EUROPA - Newsroom - Latest stories - Science and technology

Internet on TV, TV on Internet: Commission seeks views on rapidly converging audiovisual world

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:42:00 +0200

The Commission wants to explore what this convergence of technology and content could mean for Europe's economic growth and innovation, cultural diversity, and consumers (especially those that may need protection, such as children.)

Scoreboard shows EU more innovative, but gap between countries widening

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:44:00 +0100

Innovation performance in the EU has improved year on year in spite of the continuing economic crisis, but the innovation divide between Member States is widening. This is the result of the European Commission Innovation Union Scoreboard 2013, a ranking of EU Member States.

Keeping the EU's space industry competitive and avoiding satellite collisions

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:01:00 +0100

The European Commission proposed measures to keep Europe's space industry competitive and to set up a European satellite collision avoidance system.

EU Cybersecurity plan to protect open internet and online freedom and opportunity

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:41:00 +0100

The cybersecurity strategy – "An Open, Safe and Secure Cyberspace" - represents the EU's comprehensive vision on how best to prevent and respond to cyber disruptions and attacks. This is to further European values of freedom and democracy and ensure the digital economy can safely grow.

Commission issues action call in Davos - with IT sector and telecoms companies - to close digital skills and jobs gap in Europe

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:34:00 +0100

The Commission is issuing a call to action to companies, governments, educators, social partners, employment service providers and civil society to join us in a massive effort to "turn the tide". Young Europeans should have the tools to enter digital careers or to create jobs as entrepreneurs.

Digital "to-do" list: new digital priorities for 2013-2014

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:54:00 +0100

The priorities follow a comprehensive policy review and place new emphasis on the most transformative elements of the original 2010 Digital Agenda for Europe.

Putting patients in the driving seat: A digital future for healthcare

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:40:00 +0100

The European Commission has unveiled an Action Plan to address barriers to the full use of digital solutions in Europe's healthcare systems. The goal is to improve healthcare for the benefit of patients, give patients more control of their care and bring down costs.

R&D Scoreboard: Despite crisis, top EU firms continue to invest in innovation

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:33:00 +0100

In the face of the continuing economic and financial crisis, major EU-based firms continue to rely on R&D for their competitive edge. They increased R&D investment by 8.9% in 2011, up from 6.1% in 2010.

EU establishes guidelines for renewable energy policy

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:00:00 +0100

The Ministers of the Energy Council adopted conclusions on renewable energy, which outline options for future action, in particular in order to facilitate long-term planning for industry and investors.

Commission proposes rules to make government websites accessible for all

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:06:00 +0100

The Commission's proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites would introduce mandatory EU standardised accessibility features, from the end of 2015, for 12 types of websites.

Commission paves the way for 4G in Europe

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:43:00 +0100

The decision makes it mandatory for Member States to open the relevant spectrum by 30 June 2014 at the latest, and lays down harmonised technical conditions to allow coexistence between different technologies.

Commission proposes to update radio equipment rules

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0200

The proposal aims to make sure all market players comply with the rules regarding the avoidance of interference, so that consumers do not have problems when opening car doors, monitoring their babies or listening to radio.

Count-down to the second launch of Galileo satellites

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:24:00 +0200

The countdown has started for the launch of Galileo's third and fourth satellites —scheduled for 12 October 2012 at 18:15 UTC from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Major banks, telecoms companies and governments join forces in EU-wide cyberattack exercise

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:28:00 +0200

Cyber Europe 2012 runs alongside European Cyber Security Month and is the second EU-wide cyber-attack simulation exercise organised by Member States, the Commission and ENISA.

Nanomaterials: Case by case safety approach for breakthrough technology

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:40:00 +0200

The European Commission adopted a communication on the second regulatory review on nanomaterials, which also includes the Commission’s plans to improve EU law to ensure the safe use of nanomaterials.

EU-funded research to make the "cloud" greener

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:10:00 +0200

A special 3D microchip, being designed by an EU-funded research project, looks set to drastically cut the electricity and the installation costs of servers in cloud computing data centres, cementing Europe's place as the home of green computing.

Safer, more effective and innovative medical devices

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:30:00 +0200

To ensure that these devices serve the needs and ensure the safety of European citizens, the European Commission proposed two regulations which are fit for purpose, more transparent and better adapted to scientific and technological progress.

Commission and European industry commit to bigger and better robotics sector

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:00:00 +0200

The European Commission, industry and academia have agreed to launch a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Robotics, to help Europe-based companies take a larger share of the €15.5 billion annual global robotics market.

Commission focuses on international science co-operation to meet global challenges

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:28:00 +0200

The European Commission has set out a new strategy for developing international cooperation in research and innovation. The strategy proposes to further focus cooperation on EU strategic priorities while maintaining the tradition of openness to third country participation in EU research.

