hub.inesc.pt

1st Online Training “make your data FAIR”: Open Science Awareness
2024-04-30 10:00 - 11:00 (Europe/Brussels)
Speaker: Lena Thöle, Utrecht University (mail: l.m.thole@uu.nl)
Research fields: Specialists of all scientific fields, and on all career stages are welcome
Target audience: All career stage scientists and professionals, students and PhD candidates.
Register here
This event will be a one-hour workshop with interactive parts guiding you through the principles of FAIR data and open science, and will serve as a starting point for future events to delve deeper into practical aspects of research data management to equip you with the tools to make your data FAIR.
Geosciences are one of the most interdisciplinary research fields, with input from, applications for and connections to many other fields of research. Moreover, many geoscientific topics are of societal and public interest. This highlights the importance of generating data that is findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable – in short FAIR – for a large number of stakeholders within and across domains. This workshop will demonstrate the importance of creating FAIR data and highlight the importance of open science. At the same time, this workshop will serve as a kick-off for a future online workshop series that will cover aspects of best data management practices resulting in FAIR data.
The learning goals of this first workshop are:
1. To discover Open Science ideas. We delve into the world of open science, discovering its benefits and overcoming challenges. Learn about tools and practices that facilitate transparency, collaboration, and community engagement. Embrace a culture of openness to advance scientific knowledge collectively.
2. To understand the intricacies of FAIR data principles. We become aware of how to make your research data more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Understanding these principles is crucial for optimizing the impact and accessibility of your research.
3. To get an overview of future steps in implementing FAIR data practices. This segment will highlight next steps of the workshop series, focusing on organizing and managing data while ensuring alignment with FAIR principles.
Geo-INQUIRE promotes equality, diversity and inclusion under the advice of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Panel at all events organized as part of Geo-INQUIRE. In particular, we support registrations from women, early career scientists and people from widening countries.

2nd Mission Arena by Blue Mission BANOS
2024-04-25 - 2024-04-26 | H2O 6 kvartāls event hall, Riga, Latvia
The 2nd Mission Arena hosted by BlueMissionBANOS is taking place at H2O 6 kvartāls event hall in Riga, Latvia on 25-26 April 2024.
Following the success of the first BlueMission BANOS Arena in Gothenburg, Sweden last November, BlueMissionBANOS is now hosting its second edition.

Registrations are open until 22 April 2024.
This new edition will focus on regional actors in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and East Sweden. The key stakeholders in this Arena will be Mission Ocean-relevant actors who will have the opportunity to engage with current and future actions in this region. Over the course of two days, progress will be showcased, open needs will be discussed, and the next steps to transform this region’s blue economy to be more carbon-neutral, environmentally friendly, and circular will be planned. Additionally, all participants will then have the chance to vote on the Roadmap towards Mission Ocean and Water’s success for this region at the final Mission Assembly.
The focus will not only be on the Baltic Sea as such but also cover ‘Blue on Land’, i.e., lakes, rivers and wastewater. Topics include fishery & aquaculture, shipping and ports, nutrients and pollution leakage to the ocean and waters, waterborne transport, nature protection and restoration, sustainable products, and all actions required to transform these sectors.
Discussions will be framed across 15 specific workshop themes. When you register, please indicate whether you want to make an active contribution to one of them. We will accept suggestions until 15 March 2024. Please note that places will be limited, and priority will be given to local actors.
More info here.

Online Training Workshop on Remote Access for Electron Microscopy Training
2024-04-24 14:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
Registration is open for the advanced online training workshop on ”Remote access for electron microscopy”, taking place Wednesday 24th April, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm CEST (1:00 pm – 3:30 pm BST).
The free workshop is co-organised by Thermo Fisher Scientific, Euro-BioImaging and Instruct-ERIC as part of the eRImote project. The workshop will be delivered by training and application specialists from Thermo Fisher Scientific and is targeted at facility staff and advanced users.
The workshop encompasses remote operations and remote data analysis and includes interactive live demonstrations and presentations relating to both TEM and SEM systems. Ample time will be allocated for discussing individual use cases and answering questions. The workshop will focus on technical aspects of remote instrument control and data analysis, while aspects of IT infrastructure requirements and training will only be covered briefly.
The deadline to register is Friday 19th April 2024. Contact support@instruct-eric.org if you are interested in joining.
More info here

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) conference
2024-04-18 - 2024-04-19 | Mons, Belgium, Belgium
It will take place in Mons (Belgium) on 18th and 19th April 2024. This event will address researchers’ careers.
A host of eminent speakers, all experts in their own field, will share their knowledge and experience throughout the days. Our goal is to create a fertile ground for productive discussions between researchers, representatives from the public and private sector, policy makers and all stakeholders which, one way or another, play a role in researchers’ careers.
This event will offer a space where these exchanges can give birth to practical, inspiring results.
In this forum, you will have the opportunity to share your achievements, your needs, your ideas… in a word: your experience.
More info here

Healthcare needs as drivers for healthcare policy and innovation
2024-04-17 - 2024-04-18 | Musée des Beaux-Arts / Museum voor de Schone Kunsten, Rue du Musée / Museumstraat 9, Brussels, Belgium
The conference will explore pathways towards a more needs-driven innovation and healthcare policy, where needs are defined in an evidence-based manner and public resources directed towards the most pressing needs of patients and society.
Research funding, regulatory incentives for medical innovation, and the authorisation and reimbursement of healthcare interventions are still too often supply driven, that is responding to developer actions or suggestions, rather than being based on pre-defined priorities on patient and societal needs. The conference will explore pathways towards a more needs-driven innovation and healthcare policy, where needs are defined in an evidence-based manner and public resources directed towards the most pressing needs of patients and society.
More info here

