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.
In today's Morning Brief:
New INESC article published on Science Business: EU Cancer Mission depends on data
A new article by INESC – the fourth of the six agreed with Science|Business – has been published this morning. Titled EU Cancer Mission depends on data, the article reflects on the role of technology and data sharing and analysis to tackle the Cancer Mission, one of the priorities of EU research. The article includes a panoramic view of INESCs health technologies projects under three major dimensions – prevention, diagnostics and treatment of cancer. We cannot but thank Joana Matos Dias (INESC Coimbra) and the entire HUB Work Group Health Technologies for their excellent work on it!
The article can also be accessed on the HUB website. Please do not hesitate to circulate it in your professional and social networks. If you do use Twitter or Linkedin, remember to tag the HUB (Twitter: @HUBINESC).
INESC Brussels HUB spring meeting coming up (1-2 June 2021)
This might not sound like news, but we would like to remind you that the agenda of the INESC Brussels HUB Spring Meeting is available on the HUB website. The events that compose it will take place virtually on June 1st and 2nd, and will include a public workshop organised by the Work Group Agro-Food and Forestry, titled “Enhancing science-based knowledge on EU forests – its influence in decision making” (1 June, 10-12 CEST), and a public high-level roundtable on deep tech, featuring profiles from INESC and high-level European stakeholders in the area (1 June, 15-17 CEST). The events will take place on Zoom and registration is now open on the event pages.
The Spring Meeting will also include two events the participation in which is restricted to the Management Committee and selected observers: a thought leadership workshop on EU research career development (2 June, 10-12 CEST) and the Management Committee meeting (2 June, 14-17 CEST). The interested parties will receive instructions on how to register by email.
European Research and Innovation Days 2021 – Registrations open
The bespoke conference on R&I organised annualy by the European Commission is taking place on the 23rd and 24th June. Registration is now open and we recall that the agenda is available here.
Strategic autonomy emphasized by EU and UK alike
Both the EU stands firm on its plan to exclude researchers from the UK, Israel and other non-EU countries from “sensitive” parts of the bloc’s upcoming €95.5 billion research programme and the UK is following a similar path with the announced formation of a new unit that will offer confidential security advice to researchers before entering international collaborations, in a drive to protect research assets from “hostile actors” in China and other countries. Our take at the HUB is: the more you close yourself, the more retaliation it will happen. It is not intelligent to do that at this stage, when China and others are basically independent and ahead in many areas. But to the interest of our researchers, please beware of the consortia partners you bring in when sensitive technology is at stake.
Alternative funding needed: Commission awards Seal of Excellence certificates to 2,885 researchers
The Commission awarded 2,885 Seal of Excellence certificates to individual researchers under the MSCA call. The Seal of Excellence (SoE) quality label is awarded to applicants of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Individual Fellowships (IF) who scored highly in the call but in the end did not reach the funding because of budget limitations. The 2020 Individual Fellowships call received record 11,300-plus proposals. However, only 1,630 applicants were funded. Proposals obtaining at least 85% of the score get awarded the SoE quality label which underlines the value of these projects. The applicants proposing these projects may then use the SoE label to help find alternative funding. Thanks to SoE certificate, other funding bodies at national, regional and university-level are in a position to exploit the Horizon 2020 evaluation process if they wish.
Two new members to the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the EC
Commissioner Gabriel appointed two new members to the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA) for the next three years. Professor Eva Zažímalová and Professor Eric F. Lambin were nominated by European Research Organisations and selected by an independent Identification Committee, and will replace Professor Carina Keskitalo and Sir Paul Nurse, whose mandates expired on 15 May 2021.
EIT Raw Materials Summit
EIT RawMaterials is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) RawMaterials, an EU body forming the world’s largest consortium in the raw materials sector. On 17 June, the European Commission will join EIT RawMaterials for the RawMaterials Summit. This year’s edition, RawMaterials Summit: In Focus, will gather Europe’s foremost industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and academics from across the raw materials value chain to showcase raw materials innovation enabling the EU Green Deal goal of a carbon-neutral future. More information on the event can be found here.
WaveFarm creates “plug’n’play” industrial package
Wave energy is a highly valuable and predictable source of renewable power. Up to 10% of the EU’s energy can be harvested from waves by 2050, so the technology will be indispensable in reaching net-zero emissions. Today, however, the installed capacity in Europe and the world is still very small and mostly restricted to demonstration units. To realise its full potential, the technology needs to be scaled up quickly.
That thought was on the minds of Christopher Ridgewell and Jussi Åkerberg, respectively CEO and CTO of AW-Energy, when in 2019 they submitted their WaveFarm project to the “Blue Economy Window”, an EU-funded financing facility.
The Finnish company had already developed, certified and demonstrated the WaveRoller, a submerged oscillating wave surge converter attached to the sea bottom near the shore. It generates electricity from the movement of the waves and is connected to the electric grid on land. A full-scale commercially-applicable WaveRoller unit was deployed in Portugal in October 2019. By integrating up to 24 WaveRoller units, the new project will deliver the world’s first large-scale, multiple-megawatt WaveFarm. Read more on this project here.
EU Green Week
Next week it will take place the EU Green Week, a series of events dedicated to the sustainability and green ambitions of the EU. This year, the Green Week will be dedicated to the ‘zero pollution ambition’. It will also look at other relevant European Green Deal initiatives, such as the climate initiatives, the upcoming Chemicals Strategy, as well as initiatives in the fields of energy, industry, mobility, agriculture, fisheries, health and biodiversity. The event promises to be an opportunity to engage with all stakeholders and interested citizens on how we can work together to make the ambition for a zero pollution and toxic-free environment a reality.
Check the event webpage for the full agenda.
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