Commission plans to boost number of Horizon association agreementsAs stated by Science Business, Ivanova said she has made it her “personal priority” to bolster international research cooperation and “step up work” on Horizon Europe association deals with countries from around the world. However, she insisted these deals would still abide by the overarching principle “as open as possible, as close as necessary.”
Ivanova has been less than two months on the job, and she has less than a year to attract more partner countries to associate to Horizon Europe. Know more here.
To secure raw materials, Europe turns to recyclingAn article presented by the Horizon Magazine showcases Europe’s high-tech depedency on essential raw materials like cobalt, platinum, palladium, and gold, integral components in a wide range of products, from mobile phones to solar panels. However, these materials are often sourced from remote locations outside Europe and extracted in environmentally damaging ways.
Addressing this issue, European researchers are prioritizing the recycling of critical raw materials from electronic waste. While this approach holds great promise, it’s far from straightforward. Some of these materials are present in such small quantities that separating them is a complex task, and existing treatment methods may not allow for their complete extraction. But some scientists are finding new ways to turn heaps of waste into literal goldmines. Read more.
Commission appoints new member to the Scientific Council of the European Research CouncilThis week, the European Commission has added a new member to the leadership team of the European Research Council (ERC), known as the Scientific Council. Torsten Persson, a renowned Swedish economist and distinguished professor at the Institute for International Economic Studies, Stockholm University, has been chosen for an initial four-year term and will assume his duties on January 1, 2024.
In addition, the Commission has also decided to extend the terms of two existing members of the ERC Scientific Council, Gerd Gigerenzer and Milena Žic Fuchs, for an additional two years starting on January 1, 2024. Know more here.
VTT first in Finland to agree on research partnership with NATO within new frameworkVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has become the first Finnish organization to gain approval from the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency as a research partner under the Not-For-Profit Framework (NFPF). This agreement, signed on October 25, 2023, grants VTT the opportunity to participate in NATO’s research initiatives.
The NCI Agency is responsible for this collaboration, which establishes a framework for NATO to work with academic and research institutions, defense laboratories, and other non-profit entities. This collaboration complements the Agency’s existing partnerships with industry. Through this arrangement, the NCI Agency aims to enhance its research efforts, expedite projects, and leverage new specialized expertise to further its mission. Know more here.
Europe’s battery charge to power a green economyThis Horizon Magazine article delves into the European battery market, examining it closely. Professor Silvia Bodoardo, an expert in emerging battery technologies and a researcher at the Department of Applied Science and Technology at the Polytechnic of Turin in Italy, takes the lead in a working group dedicated to advanced materials as part of the initiative known as the Batteries Europe Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP). She collaborates with BATT4EU, a partnership overseeing battery research within the Horizon Europe program. Given the widespread shift toward clean energy sources like wind and solar, coupled with the increased demand for energy storage, the European Union is actively engaging policymakers, researchers, and companies to ensure that batteries play a vital role in powering the future green European economy. Know more here.
Have your say in improving Erasmus+: join the Public ConsultationTake part in the Erasmus+ public consultation to help the Commission enhance the program. Erasmus+ is the European Union’s initiative that provides support for education, training, youth, and sports in Europe. This effort involves evaluating both current and past Erasmus+ programs, with the final assessment for the 2014-2020 program and an interim review of the 2021-2027 program set to conclude by the end of 2024. The primary goal is to determine whether Erasmus+ is effectively achieving its objectives, including simplification and inclusivity. You can make a valuable contribution by completing a brief questionnaire through this link, and the deadline for participation is December 8, 2023.
|
|
