title: Competitive funding and structures for public health research in European countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The European Union is giving increasing emphasis to research as a driver for innovation and economic development. The European collaborative study PHIRE (Public Health Innovation and Research in Europe) investigated the funding and structures of public health research at national level in European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Background materials were prepared for national public health associations of European countries to hold workshops or discussions with research and policy stakeholders on their public health research systems. The reports, supplemented from internet sources for 23 EU countries (four did not contribute), provided information for framework analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All countries have public funding and administrative structures for research, but structures for public health research are more varied. In most countries, competitive health research funding is controlled by the Ministry of Science, with little input from the Ministry of Health. In four countries, Ministries of Health provide competitive funding alongside Ministries of Science, and in two countries there is a single health research council. There is no comparative reporting of public health research funding, and little connection with European public health research programmes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Europe needs a comprehensive picture of national and regional systems of public health research, in order to critically assess them and better adapt to changes and challenges, and to achieve a European Research Area for public health.
authors.affiliation: 1 University College London, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grimaud
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Katreniakova
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saliba
authors.forename: Marvic
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sammut
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Narkauskaité
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D005380:Financing, Government; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics*; D012106:Research / Q000191:economics*; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000191:economics*