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Happy Monday! In this Morning Brief, we open with a happy birthday to the European Union, a webinar hosted by the European Code Against Cancer (ECAC), a session dedicated to women imagining new career paths beyond hard science titled STEM Out of the Box, news about the European Industry Days which begin tomorrow and will go on until the end of the week and a fascinating column describing how the possibility of a new Russia-Ukraine conflict can catalyse a European energy crisis, and more
Any comments or suggestions, hit me up with an email on teresa.carvalho@inesc.pt.
In today's Morning Brief:
In today’s Morning Brief:
30 year ago, the European Union was formally created
On 7 February 1992, the Treaty on European Union was signed by 12 countries in the Dutch city of Maastricht, which lay the foundations for the EU as we know it today.
The result of several years of discussions between governments, the Maastricht Treaty marks a new step in the process of creating an ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe, based on 3 pillars:
- European citizenship
– Common foreign and security policy
– Cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs.
The Treaty also paved the way for the creation of a single European currency – the Euro – and established the European Committee of the Regions, the assembly of regional and local representatives coming from all EU countries.
Today, more than 440 million citizens from 27 countries enjoy the benefits of European cooperation. The Maastricht Treaty entered into force on 1 November 1993. Learn more about this important milestone.
A common approach to COVID -19 travel measures in the EU
As science is inherently borderless, as we all know that Zoom, Teams, Skype et al have their huge limitations, we all really want to see the possible normalization of our common lives in 2022, as the economy but more importantly, society and each individual needs social contact to resume, EU Member States have approved a common approach to Covid-19 travel measures in the European Union. This Recommendation follows up on the proposal made by the European Commission on 25 November 2021.
What’s relevant?
- All travelers within the EU should be exempt from testing and quarantine.
- A common approach regarding the validity of the covid certificate:
- 9 months validity counting from 14 days after full primary vaccination (1 or 2 doses depending on the vaccine) or after having received the booster dose. These need to be EU-approved covid vaccines.
- In case the traveler had COVID-19 and therefore cannot complete the vaccination process, a recuperation certificate will be added to the certificate and has the validity of 6 months.
- For travelers who are not vaccinated, a negative test is required. This means a negative PCR test result not more than 72h before arrival at the destination or a negative antigen test result not more than 24h before arrival.
European Code Against Cancer (ECAC) Webinar
The Association of European Cancer Leagues is organising a public webinar on the topic of measuring the awareness of the European Code against Cancer (ECAC) consistent with the ambitions of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. The webinar features expert speakers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the French National Cancer Institute (INCa).
ECL aims to convene cancer leagues, policymakers and staff from health NGOs to discuss and reflect on:
– The practicalities of measuring the ECAC awareness as referenced in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and its Implementation Roadmap;
– Potential tools and methods that may be available to perform the task in practice.
To find out more about the webinar and to register, click here.
STEM Out of the Box: Women Imagining New Career Paths Beyond Hard Science
This Friday, February 11 from 17h00 to 18h00 CET, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022, EQUALS-EU and shemakes.eu join forces to hold a one-hour conversation that highlights the trajectories of female innovators who have utilised education to move beyond expected paths.
It will be moderated by Dr. Anthony Giannounis, Associate Professor of Universal Design at Oslo Metropolitan University and co-founder Inclusive Creation AS.
To attend the event just click here.
European Industry Days 2022 – European Research Agency’s contribution to the Green and Digital transitions
The European Industry Days will take place from February 8 to February 11. The annual event offers a platform to tackle industry-wide challenges, contribute to ongoing policy discussions and highlight industrial frontrunners.
This year’s edition will feature up to 40 research and innovation projects, six of them managed by the European Research Agency, making advancements on both the green and digital transitions.
To attend this event you must register here. The exhibition space will be interactive and recordings will be made available to watch following the conclusion of the event.
Digital Industry sets out laundry list for EU-US Trade and Technology Council
Digital Europe industry association has published 24 targets for the EU and US to strive for their joint dialogue on technology, including launching for major semiconductor R&D projects by 2030.
The association set out the targets ahead of meeting in May, calling for a strong tech alliance in cybersecurity, cloud computing, semiconductors and other areas as well as alignment around competition policies.
The European Commission proposed to set up the transatlantic technology alliance a year ago to enable the EU and the US to jointly address global innovation issues and set joint standards on technologies where China is the main global competitor.
Ukraine at the crossroads of a European energy crisis
In this column by Robin M. Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy, for EURACTIV, he lets us know that over the next few months, Europe’s energy scene could become very uncomfortable due to the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
As Russia steps up its threats against the country once again, energy is the latest resource to become weaponised. Russia supplies about 40% of the European Union’s natural gas, and while Britain does not buy Russian gas directly, it is connected to the continent and effectively part of the same market. Prices for gas – both in Europe and globally – have soared to record levels since September, which has also pushed up the continent’s electricity prices to all-time highs.
If you want to read about the three ways Mills believes a new Russia-Ukraine conflict might interrupt European energy supplies, click here.
