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In today’s Morning Brief, we bring you two fascinating events to sign-up for, one dedicated to the development and production of COVID-19 therapeutics and the other one on the role of supporting the sustainable transitions. We also focus on climate and technology related issues, 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:

Virtual event on the development and production of COVID-19 therapeutics

The European Commission wants to continue facilitating cooperation between actors in the EU supply chain to ensure that available therapeutics are produced in sufficient quantity as soon as possible.

Thus, on the 29 and 30 of November, the European Commission is organising the Second Virtual Matchmaking Event on COVID-19 Therapeutics in partnership with the CEBR, the ECA, and the ECCP.

The event will aim to accelerate:

– The development of new and repurposed medicines for COVID-19 therapeutics;

– The development of medicines used to treat the symptoms of COVID-19;

– The production of disposable materials (e.g. single use systems), ingredients and raw materials required for the manufacture of medicinal products.

It will also aim to mobilise the EU pharma manufacturing capacity for the production of medicines to treat and prevent COVID-19.

Register here, until the 18th of November.

 

OECD-EARTO Workshop on “The Role of Supporting the Sustainable Transitions”

The OECD Working Party on Innovation and technology (TIP) and EARTO are co-organising this online workshop on the 19th of November from 9h30 to 12h30 (CET).

The workshop’s results will feed into both organisation’s ongoing study on “the Funding of RTOs: New challenges and opportunities for supporting socio-economic recovery, resilience and transitions”, the OECD TIP’s project on “Supporting Co-creation in Collaborative Transitions: Exploring new tools and approaches” and the OECD CSTP cross-cutting project “Societies in times of crisis and beyond: developing responsive and resilient science and innovation systems”.

Don’t forget to register here!

 

France AI strategy shifts focus to talent

This Monday, France announced its AI plan to become a world leader in the area is entering a new phase focused on fostering talent.

The French government is going to invest €781 million in AI training and attracting international talent as part of the new €2 billion phase supported by both public and private financing. The Secretary of State for the Digital Transition, Cédric O, believes this will bring out “future AI champions”.

The country first announced its ambition to become an Artificial Intelligence leader in 2018. The first phase of the plan upped national and regional support for AI projects from €170 million in 2018 to more than €1 billion in 2021. Let’s see what this new phase will bring.

 

COP26 initiatives to accelerate Green Technology in the developing world

Enabling development countries to bypass fossil fuels and move directly to renewables is arguably one of the biggest technology transfer challenges the world has ever faced.

One scheme launched at COP26 is the  $10 billion Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, which has backing from organisations including the Rockefeller Foundation, a string of development banks, the furniture store IKEA, and Jeff Bezos’s Earth Fund.

In much of the developed world, renewable technologies are now cost-effective against fossil fuels which helps forcing coal out of the market. Unfortunately, in poorer countries, renewables aren’t as competitive and poor logistics and supply chains mean the costs of installation are much higher.

Also unveiled were the “Glasgow Breakthroughs”, a series of agreements between countries to rapidly scale-up green technology in five areas: renewable power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture.

The Glasgow Breakthrough statement promised to make near-zero emission steel the preferred choice in global markets and was signed by seven out of ten of the biggest steel producing countries.

One issue with this is the climate innovation competition amongst countries that doesn’t leave room for underdeveloped countries to adapt, generate employment and reduce emissions. The green transition could then be thrown off-course by social resistance.

If you want to read more about this, make sure to click here.

 

EU’s criteria for biofuels will hinder supply

The EU’s ‘restrictive’ approach to biofuels sustainability criteria will harm producers’ ability to meet increased demand for green fuels coming from the transport sector, says Henna Virkkunen, a Finnish lawmaker in the European Parliament.

Under EU proposals, biofuels derived from food-and-feed crops would not be eligible to meet green jet fuel targets.

“For sustainability reasons, first-generation biofuels such as feed and food crop-based biofuels, which have limited scalability potential and raise sustainability concerns, should not be supported,” states the ReFuelEU Aviation proposal, which aims to cut plane emissions.

Instead, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) will be composed solely of advanced biofuels and electro-fuels.

To read more about this click here.

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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 »