Later this year, a new service will be launched which will enable policy makers and researchers to directly compare the research systems, programmes and policies of different countries with the click of a mouse. Called ERAWATCH, the online service will be run jointly by DG Research and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), in collaboration with CORDIS. It is funded by the EU`s Framework Programme for research.

While some EU Member States produce very good data, others produce very little, and data collection methods vary from country to country. This makes it very hard to compare countries or try and gain an overview of the research policies in Europe. Yet such an overview is vital if the European Research Area is to work effectively, and this is where ERAWATCH comes in. For the first time, reliable, harmonised information on the research systems of all 25 EU Member States, plus other countries participating in the Framework Programmes as well as the US, China and Japan, will be available in one place.

Information available on ERAWATCH will include an overview of each country`s research policies, the latest news, recent documents, an explanation of how the system works, details of research programmes, information on funding agencies, research performance, and indicators such as expenditures, publications and patents. Users will be able to look at information at the country level, or compare data from across the EU. The live version should be available online in September.

For more information, please visit : http://erawatch.jrc.es/public/welcome.htm

Source: Latest ERA/FP6/CORDIS News, 19 Jul 2006