EUROBIOFORUM II · International forum for European life sciences funders and performers

In order to realize the full ERA potential new strategies are needed to help match research dynamics and funding opportunities, and meet societal challenges, in particular in health-related research. The EuroBioForum II project aims to create such a mechanism to foster the dialogue, cooperation and coordination between life sciences research funders and research performers.Annual conferences convening national agencies, intergovernmental organizations, private foundations, charities and industry will be organized to facilitate the exchange of information on respective ideas, initiatives and priorities and to discuss policy issues and scientific developments. Most importantly, research ideas providing the European scale and scope, necessitating a critical mass and a trans-national approach, will be presented by scientists and discussed in the form of brokerage events, initiating strategic discussions, within a network of European life sciences research funders and performers, on structure and finance of these projects. The conferences will provide a framework to foster the dialogue between the various bodies funding the life sciences, help achieve better programme and policy coordination and enhance synergies.Eurobiofund (FP6, 2006-2008) was the ""first generation"" example of this concept for an international forum. A survey carried out at the end of 2008 clearly indicated that Eurobiofund was a good concept that deserves to be continued in FP7. This international forum would to foster the ERA in life sciences research and be a step towards the identification and establishment of large scale research efforts in Europe that may suited for ERA-NET, ERA-NET+ or joint programming. Hence, EuroBioForum II will help formulate answers to some of the numerous challenges faced by the life sciences in Europe and make an essential contribution towards the realization of a single European market for research and address the unmet needs of society.""