Horizon 2020 expert advisory groups appointed

The advisory groups are said to be the most diverse yet, drawing on public, private and civil society, with nearly 40 per cent of their members never having been involved in previous EU research programmes, which the Commission claims will ensure a fresh approach in Horizon 2020.

In addition, the Commission says it has for the first time redressed the under-representation of women, with an average of 52 per cent of women members across the groups. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, said Horizon 2020 is geared towards tackling the challenges of the 21st Century. “That is why we needed the best and the brightest for our experts, and I am grateful that the European research and innovation community has responded. I am in particular delighted to see a high number of women and new experts wanting to get involved."

The advisors were selected following an open call, with more than 15,000 people responding by the first deadline in March of this year. From these, around 400 were selected for the 15 groups, with 20-30 in each. The groups are expected to be one of the key sources of advice on the implementation of Horizon 2020, in particular the priorities for the development of the work programmes from which the calls for research and innovation proposals are published. 

While all groups have been appointed, groups are being finalised on an on-going basis as individual experts accept their appointment. Most of the groups can be found on the European Commission’s online register for expert groups.

The call for expressions of interest will stay open for the lifetime of the Horizon 2020 programme, to allow for the renewal of groups at the end of each mandate. The mandate of the selected experts is two years with the possibility of renewal for a further maximum two years. 

 

The 15 Horizon advisory groups cover the following areas:

• Future and Emerging Technologies
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions on skills, training and career development
• European research infrastructures including e-Infrastructures
• Information and communication technologies
• Nanotechnologies, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing and processing
• Space
• Access to risk finance (debt and equity financing)
• Innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Health, demographic change and wellbeing
• Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy and biotechnology 
• Secure, clean and efficient energy and Euratom 
• Smart, green and integrated transport
• Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials
• Europe in a changing world – inclusive, innovative and reflective societies 
• Secure societies – protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens