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Bring on the science superstars: In an age when schoolchildren are obsessed with celebrity, they need to see science creates heroes too, writes Dave Madden.

Small start-ups can do big things when they know both their limitations and opportunities, says Neville McClenaghan, the co-founder of University of Ulster spin-out Diabetica Ltd.

Beyond its blockbuster drugs Genentech has a commodity rare in a large company – an entrepreneurial culture. Can Roche preserve this?

A quietly published review has criticised FP6 as too bureaucratic, and for not reaching out to the private sector. But are these failings being perpetuated in FP7?

The European Patent Office rejected more patent applications than it passed for the first time last year, a move that it says will to raise the quality of the patents it grants.

The European Commission has called for a doubling of ICT investment in the next decade and promised to increase annual funding to €1.7 billion in 2013.

Four of Europe’s leading micro and nanotechnology research bodies are reaching across national boundaries to create a single arm for grants and spin-outs.

When new European Commissioners are chosen later this year, they should take the opportunity to create a Vice President for Innovation, says Richard L. Hudson.

The European Union is to spend €105 billion on environmental initiatives to maintain Europe’s leadership in the field of green technologies.

The Fraunhofer Centre for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions (AICOS) has been set up in Portugal to develop communications applications.

“Being innovative involves recognising tomorrow’s problems and finding the solutions today” says Adel Sharif, founding director of Surrey Aquatechnology.

President Obama’s move to focus on “science as economic saviour” may have stalled. But there is still optimism about the impact the new administration will have.