Welcome to today’s Morning Brief. The Morning Brief newsletter is only available to INESC staff and affiliated researchers upon subscription (weekly or daily), after creating an account in the Private Area of the HUB website. To do so, click the log-in icon on the top-right corner of this website.
As COP26 related news start to dwindle, it is important to get the full view of what are the takes for research and innovation. An SB article does just that. However, the main trend now is the EU’s continuing implementation of its R&I programmes with green and digital as the main pillars. Digital Europe, for example, which is one of the most important programmes for INESC, has just seen its work programmes adopted and published. At the same time, the EC is preparing an innovation strategy to be published in 2022 and universities have expressed their voice towards the reinforcement of ecosystems once again. The key takeaway, also valuable for RTOs such as INESC is that the social innovation (i.e. the capacity to change the way relations between critical stakeholders are organised, promoted and created anew) is as important as tech innovation if not more, at this point. Without more innovation in social innovation, tech innovation alone will not make us more resilient, green, competitive.
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:
Five EU countries form an anti-nuclear alliance at COP26
In face of a French-led push to revive nuclear power in Europe, a group of five EU countries led by Germany have banded together to urge the European Commission to keep nuclear out of the EU’s green finance taxonomy.
“Nuclear power is incompatible with the EU Taxonomy Regulation’s ‘do no significant harm’ principle’, says the joint declaration for a nuclear-free EU taxonomy signed by Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg and Portugal and which you can read here.
The European Commission is expected to table a proposal in the coming weeks that will clarify the status of nuclear and gas under the EU’s green finance taxonomy, a rulebook that provides guidance to investors by spelling out conditions under which technologies can be considered sustainable.
Read more here.
Digital Europe programmes adopted by the Commission
The European Commission has adopted the work programmes for the Digital Europe funding programme setting out almost €2 billion in investments for the next two years. The seven-year programme aims to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, quantum computing and cybersecurity. The biggest chunk of the money, €1.38 billion will be invested in key technologies as well as boosting digital skills and broadening the use of digital tools in the European economy. Another €269 million will be spent on cybersecurity in the next year. A further €329 million over the next two years will be invested in digital innovation hubs. We recall below the priorities of the programme, but you can find the detail list here:
What will the Digital Europe Programme fund?
- €2.2 BILLION for supercomputing
- €2.1 BILLION for artificial intelligence
- €1.6 BILLION for cybersecurity
- €580 MILLION for advanced digital skills
- €1.1 BILLION for ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society
Innovation ecosystems and the open access checklist
Two new reports by the European University Association, recognized as a formal stakeholder platform to be formally heard by the EU on important R&I-related policy matters, are relevant contributions to the European Commission’s new innovation strategy expected to be rolled out in January 2022. “Innovation ecosystems for a sustainable Europe: How to enhance the contribution of universities” is the first of the reports and it highlights that social innovation (i.e. capacity to organise society differently, such as the relations between universities and industry at local level, etc) is a focus as important as the technological innovation capacity. The other recent input by EUA is the so-called “The new university Open Access checklist”. This checklist is a guide for universities that wish to further develop their Open Access activities.
MEPs push to include academic freedom in EU treaties
MEPs and university representatives are facing a steep road ahead, as they demand academic freedom is made a key principle in EU treaties, meaning member states that are found to be limiting university autonomy and freedom to do research can be held accountable.
“European governments have been shifting norms to limit academic freedom for the first time in the history of the European Union”, stated Christian Ehler MEP, as academic freedom is enshrined in Article 13 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Parliament is planning to ask the Commission to include an evaluation of academic freedom in all member states in its midterm evaluation of Horizon Europe. The goal would be to exert financial pressure on countries which limit academic freedom, while shielding individual researchers and institutions from such measures.
The principles of academic freedom have been tested in Hungary, Poland, Germany, and the UK. The European University Association (EUA) published a university autonomy report in 2017, and is planning to publish a new version next year as a lot has changed over the past five years, with many new initiatives that measure and seek to enhance academic freedom in Europe.
Read more about it here.
Intellectual Property support to Market uptake
The European Commission is teaming up with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to support the translation of research results to the market. The two organisations aim to help SMEs boost their innovation potential and improve the understanding of the benefits of intellectual property. As part of the collaboration, they will also share IP related data and co-develop IP management policy. “This will contribute to the implementation of EU policy on research, science and innovation in relation to intellectual property matters and supports European Research Area objective to translate results into the economy,” said EU research and innovation commissioner Mariya Gabriel.
Horizon 2020 proposals suggest the need for training researchers in ethics
A recent study analyzed ethics issues in proposals submitted under calls of Horizon 2020. The aim was to explore differences between applicants’ awareness of ethics issues and the opinions of ethics experts conducting the ethics review. Their discoveries highlight a discrepancy between the applicants’ understanding of ethics issues and that of expert reviewers. Their conclusions therefore point to the need for further education and training to be provided to applicants.
The study calls for more concrete action to be taken in providing training and the restructuring of research ethics and integrity frameworks at all levels of research into the process of evaluation of grant proposals and research project execution. This would help to identify critical areas in need of change or improvement. It would also facilitate the preparation for emerging ethical challenges in research in the future and provide support to researchers for dealing with these issues.
Read more here.
Metrology partnership approved by the Parliament
MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour to support a new research partnership between the European Commission and national metrology institutes aimed at harmonising metrology innovation around the bloc (EUROMET). The Horizon Europe partnership will build on previous European efforts in the science of measurement, laying the foundations for new technologies.
“Metrology is a discipline at the service of all areas of knowledge”, said the European Parliament rapporteur Maria da Graça Carvalho during the Wednesday night parliamentary debate. “We wouldn’t be where we are technologically without metrology. Neither would we get where we want to go.”
EU policymakers started negotiations on the partnership in September. They hope the partnership will play an integral role in developing new technologies, such as quantum computers and AI-based healthcare.
COP26: The most important research and innovation announcements
Science Business picks through the past two weeks of speeches, reports and declarations to summarise the most important reveals of the conference – and tries to make sense of what they actually amount to. Worth the read to get a general idea of trends to come.
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
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
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