Circular Economy Conference: "Europe's Leading Role in Mainstreaming Circular practice"
2024-04-17 | Brussels
More info here
Belgium highlights the circular economy: an impressive evolution from experiment to the new normal
During the week from 15 to 18 April, companies, knowledge institutions and NGOs from around the world will come to Belgium in order to exchange knowledge about circular innovation. The week kicks off with the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) on 15 and 16 April in Brussels where new insights, powerful practical examples and lots of networking opportunities are planned. Belgian and European cases and studies will also be discussed but here we can learn mainly how the rest of the world is tackling the transition to a circular economy. The European track during this WCEF will be shaped by the EU Belgian Presidency together with DG Environment, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP), and the European Social Economic Committee. This will further integrate and strengthen the European vision, making the event a crucial contribution to the circular economy agenda at the global level.
Circular Economy Conference during the EU Presidency
The day after the WCEF, on 17 April 2024, we will take international visitors on a tour of Belgium’s circular doers and initiatives. This event, which like the WCEF will also take place at the Square in Brussels, will show how the circular economy has grown from niche initiatives to a full-fledged alternative economy. However, there are still many challenges facing our businesses and consumers. Through actual cases, research and testimonials from keynote speakers, we will provide our visitors with an idea of how these bottlenecks can be addressed. The objective is to interact effectively with the participants in each session, allowing for learning from each other and with each other in all directions.
Exploratory round
Starting the day from policy and research perspectives: how they see evolution and the International Resource Panel (IRP), the European Environmental Agency, and representatives of the European Commission. In order to make the full transition, the linear economy must also be phased out. Change is difficult, so we look at how this is being done in Belgium and other countries: what governance is needed in order to achieve a new economic system, how are we going to measure whether the change is happening fast enough and in the right direction? This opening lays the groundwork for a day full of insights and inspiration.
Inspiring stories which spur action
The plenary session will be followed by a presentation of exciting circular cases in Belgium and in Europe, focusing upon innovative approaches and practices. Eight workshops (two teams of four in parallel sessions) will whet the appetite for more, for more action especially because that is the goal of each session. Through a public-private partnership (with representatives from the different regions, circular companies, midfield organisations and knowledge institutions), we will encourage the public to share their own experiences and to learn from the proposed cases. Topics already on the agenda include the bio-economy, circular construction and the circular city, chemistry and plastics, manufacturing with an emphasis on repair hubs and batteries, circular procurement, repair and life extension, chemistry & plastics, monitoring and indicators with a focus on digitalisation, system innovation and hub operation in Europe.
With this diverse approach, the Circular Economy Event during the Belgian presidency promises to make a valuable contribution to the global discourse about the circular economy and the further development of sustainable solutions.
Closed Informal Council
In addition to the public programme, there will also be a closed session where policy experts will have the opportunity to discuss in depth and develop strategies for the further implementation of circular economy principles within Europe.

Network Roundtable “In our defence: How to integrate dual-use research into EU funding programmes?”
2024-04-16 14:00 - 16:45 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
On April 16, Science Business organises a roundtable to delve into one of the hottest topics on the agenda: the integration of defence-related priorities into EU R&I funding. In particular, the discussion will focus on the role that dual-use research can have in the Framework Programmes moving forward, the role of civilian research-focused organisations in this new paradigm, and anticipated synergies with the European Defence Fund, NATO’s DIANA initiative and more. Featured guests will include Nicolas Bessot, head of innovation and security research at DG HOME, and Nynke Tygchelaar, head of innovation and defence technologies at DG DEFIS.
Registrations are open here.
The event will take place in Brussels and online.

The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and national/regional open science policy
2024-04-16
Organiser: EWI & Ministère de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (co-lead), BELSPO (co-lead)

Place: Palais des Académies / Paleis der Academiën

Address: Rue Ducale / Hertogstraat 1, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
More info here

On the 16th of April, the Belgian presidency cordially invites the Belgian and European Open Science Community to take part in the National EOSC tripartite event. This event follows the European Tripartite of EOSC on the same day.
The ambition of the European Open Science Cloud, known as EOSC, is to develop a ‘Web of FAIR Data and Services’ for science in Europe. Within a federated ‘system of systems’ approach it is the aim to provide European researchers from all scientific disciplines a multi-disciplinary environment where they can publish, find and reuse data, tools and services for research, innovation and educational purposes.
The goal of this event is to bring together the Belgian and European Open Science community and exchange best practices in the field of Open Science and Open Data. Participants will be given the opportunity to present posters of ongoing projects and activities related to Open Science and integration in the European Open Science Cloud during a networking lunch.
Furthermore, there will be plenty of time for discussion and exchange of views during the afternoon session, including an intervention of the European Tripartite, a keynote on ethics in Open Science and a panel session on ongoing projects in the field of Open Science in Belgium.
The day will end in the evening with a reception.
Registration information
To register for the event, create an account.
Once your account has been created, you will receive a confirmation email. Follow the link, log in, and then enter the following code: BE_EU2024_342.xs8>>K(EXhhi
Programme

11:30-13:30: Networking lunch and poster session
13:45-17:30: Belgian National Tripartite Event

Intervention of European tripartite (Commission, EOSC Association and member and associated countries involved in the EOSC Steering Board)
Keynote Sabina Leonelli (philosopher of science, University of Exeter, UK)
Panel on Belgian projects in Open Science
Announcement of public choice poster session

17:30-20h: reception with continued poster session

Call for posters
Would you like to promote your project / initiative / network at this event? Then forward your application by email to eu2024@belspo.be with the subject: EOSC BE NTE Call for Posters.
Additional visibility will be given to the five projects, initiatives and workshops that have attracted the most public attention.
Applications (maximum 2 pages) should include the following:

A description of the institution coordinating the project
A brief description of the project
The link with the Belgian Open Science community

Criteria for posters :

Available under a CC By
Royalty-free, so that they can be distributed for promotional purposes, including on social media and on the website.
A0 format

Please note the following deadlines:

Submission deadline: 16/02/2024
Announcement of selection: 29/02/2024
Deadline for confirmation of participation: 08/03/2024

The selection of posters by the organizers (Belspo, EWI and FW-B) will take into account their relevance to the Belgian Open Science community and the regional diversity of the projects.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

EOSC implementation challenges solutions in Belgium:

Interoperability
FAIR metrics & Certification
Metadata and ontologies
PIDs
Software
User/Resource Provider environments

The promotion of FAIR Data and the development of software and hardware solutions
Public engagement and citizen science
Strengthening and upskilling the R&I workforce in the development of Open Science and open data solutions including:

Reward and recognition
Skills and training

The role of data stewardship in the promotion of Open Science and skill transferal
The role of emerging technologies including AI in Open Science
Best practices regarding Open Science
Examples of new, hitherto unseen developments made possible by Open Science/data practices
The role of Open Science activities in evaluating research and researchers
Road maps and strategies for promoting Open Science
Open Science in support of Grand Societal challenges, particularly in relation to the five mission areas of Horizon Europe, Health and the Digital transition

Maritime Security seminar
2024-04-16 | Brussels
One of the seminars organised by the Belgian presidency will focus on maritime security. The oceans and seas hold the key to the economic development and the present and future prosperity and security of all nations. Europe has the second largest coastal area in the world, and maritime trade and the industries that depend on it are a major source of its economic development and prosperity. The EU is the world’s second-largest exporter and third-largest importer. 90% of European exports travel via maritime routes, and as a global player, the EU’s interests extend across the globe.
The importance of maritime security therefore goes far beyond the maritime domain alone, and is linked to other areas, such as the economy, energy, transport (supply chains), tourism, access to and conservation of natural marine resources, and critical infrastructure (including offshore and submarine infrastructure). Although essential, maritime safety is nevertheless facing a growing number of challenges stemming from traditional threats (e.g. piracy, geopolitical rivalries, overfishing) as well as new threats (organised crime, various forms of illicit activity taking place on the seas, such as smuggling and waste dumping), all of which require multiple forms of cooperation to provide sustainable responses.
The aim is to bring together experts from institutions, Member States and the private sector, as well as representatives of the academic world, to link maritime security to the challenges of space capabilities, as well as cooperation with third-party states (NATO, UK, NO, US), critical infrastructure protection, legal maritime issues, piracy and raising awareness of the EU’s maritime domain.
During the seminar, four maritime zones will be examined in terms of their maritime-related challenges. The seminar will include the perspective not only of the EU but also of international partners, academics and Member States.
Registration
More info here

Handover: Successful and timely uptake of Artificial Intelligence in science in the EU
2024-04-15 11:45 - 12:15 (Europe/Brussels) | European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
On April 15 the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) will release the advice on how the European Commission can accelerate the responsible take-up of AI in science in the EU.

