ERA-PG

ERA-PG (ERA-NET in Plant Genomics) coordinates the planning and integration of national research programmes by spreading best practices, developing common programme management procedures, and joint activities such as the pooling of resources and joint call for proposals.

Plant genome research is one of the most innovative scientific branches of the 21st century and absolutely essential to the continued competitiveness of European agriculture and industry. Genomics projects are, however, labour-intensive and costly. Coordination of national programmes would help deploy budgets more coherently, optimise investments in expensive projects, and ensure more profitable scientific research.

ERA-PG consisted of 23 partners from 17 countries. The funding for 2004–2009 totalled EUR 2.2 million.

The coordinator of the ERA-PG was the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Netherlands Genomics Initiative. The other partners, in addition to the Academy of Finland, are BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) and DFG (German Research Council ) from Germany; Ministry of Research and Education and Génoplante from France; BBSRC (Biotechnological and Biological Sciences Research Council) from the UK; Ministry of Science and Technology from Spain; Ministry of Flanders, Science and Innovation Division from Belgium; Danish Agriculture and Veterinary Research Council from Denmark; BMBWK (Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture) from Austria; MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) from Italy; and RCN (Research Council of Norway) from Norway.

ERA-PG aimed at creating a joint strategy and joint practices with a view to launching and funding research programmes. ERA-PG carried out two joint calls, in which a total of EUR 55 million in funding were allocated to research projects in plant genomics.