Research and Innovation Boosting language technologies and sovereign capacity with new EC initiativeThe Commission plans to establish the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for the Alliance for Language Technologies (ALT-EDIC). This initiative, part of the Digital Decade Policy program 2030, aims to unite EU countries’ data and resources to develop language technologies and uphold European leadership while adhering to EU regulations and principles. Initially, the project concentrates on language data and large language models (LLMs). The Commission’s decision to adopt this initiative occurred on February 1, 2024. Know more here. EU and industry will spend €120M on health research this springThe Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) aims to finance interdisciplinary projects that address healthcare challenges, such as managing heart disease, underutilization of data, biomarkers, healthcare workforce issues, and long-term illness management, as explained by Science Business. The European Health Initiative has committed €120 million in funding, which will be matched by industry contributions. The initiative’s goal is to stimulate health research and innovation. This spring, the IHI will launch two calls for proposals with deadlines in April and May. The calls will focus on five key topics. The IHI aims to address complex health challenges that cannot be tackled by individual companies or organizations by fostering collaboration between public EU resources and private industry. Know more here. CERN moves ahead with plans for new particle colliderCERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) is progressing with plans for a new particle collider, aiming to replace the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest particle physics lab, as reported by Science Business. The CERN Council recently concluded a midterm review of the feasibility study for the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a successor to the LHC. Construction is projected to commence post-2035, with an initial electron-positron collider operational about a decade later. A second collider for proton collisions could come online in the 2070s. The FCC aims to advance the energy and intensity capabilities of particle colliders, targeting collision energies of up to 100 tera electron Volts. Know more here. SB opinion article: FP 10 must provide a comprehensive vision for Europe’s leadership in sustainable research and technologyIn their opinion piece for Science Business, Kimmo Koski and Irina Kupiainen emphasize the critical role of early planning for the next EU research program in facilitating data-intensive research and promoting responsible AI development. They caution against solely focusing on specific digital technologies like AI, quantum computing, or virtual reality, which may lead to oversimplification or fragmented solutions. Instead, they advocate for a comprehensive understanding of the necessary components for strengthening the EU’s digital research infrastructure. This includes ensuring access to high-quality data and computing resources while also prioritizing the development of necessary competencies among users. Know more here. ERA-LEARN report considers the future of EU research partnershipsERA-LEARN has published its report on the second Partnership Stakeholder Forum that took place in Brussels on 5-6 December 2023, in collaboration with the European Commission. The report discusses the future direction of the EU’s research partnerships, taking into account the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe and preparations for the next research framework, FP10. The text already meets the desired characteristics and is error-free. Therefore, no changes were made. Read the full report here. EARTO publishes recommendations for new ERA policy agendaThe European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) has provided feedback to the European Commission and member states on the upcoming European Research Area (ERA) policy agenda for 2025-2027. EARTO expressed concerns about inadequate consultation in some member states, redundant ERA initiatives overlapping with Horizon Europe activities, and an excessive emphasis on academic-oriented actions. EARTO urges member states and the Commission to reassess their support for basic research, technology advancement, and innovation scaling, advocating for a more focused approach. Additionally, EARTO emphasizes the need for a clear roadmap to achieve the EU’s R&D investment target of 3% of GDP within the next ERA policy agenda. Read the full statement here. Right-wing populism poses a threat to research communities, says German research chiefKatja Becker, the president of the German Research Foundation (DFG), highlighted the importance of research communities addressing the increase in right-wing populism, antisemitism, and remigration fantasies. She made these comments before a Committee of Experts meeting to review proposals for new Clusters of Excellence, emphasizing the invaluable contributions of international researchers funded by Germany’s Excellence Strategy. Becker noted the role of the mentioned achievements in enhancing the competitiveness of German research and fostering a climate of openness and tolerance in society. However, she warned that recent trends towards right-wing populism and anti-democratic tendencies pose a serious threat to these values. Generally positive feedback from independent analysis into five EIT KICsAn independent assessment of five Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), operated by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), has produced positive results. The review emphasised the KICs’ contributions to EU sustainability objectives, their support for innovation ecosystems across Europe, and their implementation of gender-sensitive measures. To improve their effectiveness, the review recommended that KICs reassess their revenue generation strategies, explore ways to retain and attract new partners, and ensure the transparency of their application processes. The EIT was launched in 2008 with three KICs and has since expanded to nine, with only EIT Digital, Climate KIC, and EIT InnoEnergy currently demonstrating clear pathways to financial sustainability. The remaining KICs are also expected to achieve financial self-sufficiency in the future. The independent review focused on EIT Digital, Climate KIC, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Manufacturing, and EIT Urban Mobility. Know more here. 135 new projects in the areas of food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment are starting their researchThe EU has allocated €897 million to fund 135 new projects aimed at promoting the sustainable transformation of the economy and society, focusing on areas such as food, bioeconomy, agriculture, and the environment. As explained by the European Research Executive Agency, these projects, financed through Horizon Europe, will support the EU’s Green Deal objectives by addressing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and resource management challenges while ensuring food and water security. Additionally, they will align with key EU policies and strategies, including the Circular Economy Action Plan, Zero Pollution Action Plan, and Bioeconomy Strategy Action Plan. Grant Agreements have been signed with the European Commission for these projects, with some already underway and others set to begin soon. Know more here. Universities network highlights three steps to make careers in academia more attractive and sustainable The Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) has proposed three policy recommendations to improve academic careers in response to the European Commission’s request for input: 1. Recognise and embrace diverse contributions while creating opportunities for talent advancement. Foster a culture of open communication and collaboration among academics. 2. Establish strong support mechanisms for ongoing skill development. 3. Providing universities with the framework to support diverse career paths. Read the full paper here. European Citizens’ Hackathon Championship 2024 is comingDG Research and Innovation is launching the first European Citizens’ Hackathon Championship to encourage greater citizen involvement in climate change research and innovation. This initiative aims to promote active participation from citizens, industry stakeholders, local governments, and research communities in co-creating solutions to climate challenges. By enabling citizens to shape the future and collaborate with various sectors, including industry and public administrations, the championship will support EU missions focused on climate neutrality, smart cities, and adaptation to climate change. Stay tuned for the upcoming call for participation, which will be released soon. Know more here. Commission and EIF invest in defence innovationThe European Commission and the European Investment Fund (EIF) are collaborating to boost investment in defence innovation by introducing the Defence Equity Facility. The EIF will allocate €175 million in equity to venture capital and private equity funds that invest in European companies specialising in innovative technologies with dual-use potential. The purpose of this facility is to encourage additional private investments in EIF-supported funds, with the goal of mobilising around €500 million to support European companies. No changes in content have been made. The Defence Equity Facility aims to promote innovation and enhance Europe’s defence capabilities by improving access to finance for innovative SMEs, mid-caps, and startups, especially those that contribute to the EU’s defence and security objectives. The improved text maintains the original meaning and structure while enhancing clarity, conciseness, precision, and formality. Know more here. |
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