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RSS SubscribeFriday 11th June 2010
EU brings largest-ever delegation to Australia
by EC
The European Commission this week brought the largest-ever delegation to Australia for the 11th Joint Science & Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC). 14 Commission Officials and several scientific experts visited Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra to take part in Senior Officials Meetings on Science & Innovation. The EU and Australia signed a Science & Technology Agreement in 1994 and since then researchers have been collaborating in the EU’s Framework Programs and in Australia’s research programs. The latest EU Framework Program FP7 is worth €53.7bn 2007-2013. So far Australians have taken part in over 100 projects under FP7 worth approximately €360mn, with the key areas for collaboration being Health, Food Agriculture and Biotechnology (FAB) and Information Communications Technology (ICT).
Ambassador David Daly said “This is a meeting of minds and when minds meet they don’t just exchange facts, they transform them. This is a meeting about challenges, innovation and cooperation.”
Australia’s Chief Scientist Penny Sackett opened the official proceedings on 8 June and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Innovation Industry Science & Research, Ms Patricia Kelly, chaired the meeting on 9 June.
The European Commission Delegation is led by Ms Maive Rute, Director of the Food Agriculture and Biotechnology Unit in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Research & Technology Development.
Further information
www.delaus.ec.europa.eu/scienceandtech/Science&TechnologyAgreement.htm
