The build-up to the EU’s 2007 Descartes Prize for research has begun with the announcement of the 13 pioneering projects that will be competing for the €1 million in prize money, as well as for the distinction of becoming a Descartes Prize winner.
The shortlist of 13 was selected from 65 nominations. The project teams represent 20 countries between them. The winners will be selected by a grand jury chaired by Claudie Haigneré, a former minister in France and a former astronaut.
The final 13 fall into five categories: basic sciences; life sciences; socio-economic sciences; engineering; and information sciences.
The basic science projects address such diverse subjects as carbon nanotubes, quantum magnetic deflagration (burning), using dyes to make molecules visible, quantum mechanics for information processing, and a high energy stereoscopic system.
The projects nominated in the life sciences field have addressed treatments for cancer and AIDS using apoptosis (programmed cell death), detecting multi-protein complexes in a cell nucleus, and identifying genetic mutations that may cause osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
The shortlisted socio-economic science projects have looked at constitution-building in the European Union, and the impact of globalisation on individual life courses and careers.
Under engineering, just one project has been selected. The HYDROSOL team has developed a solar thermo-chemical reactor for the production of hydrogen from water splitting.
Two information science projects complete the list of nominees. The first has developed an alternative writing scheme for non-volatile magnetic memories (MRAM) that overcome the limitations of standard MRAM technology. The second has produced a new tool for verifying the security properties that protocol designers are working on.
The winners will be announced on 7 March.
For further information, please visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/descartes/news_en.htm
Related stories: 24889, 25979
Category: Programmes
Data Source Provider: European Commission
Document Reference: Based on information from the European Commission
Subject Index: Information Processing, Information Systems; Life Sciences; Materials Technology; Scientific Research; Social Aspects
RCN: 27074
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&DOC=45&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=0123f1cfd725:aaa8:247d0338&RCN=27074
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