The event is the third in a series of collaboration conferences organised by the engage project, which is funded by the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) of the European Commission, and is supported by various national and regional institutions in Thailand and Southeast Asia

The project is hoped to stimulate and enhance research and technology development cooperation between the EU and Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. The EU held a similar event in the Philippines and Indonesia last year, and it will hold this event in Thailand from January 29 to 31 at the Conrad Hotel.

At the event, EU representatives will present the EU's new 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development (FP7) that will run from 2007 to 2013, showing a set of interesting research topics in which the EU sees potential for further development.

Priority research areas for FP7 include pervasive and trusted network and service infrastructure; cognitive systems, interactivity and robotics; digital libraries and content; moving towards sustainable and personalised healthcare; ICT for mobility, environment and energy; open source; and electronic infrastructure.

The event will allow local researchers to participate in a workshop on funding opportunities in European Framework Programmes, as well as learn how to draft competitive research proposals for the EU's funding support and how to get involved in ICT research consortiums in Europe. It will also encourage discussion between researchers from Europe and Thailand to collaborate on research.