Europe remains a main knowledge production centre of the world, but lags behind North America and Asia in fast-growing technologies of the future. This is a key conclusion of the latest Innovation Union Competitiveness Report. While Europe continues to lead science and technology for aeronautics, automobiles, clean transport, waste management and renewable energy, the report shows that it risks falling behind in other emerging global growth markets such as health and biotechnology.

The European Commission has for the first time presented calls for projects under Horizon 2020, the European Union's €80 billion research and innovation programme. Worth more than €15 billion over the first two years, the funding is intended to help boost Europe's knowledge-driven economy, and tackle issues that will make a difference in people's lives. This includes 12 areas that will be a focus for action in 2014/2015, including topics such as personalised healthcare, digital security and smart cities.

Today the EU-funded Antilope project released guidance documents and educational material to further eHealth interoperability in Europe. The documents build on the European Commission’s eHealth Interoperability Framework Study released in July 2013, and are intended for national, regional or project based deployments. They offer guidance and definitions including (1) a set of clinical use cases, (2) a quality management approach for eHealth solutions, (3) an overview of available testing tools, and (4) a suggested approach to quality-label or to certify eHealth solutions.

Microscopy, being relatively easy to perform at low cost, is the universal diagnostic method for detection of most globally important parasitic infections. Methods developed in well-equipped laboratories are, however, difficult to maintain at the basic levels of the health care system due to lack of adequately trained personnel and resources.

Horizon 2020 is built around three pillars:
1. Support for "Excellent Science" - including grants for individual researchers from the European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships (formerly known as Marie Curie fellowships);
2. Support for "Industrial Leadership" - including grants for small and medium-sized enterprises and indirect finance for companies through the European Investment Bank and other financial intermediaries;
3. Support for research to tackle "societal challenges". During negotiations between the European Parliament and Council it was decided to support research towards meeting seven broad challenges:

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland recently coordinated a pan-European initiative called SMARCOS, which focused on developing technology based on internet sharing between devices. The technology allows the interfaces of various smart devices to follow consumers’ actions and react immediately to their needs. The smart coaching service, for example, can use all the user's digital devices for motivating his/her behaviour towards the goals or for reminding medication.

To help patients manage their (potential) chronic heart and kidney disease, the European Commission has awarded 2,6 million euros to the CARRE project. A group of interdisciplinary researchers will compile personalised alerting, planning and educational services. This will empower patients, and both professionals and patients will be able to make shared informed decisions on the disease.