Blue Farming: New Strategic Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture
In May 2021, the European Commission published its new strategy for sustainable aquaculture in Europe. The Farm to Fork strategy has recognised the role that sustainable aquaculture has to play in building sustainable food systems. The new strategy sets the path for EU aquaculture to grow into a competitive and resilient sector and become a global reference for sustainability by 2030.
Sustainable aquaculture can help solve some of the most pressing issues we face today, such as ensuring food security, alleviating pressure on wild fish stocks and reducing the climate and environmental footprint of our food system.
Therefore, with this new strategy, the European Commission wants to develop this potential and put the sector on the path of sustainable growth, fully in line with the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy.
Find out more details here.
Transition Pathway for Tourism published
Following the 2021 Updated Industrial Strategy and given the many challenges faced by the tourism industry and the major impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism ecosystem was the first industrial ecosystem to work on a transition pathway.
This pathway identifies 27 areas of measures for the green and digital transition and for improving the resilience of EU tourism, calling for more circular and environmentally friendly services in the area, enhancing data sharing for more innovative services, and more.
During a tourism-dedicated spotlight event tomorrow during the EU Industry Days, the Commission and stakeholders will discuss the transition pathway and the next co-implementation steps.
Read the document here.
More Articles
26/05/2023: New Horizon Europe calls, a global drive for open science, European Commission DG RTD recent reorganisation, EU-China & much more
In today’s Morning Brief:
Horizon Europe
– Twinning call for proposals is open – Read all about it
– Horizon Europe ERA Fellowships call is now open
– EUR 20 million available for Pathways to synergies – Call for proposals
– New Horizon Europe funding opportunity: Dissemination & Exploitation Support Facility call
– Commission Open Call: Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe
– Industry 5.0 Award contest opens: apply by 1 September 2023
– Horizon Europe: The EU and the Republic of Korea launch formal negotiations on association to the programme
– European Space Agency chief seeks ‘forward-looking decisions’
Research & Innovation:
– EU research ministers make fresh call for a full transition to free open access publishing
– Open Science: stakeholders welcome European efforts towards publicly owned and not-for-profit scholarly communication
– Global drive for more open, rigorous research is growing
– European Commission sets up new European Innovation Council unit in the research directorate
– Spain wants EU presidency to be ‘bridge’ with Latin American R&D
– Green industry law haunted by old conflicts over nuclear, financing
– The five EU research projects involving China’s military-linked universities
– Critical Raw Materials: EU ministers want to move fast but dilemmas abound
– G7 ministers call for rules to improve research security
– Territorial Economic Data viewer supports policy monitoring
News from INESC institutes:
– INESC Brussels HUB is signing an Open Letter regarding changes to Who is Who in EC Directorate
– ECI Cruelty-free cosmetics – Consultation to adhere to joint final statement
– Structuring the ecosystem: RTOs collaboration with higher education institutions
– INESC TEC develops pioneering research in the application of variational quantum circuits to reinforcement learning
– INOV: MULTICAM prototypes, an online presentation on Blockchain and 5000 followers
– Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops
19/05/2023: HUB Summer Meeting, Digital Europe Programme, Regional Innovation Valleys, European R&I funding and policy, and much more
In today’s Morning Brief:
Horizon Europe
– Commission Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe
– Commission launches first €122M call to create regional innovation ecosystems
– New calls for proposals of the Digital Europe Programme
Research & Innovation:
– EU research commissioner Mariya Gabriel resigns
– France to boost funding for health research infrastructures and UK to invest £100M in improving RIs
– Commission takes European Innovation Council management under its wing
– Industry 5.0 Award: The contest is open for applications
– AI Act moves ahead in EU Parliament with key committee vote
– Defence industry renews call for R&D spending boost
News from INESC institutes:
– Technology and Law: building a virtuous relationship, by Graça Barbosa
– The 2022 INESC-ID AnnualReport is out
– Exciting news from H2020-RESCUER
– Launch of the New Horizon Europe Project SYCLOPS
– INESC TEC supports the implementation of robotic technologies to reduce the ecological footprint
– INESC TEC develops virtual reality app to support youngster looking for jobs
– Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops
05/05/2023: HE calls update, cohesion policy, open access, open science, cohesion policy and coordination of national and EU R&D policy.
In today’s Morning Brief:
Horizon Europe
– Horizon Europe – easy call and topic search
– From KOWI: MSCA: Model Working Contract for Doctoral Networks published
Research & Innovation:
– Report on the outcome of 2021-2027 cohesion policy programming
– Spain adopts national open access strategy
– Commission attempts to strengthen coordination between national R&D policies and EU research programs
– Commission Plans to launch a European Standardisation Panel survey
– Research funders draw attention to uneven implementation of open science
– EIT Climate to become financially sustainable by end of 2024
– Preparing for Belgium’s Thirteenth Presidency of the Council of the European Union
– African Union-European Union High Level Policy Dialogue – Science, Technology and Innovation. Senior official meet to endorse the AU-EU Innovation Agenda
News from INESC institutes:
– INESC MN has a new publication in Advanced Materials Journal
– INOV projects on Youtube
– Diogo Vaz published an article in Público
– Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops