual will go a long way towards making a good first impression to potential clients and partners. Enterprise Europe Network also has the inside knowledge on regional preferences.

5. Skilled workforce

Much of Europe boasts a highly skilled and multi-lingual workforce, making successful and efficient collaboration with Scottish companies easy. With around 4,000 European universities – some of which are rated among the best in the world – delivering increasingly educated and skilled graduates, Europe is producing some of the most talented workforces, equipped to do business anywhere around the globe.

The decision to explore trading in Europe needn’t be a daunting one with Enterprise Europe Network among your contacts. Whether it’s market information, business introductions or funding advice you’re looking for, the team is ready to support your expansion plans.

For more information, contact Enterprise Europe Network on 0141 228 2797 or info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com.

Enterprise Europe Network - how we can help

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

By now, you’ll be aware that Europe still has a lot to offer your business.

Just in case you’re still in the dark about how to make the most of the opportunities offered by going continental, Enterprise Europe Network is here to act as your guide.

Here at EEN Scotland, we work hard to link innovative businesses across Europe, opening up new opportunities for Scottish SMEs, finding overseas manufacturers or distributors, connecting them with European subcontractors or sourcing partners for joint ventures.

With over 4,000 Network colleagues across the continent, the EEN team proactively explores partnering options across all sectors. SMEs throughout the Network are already benefitting, engaging with like-minded companies to develop and licence new products and share expertise.

The EEN team can help you:

Make the right business connections with European partners
Access European funding opportunities and participate in collaborative R&D
Research and understand legislation, policies and working practices in new overseas markets
Access European tenders and contracts
Have your say on the European Commission’s policy-setting process

Anis Mourad of Enterprise Europe Network Scotland said: “There’s been a lot written about the issues affecting Europe recently, but it’s worth remembering that the Eurozone as a whole is still Scotland’s most important trading partner.

“There are still tremendous opportunities to be explored on the continent, particularly for those engaging in collaborative research in those sectors where Scotland has a real competitive advantage.

“Companies in Europe are keen to tap into Scotland’s expertise in low carbon technologies, life sciences, food & drink and energy, among others, and we have the resources and know-how to make sure Scottish businesses get the most out of these opportunities.

“Likewise, we can help source manufacturers who can turn your bright ideas into reality and have a wealth of contacts overseas who can link you up with local distributors or agents.”

For more information and to find out how we can help your business please contact us on 0141 228 2797 or info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com.

Looking beyond Europe

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Don’t be fooled by the name – Enterprise Europe Network’s contacts reach far beyond the borders of Europe and the EU.

Network teams across the globe are working with businesses in 50 countries, providing specialist advice and support as well as setting up profitable connections between like-minded companies to encourage global trading.

From Armenia to Moldova and Montenegro to Ukraine, the Network stretches across a string of emerging and potentially untapped markets on the continent.

If you’re looking to bring your business to the Middle East or Africa, EEN can lead you through the process with support from colleagues in Egypt, Israel and Tunisia.

Even further afield, Enterprise Europe Network has the inside knowledge and connections to support growth ventures in China, South Korea, and Japan as well as Mexico, Chile and the United States.

For more details on which countries Enterprise Europe Network could open doors to for your business, contact the team 0141 228 2797 info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com.

Europe - It's not all doom and gloom

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Despite what you might have heard lately about the Eurozone, Europe is still Scotland’s largest export market.

Whether you’re looking for foreign manufacturers or distributors, wanting to connect with subcontractors or selecting partners for joint ventures, Europe can offer lucrative opportunities for your business.

Enterprise Europe Network has identified which countries are currently the highest performers in Europe and which may be most suitable to your business needs:

The Netherlands

With its strategic, central geographical position combined with accessibility and an excellent infrastructure, the Netherlands has been one of the key trading partners with Scotland for 1000 years and continues to be Scotland’s top export partner in Europe.

Scotland and the Netherlands are both major European players in the banking, fund management and insurance sectors, while more recently, the two countries have been sharing expertise in the telecommunications and oil industries.

The Netherlands also has one of the most highly educated, flexible and motivated workforces in Europe. Dutch professionals are also among the most multilingual in the world, enabling them to successfully operate in companies across any industry.

Germany

Located at the heart of Europe, Germany is Europe's number one logistics market and the world’s fourth largest economy.

Like Scotland, Germany has real strengths in energy, electronics, manufacturing and the food and drink industry.

Renowned for its strength in innovation, Germany is Europe's number one location for research. German R&D is backed by billions of Euros helping to make Germany a world leader in innovation and a leading patent applicant.

Poland

With key industries such as chemicals, iron and steel manufacturing and food & drink, it’s easy to see why Poland holds significant appeal for Scottish businesses.

Poland has developed exporting opportunities to over 500 million consumers and its success over the past decade has been built on the solid foundations of low inflation and strong growth and has become one of Scotland’s key trading partners.

Did you know that Poland is the only country in Europe not to go into recession as part of the global economic downturn?

Denmark

Denmark is another example of a European country with a healthy financial system and plenty of scope for Scottish companies to form business partnerships.

Together with Scotland, Denmark is one of the leading centres for life sciences in Europe and offers significant opportunities to progress joint drug development partnerships.

With so many opportunities for Scottish companies to engage and collaborate with trading partners right on their doorstep, Europe is the right destination and now is the right time to be doing business.

Find out how Enterprise Europe Network can help you fulfil your European ambitions by contacting 0141 228 2797 or info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com.

The future's bright for Design LED

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

With the applications for its innovative technology ranging from Jacuzzi baths to the interiors of sports cars, Livingston-based company Design LED has set its sights on lighting up new markets in Europe.

Design LED was formed in 2004 to develop and manufacture incredibly thin LEDs, typically less than 1mm thick.

The company’s thin, flexible segmented backlights were first used in signage and in point-of-sale displays, but are now being used across a range of sectors , such as in-vehicle lighting, marine instrumentation and consumer products, and kitchen white goods.

Despite being proud of the company’s Scottish roots, Design LED business development manager Iain Kyle increasingly found markets for the firm’s technology were located overseas and he contacted Enterprise Europe Network Scotland to find new licensee partners.

Since engaging with EEN Scotland, Design LED has seen its overseas profile rise and has been the subject of 80 expressions of interest from potential partners over the past three years.

The company has also embarked on a number of technical and commercial collaborations with partner organisations introduced by EEN.

Iain Kyle said: “Enterprise Europe Network has been an invaluable resource for helping us find the right people to speak to in the right companies.

“You can’t underestimate the power of an introduction – getting to talk to these people would have been a much more time consuming and difficult job had we been trying to do it ourselves by cold calling.”

Enterprise Europe Network distributed Design LED’s technology profiles across Europe to potentially interested companies and also helped the company develop a generic technology profile, which led to Design LED being approached with new, previously untapped, opportunities.

Design LED has also benefitted from Enterprise Europe Network Scotland's market research services.

As part of their work, the EEN Team developed a database of target companies in specific application areas and territories. This resulted in Design LED participating in Italy's main trade fair for the coffee machine industry and arranging meetings with a number of the country’s top coffee machine manufacturers.

The company is now seeking to refine its product offering and offer a more focused, standardised application which offers greater opportunities to ramp up production and drive sales.

With this shift in focus, Iain is convinced the nature of Design LED’s relationship with EEN will also evolve.

He said: “We’re looking at moving towards consumer and professional, office type applications – everything from billboards, signs in shops and even buses – which will mean we will be engaging with EEN to help us target more specific customers.

“We’ve gained a lot from the relationship and look forward to continuing to work with the Network for many years to come.”

New EU-funded research infrastructure for biology gets going

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Spource : CORDIS

A new structural biology research infrastructure has just been launched, most likely meaning more breakthroughs in biomedical science are just around the corner. Fifteen of Europe's leading structural biology research institutes have come together to provide access to some of the most advanced technology in the world to academic and commercial scientists across Europe.

The groundwork for establishing the network - titled 'Instruct' - was carried out with support from a EUR 4.5 million grant under the 'Research Infrastructures' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom have already signed up to the network, allowing researchers from these countries to start to access the shared technology.

Instruct was formally launched by the European Commission's Director-General for Research and Innovation, Robert-Jan Smits, at a special ceremony in Brussels on 23 February. It is set to be a dynamic structural biology hub that provides an integrated infrastructure of cutting-edge technology, scientific expertise and pioneering training. The objective is to give European biologists a single point of access to all the technology and expertise they need to further their different research projects.

Instruct Director Professor Dave Stuart from Oxford University commented: 'Never before have European biologists had a single point of access to all the technology and expertise they need to further their research. By bringing together the different disciplines, technologies and experts in European biology, Instruct will be helping to make the vision of truly integrated biology a reality for the first time.'

Professor Dino Moras, principal investigator from one of the participating institutions, Institut de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC-CERBM) Instruct Centre in Strasbourg, France, comments on the benefits of connecting up the different biology sub-disciplines: 'Structural biology is at a critical stage where close integration with cell biology will open up new and powerful insights into treating diseases, from killer cancers to the common cold. Instruct will have a big impact on medical advances over the next decade.'

Opening up access to the technology will give researchers a real boost and will be reflected in the quality of their eventual research outcomes. Examples of such technology are sample preparation for cryo-electron tomography using ion beam milling at the Max Planck Institute Martinsried in Germany, and the automated system for mammalian expression housed at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

In addition to the 15 main partner institutions based in Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, there are also additional national centres affiliated to the Instruct network in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. The participation of partner institutions from newer Member States such as the Czech Republic reflects the high quality of its structural biology infrastructure. The Czech National Affiliated Centre is supported by the European Structural Funds through the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC) and the Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University In Vestec (BIOCEV) in the Czech Republic.

One of the first researchers to road-test the Instruct network is Dr Colin McVey from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal, whose research work focuses on structural immunology.

'I am delighted that my proposal has been accepted by Instruct,' comments Dr McVey. 'It will be of great advantage and benefit for me, and for other European researchers, to be able to access the best technology around Europe through a single application. I am looking forward to carrying out the work with the help of the technology experts and to further my research development.'

At the moment, Instruct has an online community of over 500 scientists from 25 countries, and each user can adapt their profile depending on their different interests and priorities. There is a single user-friendly application process for accessing all available technology at all Instruct partner centres.

Stephen Cusack, head of outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France, called on researchers to join the Instruct community: 'The Instruct website, "the Hub" is at the heart of what Instruct can offer, from the research proposal application process and the database of technologies to the forums and collaborative workspaces. Additionally, it has a wealth of useful resources like the calendar of events, job adverts and information about funding. We are inviting researchers from all disciplines to register on http://www.structuralbiology.eu so that they can make the most of Instruct.'

For more information, please visit:

Instruct: http://www.structuralbiology.eu

Central European Institute of Technology: http://www.ceitec.eu

BIOCEV: http://www.biocev.eu/en/

'Uncanny' robot mystery probed at Abertay conference

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Psychologists and computing experts are meeting in Dundee to address how virtual characters and robots can be made more believable.

Computer-generated images of people that look almost - but not exactly - like humans can cause feelings of repulsion or disgust.

The phenomenon is known as the "uncanny valley" effect.

Psychology lecturer Dr Malcolm Cook said the problem was a "golden nut" to crack in the animation world.

The academic, from Abertay University, said creating realistic computer-generated images of humans was not only crucial to films and video games, but also to many training applications.

"If we create training systems that people interact with and the simulation is not realistic, then the response of the person being trained is not realistic either," he said.

This problem has been encountered by Japanese dental training robots, that can teach people the technical aspects of dentistry, but not simulate a "fearful" response in a patient.

Other Japanese hyper-realistic robots are able to pass as humans until they start to move, when the illusion is shattered - often causing a feeling of distress to any real humans watching.

"The closer [robots] approach to reality, the more disgust or repulsion we feel when they don't meet the expectations we have for a real human being," Dr Cook told BBC Scotland.

He added: "Computer-generated characters can become 'uncanny' or weird as they become more realistic, which undermines their ability to be used in computer systems, entertainment and training. Repulsion is definitely not a good experience in a learning environment or leisure activity."

The conference at Abertay University brings together academics and experts in psychology, art and technology to discuss how to solve the problem.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 begins!

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

As Fairtrade Fortnight begins, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop confirmed that Scotland is on track to achieve Fair Trade Nation status later this year.

In line with the Fair Trade Nation criteria, there are now 61 towns that have either achieved Fairtrade status or have active Fair Trade Steering Groups and more towns are expected to progress and launch their steering groups during Fairtrade Fortnight. Across Scotland, 65 per cent of higher education institutions and 171 schools have reached Fairtrade status.

Currently 14 local authorities have achieved full Fairtrade Zone status, only four more need to achieve it in order to meet the criteria and with all of Scotland’s six cities already recognised with Fairtrade status, Scotland is on the cusp of becoming one of the world’s first Fair Trade Nations.

Ms Hyslop marked the start of Fairtrade Fortnight 2012 by meeting some Fairtrade competition winners from Selkirk High School, which has also become Scotland’s newest Fairtrade town.

While meeting the winners and runners up of the school’s Fairtrade t-shirt and poster design competitions, Ms Hyslop said:

“It is encouraging to see good progress being made across all walks of life in Scotland, whether that is in our schools, colleges and universities, churches or within central and local government. The Scottish Government is committed to raising awareness and promoting the fair trade agenda throughout Scotland and I am confident that later this year, Scotland will become a Fair Trade Nation.

“Scotland has always been an outward looking, innovative and caring nation. The global fight against poverty and inequality is no different and it is important that Scots are active both at home and overseas in this fight.

“I’d like to congratulate the pupils, especially Jo and Harry, from Selkirk High School, staff and volunteers at Selkirk Fair Trade who have shown leadership in supporting fair trade and promoting it within their local community, showing that everyone can play a crucial role in reducing poverty.”

Communities across the country are working hard so that Scotland can become a Fair Trade Nation in 2012. By becoming a Fair Trade Nation, Scotland will be delivering a real and lasting impact, contributing to reducing poverty, improving the lives of people and helping them access their rights, an important element of Scotland’s contribution to the world.

Related Information

Fairtrade Towns in Scotland refers to towns with a population of over 5,000.

Wales was the first country to become a Fair Trade Nation in 2008.

As part of their ongoing activities to promote and support fair trade, Selkirk High School and Selkirk Fair Trade Group ran a Fairtrade Cotton t-shirt competition which was open to all pupils. The Cabinet Secretary judged the competition and selected the winner.

Fairtrade Fortnight takes place from Monday February 27 to Sunday March 11. The theme for this year is ‘Take A Step’. The UK body, the Fairtrade Foundation, want everyone to take a step for fair trade to bring a brighter future to farming communities in the developing world.

Why vitamins could be key in fight against malaria

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Souce : EC Research & Innovation

British and German researchers led by the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom have found that vitamins could help fight malaria. The findings of the study, presented in the journal Structure, could encourage the development of more effective drugs to fight this disease. This disorder affects more than 250 million people each year, and kills over 650 000 people. The study was funded in part by a grant under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

Vitamins are essential nutrients required only in small amounts. But a lack of even these small amounts leads to deficiencies. Researchers believe various pathogenic microorganisms produce vitamins; the biosynthetic pathways could be the key factor in getting novel therapies off the ground and running.

Studies have shown how antifolates targeting vitamin B9 biosynthesis of the malarial parasites play a vital role in the treatment of malaria. It should be noted that researchers have put the spotlight on vitamin B6 biosynthesis of the parasite as a drug novel target.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says early diagnosis and prompt treatment are two fundamental elements of malaria control. Both early and effective treatment of this disease can cut short the duration and extent of the infection.

But one of the biggest problems in trying to control malaria is the high degree of resistance developed by Plasmodium species against treatments being used today. Malaria is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. So finding novel drug targets and antimalarial chemotherapeutics is imperative.

In this study, the researchers identified the malarial enzymes responsible for vitamin B6 biosynthesis with atomic three-dimensional (3D) structures. The team points out that vitamin B6 biosynthesis is a very organised process that involves an enzyme complex of 24 protein subunits. Using electron microscopy, they probed the assembly from individual proteins.

'The structural studies explain how these vital enzymes are activated and show the substrate of vitamin B6 biosynthesis bound to give insights into the chemistry of PLP biosynthesis,' says Dr Ivo Tews, a lecturer in structural biology at the University of Southampton. 'The enzyme complex has a fascinating internal tunnel for the transfer of reactive reaction intermediates. The studies also discovered an unexpected organisation of enzyme complexes into fibres. The new data are a starting point for the development of specific inhibitors that target either the enzymes active sites or the assembly of the proteins into functional complexes.'

New EU-funded project investigates embryonic stem-cell division

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Researchers have just launched an EU-funded project that will investigate the different ways embryonic stem cells divide.

When embryonic stem cells start to divide and develop into tissue, they do this through a process called differentiation. Each stem cell has the potential to differentiate into different types of tissue cells such as neurons, muscle, or blood cells, and the molecular mechanisms that determine its fate are highly complex.

The 4DCELLFATE ('Developing a global understanding of the PRC and NuRD complexes in stem cell differentiation, in health and disease') project received a funding boost of almost EUR 12 million from the 'Health' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). It will investigate the sophisticated and dynamic protein machineries that control the earliest steps of differentiation: polycomb repressive complex (PRC) and nucleosome remodelling and deacetylase (NuRD) complexes, which are both critical for switching genes off and on at the right time and in the right cell type.

By understanding how these complexes determine cell fate, scientists can develop models for diseases such as cancer. The models can be used both for further research and for developing personalised medicine therapies.

The project consortium brings together researchers from academia and industry in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom; it comprises eight academic labs, three research-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a large pharmaceutical company.

Project coordinator Luciano Di Croce, from the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, Spain, comments on the new project: 'This network has brought together the optimal mix of expertise, laboratories, techniques, and resources to finally elucidate how the fate of a cell is decided and how to apply this knowledge to regenerative medicine.'

Together the European team will tackle the question of how the PRC and NuRD complexes function across space (the genome) and time (during differentiation). To find answers, they will use cutting-edge technologies such as structural biology, light microscopy, proteomics, high-throughput sequencing, and computational modelling.

By working closely, 4DCELLFATE partners will be able to directly translate fundamental laboratory findings into new research and medical solutions, focusing on developing novel genome editing tools, refined methods for stem cell differentiation, new computational models of disease, and, ultimately, new drugs.

In addition to generating new methods and models of disease, the knowledge gained as part of the project will help scientists develop molecules that better control stem cell differentiation cultured in a dish outside the human body, or ex vivo.

Stem cells have huge potential and are a valuable source of human tissue; in the future, they could be used to generate a reliable source of tissue such as liver to study disease progression in culture. They could also be used to screen and develop drugs, allowing questions to be answered about what has gone wrong in a disease's treatment and how to improve it with small molecule drugs.

For more information, please visit: 4DCELLFATE: http://www.4dcellfate.eu/

Water Security Funding available.

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The government is to stimulate innovation in the UK water industry by funding research and development that will address overseas and UK water security challenges.

The Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org), Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA – www.defra.gov.uk), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC – www.nerc.ac.uk) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC – www.epsrc.ac.uk) are to invest up to £4 million to support new market entry or business innovation in step-change solutions.

Up to £1 million will be available for feasibility projects, which must be led by a small or medium-sized business (SME) while up to £2.5 million will be available for collaborative R&D projects, which must be led by a UK business and include an end-user. A further £0.5 million will be provided for specific projects incorporating a space-related solution, such as satellite derived data.

The competition opens on 19 March 2012 and the registration deadline for both strands of the competition is 25 April 2012. Applications for feasibility study funding, and expressions of interest for collaborative R&D funding, must be submitted by 2 May 2012. A briefing day for potential applicants will take place on 28 March 2012.

A step change is defined as being a product, process, service or business model that has the potential to save or make available for use 1,000 Ml/d water, within a global context but defined market, from the blue water cycle. Proposals must clearly describe their potential for attaining the 1,000 Ml/d target.

For further information please visit: Water Security competition

Zebra stripes help keep horseflies at bay

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Have you ever wondered how and why zebras got their stripes? Well, wonder no more: a team of researchers from Hungary and Sweden sheds fresh light on the stripe function and why the stripe pattern has evolved. Presented in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the study was funded in part by the TABANOID ('Trap for the novel control of horseflies on open-air fields') project, which received more than EUR 825 000 in funding under the 'Research for the benefit of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Horseflies (tabanids) are nasty little insects, biting and carrying disease, and distracting grazing animals from feeding. Dr Gábor Horváth from the Department of Biological Physics, Physical Institute, Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, along with colleagues, investigated whether these blood-sucking insects are drawn to the black and white striped patterns of the zebra.

Dr Horváth says the bugs are attracted to horizontally polarised light because reflections from water are horizontally polarised, and aquatic insects use this phenomenon to determine the sites of where they can mate and lay eggs.

But female horseflies are also drawn to animals because of the linearly polarised light reflected from their hides. When looking at horses, researchers say horseflies favour dark hides over white ones. The developing zebra embryos start out with a dark skin, but go on to develop white stripes before birth.

The researchers postulate that the zebra's stripy hide could have evolved to alter the appearance of their attractive dark skins and make them less interesting to bloodsuckers like tabanids.

In their study, the researchers used a sample at a horsefly-infected horse farm in Budapest. They varied the width, density and angle of stripes, as well as the direction of polarisation of the light that they reflected. The team used oil and glue to trap the insects. They found that the narrower the stripe, the less attractive it is to the horseflies.

They also tested the attractiveness of white, dark and striped horse models, and found that the striped horse was the least attractive of all three types. They later measured the stripe widths and polarisation patterns of light reflected from real zebra hides, and discovered that the zebra's pattern correlated well with the patterns that were least attractive to horseflies.

'We conclude that zebras have evolved a coat pattern in which the stripes are narrow enough to ensure minimum attractiveness to tabanid flies,' the authors write. 'The selection pressure for striped coat patterns as a response to blood-sucking dipteran parasites is probably high in this region [i.e. Africa].'

The TABANOID project, coordinated by MFKK Invention and Research Center Services Ltd., concluded with the development of a product that will profoundly increase the visibility of participating SMEs in the horse-fly protection business in Europe. As IPR owners, the project partners of the TABANOID Consortium (LENIS, MEPARK, KORÖS-MAROS BIOFARM, JCB, EOHIPPUS and AGROPHARM) will be able to strengthen their competitiveness by producing, distributing and selling an eco-friendly and efficient horse fly control trap.

