In today’s Morning Brief:

Commission announces the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2021

From 25 to 29 October this initiative will bring together public authorities, private companies, NGOs and consumers to promote initiatives to save energy and move towards renewables for clean, secure and efficient power.

Under the theme ‘Towards 2030: Reshaping the European Energy System’, for the 16th edition of the EU Sustainable energy week you can follow #EUSEW21 and register as registrations are now open.

Find more information here.

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre calls for experts on “Meaningful and ethical communications”.

The DG JRC wants to understand how scientists and governments can ensure that their communication resonates more deeply with citizens without resorting to the manipulative tactics used by those who seek to undermine liberal democracy.

Selected experts will be invited to an in-person 2-day workshop in January 2022 in Brussels, Belgium to scope and map out the subjects to be addressed in the literature reviews.

Interested candidates can apply as author and advisor and applications close on 29 October 2021. Find out more here.

Green Deal 2030 targets and agricultural production studies

Various studies, recently published, analysed possible effects of some elements of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies on EU agriculture, including the Commission’s Joint Research Centre study.

The studies provide both the scientific community and policy makers with a valuable insight on the choice of policy tools to mitigate the risks. However, the models used in the studies all have their limitations.

Don’t miss the factsheet presenting an overview of each study and the elements considered here.

Policy Paper Presentation of the Advisory Group on R&I for Africa-Europe Cooperation

In 8 days don’t miss the six high-level and experts from Africa and Europe advise the European Commission on how to boost the potential of R&I for Africa-Europe cooperation under the title “How to make R&I a driver in the African-European cooperation for sustainable development?”

The evidence-based policy papers of the Advisory Group (AG) refer each to one of the priority topics and reflect not only the decades of experience of the high-level experts, but also the feedback of over 500 African and European policymakers and other stakeholder collected during the participative elaboration process during the last months. Find the concept note and more information on the event here.

Parliament to settle on recommendations for 10 industrial partnerships

According to SB, the European Parliament wants the new generation of industrial Horizon Europe partnerships to be more open and transparent, its industry and research committee ITRE will state today. “The calls for proposal and call for tenders must be open, transparent and inclusive throughout the whole implementation of the work plan of the partnerships,” Parliament rapporteur for the file, Maria da Graça Carvalho, told Science|Business. In the past, the partnerships funded by the EU budget and matched industry contributions, have been accused of being closed door clubs for industry giants, subsidising private research at the taxpayers’ expense. They draft roadmaps for innovation in their sectors and fund projects that have an impact on the future direction of certain technologies. MEPs hope the next generation of partnerships will be more inclusive to newcomers, smaller companies and have more balanced geographical participation, with members from all around Europe.

The European Commission concludes formal negotiations on Horizon Europe association with Israel

On 9 October 2021, the EC, represented by the Horizon Europe Chief Negotiator Signe Ratso, concluded the formal negotiations with Israel on its association to Horizon Europe. The process to formalise the agreement has been launched and the objective is to sign the agreement before the end of the year.

Association to Horizon Europe is the closest form of cooperation in Research & Innovation with non-EU countries. It is marked by joint projects and mutual access to a wider pool of excellence, innovation, and research infrastructures.

Find more information on the negotiations here.

Mariya Gabriel confirms UK and Switzerland can’t join Horizon Europe for now

In a wide-ranging interview, the research commissioner outlines issues standing in the way of the UK and Switzerland taking part in Horizon Europe as further diplomatic efforts are needed to clear political disagreements before the UK and Switzerland can finalise Horizon Europe association.

The European Commission is waiting for ‘transversal’ political issues to be resolved before it moves forward with association talks. Commission vice-president Maroš Šefčovič put forward a plan for easing checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Wednesday. However, he stopped short of removing the oversight of the European Court of Justice on any dispute arising over the operation of the protocol, a red line for the UK government.

Gabriel stated the UK can only be associated in Horizon Europe once other political disputes are sorted.

In the case of Switzerland, scientific cooperation is also in limbo, after the Swiss government ditched talks on a new treaty to upgrade bilateral relations, and moves to make overdue payments to EU cohesion programmes got stuck in the Swiss Parliament.

To read more about this discussion click here.

Macron unveils €30B innovation plan to make French industry great again

France has launched a 30 billion euro innovation investment strategy, in a plan that mirrors the broader shift in the political and economic strategy of the EU.

This plan was announced by president Emmanuel Macron in front of industry executives on Tuesday, just a couple months before France takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. According to Macron, the strategy will propel France into a new era of innovation, after decades of underinvestment in higher education and research.

First on the list of national projects, France will invest 1 billion euros by 2030 in small nuclear fission reactors that are safer and more cost effective than large nuclear power stations, and crucially, produce less radioactive waste.

In this new innovation plan, another 2 billion euros will be invested in healthy and sustainable foods. To learn more about it read here.

The G7 to explore carbon pricing and green finance for developing nations

A meeting of G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Washington DC has led to a new agreement on collaborative efforts to monitor supply chain pressures across the globe.

As part of the discussion, the G7 has for the first time agreed to collaborate on how carbon pricing can be integrated to help deliver the ambitions of the Paris Agreement.  This is the latest step from the G7 to ramp up climate commitments ahead of COP26.

To read more about this new set of principles aimed at improving global supply chain resiliency click here.

Read it here.