R&D at the heart of European Union's plans for economic recovery, says Spanish minister

Speaking before the European Parliament yesterday, Spain's Minister for Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, says that she supports putting R&D at the heart of the European Union as a key to economic recovery.

As part of the EU Presidency, held by Spain for the first half of 2010, the country's science minister appeared before the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament in Brussels, where she set out her department's top priorities. Ms Garmendia said the Spanish Presidency of the EU would work to ensure that R&D initiatives in Europe are better able to respond to major challenges such as new energy sources, climate change, health, ageing, and particularly economic recovery and growth.

By doing this, she stated, Spain will clearly promote 'the role of science in dealing with our most visible challenges and daily concerns, and in economic recovery and growth. Without more science and more innovation - and above all the necessary interaction between them - Europe will not be able to maintain its current leadership, much less aspire to improving its position in the international arena.'