EU International Cooperation in the Field of Research, Development and Innovation

The article tries to bring a contribution to the study of the main aspects involving European Union and its Member States in the sphere of international cooperation for research, development and innovation (RDI). Having in view the importance of management of human, financial and material resources for obtaining the best results in the RDI field, the European Commission and the other EU institutions have deployed sustained efforts for achieving the best results. An effective instrument is the completion of both the material and human resources and the participation of other states (non members) in the multitude of areas and issues of general interest within the modern society. The major forces in RDI, like the US, Japan, China, South Korea, and BRICS members, were important partners for the EU for a longer or a shorter period in RDI areas like: health, environment, transport, nanotechnologies, information technologies and communications, new materials, conventional or unconventional energy, etc. The article analyzes the main EU directions of cooperation in RDI areas with major non member countries and the most current issues that regard today's world, trying to draw the more constructive and pertinent conclusions for the future of this collaboration.