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In this Morning Brief, we open with the 9th edition of the annual European Cyber Security Conference taking place this coming March. We also discuss Stick to Science, a measure announced yesterday by the R&I community that urges European leaders to take action on Horizon Europe when it comes to the UK and Switzerland. In a similar topic, France helps Brussels with the plan for research assessment and the European Chips Act was announced, 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:

The 9th Annual European Cyber Security Conference

On March 24, the 9th Annual European Cyber Security Conference will take place under a hybrid format.

Gathering leading policy-makers, industry players, high level cyber security and defence experts, this Forum Europe conference, organised in partnership with the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), will explore Europe’s response to cyber security issues in a dynamically evolving global risk landscape and what the next steps for all actors of the ecosystem should be to create a safe and secure environment allowing Europe to leverage the tremendous socio-economic benefits offered by digital technologies.

To find out more about the conference and how to register, click here.

 

Research and Innovation community urges European leaders to take action on Horizon Europe

Stick to Science, a new campaign launched by Universities UK, EPFL, ETH Zurich, the ETH Board, Wellcome and The Royal Society, asks EU leaders to place science collaboration before politics, as the UK’s and Switzerland’s participation in the EU’s world-leading research and innovation programme Horizon Europe hangs in the balance.

The campaign calls for an open and collaborative research and innovation landscape in Europe, that is free from political barriers. The entire European scientific community is invited to sign this initiative as of 8 February under the dedicated website.

Switzerland and the UK are two long-standing and academically important partners in the European research and innovation landscape. The current situation means that the work of some of the best minds in Europe’s science and excellent research infrastructures are missing out on the additional scientific knowledge and resources of UK and Swiss institutions. These circumstances prevent Europe’s top scientists from working together to tackle global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and food security.

 

France helps Brussels move ahead with ‘disruptive’ plan for research assessment

France is now working with the European Commission and science and university associations to push for a new system of evaluating research in Europe, launching the Paris Call on research assessment.

The call, drafted by the French government’s Committee for Open Science, says evaluating researchers based solely on the number of highly cited papers they have published in journals with high impact factors underestimates the value of other contributions, lowers reproducibility of research, and discourages researchers from opening up their research and working with others.

The Paris Call fits with the Commission’s checklist of 20 priorities set out in the new policy agenda of the European Research Area, with science and research assessment first on the list.

Jean-Eric Paquet, head of the Commission’s research directorate said he hopes more organisations will join the coalition, so it includes all 27 member states. At the moment only 22 are represented

Read more here.

 

European Chips Act: Communication, Regulation, Joint Undertaking and Recommendation

The European Commission unveiled the EU Chips Act, its proposal for the largest subsidy programme ever for a single industry (apart from agriculture).

Securing the supply of advanced chips has become an economic and geopolitical priority. Therefore, €11 billion of public money will be invested in the Chips for Europe initiative by 2030 to attract and support production capacity and research in energy-efficient chips. In addition, the state aid regime is being upgraded. And a coordination mechanism between the Member States and the Commission will monitor the semiconductor value chain, draw together common crisis assessment and coordinate actions to be taken from a new emergency toolbox.

“Chips are necessary for the green and digital transition – and for the competitiveness of European industry,” noted Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, “We should not rely on one country or one company to ensure safety of supply. We must do more together – in research, innovation, design, production facilities – to ensure that Europe will be stronger as a key actor in the global value chain.”

Make sure to read more here.

 

Creative industries are slowly making their way into mainstream European research

In this Science|Business article, the creative and cultural sectors are slowly gaining a toehold in the research world, after five years of the European Parliament calling for them to be a focus of EU R&D programmes.

As a start, the European Commission launched the New European Bauhaus, aiming to mesh the Green Deal on climate change with work to future-proof Europe’s cultural heritage. Following on from this, there is a creative industry-related call in the Horizon Europe programme, and this autumn the European Institute of Innovation and Technology is due to launch a knowledge and innovation community focused on the sector.

This is a good start for a redesign of European society that gives more recognition of the role of creatives in innovation projects.

 

Zero Pollution: Commission seeks views on review of EU rules on use of mercury

The European Commission is launching an open public consultation on the review of the Mercury Regulation, which tackles the last remaining intentional uses of this very toxic chemical in products.

The EU has policies to reduce the risk of mercury exposure for both people and the environment, with legislation covering all aspects of the mercury lifecycle.  But significant amounts of mercury are still used in the EU, mainly in dental amalgam and some products such as lamps or measuring devices. As mercury pollution is persistent, such continued use contributes to its accumulation in the environment, including food. The review of the current rules will contribute to the Zero Pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment announced in the European Green Deal.

The consultation will run until 3 May 2022 and is available here.

 

Carbon farming: EU ministers find the devil in the details

While France’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Julien Denormandie lauded member states’ enthusiasm on low-carbon agriculture, the informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Strasbourg revealed tricky technical questions on the matter that still lie ahead.

Carbon farming refers to agricultural practices that help store carbon from the atmosphere in agricultural soils.

Other member states have already implemented support measures for carbon farming. Spain has included practices such as extensive grazing or conservation agriculture in its catalogue of eco-schemes funded through the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). These measures “constitute a good example of what we can develop,” the Spanish minister, Luis Planas, told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting.

Carbon sequestration in agriculture is very important to reach the goal of carbon neutrality until 2050 that the EU has set out in its flagship climate policy, the Green Deal.

Click here to read this EURACTIV piece.

More Articles

01/11/2023 – Lisbon crowned European Capital of Innovation, Canada´s association to Horizon Europe, €75.35B boost to the ERA, new energy projects for the Green Deal & much more

In today’s Morning Brief:
Funding
Calls open for 2023 Innovation Fund proposals with record €4B budget
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to develop the Smart Specialization Observatory
Fighting extreme weather with extreme computing power
Energy
Commission proposes 166 cross-border energy projects for EU support to help deliver the European Green Deal
Commission sets out actions to accelerate the roll-out of electricity grids
Microelectronics
EU and India sign semiconductor memorandum of understanding
Research & Innovation
Canada to sign Horizon Europe association deal next year
No more New European Bauhaus Mission
Nature-inspired flying robots: advancements in environmental monitoring
Over €75B of the recovery funds will go to European Research Area objectives
Lisbon crowned European capital of innovation for 2023
Maria Leptin’s perspectives on university challenges and innovation
EU’s Industrial R&D Scoreboard updates
INESC News
RTP3 features INOV’s AI-integrated inspection system in RiaStone production
APPRAISE system: INOV contributes to enhancing security in public spaces through innovative technology
INESC TEC collaborates on a European project that promotes the use of algae in sustainable aquaculture
INESC TEC’s podcast among the nominees for a national award
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops

Read More »

24/11/2023 – EU’s decarbonization push, INESC participates in Portugal’s Blockchain initiative, Horizon Europe budget boost for R&I & much more

In today’s Morning Brief:
Funding
EU Commission to spend €186 million promoting agri-food products in and outside EU in 2024
Commission opens search for technology infrastructure expert group
Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Call for Contributions: EU-U.S. Trade & Technology Council’s first edition of AI terminology and taxonomy
Belgium to focus on a public sector European blockchain during its EU presidency
Europe still working with China on military and surveillance uses of artificial intelligence, report finds
EU launches new competition to give AI companies access to supercomputers
Energy
Plans to boost Europe’s Net-Zero technology production
Microelectronics
As microscopic materials proliferate, ensuring they are safe is a priority
Research & Innovation
European Parliament Approves 2024 EU Budget with Boost for Research and Innovation
Council approves UK’s inclusion in Horizon Europe and Copernicus Programmes
EU lagging behind on antimicrobial resistance research
Opinion article in Science Business: The European Research Area needs a reboot
EIT lauds impact of Regional Innovation Scheme in latest report
INESC News
INESC participates at BLOCKCHAIN.PT initiative
INESC MN partners up in semiconductor consortium
INESC TEC advances autonomous vehicle perception in THEIA project
The HUB hosts EARTO meeting on EU RD&I Programmes
HUB contributes at the INESC TEC Autumn Forum
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops

Read More »

17/11/2023 – Horizon Europe latest calls, the €85M boost next year to reach €12.9B, the approval of the Critical Raw Materials Act & much more

In today’s Morning Brief:
Funding
Horizon: €290M in funding for digital, industry and space
ERC sees rise in Starting Grant applications
Artificial Intelligence
OECD updates definition of Artificial Intelligence ‘to inform EU’s AI Act’
Study highlights AI’s economic potential amid EU regulatory focus
Energy
EU Atlantic strategy: what’s next?
Bioengineering
How can regenerative agriculture help the food system survive?
Regional Innovation Valleys for Bioeconomy and Food Systems” launch event conclusions
Research & Innovation
Horizon Europe: €12.9 Billion Boost in 2024 Budget
Commission welcomes political agreement on the Critical Raw Materials Act
Paper: How regional innovation ecosystems can improve participation in the European Framework Programme for R&I
European Space Agency looks to private sector to stay competitive
Technology readiness levels are getting a reality check to ensure innovations are socially acceptable
Research Management initiative advances strategic capacities in European research organisations
INESC News
Carla Gonçalves of INESC TEC recognized among Portugal’s green visionaries
Bactometer project secures runner-up position in EIT Health
Artificial Intelligence and humans collaborate to enhance critical infrastructure security
Job Opportunities
Events & Training workshops

Read More »