The EC has launched its first Joint Programming initiative, persuading 20 member states to start to coordinate research into Alzheimer’s disease.
There is no new money involved in the programme, which aims to prevent duplication of effort in publicly funded research from one country to another.
Despite the European Research Area, more than 80 per cent of public research money still goes to national programmes, and there is little coordination, or comparing notes and agreeing on who does what.
If successful, Joint Programming should allow member states to avoid duplication and get better value for money at a time when research spending is likely to be constrained. Cooperation can involve sharing information, having joint research programmes or pooling budgets.
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