Research and InnovationEuropean Parliament approves strategic technologies fund in wider budget agreement This week, the European Parliament finally approved the new Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), the European Union’s initiative to attract investment in sectors such as digital, deep tech, cleantech and biotechnology. This approval was part of a wider agreement on the mid-term review of the EU’s long-term budget (MFF). Earlier this month, an agreement was reached between the European Council and the European Parliament on the MFF budget. The STEP initiative, which was originally planned as a €10 billion package, had to be adjusted due to budgetary constraints across the bloc, particularly in light of a €50 billion package to support Ukraine. As a result, the STEP budget has been reduced to just €1.5 billion, all of which will be channelled through the European Defence Fund (EDF). Know more here. Europe must urgently invest in defence technologies, says Ursula von der LeyenIn a speech to MEPs, the Commission President outlined her vision for a new EU military-industrial-academic complex, emphasising the need for a new European defence approach due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, reports Science Business. She pointed to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, conflicts such as the war in Gaza and increasing aggressive economic competition as key factors. Von der Leyen backed the creation of a defence commissioner in the next government to boost industry support, indicating that defence will be a key priority if she wins a second term in June’s elections. Know more here. EU unveils plans for €500M partnership on advanced materialsAccording to Science Business, the European Commission plans to launch a €500 million public-private partnership to promote advanced materials to boost Europe’s competitiveness. The EU will commit €250 million between 2025 and 2027 to attract private investment and accelerate the uptake of these materials. Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, underlined the importance of advanced materials for Europe’s green and digital transition. These materials, such as metallic nanoparticles and sodium-ion batteries, are crucial for innovation in clean energy, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. They could also reduce the EU’s dependence on critical raw materials from third countries. The Commission will identify research and innovation needs in this area, with first results expected early next year. Know more here. Calls for European Investment Bank to change rules to support defence industryAccording to Science Business, there are calls for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to revise its rules to provide greater support to the defence industry. EIB President Nadia Calviño expressed a willingness to increase cooperation on joint projects aimed at strengthening Europe’s defence sector, following discussions at an informal meeting of EU economic and finance ministers in Ghent. This push for regulatory updates is in line with broader trends, such as the European Commission’s consideration of allowing dual-use research projects in the upcoming 10th Framework Research Programme. These discussions coincide with a growing emphasis on defence investment, as evidenced by initiatives such as the €8 billion European Defence Fund to be launched in 2021 and the operationalisation of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme, which supports dual-use technology start-ups. Know more here. Germany unveils its carbon management strategy to catch-up with EuropeGermany’s economy ministry has revealed a forward-looking strategy for carbon capture, storage, and utilization, paving the way for captured CO2 to be stored underground or utilized in alternative industries. This initiative includes a separate bill aimed at amending the CO2 storage act to facilitate transportation of the captured CO2. The plan primarily focuses on funding research into technologies for managing emissions that are challenging to capture or unavoidable. Additionally, the draft bill seeks to streamline the approval process for building CO2 pipelines, aiming to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Furthermore, adjustments will be made to other laws to permit exploration for offshore storage sites, with the exception of marine protected areas. Read the full document here. Patent licensing makes way for partnerships in university tech transferAs reported in a Science Business ecosystem analysis, patent licensing is evolving to promote university technology transfer partnerships. Leading European universities are increasingly mitigating the risks associated with new technologies by entering into industrial collaborations and creating spin-out companies. While patents remain crucial for universities to capitalise on their research, the commercialisation landscape is changing. Rather than relying solely on direct licensing to large companies, universities are now expected to bring technologies to a higher level of maturity and reduce risk themselves. This trend has led to a decline in patent licensing to large companies, but not to an overall decline in patent licensing activity. Instead, new players such as venture builders and venture capital firms are emerging to support the university ecosystem, demonstrating a greater appetite for risk compared to established companies. These entities, including smaller companies and specialised vehicles, are more inclined to participate in early-stage development efforts, although they also seek additional value from university collaborations. Know more here. Maria Leptin explains recent changes to ERC’s evaluation systemA recent report released by the European Research Council (ERC), led by President Maria Leptin, outlines the key findings from the organization’s recent evaluation of grant evaluation procedures. Over the past year, the ERC’s Scientific Council implemented modifications to the evaluation processes and forms for the 2024 research proposal calls. In the dedicated report, Leptin provides insight into the rationale behind these alterations and elucidates the decision-making process that informed them. The report is available here. European Research Council asks its grant holders to call for more moneyAccording to Science Business, Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC), is urging ERC grantees to lobby for a doubling of the research budget in the next Framework Programme, FP10. Leptin emphasised the importance of scientists engaging with politicians and the public to communicate the importance of investing in research and innovation, especially in frontier science. Leptin stressed the need for sustained efforts to ensure Europe’s competitiveness, citing the recent farmer-led protests as an example of effective advocacy. The ERC argues that the budget for FP10 should be double that of the current Horizon Europe programme, which stands at €95.6 billion. This is in line with the positions of some Members of the European Parliament, research and innovation stakeholders and industry associations. Know more here. Nature restoration: Parliament adopts law to restore 20% of EU’s land and seaRecently adopted legislation sets a target for the European Union to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and marine areas by 2030, with the aim of restoring all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. This EU Nature Habitats Directive, adopted in cooperation with Member States, aims to restore degraded ecosystems in all EU Member States. In doing so, it is expected to make a significant contribution to achieving the EU’s climate and biodiversity goals, while strengthening food security. Know more here. Healthcare research: can it go truly global?Discussions at the S|B conference called for greater collaboration between the European Union (EU) and countries in the global south to address major health challenges through research. Andrew Tuttle of Policy Cures Research highlighted a worrying decline in investment in research into poverty-related and neglected diseases such as TB and malaria, particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This worrying trend sets the context for negotiations on the next EU Framework Programme, FP10, which aims to improve global prospects. FP10 is intended to extend the initiatives of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which focuses primarily on Africa. While Peter Piot, Von der Leyen´s advisor, praised the recent adoption of the EU Global Health Strategy for its emphasis on cooperation and a multi-sectoral approach, he stressed that the global health agenda should not be dictated by Brussels alone. Instead, he emphasised the importance of global cooperation and advocated a comprehensive approach that identifies both opportunities and neglected areas in health research. Know more here. DIGITALEUROPE calls for ambitious FP10 budget with more incentives for industryIndustry association DIGITALEUROPE has joined calls from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for the forthcoming successor to Horizon Europe, known as Framework Programme 10 (FP10), to receive a budget of €200 billion, more than double the current programme’s funding. In a recent report focusing on innovation in the EU, DIGITALEUROPE suggests that FP10 should allocate 25% of its budget to digital objectives and initiatives. The association emphasises the need for FP10 to encourage greater industry participation, proposing measures such as maintaining a balanced distribution of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and offering more favourable legal and contractual conditions. DIGITALEUROPE also recommends harmonising participation rules for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across related programmes such as Digital Europe, while also advocating streamlining administrative procedures to reduce the burden on programme beneficiaries. Read the full report here. Most EU-funded hydrogen R&D happens in north-west EuropeAccording to a recent monitoring report released by the European Commission, hydrogen projects funded under the EU’s framework programs for research and innovation are primarily concentrated in a select number of countries in north-western Europe. The report highlights that a significant portion of the EU’s investment in hydrogen technology development is channeled through institutionalized public-private partnerships known as Joint Undertakings, with participants predominantly situated in the north-western region of Europe. Germany, France, and Italy emerge as key contributors to hydrogen research within this context. Additionally, the report notes the emergence of “hydrogen valleys” across Europe, with 17 such initiatives funded by the EU’s research and innovation programs. Read the full report here. Researchers and small businesses join forces to improve cybersecurityAccording to Horizon Magazine, collaboration between researchers and small businesses has led to advances in cybersecurity defences for e-commerce, thanks to EU-funded projects. Pharmacies, a multinational bank, or a foundation specialising in the digital economy and a UK university are among the type of organisations involved in developing software tools to combat cyber and physical threats to e-commerce within the European single market, recognised as the most lucrative in the world. The project, called ENSURESEC, has a particular focus on equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the appropriate technological knowledge and defences against hackers and fraudsters. SMEs, which lack the resources to employ large cybersecurity teams, often struggle in this regard. Luis Carrascal, a cybersecurity expert at French software company Inetum, pointed out that many SME employees lack a basic understanding of cybersecurity, which exacerbates their vulnerability.SMEs, which make up the majority of businesses in Europe, are often targets of cyber-attacks due to their limited resources. According to a Eurobarometer survey, almost a third of European SMEs will have experienced at least one cybercrime in 2021. Know more here. Commission presents new initiatives boosting European industrial leadership in advanced materialsThe European Commission has unveiled new initiatives to strengthen Europe’s industrial leadership in advanced materials, which are crucial for both the green and digital transitions. The strategy, presented this week, aims to align research and innovation priorities and investments across the EU, laying the foundations for European dominance in this key sector. This comprehensive plan, eagerly awaited by Member States and industry stakeholders, is the first step in establishing a unified European approach to advanced materials and paves the way for further action. The strategy, outlined in the Communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership, includes concrete actions under five main pillars. These include strengthening the EU’s research and innovation ecosystem, accelerating the market uptake of innovative materials through the creation of a digital ‘materials commons’ infrastructure, and increasing investment and access to finance. As part of this initiative, the EU will establish a new partnership with industry through Horizon Europe, with the aim of securing €500 million of investment by 2025-2027, of which at least €250 million will come from the private sector. Find out more about these and the other pillars here. |