Research and Innovation EU should foster open science while addressing security concerns, EARTO sayThe European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO), which the HUB is a member, urges the European Commission to find a harmonious equilibrium between fostering international collaboration and safeguarding knowledge. In a newly released position paper, EARTO emphasizes the necessity for forthcoming research security legislation to respect the autonomy of research and technology entities in engaging with global partnerships. Furthermore, EARTO acknowledges that many scientific organizations lack adequate awareness regarding the pitfalls of imbalanced collaborations. They advocate for clear guidelines concerning the management of classified information within international research initiatives to address this gap. Read the full position paper here. EARTO calls for changes to lump sum funding evaluationsEARTO has issued recommendations on lump-sum funding in Horizon Europe, drawing from its members’ experiences as the prevalence of lump-sum grants increases. EARTO critiques the new Horizon dashboard, emphasizing that it provides an inaccurate representation of personnel costs funded by Horizon Europe grants. The organization suggests using the dashboard as a guide rather than a definitive decision-making tool, especially as members note instances of budget reduction requests during the evaluation phase. Read more in EARTO’s position paper. Rethinking EU research strategy: beyond productivity to innovation and global competitivenessIn an opinion piece published in Science Business, prominent academics challenge the idea that the primary objective of European investment in research and innovation should solely revolve around productivity growth. They critique Robert D. Atkinson’s proposal to steer the next EU research program, Framework Programme 10 (FP10), toward immediate economic gains. Instead, they advocate for a shift away from what they term as “misguided missions and bottom-up funding,” emphasizing the need for a revamped approach focusing on fostering technological innovation and global competitiveness. Authors Jakob Edler, Mireille Matt, Wolfgang Polt, and Matthias Weber propose a nuanced strategy for FP10, advocating for adequate resources that enhance industrial competitiveness while addressing global challenges and societal needs. They stress the importance of not sidelining basic research’s resilience and creativity in this pursuit. The authors emphasize the importance of striking a balance between addressing global challenges and bolstering economic growth. They highlight that missions, while tackling global issues, can stimulate markets and guide research and development toward future demands. They suggest that these missions should be complemented by measures that cater to demand, promoting a holistic approach to EU research and innovation strategy. Read the full article here. European parliament seeks harmonised approach to health data sharingAccording to Science Business, progress remains underway for the European Health Data Space (EHDS), a pivotal health legislation piece. Trilogue negotiations, focused on enabling cross-border health data sharing for research through EHDS, are currently ongoing. Following the Parliament’s adoption of its stance on December 13, the initial trilogue discussions have commenced, with further talks slated for late January. Resolving disagreements, particularly concerning patient consent and the implementation timeline, stands as a priority during these negotiations. The overarching objective involves establishing a secure infrastructure and common standards facilitating health data sharing across the European Union. This framework aims to support primary data usage among healthcare providers within and beyond borders, as well as secondary data utilization by researchers and policymakers. Know more here. Call for paradigm shift in higher education to tackle ‘poly-crisis’As per a recent publication from the European Commission’s high-level group on the economic and societal impact of research and innovation (ESIR), Europe requires a fresh approach to higher education. The paper underscores the necessity for an integrated model that incorporates research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and education. This holistic transformation aims to bring about tangible changes in the real economy and broader society. The report emphasizes the urgency of overhauling education to empower individuals with the skills and knowledge essential for universities and research institutions to effectively address the multifaceted challenges posed by the “poly-crisis” encompassing pandemics, climate change, and conflict. Read the full report here. Nanomachines: a revolutionary approach to combat antibiotic resistance and cancerAn Horizon Magazine article highlights the development of miniature instruments aimed at combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria and addressing cancer. These nanomachines, smaller than a human hair, offer a potential solution to the challenge of bacteria altering their structure to evade antibiotics. Unlike conventional antibiotics that can be rendered ineffective when bacteria undergo such changes, the nanomachines, proposed by Ana Santos under project REBELLION, are designed to be more resilient and effective in combating these microbial threats. Know more here. French National Center for Scientific Research unsubscribes from Scopus and advances open scienceThe CNRS is unsubscribing from the Scopus publication database, aligning with its commitment to open science. This move, effective December 31, 2023, marks a significant step in disengaging from commercial bibliographic databases. The CNRS plans to transition to open and sustainable solutions once they are sufficiently developed, while maintaining its subscription to Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science. Unsubscribing from Scopus is an initial step in gradually shifting towards open and open science-aligned bibliographic tools. Know more here. New EU instrument aims to foster collaboration on digital infrastructureThe