Contact person:For more information, please visit:

Eötvös Loránd University:
http://www.elte.hu/

Journal of Experimental Biology:
http://jeb.biologists.org/

Malaria and the cloak of invisibility

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

An international team of scientists has discovered a key molecule that helps the malaria parasite evade the human body's immune system. Partially funded by the EU-backed EVIMALAR ('Towards the establishment of a permanent European virtual institute dedicated to malaria research') project and presented in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, the findings of this study could provide fresh insight into how the parasite that triggers disease can dodge the defences built by the immune system. EVIMALAR, meanwhile, is funded under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of EUR 12 million.

Led by the Australia-based Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, researchers from Australia, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom identified how this crucial molecule is behind the 'invisibility cloak' the parasite uses to hide from the body's defence mechanism. This molecule also helps the parasites' offspring to remember how to 'produce' the cloak.

Professor Alan Cowman from the Infection and Immunity division of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and his team found the molecule that controls the genetic expression of PfEMP1 (Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1), a protein that is responsible for triggering disease during malaria infection.

'The molecule that we discovered, named PfSET10, plays an important role in the genetic control of PfEMP1, an essential parasite protein that is used during specific stages of parasite development for its survival,' explains senior author Professor Cowman. 'This is the first protein that has been found at what we call the "active" site, where control of the genes that produce PfEMP1 occurs. Knowing the genes involved in the production of PfEMP1 is key to understanding how this parasite escapes the defences deployed against it by our immune system.'

Malaria infection gets a boost from PfEMP1 in two ways: first, PfEMP1 allows the parasite to stick to cells on the internal lining of blood vessels; and two, it facilitates the parasite's journey during its escape from destruction. With respect to the first factor, by sticking to cells, the infected cells cannot be eliminated from the body. As for the second factor, the genetic code of the PfEMP1 protein is modified, thus allowing some of the parasites to pass undetected.

All this can be described as a 'cloak of invisibility', making it tricky for the immune system to pick up on the parasite-infected cells. This, say the researchers, is one of the reasons scientists have not been able to develop a viable malaria vaccine.

Putting the spotlight on the PfSET10 molecule is the first step in piecing together the puzzle of how the parasite uses PfEMP1 as an invisibility clock to hide itself from the immune system.

'As we better understand the systems that control how the PfEMP1 protein is encoded and produced by the parasite, including the molecules that are involved in controlling the process,' says Professor Cowman, 'we will be able to produce targeted treatments that would be more effective in preventing malaria infection in the approximately 3 billion people who are at risk of contracting malaria worldwide.'

Over 250 million people are infected with malaria each year. More than 650 000 people die from this disease, and the majority of victims are children.

For more information, please visit:

EVIMALAR: http://www.evimalar.org/

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research: http://www.wehi.edu.au/

Cell Host & Microbe: http://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/home

Optical Express plans to create 100 new jobs in Glasgow

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

The eye company, Optical Express, is to open 24 new clinics in the UK and create 100 customer care jobs in Scotland.

The group, which is based in Cumbernauld, already runs 180 stores across Europe, employing about 3,000 people.

The new jobs will be at the firm's call centre in Glasgow.

The company said the clinics will be based in out-of-town locations where rents are cheaper.

As well as laser eye surgery, Optical Express offers other health care services including cosmetic surgery.

The firm said the new clinics will make eye surgery more accessible to many people.

Hugh Kerr, operations director of Optical Express said: "Our strategy is to continue to invest in our service offering to deliver the best eye care treatment solution available in the UK, whether that be spectacles, contact lenses or laser eye surgery.

"This investment and recruitment drive underscores our commitment to deliver the most technologically advanced service in the UK but also at the lowest possible cost to the consumer."

New EU-funded project champions more sustainable production and distribution of foodstuffs

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A new EU-funded project that aims to contribute towards getting the food and drink sector to engage in more environmentally sustainable production, transformation and distribution of its products has just kicked off. The agri-foodstuffs industry is currently one of the biggest contributors towards rising emissions levels and global warming, and as a whole it uses up about 70% of the world's fresh water.

The main objective is to reduce the environmental impact of food and drink throughout the production chain, starting with production and transformation and going right up to commercial distribution.

With a EUR 2,890,067 boost of funding from the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), SENSE ('HarmoniSed ENvironmental Sustainability in the European food and drink chain') brings together 23 companies, foodstuff associations and research centres from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The ethos behind SENSE is to bring together these groups of researchers, producers, transformers and distributors to develop a harmonised approach that can be used to evaluate the environmental impact of food products accurately and efficiently.

The SENSE consortium partners will focus on creating a methodology that can be applied to the juice, dairy, meat and aquaculture sectors. This methodology will need to be easy to incorporate into foodstuff companies irrespective of their size, and it must also be capable of helping consumers identify which products are committed to environmental sustainability and which are not. The team will consult consumers throughout the process to find out their views on what form the product identification will take and what information it will give.

The three-year project will set out to evaluate the current systems for analysing environmental impact, and will come up with a new simplified system to evaluate traceable sustainability throughout the production chain. The team aim to draw up a strategy that incorporates the three pillars of sustainability: respect for the environment, economic viability and benefit for society.

Although the new harmonised system developed as part of SENSE focuses on the juice, dairy, meat and aquaculture sectors, the methodology will be easily transferable for use with any food product.

For more information, please visit: Azti-Tecnalia: http://www.azti.es/

Networking for better Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The project offers people advising SMEs on CSR throughout Europe a unique opportunity to network and learn from each other and to gain insight into critical tools and information to support their work.

To support these people and those wishing to advise SMEs on CSR, the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission will host a Networking Event on the 12th and 13th of June 2012 in Berlin.

This international event, held in English, will bring together about 100 European experts and practitioners in the field to actively engage in peer-to-peer learning and share best practices across Europe.
The participation will be by invitation only.

Click here for more information.

Inter-galactic comic book's success is all down to Scots

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

It's the comic that gave the world Judge Dredd, Tharg, Strontium Dog and the ABC Warriors, but 2000AD would be nothing without its Scottish roots, its makers claim.

35 years old today, 2000AD became top dog thanks to the gallows humour and skills of writers and artists from north of the Border.

Without 2000AD, the world would have missed out on comic book names including Scots Alan Grant, Grant Morrison and Mark Millar, while many critics say the comic's dark, satirical voice owed much to Scotland's gallows humour.

Michael Molcher, a spokesman for 2000AD, said: "The cornerstone of 2000AD since issue two has been Judge Dredd, which was created by John Wagner, who is one of the most famous Scottish comic book writers out there.

"The success of 2000AD rests on a whole coterie of Scottish writing talent that has joined us over the years - Our Scottish writers lend a specific voice to 2000AD, which is cynical, satirical, sarcastic and darkly humorous.

"John Wagner is the king of hard-edged, action-based dystopian writing and a lot of our writers and artists, being Scottish, have really brought out a lot of the satirical nature of the content.

"2000AD really does excel at the subversive, anti-establishment, Scottish voice – and that voice is the comic's success."

In fact, its Scottish allegiance was strong enough that the comic marked the SNP's victory at Holyrood in 2007 with a cover showing a Saltire and Judge Dredd dealing with an inebriated Scotsman.

The story, set in the series' post-apocalyptic world, saw Dredd policing the Jock Day Parade, where Synthi-Buckie-drinking Scots walk along Molly Weir Thru-Way after a ritual "bevvy session" before trying out the sport of "long-distance boaking" and violent fighting known as "Sauchiehall Street pavement dancing".

From heavy metal to modern hipster culture, the comic claims to influence big names from Simon Pegg to Jonathan Ross, while comic book superstars like Alan Moore, Mark Millar and Grant Morrison got their first break in its pages.

Launched in 1977, the year of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, British Leyland cars and IRA threats, popular culture was being influenced by science fiction, which 2000AD tapped into with its anarchic, darkly humorous and gory comic strips.

Wagner, one of the original staff members at 2000AD, brought on board the DC Thomson-trained young writer Alan Grant, who went on to write for American publishers including DC Comics (where he wrote Batman), Marvel, Image Comics and Dark Horse.

For Grant, who is now based in Newtongrange, Midlothian, the rise and sustained success of 2000AD is all due to its Scottish roots.

He said: "We benefited then from a thorough training scheme at DC Thomson. The best talent was coming from Scotland and we had plenty of opportunity to use that talent.

"We did things politically that weren't being done anywhere else. People in Scotland hated Maggie Thatcher and a lot of what we did with Judge Dredd was very much a reaction to that.

"The most obvious thing is the sense of humour of 2000AD. Scottish people very much have a gallows humour and that really shines through.

"It may be an international success, but 2000AD would not be what it is if it had been written without Scots."

Scotland in Fairtrade nation bid

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Scotland is on course to become a Fairtrade nation later this year, according to External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Across the country, 62 towns have either achieved Fairtrade status or have active steering groups.

Almost two-thirds of higher education institutions and 171 schools have achieved the standard.

Fairtrade products are said to offer a better deal to workers in developing countries.

All six cities and 14 of the country's 32 councils have Fairtrade status, with only four more local authorities needed for Scotland to become one of the world's first Fairtrade nations.

Ms Hyslop said: "It is encouraging to see good progress being made across all walks of life in Scotland, whether that is in our schools, colleges and universities, churches or within central and local government.

"The Scottish government is committed to raising awareness and promoting the Fairtrade agenda throughout Scotland and I am confident that later this year, Scotland will become a Fairtrade nation."

New method to clean and treat polluted water for extraction of chemicals

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Scientists in Poland have discovered that it is easy to clean and treat polluted water for extraction of valuable chemicals, such as those used in the production of drugs. The upshot of this is that the use of neither plants nor factories is required; only the Sun and a 'magic' powder are needed to get the job done. The study, presented in the journal Bioresource Technology, was funded in part by the PHOTOBIO23JC ('Synthesis of novel nanostructured metal-supported photocatalysts: characterization and promising applications in the production of high value chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass') project, which is backed with a Marie Curie International Reintegration grant worth EUR 100 000 under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw say this nearly alchemic transformation is made possible by photocatalysts, which are the subject of their investigation.

Our planet contains areas where water is highly polluted by organic chemicals from industrial wastes. Thanks to the work carried out by the Polish team, we know that the biomass can be successfully transformed into chemicals and fuel. The photocatalysts facilitate the transformation of polluted water into clean water. Another advantage is that specialised plants are not needed, as the transformation occurs under conditions that are commonly met in nature.

The chemical reaction is supported by a catalyst, which helps accelerate the course. Once the reaction is finalised, the catalyst recovers. Experts say that in typical catalytic processes, the catalysts are activated at high temperatures, around several hundreds degrees Celsius, and usually at very high pressure.

'Photocatalysts studied by us differ in many respects from traditional catalysts,' says Dr Juan Carlos Colmenares from the IPC PAS. 'They are activated by light, and the temperature has no significant effect here.'

The reactions that get support from the photocatalysts occur at good exposure to sun rays, with the temperature at around 30o Celsius and atmospheric pressure being normal. The conditions, say the researchers, are occurring naturally all year round in many equatorial countries.

The photocatalysts in question are solids based on titanium dioxide, TiO2. The catalysed reaction occurs in a liquid containing organic pollutants. Once the reaction is completed, the catalyst can be isolated almost without losses and used again, according to the team.

'My work resembles somewhat alchemy,' Dr Colmenares comments. 'I take a 'magic' powder, pour it into polluted water, stir and expose to the Sun. After several hours, I get clean water plus chemicals that can be used to make useful things, for instance drugs.'

Since the 1960s, researchers around the world have been investigating the photochemical degradation of pollutants, and they have collected chemical compounds by intensive ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.

The work conducted by the IPC PAS team targeted a reaction that can occur without the use of specialised equipment. The degradation of biomass that stops at a precisely defined stage was also targeted. The researchers generated carboxylic acids with titania-based photocatalysis. These acids are used in the pharmaceutical and food industries, for example.

Says Dr Colmenares: 'In laboratory conditions, the reactions of the biomass with participation of photocatalysts are promising already now. In this year we are going to attempt the first tests in the pilot biochemical photoreactors at the University of Cordoba, Spain. The reactions will occur there in liquids with volumes measured in tens of litres.'

For more information, please visit:

IPC PAS: http://www.ichf.edu.pl/indexen.html

Bioresource Technology: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/bioresource-technology

Edinburgh's Green Investment Bank

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing today met with members of Edinburgh’s Green Investment Bank Group in a last-minute push to secure the bank for the city.

After his meeting he went to the Scottish Parliament to open a debate in support of the city’s bid for the bank. There is already cross party consensus on the issue.

Edinburgh submitted its bid to become the base for the UK Green Investment Bank to the Department of Business, Industry and Skills last month, and a decision is expected this month.

The bid has already secured support from Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils, as well as the Energy Technology Partnership, which represents universities all over Scotland.

Energy Spokespeople from all parties in the Scottish Parliament signed a letter in support of the bid sent by Mr Ewing to Vince Cable in December, and Mr Ewing has written to the Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in support of Edinburgh’s bid.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“Edinburgh is the only location in the UK which brings together both finance and the clean energy industry in a single location. It has an unrivalled concentration of industry skills and experience.

“Locating the Green Investment Bank in Edinburgh will ensure the best possible chance for the UK to develop as the European centre of excellence in this sector.

“I believe the bid put forward by the Edinburgh Green Investment Bank Group secures Edinburgh’s place as the front runner in this competition, and urge Vince Cable to choose it as the headquarters for the new Green Investment Bank.”

Speaking on behalf of the Edinburgh Green Investment Bank Group, Owen Kelly, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise said:

"We have put forward a very compelling case to bring the Green Investment Bank to Edinburgh and an impressively broad range of interests from industry, academia and politics have already expressed their support for Edinburgh's bid. Today's debate is a further opportunity to raise awareness of Edinburgh's competitive offering.”

Serbia's EU future hangs on a footnote

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

EU-mediated negotiations between Belgrade and Priština are to resume this morning (24 February) in Brussels, with high stakes: the granting of EU candidate status to Serbia at the 1-2 March summit or a return to nationalism on the eve of elections in Serbia at the end of April.

The talks will focus on the representation of Kosovo in regional forums, as well as the management of the borders between Kosovo and Serbia, which does not recognise the independence of its former province (see background).

If an agreement is reached, Belgrade could receive EU candidate status within a week. Indeed, EU leaders at the December 2011 summit said that such a decision could be taken in February and confirmed at the 1-2 March EU summit.

Summit decision

European heads of states and government will have final say over Serbia's candidate status when they meet in Brussels next week.

But the "key moment" for Serbia will be the General Affairs Council meeting that will bring together the EU's 27 foreign ministers on 28 February, according to a diplomat in Brussels.

Whether Serbia's relations with Kosovo have shown signs of improvements will weigh heavily in the minister's assessment. "We need to see progress on regional cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo," the diplomat stressed.

A prerequisite for EU negotiators is that customs relations at the Serb-Kosovo border be normalised. Serbs have reportedly removed barricades at the border between Serb-populated northern Kosovo and Serbia itself, enabling cars to cross for the first time since violent clashes erupted last July.

"Having arrangements for the free movement of goods and people is important in this context," the diplomat said, referring to clashes last summer at Serbia's border with Kosovo.

Reportedly, Austria, France and Italy have issued a joint plea to High Representative Catherine Ashton to open the EU door to Serbia.

Hanging on a footnote

Belgrade has clear red lines in the negotiation and refuses to let Kosovo's declaration of independence from being mentioned in a footnote of the agreement under discussion in Brussels.

Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi stoked those fears, saying that by signing this document, Serbia would in fact recognise Kosovo.

Serbian officials refuse to budge on the issue. But they seem open to a compromise that would refer to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which had put an end to the 1999 Kosovo war, and to the 2010 opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled that Kosovo did not violate international law when it seceded from Serbia in February 2008.

Germany's position key

A big question mark is the position of Germany, which has insisted that Serbia and Kosovo normalise their relations.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle visited Belgrade yesterday and stated that Serbia had "come very far on its path towards the EU over the last years".

In reply, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremi� said that Serbia would have work over the next few days, "but work while knowing that success is possible."

Serbia is to hold parliamentary elections at the end of April or the beginning of May, with populism on the rise and increased attacks against the president's Democratic Party, seen by many as the key pro-democratic force in Serbia.

A recent referendum organised in the Serbia-populated northern part of Kosovo was rejected by the Serbian government as unnecessary and illegal. However, the referendum and its overwhelming outcome (the rejection of the authority of Priština), was welcomed by the Democratic Party of Serbia of Vojislav Koštunica and the Serbian Radical Party of Dragan Todorovi� whose President, Voislav Šešelj, is facing trial for war crimes in the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Recently, Ivica Da�i�, interior minister and leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia, a coalition partner in the government, said that if the EU turns down Serbia's bid, the country would turn to Russia as a strategic partner.

Iceland offers to help EU fisheries reform

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

There are many good things that you can say about the EU, but the common fisheries policies has not been successful in fulfilling its objective, the Ambassador of Iceland to the EU Thorir Ibsen told EurActiv. He said there was "nothing wrong" that Iceland, an EU candidate, would help this reform, as it has "more experience in this field than the EU".

The diplomat said that Iceland has 300,000 people and catches 1.5 million tones of fish every year. In comparison, the EU has 500 million people and its total catch is 4 million tones.

"We have stocks that are sustainable, that have been working for years to build sustainable fisheries. It has turned out to be effective economically; our fishing operations are run by business, they have to survive on the market and this is being matched with what fish stocks can support in terms of catches," the ambassador said.

At the same time, the EU's fisheries policy is undergoing a deep reform. According to the EU Commission, vessels are catching more fish than can be safely reproduced, thus exhausting individual fish stocks and threatening the marine ecosystem. In 2011, the Commission presented its proposals for the reform of the EU common fisheries policy and during 2012, the proposals will be discussed in the European Parliament and in the Council. The reformed common fisheries policy (CFP) will enter into force in 2013.

"There are many good things that you can say about the EU but the common fisheries policies has not been successful in fulfilling its objective and that's why fisheries policies are being revisited and reformed. And there is not wrong that we come with our experience and say that we have more experience in this field than the EU," Ibsen said.

Asked to comment a recent rather harsh press release published days ago by the European Commission jointly with Norway on mackerel fishing, in which Brussels and Oslo accuse Reykjavik of "unsustainable fishing levels", the diplomat said "more time" was needed to discuss the issue. He also insisted that it was unrelated to the accession process of its country to the EU. Asked about whaling, practiced by Iceland but banned in the EU, the ambassador admitted that this was a contentious issue in the accession negotiations.

Ibsen said negotiations were "moving expeditiously", but rejected the view that his country was put in a "fast track" to accession. Instead, he said it was "a fair track", as the country has already taken on board a large part of the Union's acquis as member of the European Economic Area and Schengen. As the result, the whole accession process has evidently been much faster in our case than of countries that come new to the integration process, he explained.

"The process is on track, we have opened 11 chapters, one-third of all the chapters, and closed eight. And the ambition of the government is to open up the remaining chapters, if not all then almost all, no later than the June accession conference under the Danish presidency," the diplomat said.

On 17 February the Fitch rating agency upgraded Iceland to investment grade, citing the nation's progress in stabilising its economy and pushing ahead with structural reforms. The OECD's latest forecast said that growth will be 2.4% this year, contrasting with a negative figure for the EU. While unemployment in the EU is increasing, in Iceland it will fall down to 6.1% from 7% last year. Unlike nine EU countries, Iceland opened its labour market to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania.

Asked how the country succeeded this performance, after being in technical default during the 2008-2011 crisis, the ambassador stressed in particular the important contribution of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"Through determined actions of the government to rework the situation - and a change of government evidently - we ran a fruitful cooperation with the IMF. This is usual to get the outside view of how to deal with the situation and through that we jointly established a rigorous program for returning the situation, stabilise the economy and build a new economy future. It’s the result of that determined effort of the government and the cooperation with the IMF," Ibsen said.

Glasgow 2014 'will be biggest Scots catering event'

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

More than two million meals will be prepared for athletes, officials, staff and spectators at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, organisers have said.

They said more than 100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables, 10,000 loaves of bread and 25,000 litres of milk will be eaten during the event.

Food and drink producers are now being urged to compete for millions of pounds worth of contracts for the games.

Organisers said it would be the biggest event Scottish catering had ever seen.

Details of services contracts available will be highlighted by games organisers at the Scotland Food and Drink annual general meeting in Perth.

Glasgow 2014 head of catering, cleaning and waste Craig Lear said: "For 25 days of the games period, including the 11 days of competition, there will be more than two million meals made for athletes, team officials, technical officials, the media, the workforce, the games family and for spectators.

"The games will be a spectacular sporting event which showcases the city and the nation on an international stage.

"The race for those in the catering, cleaning and waste industries in Scotland will begin in late 2012 when we go out to tender for dozens of contracts."

Mr Lear added: "The opportunity to win business, raise international ambitions and deliver growth could be enormous, but like the event itself, only the best will win gold."

Companies who are interested in finding out more about the opportunities available should register on Glasgow Business Portal.

Larger value tenders are also being advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union.

1 billion growth fund boost open for business

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

From today an extra £1 billion is available to businesses seeking support to help them create new jobs and grow, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will announce.

The funding is part of the Regional Growth Fund and takes the total fund to £2.4 billion. It will be available to businesses and public / private partnerships with ambitions to create new jobs and make a significant impact on their local economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will make the announcement at the Government’s National Manufacturing Summit being held at the Bristol & Bath Science Park.

He is also set to confirm that 48 of the successful firms from the first two rounds of the fund have completed their legal checks and have access to the Government fund which leverages private sector investment, with at least £5 put in for every £1 of public money.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“The Regional Growth Fund is already having a huge impact across the UK. So far there have been over 170 successful bids to the fund, leveraging around £7.5 billion of private sector investment and set to create and protect 330,000 jobs. I want to see more businesses that are confident they can create jobs and get Britain building and making things again, coming forward – making sure their hats are in the ring.

“Funding from rounds one and two has gone to some extraordinarily promising manufacturing projects. From Pirelli Tyres in Carlisle who’ll use the money to develop a new range of carbon-cutting tyres; to a Portsmouth based company which hopes to use theirs to create a cutting edge boat building college.

“These are the kinds of projects that will lead their communities into brighter times, helping put industry at the heart of the UK’s economy. Businesses have until June to apply for a share of this extra £1 billion.”

