European Union Platform

Collaboration with the European Union

Welcome to the new platform for collaboration with the European Union (EU). This information platform was created to facilitate cooperation in science and technology between Canadian and European researchers. You will find a vast array of information, resources and contacts to facilitate your dealings with Europe. Enjoy your visit!

Canada-European Union Relations

For over 30 years, Canada and the European Union have worked together to promote cooperation and to maintain common ground between nations on both sides of the Atlantic. The European Union remains Canada's second-largest trade and investment partner, as well as a friend and natural ally to Canada on many sectorial issues.

An agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and Canada, which offers Canadians and Europeans the opportunity to work together to tackle the challenges of the new knowledge-based bio-economy, has been in place since February 17, 1996.

Seventh Framework Programme

For the past 20 years, the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development has been an important EU funding instrument. The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) will cover a period of 6 years (2007-2013).

FP7 consists of four major components: "Ideas" (research "at the frontiers of knowledge"); "People" (reinforcement of human potential in research and technology); "Capacities" (research infrastructures for SMEs); and "Cooperation" (collaborative research, including international research).

Sections of Interest for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

FP7 consists of 9 themes:

  1. Health
  2. Food, Agriculture, Fishery and Biotechnology
  3. Information and Communication Technologies
  4. Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies
  5. Energy
  6. Environment (including Climate Change)
  7. Transportation (including Aeronautics)
  8. Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities and
  9. Security and Space

Food, Agriculture, Fishery and Biotechnology

There are three priorities under this theme:

  1. Sustainable production and management (land, forests and aquatic environment)
  2. Farm to plate (food, health and well-being)
  3. Life sciences and biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes

European Commission
Research Directorate-General

Mrs. Maive Rute, MBA
Director, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food

Mr. Antonio Di Giulio
Head of Unit - Horizontal Aspects and Coordination, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food

Mr. Alfredo Aguilar Romanillos, Ph.D
Head of Unit, Biotechnologies

Strategy

Roadmap with the European Union

National Contact Points (NCPs)

The NCPs were created to coordinate international information on FP7.

Role and objectives

The NCPs are facilitators for organizations that want to boost their Canada-EU collaboration. They can obtain information, advices and contacts to help you in your initiatives with Europe. They can also serve as an intermediary between you and the EU.

Effective date

The International Scientific Cooperation Bureau (ISCB) has been a NCP for the Research Directorate-General of the EU since 2005.

Useful Links

Canadian links

European links

Contacts

If you are interested in a scientific collaboration with the European Union, we encourage you to contact one of the following people:

Carole Morneau
Deputy Director Bilateral Relations (Europe and the Americas)
International Scientific Cooperation Bureau
3600 Casavant Boulevard West
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, J2S 8E3
Tel.: 450-768-3299
Fax: 450-773-8461

Karen Johnstone-Hobbs (in Belgium for Canada)
Counsellor, Science & Technology
Mission of Canada to the European Union
Avenue de Tervuren 2
1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32 02 741 0686
Fax: +32 02 741 0629