European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDIC) initiative aims to foster collaboration among EU member states by creating a legal framework to support joint research projects, as explained by Science Business. Building on the model of European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERIC), EDICs enable the pooling of resources for multi-country projects that surpass the capacity of individual member states. This effort aligns with the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 targets, focusing on developing a digitally skilled population, establishing secure digital infrastructures, promoting digital transformation in companies, and digitizing public services. Know more here. Energy Data Space policy paper with INESC TEC contributionThe Energy Data Space policy paper by ETIP SNET, the European Technology and Innovation Platform for Smart Networks in Energy Transition, aims to offer a concise technical overview of the subject. It provides references for in-depth analysis and emphasizes opportunities, challenges, and essential actions for the rapid establishment of a unified European energy data space. The document remains technology-agnostic, prioritizing practical steps for concrete implementations. Ricardo Bessa, coordinator of the INESC TEC´s center for energy systems, contributed to this paper. Read it here. JRC report on assessing Open Strategic AutonomyThis report from the EC´s Joint Research Center aims to enhance the EU’s open strategic autonomy (OSA) by offering data for monitoring and action in innovation and production. Operationalizing the concept, the report provides empirical insights, revealing vulnerabilities in the EU’s digital sector, particularly in artificial intelligence and big data. While other innovation areas show some vulnerabilities, they may not immediately affect Europe’s OSA. Economic dependencies and evolving geopolitics further amplify potential vulnerabilities from international collaboration on innovation. Know more here. Europe’s first exascale supercomputer to mark a milestone in computing sovereigntyThe upcoming inauguration of Europe’s first exascale supercomputer, the Jupiter system, marks a significant stride toward European computing sovereignty, as explained by Science Business. Distinguished from previous EU-supported supercomputers, Jupiter will be powered by European microprocessors developed by SiPearl. SiPearl’s Rhea chip secured the contract over competition from Intel, realizing the vision of a European machine with an exaflop capacity driven by a European microprocessor. Recognizing the importance of supercomputers in technological sovereignty for AI, medical research, and climate change, having a “designed in Europe” label goes beyond mere marketing. Know more here. Launch of the Singapore-Portugal Innovation Alliance (SPIA)The Singapore-Portugal Innovation Alliance (SPIA) was officially launched by Ministers Balakrishnan and Cravinho. SPIA aims to promote collaboration among startups and tech companies, enhance business networks, and facilitate market entries into Portugal, Singapore, and their respective regions. Additionally, Minister Balakrishnan discussed Lisbon’s potential as a startup hub with Mayor Carlos Moedas on January 4, 2024. Both agreed to intensify exchanges in innovation, housing, and public services. Know more here. New rules to boost cybersecurity of the EU institutions enter into forceThe new Cybersecurity Regulation, effective since January 7, 2024, mandates measures to ensure a high level of cybersecurity across Union entities. It requires the establishment of an internal cybersecurity risk management framework and introduces the Interinstitutional Cybersecurity Board (IICB) to oversee its implementation. The regulation extends the mandate of the Computer Emergency Response Team for EU entities, enhancing its role as a threat intelligence hub, information exchange center, incident response coordinator, advisory body, and service provider. Know more here. Clean Steel Partnership public consultationPublic Consultation: Clean Steel Partnership seeks input on the update of its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). Organized by the European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP), the consultation aims to gather feedback from research, development, and innovation stakeholders. The Clean Steel Partnership aims to expedite the adoption of low-CO2 technologies in the steel industry for climate neutrality and competitiveness. Stakeholders are invited to share their input on the draft SRIA by February 2, 2024. Access the consultation here. CHIPS Joint Undertaking: multi-annual work programme 2023-2027 publishedThe newly established CHIPS Joint Undertaking (JU) has released its multi-annual work programme for 2023-2027, encompassing initiatives within both Horizon Europe (emphasizing research, development, and innovation) and the Digital Europe Programme (emphasizing capacity building). Recognizing the geopolitical imperative of achieving strategic autonomy for the EU’s chips industry, the program will prioritize top-down activities, coordinate with related Joint Undertakings like EuroHPC, and align with relevant EU or member state-level policies. The calls for 2024 under the CHIPS JU are outlined in the appendices accompanying the multi-annual work programme. Check it here. EU ambassadors agree partial mandate on the Strategic Technologies for Europe PlatformEU ambassadors have reached an agreement on the European Council’s partial negotiating mandate for the proposed Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The platform aims to enhance manufacturing capacity in critical digital, net-zero, and biotechnologies by reallocating funds from existing programs and providing additional financing. The primary goal is to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty and resilience in areas like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals. The term “partial” in the negotiating mandate indicates that additional funding for STEP is contingent on the mid-term revision of the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027, currently delayed due to political obstacles. Know more here. |
|
|