Understanding the human brain and its diseases is one of the greatest scientific and philosophical challenges. During the last decades, brain research has made great progress on all fronts but much more is still to be discovered. Advances in neuroscience are crucial to keep our ageing societies and our economy healthy. Brain-related disorders will affect at least one in every three of us during our life and treating these disorders costs already now some 800 billion Euro in Europe every year. Deciphering how our brain works is good for our health, our society and our industrial competitiveness. It has an important role to play for the achievement of the Europe 2020 strategy and of the Innovation Union.
European Month of the Brain was launched on the 1st May and the European Commission will organise two key events.
•A conference to showcase European projects in the field and outline future scientific challenges (organised in Brussels on 14 May 2013)
•A conference on European foresight policy for brain research and healthcare (organised under the Irish EU Presidency in Dublin on 27-28 May 2013).
