The European Commission's 2010 "EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard" shows that R&D investment by top EU companies fell by 2.6% in 2009, even though sales and profits fell much more, by 10.1% and 21.0% respectively. The fall in R&D investment by leading players in the US, at 5.1%, was twice as sharp as in the EU, but the worldwide reduction was lower, at 1.9%.

Women could have a fast test for breast cancer and instantly identify the presence of a tumour in the comfort of their own home thanks to ground-breaking new research from The University of Manchester.

Scientists from the Bernstein Center at the University in Freiburg in Germany have taken a step forward in the quest to predict epileptic seizures by monitoring the pre-seizure changes in sufferers' brains.

The European Commission's "Innovation Union" sets out a strategic approach to innovation, driven by the highest political level. The Innovation Union will focus Europe's efforts - and co-operation with third countries - on challenges like climate change, energy and food security, health and an ageing population.

The European Commission has announced one of the biggest calls ever for information and communications technology (ICT) research proposals under the EU's research framework programmes. The announcement was made at Europe's largest event for ICT research and innovation, ICT 2010-Digitally Driven.

"Europe is leading the rest of the world in advancing towards modern eHealth infrastructures and implementations" was the conclusion of Dr. Karl Stroetmann of empirica Consultants at an eHealth Strategies Symposium in Brussels. This is a field where Europe has achieved and even overachieved its Lisbon Strategy goals.

The European Commission has proposed that 2012 be designated as the "European Year for Active Ageing". The initiative aims to help create better job opportunities and working conditions for the growing numbers of older people in Europe, help them take an active role in society and encourage healthy ageing.