The largest ever investment in research and innovation by the European Commission was announced by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn on 19 July.

The package, worth almost 6.4 billion euro (US$8.2 billion), covers a vast range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas and commercial sectors.

The commission hopes the funding will advance scientific boundaries, increase European competitiveness and help solve societal challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population.

Around 16,000 participants from research organisations, universities and industry, including about 3,000 small and medium enterprises, will receive funding. Grants will be awarded through "calls for proposals" (invitations to bid) and evaluations over the next 14 months.

Geoghegan-Quinn said: "Investment in research and innovation is the only smart and lasting way out of crisis and towards sustainable and socially equitable growth. This European package will contribute to new and better products and services, a more competitive and greener Europe, and a better society with a higher quality of life.

"We are offering researchers and innovators 6.4 billion euro for cutting-edge projects focusing on big economic and societal challenges: climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population. This is a huge and efficient economic stimulus and an investment in our future."

Among specific policy areas, health is allocated more than 600 million euro, while information and communication technology (ICT) research receives a 1.2 billion euro boost to support delivery of the commission's commitment to maintain the pace of yearly increases in ICT funding.

More than 1.3 billion euro is reserved for the best creative scientists selected by the European Research Council. Mobility grants for 7,000 highly qualified researchers will be provided through "Marie Curie Actions", worth 772 million euro.

The 2011 budget for calls for proposals under the Seventh Framework Programme in 2011 is up 12% compared to 2010 and 30% compared to 2009. The programme is the largest single research programme in the world, with a budget of more than 50.5 billion euro, excluding Euratom - for 2007-2013.

Calls for proposals are posted at cordis.europa.eu

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