Ahead of the summit, the Deputy Prime Minister will be joined by Business Secretary Vince Cable at GKN Aerospace, Bristol to open the company’s new £150 million advanced composites manufacturing centre, where the 27 metre long Airbus A350 wing is being made. When operating at full production, the facility will provide employment for 250 people.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“The Regional Growth Fund is starting to make excellent progress. Already 48 firms have started to access their funding, and around a third have started their projects as they go through legal checks. This means jobs are being created, money is being invested and the fund is making a difference.

“But we cannot be complacent. The additional £1 billion in the fund will help us maintain momentum around supporting even more businesses and encouraging the creation of new jobs.

“Many of the successful projects from rounds one and two were manufacturers and the sector remains one of our national success stories. Manufacturing lies right at the heart of the Government’s strategy for economic recovery and growth.”

Since the last update a further 20 projects have now signed their contracts. These include DTR VMS in Chippenham, Wiltshire and a number of firms in the Let’s Grow Campaign, run by The Journal in Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Many of the 176 successful bidders from rounds one and two, which are currently going through their legal checks, have already started their projects, with around a third of the companies reporting that activity is underway.

It was also announced at the Summit that ‘See Inside Manufacturing’, a pilot initiative introduced last year to give young people the opportunity to go behind the scenes of some of the UK’s world-class automotive facilities to learn about modern manufacturing, will return again this June. This time it will be extended to three new sectors – aerospace, defence, and food and drink.

The Government’s Make it in Great Britain campaign received an added boost at the Summit with the announcement of 23 new ‘Industry Champions’, bringing the total to 30. The Champions – who are leaders in their field across a variety of sectors within manufacturing – have signed up to lend their support to the campaign, which culminates in a six week exhibition at the Science Museum this summer during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“Worth approximately £130bn a year and employing 2.5m people, the manufacturing industry’s contribution to our economy cannot be understated.

“The Government remains committed to manufacturing, which is why we have placed it at the heart of our Growth Programme. Equally so, showcasing manufacturing as a worthwhile career choice for young people in modern Britain is another goal of Government, which Make it in Great Britain and See Inside Manufacturing are helping to lead for the long term prosperity of the industry.”

Vince Cable also announced that Sir Richard Lapthorne, Chairman of Cable and Wireless Communications plc, has been appointed as Chair of the Lead Expert Group for the Foresight Future of Manufacturing Project, a two-year project investigating the long term future of manufacturing.

The Manufacturing Summit brought together Government and key industry leaders to discuss and debate progress, the upcoming challenges and next steps for the sector as the Government continues to put manufacturing at the heart of its Growth Programme.

Bonnie Dean, chief executive of the Bristol and Bath Science Park, said:

"As a Science City, Bristol has been recognised for the quality and diversity of its science and research base. Today's national conference also showcases another dimension of the region's strengths by focusing on the South West's businesses who have taken the considerable commercial risk to turn original research into sophisticated manufactured products sold nationally and exported internationally."

For more information on the criteria of the fund and how to bid, please visit www.bis.gov.uk/rgf

Competitiveness Council: Innovation ministers discuss ins and outs of Horizon 2020

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Innovation ministers came together to discuss the Commission's proposals for Horizon 2020 at a Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels on 21 February. The plans for a new streamlined EU research and innovation funding programme, set to kick off in 2014, were outlined by Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn on 30 November 2011.

At the meeting, presided over by Danish Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education Mr Morten Østergaard, ministers discussed cross-cutting issues within the Horizon 2020 programme, with a particular focus on the role of social sciences and humanities, as well as small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) participation.

The meeting was the third time ministers have sat down to go through the plans. They last met at an informal Competitiveness Council meeting held in Copenhagen on 2 February which followed the first general exchange of views at the 6 December Competitiveness Council.

The Commission's draft plan states that the EUR 80 million Horizon 2020 budget will focus on supporting excellence in the science base, tackling societal challenges and securing industrial leadership and competitive frameworks.

All delegations expressed their support for facilitating SME participation in the innovation process.

The United Kingdom's Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU Mr Andy Lebrecht said: '[Their participation] is crucial for creating smart and sustainable growth. Whilst simplification of the administrative requirements and the introduction of new instruments should help to encourage higher participation from SMEs, Member States also have a role to play. In the UK we are about to review the system of support offered to organisations wishing to participate in the Framework Programme (FP). We want to avoid parallel and strategic funding activities, dedicated groups such as the Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology Cooperation (SFIC) should be limited to information sharing and an advisory role and should not be directly involved in allocating funding, instead we should nationalise existing and new initiatives where appropriate, such as ERA-Nets, joint programming initiatives, and article 185 programmes.'

He cited as crucial the improvement of networking between experienced Framework Programme participants and less experienced SMEs, and alignment with national funding programmes. He also reported that in the UK more SMEs took part in ERA-Net + programmes as a logical next step after completing a relevant national programme.

Mr ¿eljko Jovanovic, representing soon-to be Member State Croatia, echoed these ideas. He said that 'reducing the administrative burden for SMEs and other investors was a must' and that Croatia 'supports the idea of an advisory mechanism.'

Many Member State delegations highlighted the advantages of embedding social sciences and humanities into research projects so as to better address the major societal challenges facing Europe. The Austrian delegation said: 'I have asked for social sciences to be given adequate attention in the Horizon 2020 approach. The challenges of our era can only be overcome if we give sufficient attention to social sciences. Not all challenges can be resolved technically. A more efficient exploitation of knowledge depends on behaviour and social conditions.'

Addressing ministers at the end of the meeting, Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn assured them that social sciences and humanities would be given adequate attention:
'The social sciences and humanities will be fully integrated within the three main pillars of Horizon 2020, and they will be included as an integral part of the activities to address all societal challenges, working beyond the silos of distinct disciplines. It is imperative that we better understand the challenges before we embark on specific solutions.'

She also emphasised that Horizon 2020 would build 'on the success of previous Framework Programmes' and continue to be 'fully open to participation from third countries.'

On 27 February it will be the European Parliament's turn to discuss the Horizon 2020 proposals when its Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) holds a first exchange of views on the draft package. Spanish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Riera Madurell from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) will present her Working Document on the Horizon 2020 Framework.

Research and innovation play a key part in the priorities of the Danish presidency and when they took over from the Poles in January they announced they would be championing research and innovation to help promote innovative companies and ensure greener and more sustainable growth. Part of this aim involves working on Commission proposals such as the draft Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the final Europe 2020 flagship initiative. At the ITRE meeting, committee members will also take a vote on this before it goes to a plenary vote in March.

The Danes are keen to make ground on the EED before they are required to hand over the baton to Cyprus in July. The importance of coordination across these different Europe 2020 policy portfolios is crucial. For example, projects carried out with funding from EU research Framework Programmes directly support research that helps put other flagship policy initiatives like the EED into action.

The Presidency hopes that the negotiations within the Council on the specifics of Horizon 2020 will come to an end by May 2012, in order to pave the way for future work and secure a timely adoption of the final legislative acts by the Council and the European Parliament. From 2014, Horizon 2020 will officially take over from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). In mid-2012 some final calls for proposals under FP7 will be made to help bridge the gap between the two programmes.

For more information, please visit:

Council of the European Union: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage?lang=en

Horizon 2020: http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=home

Scientists raise red flag on fish sustainability

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

An international team of scientists has discovered that the effect of fishing for tuna and similar species since the early 1960s has led to a decline in these populations by around 60%. The study, presented in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was funded in part by the METAOCEANS ('Elucidating the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems through synethesis and comparative results') project, which clinched a Marie Curie Early Stage Research Training (EST) grant worth EUR 2.23 million under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The results have raised red flags, highlighting how several fish species have been overexploited, and particularly how the majority of tuna fish have been exploited to the limits of sustainability.

Researchers from Canada, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom have identified how cold water tuna is the species hardest hit by exploitation, with data showing that their numbers have shrunk by 80%. The Atlantic bluefin and the southern bluefin are part of this group, which is known for being big, long living, and of significant economic value.

Another species, the mackerel, has also felt the effect in its numbers. Despite being smaller and having shorter lifespans, mackerel are part of a growing and worrisome trend. The study's findings suggest that fishing knows no boundaries: large or small, all species are at risk.

'The results of this study, which are based on a compilation of more precise estimates, show a global situation of tuna populations that differs from bleaker past interpretations,' explains lead author María Joé Juan-Jordá of the University of A Coruña in Spain.

A past study, published in Nature in 2003, found that the numbers of pelagic fish, including tuna, had shrunk by 90% in the last century. Ms Juan-Jordá, a doctoral student, says that 'there are worrying factors that regional fishing organisations should solve in order to ensure a sustainable future is these fisheries'.

The authors of the study note that the management of tuna populations can be a viable solution. But University of Simon Fraser (Canada) researcher Nicholas Dulvy, one of the authors of the study, adds: ' ... with some species, fishing management needs help. The ones with the highest economic value are the most overexploited. There are clearly still people who benefit economically from illegal fishing of bluefin tuna, a case in which international trade goes beyond international fishing regulations, which are usually effective.'

Says Ms Juan-Jordá: 'Fishing management organisations must not just use their resources to manage high-value species, such as large tuna, but also for species of lower economic value, which are important as they are a big source of protein for many developing countries.'

The findings suggest that boosting hauls could continue to be a risky act, and that any global fishing effort must be followed with a great deal of care as demand continues to grow.

'Therefore, everyone must concentrate now on creating a real future for these populations and the fisheries that depend on them,' comments co-author Iago Mosqueira, a fishing scientist from the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission at Ispra, Italy.

Commenting on what needs to done to ensure the species' sustainability, co-author, Professor Juan Freire of A Coruña University, says: 'Serious efforts and effective action are needed to reduce global overfishing, to recover overexploited populations and regulate trade that endangers them. Only then can we guarantee bigger catches, stable financial profits, and reduce our impact on marine ecosystems.'

For more information, please visit:

Joint Research Centre (JRC): http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm , PNAS: http://www.pnas.org/

Europe can do better: President Barroso welcomes best practice report on administrative burden reduction and calls on Member States to learn from each other

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Yesterday President Barroso received the Chairman of the High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens, Dr. Edmund Stoiber, who handed over the Group's report "Europe can do more" on best practice in Member States to implement EU legislation in the least burdensome way.

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, said: "I congratulate the Group under the chairmanship of Dr. Edmund Stoiber for this excellent report. It shows impressive examples how Member States implement EU law in an intelligent way so that its positive effects can unfold and are not hampered by unnecessary administrative burden at national level. I call on Member States to look at these examples and learn from them. Through mutual inspiration on smart regulation we can further improve the business environment and support growth and jobs in Europe."

The Commission requested the best practice report in August 2010. The report lists 74 best practice examples – including initiatives on e-government, on intelligent solutions in particular for small businesses, direct stakeholder involvement, good guidance and cross-border initiatives.

It shows that there is ample scope for improving the implementation of EU legislation. Since almost a third of the administrative burdens on businesses deriving from EU legislation stem from inefficient national implementation of EU requirements, reducing such burdensome implementation is vital to improving the life of businesses and to boosting the EU's economy and its competitiveness.

The report also includes a checklist with recommendations and invites readers to comment.

Background

The target to reduce administrative burdens for businesses in the EU by 25 % by 2012 and the corresponding Action Programme were proposed by the Commission in January 2007, and endorsed by the European Council in March 2007. The improvement of the business environment by cutting red tape is a joint objective which can only be attained on the basis of a shared responsibility of the European Institutions and the Member States.

The European Commission has made good progress in implementing the Action Programme. The Commission has already proposed measures that reduce administrative burdens by up to 33 % or more than EUR 40 bn. Out of this, Council and Parliament have so far adopted measures amounting to a reduction of 22 %.

With the recent agreement on measures reducing accounting red tape for more than 5 million small companies the total reduction figure received a further boost towards achieving the target of reducing administrative burdens by 25 % by 2012.

The High Level Group on Administrative Burdens, chaired by Dr. Edmund Stoiber, advises and assists the Commission on the implementation of the Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU since 2008.

For more information:

Where does the EU stand on administrative burden reduction? Read MEMO/12/116

Read the full report

Read the brochure with selected examples

Provide feedback on the report to SG-HLG-AB@ec.europa.eu

Visit the Commission's website on smart regulation

Visit the High Level Group's website

Fighting breast cancer: new EU-funded biomarker project kicks off

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A new EU-funded biomarker project that aims to get breast cancer therapy more tailored to individual patients has just got under way. By ensuring that breast cancer therapy is specifically designed with an individual patient in mind, medical practitioners can bypass ineffective treatments - saving both valuable time and energy.

RESPONSIFY ('Genome-based biomarkers leading to validated molecular diagnostic tests for response prediction in breast cancer') received almost EUR 6 million under the 'Health' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), and brings together researchers from Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The project partners will work on developing new biomarker tests that can indicate whether and how a treatment affects an individual patient, and make response prediction much easier.

The main focus of the project will be on ascertaining whether certain types of treatment should be administered before or after surgery. Doctors often need to determine which therapy is best for a patient about to undergo surgical tumour removal; in most breast cancer cases it is only after the removal and examination of the tumour that doctors choose a therapy. However, just because this is the dominant form of treatment does not mean it is best for everyone. Treatment that starts prior to surgery, called 'neoadjuvant therapy', involves significantly minimising the tumour preoperatively. Only then do doctors remove the remaining tumour tissue.

Professor Carsten Denkert, from the coordinating institution Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, comments: 'The advantage of neoadjuvant therapy is that the effective response of the therapy on the tumour is immediately visible. This is why we are better able to judge which biomarkers are appropriate for directing the therapy.'

The team will use different genome-based strategies to identify and characterise new biomarkers as well as validate biomarkers from previous projects. Genome-based strategies include new molecular techniques such as genome-wide next-generation sequencing, epigenetics, gene and exon expression analysis, as well as kinome arrays, in situ proteomics and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.

By integrating information on response prediction from different breast cancer types and methodologies into biomarker tests for targeted therapies in the clinical routine setting, researchers can work towards meeting the challenges surrounding individualisation of cancer therapy based on standardised biomarker assays. To bring these tests to market, they will then be developed for commercialisation by the industry and small and medium-size enterprise (SME) partners in the consortium.

The results from the project will be presented on a web-based data integration and processing system. Standardising the integration of clinical trial data and biomarker results into one system allows easy access for further clinical biomarker driven trials.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women around the world, both in the developed and the developing world.

For more information, please visit: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin: http://www.charite.de/en/charite/

Faster-than-light neutrinos could be down to bad wiring

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

What might have been the biggest physics story of the past century may instead be down to a faulty connection.

In September 2011, the Opera experiment reported it had seen particles called neutrinos evidently travelling faster than the speed of light.

The team has now found two problems that may have affected their test in opposing ways: one in its timing gear and one in an optical fibre connection.

More tests from May will determine just how they affect measured speeds.

The Opera collaboration (an acronym for Oscillation Project with Emulsion-Racking Apparatus) was initially started to study the tiny particles as they travelled through 730km of rock between a particle accelerator at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Cern) in Switzerland and the Gran Sasso underground laboratory in Italy.

Its goal was to quantify how often the neutrinos change from one type to another on the journey.

But during the course of the experiments the team found that the neutrinos showed up 60 billionths of a second faster than light would have done over the same distance - a result that runs counter to a century's worth of theoretical and experimental physics.

The team submitted the surprising result to the scientific community in an effort to confirm or refute it, and several other experiments around the world are currently working to replicate the result.

A repeat of the experiment by the Opera team will now address whether the issues they have found affect the ultimate neutrino speed they measure.

Faulty connection?

The two problems the team has identified would have opposing effects on the apparent speed.

On the one hand, the team said there is a problem in the "oscillator" that provides a ticking clock to the experiment in the intervals between the synchronisations of GPS equipment.

This is used to provide start and stop times for the measurement as well as precise distance information.

That problem would increase the measured time of the neutrinos' flight, in turn reducing the surprising faster-than-light effect.

But the team also said they found a problem in the optical fibre connection between the GPS signal and the experiment's main clock - quite simply, a cable not quite fully plugged in.

In contrast, the team said that effect would increase the neutrinos' apparent speed.

The team had carried out their measurements for more than three years, exhaustively scrutinising their methods and analysis before announcing the results last year - so why had they not found these issues before?

"It's sometimes very difficult to tell whether this thing could have been done before - because in a sense the answer is always yes," said Sergio Bertolucci, director of research at Cern.

Prof Bertolucci outlined the complexity both of the experiment and the analysis of the results, stressing that the hunt for just these kinds of problems had been relentless.

"One has to realise that the collaboration has never stopped to try to 'kill' the measurement (proving that it was erroneous)," he told BBC News.

"Their constant search for systematic (errors) has never stopped, for more than a year."

Some have suggested that faster-than-light neutrinos would undermine Einstein's relativity theory Given that the opposing effects only seem to muddy the waters further on whether neutrinos can exceed the "universal speed limit", only more experiments will put the matter to rest.

For its part, the Opera team said in a statement: "While continuing our investigations, in order to unambiguously quantify the effect on the observed result, the collaboration is looking forward to performing a new measurement of the neutrino velocity as soon as a new bunched beam will be available in 2012."

Facilities also at Gran Sasso called Borexino, LVD and Icarus will also take part, along with Minos, based at Fermilab in the US, and possibly a Japanese facility called T2K.

With so much at stake, Oxford University particle physicist and Minos spokesman Alfons Weber said these international efforts will go ahead no matter what.

"I can say that Minos will quite definitely go ahead," Dr Weber told BBC News. "We've already installed most of the equipment we need to make an accurate measurement.

"Even if Opera now publish that 'Yes, everything is fine', we still want to make sure that we come up with a consistent, independent measurement, and I assume that the other experiments will go forward with this as well."

But Prof Bertolucci at Cern says that there are wider implications of the neutrino story, which is playing out in the public eye.

"All this story has shown to the wider public how science works," he said.

"Of course the people of Opera are not happy; they would have preferred that the neutrinos stayed [faster than light], but the fact that they came out and they put themselves to the scrutiny of the wider collaboration... I think makes a good case for science."

Centrica signs 246 million deal for North Sea sites

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

Scottish Gas-owner Centrica has agreed to buy a big portfolio of oil and gas assets in the UK North Sea from Total for $388 million (£246 million) and underlined its desire for similar deals.

The utility giant's upstream business is buying stakes in seven oil and gas fields in the Central North Sea and associated infrastructure in a deal that will result in a significant increase in the size of the unit.

The deal covers non-operated stakes in assets in three major areas off Scotland, which will increase Centrica's reserve base by 22 million barrels oil equivalent, or 5%.

It will give Centrica access to more gas that it could use to meet the requirements of the division that supplies millions of consumers across the UK.

Led by Sam Laidlaw, the group is expected to announce bumper profits today.

Centrica has been building up its North Sea business partly to reduce its reliance on wholesale markets.

Situated in Aberdeen, the unit is based around the Venture Production business which Centrica bought for £1.3 billion in 2009.

Last month Centrica agreed to pay ConocoPhillips £140 million for some gas assets in UK and Norwegian waters.

A Centrica spokesperson said: "We will still be looking for further investment opportunities moving forward as part of our plan to grow the business by 50% in the next three to five years."

The deal provides further evidence that some firms want to increase their exposure to the UK North Sea despite the surprise tax hike in the Budget in March last year.

Centrica said it will recover 20% of the purchase price through UK tax allowances.

Some might wonder if Total's decision to sell the assets concerned suggests its interest in the North Sea is waning.

On Tuesday the head of Total's North Sea business, Philippe Guys said it felt betrayed by the Government's decision to raise taxes. In 2010 Total agreed to invest £2.5bn in the Laggan Tormore development West of Shetland.

However, a spokesman for Total said: "Total remains fully committed to the UK Continental Shelf [UKCS].

"As well as continuing to bid for new licences and maintaining a £170 million pa exploration programme, we are currently investing nearly £4bn in new developments and facilities on the UKCS – more than any other operator.

"What we have agreed to sell are interests in smaller, mature fields that are no longer integral to our strategy and for which we have received a good offer."

Lochaber river salmon restock trial 'positive'

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A project to raise numbers of wild salmon in a Highlands river has come to the end of a three-year trial.

Salmon farming giant Marine Harvest has been working with the local angling association on the restocking of the River Lochy in Lochaber.

The organisations said the trial has had "positive results" and there are plans to release more salmon smolts.

The scheme has seen the release of about 54,000 farm-raised fish into the river so far.

There has been a long running effort to improve stocks in the short and relatively shallow river near Ben Nevis.

Numbers of salmon caught have increased from 32 in 1998 to 1,500 in more recent years.

Last year, salmon of up to 20lbs in weight were caught.

The average weight in June is more than 16lbs. May to July is when some of the largest salmon are caught.

Fish for the restocking project are raised at a Marine Harvest farm in Loch Arkaig.

Egg increase

The released smolts have a fin clipped for identification purposes.

From the river they almost immediately swim out to sea before returning to breed one to two years later.

Marine Harvest said releasing the fish at the smolt stage meant they did not compete for food with the fish bred and reared in the river itself.

The River Lochy Association said its monitoring has shown that the numbers of eggs laid by female salmon for fertilisation in the river had increased by almost one million per annum over the trial.

Also, an extra 400 spawning salmon had returned each year and the rod catch in the River Lochy had risen.

Jon Gibb, association hatchery and restoration manager, said 200 visiting anglers and 250 local people were now fishing on the river each year.

He said: "Our project with Marine Harvest is one of the most forward thinking and positive currently taking place in the wild/farmed arena in Scotland.

"I have watched the aquaculture industry develop over the years and I believe the time has come for the industry and wild salmon interests to properly work together."

Ben Hadfield, Marine Harvest Scotland production manager, said the project was innovative.

The company is also involved in a project to restock the River Shiel in collaboration with the river's owners.

Last year, a study by angling associations suggested fewer wild salmon were caught by rod on Scotland's west coast than on the east.

The bodies, including the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland, said fish farming was a factor behind the fall.

They said that between 1970 and 2009, catches in the west had declined by 42% but increased by 38% in the east.

Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation research suggested there was no difference in declines on the coasts.

The west of Scotland has large numbers of salmon farms, while the east has none.

Bosnia and Herzegovina readies EU membership bid

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: EurActiv

The new central government of Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to meet all conditions set by the European Union over the next month and apply for membership by the end of June, the Balkan country's new prime minister told Reuters.

