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On July 2, the European Commission released, as part of the Renewed Social Agenda, two documents with significant importance to supporting cross-border healthcare delivery.

A new research fellowship scheme opened today will provide £4 million in funding over the next three years for healthcare scientists to undertake research to improve patient services and treatment. Funded by the Department of Health and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the scheme will fund areas of research that will have direct patient benefit.

An EU-funded study has demonstrated a new technique that could be used for the early detection of breast cancer. Scientists from Finland, France and Germany used three-dimensional X-ray analysis to obtain a high-resolution, high-contrast image of the breast that is extremely sensitive to changes in the tissue, such as those that might be caused by a tumour. Their findings mark a significant improvement in the state of the art of X-ray mammography.

The European Research Council (ERC) is leading the way in the provision of financial support to some of Europe's finest researchers. Funding provided by the ERC, a total of EUR 7.5 billion, not only supports research but further stimulates pioneering research in groundbreaking new areas, areas that may not have been financially viable without ERC support.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) from UK launched a new online education and training service for health care professionals, named eHealth. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited online training is funded by the Department of Health and covers the management of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) injuries and incidents.

The Commission launched the "Practical Guide to EU funding opportunities for Research and Innovation" to help all stakeholders to find their way into the different existing EU funding. Central to the realisation of the goals of the Lisbon Agenda is the need to promote the knowledge economy, in particular through research, technological development and innovation (RTDI).

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG, AEX:PHI) today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) setting out a long-term research partnership with the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht, the Netherlands' biggest university hospital. Philips and UMC Utrecht will seek to develop new solutions for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of major disease areas.