(Nanowerk News) 2.5 million (approx. $3.25 million) is earmarked in the EUs 2007 budget to support pilot projects on Transatlantic methods for handling global challenges (budget line 19.05.03). The objective of the pilot project is to fund innovative ventures between European and US policy makers that cannot be pursued under existing EU-US instruments of cooperation, and to promote mutual learning amongst EU and US policy researchers and policymakers on more effective transatlantic approaches to challenges with a global dimension.

A new Call for Proposals has been launched (application deadline: 2 October 2007) to identify projects that are eligible for financial support in several areas. These have been chosen because they deserve further attention from the policy community and public at large and fit well with the broader agenda set by the EU-US Summit of 30 April 2007. One area is titled "Safety of nanotechnologies".

Task: Building on experience from the EUs 6th Research Framework Programme, promote closer international cooperation with economically advanced countries in nanoscience and nanotechnologies in order to share knowledge and reap the benefits of critical mass.
The project has to comprise: (a) a comparative analysis of current US and EU policy; (b) a conference involving the research and policy communities on both sides of the Atlantic to be made available on the internet; and (c) publication in easily accessible form of the projects findings and recommendations. An additional part of the initiative will be a final wrap-up conference organised by the Commission in winter 2009 for all projects, with a view to gathering recommendations to be published and presented to the EU-US Summit of 2010.
The following type of activities will be eligible: (a) Seminars, conferences and workshops; (b) Publications; and (c) Briefing sessions, speaking tours and study visits targeting decision-makers and opinion-formers, such as federal or national/state legislators and staff; civil servants; business people, civil society organisations, NGO representatives and journalists.

Details: Transatlantic methods to handle global challenges