The move comes after Muslim, Serb and Croat leaders put an end to the political deadlock that stalled reforms needed for progress towards EU membership and left the economy floundering following an inconclusive election in October 2010.

"I expect that we shall fulfil conditions for submitting the application for EU membership by June 30," Vjekoslav Bevanda, a Bosnian Croat economist who chairs the central cabinet known as the Council of Ministers, said in an interview yesterday (21 February).

Bosnia's rival ethnic leaders forged a political agreement in December that resulted in the formation of the central government and two new laws seen as key for reviving the EU accession bid.

"Passing the laws on the census and state aid was a great achievement, but we now have to implement them," Bevanda said. Parliament must also complete work on harmonising the constitution with European human rights standards, the remaining EU condition, he added.

At the end of the 1992-95 war, Bosnia was split into two autonomous regions linked by a weak central government: the Federation, dominated by Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) and Croats, and the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska.

The reformist Bevanda, who stabilised the Federation's finances during the 2008-2009 crisis when he served as its finance minister, dismissed analysts' predictions of more politicking and obstruction by ethnically divided parties.

"The atmosphere in the Council of Ministers shows a positive will to implement everything that political leaders have agreed upon," he said.

Bosnia is lagging behind its west Balkan neighbours in the queue for EU membership. Croatia is due to join the bloc in 2013, Macedonia has won candidacy status and Montenegro expects to start accession talks in June.

Serbia and Albania have applied for membership but have yet to be granted official candidate status.

The first priority is to adopt a general fiscal framework for 2012-2014 and the state budget for 2012, Bevanda said, referring to key conditions set by the International Monetary Fund and the EU to unfreeze loans halted over reform delays.

"We have set an ambitious goal... and I am confident that we shall have the 2012 budget passed by parliament by March 31," Bevanda said.

Dundee scientists hopes of improving diabetes treatment

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: STV

Scientists at Dundee University are joining forces with European researchers to improve treatment of diabetes.

The team will lead part of a €45 million (£38 million) project to develop a more personalised approach to tackling the disease.

Type two diabetes affects more than 200,000 people in Scotland but it is believed the condition is different for each person.

The Direct - Diabetes Research for patient stratification - consortium will look how individuals react to existing drugs.

The aim is to develop new medicines and improve outcomes for patients.

Dr Ewan Pearson, of Dundee University, said: "At the moment when we treat patients with diabetes, we just assume they respond in the same way and that their diabetes is all the same.

"Actually what we know is that everyone's diabetes is very different and what we're trying to here is personalise treatment, give an individual patient the specific treatment that's right for them, and making sure they get the most benefit from the drug and the least side effects."

Salmon firms in wrasse initiative over parasite

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A full-scale operation to farm and deploy wrasse fish in salmon cages is being launched in Scotland.

The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) and Meridian Salmon Group hope the move will help reduce sea lice levels on salmon farms.

Under a deal with Otter Ferry Seafish, wrasse will be commercially farmed for use in salmon cages for the first time.

More than 250,000 wrasse will be deployed at marine sites over the next three years.

The initiative, which is supported by The Crown Estate, aims to show the value of wrasse to help manage levels of sea lice and reduce the dependency on veterinary treatments.

Both companies will introduce the wrasse alongside other husbandry methods that help counter the naturally-occurring parasite that attaches itself to both farmed and wild salmon.

They will study the potential benefits of introducing the lice-eating wrasse, or "cleaner fish", for animal welfare and the marine environment.

Findings from the project will be shared with the wider industry through the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation.

The initiative builds on initial projects involving the main partners.

'Step forward'

Three years ago, Edinburgh-based SCC worked with Viking Fish Farms at Ardtoe in Argyll to develop the first initial commercial production of Ballan wrasse.

At the same time, Meridian - which is based in Bellshill, Lanarkshire - was instrumental in initiating a multi-partner funded pilot project at Otter Ferry, Argyll.

The project recruited broodstock and established protocols required for commercial production of wrasse.

Dale Hill, from SSC, said: "This is an important step forward, from both an environmental and industry perspective.

"While sea lice are naturally occurring we have the opportunity to control and manage the situation in salmon pens and, with relatively few veterinary treatments available to us, the need to find natural biological solutions is paramount."

Chivas mulls new distillery after whisky exports surge

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

Scotland’s second-biggest whisky producer is considering building a further distillery as drinkers in emerging economies continue to develop their taste for Scotch.

French drinks giant Pernod Ricard, which owns Chivas Brothers, yesterday said it is looking for emerging markets to account for 50 per cent of group sales in the next few years following last week’s bumper interim results.

News of the possible new distillery from Pernod comes less than a fortnight after rival Diageo, Scotland’s biggest whisky maker, said it was also mulling plans for a further site, just two years after opening a £40 million plant at Roseisle, in Moray.

Christian Porta, chairman and chief executive of Chivas Brothers, said the group was also well-advanced in its plans to bring its Glen Keith distillery back into production in 2013 on the back of the continued robust performance of the sector.

“We are almost there in reopening all our distilleries, with Glen Keith early next year,” Porta said. “If we believe the Scotch industry will continue to grow, we will consider opening a new distillery.”

Glen Keith in Speyside was established on the site of a corn mill in 1957 by Chivas Brothers, which also owned the adjacent Strathisla distillery. Glen Keith was mothballed in 2000.

But Scotch exports have boomed in recent years. At last week’s results, the company revealed that half-year sales of Glenlivet rose 19 per cent, while the eponymous Chivas Regal brand was up 13 per cent.

On the back of this expansion, Chivas Brothers reopened the Allt a’Bhainne distillery in 2005, expanded Glenburgie’s production by 50 per cent in 2006, reopened Braeval in 2009 and increased Glenlivet production by 75 per cent in 2010.

Porta said the group had doubled its production for blended whisky via such moves and the reopening of Glen Keith would further increase distillery capacity by up to 15 per cent.

The march of Scotch has been particularly strong in emerging markets, helping Pernod to a 18 per cent jump in sales in Asia in the first half of its trading year.

However, Pierre Pringuet, Pernod’s chief executive, said emerging markets now also embraced the likes of Russia, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, as well as Africa and Latin America.

Pernod has 39 per cent of its sales in emerging markets, which have been unscathed by the eurozone financial crisis. Pringuet said that, at current growth rates, it was feasible to have 50 per cent of its sales in emerging markets “in the next to or three years”.

He added that the increase would be achieved through organic growth and bolt on acquisitions.

EU sets out plans for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Pensions are the main income source for around a quarter of the EU's population today and younger Europeans will also come to rely on pensions later in their lives. Unless Europe delivers on decent pensions now and in the future, millions will face poverty in old age. Europe is also ageing as people live longer and have fewer children. From next year, the EU's working population will already start to shrink. Pensions are putting increased financial pressure on national budgets, especially with the added strain of the financial and economic crisis. To support these efforts, the European Commission has published a White Paper on adequate, safe and sustainable pensions. It looks at how the EU and the Member States can work to tackle the major challenges that confront our pension systems. It puts forward a range of initiatives to help create the right conditions so that those who are able can continue working - leading to a better balance between time in work and time in retirement; to ensure people who move to another country can keep their pension rights; to help people save more and ensure that pension promises are kept and people get what they expect in retirement.

Presenting the White Paper to the press in Brussels, Commissioner László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, said: "Ensuring adequate pensions for the future is possible if we follow through on our commitments to reform. The impact of ageing is upon us - the baby-boomers are retiring and fewer youngsters are entering the labour market. But it isn't too late to meet these challenges”. The Commissioner added that raising retirement ages was important saying that a recent Eurobarometer survey shows many Europeans would stay in the labour market even beyond their pension age if the conditions are right.

Click here for full press release

Green light for 89 million Technology and Innovation Centre

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Plans to develop a world-class research and technology centre at the University of Strathclyde have been given the go-ahead by Glasgow city planners.

The Technology and Innovation Centre will bring together academics and partners from industry and business – from across the international scene - to develop solutions to challenges which are central to economic regeneration and to address key technological challenges faced by society. It is due to be open for business in 2014.

Professor Jim McDonald, Principal of the University of Strathclyde, said: “Today’s news marks an important milestone in a development which will reinforce our position as a leading international technological university, attract major inward investment to the city, create jobs and help businesses compete on the world stage. This will also enhance the educational experience and opportunities for our undergraduate and postgraduate students.

“The University is dedicated to sharing knowledge and finding solutions to challenges that matter in areas of economic and societal importance – including health, energy, manufacturing and the economy. We are also committed to helping companies compete globally. Our approach is already revolutionising the way researchers in academia and industry collaborate and innovate together.

“The Technology and Innovation Centre will be a tangible sign of that commitment, enabling our world-class researchers to work side-by-side with colleagues from business and industry. With our key TIC partners including SSE, ScottishPower and the Weir Group, and University-wide industry partners including Babcock, Rolls-Royce, EDF and Gamesa, the University of Strathclyde stands at the intersection of research, industry and academia.

“We are delighted that the Council and our neighbouring community have supported our plans to get construction underway, and we look forward to creating a welcoming, state-of-the-art building that will build on Glasgow’s great engineering and scientific tradition of innovating new ideas and technologies.”

The contract to build the landmark building on George Street has now gone out to tender. Advance work to prepare the Merchant City site will begin early next month.

At 25,000 square metres, the building will have the equivalent floor space of almost 100 tennis courts and will house up to 1200 researchers from the University and its partners in both the public and private sectors. They will have access to outstanding research facilities and will work together to develop solutions to the challenges of the 21^st Century including climate change, disease and the need for fresh drinking water across the globe.

In addition a 5000 sq m Industry Engagement Building, which will be located adjacent to the University's TIC and will accommodate around 500 occupants, secured planning permission.

Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education, said: “Strathclyde University’s Technology and Innovation Centre is an exciting proposal that has clear potential to be a genuinely world class facility. It will further enhance both the university’s and Scotland’s global reputation for excellence.

“That’s why I am pleased to see the development of this centre get the green light. I firmly believe this is good news for the university, for Glasgow, for Scottish businesses and for Scotland as a whole. I look forward to seeing these plans become a reality that will no doubt attract significant investment, contribute to economic growth in the city and beyond and help provide solutions for some of the challenges across the globe.”

The centre will be the first of its kind in Europe and will become the cornerstone of the International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ) – Scotland’s hub for global green energy developments.

Developed with industry, for industry, TIC has already attracted major international partners including SSE, ScottishPower and the Weir Group, alongside funding from Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council.

Colin Hood, Chair of Technology and Innovation Centre’s Industry Advisory Board, said: “This news is a welcome boost for not only the University of Strathclyde and the city of Glasgow, but for Scotland as a whole. It will bring with it a fresh way of thinking by opening new avenues of research and collaboration, creating significant benefits for the economy and the city. The project is gathering pace and will without doubt strengthen Scotland’s reputation for its contribution to innovation and high quality research.”

Scottish Enterprise director of infrastructure, Allan McQuade, said: "Today's confirmation of planning permission for both the University of Strathclyde's Technology and Innovation Centre and our Industry Engagement Building, brings us another step closer to establishing Scotland's International and Renewable Energy Zone as a global R&D hub which will help shape the renewable energy industry of tomorrow. Glasgow is already attracting many major developers and pioneers in the offshore wind sector and these developments will help reinforce Scotland's position as a location of choice for the rapidly expanding renewable energy industry."

Mark Batho, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council said: “SFC sees this project as one of the most exciting ventures in Scotland today and we are delighted to be supporting it. The granting of planning permission is an important next step in the development of a building that will transform the way in which industry and universities can work together.”

The planning permission announcement comes just days after the UK Government revealed that the University of Strathclyde is to play a key role in a multi-million pound initiative to stimulate development and commercialisation of new offshore wind, tidal and wave power technologies.

The Offshore Renewable Energy ‘Catapult’ Centre, announced at the University by the Rt Hon Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, will see £50 million invested over the next five years. The Catapult will create a critical mass of activity and will link the University to a wide range of industrial partners and other research organisations to benefit the offshore renewable energy sector.

Science predicting how long we will live: EU-funded lifespan research

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Although for most people, knowledge about our lifespans involves questions often best left unanswered, it could have positive implications for medical science. Now researchers from the University of Glasgow and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom might have developed a new way to find out how long individuals will live, based on a DNA analysis.

The team's findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, show that scientists can obtain a good indication of a life's duration using the length of specialised pieces of DNA called telomeres, early on in life. Telomeres are found at the ends of chromosomes, which contain our complete genetic code. They work in the same way as the plastic caps at the end of shoelaces - marking the chromosome ends and protecting them from various processes that would otherwise cause the ends to wear away gradually. If the telomere wears away, cells can start malfunctioning.

The measurements the team collected helped them deduce that telomere length in early life strongly correlates to subsequent lifespan.

As these DNA-protecting caps can be found in both animals and plants, the team looked at telomere lengths in small samples of blood cells taken at various ages in a group of zebra finches whose lifespan varied from just 210 days to almost 9 years. They looked at telomere length in the nestling stage and at various points thereafter. From these results, they can make assumptions about human lifespans too. The best predictor of longevity was telomere length at just 25 days.

It is important in the process to measures telomere length in the same individuals from early life, and then repeatedly during the rest of their natural lives.

Dr Britt Heidinger, from the University of Glasgow, comments: 'While there was a lot of variation amongst individuals in telomere length, those birds that lived longest had the longest telomeres at every measurement point.'

However, other factors can come into play too. Although variation in telomere length is partly attributable to inheritance factors, it can also vary due to environmental factors such as exposure to stress, as fellow Glasgow Professor on the study, Pat Monaghan, comments: 'Our study shows the great importance of processes acting early in life. We now need to know more about how early life conditions can influence the pattern of telomere loss, and the relative importance of inherited and environmental factors. This is the main focus of our current research.'

The study received a funding boost from the European Research Council (ERC). The ERC's main aim is to encourage high-quality research in Europe through competitive funding, and to support investigator-initiated frontier research across all fields of research, on the basis of scientific excellence.

The ERC complements other funding activities in Europe such as those of the national research funding agencies, and is a flagship component of the 'Ideas' Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

For more information, please visit: University of Glasgow: http://www.gla.ac.uk/

Hiding buildings from earthquakes? The cloaking technique that could make them safer

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

How can we protect buildings in the event of an earthquake? A European researcher has perhaps found the answer - use an invisibility cloak!

Whilst this may sound like something straight out of a science fiction novel, mathematician Dr William Parnell from Manchester University in the United Kingdom believes that their newly developed 'cloaking' device could one day protect buildings when an earthquake strikes. The technique makes an object near invisible to light, sound or vibration waves.

Cloaking devices work by covering components of structures with pressurised rubber. If applied to a building, powerful waves such as those produced by an earthquake wouldn't 'see' the building. In theory, they would pass by the structure and serious destruction would be avoided.

Outlining their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A, the team describe how this cloaking technique could one day be important for safeguarding structures such as nuclear power plants, electric pylons and government offices - during both natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

While research into cloaking from light waves began about six years ago, there hasn't been much work carried out on waves in solid bodies such as those produced by earthquakes.

Dr William Parnell comments on the significance of these results for progress in the cloaking field: 'Significant progress has been made, both theoretically and practically in the area of cloaking. Five or six years ago, scientists started with light waves, and in the last few years we have started to consider other wave-types, most importantly perhaps sound and elastic waves. The real problem with the latter is that it is normally impossible to use naturally available materials as cloaks.'

Most recently, the concept of the invisibility cloak appeared in the Harry Potter books, with Harry donning his cloak to carry out all sorts of tasks unhindered by others noticing his moves. But will this idea transfer from the world of science fiction to the rather more serious task of risk management?

Dr William Parnell elaborates: 'We showed theoretically that pre-stressing a naturally available material - rubber - leads to a cloaking effect from a specific type of elastic wave. Our team is now working hard on more general theories and to understand how this theory can be realised in practice. This research has shown that we really do have the potential to control the direction and speed of elastic waves. This is important because we want to guide such waves in many contexts, especially in nano-applications such as in electronics, for example. If the theory can be scaled up to larger objects, then it could be used to create cloaks to protect buildings and structures, or perhaps more realistically to protect very important specific parts of those structures.'

Last spring's Fukushima earthquake in Japan refocused attention on the importance of securing nuclear power plants and ensuring they can withstand natural disasters.

Currently, a variety of projects being carried out as part of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (FP7 Euratom, 2007-2011) aim to further knowledge in the field of nuclear energy safety.

The new study from Dr William Parnell complements this ongoing research.

For more information, please visit: University of Manchester: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/

Digital Agenda: EU funded project helps citizens compare and reduce their energy consumption via TV, PC and social networks applications

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Citizens and business often waste energy because they do not realise which appliances and lighting use the most energy. An EU-funded project tested in the United Kingdom and Bulgaria is helping to change that – showing consumers reduced energy usage by an average of 8% when provided with an "information dashboard" about their energy use.

The Digital Environment Home Energy Management System (DEHEMS) project shows that when a consumer receives more information about their energy use, and can share and compare this with neighbours and family, they are more likely to change their behaviour. The EU-funded system presents data every 6 seconds through a small digital display. The data can also be displayed in real time via a TV screen, mobile phone, PC or social media app.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: "People make better choices when they have better information at hand. The DEHEMS project shows that very simple technologies can go a long way to helping Europe reduce energy use."

The DEHEMS system could set a huge trend in the coming years. Two commercial products are now available: The "Energyhive" (www.energyhive.co.uk) and its network that enables members to get a real time view of their home energy consumption 24/7 through a web browser and "Greenica" (www.greenica.net) which offers special products for homes, schools and small businesses. Thanks to a partnership between Hildebrand and IBM, the DEHEMS project and its lessons will soon be used by businesses both in Europe and worldwide. Major deployment is foreseen with Smart Grids Australia (involving 50,000 homes) and a district heating initiative in Camden, London. Last but not least, the Family House Association in Birmingham is looking to use DEHEMS-type technology thanks to the results achieved so far.

Background

Products based on DEHEMS project are now widely commercially available however 'DEHEMS' is not a brand name.

Based on interviews with 1000 people in the UK and Bulgaria, only 17% of people correctly identified the most power hungry appliance: the washing machine. This provided an indication that extra data would help consumers to make more informed choices about their energy use. The DEHEMS Dashboard is a screen which can be seen on a stand-alone monitor, as well as on a variety of hand held devices, smart phones and PCs. The dashboard can profile the average daily energy usage according to the number of bedrooms, the number of occupants and property type.

Since data is transmitted via the Internet to a central server, comparisons can be made between households of the same type. Therefore, users are not only informed about their own energy consumption, but can also see if they are high, medium or low energy users, compared to others in the same category. This data is anonymous – personal data is not shared, but enough data is shared to make useful comparisons. It is thus possible, for example, for a 2-occupant, single bedroom flat consuming 17kWh of energy per day to be informed that their household is consuming the energy equivalent to a 3-occupant, 3-bedroom household.

The DEHEMS project received an EU financial contribution of € 2 878 434 towards the total budget of € 3 728 473. The project partnership includes a mix of European local authorities, private business and universities:

United Kingdom: Manchester City Council, Birmingham City Council; Bristol City Council; Clicks and Links Ltd; Coventry University; Hildebrand Technology Ltd; University of Salford
Bulgaria: Ivanovo Municipality; Energy Agency Plovdiv; University of Rousse
Romania: Institute e-Austria Timisoara; Technical University of Cluj-Napoca

Useful links:

DEHEMS website

DEHEMS project-Summary for citizens

DEHEMS factsheet

DEHEMS leaflet

DEHEMS video

Digital Agenda website

Study spotlights dog impulsivity

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source EC research & Innovation

Researchers in Hungary have discovered a clear link between repeat polymorphism in the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene with activity-impulsivity in German Shepherd dogs. The research, presented in the journal PLoS ONE, was funded in part by the LIREC ('Living with robots and interactive companions') project, which has received EUR 8.2 million under the 'Information and communication technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Because similar evolutionary processes helped shape human and canine behaviours, researchers often choose dogs in their efforts to show a complex level of similarity with humans in a set of functionally shared behavioural features. Scientists who wish to investigate the genetic background of complex human behavioural diseases also benefit from dog assessments. The German Shepherd is a popular dog breed: it is known for its 'working' capabilities; used as a guide dog for the blind as well a police dog; and for guarding and protecting. But it is also a great pet dog.

Experts believe that human impulsivity is the opposite of conscientiousness, which centres on impulse control, self-discipline and dutifulness. When it comes to dogs, these facets are related to 'responsiveness to training', evaluated by several activities including object retrieval. Dogs, however, have never been directly tested for impulsivity ... until now. In this latest study, researchers from EÃ¶tvÃ¶s LorÃ¡nd University and Semmelweis University in Hungary developed a valid and reliable test battery for measuring activity and impulsivity in dogs. The team also identified one of the underlying genetic factors of complex traits.

The team assessed the behaviour of 104 dogs, characterised by 2 instruments. The first tool was the previously validated 'Dog-attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rating scale' (Dog-ADHD RS) and the second was the newly developed 'Activity-impulsivity behavioural scale' (AIBS). The second tool included four subtests, and it tested for internal consistency, inter-observer reliability, test-retest reliability and convergent validity.

'We investigated whether the activity-impulsivity trait in dogs measured by ownersâ€™ reports (Dog-ADHD RS) and behaviour tests are affected by a recently reported TH intron 4 repeat polymorphism,' the authors of the study write. 'In this repeat polymorphism, a 36-bp-long sequence in the intron 4 region of the TH gene is reiterated once (duplicated) or not reiterated at all.'

The researchers say their study offers new insight into a popular working and pet dog breed. The findings also provide a new tool for diagnosing canine hyperactivity. In their paper, the authors write: 'The present results also have some potential to support human studies; however, further studies should examine other personality traits involved in the activity-impulsivity of dogs, and the links with human ADHD.'

Ancient tools discovery highlights fishing activity

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source EC Rsearch & Innovation

'Until now, it was thought that the Mesolithic groups had seasonal as opposed to permanent settlements,' says Dr Ignacio Clemente, a researcher at the CSIC. 'According to the results obtained during the excavations, in both Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, the human group that lived in the Dubna River basin, near Moscow, carried out productive activities during the entire year.'

Dr Clemente and colleagues say the inhabitants of this area, which is referred to as Zamostje 2, favoured summer and winter hunts during the Neolithic and Mesolithic periods. They hunted fish during spring and early summer periods, and harvested wild berries at the end of the summer season and during autumn.

