Hope for FP6

Related tags Germany

Architects of the new instruments for the Sixth Framework Programme
will be heartened by news that a German report on the country's
networks of competence has concluded that such arrangements
stimulate innovation and, in turn, give impetus to greater economic
value added

Architects of the new instruments for the Sixth Framework Programme will be heartened by news that a German report on the country's networks of competence has concluded that such arrangements stimulate innovation and, in turn, give impetus to greater economic value added, reports Cordis​.

The report​, produced by kompetenznetze.de, covers 91 networks of competence in Germany, covering 19 fields and 26 regions. The networks of competence mirror the networks excellence envisaged by the Commission for the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), continues the Cordis article.

By supporting such networks, the Commission hopes to promote excellence in Europe by means of a deep and lasting integration of excellence capacities in universities, research centres and industry across Europe.

'Networking and regional collaboration are more essential than ever in this age of international competition between centres of innovation and geographic locations,'​ writes Edelgard Bulmahn, Germany's Minister for Education and Research, in the foreword to the kompetenznetze.de report.

The report highlights a number of regional success stories. In Aachen, more than 20,000 jobs have been created in recent years in the areas of technology represented by its network of competence. In Stuttgart, over 30 new biotechnology companies have been set up within a very short period of time, while in Jena, which also has a strong biotechnology focus, has increased its export ratio to almost 50 per cent.

The report is intended as a guide to innovation, investment and education in Germany. "Research has to emerge from its ivory tower and step out into the open, allowing potential investors to earmark projects worth their support and enabling scientists to identify subject areas and ideas worth pursuing,"​ added Ms Bulmahn.

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