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2nd Workshop “Towards European Coordination of Plant Genomics” Gent, March 2003 |
Background & Objective
The main conclusion of the first workshop held in
Amsterdam was that close European co-operation is essential in the field of
Plant Genomics.
As the first step in that direction it was agreed among participants to
formulate a proposal for ERA-net. Within ERA-net the European commission
supports all kinds of co-ordination activities such as exchange of information,
planning of common activities up to launching common calls.
Given the fact that after the kick-off meeting in Amsterdam the EC does not provide further financial support to the CREST initiative, an ERA-net will give the right structural and financial support to ongoing and future initiatives of our group. For example the workshop we are having next month would be eligible for support.
Therefore the preparation of the ERA-net proposal was the main objective of the workshop in Gent on 12 and 13 February 2003.
A total of 6 work packages were defined, and coordinators were appointed that would coordinate the drafting of the detailed plans:
Information exchange – coordinator Willem Stiekema
Strategic actions – coordinator Alf Game
Implementation of joint activities – coordinator Jens Freitag
Structuring the future - coordinator Michel Caboche
Broadening of the ERA-NET – coordinator Dominique Job
Public reach out – coordinator Willem Stiekema
The workshop concluded that the following organisational structure would be adequate to manage the ERA-NET. A full-time coordinator will be appointed and will be assisted by a secretariat. The coordinator reports to a plant genomics steering committee composed of policy maker and scientific representatives from the participating countries and to the commission.
The contribution of the different work packages will be drafted in the coming three weeks such that a draft application could be ready by May 3rd, 2003. EC representatives responsible for the ERA-NET scheme will then review the draft (pre-proposal check) such that the application can be finalized and submitted by 3 June 2003.
Please scroll down for the workshop proceedings.
Contact: Mr. Wouter Spek
Netherlands Genomics Initiative
[Report], [programme], [Participants]
To be linked as soon as they are available