Stakeholders consultation on knowledge valorisation

DG RTD has just opened a stakeholders consultation on the guiding principles for knowledge valorisation. The results of the survey will be considered as an important feedback for the co-creation of the upcoming Guiding Principles for knowledge valorisation and Code of Practice for smart use of IP.

In 2008, the European Commission issued the Recommendation on the management of intellectual property in knowledge transfer activities. The R&I landscape has changed considerably since 2008 in terms of actors and complexity of the R&I ecosystem as well as in terms of global challenges. This requires policymakers to set new objectives and provide updated guidance on knowledge valorisation. In July 2020, the European Commission published the Policy Review “Knowledge Valorisation Channels and Tools” as a first milestone in the definition of a European knowledge valorisation strategy.

The Communication on “A New Era for research and innovation” calls to update and develop Guiding Principles for knowledge valorisation and a Code of Practice for the smart use of intellectual property (IP). This action is expected by the end of 2022 and will support a common valorisation strategy for research and innovation based on existing good practices.

The online consultation can be accessed here.

European Open Science Cloud Future: call for evaluators

European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Future is going into high gear with the launch of a call for external evaluators. This call is seeking experts to evaluate a series of diverse grants to be awarded by the Research Data Alliance (RDA) over the course of the EOSC Future project. The call will remain open for submissions until June 2023, experts will be called on to evaluate grant applications as soon as October 2021.

Experts can submit their applications via the dedicated EOSC Future Grants Platform, which will manage the grants application process for all calls under EOSC Future’s grant fund. More information on the call for experts can be found here.

Horizon Europe: first round of association negotiations

The European Commission has concluded the first round of negotiations for Moldova and Tunisia’s association to Horizon Europe, which would give the two countries privileged access to the research programme. The next round of negotiations will take place in the second half of July, with the aim to conclude the negotiations in autumn and seal the deals by the end of the year.

The Commission hopes to complete most of the agreements with countries that were associated to the previous research programme, Horizon 2020, by the end of the year to avoid prolonged delays and uncertainty. Until then, researchers and organisations from previously associated countries are invited to apply to Horizon Europe funding calls as if their countries already held full access to the programme.

EIT evaluation criteria for new KIC call

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology has revealed the evaluation criteria it will use to pick a consortium trusted to launch its new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) for culture and creativity.

The call will go live in October, with a deadline for submissions in March 2022. But potential applicants – consortia made up of research organisations, universities and companies – can already check by which criteria their application will be judged.

New report on the advantages of low-carbon hydrogen

A new report by Deloitte says massive cost savings can be achieved on the way towards climate neutrality if gas is given a more prominent role. The role of hydrogen in making Europe climate neutral was the central theme of an event last week, which presented the findings of the Hydrogen4EU report, a multi-disciplinary research partnership funder by the oil and gas industry. The findings of the report were clear: although green hydrogen made from renewable electricity sources will be crucial to meet the EU’s climate neutrality goal, it won’t be sufficient to meet all future hydrogen demand.

The report estimates that more than 50 million tonnes of hydrogen will be used in transport by 2050, either directly in fuel cells, or as part of synthetic fuels, while European industry will require 45 million tonnes. The report advises policymakers to keep all options open when it comes to hydrogen production, saying a technologically diverse model brings down the cost of building a hydrogen value chain by €2 trillion by 2050.

ETH Zurich pioneer computer chips for the future of telecommunications

ETH Pioneer Fellow Marc Reig Escalé and his team have developed innovative chips that process information faster than previously possible while requiring even less energy. The chip is not much thicker than a postcard, and a postage stamp looks enormous in comparison. Its surface shimmers blue-​black, with gold inlay. Lovingly, its creator holds it up with tweezers as if it were a precious jewel. Marc Reig Escalé has developed a chip that enables high-​speed data transmission and could play an essential role in the future of 5G and similar enterprises.

This news didn’t take long to attract the interest of industry. With the expansion of the 5G network and plans already being forged for its 6G successor, data rates are soaring to ever more vertiginous heights – and the capabilities of individual components need to rise to the challenge. At the same time, the trend for connecting more and more everyday items, such as fridges and office chairs, to the web – forming what is known as the Internet of Things – means the sheer quantity of data that needs to be processed is skyrocketing.

The first marketable prototype is expected to be ready later this year, and Reig Escalé’s team is working flat out to make it happen.