In today’s Morning Brief:

Call to all Cluster 1 and Cluster 6 coordinators writing a two-stage proposal

Bridge2HE is organizing a Full Proposal Check event for Cluster 1 and Cluster 6 second-stage proposals with a deadline in September 2022. The event will take place online, in the week between 25 & 29 July 2022.

At the full proposal check (FPC) event you will receive in-depth feedback from experienced Horizon Europe evaluators and National Contact Points (NCPs) on your advanced proposal drafts. A full proposal check event offers you a chance to improve the quality of your project proposal based on the feedback you will receive. Your full proposal check session aims to transfer useful knowledge and increase your chances for funding.

Participation at the event is for the coordinator (i.e. one person, mandatory) plus one representative from a project partner institution (i.e. one optional person, highly recommended to take notes). In exceptional cases, the coordinator may name a proxy to participate.

Click here for more information.

INESC TEC integrates European association of telecommunication networks and services 6G

INESC TEC is part of the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA), the European industry and research voice for next-generation telecommunications networks and services, which aims to contribute to Europe’s leadership in 5G, post-5G and 6G research.

The 6G-IA network carries out several activities in strategic areas, including standardization, spectrum management, R&D projects, technology skills, and collaboration with industry, namely in the fields of health, agroforestry, sea, etc., as well as in the development of tests in real environment and international cooperation activities.

INESC TEC’s participation in this association has a strategic dimension, providing an opportunity to integrate consortia that are limited to 6G-IA members, which mobilize key European entities in telecommunications. As a member of the association, INESC TEC may also contact partners and integrate relevant consortia for the participation and leadership of European projects in telecommunications and 6G networks. It’s also an opportunity to integrate working groups and have privileged access to information, including calls for projects, European strategic agendas, and work programmes in the context of Horizon Europe, while increasing the national and international visibility of INESC TEC in the field of telecommunications.

Read more here.

Energy: Bulgaria to set up first regional platform as part of the EU’s Energy Purchase Platform

Following this week’s announcement by Gazprom on the disruption of gas deliveries to Bulgaria, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Assen Vassilev had a series of meetings in the Commission.

Resulting from yesterday’s meetings, the European Commission and Bulgaria agreed to set up in Sofia a first regional taskforce, as part of the EU’s Energy Purchase Platform. This pilot will look at gas and electricity needs, prices and flows, as well as infrastructure aspects.

The regional taskforce will concentrate on the year ahead and provide specific regional expertise and know-how to develop and implement the REPowerEU action plan to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels, fill storage ahead of next winter and further accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy sector. It will support and coordinate implementation of the joint preparedness plans in the region, including international purchase, storage and interconnections – thus contributing to the security of supply in Bulgaria, the region, the energy community and beyond.

Bulgaria will reach out to countries in its neighbourhood on this taskforce and will organise the first ministerial meeting on 5 May.

The work of the taskforce will notably build on the European Commission’s preparations for a number of energy disruption scenarios, in close coordination and solidarity with Member States and international partners. It will present the REPowerEU plan next month.

Read more here.

Commission announces 100 cities participating in EU Mission for climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030

The Commission today announced the 100 EU cities that will participate in the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, the so-called Cities Mission. The 100 cities come from all 27 Member States, with 12 additional cities coming from countries associated or with the potential of being associated to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme (2021-2027).

Our urban areas are home to 75% of EU citizens. Globally, urban areas consume over 65% of the world’s energy, accounting for more than 70% of CO2 emissions. It is therefore important that cities act as experimentation and innovation ecosystems to help all others in their transition to become climate-neutral by 2050.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, said: “The green transition is making its way all over Europe right now. But there’s always a need for trailblazers, who set themselves even higher goals. These cities are showing us the way to a healthier future. We will support them on this! Let’s begin the work today.”

The Cities Mission will receive €360 million of Horizon Europe funding covering the period 2022-23, to start the innovation paths towards climate neutrality by 2030. The research and innovation actions will address clean mobility, energy efficiency and green urban planning, and offer the possibility to build joint initiatives and ramp up collaborations in synergies with other EU programmes.

