A total of 284 researchers are to receive up to €3.5 million each for basic research, while 33 top-up grants will test the commercial potential of leading ideas

For years the US government used public sector procurement to drive innovation. Now new EU rules will “end the dictatorship of the lowest price” allowing innovation to count in assessing bids. And simplified bidding will make it easier for SMEs to compete

The world’s leading technology clusters grew organically, over decades. The question for countries and regions setting out to develop their innovation ecosystems, is how to capitalize on university research and catch up quickly. It’s possible to accelerate the process, says Matt Van Itallie

A total of 287 researchers are in line to receive €400 million in the final round of starting grants awarded under Framework Programme 7

Improved access to finance and markets, better support services and less red tape will allow SMEs to generate an extra €1.1B per annum of EU GDP

Empowering women in research is not enough to close the gender gap. It’s time to “fix the institutions” say Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for R&D, in a Q&A with Science|Business

The move to encourage wider access to the results of publicly-funded research will have limited impact without the associated tools, networks and standards that are needed for sharing and mining of data. The Research Data Alliance aims to provide them

2012 was a record year for patent filings and grants, European Patent Office reports

Success will depend on ‘getting the fees right’ and the quality of decisions of the new court, EPO president says

Europe’s attempt to unify rules on clinical trials in the 2001 Directive is widely acknowledged to be a disaster. After years of debate, the Commission’s proposals for reform are getting a favourable reception, but it is critical the new regulation takes account of emerging technologies