In today’s Insider Newsletter:

Freedom and independence of R&I – The Insider Weekly episode

Don’t miss the new episode of “The Insider”, INESC Brussels Hub’s podcast, this time featuring Andreia Passos, Head of INESC TEC’s International Relations Service.

In this week’s podcast we are talking about freedom, academic and research freedom more precisely. This is obviously a key issue for R&I since freedom to define our research and innovation pathways is at the heart of the scientific method. But we all know that freedom is relative… For example, when set in a capitalist, liberal and democratic society, freedom (and many other values) can only be observed when they are universally recognized. Imagine, for example, you share all your research results in an open science paradigm, but your colleagues don’t. The lack of mutual benefit will make you think twice. Or imagine you are dependent on the knowledge or resources of a foreign entity to develop your work, or that you are not allowed to pursue a certain avenue of research by an inescapable governing power? Where is your freedom?

On the other hand, research and innovation is an inherently borderless and collaborative venture.

So, how to tackle these and other issues without limiting our freedom to research and innovate?

In a first attempt to provide research performing organizations with answers, the European Commission published a Staff Working Document on “foreign interference”, this past week (check out the link to download it in this podcast episode notes) and we sat down for an extremely interesting and engaging conversation with Andreia Passos (Head of the International Relations Service at INESC TEC) and an initial exploration of how a research performing organization such as INESC TEC is already addressing the issue.

Make sure to listen and subscribe to the episode here!

INESC Brussels Hub participates in IGLO Open on European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the Nordic Commons Project

This event, featuring presentations by Hugo van Haastert, Policy Officer at DG Santé; Maria Nilsson, Special Advisor at NordForsk; and Karoline Kristensen from Nordic Commons gave us a special insight into the preparations of the European Health Data Space and the Nordic Commons project.

Hugo van Haastert discussed the expansion of the use of health data, introducing a European infrastructure and a data catalogue that would be consented by Member States as currently there is a very fragmented landscape in the European health data space. The introduction of the Covid Safe Ticket helped expose to Member States and citizens a good example of the benefits of sharing health data for the sake of fellow Europeans.

Maria Nilsson and Karoline Kristensen discussed the status of health data sharing in the Nordic countries noting there are plenty of joint priorities in research as health has a very high priority in the political agenda of Nordic countries and similar health data sources in each country prove useful for secondary use in R&I.

The powerpoint presentations will be made available in the HUB Private Area as soon as they are shared with the event participants.

Survey to evaluate environmental requirements for future EU-funded bio-based demonstration and flagship projects

Nova-Institute and SQ Consult are conducting a study on environmental sustainability requirements of bio-based value chains and supply chains for the bio-based industry in future EU funded R&I demonstration and flagship projects.

The study has been assigned by the Circular Bio-Based Economy Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium. The study will formulate an assessment framework that provides early guidance to ensure funded projects meet certain environmental sustainability criteria and avoid awarding projects that cannot.

The survey is open until 3 February. If you want to read more about it click here.

International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre Innovation Challenge 2022

To accelerate the search for innovative solutions in the chemistry-sphere, the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3) launched its third Innovation Challenge to engage, award, and promote Sustainable Chemistry innovators from around the world.

This year’s challenge calls for innovations in the field of Sustainable Chemistry and Waste. The challenge will provide its five finalists with the customised support within the ISC3 Global Start-up Service as well as global visibility, networking possibilities and pitch training.

For more information, click here.

European Commission and IOC UNESCO join forces for stronger ocean literacy in Europe

As of today, the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO will launch a partnership in support of the EU4Ocean coalition, the EU-wide ocean literacy initiative set up by the European Commission.

The reason? Education and knowledge give us power to understand the world around us and to make the right decisions. Likewise, ocean education gives us power to understand the link between our actions and our oceans; health – thus acting more responsible towards the planet and its resources.

To find out more about this partnership click here.

Climate change is citizens’ main priority in EU reform agenda

44% of Europeans believe that climate change should be a priority topic at the Conference on the Future of Europe, according to a new Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament and the European Commission.

If you want to read more about the results of this survey and want European citizens view as their priorities for the future of the Union, click here.