Paul Meller, Brussels

The responses to the Green Paper on creating a single European Research Area raise the spectre of more red tape and reduced competition.

The European Parliament gave its assent to the creation of the Galileo satellite navigation system on Wednesday, clearing the way for the European Union’s most ambitious technology project to date.

As the Commission embarks on its ambitious lead markets project, it is becoming clear that handing out public money is not part of the plan.

A clause in a Commission initiative aimed at encouraging technology transfer between public and private sectors of the economy sparked criticism this week.

After final political clearance Galileo can get set for lift off. Politicians have finally given the go-ahead after years of setbacks and delays. Now the horse trading over contracts begins.

Small is beautiful: patent applications are continuing to rise, but the European Patent Office is pleased that the number it grants is falling.

It may be a cheap imitation of the original vision, but Europe’s answer to MIT goes ahead. Now wait for the wrangling on where to site it.

After more than 30 years of failure there could be political agreement paving the way for a Community Patent by the end of the year.

Three decades of relative calm in the world of patents is coming to an end, says recently installed EPO head Alison Brimelow.

European Commission officials are studying ways to give R&D investment an additional boost from 2009, according to a senior EC research official.