With the characteristics of a general-purpose technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most disruptive sets of technologies at the service of research and innovation. It acts as a catalyst for scientific breakthroughs and is rapidly becoming a key instrument in the scientific process in all research areas.
On April 15, SAM will release the advice on how the European Commission can accelerate the responsible take-up of AI in science in the EU. The release of the evidence review report and policy recommendations will be marked by a ceremony in the presence of EVP Vestager and Commissioner Ivanova.
You can follow the event here.

Joint meeting of the ERAC and the Working Party on Research
2024-04-11 - 2024-04-12 | Namur
More info here

New European Bauhaus Festival 2024
2024-04-09 - 2024-04-14 | Art & History Museum, Parc du Cinquantenaire / Jubelpark 10, Brussels, Belgium
The Festival of the New European Bauhaus is returning for its second edition on 9-14 April 2024!
From 9-14 April 2024, the highly anticipated Festival of the New European Bauhaus will once again bring together people from all across the globe to share their vision and actions for a future that is sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive.
This year’s edition of the Festival will feature a diverse and fully-packed programme with discussion panels, exhibitions, art performances, satellite events, and much more.
During the event, global industry leaders, opinion thinkers, innovation experts, artists, and cultural figures will get together to discuss crucial topics, including shelter and living environments, land and water, fashion, and human well-being, all within the context of environmental changes.
The Festival programme will span across four tracks of activities:

Forum - a platform for engaging discussions and the exchange of ideas surrounding the New European Bauhaus.
Fair - a laboratory and exhibition highlighting projects and prototypes that align with and support the core values of the New European Bauhaus.
Fest - a celebration that unites culture, art, and conviviality, serving as a moment of collective rejoicing, honoring freedom of expression and embracing radical, innovative, and disruptive ideas and visions.
Satellite events: events and initiatives organised independently in Brussels and beyond, with core activities in line with the New European Bauhaus values.

The Festival will also feature the New European Bauhaus Prizes, recognising projects, designs, and ideas that align with the movement’s commitment to shaping a sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive future for Europe. A total of 20 winners from all across Europe will be awarded this year at an official Prize ceremony.
More information

Mutual Learning Exercise on Industrial Decarbonisation
2024-04-09 - 2024-04-10 | Brussels
The Mutual Learning Exercise (MLE) is an established instrument of the EU to promote the exchange of best practices among the participating countries and to allow countries to learn from each other and from the experts.
The MLE on Industrial Decarbonisation is expected to contribute to achieving the Green Deal. 12 European countries have committed in early 2023 to participate in this MLE. This will help countries to effectively address the challenges of reducing carbon emissions in the industrial sector and move towards a more sustainable future. The ultimate goal of this MLE is faster deployment of new technology, business solutions, and models to facilitate the transition to a climate-neutral continent, while also strengthening Europe’s industrial sector.
After four intensive thematic sessions, this dissemination event has the aim to spread and discuss the results to a broader professional audience.
The Mutual Learning Exercice on Industrial Decarbonisation is organized by the European Commission (DG Research and Innovation). The aim is to contribute to achieving the Green Deal by serving as a platform for participating countries to discuss their specific needs and interests, exchange experiences and knowledge about success factors and lessons learned, and provide guidance to policy makers on how to develop or update their industrial technology roadmaps and sector-specific strategies for industrial decarbonization.
The ultimate goal of this MLE is faster deployment of new technology, business solutions, and models to facilitate the transition to a climate-neutral continent, while also strengthening Europe’s industrial sector.
The dissemination activities are the final step in this exercice. They are held under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as both regional authorities of Flanders and Wallonia are participating in the MLE as representatives of Belgium.
Part 1
Part I concerns an event on invitation in Brussels. Invitations are sent to Government experts from MLE countries, outside MLE country participants, MLE experts, and senior managers of industry, business and research associations. It aims at presenting the results of the project to a wider group of participants, with the focus on discussing impact and lessons learned from the MLE and follow up.
The event will feature a keynote speech by a high-level speaker who will set the scene for the subsequent discussions. After a presentation, made by the Chair, of the MLE results and the policy recommendations identified and validated during the project, the open event will have a panel discussion to debate the next steps on how the policy recommendations can be applied. This panel discussion, moderated by the European Commission, will gather speakers from the MLE participating countries and industry representatives.
In between the two sessions, a short presentation from the European Commission, DG Research and Innovation on a new action plan on decarbonisation of the EU energy-intensive industries will take place.
Part II
Part II concerns several closed sessions (restricted to the MLE participants, project team and targeted invitees), combined with site visits in both Wallonia and Flanders. It aims at discussing, among practitioners and industry representatives, concrete actions that can be applied by the MLE participants to put into practice the lessons learned during the exercise, with the objective of increasing the impact of the MLE and follow up.
Wallonia
The MLE participants are invited to the Wallonia region, to visit the CRM Group premisses, with a focus on industry pilots. Afterwards, two panel discussions, with invited speakers mainly from the industry, aim at debating the industry decarbonisation strategy of Wallonia (with an emphasis on the role of SMEs), the role of CCU with the presentation of the project Columbus by Carmeuse, and the role of green hydrogen in the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, with several interventions from the industry and public authorities. The day will end with a networking cocktail with invited members of the Belgium Hydrogen Council.
Flanders
On the second day, the MLE participants will move to Genk (Flanders), to have further discussions on the role of inter-regional collaboration, industry-symbiosis, regulatory sandboxes and the role of green electricity, infrastructure and logistics for industrial decarbonisation. A first set of presentations from representatives of EnergyVille and from the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and North Sea Port will provide to the MLE participants concrete examples and best practices of industry-symbiosis, electrification, logistics and regulatory sandboxes.
After that, a panel discussion bringing together public actors from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany aspires to bring insights about interregional collaboration, in line with the policy recommendations. Finally, a site visit to the EnergyVille premisses will again showcase good examples of industrial decarbonisation in Belgium.
More info here

