Afin de pouvoir traiter les résultats dans les plus brefs délais, la date de clôture est le 11 décembre 2012.  

Afin de pouvoir traiter les résultats dans les plus brefs délais, la date de clôture est le 20 décembre 2012.  

Le F.R.S.-FNRS vous remercie d’avance pour votre collaboration.

https://fr.surveymonkey.com/s/HIVERA

The Financial Regulation lays down the basic set of rules on how the EU budget is spent. The new text was adopted and entered into force in October this year. It should be noted that while the new rules will apply to all programmes that start in the next EU budget period 2014-2020, some EU programmes will continue to operate under their current rules. This includes FP7, which operates according to the separate Rules for Participation, although some of the changes may be implemented from January 2013. In order to continue the simplification efforts, the EC will continue to monitor the process through a special monitoring initiative and continue to publish a regular Scoreboard to track the development of the proposed simplification measures.

Further information : http://europa.eu/rapid/

See: http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?pg=allpublications

The guide is available on the EC’s website: http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/pdf/communicating-research_en.pdf

See : http://www.earto.eu/fileadmin/content/03_Publications/FINAL_TECH_REPORT2012.pdf

Collaborative Projects – Small, medium and large-scale research projects 

F.R.S.-FNRS, Monday 26th November 2012, 13:00 – 16:00

An information session on the SSH 2013 calls for proposals is organised by the Fund for Scientific Research – FNRS (5, Rue d’Egmont, 1000 Brussels).

The event aims at supporting researchers in the preparation of their application for a small-, medium- and large-scale research project.

Due to limited space, registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis (deadline: 21^st November).

Information on the workshop at: http://www.ssh-workshop-fnrs-2012.be/

Do not hesitate to contact us should you have additional questions.  Please disseminate this information as widely as possible.

We hope to meet you on the 26^th November!

http://archives.lesoir.be/une-equipe-de-l-ulb-prouve-l-existence-des_t-20120802-021KD7.html?query=ULB&firstHit=0&by=10&sort=datedesc&when=-1&queryor=ULB&pos=0&all=14201&nav=1

NET4SOCIETY is the international network of National Contact Points (NCPs) for Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in the 7th European Framework Programme (FP7).

To help you network and collaborate, the NET4SOCIETY project has developed an online partner search service. You can spread your partner searches by uploading them directly on this website.

As a special service to the research community, the NCP in each country will carry out a quality check of these partner searches before they are displayed online. You can thus benefit from the NCP expertise to guarantee you a high standard of the profiles displayed.

Benefit from our expertise and publish your request on our project web site:  http://www.net4society.eu/public/pss.php

Note that the FRS-FNRS is a member of Net4Society.

Directorate General for Research and Innovation organised this event on the new calls for proposals under the 2013 Work Programme of the Activities of International Cooperation.

Programme and presentations are available at this address: http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=infoday-2012

Attendance is free but registration is required.  

Preliminary programme and registration form at:  www.openaccess.be

In addition, the IPR-Helpdesk has recently published their first educational clips for individual self-study. The clips are between 15 and 20 minutes long and address key aspects of our different training modules. The first three clips provide an introduction to IP and tackle particular IP matters in FP7 projects.

You may watch the clips and download the presentations here: http://www.iprhelpdesk.eu/training/clips

Introduction

EWI is organizing a training on Gender in Research

Participation is free of charge

Registration is compulsory

Approach

Interactive and experience-based, short presentations as reminder of theory, practical exercises in small groups, case studies.

Agenda

Registration: 9:00 am

Morning session: 9.30 - 13.00

Introduction; Short pre-training questionnaire and expectations of participants; Concepts (gender/sex, gender equality, equal participation, equal opportunities, gender mainstreaming); Relevance and added value of gender and gender mainstreaming in EU research policy and the 7th Framework Programme (FP7); Elements of gender mainstreaming in FP7

Lunch

Afternoon session: 14:00 - 17:30

For both fields: examples of sex / gender relevance; A practical approach to assisting project applicants and projects teams towards gender equality in EU research projects; For both fields: gender issues in FP7 work programmes; Evaluation of the day

Location

Brussels, Av. Roi Albert II, 35, Ellips building - Room 21.27 [5’ walk from Railway station Brussels North]

Furher information

http://www.yellowwindow.be/genderinresearch/index_calendar.html

Invitations to negotiate were sent on Tuesday 24th by email to 50 coordinators from the A list

To access these lists, please click on Funded projects / How to manage my project / choose a Marie Curie Action and continue to Project management. 

 You will then find the contact details of the project officers I ncharge of the ITN, IAPP, Cofund and IRSES actions.

This second survey looks beyond Europe and focuses on the international mobility of researchers to and from Europe and other places in the world. It targets both EU and non-EU researchers.

We would like to know about your views, needs and experiences with international mobility. Which countries have you worked in as a researcher?  What factors have played a role in your decisions to move country? Have you previously worked in Europe and if so, how does this compare to other parts of the world? Have you considered carrying out future research in Europe?

Your responses will help the European Commission to develop better policies that should improve the mobility opportunities, career prospects and working conditions of researchers.

The questionnaire should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete. It will remain open till September 15th.

Thank you in advance for your survey participation and feedback. All answers will be treated as strictly confidential and processed anonymously.

Link to the survey on working conditions and mobility of international researchers:  http://s.chkmkt.com/?e=21264&d=e&h=0B637FEC1B8E248&l=en

The European Commission has outlined measures to improve access to scientific information produced in the framework of public-funded research in Europe. Access to scientific papers and data should be broader and more rapid for researchers and businesses. The measures complement the Commission's Communication to achieve a European Research Area.

The informal Council Competitiveness (Research Part) under the Cypriot presidency will be held on 20 July 2012 in Nicosia.

The presidency intends to focus on research and innovation within the Euro-Mediterranian Cooperation as well as on simplification aspects of Horizon 2020.

This is the second technical seminar organised by the CY Presidency

Report – FNRS

PL opened the session with a brief summary of the EU-12 countries' perspective on the situation. They did not use the term EU12 and preferred "like minded countries".

The problem had been identified in the mid-term evaluation as well as in various analyzes. It was claimed that there were projects that had been rejected by the evaluators because they did not believe that low-paid coordinators could be competent.

Also, some university researchers created sham companies to pay higher salaries for themselves exactly like their EU-15 counterparts had.

This situation hampers the development of an "honest and integrated internal market for research" and the achievement of EU 2020 targets.

According to PL, the solution would be to expand the Marie Curie rates for the entire H2020.

Jack Metthey, Clara de la Torre and Peter Fisch from COM presented a number of facts and a calculation of the consequences of extending MCA rates for the entire H2020 (see attached detailed powerpoint).

COM's statistics show that countries perform very differently depending on which indicator is chosen, and that there is a clear division between the EU-12 and EU-15.

Surprisingly, it turns out that there is greater EU-12 participation in larger projects than in small ones. Also, there is no significant difference between EU-12 and EU-15 regarding the  coordination of projects.

It was strongly emphasised by the COM that the researchers in MCA who move to another country get a temporary contract, which by no means is comparable to a permanent position at home. An extension of MCA rates would increase staff costs by 41-87%. Since personnel costs in FP7 constitutes 46%, it would be expected to be 20-43% more expensive in H2020 or would mean there would be 800 to 1600 fewer projects. Therefore, the COM strongly advise against using MCA rates.

Jack Metthey said that the real issue was the brain drain or brain circulation. He reminded that China send 10,000 researchers abroad each year in the hope that they return with new knowledge and skills.

The ensuing discussion consisted of a series of very long questions from SL, SK, RO, BG and PL.

It was said that COM's analysis of the statistics was dismissed as false and misleading.

SL and SK stated that it would be cheaper to use the MCA rates.

PL stressed that the problem of giving scientists a higher wage was that it was usually done through large bonus, which was often overruled by the auditors.

COM stressed that in the Guide to Financial Issues, there was a clear description of conditions in order to pay bonus, which participants simply have to stick to.

PL, however, considered that it would take too long to change their system and therefore,H2020 rules should be adapted. The real core of the problem lies in the EU-12  employment and remuneration practices, which often cannot be defended adequately in an audit when making attempts to pay competitive salaries. A viable solution must therefore lie partly in the institutions which must work to develop some more robust principles for compensation.  Also, the institutions must follow the steps to provide legal security for the payment of fair wages.

A first survey focusing on the opinions of researchers currently working in a European university was launched in June 2012.

This second survey looks beyond Europe and focuses on the international mobility of researchers to and from Europe and other places in the world. It targets both EU and non-EU researchers.

We would like to know about your views, needs and experiences with international mobility. Which countries have you worked in as a researcher?  What factors have played a role in your decisions to move country? Have you previously worked in Europe and if so, how does this compare to other parts of the world? Have you considered carrying out future research in Europe?

Your responses will help the European Commission to develop better policies that should improve the mobility opportunities, career prospects and working conditions of researchers.

The questionnaire should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete. It will remain open till September 15th.

All answers will be treated as strictly confidential and processed anonymously.

Link to the survey on working conditions and mobility of international researchers:  http://s.chkmkt.com/?e=21264&d=e&h=0B637FEC1B8E248&l=en,

On July 17, Science Europe and other stakeholder organisations (EARTO, EUA, , LERU, NORDFORSK) signed a Joint Statement on the European Research Area (ERA) with the European Commission. Science Europe reaffirms its commitment to strengthen the ERA through direct engagement with key partners as well as by facilitating co-operation and co-ordination amongst members.

Science Europe comprises 50 research funding and research performing organisations from 25 countries, representing around €30 billion per annum. The FRS-FNRS is a founding member of Science Europe. SE  was founded in Berlin in October 2011 with the aim of promoting the collective interests of members and providing them with a platform to collaborate at both policy and activity level.

Statement text on Science Europe website and in appendix: http://www.scienceeurope.org/index.php?page=news

On July 17, the European Commission has published a Communication on "a Reinforced European Research Area Partnership". It is based on a public consultation (autumn 2011) and on an analysis of the strengths and weakness of Europe's research systems.

Taking this into account and the overall objective of inducing lasting step-changes in Europe's research performance and effectiveness by 2014, the ERA priorities are:

• More effective national research systems – including increased competition within national borders and sustained or greater investment in research

• Optimal transnational co-operation and competition - defining and implementing common research agendas on grand-challenges, raising quality through Europe-wide open competition, and constructing and running effectively key research infrastructures on a pan-European basis

• An open labour market for researchers - to ensure the removal of barriers to researcher mobility, training and attractive careers

• Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research – to end the waste of talent which we cannot afford and to diversify views and approaches in research and foster excellence

• Optimal circulation, access to and transfer of scientific knowledge

The external dimension is a vital, cross-cutting and integral part of ERA. It will be addressed later in 2012 as part of a separate Communication on a strategic approach to enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation in research and innovation.

La Commission européenne a présenté aujourd'hui des mesures visant à rendre plus accessibles les informations scientifiques produites en Europe. Les publications et les données scientifiques issues de la recherche financée par des fonds publics seront accessibles plus rapidement à un plus large public, ce qui permettra aux chercheurs et aux entreprises de les exploiter plus facilement. Grâce à ce coup de fouet pour la capacité d'innovation en Europe, les découvertes scientifiques se traduiront plus rapidement en avantages pour la population. L'Europe obtiendra ainsi un meilleur retour sur son investissement de 87 milliards € par an dans la R&D. Ces mesures complètent la communication de la Commission sur la réalisation de l'Espace européen de la recherche (EER), adoptée également aujourd'hui.

Dans un premier temps, la Commission fera du libre accès aux publications scientifiques un principe général d'«Horizon 2020», le programme-cadre de l'UE pour le financement de la recherche et de l'innovation pour la période 2014-2020. À partir de 2014, tous les articles produits avec l'aide de fonds de ce programme devront être mis à disposition en libre accès:

•         soit immédiatement par l'éditeur, qui les publiera en ligne (approche dite de la «voie dorée»); les coûts de publication engagés pourront être remboursés par la Commission européenne;

•         soit par les chercheurs, six mois au plus tard après la publication (12 mois pour les sciences sociales et humaines), via des archives libres d'accès (approche dite de la «voie verte»).

De plus, la Commission a recommandé aux États membres de prévoir des mécanismes similaires pour les résultats de la recherche financée par les programmes nationaux. L'objectif est que d'ici à 2016, 60 % des articles scientifiques sur des travaux financés par des fonds publics dans l'UE soient disponibles en libre accès.

La Commission commencera en outre à mener des expériences en matière de libre accès aux données recueillies au cours de travaux de recherche financés par des fonds publics (par exemple les résultats d'expériences sous forme numérique), en tenant compte des questions légitimes liées aux intérêts commerciaux du bénéficiaire des fonds ou au respect de la vie privée.

Lors d'une consultation publique menée en 2011, 84 % des personnes interrogées estimaient que l'accès à la littérature scientifique n'était pas optimal. Des études montrent que, faute d'accès rapide aux dernières publications scientifiques en date, les petites et moyennes entreprises ont besoin d'un laps de temps supplémentaire pouvant aller jusqu'à deux ans pour commercialiser des produits innovants. Une étude financée par l'UE a montré qu'actuellement, seuls 25 % des chercheurs rendaient leurs données librement accessibles.

Mme Neelie Kroes, vice-présidente de la Commission européenne responsable de la stratégie numérique, a déclaré: «Les contribuables ne devraient pas payer deux fois les travaux de recherche scientifique, et ils ont besoin d'un accès facile aux données brutes. Nous voulons améliorer radicalement la diffusion et l'exploitation des résultats de la recherche scientifique, car ces données constituent le nouvel or noir.»

Mme Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, membre de la Commission européenne responsable de la recherche et de l’innovation, a déclaré: «Les contribuables doivent en avoir plus pour leur argent. Le libre accès aux publications et aux données scientifiques permettra à nos chercheurs et à nos entreprises de réaliser plus rapidement des avancées importantes, au bénéfice de la connaissance et de la compétitivité en Europe.»

Contexte

Le libre accès permet de consulter gratuitement, sur l'internet, les résultats de recherche. La Commission a adopté aujourd’hui une communication qui définit des objectifs en matière de libre accès pour les travaux de recherche qu'elle finance dans le cadre d'«Horizon 2020». Ce texte est accompagné d'une recommandation de la Commission qui propose un cadre politique complet visant à améliorer l'accès aux informations scientifiques et leur conservation. Ces deux initiatives s'inscrivent dans le cadre plus large de la réalisation de l'Espace européen de la recherche. Ces travaux de la Commission s'inscrivent dans le prolongement de sa communication sur l'information scientifique à l'ère numérique, qui a été suivie en 2007 par des conclusions du Conseil. La Commission engagera les actions suivantes:

•         élever au rang de principe général d'«Horizon 2020» le libre accès aux publications évaluées par les pairs, soit par la publication en libre accès («voie dorée»), soit par l'auto-archivage («voie verte»);

•         favoriser le libre accès aux données de la recherche (résultats d'expériences, observations, informations produites par ordinateur, etc.) et mettre en place à titre expérimental, dans le contexte d'«Horizon 2020», un cadre en la matière qui tienne compte des questions légitimes liées au respect de la vie privée, aux intérêts commerciaux et aux gros volumes de données;

•         développer et soutenir des infrastructures électroniques, interopérables à l'échelle européenne et mondiale, pour l'hébergement et le partage des informations scientifiques (publications et données);

•         aider les chercheurs à remplir leurs obligations en matière de libre accès, et promouvoir une culture du partage.

La stratégie numérique pour l’Europe définit une politique d’ouverture en matière de données qui couvre la totalité des informations produites, recueillies ou payées par les organismes publics dans l’Union européenne. En outre, le libre accès est soutenu explicitement dans l'initiative phare de l'UE «Une Union de l'innovation» en tant qu'élément essentiel à la réalisation de l'Espace européen de la recherche. La communication et la recommandation de la Commission sur les informations scientifiques complètent une autre communication adoptée aujourd'hui, intitulée «Un partenariat de l'Espace européen de la recherche renforcé pour promouvoir l'excellence et la croissance», qui définit les grandes priorités pour achever la réalisation de l'EER, l'une d'entre elles consistant à optimiser la diffusion, l’accessibilité et le transfert des connaissances scientifiques.

La Commission européenne continuera à financer des projets relatifs au libre accès. En 2012-2013, elle va consacrer 45 millions € aux infrastructures de données et à la recherche sur la conservation numérique. Le financement sera poursuivi dans le cadre du programme «Horizon 2020». Durant la même période, la Commission soutiendra des expériences portant sur de nouveaux modes de traitement des informations scientifiques (nouvelles méthodes d’évaluation par les pairs et nouvelles techniques de mesure de l’impact des articles, par exemple).

Source : Perm Rep Wallonie-Bruxelles

La Commission européenne a défini aujourd'hui des mesures concrètes à prendre par les États membres afin de mettre en place l'espace européen de la recherche (EER), un marché unique de la recherche et de l'innovation. L'objectif est de permettre aux chercheurs, aux instituts de recherche et aux entreprises de mieux se déplacer, de mieux coopérer et d'être plus concurrentiel à travers les frontières. Cet espace permettra aux États membres de renforcer leurs bases de recherche, d'augmenter leur compétitivité et de collaborer plus efficacement pour résoudre les problèmes majeurs auxquels la société est confrontée, comme le changement climatique, la sécurité alimentaire et énergétique et la santé publique. Afin de contribuer à la réalisation de l'espace européen de la recherche, la Commission a également signé aujourd'hui une déclaration conjointe et des protocoles d'accord avec des organisations représentant des organismes clés de recherche et de financement de la recherche. Les propositions constituent une réponse au délai fixé par les dirigeants de l'UE pour que l'espace européen de la recherche devienne une réalité d'ici à 2014.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, membre de la Commission européenne chargée de la recherche, de l'innovation et de la science, a déclaré: «Il faut que le financement de la recherche soit alloué de manière compétitive, il faut que les postes soient attribués selon le mérite, il faut que les chercheurs puissent facilement obtenir des subventions ou accéder à des programmes de recherche à l'étranger. Il ne peut plus en être autrement, sans parler de grandes parties de l'Europe qui ne sont même pas prises en compte. Adressez-vous à n'importe quel chef d'entreprise et il vous dira que la qualité de la base de recherche constitue un critère essentiel dans ses décisions d'investissement. Dans l'économie actuelle, aucun État membre ou aucune région ne peut se permettre de négliger sa base de recherche».

Près de 80 % de la communauté des chercheurs a indiqué, lorsque la question lui a été posée, que le manque de transparence et d'ouverture dans le recrutement restreignait la mobilité internationale. Les États membres sont donc invités à supprimer les barrières aux carrières transnationales des chercheurs en Europe, à accélérer l'application de programmes de recherche conjoints, à favoriser un financement compétitif en faveur des instituts et des projets et à investir efficacement dans des installations de niveau mondial.

Les organisations de recherche concernées sont priées de définir et de mettre en œuvre des principes en matière d'accessibilité et de portabilité des subventions nationales, de publier des offres d'emploi sur un portail internet commun, de pourvoir les postes de chercheurs selon des procédures transparentes, ouvertes et fondées sur le mérite et de resserrer les liens entre le monde professionnel et le monde universitaire.

Afin de compléter les propositions relatives à l'espace européen de la recherche d’aujourd’hui, la Commission présente aussi une initiative pour favoriser l'accès à l'information scientifique et sa conservation. Le but est de promouvoir le libre accès aux publications de recherche émanant des projets financés par l'UE, ainsi que de la recherche financée au niveau national. 

Contexte

 Les dirigeants de l’UE ont insisté à plusieurs reprises sur l’importance de mettre en place l’espace européen de la recherche et ont fixé comme date butoir 2014, dans les conclusions du Conseil européen de février 2011 et mars 2012. Le rôle de l’espace européen de la recherche pour lancer l’Europe sur la voie de la compétitivité est également mis en avant dans le pacte pour la croissance et l’emploi convenu lors du Conseil européen des 28 et 29 juin derniers.   Les propositions de la Commission pour mettre en place l’espace européen de la recherche s’articulent autour de cinq grandes priorités d’action:

•         améliorer l’efficacité des systèmes nationaux de recherche;

•         renforcer la coopération et la concurrence transnationales, notamment en créant et en exploitant efficacement des infrastructures de recherche majeures;

•         ouvrir davantage le marché du travail pour les chercheurs;

•         égalité hommes-femmes et intégration de la dimension de genre dans les organisations qui mènent et sélectionnent les projets de recherche et

•         circulation et transfert optimaux de l’information scientifique, notamment par des moyens numériques et un accès plus large et plus rapide aux publications et aux données scientifiques.

Pour chaque priorité, la communication définit des mesures concrètes à prendre par les États membres, les organisations concernées et la Commission européenne, œuvrant ensemble au sein d’un partenariat renforcé.

L’espace européen de la recherche fait partie intégrante du projet ambitieux consistant à transformer l’Union européenne en une véritable Union de l’innovation. Plus d’investissements dans la recherche, plus de qualité et de pertinence scientifiques sont essentiels pour élaborer de nouveaux produits et services à forte intensité de connaissances qui détiennent la clé de la croissance et de l’emploi.

Source : Perm Rep Wallonie-Bruxelles

The consultation is online until 4 October.

The link to the website, where the consultation is announced is: http://ec.europa.eu/research/consultations/life_science_h2020/consultation_en.htm

The guidance on information to be contained in the proposals is most important for applicants submitting a proposal to one of the topics with clinical trials. The document states very clearly that clinical trials vary and that the information provided in this list has to be seen in the light of the concrete call topic and proposal, i.e. parts of it might not be applicable to some trials and the other way round there might obviously be specific information necessary for a particular topic that is not included in the document. Still, the list should provide a very useful starting point.

The section on "financing clinical trials under FP7 rules" is probably more important for the negotiation and execution of clinical trial projects than for the proposal stage. It provides guidance on some "frequently asked questions", such as the contractual status of "satellite clinical centres", which contribute to the project only by enrolling and treating patients according to the protocol.

Please note that the call package published on the 9th of July includes official guidance on clinical trials: (http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/cooperation#health

Also to be found in  Annex V to the Guide for Applicants (enclosed the version for CPs – p. 48-51, it is also included in the versions for CSAs).

This call will give researchers across Europe the opportunity to participate in ambitious public-private partnerships that will pave the way for the development of the medicines of the future. The 7th Call has two topics:

-           Developing a framework for rapid assessment of vaccination benefit/risk in Europe

-           Incorporating real-life clinical data into drug development

The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 9 October 2012. The final version of the Call text as well as details of how to apply for funding can be found online at http://www.imi.europa.eu/content/stage-1-5

Sign up to IMI’s topic webinars

IMI will hold webinars on the drug development topic on the following dates/times:

Friday 20 July at 10:30 CEST

Thursday 2 August at 10:30 CEST

More info and registration: http://www.imi.europa.eu/content/events

Why apply

The Call for proposals represents an excellent opportunity for researchers to take part in groundbreaking collaborative projects that aim to deliver tangible benefits for patients. Scientists from academia, industry, SMEs, hospitals and patients’ organisations are warmly invited to get involved in our projects. IMI has recently revised its funding rules and simplified its procedures, meaning there has never been a better time to apply for IMI funding and take part in IMI projects.

ERC Starting Grant – ERC Consolidator Grant - ERC Advanced Grant 

Tuesday 11 September 2012, 09:00 – 13:00

An information session on the ERC 2013 calls for proposals for ERC Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants is organised by the Fund for Scientific Research – FNRS and the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and, in collaboration with the Belgian universities and research centers.