'We think that the fishing played a vital role in the economy of these societies, ' says Dr Clemente, 'because it was a versatile product, easy to preserve, dry and smoke, as well as store for later consumption.'

Over 36 months of investigation, the researchers found everyday objects, such as plates and spoons, working tools, hunting weapons and fishing implements. All of these objects were made with flint and other stones, as well as bones and shafts.

'The documented fishing equipment shows a highly developed technology, aimed for the practice of several fishing techniques,' Dr Clemente explains. 'We can highlight the finding of two large wooden fishing traps (a kind of interwoven basket with pine rods used for fishing), very well preserved, dating back from 7 500 years ago. This represents one of the oldest dates in this area and, no doubt, among the best-preserved since they still maintain some joining ropes, manufactured with vegetable fibres.'

The team also found a number of objects related to the catching and processing of fish, including hooks, harpoons, weights, floats, needles for nets manufacture and repair, and moose rib knives to scale and clean the fish.

According to the researchers, one of the strange results of the Zamostje 2 site is the preservation of several organic materials like bones, wood, tree leaves and fossil faeces. This was especially the case for remains of fish.

'The ichthyological remains that we have found give us an idea of the protein percentage provided by fish in the diet of the prehistoric population,' the researchers says. 'Furthermore, these remains will help us to conduct a survey from the point of view of species classification, catch amount and size, and fishing season among others. These details are essential to be able to assess the role played by fishing in the economy of these human groups.'

Experts from France, Russia and Spain contributed to this study.

Study finds proof of origin of single-cell ancestors

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Click here to view the tutorial.

Scientists in China, Sweden and the United Kingdom have discovered evidence of the single-celled ancestors of animals, dating from the interval in Earth's history just before the emergence of multicellular animals. The proof is found in rocks from south China, around 570 million years old. Presented in the journal Science, the study received partial funding under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Past studies suggested that life evolved from a single-celled universal common ancestor, and at various points throughout the Earth's timeline, single-celled organisms meshed to emerge into larger and multicellular organisms. The wide variety of the animal kingdom is an example of this. But finding proof of these major evolutionary transitions has not been a successful endeavour... until now.

Led by the Swedish Museum of Natural History, researchers from China, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom have identified how the fossils preserve stages in the life cycle of an amoeba-like organism dividing into asexual cycles. One cell produces 2 cells, then 4, 8, 16, 16, 32 and so on. The outcome is hundreds of thousands of spore-like cells that were then released to relaunch the cycle. According to the researchers, the cell division pattern is very similar to the early stages of animal embryology, including that of the human, that scientists used to think represented the embryos of the earliest animals.

Putting the fossils under the microscope, and using high-energy X-rays, the team succeeded in revealing the organisation of the cells within their protective cyst walls. The researchers say the organisms should not have been fossilised. But not only were they not gooey clusters of cells, but they were buried in sediments rich in phosphate that had impregnated the cell walls and turned them to stone, they add.

Commenting on the findings of the study, lead author Therese Huldtgren from the Department of Palaeozoology at the Swedish Museum of Natural History says: 'The fossils are so amazing that even their nuclei have been preserved.'

Adds co-author Dr John Cunningham from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom: 'We used a particle accelerator called a synchrotron as our X-ray source. It allowed us to make a perfect computer model of the fossil that we could cut up in any way that we wanted, but without damaging the fossil in any way. We would never have been able to study the fossils otherwise!'

Using the X-ray microscopy helped the researchers show how the fossils had features that multicellular embryos do not possess. This led them to suggest that the fossils were neither animals nor embryos, but rather the reproductive spore bodies of single-celled ancestors of animals.

Co-author Professor Philip Donoghue, also of the University of Bristol, comments: 'We were very surprised by our results â€” we've been convinced for so long that these fossils represented the embryos of the earliest animals â€” much of what has been written about the fossils for the last 10 years is flat wrong. Our colleagues are not going to like the result.'

For his part, co-author Professor Stefan Bengtson says: 'These fossils force us to rethink our ideas of how animals learned to make large bodies out of cells.'

Experts from Stockholm University in Sweden, the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, the Swiss Light Source at the Paul Scherrer Institute, and the Institute for Biomedical Engineering of the University of Zurich and of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich in Switzerland contributed to this study.

New EU-funded neuroscience network launched!

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A new EU-funded network for training researchers on the cutting edge of neuroscience has just been launched. Funded entirely by more than EUR 3 million through a Marie Curie Training Network grant, the FLIACT ('Systems neuroscience of Drosophila: from genes to circuits to behaviour') network brings together early-stage researchers to carry out studies on the brain of the fruit fly.

The aim is to interconnect eight academic centres and three industry partners from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. These institutions making up the network all specialise in different complementary fields of neuroscience, including molecular genetics and bioengineering.

Understanding how our brains function still remains an enigma. The four-year project aims to go some way towards answering questions surrounding the subject; this complex task requires research into genes, biochemical pathways, circuits of neurons, and behavioural patterns.

In recent years, the tiny fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has become the main model system for studying how we perceive and integrate information arising from our five senses. Drosophila has also emerged as a powerful model for studying the genetic bases of neurodegenerative diseases that affect humans. As Drosophila has a million times fewer neurons than humans, the study of its brain is expected to shed light on general principles underlying the functional organisation of neuronal circuits.

Through collaborative and tailored research projects, the FLIACT researchers will seek to uncover how neural circuits are genetically encoded, and how neuronal computation controls behaviour. Through exchanges and joint experiments, the young researchers will also be trained in the most innovative technologies through a series of interdisciplinary scientific workshops on neurogenetics, neuroanatomy, neuroimaging and behavioural analysis.

The three industry partners participating in the project are all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): their participation illustrates how vital it is that researchers have the opportunity to engage with the private sector. The SMEs will train them in technology transfer, entrepreneurship, intellectual property management, business presentations, marketing and project management.

Project coordinator Dr Louis, from the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, Spain, describes FLIACT as 'an unprecedented opportunity for Drosophila systems neuroscience to gain momentum in Europe'.

He explains: 'This network will allow us to enhance our individual research potential through collaborations. We are really excited that Europe is giving us a chance to progress towards a fundamental understanding of how brains create internal representations of the world and how multisensory signals are integrated to make complex decisions. Given the nature of these questions, working with a "simple" organism amenable to genetics represents an extraordinary advantage. With only 100 000 neurons and sophisticated behaviours, the flies represent a perfect trade-off between simplicity and tractability.'

As part of FLIACT, cooperation will also be fostered with non-European research institutions such as the Janelia Farm Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, in the United States.

For more information, please visit:

FLIACT:
http://www.fliact.eu/

Cumnock student wins 50,000 Coalfields prize

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

A young Scottish entrepreneur has won £50,000 from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) to help get his business off the ground.

Accountancy student Jamie Campbell came out on top in the CRT charity's £100,000 job-creation challenge.

Now, thanks to the funding award, he plans to start a community-based landscaping and garden maintenance company in Cumnock, Ayrshire.

He will initially employ two people, and also accommodate five training placements. Runner-up Graham Hodgson got £25,000 to help create four apprenticeships in woodland skills at his forestry firm.

A fishery in Law, Lanarkshire, and a book-recycling business, also in Cumnock, each got £10,000.

Nicky Wilson, Scottish trustee of the CRT, said: "The Government challenged us to come up with ways to create jobs and that's what we've done.

"Our funding is absolutely crucial when conventional funding is so hard to come by."

New Video Tutorial for the TED Website

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Want to search online for public contract opportunities in different European countries? Then the Enterprise Europe Network's new video tutorial could be the ticket for you. It is a short introduction on how to navigate and use the EU's official procurement website - TED.

Call for proposals for ERC Proof of Concept

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: CORDIS

The European Commission has published a call for proposals for the European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept. Deadline is 3 October 2012 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)

Securing for funding in the earliest stage of an innovation can be difficult. Attracting investors who would be ready to risk their capital in an innovation which is still in its pre-development stage is often a challenging process. Many excellent, useful ideas with near term market potential get lost in the period of transition when they are already deemed promising, but too new to validate their commercial potential and thereby attract the capital necessary for their continued development.

The ERC funds research at the frontier of knowledge. This frontier research in emerging areas can often cover elements of both basic and applied research. ERC-funded ideas are therefore expected to lead to social and technological innovations which, when successfully applied, could generate enormous economic and societal benefits for Europe. By covering the funding gap which can occur at the earliest stages of an innovation the ERC aims to capture the maximum value from the frontier research that it funds.

The ERC Proof of concept provides additional funding to ERC grant holders to establish proof of concept, identify a development path and an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) strategy for ideas arising from an ERC-funded project. The objective is to provide funds to enable ERC-funded ideas to be brought to a pre-demonstration stage where potential commercialisation opportunities have been identified.

The commercialisation process of an innovation may vary widely between different fields of research/invention and depending on which model of commercialisation is pursued.

Innovations can be commercialised through licenses to a new or existing company or through a venture funded start-up, depending on the nature of the invention/idea, its potential markets and the inventor's plans for future involvement in the commercialisation. Innovations can also feed into ventures aimed at addressing social and environmental goals which may be in the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors.

To see the official call announcement, please consult:
OJ No C29 of 2 February 2012 and the following link

Nutrition labelling: not as effective as you might think

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Consumers use nutrition labels to make informed decisions about eating the 'right' foods for better health. But new research from Europe shows how there are limitations on how these labels can be used in real-life situations. The results are an outcome of the FLABEL ('Food labelling to advance better education for life ') project, which has clinched almost EUR 2.9 million in funding under the 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' (European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy or KBBE) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The findings were presented by FLABEL scientific advisor Professor Klaus G. Grunert in a recent webinar.

The good news is that consumers can understand the information found on nutrition labels and use it to make healthful choices. Even information about vital nutrients, including fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt, and energy for a range of products is understood and used properly by most consumers. It should also be noted that most consumers can also rank foods based on their level of healthfulness.

The situation goes awry when lack of motivation and attention build barriers, making it difficult for consumers to choose foods based on nutrition labelling.

'Consumers need to be motivated to engage with nutrition information - for instance, by having a health goal - in order to pay attention to nutrition labels,' Professor Grunert says.

The impact of nutrition labels on the healthfulness of food choices is diminished because of a lack of attention. For the purposes of this study, the FLABEL team constructed a mock grocery store experiment, where they tracked the eye movements of shoppers as they selected foods for their shopping baskets. Based on the information they collected, the team found that average attention to nutrition labels was between only 25 and 100 milliseconds. This is not enough time for consumers to process the information.

When it comes to motivation, while consumers can pay more attention to nutrition information by being encouraged to look at nutrition labels for longer times, what could potentially help is to provide them with information on key nutrients and energy on the front of the pack in a consistent manner.

'Complementing this information with a health logo can also increase attention to, and use of, the information, especially when the consumer is under time pressure,' says Professor Grunert, who is the founder and the director of the Centre for Research on Customer Relations in the Food Sector (MAPP) at Aarhus University in Denmark. 'The use of colour-coding can increase attention and use in certain situations, although the effects are not strong.'

Consumers who participated in the FLABEL project noted they prefer and would opt to use more complex labels that provide complete information. The FLABEL results also indicate that 'liking' depends on consumers' previous exposure, or familiarity, with the label.

The FLABEL team found that the presence of nutrition information on food labels in Europe is very high. More than 37 000 products across 5 product categories in all EU Member States, plus Turkey, were evaluated in this study. Overall, 85% of food products had nutrition information on the back of the pack, and 48% had nutrition information on the front of the pack. The product categories were biscuits, breakfast cereals, chilled pre-packed ready meals, carbonated soft drinks and yogurts.

The FLABEL consortium consists of experts from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

For more information, please visit:

FLABEL: http://www.flabel.org/en/

Centre for Research on Customer Relations in the Food Sector (MAPP): http://www.asb.dk/forskning/forskningscentreoggrupper/forskningscentre/mapp/

Rivers are slow to recover from nutrient overload

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Excess nutrients can cause an unnatural algae ‘bloom’, stripping oxygen from water and reducing populations of fish and other animals. Controlling discharge of nutrients from human sources, including agricultural fertilisers and wastewater, has been a key aspect of EU environmental legislation1-3. However, very few long-term studies exist at the European level to assess how effective these regulations have been in improving the quality of freshwater discharged into the sea.

In the new study, scientists used several global databases to estimate nutrient input to all river basins that drain into European seas. To investigate the connection between nutrient input and water quality, the scientists compared the total change in nutrient input from 1990 to 2005 with measurements of nitrate and phosphate from 39 European river outlets (data reported annually by member states of the OECD).

To read the full report click here . . .

Scots designer at Milan show

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

A leading Scottish fashion designer is to showcase her work at Milan Fashion Week today.

Judy R Clark will be showcasing one of her latest innovative designs after being signed up by the Ford Motor Company for a series of talks to fashionistas about Scottish textile design.

The graduate of Heriot Watt University, who was an intern under the late Alexander McQueen, hit the headlines late last year when she modelled her own design of a car dress featuring fusion of silk-dyed chiffon, red car lights, kilt buckles and Clark's trademark tweed work, to celebrate the manufacturer's UK centenary.

"I received a great response to the dress though and I'm really happy with the way it turned out," said Ms Clark, 26.

"To subsequently be asked to speak and provide insight at such a key event for Ford was a real honour and a great opportunity to talk about contemporary Scottish textile design."

Ms Clark, who has been nominated for Scottish Deisgner of the Year in 2012, has shown her work at New York's Dressed to Kilt event and Tweed Goes to Tokyo in Japan.

Cathy Black, head of textiles, Scottish Enterprise, said: "Judy has mastered a unique style in a very short amount of time."

Boost for wave energy: half the Wave Hub berths now filled

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Two of the four berths at an EU-funded grid-connected offshore marine-energy test site have now been filled. Wave Hub, located off the Cornish coast in the United Kingdom, is the largest test site of its type in the world. It is supported by EUR 23 million from the European Regional Development Fund under its Convergence objective, which focuses on supporting sustainable integrated economic development and the creation of sustainable jobs.

Wave Hub provides shared offshore infrastructure for the demonstration and proving of arrays of wave energy-generation devices over a sustained period of time. Situated 16 kilometres off the coast, it consists of an electrical hub on the seabed, to which wave energy devices can be connected. Four separate berths are available to lease, each with a capacity of between 4 MW and 5 MW. Combined, these four berths have a capacity equivalent to the electricity needs of more than 7 000 homes.

The latest company to get on board and take part in Wave Hub is the Irish company OceanEnergy Limited. They join Ocean Power Technologies (OPT), based in the United Kingdom and the United States, who have already signed a commitment agreement to deploy their PowerBuoy device at Wave Hub.

For the past three years, OceanEnergy has been testing a quarter-scale prototype of its OE Buoy in Galway Bay, Ireland. These tests were given a boost as part of the EU-funded CORES ('Components for ocean renewable energy systems') project, funded in part by more than EUR 4.5 million under a grant from the Seventh Framework Programme's (FP7) 'Energy' Theme.

Now the OE Buoy tests will be put into practice at Wave Hub, essentially a giant 'socket' on the seabed that is connected to the national grid on shore by a subsea underwater cable that weighs 1 300 tonnes and stretches for 25 km.

The OE Buoy uses the oscillating water column principle. As waves enter a subsea chamber, they force air through a turbine on the surface and generate electricity. As the waves recede, they cause a vacuum, drawing air back through the turbine. The technology employed means the turbine rotates continuously, regardless of the direction of the airflow. This improves efficiency and involves only one moving part, minimising maintenance costs.

Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn visited the OE Buoy in November 2010 during the CORES project.

Wave Hub general manager Claire Gibson comments on filling the second berth: 'I am pleased to confirm our partnership with OceanEnergy Limited and look forward to assisting them with their deployment at Wave Hub later this year. OceanEnergy has completed three years of prototype testing in energetic sea conditions and is ready to make the next step to Wave Hub with a full-scale device. If the testing goes well, we expect to see OceanEnergy deploy an array of devices at Wave Hub. By supporting OceanEnergy's deployment, now we can fully test our operational procedures and establish the process for securing a Marine Licence. This will support and accelerate further deployments at Wave Hub.'

With long sections of coastline facing directly out to the Atlantic Ocean, the United Kingdom and Ireland are both well placed for fostering wave energy development, as storms far out in the Atlantic generate waves that eventually reach these shores.

Harnessing the energy in these waves can provide a secure supply of green electricity for many years to come - one that doesn't emit dirty greenhouse gases into Earth's already clogged up atmosphere. Supporting and encouraging this type of technology is essential if the EU is to meet its target of sourcing 20% of its energy needs from renewables by 2020.

Wave technology is still relatively young, and in order for these systems to progress towards full commercial realisation they need to be successfully developed into units suited to mass production.

Irish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Phil Prendergast from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats (S&D) praised the support that FP7 had given the OE Buoy tests, and commended the overarching benefits that the new partnership between OceanEnergy and Wave Hub will bring: 'The EU has provided over EUR 1.4 million to Irish participants who collaborated on research and development of this world-class product. The investment is clearly paying off, as this, and similar projects, have produced tangible results which will benefit the whole of Europe. The OceanEnergy deal is also a triumph for Ireland's research and development sector, particularly in light of recent proposals for Europe's new R&D programme, Horizon 2020.'

For more information, please visit: OceanEnergy: http://www.oceanenergy.ie/

Soil protection critical for Europe's economy and ecosystems

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soil is one of the planet's invaluable resources but continues to be degraded in Europe. Together, the mineral particles, water, air, organic matter, and living organisms that constitute soil perform key functions which underpin our society.

Soil is a vital, non-renewable resource for ecosystems, playing an essential role in services such as water purification and food production. It is also a major global carbon sink, with significant potential to remove climate-changing gases from the atmosphere.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has joined forces with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre on 'The state of soil in Europe', a comprehensive scientific report highlighting the need to protect and maintain soil in a co-ordinated way across the European Union. The report warns that failure to tackle increased soil degradation could eventually compromise food production. Moreover, degraded soil is less able to prevent droughts and flooding and stop biodiversity loss.

Click here to view the full article

Click here to view the report - 'The State of Soil in Europe'

Evidence mounts for effects of PCBs on baby weight

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

During the 20th century, organic chemicals containing chlorine were manufactured in large quantities, before being banned in many countries. PCBs are very stable compounds that were used extensively in non-flammable or fire-resistant fluids for electrical equipment. There are many different PCB ‘congeners’ – chemical variants distinguished by the number and positioning of chlorine atoms. Another persistent organic pollutant (POP) of concern is DDT, an insecticide that is used, even today in some countries, to control malaria. It breaks down in the body to produce dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). These industrial chemicals accumulate in food chains and human tissues, where they can remain for many years.

With their toxicity and probable carcinogenic effects, the release of PCBs, DDT and other POPs into the environment is now heavily restricted in Europe and internationally1, and their presence is falling. However, they can still be detected in blood samples. There is particular concern over pregnant mothers who have been exposed to PCBs, as some studies have suggested that the chemicals reduce birth weight. However, the available evidence for this is conflicting.

To read the full report click here...

Global sea levels rising

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

A team of researchers from France and the United States has discovered that the planet's oceans are rising as ice melts. Presented in the journal Nature, the study is the first of its kind to determine just how much of Earth's melting land ice is fuelling the global sea-level rise.

Led by the University of Colorado Boulder in the United States, researchers used satellite measurements from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), a joint mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the German Aerospace Center, to measure ice loss across the planet between 2003 and 2010. The team focused especially on glaciers and ice caps outside Greenland and Antarctica.

The data show that overall global ice mass lost from Greenland and Antarctica as well as the world's other glaciers and ice caps over the 7-year period was around 4.3 trillion tonnes. The result is that the global sea level has increased by 12 millimetres. The experts say that is enough ice to cover the United States 0.5 metres deep.

'Earth is losing a huge amount of ice to the ocean annually, and these new results will help us answer important questions in terms of both sea rise and how the planet's cold regions are responding to global change,' explains Professor John Wahr of the University of Colorado Boulder, one of the authors of the study. 'The strength of GRACE is it sees all the mass in the system, even though its resolution is not high enough to allow us to determine separate contributions from each individual glacier.'

According to the researchers, around 25% of the average annual ice loss (about 148 billion tonnes) resulted from glaciers and ice caps outside Greenland and Antarctica. They add that ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica and their peripheral ice caps and glaciers averaged 385 billion tonnes each year.

In previous studies, researchers had used ground measurements from a small number of glaciers to deduce the status quo for the globe's unmonitored glaciers. Just a few hundred of the some 200 000 of the planet's glaciers have been monitored for more than 10 years.

In this latest study, the GRACE team found that the estimated ice loss from high Asian mountain ranges, such as the Pamirs and the Himalayas, was just some 4 billion tonnes of ice each year.

'The GRACE results in this region really were a surprise,' Professor Wahr says. 'One possible explanation is that previous estimates were based on measurements taken primarily from some of the lower, more accessible glaciers in Asia and extrapolated to infer the behaviour of higher glaciers. But unlike the lower glaciers, most of the high glaciers are located in very cold environments and require greater amounts of atmospheric warming before local temperatures rise enough to cause significant melting. This makes it difficult to use low-elevation, ground-based measurements to estimate results from the entire system.'

Commenting on the findings, NASA scientist Tom Wagner says: 'This study finds that the world's small glaciers and ice caps in places like Alaska, South America and the Himalayas contribute about 0.02 inches per year to sea level rise. 'While this is lower than previous estimates, it confirms that ice is being lost from around the globe, with just a few areas in precarious balance. The results sharpen our view of land-ice melting, which poses the biggest, most threatening factor in future sea level rise.'

For more information, please visit: University of Colorado Boulder: http://www.colorado.edu/

Setting the Scottish skills standard for 2014 events

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

A skills organisation is hoping to award charter marks for areas providing the best customer service in Scotland ahead of the 2014 Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games.

The places of excellence scheme – led by hospitality and tourism body People 1st – will cover businesses such as hotels, restaurants, transport providers and shops.

The intention is to raise standards across the industries ahead of the arrival of the thousands of extra visitors expected to arrive in Scotland during 2014.

The initiative is based on the Canadian developed Worldhost programme which was used for the Vancouver Winter Olympics and has now been adopted around the world.

In Scotland around 300 people – including those at Visitscotland and The Gleneagles Hotel – have been trained using Worldhost, with the plan for that figure to have increased to around 20,000 by 2014.

Officials from People 1st have started speaking to businesses across Scotland about the charter mark plan with interest coming from a wide range of communities.