4th Workshop on Neuroengineering: Brain-on-a-Chip Platforms - i3S – Institute of Research and Innovation in Health.
2024-04-04 10:00 - 2024-04-05 17:00 (Europe/Lisbon) | Porto, Portugal
In recent years, brain-on-a-chip platforms have emerged as very promising tools to recapitulate important features of brain structure and function within miniaturized and engineered devices. In this workshop, we will discuss the most recent advances in the field, ranging from microfabrication to brain-on-a-chip applications in disease modeling. This workshop aims at promoting an intellectually stimulating environment where new ideas can be exchanged and new collaborations can be forged. By integrating hands-on practical sessions, the workshop also gives the possibility for the interested participants to try basic techniques used in neuroengineering.
This 4th edition of the WoN includes 3 selected short-talks from students and junior researchers, as well as a poster session. We thus invite the participants to submit their recent work on neuroengineering, particularly on brain-on-a-chip platforms.
Organizers: Paulo Aguiar, Miguel Aroso, José Mateus
Target audience:
Researchers and students (MSc and PhD) working in neuroscience/neurobiology, biomedical engineering, biophysics, and related fields. The hands-on practical sessions are targeted for students (MSc and PhD) but are in fact open to everyone. Every practical session has a duration of 3h and each participant can only choose (register) one hands-on practical session.

Venue

The workshop will be held at i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde.
Rua Alfredo Allen, 208; 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
Tel: +351 226 074 900 | Site: http://www.i3s.up.pt/ | E-mail: events@i3s.up.pt
GPS coordinates: 41º 10’ 30.008’’ N, 8º 36’ 12.488’’ W.

Program

First day | 4th April 2024
09:45 Welcome Coffee
10:00 Microelectrode arrays and microfluidics for the recording of reconstructed neuronal junctions and organoids
Benoît Charlot, CNRS and University of Montpellier, France
10:45 BrainChip4Med – a brain-on-a-chip platform to screen smart nanomedicines to treat neurodegenerative diseases
Raquel Rodrigues, University of Minho, Portugal
11:30 hiPSC-derived neurospheroids to depict the three-dimensional neuronal microenvironment in disease and therapeutic response
Catarina Brito, IBET and ITQB-NOVA, Portugal
12:15 Lunch
14:00 Engineering Forebrain Organoids from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Modeling Rett Syndrome (RTT)
Margarida Diogo, iBB and IST, Portugal
14:45 Selected Orals (x3)
15:30 Meet the Speakers & Coffee Break
16:15 Posters
16:45 Modeling peripheral innervation of physio-pathological bioengineered microtissues
Estrela Neto, i3S, Portugal
17:30 Leveraging spontaneous activity in human stem cell-derived neurons to model neurodevelopmental disorders
Nael Nadif Kasri, Radboud University, Netherlands
18:15 Concluding Remarks

Second day | 5th April 2024
09:30-12:30 Hands-on practical morning session
14:00-17:00 Hands-on practical afternoon session

Hands-on Practical Sessions
The hands-on sessions will take place as long as the minimum number of participants is reached (2).
S1 – Basics of Neuronal Cell Cultures. This session is intended to provide introductory training in the basic requirements for successful cell culturing. With this hands-on training session, the participants will get acquainted with a number of valuable resources and guidelines required to maintain a cell culture. [Responsible: Ana Marote, NCN/i3S].
S2 – Preparation of brain-on-a-chip platforms. Brain-on-a-chip platforms have been increasingly used in neuroscience, as they allow to mimic neural circuits through spatial and/or fluidic compartmentalization of cells, as well as to model several neuropathological scenarios. During this session, participants will be introduced to brain-on-a-chip platforms and will be able to prepare their own microfluidic devices. [Responsible: Sara Silva, NCN/i3S]
S3 – Memristive artificial synapses: from device principles to neuromorphic applications. Neuromorphic devices, such as memristors, use the brain’s structure and operation principles as a promising solution for modern computational storage and processing demands. This session will provide an introduction to the memristor, followed by the electrical characterization of some devices. [Responsible: Catarina Dias, IFIMUP].
S4 – Introduction to NEURON – in silico neuroscience and detailed simulations of neurons in a computer. This session gives an introduction to the NEURON simulation environment, a well-established tool for in silico neuroscience. Participants will learn how to perform biophysically detailed simulations of single neurons and small neuronal circuits. Participants are requested to bring their laptops for this session. [Responsible: Paulo Aguiar, NCN/i3S].
S5 – Principles of microelectrode arrays (MEA) electrophysiology. Microelectrode array (MEA) technology enables electrophysiological recording and/or stimulation of hundreds of neurons simultaneously. In this session, the participants will get acquainted with the principles of MEA experiments and have the possibility to evoke and record extracellular signals from neuronal networks. [Responsible: José Mateus, NCN/i3S].
S6 – Imaging neuronal activity with Calcium dyes. Calcium dyes are used to monitor neuronal activity by assessing the resulting intracellular changes in Ca2+ concentration. In this session, participants will have the opportunity to image neuronal cell cultures labeled with a calcium dye and analyze the acquired data with software developed in-house. [Responsible: Miguel Aroso, NCN/i3S].

Speakers

Benoît Charlot (CNRS and University of Montpellier, France)

Raquel Rodrigues (University of Minho, Portugal)

Catarina Brito (IBET and ITQB-NOVA, Portugal)

Margarida Diogo (iBB and IST, Portugal)

Estrela Neto (i3S, Portugal)

Nael Nadif Kasri (Radboud University, Netherlands)

Abstract Submission

This 4th edition of the WoN will include 3 selected short-talks from students and junior researchers, as well as a poster session. We thus invite the participants to submit their recent work on neuroengineering, specifically on brain-on-a-chip platforms.
Your submitted Abstract should be 1 page PDF with no more than 500 words but may include figures.
The call for abstracts will be open until 5th December 2023.
Abstract template >>
Abstract submission form >>

Registration

A participant can register for the lectures only (4th April 2024) or for both lectures and one hands-on session. The registration fees include the coffee breaks and lunch (4th April 2024 only) and the necessary hands-on session materials. Please notice that the number of seats is limited (for both lectures and practical sessions). Participation will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis, upon confirmation of registration fee payment. The time slot (morning or afternoon) for each practical session is subject to confirmation. This information will be provided to the participants upon registration.
Registration fees:

Early bird registration: 8th January 2024
Payment deadline: 8th January 2024
Regular registration: 8th February 2024
Payment deadline: 8th February 2024

Lectures only
75€
100€

Full workshop
(Lectures & 1 Hands-On Session)
100€
120€

Registration form >>

MORE INFORMATION
Events Management Unit | Rua Alfredo Allen 208 | 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
Email: events@i3s.up.pt | Tel: +351 226 074 900

EU-US Trade and Technology Council
2024-04-04 - 2024-04-05 | Leuven, Belgium
As holder of the current presidency of the Council of the European Union, Belgium will host the sixth meeting of the TTC on 4 and 5 April in the university town of Leuven.
TTC
The EU-US Trade and Technology Council was founded in June 2021 and serves as the foremost platform for transatlantic cooperation on trade and technology.
The meetings are traditionally co-chaired by EVPs Valdis Dombrovskis and Margrethe Vestager, as well as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Previous editions were held in Pittsburgh, Paris, Washington DC, Lulea and Washington DC again.
The program
Preliminary activities and side-meetings are foreseen on 4 April, with the formal conference taking place in the morning of 5 April. The formal meeting is followed by a press conference, concluding the official program of the TTC. A more detailed overview of the program will be released in due course.

