RESEARCH : MEMBER STATES' POLICIES UNDER SCRUTINY ON NEW WEB SERVICE.

It will henceforth be easier for analysts to examine the performance of member states' national research programmes, following the launching of a new online information service by the European Commission.

ERAWATCH, officially launched by the EU executive on 12 January, provides comparative data on research activities both within the EU and third countries associated to the 7th Framework Programme, as well as for major international competitors such as the US, China and Japan. Indicators used include numbers of researchers, publications and patents, alongside figures concerning research and development expenditure.

Information provided in ERAWATCH goes beyond this, however, with other sections providing details on the content of current research programmes, as well as programmes under development. Equally, a series of country profiles' provides an examination of the research systems in each country, including factors such the links...