Read more here.

EU Innovative Health Initiative gets innovative: Publishing all its draft research plans early

According to Science|Business, “The EU’s biggest health research partnership set plans for new research projects in cancer, health data, medical devices, cardiovascular and neurogenerative diseases – and offered something of an administrative innovation by publishing its draft plans early so that would-be applicants can have plenty of time to start preparing. In a statement 28 April, the €2.4 billion Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) – a new public-private collaboration that’s part of the EU’s flagship Horizon Europe research programme – said it plans to launch formal calls for grant applications in June on the various topics. But, in a rarity for EU research programmes, the group published its draft, or “indicative”, texts immediately rather than waiting for all the normal bureaucratic approvals to be completed a few months down the road. In doing so, it added a health warning: “Currently, the draft topics are under consultation with IHI’s states representatives group and science and innovation panel. It is therefore likely that the topics may change considerably between now and the call launch, and applicants should check the final, approved topic texts once the calls are launched.” IHI said it will be offering webinars and other information for would-be applicants when it finally does open applications in June. It isn’t the first time Horizon Europe plans have been published early: at least two smaller partnerships, on metrology and digital technologies, released information last year. Still, this kind of transparency has remained a rarity in Brussels – especially for such a big a chunk of research funding.”.

The vital role of nature-based solutions in a nature positive economy

The European Commission Directorate-General for Research & Innovation has just released a new independent expert report on the role of nature-based solutions in the transition towards a nature positive economy.

Find out more here.  

Ocean Literacy EU4Ocean Summit

After more than 2 years, it’s time to celebrate the efforts of the EU4Ocean Coalition‘s members!

On 19 May, you are welcome to join the EU4ocean booth and exhibition space, where many interactive activities will be organized by the coalition’s members.

On 20 May 2022, during the European Maritime Day (EMD), the hybrid Ocean Literacy EU4Ocean Summit will showcase and award the most successful initiatives, collaborations and actions of the EU4Ocean Platform, the Youth4Ocean Forum and the Network of European Blue Schools.

Organizations, individuals, young people, schools and teachers are coming together to celebrate their efforts and commitment to the ocean and invite others to join them in their work to enhance ocean literacy throughout Europe.

Find out more here!

Ukraine invasion ends “naïve” era of science diplomacy

According to Science|Business, “European universities have signaled a move towards a “post-naïve” era of international collaboration in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stressing the risks as well as benefits of research across borders. Although the EU has long been moving towards a more cautious approach, especially with regard to China, the invasion, which triggered the widespread cutting of institutional ties with Russia, has put a definitive end to a period when academic cooperation was seen as an unalloyed good that transcended politics. “Maybe we move to a post-naive world of science cooperation and science diplomacy,” said Jan Wöpking, director of the U15 group of large German research universities. In a statement released on 27 April, the U15, the Udice group of French institutions, and the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, said that they backed the sanctions against Russia and were concerned about being able to conduct, “safe, fair, and balanced collaborations.” This doesn’t mean that European academics should only cooperate with countries that share, “99% our values,” said Wöpking. “It’s not excluding [those countries], but paying more attention, to the way we’re doing this, to the details of the cooperation,” he said. “And being less naïve, maybe, about this, in not having the idea that any cooperation leads per se to a better world.” “We can’t assume that just because scientists have great relations, that’s going to, you know, heal the world,” said Guild secretary-general Jan Palmowski, although he added, this was never the belief of sophisticated advocates of science diplomacy. The invasion of Ukraine, and subsequent academic sanctions, were likely to have “hugely increased” universities’ fears about “overexposure” and “the risk of being too reliant on a single country in terms of your academic collaboration,” Palmowski said.”.

Shaping the EU’s Climate Transition: Citizens take the floor

Yesterday, the Commission published a new report, “Shaping the EU’s Climate Transition: Citizens take the floor.” The report shares the views and ideas of European citizens on how to make the Climate Transition a just one, during deliberative processes that took place between November 2021 and March 2022.