Connecting Europe Days
2024-04-02 - 2024-04-05
Connecting Europe Days

Join us for Connecting Europe Days 2024, Europe’s mobility flagship event, on 2-5 April at the SQUARE in Brussels, Belgium.
Connecting Europe Days will bring together politicians, financial institutions, industry representatives, transport stakeholders and the European Commission to discuss concrete measures and exchange good practices on creating a fully decarbonised, resilient, seamless and digital transport and mobility network in Europe. It will take stock of the ambitious goals set out in the EU Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

The revised trans-European transport network (TEN-T) Regulation, with the launch of nine new European Transport Corridors and a revamped governance system led by eleven European TEN-T Coordinators, will be a central point of the discussions, as will the future of infrastructure funding and financing. Participants will also address the question of infrastructure climate resilience.
Threats to transport connectivity, including Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, have repeatedly put the functioning of the EU Single Market at risk in recent years. Conference sessions will look at the EU transport network, its role in ensuring connectivity with the EU’s neighbours, and its preparedness and resilience against external threats.
Participants will see state-of-the art innovations first-hand at an exhibition of EU-funded projects.
The event is being organised together with the upcoming Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Programme

Register now

Exhibition

Meeting - Networking Cocktail: "Impulse to Clean Power for Transport"
2024-04-02 | Bozar, Rue Ravenstein / Ravensteinstraat 23, Brussels, Belgium
This networking cocktail is a side event of the Connecting Europe Days, Europe’s mobility flagship event, on 2-5 April in Brussels, Belgium, that will bring together politicians, financial institutions, industry representatives, transport stakeholders and the European Commission to discuss concrete measures and exchange good practices on creating a fully decarbonised, resilient, seamless and digital transport and mobility network in Europe. It will take stock of the ambitious goals set out in the EU Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.
Following the adoption of the alternative fuels infrastructure regulation (AFIR) in 2023, more user-friendly recharging and refuelling stations for alternative fuels will be deployed in the coming years across Europe enabling the transport sector to significantly reduce its carbon footprint. While the way to go and strategy for deployment is clear in a number of countries, already reflected in substantial market progress, there are still a number of challenges to tackle in order to meet the targets as set by AFIR Europe-wide and even go beyond those ambitions where the needs are higher. We need to prevent infrastructure bottlenecks to be a determining factor in our pathway to success towards greening transport, while increasing efficiency, shifting flows to more environmentally friendly modes and avoiding trips all together. All these pieces of the puzzle need to fall into place to reach a successful multimodal and sustainable mobility ecosystem!

The Flemish Government, as part of the Belgian EU Presidency, organizes this event to give a powerful impulse to clean power for transport and activate the network at the start of the Connecting Europe Days. The minister of Mobility and Public Works will open the session with an introduction on Flemish policies and outlooks on clean power for transport. A lively panel debate on the subject including international speakers will be followed by a cocktail reception and walking diner to get an informal discussion going between the participants. To end the night, the Flemish Government offers a nocturnal guided tour of the venue, the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR), with an exhibition celebrating 100 years of surrealism, Belgium’s famous avant-garde movement that goes beyond the purely aesthetic and wants to transform the world with their subversive art, also through international interactions. This might be just what greening transport needs!

Venue: Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) – Ballroom “Rotonde Bertouille” – entrance via Rue Baron Horta – limited to 120 guests
Indicative programme

17h00-18h00: Arrival
18h00-18h10: Welcome Speech minister of Mobility and Public Works (Flemish government)
18h10-19h15: Moderated Panel Debate
19h15-21h30: Network Cocktail and Walking Dinner
20h15: Possibility to start Nocturnal Guided Tour (optional, 1h, in groups of 10-15, languages Dutch/French/English)
23h00: End

Sign up for this event here

Free Live Webinar: Open Access in Horizon Europe
2024-03-27 10:30 - 11:30 (Europe/Brussels)
Are you drafting your first Horizon Europe proposal, and struggling to implement open-access practices in your proposal?
Open Access, as part of the open science approach, is strongly present in Horizon Europe and most likely will be present in the upcoming Framework Programme.
Therefore, throughout our upcoming session, you’ll find an answer to the following series of questions:

What is Open Access and why is it important for the EC?
What are the types of outputs that Open Access can provide?
What is the difference between Green and Golden Open Access?
Where do I reflect it in my Horizon Europe application?
How and where do I reflect Open Access in my budget?

When: 27 March 2024, at 10:30 AM CET
Participation is free of charge.
Technical information:

You will receive an email confirming your registration after submitting the form (available here).
The webinar will be up to 1-hour long.
A recording of the session will be shared with participants following the event.
This live webinar has a limited number of open spots available.
Enspire Science reserves the right to cancel this event up to 24 hours ahead of time due to insufficient participants or unforeseen circumstances.

If you have any questions, please contact enspire@enspire-science.com

Online COST Info Day 2024
2024-03-27 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
This online info session is open to all researchers and innovators at any career stage and from any field of research, especially young researchers. The aim is to inform the research community on how to participate in COST Actions or submit a COST Action proposal, the role and impact of the COST programme, and the benefits of the COST offer.
Technical details
Registration via this page (see bottom) is required to receive the communications sent before and after the webinar.
27 March 2024, 10:00-11:30 CET, Brussels/Paris/Madrid time zone
Zoom link to join the webinar: https://cost-eu.zoom.us/j/82675048762
The capacity in Zoom is limited to the first 1000 attendees who join the webinar. Once the limit is reached, the livestreaming can be followed on COST’s YouTube channel. Please note that Q&A will only be possible via Zoom.
Programme overview
10:00 | Welcome and introduction | Director of the COST Association
10:10 | What is COST and how to participate in a COST Action? | COST Governance Officer
10:30 | How to submit an application? | COST Science Officer
10:50 | Which networking activities are funded within COST Actions? | COST Administrative Officer
11:00 | What are the benefits of participating in COST? | COST Action representative
11:15 | Q&A
11:30 | End of the session
Contact email
For enquiries before/after the webinar: events@cost.eu

