A comprehensive higher education reform with significantly increased funding and university autonomy as well as more specialisation, student selection and competition is needed to make the bloc's universities globally competitive, according to Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.

The Commission's annual benchmark report finds that member states' progress towards the Lisbon Strategy's goals on education and training is too slow for them to be reached by 2010 and highlights growing illiteracy rates as a major problem.

Despite Europe leading the United States in the application of digital technologies, it is still far behind in overall economic productivity, argues Robert Atkinson, the president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, in the summer edition of Europe's World.

Carbon sequestration, although "not a silver bullet", is an essential bridging technology that needs to be deployed fast if Europe and the rest of the world are serious about tackling climate change, argues Paal Frisvold, head of the Brussels office of the Bellona Foundation, a Norwegian environmental NGO.

Carbon sequestration and storage, although "not a silver bullet", is an essential bridging technology that needs to be deployed fast if Europe and the rest of the world are serious about tackling climate change, argues Paal Frisvold, head of the Brussels office of the Bellona Foundation, a Norwegian environmental NGO.

Guy Riba, the deputy director of the French national institute for agricultural research (INRA), highlights the many challenges the world will have to meet by 2050 if it wants to feed its nine-billion inhabitants without destroying its environment. He spoke to EurActiv ahead of a major conference by the French Presidency today (3 July) in Parliament.

Guy Riba, the deputy director of the French national institute for agricultural research (INRA), highlights the many challenges the world will have to meet by 2050 if it wants to feed its nine-billion inhabitants without destroying its environment. He spoke to EurActiv ahead of a major conference by the French Presidency today (3 July) in Parliament.

European labour unions have called on the European Commission to amend the REACH regulation on chemicals to better protect workers against nanomaterials throughout their lifecycle. Their call comes shortly after the EU executive argued that nanotech is already covered by existing EU regulation.

Based on the recommendations of one of its former prime ministers, Finland is set for a complete overhaul of innovation policy and its management. Plans for market-oriented innovation and tax incentives to attract foreign brains to the country are set to be adopted in August, the head of Finland's innovation policy told EurActiv in an interview.

Based on the recommendations of one of its former prime ministers, Finland is set for a complete overhaul of innovation policy and its management. Plans for market-oriented innovation and tax incentives to attract foreign brains to the country are set to be adopted in August.

An evaluation of the ï4bn the EU poured into ICT research between 2003-2006 shows that a lot remains to be done to better capitalise on research results.

The Commission has launched a new web portal regrouping existing information and services aimed at boosting mobility of European researchers and improving their career opportunities.

Despite the EU's waning performance in research and innovation, charitable and philanthropic foundations can take the lead in this sector, argues Gerard Salole in the summer edition of Europe's World.

French proposals to reform the country's university funding by introducing a more performance-oriented approach have attracted renewed opposition among students.

Responding to Commission President José Manuel Barroso's request, the EU executive's ethical advisory body will issue an opinion on modern agricultural technologies by the end of 2008. 

The EU executive's regulatory review of existing European legislation concludes that current laws may need to be modified as the depth of scientific knowledge on nanomaterials increases. Specific labelling schemes for products containing nanomaterials could notably be developed.

As expected, Hungary has won the unanimous backing of EU research ministers for Budapest as the seat for the EU's new innovation and technology institute. 

The first ever meeting of G8 science and technology ministers highlighted the crucial role of science in resolving global issues. Ministers pledged to boost investment in R&D for environmental and clean energy technology and work together on new energy alternatives, such as fusion energy (ITER), carbon capture and storage (CCS) and next-generation biofuels.

The EU must work towards changing its attitudes towards entrepreneurship and create a positive culture which encourages people to take risks, argued participants in the annual Microsoft SME day, which explored ways to make European SMEs flourish globally.

The public sector must facilitate industry-led innovation in the area of 'Healthy Foods' by improving regulation, setting standards and providing support for research, as it does in areas such as eHealth and renewable energy, argues the European technology platform 'Food for Life'.