The priorities and recommendations put forward by citizens included the need for more economic incentives for retrofitting and energy-saving measures that do not leave behind rural dwellers, older people, renters, or low-income households, as well as specific suggestions such as, for example, a “sustainability” label for food.

The results are clear: citizens are ready to commit to the Climate Transition but demand support from EU institutions – through legislation and financial assistance – to make the transition fair for everyone. Citizen participation is at the core of the European Green Deal, and the Climate Transition will only be successful with the involvement and backing of citizens. 

Putting citizens at the centre of the debate around the EU’s future is also the main goal of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) that run between May 2021 and May 2022. The findings of this short report feed into the work of the CoFoE.

Shaping the EU’s Climate Transition: Citizens take the floor

Yesterday, the Commission published a new report, “Shaping the EU’s Climate Transition: Citizens take the floor.” The report shares the views and ideas of European citizens on how to make the Climate Transition a just one, during deliberative processes that took place between November 2021 and March 2022.

The priorities and recommendations put forward by citizens included the need for more economic incentives for retrofitting and energy-saving measures that do not leave behind rural dwellers, older people, renters, or low-income households, as well as specific suggestions such as, for example, a “sustainability” label for food.

The results are clear: citizens are ready to commit to the Climate Transition but demand support from EU institutions – through legislation and financial assistance – to make the transition fair for everyone. Citizen participation is at the core of the European Green Deal, and the Climate Transition will only be successful with the involvement and backing of citizens. 

Putting citizens at the centre of the debate around the EU’s future is also the main goal of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) that run between May 2021 and May 2022. The findings of this short report feed into the work of the CoFoE.

Commission’s event ‘Clusters meet Baltic Sea Regions’ to support businesses in the current geopolitical situation

Starting today, the Commission and the European Cluster Cooperation Platform organize a two-day ‘Clusters meet Baltic Sea Regions’ event to support businesses affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two-day event takes place in Vilnius physically and online.

The first day of the event takes the form of a workshop, giving businesses, public authorities and other organizations an opportunity to discuss and share practices about how to respond to supply chain disruptions, loss of markets, price increases and other economic impacts of the war. The second day takes the form of a matchmaking event for companies, offering them opportunities to connect with one another and identify alternative suppliers, clients and business partners.

Addressing the workshop today, Commissioner Thierry Breton, responsible for the Internal Market said: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine again pushed the European economy into crisis mode. To ensure Europe’s security and prosperity in an increasingly volatile world, we must continue building a resilient Single Market. Our Single Market is a tool of geopolitical importance as it can help to provide a safety net and cushion the economic impact by facilitating new opportunities and markets. This event shows how this can work in practice.”

Read more here.

EU and Norway strengthen cooperation for sustainable fishing in the Northeast Arctic

Norway and the EU reached a political understanding in relation to the fisheries in the Northeast Arctic, in ICES subareas 1 and 2. The area concerned includes the waters around the archipelago of Svalbard and the international waters of the Barents Sea. The understanding ensures sustainable fishing in the Northeast Arctic, while also providing certainty for EU fleets fishing in that area.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said: “The understanding with Norway reflects our joint commitment to sustainable fishing and highlights what can be achieved when addressing matters of common interest together. We look forward to continuing and further strengthening our joint efforts in the area of fisheries and in this respect I look forward to meeting Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran, the Norwegian Minister for Fisheries, during my upcoming travel to the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø.”

Through the understanding, Norway and the EU reiterate their commitment to the continued sustainable management of marine living resources in the Northeast Arctic, in accordance with international law. The understanding allows EU fleets fishing for cod in the waters around the archipelago of Svalbard to continue fishing in line with their historic fishing rights. Norway and the EU will continue setting catch limits applying to EU vessels fishing in Svalbard waters in their legislation, as is the established practice.

The understanding furthermore strengthens cooperation on measures in relation to fisheries in the Northeast Arctic, ensuring sustainable fishing. The fisheries covered are fisheries with catches of cod, redfish, haddock and Greenland halibut. The EU and Norway will in this case engage in consultations regarding such measures, and the measures will be set in a coordinated manner.

Read more here.