One Hour with Europe appointment on Dual-Use White Paper with EC DG RTD Director Maria Cristina Russo
2024-03-21 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
At the end of January 2024, the European Commission published a White Paper on options for enhancing support of Research and Development (R&D) of technologies with dual-use potential. This is a part of a larger package designed to enhance the EU’s economic security, while upholding “the openness of trade, investment and research” for the EU’s economy.
The White Paper launches a public consultation where the stakeholders are asked to share their views on how dual use research should be handled in the future FP10.
The three options can be summarised as:
i) Building upon the current approach established under Horizon Europe,
ii) Removing the exclusive focus on civil applications in selected parts of the successor program to Horizon Europe,
iii) Creating a dedicated instrument with a specific focus on R&D with dual-use potential.
The public consultation allows a comprehensive dialogue with stakeholders that should reflect on aspects like:
What are the challenges and opportunities related to increased focus on dual-use research and how can the related consultation impact the successor programme to Horizon Europe?
What are the implications for researchers and innovators from civil or defense domains, and how can the EU foster open and safem research cooperation among research organisations? How could this influence European competitiveness and the EU economic security?
In this One Hour with Europe, we are happy to welcome Director for Global Approach and International Cooperation in R&I in DG RTD, European Commission Maria Cristina Russo that will present the White Paper and the related public consultation and will be available to answer to the questions of the participants on this webinar.
The online event will find place on Thursday, 21st of March, at 14:00-15:00. Register before the 20th of March at 12:00 CET to receive the link to the webinar room.
Click here to register

European Research and Innovation Days (R&I Days) 2024
2024-03-20 09:00 - 2024-03-21 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
The Research and Innovation Week (R&I Week) will take place between 18 and 21 March 2024 both, online and physically in Tour & Taxis (Brussels, Belgium).
Celebrating the 40-year journey through the Research and Innovation Framework Programmes, the R&I Week 2024 will debate the future of R&I and shape the contribution to EU political priorities, in particular the EU Tech Sovereignty and Competitiveness.
The R&I Week 2024 gives you the opportunity to attend:

18 March: The opening of the R&I Week
19 March: The EIC Summit 2024
19-20 March: The Belgian Presidency Conference on Innovation Procurement
20-21 March: The European R&I Days 2024

Iliana Ivanova, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said:
“Join me for the Research and Innovation Week 2024! As we work together to make the EU a global leader in research and innovation, it’s an excellent moment to commemorate past achievements, engage with in current endeavours, and lay the foundations for a future that embodies EU priorities.”
Meet thousands of policymakers, researchers, innovators and other stakeholders, and discover high-level speakers, policy debates, funding and networking opportunities, dedicated workshops, pitching sessions to investors and exhibitions showcasing EU-funded projects.
The Research and Innovation Week is a series of events organised by the European Commission and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
News and updates will be regularly shared here and on social media. Follow us on Twitter on #RIWeek2024.

Investor Day on Sustainability & Deep Tech
2024-03-19 08:30 - 19:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
Unlock Your Company’s Potential at the EIC Summit: Investor Day on Sustainability & Deep Tech on 19 March 2024

Rita Catalao

3 minutes

Calling all trailblazers in sustainability and deep tech! The European Innovation Council (EIC) invites you to seize a unique opportunity at the upcoming EIC Summit. If you’re an EIC Fund-selected beneficiary, this is your chance to pitch to an elite audience of investors, including names like Amadeus Capital Partners, ArcTern Ventures, Astanor, BASF Venture Capital GmbH, Capricorn Partners, Diffusion Capital Partners, eCapital, Eurazeo, Experior Venture Fund, First Venture Partners, Global Brains, HV Capital, Industrifonden, imec.xpand, Indaco Venture Partners SGR, Iris Capital, Kiko Ventures, Matterwave Ventures, Munich Venture Partners, Project A, PVS Investments, Speedinvest, Statkraft Ventures, G-Force, World Fund and more to be announced.
Are you at the forefront of Quantum, Photonics & Semiconductors, AI, Connectivity & IoT, Industrial Biotech & New Materials, Agritech & Food, or Energy Transition? If so, you’re exactly who we’re looking for. This event is tailor-made for innovators ready to elevate their projects in these critical sectors.
Apply to pitch your solution now!
Submit your application before 15 January
When filling out the form, please select the session that includes your company’s vertical and make sure you submit the information of the person who will be pitching.

When?
19 March 2024, from 8:30 to 19:00 CET.

Where?
At the Maison de la Poste, Brussels.

Who can apply?
Before applying, make sure that your company matches one of the following descriptions:
• H2020 EIC Accelerator Pilot blended finance company, which has received the grant and investment component;
• EIC Accelerator Horizon Europe company selected for grant first, blended finance or investment only.

For which session should I apply?
The selected companies will be distributed across 5 different pitching sessions, according to the following verticals:
1. Quantum, Photonics & Semiconductors
2. AI, Connectivity & IoT
3. Industrial Biotech & New Materials
4. Agritech & Food
5. Energy Transition
You should only submit the registration form once. If your company’s technology can be classified under several verticals, please choose the session that includes the area of expertise which you think best matches your solution.

How will I know if I’ve been selected?
Once you’ve submitted the application form, your profile will be shared with the event’s jury members, who will base their selection on the information you’ve submitted, as well as their investment preferences. Please note that any information you submit is also liable to be shared in an upcoming call for investors, as well as an event brochure.
We will then contact you to inform you if your application has been successful, or if you were not chosen by the investors this time.
If you have any objections to the use of your information or any questions regarding the event, please contact us through the email: investments@eicfund.eu.

What can I expect from the EIC Summit 2024?
Beyond the chance to pitch to investors, you’ll immerse yourself in the EIC Summit 2024 experience. This includes keynote speeches, workshops, and exclusive access to networking opportunities.
Read more about the EIC Summit 2024.
Consult the preliminary programme for the beneficiaries day, 19 March.
Learn more about the venue.

Why is the EIC organizing this ePitching?
This opportunity is brought to you by the EIC Ecosystem Partnerships and Co-Investment Support Programme, which is expanding the EIC’s Business Acceleration Services (BAS). The programme includes a component to promote co-investment along with the EIC Fund, by preparing beneficiaries to interact with investors and connecting them through matchmaking and dedicated events. It is also supporting EIC innovators by creating a network of specialized, sector-focused EIC Partners to help them access the services they need.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.

