Materials Science and Technologies of Tomorrow - the Role of European Research Infrastructures

 The EU Commissioner for Science and Research warned that European scientists need to work much more closely together if Europe is to avoid slipping behind the United States, China and Japan.

Janez Potocnik was speaking at the first in a series of media briefings aimed at making scientists aware of the help on offer at European level – and how to access it.

He warned that countries in other parts of the world are spending a far bigger proportion of their gross domestic product on scientific research, and that Europe’s only option is to pool resources and share facilities.

One such facility is the Diamond synchrotron - or super microscope – currently being built at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford.  

Europe’s top scientists have welcomed the new emphasis on collaboration and are hoping it will stop the so-called brain drain. 

Research-TV carried exclusive coverage of the event - held on 3 March at the CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford, UK - on Friday 4 March 2005.