European and US foundations, together with the European Commission and the US State Department, have launched a new transatlantic initiative on the future of science and technology and its implications for foreign policy on both sides of the Atlantic. The ‘Transatlantic Dialogue on Advanced Science and Technology Issues’ will convene a series of high-level conferences to be held in 2003 and 2004. The first conference, which will focus on genomic biotechnology for developed and developing nations, is set to take place this autumn in London.

The meetings will bring foundation leaders, distinguished scientists and senior policymakers together to explore action to take now that anticipates the impact of future developments in ‘at the horizon’ fields of science and technology, meaning those areas that are not yet well researched or well funded but that are expected to have a major impact in future.[1] The initiative is part of the EFC Trans-Atlantic Donors Dialogue, led by Fundação Luso-Americana and the German Marshall Fund of the US (GMF).

On 31 March-1 April, NEF (Network of European Foundations for Innovative Cooperation) is organizing a foundation leaders summit in Brussels which will feature a keynote speech from Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the EU/High Representative for Common and Foreign Security Policy (CFSP). The gathering is part of NEF’s ‘Europe in the World’ project and will explore how European foundations can engage more fully in global issues. Just prior to this meeting, GMF and the King Baudouin Foundation will co-host a ‘Foreign Policy Seminar on European Foundations and Think Tanks’.

These initiatives, among many others, will feature at the 14th EFC AGA and Conference, ‘Foundations for Europe: The Citizen Facing Challenges of Globalization’, to be held on 1-3 June in Lisbon. Keynote speakers will include Jorge Sampaio, President of the Republic of Portugal, and Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General.

1 EFC members Fundação Luso-Americana and the Nuffield Trust sit on the initiative’s steering committee.

For more information on these initiatives, please contact Sevdalina Rukanova at s.rukanova@efc.be

For more information on the AGA and Conference, visit http://www.efc.be or contact the EFC Secretariat at efc@efc.be