International conference CBRNE Research & Innovation
2024-03-19 - 2024-03-21 | Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
The last 40 years have demonstrated that both military and civilian populations could be exposed to highly hazardous CBRNE agents following conflicts, natural outbreaks and disasters, industrial incidents or terrorist attacks.
Worldwide, researchers, responders and industrial capacities have been commited to provide adapted response to these challenges.
Building on the success of the first 5 International Conferences « CBRNE Research and Innovation » which took place in Antibes (2015), Lyon (2017), Nantes (2019), on line (2021) and Lille (2022), we want to give you a new opportunity to build up or strengthen collaborative networks in Strabourg (March 19th – 21rst 2024).
The CBRNE R&I Conference is specifically devoted to scientific updates, responders’ feedbacks and expression of needs. It also includes workshops and demonstrations of innovative materials, technologies and procedures, according to the following themes: DETECTION – IDENTIFICATION, PROTECTION – DECONTAMINATION, MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES, RISKS & CRISIS MANAGEMENT.
Looking forward to your proposals for communication and to welcoming you at Strasbourg in March 2024!
2024 Information
September 1, 2023: Opening of registrations (click here). Start of submission of abstracts (click here)
January 7, 2024: Abstracts submission deadline
January 25, 2024: Authors notification
February 1, 2024: Late registrations
March 4, 2024: Closing of registrations
March 19 – 21, 2024: Conference in Strasbourg
Register here.

Webinar: Framework Programme Working Group on STEP
2024-03-14 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Online
On March 14, Science Business will host DG RTD’s Anna Panagopoulou, Director for ERA and Innovation, for a closed-door conversation on the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The discussions around STEP have left many in doubt about the perspective of this initiative and its impact on research funding, with the proposed €10 billion in additional endowments reduced to a simple €1.5 billion addition to the European Defence Fund. This will be a unique occasion to get some insight on the work that surrounded STEP, how the process was conducted and what the perspectives are for the year(s) to come.
Registrations are open here.

Horizon Europe: Where next for lump-sum funding and simplification? Private S|B Network FP Working Group webinar
2024-03-14 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
In a move towards the simplification of R&I grant implementation, the EC has introduced (among other measures) lump sum funding in Horizon Europe. While the original intention was to reduce administration and financial errors, the launch of the methodology was hampered by real-life circumstances. The energy crisis and the subsequent inflation in costs of living have shadowed the changes the EU Commission was planning to bring about, with some stakeholders casting doubts on the benefits of lump sum funding. Science|Business will dive into the formalities of the process in this Network members-only webinar, trying to shed light on the future of the mechanism.

European Ocean Days
2024-03-04 08:00 - 2024-03-08 17:00 (Europe/Lisbon)
Organised for the first time in 2024, European Ocean Days will be a week of events related to European maritime topics.
It will cover, on separate days over the week, the EU Mission Ocean and Waters, future priorities for Europe’s seas, blue innovation and investment opportunities, as well as ocean literacy activities.
The event includes:
the Mission Ocean & Waters Forum on Tuesday 5 March 2024 combined with a matchmaking event on Monday, 4 March 2024
an event on what the future priorities might be for Europe’s Seas, on Wednesday, 6 March 2024
the BlueInvest Day on Thursday, 7 March 2024
Ocean Literacy in Action on Friday, 8 March 2024.
Registration
More information
What to expect:
Day 1 – Matchmaking event: This event (upon invitation only) will be held back-to-back with the Mission Restore our Ocean And Waters Forum. This event will be an opportunity to network with EU Mission projects, Charter signatories and philanthropists, Foundation etc…
Day 2 – 2nd Annual Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters Forum: The aim of this recurrent event is the stocktaking of the year that passed and mobilising a wide range of stakeholders to deploy solutions and facilitate their upscaling towards the restoration of our waters. The expected outcome is showcasing innovative solutions developed under the Mission, discuss how key stakeholders, such as the regions, local authorities and the private sectors are involved in implementing the Mission and how different streams of finance are being mobilised to support the scaling and deployment of solutions for reaching the Mission objectives: to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, boost coastal resilience, eliminate pollution, and make the blue economy climate-neutral and circular.
Day 3 – Where next for Europe’s Seas?: The aim of this specific event is to contribute to Europe’s reflections on what future priorities might be for Europe’s Seas. Discussions would consider not only policy needs, but also the wider economic, technological and social transformations that are occurring within Europe and beyond. In essence, the question to be addressed is: What, in this wider, evolving future landscape, might be the pathways for Europe’s Seas, with a perspective to 2050?
Day 4 – BlueInvest Day: This annual event is designed to catalyse investment and innovation initiatives within the Blue Economy, promoting sustainability and transformative impact across industries. Participants will discuss how to increase the market uptake for innovative ocean technologies, make smart investment decisions and scale financing for a sustainable blue economy. In addition to a pitch competition for the prestigious BlueInvest Awards, the event will feature inspiring speakers, networking opportunities and the new edition of the BlueInvest Investor Report, a comprehensive resource providing a roadmap for strategic investment in the Blue Economy. We invite you to be a part of this gathering of visionaries, entrepreneurs and investors committed to fostering innovation and sustainability in the EU Blue Economy.
Day 5 – Ocean Literacy in Action: This event aims to contribute to improved public knowledge about the ocean. It will bring visibility to the collective achievements of the three communities of the EU4Ocean (platform, youth forum and network of blue schools) as well as international initiatives on ocean literacy (with IOC-UNESCO). It will also showcase the importance of ocean literacy in Europe and beyond, including its role in supporting sustainable blue businesses, and R&I/Mission Ocean projects. This event will contribute to the International Women’s Day, illustrating women’s role in ocean science, art and education.

Access conditions to Technology Infrastructures
2024-02-27 09:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
We are delighted to announce that the European Commission in collaboration with the Belgian Presidency of the Council is organising a workshop on “Access conditions to Technology Infrastructures” on 27th February 2024.
The workshop is organised at Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Place Sainctelette 2, 1080 Brussels.
Join us in person or online in charting the course for the future of Technology Infrastructure policy in Europe!
The workshop will address the critical role of Technology Infrastructures (TIs) in driving innovation and competitiveness.
Participants will discuss current access practices, barriers, and best practices, focusing on the diverse needs of users.
Specifically tailored for TI managers, private and public users, and stakeholders, the workshop seeks to identify bottlenecks hindering broad access to TIs and examine available support schemes for SMEs and startups.
Please find enclosed to this invitation the concept and draft agenda, providing additional information on the Workshop. Further details on the remaining speakers will follow soon.
Registrations are open until 15 February 2024 or until the maximum capacity of the venue is reached for in-person participation.

CoARA National Chapters Exchange Forum
2024-02-22 - 2024-02-23 | Porto, Portugal
National Chapters are critical in fostering collaboration among national CoARA member organisations and supporting them in their implementation of the commitments outlined in the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment.
For the first time, high-level representatives of National Chapters and interested parties in setting up a CoARA National Chapter, are coming together at the CoARA National Chapters Exchange Forum in Porto, Portugal on February 22-23, 2024. The upcoming forum is organised in collaboration with INESC-TEC, FCT, University of Minho, and Science Europe. With the National Chapters Exchange Forum a platform is created to facilitate knowledge sharing among county-specific CoARA communities of practice.
The CoARA National Chapters Exchange Forum is set to cultivate a dynamic exchange of insights and experiences among representatives of existing and prospective CoARA National Chapters along topics such as local contexts and motivations for initiating a chapter, reflections on challenges and good practices, and fostering a multilingual CoARA. Objectives of the National Chapters Exchange Forum are to explore collaboration potentials and possibilities of building synergies; as well as to collectively respond to open questions around the design of National Chapters and inspire CoARA members in countries without a National Chapter to initiate one.

