Welcome to today’s Morning Brief. The Morning Brief  newsletter is available to INESC staff and affiliated researchers upon subscription, after creating an account in the Private Area of the HUB website, or those who wish to subscribe. To do so, click the log-in icon on the top-right corner of this website or go to the Morning Brief page and click the subscribe button.

 

Contact us:
Mariana Santos, Communications Officer
mariana.f.santos@inesctec.pt

Pedro Villas Boas, Policy and Communications Officer
pedro.v.boas@inesctec.pt  

In today's Morning Brief:

Welcome to the concluding 2023 edition of the INESC Brussels HUB Morning Brief.
As we look back on the year, this edition serves as a curated recap of our primary communication outputs, offering a glimpse into the vibrant and diverse activities of our organization.

While this newsletter captures key highlights and developments, it’s important to note that it represents just a segment of the extensive and impactful work undertaken by INESC Brussels HUB. From groundbreaking research initiatives to influential policy contributions, our journey this year has been rich and multifaceted.

Join us in this review as we celebrate our achievements and set the stage for continued innovation and collaboration in the wider European research and innovation landscape.
This final Morning Brief of 2023 is a testament to the dynamic year we’ve experienced at INESC Brussels HUB.

Throughout the year, the Morning Brief has been a crucial channel, connecting you with the pulse of research and innovation. We’ve spotlighted the significant influence of programs like Horizon Europe and dissected complex policies such as the Net Zero Industry Act. Our coverage has spanned from the evolution of emerging technologies to celebrating global partnerships, highlighting the strategic developments reshaping the research and innovation landscape.

In this special year-end edition, you’ll discover comprehensive updates from our INESC News section, emphasizing how our institutes have been at the forefront of driving innovation and fostering a culture of knowledge exchange. We’re also proud to highlight our evolved funding tools, designed to transform researchers’ access to EU program opportunities.

Our newly launched Intelligence Reports initiative has been a cornerstone, offering deep dives into various aspects of research, from European Partnerships to the nuances of AI. These reports have become indispensable tools, providing valuable insights to stakeholders across the spectrum. We’re also thrilled to share the latest from our #TogetherWeInnovate initiative, featuring pioneering projects like H2OforAll, and to recap our Summer Meeting 2023, a convergence of industry leaders in discussions about knowledge valorization.

Looking forward to 2024, the anticipation builds for the INESC Winter Meeting. This event promises to be a melting pot for networking, collaboration, and strategic dialogue, focusing on the future trajectory of research and INESC’s role in the European context.

We encourage you to immerse yourself in this edition, actively engage with its content, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue. As we reflect on the past year’s successes and look towards future challenges and opportunities, it’s clear that our journey of innovation, collaboration, and shaping the future of research and technology is an ever-evolving and exciting endeavour.

2023 – The Morning Brief in Review


Horizon Europe Focus: Many newsletters center around updates, calls, and developments in Horizon Europe. This emphasis showcases the importance of this program in the European research landscape and INESC’s active engagement in it.

Policy and Regulation Updates: Frequent update on new policies or legislative developments, such as the Net Zero Industry Act, indicating a focus on keeping the audience informed about critical regulatory changes and their implications.

Innovation and Technology: Several editions highlighted specific technology areas like robotics, AI, and clean tech. These subjects underline the evolving nature of technological research and its impact on various sectors.

Global Collaborations: The inclusion of topics like New Zealand’s involvement in Horizon Europe reflects a global perspective, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in research and innovation.

Strategic Developments: Some newsletters focus on strategic themes, like the European Innovation Scoreboard and the Commission’s STEP Platform, indicating a broader view of the research and innovation ecosystem.

Challenges and Opportunities in Research: Issues such as retaining talent in research fields and advancements in defense technology are covered, highlighting the challenges and opportunities within the research community.
 

INESC News


The Morning Brief consistently spotlights achievements, initiatives, and key developments within the INESC institutes, providing valuable insights into their contributions and advancements in diverse research fields, thereby underscoring INESC’s pivotal role in driving innovation and scientific progress, promoting mutual knowledge among INESC researchers as well as paving the way for increased cross-institutional collaboration.
 

Funding


Funding and calls: Regular updates on new calls for proposals and funding opportunities are a key feature, underscoring the practical, actionable information provided by the newsletters.

The INESC Brussels HUB has recently introduced a revolutionary tool on their website, accessible through the funding menu, which offers a comprehensive gateway to identify funding opportunities in EU programmes.

This innovative feature not only presents a complete track record of INESC projects in Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 but also intelligently matches current funding opportunities with INESC’s historical participation in these programmes.

Looking ahead, the tool is set to expand its capabilities, including keyword searches across various EU programmes and personalized alerts for researchers to stay informed about new opportunities aligned with their specific interests.
 

Intelligence Reports


In 2023, the INESC Brussels HUB introduced a series of Intelligence Reports, a new initiative that offers in-depth analyses and insights into various facets of research and innovation. These reports cover a wide range of topics, reflecting the diverse interests and expertise within the INESC community. Key themes include:
  1. European Partnerships: Detailed exploration of collaborative efforts between the European Commission and various partners, focusing on joint research and innovation initiatives.
  2. Artificial Intelligence in Science: Investigating the trends, opportunities, and regulatory developments surrounding AI, particularly in light of the AI Act by the European Union.
  3. European Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): An overview of preliminary co-funded and co-programmed partnership candidates under consideration for 2025-27.
  4. European Patent System: Examining the stakes involved in the European Unitary Patent System and its implications for inventors and innovators.
  5. Knowledge Valorisation: Highlighting the process of transforming research outcomes into tangible benefits for society, economy, and innovation.
  6. Spanish Presidency of the EU Council: An analysis of Spain’s thematic priorities during its presidency and its impact on research and innovation.
  7. Strategic Technology for Europe Platform (STEP): Discussing the alignment between STEP and INESC’s thematic areas and the opportunities arising from this convergence.
These reports, available for download in the private area of the HUB website, serve as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the latest trends, policies, and strategic developments in European research and innovation. They exemplify INESC’s commitment to providing thorough, research-driven insights into the evolving landscape of science and technology.
 

Strategic Projects: Elevating INESC’s impact


In 2023, INESC Institutes made significant strides in enhancing their global influence and capabilities through strategic projects. The HUB played a pivotal role in this advancement, successfully supporting INESC’s direct involvement in two high-profile framework contracts with key EU Agencies: FRONTEX and DG Connect. These projects align seamlessly with INESC’s core research and innovation areas, marking a milestone in our journey towards international recognition and impact.

Additionally, a landmark collaborative service contract with CERN, in partnership with Science Business, further highlights our commitment to forging alliances at the forefront of scientific research and technological development. This collaboration underscores our dedication to contributing to groundbreaking scientific endeavors and underscores the strategic importance of our partnerships.

Furthermore, the HUB has been instrumental in INESC’s participation in two strategic Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs). These projects focus on crucial transversal areas of INESC’s activities, including the development and implementation of technology infrastructures and the pioneering concept of ERA HUBs. This involvement is a testament to our commitment to not only adapting to but also shaping the evolving research and innovation landscape.

Our active participation in these strategic projects is a game changer. It represents a shift from a reactive to a proactive approach in our operations, enabling us to deliver services of the highest quality. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in retaining our key staff and keeping them motivated, ensuring that INESC continues to be at the forefront of innovation and research excellence.

As we celebrate these achievements, we look forward to leveraging these opportunities to further strengthen our position as a leading player in the global research and technology community.
 

Our Social Media presence


Highlighting our growth and reach on LinkedIn, we encourage people to follow us for regular updates on the HUB’s activities and various INESCs.

Our follower count stands at 2,279 on LinkedIn, showcasing our steady increase in audience engagement.

Over the past year, we’ve welcomed 955 new followers, reflecting the ongoing interest and expansion of our network.
 

#TogetherWeInnovate


Have you caught our #TogetherWeInnovate initiative on LinkedIn? 
Every Wednesday, we post about a project developed by one of the 5 INESCs. As a dive into the world of innovation, the initiative is a way to reflect INESC institutes’ capacity while allowing colleagues and stakeholders to know them better and thus promote them. 

This week’s spotlight: H2OforAll Project
Coordinated by Universidade de Coimbra, and with the active participation of INESC Coimbra members, the consortium of 18 partners is dedicated to assessing and treating Disinfection By-products (DBPs) in drinking water systems. Learn more at the project’s website  

Follow our weekly rubric and join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and insights on the showcased projects.
 

Summer Meeting 2023 – Knowledge Valorisation: The role of Research and Technology Infrastructures


The INESC Brussels HUB Summer Meeting 2023, themed Knowledge Valorisation: The Role of Research and Technology Infrastructures, took place in Brussels on June 16, 2023. This event brought together key figures from the research, technology, and innovation sectors to discuss the importance of knowledge valorisation and the role of research and technology infrastructures in this process.

The event showcased INESC’s commitment to fostering discussions that bridge the gap between academia, industry, and policy-making, underscoring its role in shaping the future of research and innovation in Europe.

For more details about the event and to access the full agenda, you can visit the event page on the INESC Brussels HUB website.
 

INESC Winter Meeting


In total, we got around 215 registrations for the event. If you’re one of them, check your email – we sent you a form yesterday.

Please complete it by January 10th to confirm your participation, select your thematic area for group discussions, and let us know if you’ll join us for lunch and dinner on January 25th. Your choices help us plan better and avoid food waste!

If you have any questions, please get in touch

About the event:
Organised in collaboration with INESC Holding, the event is scheduled for January 25th and 26th, 2024, and it will be held in Porto. This is an internal event of the INESC group – external participants by invitation only.
The preliminary agenda is available at this link.

The primary goal is to bring together individuals from all five INESC institutes, fostering an environment that encourages networking, forging new connections, and collectively engaging in a forward-thinking exercise regarding the future of our research fields and the positioning of the INESC group within the European landscape.

These moments of presence and open dialogue play a pivotal role in shaping INESC’s successful European positioning. Your ideas and insights are highly regarded, and we look forward to your active participation in this event.

On January 25th there will be a welcome lunch, followed by an afternoon dedicated to collaboration, openness, and curiosity. The event will have a participatory approach and will be guided by Dirk Stockmans, a highly experienced facilitator who has worked for the European Commission for the last 30 years.

On January 26th, a senior administration and management committee will be held. Participants will be selected by each institute’s administration. There is no need to register for this day.
 

Our new calendar tool


Introducing our calendar tool: Recently launched on the INESC Brussels HUB website under the events section, this tool serves as a comprehensive gateway to identify significant events within the European research and innovation sphere.

It highlights events where INESC collaborators may have a strategic interest, aligning them with ongoing funding and networking opportunities and policy trends.

This tool is slated for expansion, enabling keyword searches across various EU programs and tailored alerts for researchers to track new opportunities aligned with their specific interests. Stay updated on crucial events shaping the European research and innovation landscape with our evolving tool.
 

Events & Training


JANUARY
– Innovative Health Initiative Call Days for calls 6 and 7, 10 to 16 January 2024, Brussels. Register here.
– Useful information for proposals to Cluster 2, Jan 8, 2024 03:30 PM, Paris. Register here.
– European Innovation Council online Info Day – Work Programme 2024″ on 15 January 2024, 09:00 – 17:15 (CET), online. Register here.
– Policy Workshop – Interm Evaluation of Horizon Europe | Digital & Industrial Transition. 17 January 10.00 -17.00 CET – Online. Registration
– Workshop: Funding opportunity for cooperation between the European Union and the African Union. 18 January, 2024 10:00-11:00, online. Register here.

FEBRUARY
–  Annual Network Conference. 06 February 2024. 09:00-17:30 CET. Brussels. Public event. More info

MARCH
– International conference CBRNE Research & Innovation, March 19, 2024 – March 21, 2024, Strasbourg. Register here.

APRIL
 Connecting Europe Days, 2 April, 11:00 – 5 April, 12:30, Brussels. More info here.
– 4th Workshop on Neuroengineering: Brain-on-a-Chip Platforms. 4-5 April 2024. i3S – Institute of Research and Innovation in Health. More information here.

JUNE
– 8th World Conference on Research Integrity, 2-5 June 2024, at Megaron Athens International Conference Centre (MAICC), Athens. Travel Grant applications open on 26 June 2023. More info
– European Sustainable Energy Week 2024, 11 June 2024, 09:00 – Thursday 13 June 2024, 18:00 (CEST), Brussels. More info here.

JULY
– Conference: IAMOT – International Association for Management of Technology 2024, 8-11 July 2024. Porto, Portugal. Organised by INESC TEC and FEUP. More info

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