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In today's Morning Brief:
EU reaches a deal on the European Climate Law
After 14 hours of negotiations, negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states reached an agreement on the European Climate Law. After heated discussions, parties reached an agreement to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by “at least 55%” by 2030, compared to 1990 levels – which is lower than the 66% that the EP had voted earlier – and agreed to cap the contribution of carbon removals from land use, agriculture and forestry. Additional highlights of the deal are the European Commission agreeing to consider increasing the contribution of carbon sinks in order to bump up the EU’s net target to 57%, and the EU negotiators accepting the EP’s advice to establish an independent scientific advisory body, the European Scientific Advisory Board, to advise policymakers on the alignment of EU policies with the bloc’s climate neutrality goal. The agreement arrives right before the beginning of this week’s US-hosted climate summit. For a full account of the targets agreed and the reactions, check this Euractiv article.
Data protection in health care and health research
Health experts are calling for a revision of GDPR to allow the sharing of health data with researchers outside the EU/EEA to enhance international research collaboration in the public sector, thereby maximising health benefits for European citizens. According to a recent report published by the European Academies Science Advisory Council, the current EU’s legal data protection framework is hampering the sharing of pseudonymised health data outside the EU, which affects the work of health researchers in Europe and limits the relevance for European citizens of research conducted elsewhere. It is estimated that in 2019 more than 5000 collaborative projects were affected between EEA countries and the US National Institutes of Health alone. The EU aims to respond to this need with the creation of a “house” for health data, as outlined in the Commission’s Pharmaceutical Strategy last year. This is planned to be a trustworthy, patient-centred European health data space, designed to serve as a cornerstone of health digitalisation and ensure easier and safe access to health data.
ERC receives record number of Starting Grants applications in first round of Horizon Europe
The ERC Starting Grants 2021 call closed for applications on 12 April 2021. These are the preliminary data on submitted proposals.
- This year the ERC received 4,056 applications. This is a 24% increase compared to the previous Starting Grants call.
- The highest number of applications was submitted in the domain of Physical Sciences and Engineering (1,754 – 43.2%), followed by Social Science and Humanities (1,185 – 29.2%), and Life Sciences (1,117 – 27.5%).
- Nearly 40% of proposals were submitted by women, compared to 38% in the Starting Grants call 2020.
In the ERC Work Programme the ERC Scientific Council has earmarked €619 million for an estimated 413 Starting Grants in 2021. The ERC is now starting evaluation of the proposals. The projects selected for funding are planned to be announced at the end of 2021.
CEOs call for €100B technology sovereignty fund
According to Science Business, leaders of EU unicorns, start-ups worth over €1 billion, have compiled an eight-step to-do list for the European Commission on how to get Europe to the forefront of innovation. The list, ‘Next Innovation EU’, handed to research commissioner Mariya Gabriel yesterday, includes a proposal for a €100 billion technology sovereignty fund, scaling up of public procurement and a pact for all EU start-ups to become carbon neutral by 2030. The article does mention the obvious: there is no money to spare, but the Commissioner did say that her services will analyse every proposal and use the ideas to change the way Europe innovates. Check the full list of proposals here.
Digital Maturity Tool and the Innovation Radar
During the webinar hosted by the EC on May 18th (from 10 to 12 CEST), a methodology for assessing the digital maturity of customers of the EDIHs will be presented and feedback from participants will be heard. With the roll-out of Digital Europe programme, a new generation of Digital Innovation Hubs (to be called European) will be funded to speed-up the digital transformation of SMEs, mid-caps and public sector organisations across the EU. Programme and registration here.
German Research Foundation adopts charter of principles for young research careers
Germany’s largest research funding organisation, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), has adopted a charter of ten principles for more effective career support for young researchers. The DFG hopes the principles would help create better framework conditions for attractive careers in research.
EARMA Policy session: The research impact agenda and its influence on institutional strategies in the European and wider international context
In 2019 and 2020, the EARMA Policy and Representation Committee invited EARMA members to respond to a survey on their institutional approaches to impact strategies. The aim of the survey was to identify and share best practice in how institutions are responding strategically to the research impact agenda, and the ways in which this relates to national and European policy contexts. In this session, two committee members will present a short summary of the survey, highlighting the key findings and insights that emerged. We will then hear examples of the practitioner view on the impact agenda – from both the institutional and funder perspectives. This is session is only for registered members of EARMA. Would you consider important an institutional membership of EARMA?