David Allen, head of People 1st in Scotland, said: "To all intents and purposes, our offer and service is not bad but that doesn't mean it can't be better.

"Everything is leaning towards Scotland being on the global map in 2014, beyond what has been achieved before with the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and re-running of Scottish Homecoming.

"Millions of visitors are going to come and billions of people are going to watch around the world so we have to make sure we are at the pinnacle of what we can do.

"We have had a number of conversations with cities and communities about creating Worldhost places of excellence where you bring multiple businesses from multiple sectors together.

"We are trying to show that 2014 is a great opportunity to grab whatever is available.

"The idea is about pulling together as an area to develop a customer service ethos and visitor experience to be proud of.

"Things are at a very early stage, but some of the expressions of interest have come from small rural and island locations plus one city centre."

Other organisations such as retail skills body Skillsmart are also involved.

A spokesman from Visitscotland said the organisation would be in favour of any initiative which would improve standards.

He said: "As we head towards 'once in a lifetime' events like the Olympics and Glasgow 2014 and prepare to see Scotland take its place on the world stage, there's no room for complacency. And never more so than when it comes to exceeding visitors' expectations.

"VisitScotland complements the work of People 1st, Springboard and Skills Development Scotland through our grading schemes by monitoring the quality of service at accommodations providers, visitor attractions and restaurants and giving added reassurance to the consumer.

"This initiative helps ensure quality across the broader tourism spectrum; for example in shops, cafes, buses and taxis and in common with VisitScotland, helps enhance the entire visitor experience.

"Anything that helps to drive up skills levels, and therefore improves customer service, can only be a good thing.

"Partnership working is the key to improving customer satisfaction – from taxi drivers to resort hotels; we all play a part in making Scotland a success story."

While Mr Allen admits there are challenging targets to be met he believes there is time to improve things before the major events get underway.

He said: "It is not about seeing other businesses as competition. It is more about seeing all parts of the industries as complementing the visitor experience.

"We are still two years away so we have time to make a difference. "

The Worldhost programme is also being used to train around 30,000 volunteers for the Olympics.

Mr Allen will be based temporarily in London ahead of the 2012 games helping in that process.

He added: "We want to ensure there is a skills legacy and give people the confidence and experience to think they can contribute to society."

Green attitudes help overcome costs of domestic renewable energy

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the UK in 2007, domestic electricity was responsible for 23% of total GHG emissions. Yet just 0.5% of households generate electricity from renewable sources using micro-generation (microgen) technology, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind generators or micro-hydro systems. This new study improves our understanding of the relationship between environmental values and behaviour in the context of microgen.

In the new study, researchers carried out a comprehensive online questionnaire between Jan-Apr 2010 to explore
attitudes towards microgen technology among 201 environment-sensitive UK citizens belonging to a climate
pledging initiative in Manchester. Each of the participants had made a public commitment to significantly reduce
their CO2 emissions to mitigate climate change. The researchers compared their responses with answers to the
same questions from a survey of the national population in 2008.

To read the full report click here...

Microalgae: a low-cost, sustainable solution to plastic production?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Some bacteria and plants can produce plastics naturally, for example, for use as a storage material. These ‘bioplastics’ are not dependent on fossil fuels for production and are easily degraded in the environment, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic plastics. Certain bacteria are already used to produce a polyester known as PHB (poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate) on a commercial scale by fermenting starch, corn or sugar.

A new pilot study has revealed for the first time how microalgae could provide a low-cost alternative to bacteria. The scientists injected microalgal cells (Phaeodactylum tricornutum) with three enzymes found naturally in bacteria, which together synthesise PHB: ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase and PHB synthase. The cells were then cultured in the laboratory for 7 days, allowing PHB to accumulate in the cells. Analysis using fluorescent proteins, electron microscopy and gas chromatography revealed that PHB accumulated in granule-like structures in the liquid part of the cells, known as the cytosol.

To read full report click here...

Study finds why parasites can be good for society

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Ants are tough, loyal and hard workers, all working towards a common goal. New research from Germany, France and the United Kingdom suggests that political and economic theorists could learn lessons by examining how ant colonies allocate food resources. Current political systems use legislation and regulations to ensure that resources are not overexploited. The findings, presented in the journal The American Naturalist, show how ant colonies reap rewards when an external 'parasite' enters the picture, effectively helping curb resource overexploitation by resident queens. More female offspring with queen potential is the result, which in turn gives colony efficiency and fitness (or health) a big boost.

This study builds on extensive research conducted by researchers from the University of Würzburg in Germany, as well as from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology of the University of Oxford, Rothamsted Research, and the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, and the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France. They evaluated the ant colonies of Formica lemani over a six-year period and determined that these colonies, infested with larva of the predatory parasitic hoverfly Microdon mutabilis, produced a greater number of new queens than did uninfected colonies.

In this latest study, the team targeted the development of a theoretical model to simulate the possible mechanisms behind a greater number of potential new queens. The successful development of potential new queens depends on a specific level of resources. Food resources are limited when increasing worker larvae exist. The findings of the first study indicated that the presence of the parasitic hoverfly cuts the number of ant larvae, which in turn boosts the share of food available for each surviving larva including the potential new queens.

Based on the predictions of this latest model, the researchers found that predation on the young ant brood by the hoverfly could contribute to boosting the production of new queens, achieved through a re-routing of food resources.

'The allocation of food resources within an ant colony has interesting parallels in the way we manage our society and environment in a sustainable manner,' explains Dr Karsten Schönrogge, an ecologist at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and one of the authors of the study. 'It is easy to visualise the "Tragedy of the Commons" scenario unfolding within uninfected ant colonies, where a shared and limited resource is depleted through unregulated access, resulting in over-exploitation to the detriment of society.'

The researchers point out that while in an infected colony the presence of the hoverfly 'parasite' adversely impacts the overall larva numbers, they have a positive impact on the colony as a whole. The net effect is an increased number of new potential queens.

This latest model also predicts that the rise is triggered at the start of a Microdon infection period. The researchers note how a reanalysis of the original results showed that this prediction is supported by real world observations.

Says Dr Schönrogge: 'Ant foraging behaviour has previously been modelled by computer scientists and ecologists, resulting in the ant colony optimisation algorithm (ACO), a major advance in the computing sector. Ants are one of the most successful animal groups on the planet and the next question for ecologists and political theorists is how resource management within ant colonies might affect interactions with surrounding related or unrelated competing colonies, and how that would be mirrored in human societies.'

For more information, please visit: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology: http://www.ceh.ac.uk/

Households responsible for 25% of EU GHG emissions

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A different picture of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be achieved if responsibility for emissions from different economic sectors is placed with the end energy users, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). This approach makes sectors such as households responsible for many emissions that would otherwise be attributed to the energy industry.

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) guidelines for emissions reporting, emissions for the energy industries include those attributable to heating and electricity use for the household sector. According to this scheme, only energy generated at home – for instance, by burning coal in a stove – counts towards residential emissions.

To read the full report click here.

A robot sketches portraits

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Soiurce : CORDIS Wire

Artists are often colorful personalities. This one, though, comes across as cool, precise and metallic – and is anything but extravagant. No wonder – after all, it’s an industrial robot, one that will convert the Fraunhofer stand at CeBIT into an art studio. Its artistic genius only emerges if someone takes a seat on the model’s stool positioned in front of the robot: first, its camera records an image of its model; then it whips out its pencil and traces a portrait of the individual on its easel. After around ten minutes have passed, it grabs the work and proudly presents it to its public. This robot installation was developed by artists in the robotlab group, at the Center for Art and Media ZKM in Karlsruhe, Germany, some of whom are now employed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB in Karlsruhe.

But how does this technical production aid manage to provide an authentic rendering of a person’s facial expressions? “We have used an image-evaluation process that essentially equips the robot with the sense of sight,” explains Martina Richter, a scientist at IOSB. “There is a camera mounted on the robot’s arm that it uses first to take the person’s picture.” Edge-processing software seeks out the contrasts in the image and translates these to robot coordinates: to movements of the robot’s arm.

For the researchers and artists, the main difficulty was to adjust the algorithm for image processing so that the sketched image would leave the impression of a portrait – and so that the high-tech artist would overlook the tiny wrinkles but would still render the eyes. “We attach great importance to the artistic look of the drawings that results, but on the other hand, we have also equipped the robot with an automatic system that enables it to carry out all of the steps itself. With this installation, we have created an interface between art, science and technology,” Richter is convinced.

The robot’s everyday routine is less artistic, however: ordinarily, researchers at IOSB use it to analyze the optical reflection properties of various materials. They shine light on an object - a reflector of the kind mounted on children’s school bags or jackets, for instance - from various directions. The robot’s arm circles the material sample in a hemispheric pattern, measuring how the object reflects light. Experts refer to this as a material’s spatial reflection characteristics. This helps design objects such as reflectors so that they return light in the most bundled way possible to the direction from which it comes – to a car driver, for instance. Then the reflector emits a bright flash that draws the driver’s attention to the child. The objective is different when it comes to paint effects on a car’s own surface: The aim there is to display different hues to the observer depending on the direction of view.

Ancient plants back to life after 30,000 frozen years

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Scientists in Russia have grown plants from fruit stored away in permafrost by squirrels over 30,000 years ago.

The fruit was found in the banks of the Kolyma River in Siberia, a top site for people looking for mammoth bones.

The Institute of Cell Biophysics team raised plants of Silene stenophylla - of the campion family - from the fruit.

Writing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), they note this is the oldest plant material by far to have been brought to life.

Prior to this, the record lay with date palm seeds stored for 2,000 years at Masada in Israel.

The leader of the research team, Professor David Gilichinsky, died a few days before his paper was published.

In it, he and his colleagues describe finding about 70 squirrel hibernation burrows in the river bank.

"All burrows were found at depths of 20-40m from the present day surface and located in layers containing bones of large mammals such as mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, bison, horse, deer, and other representatives of fauna from the age of mammoths, as well as plant remains," they write.

"The presence of vertical ice wedges demonstrates that it has been continuously frozen and never thawed.

"Accordingly, the fossil burrows and their content have never been defrosted since burial and simultaneous freezing."

The squirrels appear to have stashed their store in the coldest part of their burrow, which subsequently froze permanently, presumably due to a cooling of the local climate.

Sugar sweet

Back in the lab, near Moscow, the team's attempts to germinate mature seeds failed.

Eventually they found success using elements of the fruit itself, which they refer to as "placental tissue" and propagated in laboratory dishes.

"This is by far the most extraordinary example of extreme longevity for material from higher plants," commented Robin Probert, head of conservation and technology at the UK's Millennium Seed Bank.

"I'm not surprised that it's been possible to find living material as old as this, and this is exactly where we would go looking, in permafrost and these fossilised rodent burrows with their caches of seeds.

"But it is a surprise to me that they're finding viable material from this placental tissue rather than mature seeds."

The Russian team's theory is that the tissue cells are full of sucrose that would have formed food for the growing plants.

Sugars are preservatives; they are even being researched as a way of keeping vaccines fresh in the hot climates of Africa without the need for refrigeration.

So it may be that the sugar-rich cells were able to survive in a potentially viable state for so long.

Silene stenophylla still grows on the Siberian tundra; and when the researchers compared modern-day plants against their resurrected cousins, they found subtle differences in the shape of petals and the sex of flowers, for reasons that are not evident.

The scientists suggest in their PNAS paper that research of this kind can help in studies of evolution, and shed light on environmental conditions in past millennia.

But perhaps the most enticing suggestion is that it might be possible, using the same techniques, to raise plants that are now extinct - provided that Arctic ground squirrels or some other creatures secreted away the fruit and seeds.

"We'd predict that seeds would stay viable for thousands, possibly tens of thousands of years - I don't think anyone would expect hundreds of thousands of years," said Dr Probert.

"[So] there is an opportunity to resurrect flowering plants that have gone extinct in the same way that we talk about bringing mammoths back to life, the Jurassic Park kind of idea."

Lab-grown meat is first step to artificial hamburger

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Dutch scientists have used stem cells to create strips of muscle tissue with the aim of producing the first lab-grown hamburger later this year.

The aim of the research is to develop a more efficient way of producing meat than rearing animals.

At a major science meeting in Canada, Prof Mark Post said synthetic meat could reduce the environmental footprint of meat by up to 60%.

"We would gain a tremendous amount in terms of resources," he said.

Professor Post's group at Maastricht University in the Netherlands has grown small pieces of muscle about 2cm long, 1cm wide and about a mm thick.

They are off-white and resemble strips of calamari in appearance. These strips will be mixed with blood and artificially grown fat to produce a hamburger by the autumn.

The cost of producing the hamburger will be £200,000 but Professor Post says that once the principle has been demonstrated, production techniques will be improved and costs will come down.

At a news conference, Prof Post said he was even planning to ask celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal to cook it.

"The reason we are doing this is not to show a viable product but to show that in reality we can do this," he told BBC News.

"From then on, we need to spend a whole lot of work and money to make the process efficient and then cost effective."

So why use such high tech methods to produce meat when livestock production methods have done the job effectively for thousands of years?

It is because most food scientists believe that current methods of food production are unsustainable.

Some estimate that food production will have to double within the next 50 years to meet the requirements of a growing population. During this period, climate change, water shortages and greater urbanisation will make it more difficult to produce food.

Prof Sean Smukler from the University of British Columbia said keeping pace with demand for meat from Asia and Africa will be particularly hard as demand from these regions will shoot up as living standards rise. He thinks that lab grown meat could be a good solution.

Demand for meat will increase at a time when it will be harder than ever for farmers to boost production "It will help reduce land pressures," he told BBC News. "Anything that stops more wild land being converted to agricultural land is a good thing. We're already reaching a critical point in availability of arable land," he said.

Lab-grown meat could eventually become more efficient than producing meat the old fashioned way, according to Prof Post. Currently, 100g of vegetable protein has to be fed to pigs or cows to produce 15g of animal protein, an efficiency of 15%. He believes that synthetic meat could be produced with an equivalent energy efficiency of 50%.

So what is the synthetic burger likely to taste like?

"In the beginning it will taste bland," says Prof Post. "I think we will need to work on the flavour separately by trying to figure out which components of the meat actually produce the taste and analyse what the composition of the strip is and whether we can change that."

Prof Post also said that if the technology took off, it would reduce the number of animals that were factory farmed and slaughtered.

The BBC's Pallab Ghosh reports from Duggie's Dogs hot dog restaurant in Downtown Vancouver

But David Steele, who is president of Earthsave Canada, said that the same benefits could be achieved if people ate less meat.

"While I do think that there are definite environmental and animal welfare advantages of this high-tech approach over factory farming, especially, it is pretty clear to me that plant-based alternatives... have substantial environmental and probably animal welfare advantages over synthetic meat," he said.

Dr Steele, who is also a molecular biologist, said he was also concerned that unhealthily high levels of antibiotics and antifungal chemicals would be needed to stop the synthetic meat from rotting.

European Court of Justice blocks net-filtering bid

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

A social network cannot be required to install an anti-piracy filtering system, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled.

Belgian music royalty collecting firm SABAM wanted the social network Netlog to stop users infringing copyright.

But the court said the filtering required would contravene rights to freedom of business, personal data and freedom of information.

The judgement could have consequences for similar cases across the EU.

Netlog, a social network developed by Ghent-based Massive Media NV, says it has more than 95 million members throughout Europe.

Michael Gardner, head of the intellectual property practice at law firm Wedlake Bell, said: "The European Court appears to have ruled out the idea that operators of social network sites and ISPs can be forced - at their own expense - to impose blanket monitoring and filtering aimed at stopping infringements."

However he added: "The ruling doesn't stop rights owners seeking more limited injunctions against social networking sites or ISPs, but they will have to be more 'proportionate' in scope and effect."

The ECJ's decision will be used by courts across the EU where this aspect of European law is in question.

Filtered out

SABAM had asked a Belgian court to require that Netlog cease unlawfully making available works from its repertoire and face 1,000-euro (£828) fines for every day it failed to comply.

Netlog said SABAM was, in effect, requiring it to filter its content, indiscriminately monitoring all of its users - something they argued was contrary to the EU's E-Commerce Directive.

The case was referred to the European Court of Justice to decide the legality of such a filtering system.

In its judgement the ECJ ruled that a system would be a "serious infringement" of Netlog's freedom to conduct its business "since it would require Netlog to install a complicated, costly, permanent computer system at its own expense".

But it also said there was a risk of infringing rights to the protection of personal data, as a filtering system would require "the identification, systematic analysis and processing of information connected with the profiles created on the social network".

Additionally it might also restrict freedoms to send and receive information, as the system "might not distinguish adequately between unlawful content and lawful content, with the result that its introduction could lead to the blocking of lawful communications".

Acta debate

This is the second judgement the court has made in this area involving SABAM. An earlier Court of Justice ruling in November sided with an ISP when it decided against what it said was, in effect, a request that it monitor traffic for illegally copied material.

The European Internet Providers Association said this latest ruling was a positive step: "We therefore welcome the greater legal certainties and protection granted by the court which are necessary to guarantee the openness of the internet."

The ruling comes amid fierce debate over anti-piracy measures contained in the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (Acta) - an international treaty intended to help protect intellectual property rights.

The Open Rights Group, an organisation which opposes Acta, said in a statement: "It's good to see courts promoting our rights by swatting away plans to snoop on people's use of social networks.

"It is especially timely because, as seen in agreements like Acta, policymakers everywhere find it much harder to respect our rights when making intellectual property policy."

However Acta's supporters argue it is necessary to prevent the widespread infringement of intellectual property rights.

Eddie Stobart to establish new distribution centre

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: BBC News

Haulage firm Eddie Stobart is to establish a new distribution facility at Eurocentral business park in Lanarkshire.

The firm will move in to the park's 67,689 sq ft Pinnacle building this month to help it meet growing business demand from central Scotland.

Stobart said it expected to create about 40 jobs at the site.

The move is thought to be one of the biggest industrial property deals in Scotland in the past six months.

Eurocentral, which stands next to the M8 motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, includes several speculative builds by Muse Developments which are worth more than £50m.

More than 3,000 people are currently employed at Eurocentral, which has more than 3.5 million sq ft of developed space.

It hosts operations for businesses including Morrison, Hovis, Argos and Warburtons.

Cameron unveils 14.4 million Cupar investment in porridge plant

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: the Scotsman

Prime Minister David Cameron stopped to taste some hot porridge in Fife yesterday as PepsiCo revealed plans to invest £14.4 million in its Quaker Oats factory in Cupar.

The UK division of the global food and drink giant said the investment will lead to the creation of 30 jobs and will help it to meet growing demand for hot cereal.

The firm said the latest planned spending makes a total investment of £51m in expanding the site over the past decade, including £8.5m last year.

The Cupar factory is home to PepsiCo’s Quaker Oats and Scott’s Porage Oats. Construction work began earlier this month on a new factory to house a high-speed sachet line and bagging line.

It is estimated that the UK porridge market is worth £157m, and has grown by 30 per cent over the past two years. Sales of PepsiCo’s instant porridge product, Oat so Simple, has increased 44 per cent over the past two years, the company added.

Exports have also risen 18 per cent over the past five years driven by demand for Quaker Oats in the Middle East.

Richard Evans, president of PepsiCo UK, Ireland & South Africa, said: “More and more people are eating porridge and our investment at Cupar means we’ll be able to satisfy the increasing demand at home and abroad for years to come.

“The porridge market has seen phenomenal growth and more and more people are opting for hot cereals for breakfast all year round – whatever the weather.

“Overseas demand for our oats is also increasing, and we see this as a key area for future growth.

“Quaker has been milling oats at Cupar since 1947 and we are very pleased to invest again in our site to protect its heritage and grow the Quaker Oats business.”

Cameron said: “Quaker and Scott’s Porage Oats have a long heritage here in the UK and PepsiCo’s further investment is a welcome example of its continued commitment to Cupar and to Britain.

“The company’s continued success is testament to the skill, expertise and hard work of the people here at Cupar and I’m delighted to see the business going from strength to strength.”

Hiding buildings from earthquakes? The cloaking technique that could make them safer

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: CORDIS

For more information, please visit University of Manchester.

Ancient tools discovery highlights fishing activity

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: CORDIS

Ancient fish seines and traps have been discovered in the Russian capital city of Moscow, a new international study reveals. Led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the researchers have documented a series of equipment dating back more than 7 500 years. They say while it is very old, it shows a great technical complexity. This discovery provides insight into the role of fishing among the European settlements by the early Holocene epoch, some 10 000 years ago. The information will be especially useful for understanding the areas where inhabitants did not practice agriculture almost until the Iron Age.

'Until now, it was thought that the Mesolithic groups had seasonal as opposed to permanent settlements,' says Dr Ignacio Clemente, a researcher at the CSIC. 'According to the results obtained during the excavations, in both Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, the human group that lived in the Dubna River basin, near Moscow, carried out productive activities during the entire year.'

Dr Clemente and colleagues say the inhabitants of this area, which is referred to as Zamostje 2, favoured summer and winter hunts during the Neolithic and Mesolithic periods. They hunted fish during spring and early summer periods, and harvested wild berries at the end of the summer season and during autumn.

'We think that the fishing played a vital role in the economy of these societies, ' says Dr Clemente, 'because it was a versatile product, easy to preserve, dry and smoke, as well as store for later consumption.'

Over 36 months of investigation, the researchers found everyday objects, such as plates and spoons, working tools, hunting weapons and fishing implements. All of these objects were made with flint and other stones, as well as bones and shafts.

'The documented fishing equipment shows a highly developed technology, aimed for the practice of several fishing techniques,' Dr Clemente explains. 'We can highlight the finding of two large wooden fishing traps (a kind of interwoven basket with pine rods used for fishing), very well preserved, dating back from 7 500 years ago. This represents one of the oldest dates in this area and, no doubt, among the best-preserved since they still maintain some joining ropes, manufactured with vegetable fibres.'

The team also found a number of objects related to the catching and processing of fish, including hooks, harpoons, weights, floats, needles for nets manufacture and repair, and moose rib knives to scale and clean the fish.

According to the researchers, one of the strange results of the Zamostje 2 site is the preservation of several organic materials like bones, wood, tree leaves and fossil faeces. This was especially the case for remains of fish.

'The ichthyological remains that we have found give us an idea of the protein percentage provided by fish in the diet of the prehistoric population,' the researchers says. 'Furthermore, these remains will help us to conduct a survey from the point of view of species classification, catch amount and size, and fishing season among others. These details are essential to be able to assess the role played by fishing in the economy of these human groups.'

