German EU Presidency FP7 launch event

On 15 and 16 January 2007 at the International Congress Centre Bundeshaus Bonn in Germany, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with the support of the European Commission will host a kick-off event to launch the EU's new EU Research Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013). On the first day of the conference (15 January), high-ranking European speakers will discuss the road ahead for the European Research Area (ERA) and how FP7 contributes to a competitive Europe with growth and more jobs. The second day (16 January) will take a more detailed look at a variety of topics of the new framework programme, including the thematic areas. Helpful advice for researchers on how to participate in FP7 will complement the event. For European journalists this is an excellent occasion to learn from key players about the novelties of FP7 which is to start early in 2007. The event is taking place in the "Bundeshaus", the prestigious former seat of the German Parliament and constitutes the first EU Presidency event to be held by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The European Commission will also be present with a joint stand on "European Research" with representatives from the Research DG, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS). A number of officials from different DGs are involved in the conference sessions.