€6.4 billion for smart growth and jobs

Irish EU Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announced on Monday € 6.4 bn of European Commission investment in research & innovation. The package, the biggest ever, covers a vast range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas & commercial sectors.

This package is an economic stimulus expected to create more than 165,000 jobs. It is also a long-term investment in a smarter, sustainable & more inclusive Europe. It is a key element within the EU's Europe 2020 Strategy & in particular the Innovation Union Flagship, which will be launched in autumn 2010.

The funding will advance scientific boundaries, increase European competitiveness & help solve societal challenges such as climate change, energy & food security, health & an ageing population. Around 16,000 participants from research organisations, universities and industry, including about 3,000 SMEs, will receive funding.

Click here for more information http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm