In today’s Morning Brief:

Deep Tech: Driving the Digital Transition – Microsystems and Nanotech with Susana Cardoso Freitas (INESC MN)

The 9th and last episode in the Deep Tech series features Susana Cardoso Freitas, Director at INESC MN. The series is divided in 3 parts (3 podcasts in each part):

In Part 1 we explored how can Deep tech reshape the future of R&I.

Part 2 was dedicated to the Green Transition

Part 3 is dedicated to Digital Transformation.

The three parts of this deep tech podcasts series are widely disseminated in all the major podcast platforms (Google podcasts, Apple podcasts, Spotify and others) as well through the INESC and Science Business websites, newsletters and social networks. Listen, download and/or subscribe to get immediate access to this episode and all others in the Deep Tech series. Future episodes of “The Insider” will address the most important issue in EU R&I today and bring you first hand information and the opportunity to hear fellow decision-makers, researchers and research managers! Access it here!

OECD Framework for the Classification of AI systems

As artificial intelligence (AI) integrates all sectors at a rapid pace, different AI systems bring different benefits and risks. In comparing virtual assistants, self-driving vehicles and video recommendations for children, it is easy to see that the benefits and risks of each are very different. Their specificities will require different approaches to policy making and governance. To help policy makers, regulators, legislators and others characterise AI systems deployed in specific contexts, the OECD has developed a user-friendly tool to evaluate AI systems from a policy perspective. It can be applied to the widest range of AI systems across the following dimensions: People & Planet; Economic Context; Data & Input; AI model; and Task & Output. Each of the framework’s dimensions has a subset of properties and attributes to define and assess policy implications and to guide an innovative and trustworthy approach to AI as outlined in the OECD AI Principles.

Download the full article here.

FORCE Research Challenge

FORCE – Fortum Research Challenge is a global innovation challenge for universities and research institutes organised by Fortum, an European energy company.

They are currently looking for researchers and/or research teams that have great research ideas, and are eager to develop them further to create sustainable solutions for a cleaner world.

The final day for submissions is 31 March so click here to find out more!

Innovation Factory 2022: for a strong digital Europe

EIT Digital opens its proposal submission period for ‘Innovation Factory 2022’ and accepts Activity proposals throughout 2022. Innovation Factory 2022 targets entrepreneurial minds planning to launch or boost a deep tech venture. The work programme is guided by the EIT Digital Strategic Innovation Agenda 2022-2024, which identifies the five focus areas of its strategy: Digital Tech, Digital Industry, Digital Cities, Digital Wellbeing and Digital Finance.

Find out more by clicking here and make sure to know that the next cut-off date is March 1!

Workshop on the extended generic risk management approach under REACH

A stakeholder workshop on the extended risk management approach under REACH will take place on 21 March. The workshop is one of the consultation activities carried out for the impact assessment of the REACH revision. The workshop aims to present a mapping of main uses for the substances affected by the extended generic risk management approach and validate this with stakeholders.

If you wish to attend the workshop, fill in the registration form before 4 March and click here for more information.

Horizon Europe €1.2 billion industrial partnership for rail R&I officially kicks off

“The French Presidency today officially launched Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking, the bloc’s largest rail research and innovation programme to date. The partnership, like the other 40-odd partnerships under the Horizon Europe research programme, will run until 2027 funding rail-related R&I projects, with the first call for proposals launching in March. The EU is putting €600 million in the partnership, to be matched by industry.”

Click here for the full Science|Business newsbyte.

Digital for Development Prize 2022

The Royal Museum for Central Africa and the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid have launched the 2022 edition of the Prize Digital for Development.

The prize rewards outstanding initiatives that use digitization and (new) technologies as a lever for development towards achieving the SDGs. Everyone with a convincing project or innovative idea on digital for development and a clear link with Belgium and one of the partner countries of the Belgian University Development Cooperation can compete. The call for proposals for this fourth edition is open until March 15.

Find out more here.

UK Horizon winners can now apply for safety net funding

According to Science|Business, “The UK has formally opened up applications to its backup funding scheme designed to replace Horizon Europe grants if the country fails to association to the programme in time. In updated guidance released today, UK-based winners of European Innovation Council Pathfinder and Transition calls can register their winning grants. Universities had previously raised concerns that the backup scheme had no way for researchers to apply.

However, only winners of two types of calls can apply so far. UK Research and Innovation, which is running the safety net funding scheme, says that other winners, for example those of European Research Council Starting Grants, will only be able to apply “once it is clear that UK association to Horizon Europe will not occur before you have to formalise your EU Grant Agreement”. And the updated guidance does not appear to widen the number of calls covered. There are concerns that the UK’s safety net is too limited, and currently does not cover UK-based winners of certain grants including ERC Proof of Concept awards.”.

LEAK: Energy prices will remain ‘high and volatile until at least 2023’, EU Commission says

According to EURACTIV, “Gas and electricity prices will “remain high and volatile until at least 2023” according to long term forecasts quoted in a draft of the European Commission’s communication on energy prices due to be published next month. The draft communication, obtained by EURACTIV, gives a grim picture of high and unstable energy prices continuing for the coming years, which will drive inflation, impact households and increase costs for businesses.” Make sure to click here to read the full story.

EU-funded research reveals new life in the Arctic Ocean

Climate change is impacting ecosystems in the Arctic. For over a full year, scientists from 20 nations travelled the Artic Ocean onboard the German research vessel Polarstern to better understand climate processes. Important discoveries made by EU-funded scientists during the ‘MOSAiC’ expedition have recently been published in the renowned scientific journal Science Advances.

The results of their research provide new and significant insights, including into the functioning of the Arctic pelagic food web. The scientists found a deep water layer of zooplankton and fish in the Arctic Ocean. To their surprise, they also found  evidence of a continuous immigration of larger Atlantic fish in the Arctic ecosystem, much further north than expected. This flux contributes to potential food for mammals living in the Arctic Ocean.

Click here to find out more!

Open position for a Researcher in Drought Modelling and Risk Assessment

CIMA Research Foundation is a non-profit research organisation that promotes the study, scientific research, technological development, and higher education in engineering and environmental sciences. It is looking for motivated young researchers to strengthen its activities in the field of drought research. This includes applied research and support to operational activities of different and international institutions.

Click here to find out more.