Digital Agenda: Commission moves to foster wireless innovation through sharing of radio spectrum

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:10:00 +0200

The European Commission unveiled plans to deal with the exponential growth in mobile and wireless data traffic by enabling wireless technologies, including broadband, to share the use of the radio spectrum.

European business to increase R&D spending despite crisis

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:51:00 +0200

Top EU businesses expect their investments in research and development to grow by an average of 4% annually over the period 2012 to 2014, according to a Commission survey of some of Europe's companies that invest the most in R&D.

New internet service improves greatly GPS reliability

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:36:00 +0200

Vice President Antonio Tajani launched in Brussels the European Data Access Service (EDAS) - a new commercial service of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) – designed to make satellite navigation in Europe more reliable and thus more effective for use in commercial applications in difficult surroundings.

European Commission targets barriers to Single Market for research and innovation

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:52:00 +0200

The European Commission has set out concrete steps Member States should take to achieve the European Research Area (ERA), a Single Market for research and innovation in Europe. The goal is to enable researchers, research institutions and businesses to better move, compete and co-operate across borders.

€8.1 billion investment in research and innovation to create growth and jobs

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:55:00 +0200

The European Commission has announced the final and biggest ever set of calls for proposals for research under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). In total, €8.1 billion will support projects and ideas that will boost Europe's competitiveness and tackle issues such as human health, protecting the environment and finding new solutions to growing challenges linked to urbanisation and managing waste.

Unleashing the huge potential of key enabling technologies for jobs

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:20:00 +0200

The European Commission tabled its strategy to boost the industrial production of KETs-based products, e.g. innovative products and applications of the future. The strategy aims to keep pace with the EU’s main international competitors, restore growth in Europe and create jobs in industry, at the same time addressing today's burning societal challenges.

Annual scoreboard confirms need for structural economic reform across Europe and surplus of ICT jobs

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:10:00 +0200

Greater data consumption and a shift to mobile technologies (such as smartphones) and mobile services (such as 3G internet, music streaming and webmail) are the most significant trends in the information & communications technologies (ICT) sector, which now accounts for 8 million jobs and 6% of EU GDP.

New Regulation to enable cross-border electronic signatures and to get more value out of electronic identification in Digital Single Market

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:29:00 +0200

The proposed Regulation will ensure people and businesses can use their own national electronic identification schemes (e-IDs) to access public services in other EU countries where e-IDs are available.

Council adopts new roaming rules

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:53:00 +0200

The new legislation revises the current regulation, which will expire on 30 June 2012, by introducing pro-competitive structural measures and extending its validity until 30 June 2022.

New deal to cut mobile roaming prices, including data services

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:45:00 +0200

The cost of using mobile phones, smartphones and tablets when travelling abroad within the EU will fall sharply from 1 July this year, under an agreement with the Council endorsed by Parliament.

Commission adopts first report on the application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive

Mon, 07 May 2012 13:53:00 +0200

The AVMSD enables the free circulation of audiovisual content and meets important public policy objectives such as banning incitement to hatred, protecting minors from harmful content and promoting European audiovisual works.

Digital Agenda: new strategy for safer internet and better internet content for children and teenagers

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:54:00 +0200

The internet was not designed with children in mind, but today 75% of children use the internet, a third of them on mobiles. The new strategy is to build up the market for interactive, creative and educational content online.

An EU Cybercrime Centre to fight online criminals and protect e-consumers

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:42:00 +0200

It is estimated that, worldwide, more than one million people become victims of cybercrime every day.The European Commission proposed to establish a European Cybercrime Centre to help protect European citizens and businesses against these mounting cyber-threats.

Mobile roaming: MEPs win deal with Council to lower price caps

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:14:00 +0200

Data roaming and phone calls abroad should be much cheaper this summer thanks to a deal provisionally agreed by MEPs and the Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday evening.

E-Skills Week 2012 - Computer skills in the EU27 in figures

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0200

On the occasion of the e-skills week, which will take place from 26-30 March 2012, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, publishes data on university graduates in computing and computer skills of individuals.

Innovation partnerships on raw materials and agriculture launched

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The public-private partnerships aim to improve sustainable agriculture and access to raw materials. A plan for an active ageing innovation partnership, launched as a pilot in 2011, is also endorsed.

E-communications single market could boost EU’s GDP

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

A completed internal market for electronic communications could boost the EU’s gross domestic product by up to €110bn a year, says study. It also suggests measures to tackle the remaining obstacles.

Commission presents plans for sustainable bioeconomy

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The strategy aims to shift the EU towards a greater use of renewable bio-resources. The goal is a more innovative and low emissions economy.

Innovative Europe – a health check

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

EU makes progress, but growth slowing. This trend highlights the need to increase efforts if Europe’s economy is to maintain global competitiveness.