Forming country-level communities of practice to implement CoARA
CoARA member organisations follow a shared direction and a collective commitment to the principles of the reform. However, the success of implementing these principles hinges on a nuanced understanding of the diverse geographical, regional, institutional, and disciplinary contexts in which CoARA member organizations are situated. Despite a shared direction and shared core commitments, the “one size doesn’t fit all” approach carries a special relevance and value in putting their practical commitments to the reform in practice.
National Chapters are specifically geared towards assisting CoARA member organisations in implementing the shared direction of the reform and its core commitments outlined in the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment within a national or regional context.
Initiated by CoARA members, the establishment of National Chapters is a voluntary endeavour, and any CoARA member from the respective country is invited to participate in the call for their National Chapter. Over a two-year timeframe, National Chapters are entrusted with the responsibility of developing specific outputs that contribute to the comprehensive implementation of the Agreement within their national context(s). Their mandate goes beyond existing efforts in the country, emphasising inclusivity by involving at least half of the national CoARA member organisations.
To ensure a broader spectrum of participation, mechanisms are established to allow organisations, both within and outside CoARA, to contribute to and benefit from the National Chapter. Essential to the success of National Chapters is a commitment to sharing lessons learnt with other chapters and fostering synergies with relevant CoARA Working Groups. This collaborative approach strengthens the impact of CoARA’s mission on responsible research assessment practices.
So far, 12 countries formed National Chapters: and three prospective Chapters are currently being proposed or are under evaluation. You can access the full inventory of them and browse their work plans here.

Ongoing Call for CoARA National Chapters
In 2023 CoARA launched a Call for CoARA members to form National Chapters – this Call is on an ongoing basis and therefore members invited to take part under the conditions outline in the call document and to submit their application via the dedicated online form.
Join us in Porto
If you are a CoARA member organisation with an interest in forming a National Chapter and would like to learn from the experiences of existing chapters, you are invited to participate at the National Chapters Exchange Forum in Porto (22-23, February). However please note, there are limited seats available onsite – an online option will be available to follow the event. Invitations have been sent by email. If you have not received an invitation and you represent a CoARA member organisation, or your require more information, please reach out to the CoARA secretariat: secretariat@coara.eu

What’s on the Horizon? Framing the next 40 years of European R&I
2024-02-13 09:00 - 17:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
In 2024, the EU will reach an important milestone: the 40th anniversary of the launch of its first Framework Programme (FP) for research. On the occasion of its annual Network conference, Science|Business – which will more modestly celebrate 20 years of its own existence – will convene international leaders from across the science, technology and innovation spectrum to take stock of what the FPs have delivered to date, analyse their impact on Europe and on global R&D cooperation, and discuss future directions for the EU in science and technology.
Among the central themes to be addressed: As the EU institutions and member-states begin their deliberations on what will succeed Horizon Europe, how should the Framework Programme evolve in its 10th edition, and is the current approach the best in the long run? Is Europe ready to invest what it takes to remain a global leader in critical technology domains? Can policy and regulation keep pace with breakthrough science and drive innovation in industrial R&D ecosystems? What will the world look like 40 years from now, and what will be the role of science and technology in ensuring the planet remains a safe, clean and healthy place to live? And given current geopolitical trends, how to ensure that the world continues to work together on R&I and not follow divergent paths?
On February 12-13, join us in Brussels and online – along with past, current and possibly future architects of the Framework Programme – for a celebration of the EU’s journey to date, and more importantly a forward-looking exploration of what the next four decades may hold.

Rethink, reform or replace: How should the EU approach the design of FP10? Private S|B Network series of workshops
2024-02-12 13:00 - 17:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Brussels
Although more than four years away, the public debate has already begun regarding the structure and orientation of the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research. On February 12, Science|Business will convene a series of in-depth workshops and debates, exclusively for members of its international Network, to develop concrete ideas about how to address some of the key issues which have emerged during Horizon Europe, and which will undoubtedly influence strategic decisions regarding its successor.

Preliminary agenda

Programme

12:00 Registration and buffet lunch
12:45 Welcome, Context & Objectives
13:00 PARALLEL WORKSHOPS I
Member-only discussions to develop ideas / sharpen recommendations around:
Workshop 1: The programme problem
With new R&I funds and programmes proliferating outside the Framework Programme, and Horizon’s budget constantly under threat of being raided, is the idea of a comprehensive, one-size-fits all Framework Progamme still valid? Or is it time to invent a totally different structure for R&I funding?
Workshop 2: The synergies problem
Should Framework Programmes promote science and tech excellence, or European cohesion? Horizon Europe tries to have it both ways – but few are happy with the results, and synergies between R&I and cohesion funds seem as elusive as ever. Is it possible to have it both ways, and if so how?
Workshop 3: The selection problem
With AI already transforming the funding landscape, and the wasted resources of failed applications a longstanding but growing concern, should we rethink the entire grant assessment and allocation process? After 40 years of frustration, can anybody come up with a fairer, simpler way of doing things?
14:15 COFFEE BREAK
14:45 PARALLEL WORKSHOPS II
Member-only discussions to develop ideas / sharpen recommendations around:
Workshop 4: The defence problem
As the world gets scarier, security is rising in national priorities everywhere, but questions persist about the EU’s role in developing new military and dual-use technologies. Against this backdrop, what would be the best way to structure defence R&I – inside or outside the FP, or left alone to member-states and alliances?
Workshop 5: The partnerships problem
Despite years of prodding, big European companies still spend less on R&D than US or Chinese counterparts. Meanwhile, Europe’s large-scale industry-led initiatives have become leviathans, with SMEs and others struggling to access them. So is there a better way to organise public-private cooperation than partnerships, and what else could revitalise corporate R&I?
Workshop 6: The international problem
With geopolitical tensions rising, strategic autonomy has become a policy meme in Brussels – yet the EU is also seeking new Framework agreements with countries far from Europe. Should FPs be Europe-first or a tool for international diplomacy? Can these seemingly contradictory goals be reconciled?
16:00 Transition break
16:15 Plenary session – Preparing for FP10: How can research and industry support the COM in planning for the future?
2024 will be a pivotal year for Europe, thanks to Parliamentary elections and the appointment of a new Commission – but with political mandates and the implications for R&I as yet unknown, which foundations need to be laid now to prepare for 2025 and beyond? In this closing plenary, current EU representatives and Science|Business Network leaders will discuss the way forward and how R&I organisations can most effectively contribute.
17:15 Close of session
