The New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST) activity falls within the Sixth Framework (FP6) specific programme “Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area” of the European Commission. NEST provides a means to anticipate scientific and technological opportunities and needs in new and emerging areas. It supports exploratory research which cuts across or lies outside the thematic priority areas of FP6, in particular because it is highly interdisciplinary and/or multidisciplinary.

There are three basic lines of action:

ADVENTURE projects support research in new and emerging areas of knowledge and on future technologies, in particular in multidisciplinary fields, which are highly innovative and involves high (technical) risks.

INSIGHT projects support research aimed at assessing new discoveries and newly observed phenomena, which may indicate important potential problems or risks to society.

PATHFINDER projects support research on specific topics that are identified during the course of implementation of FP6 on the basis of their urgency and potential for future societal, industrial or economic relevance.

In addition, the work programme makes provision for NEST SUPPORT actions. Such actions focus on the conceptual and practical questions associated specifically with the research domain of NEST and are carried out to assist in the development and exploitation of NEST activities.

The overall purpose of NEST SUPPORT actions is to provide assistance in setting up and organising the implementation of NEST. Such assistance will cover both conceptual and practical issues, and may range from the development of ideas and provision of advice, to the supply of necessary services. Since its main function is to encourage research in new areas, NEST operates on the principle of very close liaison with the research community in Europe, relying on it as the main source of creativity and new ideas. This open approach extends also to the development and implementation of NEST SUPPORT.

Link to the NEST website: http://www.cordis.lu/nest/support_actions.htm