£36bn for EU R&D

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Negotiations on the EU's largest funding instrument for R&D, the seventh Framework Programme, concluded in Brussels yesterday with the Council of Ministers agreeing the £36bn programme.

Negotiations on the

largest funding instrument for R&D, the

, concluded in Brussels yesterday with the Council of Ministers agreeing the £36bn programme.

The Council's agreement marks the final step in the process following the European Parliament's Second Reading deal on 30 November.

Announcing the agreement, Science Minister Malcolm Wicks said: 'Today we have reached a final agreement on the whole package of the 7th Framework Programme. This is a great achievement. It ensures that this crucial funding programme for R&D is ready for business on the 1 January 2007.

'The UK has played a major part in shaping the final programme. Key features include the establishment of a European Research Council, based on the principles of autonomy and excellence, an allocation of 65 per cent of the budget to industrial, user-driven research, and dedicated budget lines for policy research.

'The 7th Framework Programme will help Europe raise its innovation and R&D performance with the UK playing a key part. This agreement is good for Europe and good for UK researchers and businesses.'

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