The information session is organised to support researchers in the preparation of their application for an ERC Starting, Consolidator or Advanced Grant.

All the relevant information – including registration - is available at this address: http://www.erc-workshop-belgium-2012.be/

Do not hesitate to contact us should you have additional questions.  Please disseminate this information as widely as possible.

We hope to meet you on the 11^th of September!

Kind regards,

The organising committee

Monique Septon: monique.septon@frs-fnrs.be

Ann Moerenhout: ann.moerenhout@fwo.be

The overall aim of JPI Urban Europe is to create attractive, sustainable and economically viable urban areas, in which European citizens, communities and their surroundings can thrive.

The aim of this first joint call of JPI Urban Europe is to bring together partners from across society and promote intensive interactions between researchers, policy makers, business and civil society resulting in an innovative and impact-oriented approach. The scope of the call is broad; it covers new and innovative approaches, promotes interdisciplinary research and collaboration and encourages the involvement of stakeholders, thus bridging gaps between research disciplines, citizens and decision makers, city and transport planners, producers and consumers.

Each project proposal must be submitted by a project consortium consisting of at least three eligible applicants from at least two participating countries. Each of the applicants must have the interest and competence to undertake research, development or innovation within the specified themes.

The closing date for submitting a proposal for this call is 18th September 2012.

For more information: http://www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOP_8UYGRV_Eng

Open to independent researchers of any age or career stage, the new ERC calls are meant to help top scientists from all fields (Physical Sciences and Engineering, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences & Humanities) to produce the very best cutting-edge science and to affirm Europe's place as a world class destination for research. It is estimated that this funding will support around 900 excellent researchers in 2013 (each employing a further 6 team members on average). It is part of the COM's final, and biggest, call for proposals for research projects under its Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

Two new major features are introduced in this year's calls:

-        The existing "ERC Starting Grant" (aimed at outstanding researchers who are establishing their first research teams or programmes) will be split into two calls: the "ERC Starting Grant" (StG) for researchers with at least 2 and up to 7 years after their PhD and the "ERC Consolidator Grant" (CoG) for researchers with over 7 and up to 12 years after their PhD.

-       There will now be one single deadline for each call, instead of different deadlines for each of the three scientific domains, as there has been in the past.

The money invested in 2013 will be allocated as follows:

• ERC Starting Grants : €398 million

• ERC Consolidator Grants: €523 million

• ERC Advanced Grants: €662 million

• ERC Synergy Grants: €150 million

• ERC Proof of Concept Grants: €10 million

The ERC's Scientific Council, the governing body of the ERC, has established the following budget split between each of the three scientific domains as follows:

-       Physical Sciences and Engineering (44%)

-       Life Sciences (39%)

-       Social Sciences & Humanities (17%).

The "Advanced Grant call" (AdG) was published on the same day as the StG call (10 July 2012), with a deadline in November, a departure from the practice of previous years. The call for Consolidator Grants will be published in the Autumn.

The pilot "Synergy grant" will be repeated this year, following its great popularity in its first year. More than 700 proposals were submitted, which are currently being evaluated, for a very limited number of available grants.

ERC grant holders will also be able to submit proposals for the Proof of Concept grants, to develop the innovative and commercial aspects of their ERC project.

Publication dates of the ERC calls 2013 and their deadlines

• Starting Grant (ERC-2013-StG) 10 July 2012, deadline 17 October 2012

• Advanced Grant (ERC-2013-AdG) 10 July 2012, deadline 22 November 2012

• Synergy Grant (ERC-2013-SyG) 10 October 2012, deadline 10 January 2013

• Consolidator Grant (ERC-2013-CoG) 7 November 2012, deadline 21 February 2013

• Proof of Concept (ERC-2013-PoC)(*) 10 January 2013, deadline 24 April 2013 & 3 October 2013

Further information on new calls: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/ideas

The second edition of this booklet, presenting the latest developments in EU-funded ICT research and innovation, reflects the way ICT currently helps in addressing and solving societal challenges: a powerful mix of continuity and new initiatives that leads to concrete results through multidisciplinary solutions.