Experts from France, Russia and Spain contributed to this study.

For more information, please visit Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Can you see it yet? Scientists discover world's teeniest tiniest chameleon!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: CORDIS

Researchers have discovered a species of chameleon small enough to balance comfortably on the end of a match. At just under 30 mm in length, Brookesia micra, whose natural habitat is one of Madagascar's tiny peripheral islets called Nosy Hara, is now one of the smallest vertebrates ever discovered by scientists.

The researchers, from Germany and the United Sates, also identified three other tiny lizard species living on the same island, as they noted in their study published in the journal PLoS ONE.

Lead researcher Dr Frank Glaw from the Zoologische Staatssammlung München in Germany is an expert in dwarf chameleons; these new discoveries are the result of fieldwork carried out by him and his team at night during the wet season. By working at night, the team had a better chance of happening upon overlooked animals. During the daytime, these tiny lizards live under leaves in the undergrowth, but as darkness falls they climb through the leaves; this makes them easier to spot.

And although these four new species may appear similar to the untrained eye, a genetic analysis carried out by the team confirms that they are indeed four very distinct species. The differences are such that the team can tell they separated from each other millions of years ago. One common feature all four of the new lizard species do share, though, is eyes that are extremely large for their tiny bodies.

As the distribution of these four species is limited to very small areas on the remote limestone islet, the researchers suspect that these species may represent extreme cases of island dwarfism. Island dwarfism occurs when a species becomes smaller over time in order to adapt to a restricted habitat such as an island. This means that the main island of Madagascar likely produced the general group of dwarf chameleons and the very small island produced the tiny species.

But their rarity could also be a threat to their future, and the fact they are so small in number represents the loss of habitat they have suffered already. The smaller a habitat a species is restricted to, the trickier it becomes to conserve it. At least two of the newly discovered species are in grave danger owing to deforestation.

Dr Frank Glaw comments: 'The extreme miniaturisation of these dwarf reptiles might be accompanied by numerous specialisations of the body plan, and this constitutes a promising field for future research. But most urgent is to focus conservation efforts on these and other microendemic species in Madagascar which are heavily threatened by deforestation.'

To highlight the threat deforestation poses to these tiny lizards, the team got creative when naming them. One of the four species was named 'B. tristis', taking inspiration from the French word for sadness, 'tristesse': B. tristis was found living in a patch of forest close to an expanding city. How long before this diminishing piece of forest is swallowed up by creeping urbanisation?

The research team was less subtle with its naming of another of the chameleons under threat: 'Brookesia desperata'.

For more information, please visit Zoologische Staatssammlung München.

Scottish hotels check in strong performance

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

Hotels in Scotland performed better than those in any other part of Great Britain outside London last year, in terms of the increase in their revenues and occupancy rates, a survey has revealed.

Scottish hotels last year enjoyed a 2.6% jump in room yield to £53.30 in a tough economic climate, according to the survey from accountancy firm PKF. Room yield is a key measure of revenue, calculated by multiplying the percentage of available rooms which are occupied by the average rate achieved per room.

This rise in room yield in Scotland outstripped a 0.5% increase in England, excluding London, and contrasted with a 2.8% drop in Wales.

Scottish hotels also enjoyed a greater improvement in their overall occupancy rate than their counterparts south of the Border in 2011. The overall occupancy rate of hotels in Scotland improved from 73.1% to 74.4%.

Hotels in Aberdeen and Inverness led the way during 2011 in terms of their increase in room yield with respective rises of 11.3% to £55.76 and 4.8% to £42.44.

PKF highlighted the boost to Aberdeen hotels from North Sea activity which has been bolstered by the high oil price. It cited "staycations" as a factor likely to have benefited hotels in Inverness.

Although the rise in room yield in Edinburgh was 2.8%, this was from a high base. And the resultant room yield in Edinburgh, at £66.87, was the highest anywhere in Great Britain excluding inner London.

Hotels in Glasgow, however, had a tougher year in terms of room yield, suffering a drop of 2.1% to £47.52 during 2011.

This reflected a fall in average room rate, given hotels in Glasgow achieved a modest rise in their overall occupancy rate from 77.5% to 77.8% during 2011.

Alastair Rae, a PKF partner who specialises in the real estate and hospitality sector, said: "These figures reveal a very positive performance for the hospitality sector in Scotland despite difficult trading conditions."

He highlighted the fact that hotel occupancy in Scotland had ended 2011 significantly higher than rates of 70.2% for England, outside London, and 72.9% for Wales.

Mr Rae said: "It should be remembered that revenue growth of 2.6%, at a time when inflation has been over 4% for most of the year, means that in real terms revenue has fallen. But it remains a considerable achievement for the sector to produce such positive results compared to their counterparts south of the Border, indicating considerable resilience in the sector.

"It is clear that Aberdeen benefited greatly from the high oil price, which has kept occupancy and revenue levels high throughout the year. Inverness has also had an excellent year, with staycationers among the most likely reasons for its considerably improved performance."

He added: "Edinburgh, whilst clearly not unaffected by the recession, appears to be weathering the economic storm better than most places in the rest of the UK. Occupancy levels for 2011 remained broadly in line with Scotland's other main cities in the mid to upper 70% range, but revenue is far ahead of anywhere in the UK outside inner London.

"Edinburgh (room yield) is almost £20 per night higher than Glasgow and £13 higher than the Scottish average.

"This kind of performance is why Edinburgh retains the confidence of investors who have continued to seek hotel development opportunities despite the recession, which bodes well for the capital when the economy does start to recover."

Food company Baxters serves up 125 new jobs

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Herald Scotland

Scotland's food sector flagship Baxters is to create 125 new jobs, most of them on Speyside, as it integrates its new acquisition, Fray Bentos, and moves production from Suffolk.

Chairwoman Audrey Baxter said yesterday the deal had been completed six weeks ago and the new production line at Fochabers would be ready to run by November. "Straight away we are quite confident we require about 125 people, a mixture of operatives and other skill sets," Ms Baxter said. "We will be investing in our marketing team and our sales division."

She added that growth by further acquisition was still on the cards. "It is an interesting economic climate we are in at the moment, and whilst it is very difficult to grow your organic business, there are some good opportunities out there if you have got the strength of balance sheet, the capability of management team, and the willingness to drive on."

On her banking support from Lloyds, Ms Baxter told The Herald two years ago that "despite the crisis of last year they have allowed me to have a war chest".

But after an acquisition in Canada and two in Australia, the 50-year-old grand-daughter of the company's founder has turned her attention to the UK in grabbing the iconic Fray Bentos, which will add £35m, or nearly 30%, to turnover.

"It is not a new factory, it is a refurbishment of a facility we have which means we can now fully utilise it," Ms Baxter said.

"From a heritage point of view it's a good acquisition for Baxters, but it requires us to reorganise our business and bring in wider skills."

Baxters was unveiling a third successive year of earnings growth, with pre-tax profit up from £6.7m to £7.1m, despite the challenging trading climate. Turnover, however, hit a road block after years of progress, falling by £4.2m to £125.8m.

Ms Baxter said: "These figures reflect a solid financial performance in a tough economic environment. We have operated in economic uncertainty for the last two years and we believe this will continue well into the next two years and beyond."

Four years ago, Baxters saw profits plunge to £235,000 as it wrestled with a £3.5m exceptional cost of cleaning up the Canadian acquisition, alongside other cost pressures. Last year's annual report said that in tough international conditions the company had "failed to enhance gross margin", with growth coming entirely overseas. Ms Baxter said the latest profit improvement had come from "cost efficiencies" but not by cutting staff, with total staff numbers at about 950, including more than 500 on Speyside.

She said: "The volatility in demand, cost of operating and uncertainty of supply, make the planning and implementation of good practice in a manufacturing company very challenging. Our strategy is to focus on our core strengths, targeting markets well suited to our product portfolio."

She said the fall in turnover was due to the UK market, where "the practice of low-margin promotional activity shows no sign of easing". Overseas operations had seen a double-digit sales rise. Ms Baxter added: "We continue to invest in developing innovative new products. We have significantly increased our marketing expenditure to promote these products and our core range."

But the Baxters retail outlets were said by the group to be "not immune to the poor consumer demand on the high street evident throughout the UK, and further investment is unlikely".

Ms Baxter said: "Retail was never a big growth strategy for us...our shops, like every other high street shop, are under some pressure, however that doesn't mean to say we are going to contract our retail operations."

Scotland to host Offshore Renewables Hub HQ

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing yesterday welcomed the decision of the UK Technology Strategy Board to headquarter its ‘Catapult’ innovation centre for offshore renewables in Scotland.

Mr Ewing said the choice of Glasgow for the headquarters of the new Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult - with the operational centre in Northumberland close to the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) - was recognition of Scotland’s leading position in the development of offshore renewables technology.

Under the plans, the ORE Catapult is to be headquartered in the International Technology & Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ), which already incorporates Strathclyde University’s £89 million Technology Innovation Centre and has secured industry partners including Scottish and Southern Energy, ScottishPower and the Weir Group.

Mr Ewing said:

“The waters around these islands, and off Scotland in particular, offer the greatest offshore renewables resources in Europe. Building on that natural advantage, this new industry-led partnership - including Scotland’s two major utilities - can help accelerate the development of clean green energy to power the continent sustainably.

“Major overseas companies such as Mitsubishi, Gamesa, Samsung, ABB, Alstom, E.ON and Vattenfall are already working with leading Scottish energy and engineering firms to invest in the development of pioneering wind and marine energy technologies. Yesterday’s decision is a further, welcome recognition of Scotland’s leading position - and that of the city of Glasgow - in this endeavour, taking us a further step towards the reindustrialisation of our country.

“Through Scottish Enterprise, we have already committed up to £24 million to the ITREZ, along with £15 million from the Scottish Funding Council, and that commitment has helped secure the critical mass of engineering and science from Scottish universities and industry partners that has attracted this important announcement. I congratulate SE and their bid partners in developing such a strong project and look forward to seeing the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult operational and contributing to the low carbon ambitions of Scotland, the UK and Europe.”

Scotland’s renewable energy sector is estimated to have secured a record-breaking £750 million of investment in the year to October 2011, with a pipeline of proposed projects with 17 gigawatts of generating capacity, worth an estimated capital investment of £46 billion.

Last month South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries, following extensive engagement with Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise, unveiled plans to base its first European offshore wind project in Fife in an inward venture worth up to £100 million that is expected to create more than 500 new jobs in Scotland.

ITREZ is Scotland’s International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone - a global research & development hub, bringing business and academia together to work collaboratively on the development of the offshore renewables sector. ITREZ is supported by the Energy Technology Partnership, which brings together energy specialists from across Scotland’s universities. Plans for the £89 million state-of-the-art Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC), located within the ITREZ, were outlined last year when First Minister Alex Salmond visited the facility. Together, the ITREZ and TIC projects are expected to create 700 new research jobs and support 850 existing jobs.

Scottish Enterprise has committed up to £11 million to the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre and a further £13 million to the ITREZ Industry Engagement Building. More>>

The bid team that prepared and submitted the successful proposal to the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) was a 3-way partnership between Ocean Energy Innovation (a consortium of Scottish partners represented by SE), Narec and the Carbon Trust. Ocean Energy Innovation partners are Scottish Enterprise, Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Power Renewables, the Energy Technology Partnership - drawn in part from Scottish universities research pools - the Advanced Manufacturing Institute (Sheffield), the Scottish European Green Energy Centre, the European Marine Energy Centre, Scottish Renewables and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. See more on the Technology Strategy Board announcement.

Life on Mars? Too dry, say scientists

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Express

An international team of researchers has concluded that Mars may have been arid for hundreds of millions of years, meaning it would have been too hostile for any form of life to survive on its surface over this period.

For 3 years, the researchers from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States have been analysing individual particles of Martian soil that were gathered as part of a 2008 NASA Phoenix mission to Mars. They present their findings in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

The Phoenix, a robotic spacecraft that was sent to explore Mars by an international consortium of scientists led by NASA, landed on Mars in May 2008. Mission scientists controlling the craft from Earth, based at mission control in the University of Arizona in the United States, used instruments onboard to search for any clues of microbial life. The Phoenix touched down in the northern arctic region of the planet with the aim of searching for signs that it was habitable, and analysing ice and soil on the surface.

The team analysed soil samples dug up by a robot arm, using an optical microscope to produce images of larger sand-sized particles, and an atomic-force microscope to produce 3D images of the surface of particles as small as 100 microns across.

Results from the soil analysis suggest that Mars has been extremely dry for over 600 million years. These findings follow previous research that uncovered the ice indicating that Mars could have experienced a warmer and wetter period more than 3 billion years ago.

By looking for the microscopic clay particles that are formed when rock is broken down by water, the team were able to draw conclusions. Such particles are an important marker of contact between liquid water and the soil as they form a distinct population in the soil, but the researchers found no such marker. Even if the few particles they saw in this size range were in fact clay, they would make up less than 0.1 % of the total proportion of the soil in the samples - clay on Earth can make up 50 % or more of the soil content.

The team's results also showed that the soil on Mars had been exposed to liquid water for at most 5 000 years since its formation billions of years ago.

Lead study author Dr Pike, from Imperial College London, comments on the findings: 'We found that even though there is an abundance of ice, Mars has been experiencing a super-drought that may well have lasted hundreds of millions of years. We think the Mars we know today contrasts sharply with its earlier history, which had warmer and wetter periods and which may have been more suited to life. Future NASA and ESA missions that are planned for Mars will have to dig deeper to search for evidence of life, which may still be taking refuge underground.'

Although the team's findings are based on analysis of one region of the planet, previous studies have confirmed that soil on Mars is quite uniform across the whole planet, meaning that these results can more than likely be applied to the whole of Mars.

For more information, please visit: Imperial College London: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/

Europeans develop innovative, sustainable food packaging product

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Express

We're constantly on the go, and products that make our lives easier are always welcome. But keeping products safe is important. This is especially true for the food industry. When fats, oils and other food components are oxidised, the foods we eat lose nutrients and colours. Steering clear of oxidation is crucial for food packaging. An EU-funded team of researchers has developed a biomaterial from whey protein as well as a commercially viable method of producing multifunctional films on an industrial scale. This is steps ahead of the conventional films based on petrochemicals. The results are an outcome of the WHEYLAYER ('Whey protein-coated plastic films to replace expensive polymers and increase recyclability') project, which received more than EUR 2.5 million under the 'Research for the Benefit of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises)', Seventh Framework Programme Capacities Work Programme of the EU.

The fruits of their labour are part of a strong European effort to develop a sustainable packing material, whose production is both cost-effective and good for the environment. Industry will benefit immensely from this latest innovation, because it will help keep their food products safe from oxygen, moisture, and chemical and biological contamination. The upshot of this development is that foods will remain fresh for as long as possible.

Current methods focus on the use of expensive, petrochemical-based polymers like ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers as barrier materials. The German Society for Packaging Market Research believes that over 640 square kilometres of composite materials using EVOH as an oxygen barrier layer will be manufactured and used in Germany in 2014.

For the WHEYLAYER project, the natural ingredients in the whey extend the shelf life of food products. An added bonus is that the whey protein layer is biodegradable.

Commenting on the results of their study, WHEYLAYER partner Markus Schmid of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Germany said: 'We've managed to develop a whey protein formulation that can be used as the raw material for a film barrier layer. And we have also developed an economically viable process which can be used to produce the multifunctional films on an industrial scale.'

To develop the whey layer, the German team first purified sweet whey and sour whey, and they produced high-purity whey protein isolates. Various modification methods were tested to obtain suitable proteins with superior film-forming properties. The proteins withstood the mechanical loads involved because the team mixed them with different concentrations of various softeners and other additives, which were biobased.

'All these additives are approved substances,' Mr Schmid explained. 'Our work at the IVV to manufacture a multilayer film of this kind using a roll-to-roll method is a world's first.'

The good news for enterprises that would like to make the switch to whey proteins is that this will only require minor modifications to their plants. The researchers said they have applied for a patent on this innovative technology.

Led by the Spain-based Patronal de la Petita i Mitjana Empresa de Catalunya (PIMEC), the WHEYLAYER consortium consists of experts from Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Hungary and Slovenia.

For more information, please visit: Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV: http://www.ivv.fraunhofer.de/index_e.html

Researchers shed light on hearing loss and touch sensitivity connection

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS Express

A European team of researchers has discovered that people with a specific form of inherited hearing loss are more sensitive to low frequency vibration. Presented in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the findings provide insight on the association between hearing loss and touch sensitivity. Specialised skin cells must be tuned to enable a person to 'feel'.

Led by the Germany-based groups Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP) and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, researchers assessed people with hereditary DFNA2 hearing loss to get a better perspective on their sense of touch, and not on their ability to hear.

A mutation affecting the function of many hair cells in the inner ear is responsible for this hearing impairment. According to the researchers, this mutation may also have an effect on the sense of touch. The hairs in our inner ear vibrate to the pressure of the sound waves, and these vibrations trigger an influx of positively charged potassium ions into the hair cells. This electric current generates a nerve signal that goes to the brain. The result? Hearing. The potassium ions flow through a channel in the cell membrane and then exit from the hair cells. The mutation damages this potassium channel, what experts call the KCNQ4 protein molecule, in people with hearing impairment. The excess pressure leads to the demise of sensory cells.

'But we have found that KCNQ4 is present not only in the ear, but also in some sensory cells of the skin,' FMP Professor Thomas Jentsch said. 'This gave us the idea that the mutation might also affect the sense of touch. And this is exactly what we were able to show in our research, which we conducted in a close collaboration with the lab of Gary Lewin, a colleague from the MDC who is specialised in touch sensation.'

People can discern differences between surfaces because of the vibrations that occur in the skin when the surface is stroked. This information helps us understand our surroundings.

The team, which included experts from Spain and the Netherlands, said the patients could perceive very slow vibrations that the healthy control group could not perceive. There was a change in the mechanoreceptors for normal touch sensation because of the mutations in the KCNQ4 channel gene.

Professor Jentsch and his colleague, Professor Gary Lewin of the MDC, said DFNA2 patients are extremely sensitive to vibrations: 'The skin has several different types of mechanoreceptors, which respond to different qualities of stimuli, especially to different frequency ranges. The interaction of different receptor classes is important for the touch sensation. Although the receptors we studied became more sensitive due to the loss of the potassium channel, this may be outweighed by the disadvantage of the wrong tuning to other frequencies. With KCNQ4 we have for the first time identified a human gene that changes the traits of the touch sensation.'

For more information, please visit: Nature Neuroscience: http://www.nature.com/neuro/index.html

Scientists investigate how warming trend impacts mountain plant communities

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Environmentalists the world over been investigating and measuring climate change over the years, and they found that the period from 2000 to 2009 was the warmest since they began taking worldwide climate measurements. Although their studies focused on local areas, there is proof that mountain plant communities are changing, and that this is linked to the warming trend. An EU-funded team of researchers recently took this one step further by looking at the problem from a continental perspective. The study, presented in the journal Nature Climate Change, was backed in part by the ENSEMBLE ('Ensemble-based predictions of climate changes and their impacts') project. This EU-funded project received EUR 15 million under the Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems' Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

Led by the University of Vienna in Austria, this latest study offers us clear and statistically important evidence of a warming effect on mountain plant communities around the globe.

Commenting that the results are significant, co-author Ottar Michelsen of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) added: 'You can find studies that have shown an effect locally, and where researchers try to say something more globally, but in this case, when you have so many mountains in so many regions and can show an effect, that's a big thing.'

The findings of the study highlight how researchers have measured plant community changes in the mountains across various parts of the world, with about 10 years between the collection of samples. In total, 60 summit sites with 867 vegetation samples from 17 mountain areas across the continent in 2001 were analysed initially. The team revisited the mountain sample sites, including the Dovre region in central Norway, seven years later.

The team said they identified a clear shift in the species in the plots towards species that preferred warmer temperatures after they compared the vegetation in the sample plots in 2001 and 2008. They assigned what they called an altitudinal rank to all 764 plant species that formed the sample of their study. According to them, the rank reflects the temperature at which each species has its optimum performance. Since altitude and temperature have a direct correlation in each mountain area (the higher your altitude in the mountains, the colder it will be in general), the location on the mountain where a plant is found reflects its response to the location's actual temperature.

They used a mathematical formula to give each plot a 'thermic vegetation indicator', calculated during that seven-year period. The change in the indicator between 2001 and 2008 showed the team whether the mix of plants in each plot had stayed the same or shifted on average to plant types that favoured either colder or warmer temperatures.

Data for the 17 mountain areas for 2001 and 2008 were combined, and the researchers obtained a continental-scale view of what other changes, if any, are on the cards.

'The transformation of plant communities on a continental scale within less than a decade can be considered a rapid ecosystem response to ongoing climate warming,' the researchers said. 'Although the signal is not statistically significant for single mountain regions, it is clearly significant when data throughout Europe are pooled.'

The results of this study are important for two reasons: 1) the change in plant communities can be detected over time; and 2) plants that have adapted to colder temperatures face greater competition from other species, potentially leading 'to declines or even local disappearance of alpine plant species. In fact, declines of extreme high-altitude species at their lower range margins have recently been observed in the Alps'.

Experts from Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom contributed to this study.

For more information, please visit:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology: http://www.ntnu.edu/

Nature Climate Change: http://www.nature.com/nclimate/index.html

Adapting to changing climate proving tricky for Europe's birds

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : CORDIS

Birds are finding it increasingly difficult to adapt to Europe's warming climes. That is the warning from a pan-European group of researchers in a major new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The study, which received funding from four different EU-funded projects, brings together scientists from the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Over the past two decades, Europe's climate has been getting steadily warmer, and set temperatures have shifted northwards by 250 km, making life unbearable for species of bird and butterfly which thrive in cool temperatures. Yet the study finds that the bird and butterfly communities have not moved at the same rate as the temperatures.

For the study, birds were divided into two groups, depending on whether they thrive in slightly 'colder' or 'warmer' climates. For example, chaffinches and reed buntings are 'colder' species, while blackcaps and goldfinches are 'warmer' species.

The study was funded as part of the EU's STEP ('Status and trends of European pollinators') project, which was boosted by a grant of some EUR 3.5 million under the 'Environment' Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Funding also came from the CLIMIT ('Climate change impacts on insects and their mitigation') project, part of the ERA-Net BiodivERsA2 network, funded in part by almost EUR 2 million under FP7's 'Coordination' Theme.