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01/11/2023 – Lisbon crowned European Capital of Innovation, Canada´s association to Horizon Europe, €75.35B boost to the ERA, new energy projects for the Green Deal & much more
In today’s Morning Brief:
Funding
Calls open for 2023 Innovation Fund proposals with record €4B budget
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to develop the Smart Specialization Observatory
Fighting extreme weather with extreme computing power
Energy
Commission proposes 166 cross-border energy projects for EU support to help deliver the European Green Deal
Commission sets out actions to accelerate the roll-out of electricity grids
Microelectronics
EU and India sign semiconductor memorandum of understanding
Research & Innovation
Canada to sign Horizon Europe association deal next year
No more New European Bauhaus Mission
Nature-inspired flying robots: advancements in environmental monitoring
Over €75B of the recovery funds will go to European Research Area objectives
Lisbon crowned European capital of innovation for 2023
Maria Leptin’s perspectives on university challenges and innovation
EU’s Industrial R&D Scoreboard updates
INESC News
RTP3 features INOV’s AI-integrated inspection system in RiaStone production
APPRAISE system: INOV contributes to enhancing security in public spaces through innovative technology
INESC TEC collaborates on a European project that promotes the use of algae in sustainable aquaculture
INESC TEC’s podcast among the nominees for a national award
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops
24/11/2023 – EU’s decarbonization push, INESC participates in Portugal’s Blockchain initiative, Horizon Europe budget boost for R&I & much more
In today’s Morning Brief:
Funding
EU Commission to spend €186 million promoting agri-food products in and outside EU in 2024
Commission opens search for technology infrastructure expert group
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Call for Contributions: EU-U.S. Trade & Technology Council’s first edition of AI terminology and taxonomy
Belgium to focus on a public sector European blockchain during its EU presidency
Europe still working with China on military and surveillance uses of artificial intelligence, report finds
EU launches new competition to give AI companies access to supercomputers
Energy
Plans to boost Europe’s Net-Zero technology production
Microelectronics
As microscopic materials proliferate, ensuring they are safe is a priority
Research & Innovation
European Parliament Approves 2024 EU Budget with Boost for Research and Innovation
Council approves UK’s inclusion in Horizon Europe and Copernicus Programmes
EU lagging behind on antimicrobial resistance research
Opinion article in Science Business: The European Research Area needs a reboot
EIT lauds impact of Regional Innovation Scheme in latest report
INESC News
INESC participates at BLOCKCHAIN.PT initiative
INESC MN partners up in semiconductor consortium
INESC TEC advances autonomous vehicle perception in THEIA project
The HUB hosts EARTO meeting on EU RD&I Programmes
HUB contributes at the INESC TEC Autumn Forum
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops
17/11/2023 – Horizon Europe latest calls, the €85M boost next year to reach €12.9B, the approval of the Critical Raw Materials Act & much more
In today’s Morning Brief:
Funding
Horizon: €290M in funding for digital, industry and space
ERC sees rise in Starting Grant applications
Artificial Intelligence
OECD updates definition of Artificial Intelligence ‘to inform EU’s AI Act’
Study highlights AI’s economic potential amid EU regulatory focus
Energy
EU Atlantic strategy: what’s next?
Bioengineering
How can regenerative agriculture help the food system survive?
Regional Innovation Valleys for Bioeconomy and Food Systems” launch event conclusions
Research & Innovation
Horizon Europe: €12.9 Billion Boost in 2024 Budget
Commission welcomes political agreement on the Critical Raw Materials Act
Paper: How regional innovation ecosystems can improve participation in the European Framework Programme for R&I
European Space Agency looks to private sector to stay competitive
Technology readiness levels are getting a reality check to ensure innovations are socially acceptable
Research Management initiative advances strategic capacities in European research organisations
INESC News
Carla Gonçalves of INESC TEC recognized among Portugal’s green visionaries
Bactometer project secures runner-up position in EIT Health
Artificial Intelligence and humans collaborate to enhance critical infrastructure security
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops