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In today's Morning Brief:

LIFE awards for projects supporting nature, environment and climate action

During the EU Green Week earlier this week, the winners of the 2021 LIFE Awards were announced by the EU’s LIFE programme. The LIFE Awards recognise the most innovative, inspirational and effective LIFE projects in three categories: nature protection, environment and climate action. The jury rewards projects who demonstrated an outstanding contribution to environmental, economic and social developments and showed excellence in impact, replicability, policy relevance, cross-border cooperation and cost-effectiveness.

The three awards were: LIFE ENERGY (Award for Nature), whose team put a stop to many birds colliding with power lines by installing 8 600 bird flight diverters along 77 km of the most dangerous areas; LIFE REUSING POSIDONIA (Award for Environment), that used dried seagrass as effective and inexpensive thermal insulation in 14 social housing units for poor and disadvantaged people on the Balearic island of Formentera, Spain; the LIFE FORECCAsT (Award for Climate Action), which helped forest managers in France’s Haut-Languedoc Regional Nature Park put in place climate change adaptation strategies by building a mobile application to help foresters assess and manage the risks to their land. More information on the winners and finalists of the awards can be found here.

 

Green City Accord – Online Workshop: A closer look at indicators for monitoring & reporting

On June 16th, from 13 to 16 CEST, the EC DG Environment will host a workshop on the Green City Accord. This workshop will introduce the Green City Accord monitoring and reporting framework including the mandatory set of indicators providing ample time to ask questions and exchange with experts and other participants. Registrations will open today and be available here.

 

Academics are overworked and underpaid, says OECD report

According to the new report by the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), one in five corresponding authors of scientific papers are working more than 55 hours a week, while a third make less than $30,000 a year. A majority of researchers say they have to compete for resources within their organisation, while 71% need to compete for and secure funding from external organisations. Based on OECD’s International Survey of Scientific Authors, the report sheds light on differences between employment in the public sector and the private sector, including salaries and contractual status.

According to the report, these working conditions point to the pressure and competition in academic research. OECD will use the report to improve job security of academic researchers.

 

EU-Bill Gates set up a €820M fund to bring down the price of clean energy

The European Commission is teaming up with the Bill Gates-led green energy financing programme, Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, to raise €820 million for clean energy demonstration projects. The money will be invested in technologies that are currently too expensive to scale-up, starting with green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, direct air capture and long term energy storage. The involvement of Breakthrough Energy Catalyst will hopefully send a signal to private investors that clean energy is a safe bet – and will bring returns in the next few years, according to the industry. Read more on the topic here.

 

Research infrastructures: DG RTD calls for global coordination

The sophistication, size and costs of research infrastructures are hard for any one country to manage. Regardless of the desire of the EU for technological sovereignty, international cooperation is needed to finance and operate them. This was the message that Jean-Eric Paquet, European Commission’s director general for research and innovation, sent to global science leaders this week. Paquet was speaking in advance of addressing the International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI), on a panel focusing on the possibility for multilateral cooperation in financing, designing and operating these facilities.

Policymakers argue that international research infrastructures could help the world respond better to climate change and foster sustainable development. But, as these facilities are getting bigger and more partners are involved, they need international governance structures. The EU has a strategic forum for research infrastructures (ESFRI), but that model might not be replicable at a global level. Read more on this on Science Business.

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15/09/2023 – EARTO priorities for the next framework programme, UK-EU collaboration, key points for R&I from the State of the Union & much more

In today’s Morning Brief:
Horizon Europe
Last chance to become a Regional Innovation Valley – matchmaking map available
EARTO inputs to the European Research Area and Innovation Committee
Challenges ahead as other nations seek access to EU’s Horizon R&D programme
Uncertainty over working with the UK remains despite Horizon Europe deal
European Parliament clears path for Iliana Ivanova’s Commissioner appointment
EIB provides €15 million loan to crowd farming for sustainable agriculture innovation
Two new European Partnership calls open: Aquatic Ecosystem Services and Nature-Based Solutions Research
Research & Innovation
Ursula von der Leyen proposes global AI panel and fast-tracks access to supercomputers
EU Aims for stronger Research and Innovation partnerships with Africa
European Commission has opened a call for Experts on Economic and Societal Impact of R&I sought
Portugal sets up €8M defence research programme
EU Prioritizes Science Communication to Address Societal Challenges
News from INESC
Discover the influence of AI Chat GPT in healthcare: a deep dive into ethical concerns and the future.
INESC TEC has announced an international conference dedicated to management of technology
INESC MN has opened a Call for Expression of Interest for a Researcher Position in the are of Lab on a Chip and Microfluidic Systems
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops

Read More »

08/09/2023 – UK joins Horizon Europe and Copernicus, Ivanova´s first hearing on Horizon Europe, supercomputer Deucalion inaugurated in Portugal, new podcasts & much more

In today’s Morning Brief:
Horizon Europe
UK and European Commission reach consensus for British participation in Horizon Europe and Copernicus
Commissioner-Designate Iliana Ivanova’s hearing highlights
Seventh EU-Backed Supercomputer, Deucalion, inaugurated in Portugal
ERC announced 400 Starting Grants for EU Researchers
EIT InnoEnergy secures €140 million in private investment to boost impact
Research & Innovation
Regional Innovation Valley – Matchmaking map now available
Opinion article in Science Business by Ramon Wyss: Will AI help big tech dominate science?
MEPs Advocate for Small-Scale Nuclear Power Stations in the Fight Against Carbon Emissions
Artificial Intelligence raises concerns of pandemic risk, scientists urge caution
Temporary leadership change in European Commission’s Research and Innovation Portfolio
News from INESC
José Carlos Caldeira on Magellan Circle Podcast
First episode of the “Ciência e Sociedade” Podcast is out
INESC MN has opened a Call for Expression of Interest for a Researcher Position in the are of Lab on a Chip and Microfluidic Systems
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops

Read More »

01/09/2023 – European Commission´s new AI unit, upcoming challenges for European R&I policy, the new Green Deal leader statements, the role of universities of applied sciences & much more

In today’s Morning Brief:
Horizon Europe
Commission’s research directorate to develop a new artificial intelligence in science policy
Back to school: what’s on the European research and innovation policy agenda this autumn
Ivanova gets ready to lock horns with MEPs
EU won’t ‘dilute’ ambition, says new climate chief
Universities of applied sciences are shaping up to boost EU research outputs
Romania to launch new funding programme aimed at luring back researchers from abroad
EIT Manufacturing announces partnership with regional business promotion agency in Austria
Research & Innovation
EU Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act explained
Research Data Alliance fosters cross-disciplinary, global data sharing
Latvia to overhaul PhDs and academic careers
To tackle wildfires, researchers in Europe team up with frontline forces
Clothing manufacturers aim to get fashionable with greener practices
The top 18 centres of trustworthy artificial intelligence research
Six online courses to boost your skills and knowledge
News from INESC
Improving the performance of databases: INESC TEC research presented at international conference
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops

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