The EU fifth framework RTD programme

The European Union´s Fifth Framework programme gives interested industrial and academic organisations, and indeed all legal entities in the EU Member States, a chance to share in a massive euro15 billion (9 billion pounds) European Union budget into research and technological development to the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development thematic programme, which includes the nonnuclear energy programme called ENERGIE. FP5 seeks to adopt a problem-solving approach based on technology users rather than technology ´push´ from suppliers. The aim is also to concentrate on a more limited number of strategic issues, as set out in the key actions, and to specify quantified objectives wherever possible. This paper discusses the ENERGIE programme which replaces JOULE-THERMIE.