European Network for Research in Global Change - ENRICH

 The recent ENRICH call for proposals, which closed on 15 January, marks the launch of ENRICH Phase II (1996-1998). The call was for accompanying, supporting and preparatory actions, with total funding of 5.2 MEcus provided by three EU RTD programmes; Environment and Climate, Marine Science and Technology (MAST), and International Cooperation (INCO). This positive collaboration between RTD programmes has provided an excellent opportunity for improved networking and capacity building between the European scientific community and their colleagues in the rest of the world, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, and in Africa.

 In this context, the call encouraged proposals with one or more of the following attributes:
- strong integrative and interdisciplinary approaches;
- improved visibility and exchange of data and scientific information;
- building research capacity to address issues of regional implications of Global Change, such as impacts on natural resources, implications for natural resources management, etc.;
- building capacity for policy analysis on the implications of regional changes for global, natural and socio-economic balances;
- identifying regional gaps and regional research priorities;
- contributions to the development of science plans;
- packaging and diffusion of global change research results in a usable format for policy makers, natural resources managers, economic and societal actors.

 Proposals are currently being evaluated and decisions are likely in mid-summer. However, the call should not be viewed in isolation. It is one element of an ENRICH workplan which is currently being formulated within the European Commission. This workplan addresses three inter-related aims:
- to improve and facilitate research networking and capacity building between European researchers and the wider international research community in the area of global change;
- to improve the flow and exchange of information on global change research with a particular emphasis on the relevance and value of research investment to policy, society and economic activity;

 - to provide a focal point for European collaboration with complementary international programmes.

 The ENRICH Call allowed researchers to develop their own ideas for networking and capacity building, but ENRICH will also seek to complement these actions by building bridges on specific issues between research communities and user groups. In some cases this may be a simple matter of drawing attention to particular needs or particular research output - hence - the importance of information flows. However, in other cases, ENRICH may take further actions to facilitate increased contact.

 Rapid and relevant exchange of data and information are essential elements in improving both the scope and scale of networking and capacity building. With this in mind, ENRICH will be developing electronic databases and Internet facilities (including an ENRICH Web site) which seek to provide a pan-European perspective on global change issues. This activity should be useful both within Europe and also to the wider international community. This will be a "one-stop-shop" on "who is doing what" in Europe, and with what results. This is important for research networking, but it will also fulfil a strategic purpose.
An important aim of the provision of such information must be to provide accountability and transparency in the utilisation of public funds. European scientists play a leading role in global change research. Support for such research comes from both the European Union and its Member States at the national level. As such, global change research offers a good practical example of the subsidiarity principle in operation. However, given the present pressures on public expenditure throughout the Union, it is essential that the value and relevance of past and present work, and the need for future work, are demonstrated to policy makers, economic actors and society. As the debate intensifies over the future shape of the 5th Framework Programme, issues such as accountability and transparency are likely to become even more important as underlying principles in the new Programme.