The study also received a boost from two Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) projects: ALARM ('Assessing large-scale environmental risks with tested methods') which received just under EUR 13 million of EU funding under the programme's 'Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems' Thematic area; and MACIS ('Minimisation of and adaptation to climate change: Impacts on biodiversity') which was funded to the tune of EUR 900 000 under the 'Research for policy support' Thematic area.

After analysing 20 years' worth of data on birds, butterflies, and summer temperatures, the team concluded that some birds and butterflies have difficulty adapting quickly enough to the warmer climate. For many of these species, attempts at moving further north have for the most part been unsuccessful.

One of the study authors, Professor Åke Lindström from Lund University, Sweden, comments: 'Both butterflies and birds respond to climate change, but not fast enough to keep up with an increasingly warm climate. We don't know what the long-term ecological effects of this will be.'

Butterflies have adapted more quickly to the changing temperatures, and have moved on average 114 km north, whereas birds have only moved 37 km. The researchers suspect that this difference can be attributed to the butterflies' shorter lifespans that make it easier for them to adapt quickly to climate change. As birds like to return to the same breeding ground year in year out, they show more resistance to changing behaviour patterns.

However, this two-tier adaptation process could pose problems for birds, as Professor Lindström explains: 'A worrying aspect of this is if birds fall out of step with butterflies, because caterpillars and insects in general represent an important source of food for many birds.'

The team were able to measure which birds were moving where by looking at which 'colder' and 'warmer' birds appear in which areas. They quantified the yearly change in community composition in response to climate change for 9 490 bird and 2 130 butterfly communities distributed across Europe.

'Over the past 50 years, the main factors affecting bird and butterfly numbers and distribution have been agriculture, forestry and urbanisation. Climate change is now emerging as an increasingly important factor in the development of biodiversity,' says Professor Lindström.

For more information, please visit: Lund University: http://www.lu.se/

New EU rules for Organic Wine' agreed

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

New EU rules for “organic wine” have been agreed in the Standing Committee on Organic Farming (SCOF), and will be published in the Official Journal in the coming weeks. With the new regulation, which will apply from the 2012 harvest, organic wine growers will be allowed to use the term “organic wine” on their labels. The labels must also show the EU-organic-logo and the code number of their certifier, and must respect other wine labelling rules. Although there are already rules for “wine made from organic grapes”, these do not cover wine-making practices, i.e. the whole process from grape to wine. Wine is the one remaining sector not fully covered by the EU rules on organic farming standards under Regulation 834/2007.

After the vote in the SCOF, EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural development Dacian Ciolos stated: “I am delighted that we have finally reached agreement on this dossier, as it was important to establish harmonized rules guaranteeing a clear offer to consumers who are more and more interested in organic products. I am pleased that we emerge with rules which make a clear difference between conventional and organic wine – as is the case with other organic products. As a result, consumers can be sure that any “organic wine” will have been produced using stricter production rules.”

The new rules have the advantage of improved transparency and better consumer recognition. They will not only help to facilitate the internal market, but also to strengthen the position of EU organic wines at international level, since many other wine producing countries (USA, Chile, Australia, South Africa) have already established standards for organic wines. With this piece of legislation, the EU organic farming is now complete and covers all agricultural products.

The new regulation establishes a subset of oenological (wine-making) practices and substances for organic wines defined in the Wine Common Market Organisation (CMO) regulation 606/2009. For example, sorbic acid and desulfurication will not be allowed and the level of sulphites in organic wine must be at least 30-50 mg per litre lower than their conventional equivalent (depending on the residual sugar content). Other than this subset of specifications, the general wine-making rules defined in the Wine CMO regulation will also apply. As well as these wine-making practices, “organic wine” must of course also be produced using organic grapes – as defined under Regulation 834/2007.

Background

There are no EU rules or definition of “Organic wine”. Only grapes can be certified organic and only the mention “wine made from organic grapes” is currently allowed.

In the 2004 Organic Action Plan, the Commission pledged to establish specific organic rules for all agricultural production, including wine-making. In this context, the “OrWine” research project was financed under the 6th Framework Programme. Based on its findings, legal proposals for defining organic wine were first tabled in Standing Committee for Organic Farming (SCOF) in June 2009, but remained deadlocked and were withdrawn in June 2010. Work resumed in 2011 and the draft received a favourable opinion from the SCOF on 8 February 2012.

Key parts of the proposals

The new rules on organic wine-making rules introduces a technical definition of organic wine which is consistent with the organic objective and principles as laid down in Council Regulation (EC 834/2007) Organic production. The regulation identifies oenological techniques and substances to be authorized for organic wine.

These include: maximum sulphite content set at 100 mg per litre for red wine (150 mg/l for conventional) and 150mg/l for white/rosé (200 mg/l for conventional), with a 30mg/l differential where the residual sugar content is more than 2g per litre.

For more information:

MEMO/12/81

Cyber-attacks: Industry Committee backs plan to strengthen EU defences

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

A draft law to strengthen the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) was approved by Industry, Research and Energy Committee MEPs on Monday.

ENISA was founded in 2004, for an initial period of five years, to ensure a high and effective level of network information security within the EU. Its current mandate expires in September 2013.

The new proposal would extend and strengthen ENISA's mandate to help the EU, Member States and private stakeholders develop their capabilities and preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to network and information security problems and incidents.

Computer Emergency and Response Teams (CERT)

The proposal should require ENISA to support the establishment and the functioning of a full-scale European Union Computer Emergency Response Team (EU CERT), to counter cyber attacks against the EU institutions, bodies and agencies, says the resolution by Giles Chichester (ECR, UK).

It should also require the agency to promote and support cooperation among national CERTs in Member States and EU CERTs in the event of incidents, attacks or disruptions on networks or infrastructure managed or protected by them.

In the event of a severe cyber-threat, and at the request of a Member State or an EU institution or body, ENISA will assist it in operational tasks to secure the affected network or data, adds the text.

New mandate

To enable ENISA to meet growing cyber security challenges, the proposal would establish its new mandate for seven years with effect from 13 September 2013. ENISA's governance structure would also be strengthened with a stronger supervisory role for the Management Board.

ENISA has its seat in Heraklion. However, according to an EP amendment, technical staff engaged in the operational implementation of its mandate should be based in a branch office in Athens.

This vote provides a mandate to start negotiations with a view to a possible first-reading agreement.

Further information

Links

The Innovation Union Scoreboard: Monitoring the innovation performance of the 27 EU Member States

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011 is the second edition of the Scoreboard following the adoption of the Innovation Union Communication in October 2010.

The IUS replaces the European Innovation Scoreboard which was published from 2001 to 2009. It provides a comparative assessment of the research and innovation performance of the EU27 Member States and the relative strengths and weaknesses of their research and innovation systems. In this way, it complements the Europe 2020 Annual Growth Survey and helps Member States assess areas in which they need to concentrate to boost their innovation performance.

In addition, the Scoreboard covers Croatia, Serbia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. On a more limited number of indicators available internationally it also covers Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and the US.

For more information click this link.

Public sector procurement reform

Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source: Wiredgov

The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil, has outlined his intention to further reform public procurement to improve Scottish businesses’ access to contract opportunities.

Mr Neil said:

"I have spent a lot of time in recent months engaging with businesses and others who have concerns about public procurement.

"The Scottish Government has done a great deal to improve the way the procurement system operates in Scotland, but clearly there is still room for significant further improvement, both in relation to efficiency and the extent to which Scottish businesses are able to access contract opportunities.

"We have already announced our intention to introduce a Sustainable Procurement Bill during the life of this Parliament and that the Bill will seek to ensure that major public contracts deliver training and employment opportunities through the inclusion of Community Benefit Clauses. Having listened to business concerns about procurement I can announce that the Bill will also seek to ensure that all public bodies in Scotland adopt transparent, streamlined and standardised procurement processes that are friendly to Scottish businesses.

"Many of the issues that have been raised with me have related to the construction sector. This sector is facing particular challenges in the current economic climate and many of the improvements we have introduced to public procurement have had limited impact as our work on improving practice has been focused largely on goods and services rather than construction .

"Against this background, I believe the time is right to commission a root and branch review of construction procurement across the public sector, with a view to tackling industry concerns and ensuring that procurement practices deliver best value for Scotland’s economy.

"We will work up detailed proposals for the review and I will make a further announcement on this shortly."

Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and a leading advocate for change within public sector procurement has welcomed this timely intervention and said:

"Businesses have been working with the government in identifying and implementing improvements to public sector procurement processes.

"There still however remains much work to be done and the need to quicken the pace of introducing this change.

"Our goals are the same - to ensure the procurement levers are being pulled in the right direction and that every public sector agency and its employees are doing all they can to support small and medium sized businesses across Scotland.

"We welcome the focus on the construction sector. There has been major downsizing with many high quality construction companies going out of business with the loss of highly skilled jobs.

"The bottom line is that we want to see more small local businesses being able to compete and more importantly win contracts. We look forward to working with government and others in this review to ensure the proposed bill contains and addresses the issues raised by businesses across Scotland."

The Sustainable Procurement Bill will ensure that:

contract opportunities are advertised or awarded through Public Contracts Scotland – helping Scottish businesses find and win contracts;
public bodies adopt transparent, streamlined and standardised procurement processes that are friendly to Scottish businesses; and
that Scottish firms have the right to access information about all contract award decisions and to challenge them if they believe the decision is unfair.

The review will set out to help ensure that the construction sector, including industry and its public sector clients:

achieves efficiency improvements through opportunities for collaboration where appropriate;
raises its performance through improvements to capability, procurement practice and project assurance;
is able to identify and quickly adopt emerging best practice and that practices are standardised wherever possible;
adopts good practice in relation to sustainability, including life cycle costing and reduced carbon and energy consumption;
manages common/major contractors and projects effectively;
makes best use of available construction procurement/project skills; and
makes best use of new and emerging innovations in techniques, technology and materials (eg Building Information Modelling).

Scotland’s public sector spends over £2 billion per annum on construction related contracts and the review will examine how we can improve the impact of this spending on Scotland’s economic growth.

Related information Public Sector Procurement

Safer Internet Day 2012, linking up generations for a safer digital world

Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

On Safer Internet Day today, 7th February, more than 100 events in 30 European countries will encourage children, their families and teachers, to discover the digital world together. This is the ninth annual Safer Internet Day, celebrated in more than 70 countries worldwide as part of a global drive to promote safer Internet for children and young people.

In Europe, Safer Internet Day is coordinated by INSAFE, the network of Safer Internet Centres funded by the Commission through the € 55 million Safer Internet Programme. This year's events include an online test for parents in Austria (testing their reactions to different situations related to their kids' use of online technologies); in France a new game for 7-12 year olds featuring the online adventures of Vinz and Lou, a "most responsible school" competition in Slovakia and surveys, information packs for pupils, parents and teachers, and awareness raising in all participating countries (see the Safer Internet Day site for more details of events in your area)

Keeping children safe online is an important part of the Digital Agenda for Europe (see IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200). In December 2011, the Commission convened a coalition of 28 leading companies who have committed to making a better and safer Internet for children. (see IP/11/1485). Three more companies (Stardoll, Skyrock and Telecom Italia) joined the Coalition in January 2012. Companies have promised to deliver on five priority actions including: making it easier to report harmful content, ensuring privacy settings are age-appropriate, offering wider options for parental control and content classification, reflecting the needs of a generation that is going online at an increasingly young age. In addition to coordinating industry efforts, the Commission will present a comprehensive strategy for a safer Internet for kids in Spring 2012

Discovering together

This year's safer Internet Day campaign is focused on connecting generations, "Discover the digital world together…safely". Tech-savvy youngsters can teach older generations how to use new technologies, while parents and grandparents draw on their life experiences to advise younger generations on how to stay safe online.

Background

According to the latest EU kids online survey 77% of 13-16 year olds and 38% of 9-12 year olds in Europe who use the Internet say they have a profile on a social networking site. However, children's apparent level of online experience is not always matched by confidence or skill.

12% of European 9-16 year olds who use the Internet say they have been bothered or upset by something on it.
But, 56% of parents whose child has received nasty or hurtful messages online are not aware of this.

Help from family and friends

Evidence suggests that both children and adults turn to their family and friends when they need help in the online world

48% of parents get online safety advice first and foremost from family and friends.
Children say they get most of their advice on how to be safe online from parents (63%), then teachers (58%), other relatives (47%), then peers (44%).

Key Tips

INSAFE has 6 key tips to help parents and teachers in assisting their child to use the Internet safely. It suggests that parents and teachers should:

Talk about the internet and dedicate time to explore it together with the child. Ask the child to show them what he or she likes to do online, and try not to be shocked or overreact if they do not share the same interests.
Stimulate the child's creativity. Point them in the direction of the best online content to explore for their development (or just for fun). The child can learn and discover new sites, play games, write blogs, create websites. Stretch his or her imagination.
Set up rules or boundaries together. When\Where\Why and for how long can the child use their mobile phone or computer? If you listen to the child and establish fair rules, then he or she is more likely to stick to them.
Protect personal data and help the child understand that information or photos they put online can remain visible to everybody forever. Help them set up the highest level of privacy settings on social networks.
Think about using parental control tools to automatically filter certain topics (e.g. violence, porn) and limit the time the child will be able to navigate the web.
Avoid having a computer in the child's bedroom. Put it in the living room instead. It will make it easier to follow the child's web-surfing habits on a daily basis.

Useful links

Follow Safer Internet Day 2012 on Twitter through hashtag #SID2012

Safer Internet Day website – discover events in your area

Safer Internet Day 2012 video Discover the digital world together: safely!

Safer Internet Day – general video

Agriculture Committee rescues EU programme

Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Source : Wiredgov

A two-year reprieve for the EU's "food for the needy" programme, on which 18 million of the EU's most deprived people rely, was backed by the Agriculture Committee on Monday. If Parliament as a whole endorses the plan to rescue the programme, it will run until the end of 2013, with a budget of up to €500 million per year.

The Agriculture Committee backed the text as proposed by the Council so as to avoid delays in getting the aid to those who rely on it.

The compromise will "solve the pressing situation of those depending on the programme for now" and will "leave enough space for further negotiations" on how to pursue the programme after 2014, said head of the Agriculture Committee negotiating team and Parliament's rapporteur for the regulation Czesław Adam Siekierski (EPP, PL).

"In a time of global economic crisis that leaves many citizens unable to feed their families, this is good news", said Agriculture Committee chair, Paolo de Castro (S&D, IT), stressing that "we must ensure that in current economic situation we do take care of those who urgently need our attention now".

If the Parliament as a whole follows the Agriculture Committee recommendation to back the compromise text, the scheme will apply retroactively from 1 January 2012 until the end of 2013, with budget ceiling of €500 million per year. The plenary vote is scheduled for 15 February in Strasbourg.

Background

The scheme for distributing free food to the EU's most deprived citizens, set up in 1987 under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), currently provides food aid for 18 million people living in poverty in 20 EU Member States. The European Commission estimates that 43 million people in the EU are at risk of food poverty.

The free food originally came from CAP intervention stocks, but as these were reduced, the scheme came increasingly to rely on market purchases, just as the global economic crisis caused a sharp increase in the number of citizens in need.

However, in April 2011 the EU Court of Justice ruled that the scheme could only use food from intervention stocks. If no action were taken, funding for the scheme would have to be reduced to €133 million in 2012, from €500 million in 2011.

A proposed update of the regulation, which would make it possible for the scheme to purchase food on the market, had remained blocked in the Council until November 2011, when Germany agreed to back the scheme's continuation, with proper funding, until the end of 2013.

EU research funding reaches 15% target for SMEs

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Latest figures show that the European Commission is keeping its promises on research funding for Small- and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs will receive 15.3% (€2.4 billion) of the Cooperation Programme budget of €16.3 billion committed so far under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). This surpasses the goal set by the European Parliament and European Council for FP7. €2.4 billion has already been allocated to almost 8.900 SMEs by 1 January 2012. SME funding under the Cooperation Programme is estimated to remain above 15% for the rest of the period of FP7, thereby meeting the commitment taken by the European Commission.

Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, said: "The commitment to the 15% budget target for SMEs is a commitment to growth and jobs. We have now reached that target and will remain committed to it. Our future research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, will continue to support the competitiveness of SMEs, which are the bedrock of the European economy."

FP7 provides financial support for transnational research for and by SMEs wishing to innovate and improve their competitiveness in Europe’s knowledge-based economy. Concrete measures to encourage SME participation were taken across the so-called 'Thematic Priorities' of the Cooperation Programme under FP7. A focus on SME-friendly measures in the calls of 2011 to encourage SMEs to participate, such as ring-fenced budgets for SMEs or topics highly relevant for SMEs, had a positive impact on achieving the 15% target. The last months of 2011 therefore saw a significant increase in the budget share allocated to SMEs. The Commission plans to strengthen such measures further in the future.

In addition to the around 17,000 SMEs expected to receive funding in FP7 research projects by the end of the programme, many more SMEs will benefit from the research results. Further findings in the 8th SME Progress Report on SME participation are:

In 73% of research projects funded at least one SME is involved
17.6% of participants in FP7 projects are from SMEs.
SMEs participate on average in 1.6 different research projects.
A research project consortium has on average 11 partners, of which two are SMEs
10% of the projects are coordinated by an SME.
Within the ten Thematic Priorities of FP7, R&D SME's participate the most (28%), followed by SMEs from the Manufacturing sector (25%), the Service sector (24%) and the ICT sector (18%)
€ 774 million goes directly to SMEs under the Capacities programme
€ 167 million goes to SMEs under the People programme
€ 106.5 million (85.2 from MS and 21.3 from EU), 76% of public funding goes to SMEs under Eurostars /Eureka initiatives.

Background

Regular monitoring by DG Research & Innovation of the 15% across one of the five specific programmes of FP7 (2007-2013) i.e. the Themes of the Cooperation Programme (with a total budget of €32 billion) is in the form of "SME Progress Reports in FP7". This 15% budget target for SMEs in the Cooperation Programme was specifically requested by the European Council and Parliament. The Cooperation programme is the largest of the five specific programmes under FP7 including Cooperation, Capacities, People, Ideas and Euratom. It is estimated that by completion of FP7, €7 billion of a total budget of €52 billion will have gone to around 17,000 SMEs.

A recent study by the Commission published 16 January has revealed that 85% of new jobs in the EU between 2002 and 2010 were created by SMEs. Meeting the 15% budget target therefore contributes further to competitiveness and growth, and to the success of the Innovation Union flagship under Horizon 2020.

The increase from 14.4% (according to data as of 1st April 2011) towards today's 15.3% of the budget share going to SMEs was mainly due to SME-friendly measures found in the following themes:

Health research (an increase from 10.3% to 12.4%)
Research in Food, agriculture, fisheries and biotechnology (an increase from 8.5% to 12.0%)
Information and Communication Technologies research (reaching 15% of the EU contribution in the signed contracts to SMEs).

The Thematic Priorities in which SMEs have the highest budget shares are:

Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and production technologies (23%)
Security research (21.5%)
Energy research (18%)
Transport research, including aeronautics (17%)

Find the report on SME participation in FP7 here: http://ec.europa.eu/research/sme-techweb/index_en.cfm?pg=publications

Find more on SME Success stories

Piecing together a genetic puzzle

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A European team of scientists has discovered how cells accurately inherit information that is not contained in their genes. The research, presented in the journal Developmental Cell, was funded in part by the EPICENTROMERE ('Determining the epigenetic mechanism of centromere propagation') project, which has clinched a Marie Curie Action 'International Reintegration Grant' worth EUR 100 000 under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The results help piece together a puzzle on the biological processes of genes and cells, and in particular on cell division.

While the adult human body's 10 trillion cells are genetically identical, they develop into distinct types of cells including nerve cells, skin cells and muscle cells. This distinctive quality is triggered by the activation of some genes and the inhibition of others. Specialised cells have the capacity to keep a memory of their individual identity by remembering which genes need to be active or not, even when making copies of themselves.

Led by Lars Jansen from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) in Portugal, researchers say that while this type of memory is not written directly into the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), it is heritable. Meanwhile, non-genetic or 'epigenetic' instructions usually appear to be contained in proteins, and control both genes and the arrangement of chromosomes.

The team discovered how one of these epigenetic organising centres is passed on from mother to daughter cells. The findings could help scientists determine how a glitch in the cell division process can trigger cancer.

The researchers put the spotlight on the centromere, a protein structure on each chromosome that attaches it to the skeleton of the cell (cytoskeleton) during the division of the cell. This effectively guarantees that each daughter cell gets one set of new chromosomes. The scientists emphasise the importance of correctly functioning centromeres..When the process is not perfect, cells can receive an incorrect number of genes, which then leads to the emergence of tumour cells.

'When cells divide, they make exactly two copies of all genes, to be passed on to exactly two cells,' explains lead author Mariana Silva, a doctoral student from the Jansen lab. 'A similar feat has to be pulled off for non-genetic information. But how does the cell copy a protein structure? And, how does it ensure just the right number of copies are made? This question is still mystifying scientists. We focused our efforts on the centromere because the key protein responsible for its epigenetic behaviour is known.'

This protein, known to scientists as CENP-A, keeps a 'molecular memory' of the centromere, ensuring its inheritance. Past studies carried out by Dr Jansen and colleagues found that while cells duplicate their DNA before mitosis, duplication of the centromere, led by the CENP-A protein, takes place only after mitosis. But no one knew what the triggering factor of the duplication is or how accuracy is guaranteed ... until now.

In this latest study, the researchers point out how the same machinery controlling the recognised process of DNA duplication is also controlling CENP-A duplication. This machinery acts like a molecular clock, driving the various steps of the cell cycle forward, one after the other.

Commenting on the results, Dr Jansen says: 'What we’ve uncovered is a very simple, neat mechanism whereby the cell couples DNA duplication, cell division and centromere assembly. By using the same machinery (Cdks) for all these steps, but in opposite ways, the cell makes sure that the right number of copies of both genes and centromeres are made, by allowing each the appropriate time. Keeping these critical processes separate in time might be important to avoid errors in either one. Understanding these general principles of epigenetic inheritance are fundamental to our understanding of how genes are regulated, how genomes are organised, and the wide spectrum of diseases that result from errors in these mechanisms.'

Experts from the United Kingdom and the United States contributed to this study.

Shine a light! Indoor solar cells!

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT