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Contact us:
Mariana Santos, Communications Officer
mariana.f.santos@inesctec.pt
In today's Morning Brief:
Editorial: Leadership in Research and Innovation in the Age of AI
On June 5th and 6th, over 60 leading R&I administrators, managers, researchers, and policymakers met in Brussels and dived into “Leadership in Research and Innovation in the Age of AI”. The event was an initiative of INESC Brussels HUB, co-organised with the European Commission and the NCBR Office in Brussels.
Together, the participants initiated a community to share insights and develop innovative strategies to face the challenges posed by AI in Leadership and Research & Innovation.
The importance of these discussions is evident. As stated by DDG Signe Ratso at the introduction of the event, the EU has the challenge of closing the gap with China and the US. She remarked, “AI-driven science extends beyond academia, fostering both innovation and economic growth.”
On the first day of the event, Liviu Stirbat, Head of Unit for AI in Science in the DG for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, shared an overview of the EU strategy on AI since 2018 and recent initiatives like GENAI4EU and AI Factories and the “Living guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research”.
On the same afternoon, Ondreaj Socuvka, Senior EU Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager at Google EU, joined the discussion and shared how Google scientists are boldly and responsibly pushing AI’s boundaries, driven by a collective effort within the scientific community.
During these two days, the participants were challenged to deep dive into practical strategies and frameworks for integrating AI into R&I processes and leadership practices.
In the following days, the HUB will work on reporting the work done these two days and we will share our main takeaways with you.
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INESC Highlights
Advancing Monitoring of Pandemics and Contagious Diseases: M.U.S.T and GMU visit INESC-ID
Tackling EU’s AI Act regulation challenges: PLMJ and INESC-ID sign collaboration protocol
INESC-ID Board members and researchers participate in Summer School on leadership in the age of AI
10, 9, 8…Ariane 6 is set for liftoff and we’re onboard
INESC TEC welcomed UN Seabed body to discuss deep-sea technologies
There are more efficient hydroelectric power plants in Europe – thanks to INESC TEC
Industry Club: INESC TEC part of an alliance to drive digital transformation in Portuguese industry
Fostering innovation and excellence within our community.
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We invite you to engage, to reflect, and to join us in shaping the discourse that will define the future of research and innovation in Europe.
Check the full version of the newsletter below or directly on our website and do not hesitate to contact us:
Mariana Santos, Communications Officer – mariana.f.santos@inesctec.pt
Ricardo Migueis, Head of INESC Brussels HUB – ricardo.migueis@inesctec.pt
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Deep Dive: New power cables in Europe to make energy cheaper and more sustainable
When news articles appeared in 2021 about a slowdown in copper production and concerns about being able to meet future demand for the metal, Dr Anders Wulff became concerned.
As an engineer, Wulff understood better than most people that the current generation of power grids in Europe and elsewhere would be unable to function without copper. The reddish metal is the conductor in electricity cables and, without it, there’d be no way to transmit power over long distances.
Ceramic cable
Wulff is involved in an innovation project that received EU funding to develop a cable made of something very different: ceramics.
‘It’s basically the same material you would use for coffee cups or plates,’ said Wulff, who is chief executive officer of SUBRA, a Danish superconductor manufacturer. ‘My coffee cup is rigid, but if I thin down the walls to a few micrometres I can start bending it.’
SUBRA makes electric cables based on superconductor technology and is accelerating this work in a new EU-backed project called SUBRACABLE, which will run for two years until August 2025.
Superconductors are materials that, at low temperatures, conduct electricity without any electrical resistance. A special type of ceramics are among numerous materials that can become superconducting at low temperatures.
One advantage of superconductor technology is that it is much less reliant on copper, which is used in these new cables only to a limited extent to provide structural support for the otherwise brittle superconductor. (…)
Read the full article here. First published in Horizon, The EU Research & Innovation Magazine, 29 May 2024
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Thematic Areas
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
France, Netherlands and Austria lead EU quantum innovators pack
EU missed artificial intelligence targets due to Horizon Europe delay, auditors find
Bioengineering and Health Technologies
EIT Health moves to improve access to biobanks and health data registries
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Transversal Areas
EU R&I Policy
Council adopts conclusions on the future of industrial policy
Viewpoint: Researchers need Widening to offer more than just networking
Ethics and integrity: Building bridges for trust and excellence in research and innovation
Horizon Europe
Commission clarifies position on Hungary’s participation in Horizon Europe
How to make a gender equality plan that sticks
FP10
Viewpoint: FP10 should prioritise innovation over policy
Defence
The Ecosystem: earth observation missions will lift Poland’s space tech sector
EU Public Private Partnerships
Horizon Europe health partnerships discuss closer cooperation
International cooperation
Commission under pressure to give guidance on R&D collaboration with Israel
Global research needs transnational funding
Knowledge for policy
Supporting policy with scientific evidence
Knowledge Valorisation
Mutual learning exercise on knowledge valorisation – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
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Job Opportunities at INESC
– INESC Coimbra launched a call for Research Fellowship. More info here
– INESC TEC has 30 vacancies in different work areas, such as Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, and more. Find more at INESCTEC website and via LinkedIn
– INESC-ID has 3 open positions for Research Grants and 1 for a contract as Knowledge Transfer Officer. Know more here.
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Events & Training
JUNE
– European Sustainable Energy Week 2024, 11-13 June 2024, Brussels. More info here.
– Accelerated development: A new era for health and life science cooperation with the Global South?, 18 June 2024, Brussels. More info here.
– EACR Early-Career Researchers’ Conference, 25-26 June 2024. Online event. More info here.
– Global approach: Is the EU’s international cooperation strategy working? Private Science Business Network workshop, 25 June 2024. More info here.
JULY
– 5th Internation ESS Conference, 8-10 July 2024, Lisbon. More info here.
– Conference: IAMOT – International Association for Management of Technology 2024, 8-11 July 2024. Porto, Portugal. Organised by INESC TEC and FEUP. More info
– Horizon Europe: The road ahead for the European Innovation Council?, 9 July 2024, 2:30-3:30 PM CET, Online event. More info here.
– Annual Network Planning Science Business, 9 July 2024, Brussels, Hybrid event. More info here.
– Summer Reception & Meet the new Parliament, 9 July 2024, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM CET, Brussels. More info here.
-14th International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing – CSNDSP 2024, 17-19 July 2024, 9:00 – 17:30, Rome, Italy. Register here.
SEPTEMBER
– Valorise this: How to speed and scale up tech transfer?, 12 September 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Brussels. Hybrid event. More info here.
OCTOBER
– Hot prospects: When will quantum tech reach the industrial mainstream?, 17 October 2024, 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM, Brussels. More info here.
NOVEMBER
– Horizon Europe: New priorities for the European Research Area policy agenda?, 19 November 2024, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM. More info here.
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