Horizon Europe is well underway, but the world of European R&D policy goes well beyond the confines of the €95.5 billion R&D programme. EU climate, digital, agriculture and regional policies all have significant research and innovation components. National governments often come up with new R&D policies, decide to fund new research avenues, and set up international cooperation deals. This blog aims to keep you informed on all of that and more.
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You can read the full archive of this blog here.
The EU should have a comprehensive, well-funded FP10, according to an open letter signed by 32 European Academies of sciences, arts and humanities.
Academies say the EU Framework Programme should have a bigger budget, provide simpler funding schemes and better mechanisms to support national research systems.
Read the letter here.
The EU and South Africa have agreed to strengthen cooperation in innovative cancer treatments, nuclear research for civilian use and sustainable development, the European Commission has announced.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Cape Town this week together with European Council President António Costa. They attended the eighth EU-South Africa bilateral summit to reaffirm Europe’s commitment the “strategic partnership” between the two parties and boost collaboration in various fields, including scientific research.
Von der Leyen announced the start of negotiations on a new trade and investment deal with South Africa, worth €4.7 billion.
Read more here.
Universities are backing broader efforts to strengthen links between EU funding programmes, but disagree with plans to integrate the next Framework Programme for research and innovation, FP10, into a broader Competitiveness Fund, according to a statement by the European University Association (EUA).
EUA says that such a move poses risks that could undermine the core mission of the Framework Programme and welcomed the Warsaw Declaration signed this week, a diplomatic effort by all member states to safeguard a standalone FP10.
“EUA urges the European Commission to maintain FP10 as a stand-alone programme, ensuring it continues to serve as a catalyst for scientific excellence, knowledge, innovation, and long-term societal progress,” EUA said.
Read the full EUA statement here.
Two recipients of European Research Council (ERC) grants have received the Wold Prize, one of the most prestigious international science awards.
Moty Heiblum, a three times ERC grantee, works on mesoscopic physics and is one of the winners of the Wolf Prize in Physics. The Wolf prize in agriculture went to the ERC grantee Jonathan Jones for his research on plant immune systems.
The prize has been awarded in Israel since 1978 to scientists and artists for "achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among people ... irrespective of nationality, race, colour, religion, sex or political views."
Read more here.
The EU should commit to a strong health research strategy in the next Framework Programme for research and innovation, says The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.
The Guild says the EU should supplement national funding in basic early-stage research and too through FP10. “To keep innovating at a global level, the entire research continuum, starting with fundamental research, must be supported as a matter of priority,” said Jan Palmowski, secretary general of The Guild.
Read the statement here.
EU officials travelled to Seoul last week, prefacing an imminent agreement on Korea’s participation in Horizon Europe.
Representatives of the European Commission’s directorate general for research and innovation and the Korean ministry of science discussed plans to deepen bilateral research and innovation cooperation.
More details here.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has picked the nine finalists for its annual competition for women innovators.
The finalists competed in three categories:
- Women Innovators: open to founders and co-founders across the EU and associated countries. The winner will receive €100,000, and two runners-up will receive €70,000 and €50,000, respectively.
- Rising Innovators: for promising young innovators under the age of 35. The winner will receive €50,000, and two runners-up will receive €30,000 and €20,000, respectively.
- EIT Women Leadership: For exceptional members of the EIT community. The winner will receive €50,000, and two runners-up will receive €30,000 and €20,000, respectively.
The winners will be revealed at the EIC summit on 3 April.
More information about the finalists is available here.
The European federation of academies of sciences and humanities (ALLEA) decries censorship and funding freezes in US universities and research organisations.
“As science is a global public good, and a collaborative resource, these restrictions threaten the very foundation of international research efforts,” ALLEA said in a statement today.
ALLEA also launched a “Stand Up for Science” campaign aimed at protecting the “integrity of research” and safeguarding “the future of global scientific collaboration”. Research organisations can endorse the ALLEA campaign here.
Read the full state statement here.
University and research leaders call for an increased budget and an ambitious standalone FP10 to ensure that EU research and innovation programmes contribute to the new competitiveness agenda.
“The integrity of FP10 must be safeguarded, to harness the excellent, ground-breaking ideas of our researchers and innovators ,” says a letter signed by academics across Europe.
The letter also says the European Research Council, European Innovation Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions should have bigger budgets.
Organised by the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, the letter can be signed by university directors and other associates until May.
Read the letter here.
The European Commission is to allow “free and safe data flows” with the European Patent Organisation (EPO).
“The decision would benefit innovative entities across the EU, by facilitating essential data flows for patent applications and sets a precedent for similar decisions with other international organisations,” said Michael McGrath, EU commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection.
Read more here.
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