Highlights

© European Union, 2010

Efficient electricity storage, artificial organs to replace damaged ones and robots to make our lives easier were chosen by citizens as the most important scientific challenges in the near future. View the final results of the vote organised by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU at www.challenge2030.eu.

Voters could choose their favourite from among fourteen challenges proposed by prominent European scientists and innovators such as Paulina Beato, an authority on energy markets, or Rafael Matesanz, a transplant management innovator.

On 26 May, with EU research ministers in attendance, the outcome of the voting was announced and displayed on an electronic scoreboard located in the Atrium of the Council headquarters in Brussels.

A total of 107,309 votes were cast. "This is significant participation by the citizens. It shows that it is possible to get the importance of science across to the public," said Cristina Garmendia, Spanish minister for science and innovation, at a press conference.

"Our lives are more and more involved with science and innovation. Therefore, it is our obligation to try to ensure that citizens are part of the debate and involved in the decisions on prioritising these policies," she added.

More information:
Webcast of press conference