The conference consists of a series of sessions aimed at discussing a broad range of issues at the centre of the debate on future research policy developments in the EU and brings together many of the relevant institutional actors and stakeholders.
The central agenda for the conference is provided both by the Portuguese Presidency priorities and the recent Commission Green Paper entitled "The European Research Area: New Perspectives".

The topics for plenary sessions include 'Challenges for science and technology in Europe', 'Promoting and attracting human resources in research', 'Public and private investment in research', and 'A Vision for the future of S&T in Europe'.
Up to nine parallel sessions will also take place covering each of the main issues raised in the Green Paper and some additional cross-cutting topics such as ' ERA Rationales', 'Governance issues and links with Lisbon strategy' and 'Science and Society'. The parallel sessions are expected to bring a substantial input to the work of the European Commission in drawing the main conclusions of the debate on the Green Paper and to prepare concrete proposals for the future. In particular, the first results of independent expert work, which the Commission is currently gathering, will be submitted for discussion in each of the parallel sessions.

It will be a key step in the debate on the ERA Green Paper and in the preparation of the concrete Commission proposals to be made in 2008, based on this debate. In particular, the Conference should:

• Allow a stocktaking of all the work undertaken since the launch of this debate in April 2007 (experts groups, consultations and political debates);
• Help develop key messages for the October informal summit;
• Prepare the ground for discussions at the November Competitiveness Council;
• And provide input for the preparation of initiatives in 2008.

The conference is expected to bring together between 350 to 400 participants in total. Attendance is limited and by invitation only.

The conference, taking place at the premises of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, will be opened by Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Portugal, Professor José-Mariano Gago and European Commissioner for Research, Janez Potočnik.

Source: Commission invitation
and website http://ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2007/fst/index_en.htm