Thanks to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), solutions that are or will soon become reality will make it possible to provide everyone, regardless of their location, with better and personalised healthcare, whilst at the same time delivering cost savings for patients and society at large. Citizens and business interactions with public authorities will be faster and more effective, including across the borders. For our ageing population, a greater number of people will be able to live safely and independently. ICT will also help tackling environmental issues, such as energy efficiency and greener transport, in the perspective of a sustainable growth. Last but not least, continuous research and innovation will help to build a secure and trustworthy society, enabling citizens to manage and protect their identities and personal data when they interact in the networked digital society.

Download: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/dae/item-detail-dae.cfm?item_id=8269

b)      Social Innovation

RESEARCH ON SOCIAL INNOVATION Inventory of projects funded under the EU Research Framework Programmes FP5, FP6, FP7, 2012

Download: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/social_business/docs/conference/rtd_en.pdf

The ITRE Committee will welcome the Ministers of the Cyprus Presidency-in-Office of the Council of the European Union and discuss their priorities within the competences of the ITRE Committee.

With regard to the ITRE legislative work in the field of industry, the Cyprus Presidency will focus its efforts on the Programme for the Competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs (COSME) 2014-2020.

The Presidency aims at reaching an agreement with Parliament before the end of the year.

With regard to the ITRE legislative work in the field of energy, the main priority of the Cyprus Presidency is the Energy Infrastructure Regulation: the Cyprus Presidency aims at reaching an agreement with Parliament under their Presidency before the end of the year. In addition, the Cyprus Presidency will work towards a rapid agreement on the Energy Star Regulation, in order to adopt and implement the agreement with the United States. Furthermore, the Presidency envisages to advance the deliberations on the legislative proposal for safety of offshore oil and gas activities and the discussions on the renewables.

With regard to the ITRE legislative work in the field of research, development and innovation, the main priority of the Cyprus Presidency is the Horizon 2020 Package. The Cyprus Presidency will continue the negotiation process for the H2020 from the point reached by the Danish Presidency, aiming to reach agreement among the Member States in the four legislative proposals of the H2020 Package. Main focus will be on H2020 Rules for Participation and Dissemination, where the objective is to reach a general approach for the Competitiveness Council in October 2012. During the second half of the Presidency, the priority is given to the Specific Programme, where an agreement in Council is envisaged on 12 December 2012. A further priority will be the international cooperation with third countries.

With regard to the ITRE legislative work in the field of telecom, the main priorities of the Cyprus Presidency seem to be the PSI Directive, Regulation on e-ID and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and the ENISA file.

See also the press highlight on the budget for ERC 2013 research projects just announced and published on ERC website: http://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/press_release/files/Highlight_budget2013_ERC_funded_project.pdf

b) The following test links will enable you to support applicants without submitting proposals in the "real" call:
                        - For StG: https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/welcome.jsp?CALL_ID=907081002&SUBSCHEME_ID=ERC-SG
                        - For AdG: https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/welcome.jsp?CALL_ID=907081002&SUBSCHEME_ID=ERC-AG

http://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/document/file/erc_guidance_notes_for_preparing_the_grant_agreement_july_2012.pdf

It replaces the previous one from September 2010.  

Further information

The EIT Triennial Work Programme for 2013-2015 is available at:
http://eit.europa.eu/fileadmin/Content/Downloads/PDF/TWP/EIT_Triennial_Work_Programme_2013-2015_FINAL.pdf

The draft EP report on the EIT in Horizon 2020 is available at:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&reference=PE-489.664&format=PDF&language=EN&secondRef=01

The report on EIT’s Strategic Innovation Agenda is available at:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&reference=PE-489.613&format=PDF&language=EN&secondRef=01

Further information
Details of the Information Day are available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=conferences&eventcode=8420CA4B-CFC5-BD6D-904699A6A82BF7C1

Further information :  http://www.fp7.org.tr/home.do?cid=24407
Registration: http://registration.tubitak.gov.tr/index.php?sid=76299&lang=en

CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK FOR 2012
The ERC grants have been well received by the research community. Since its start in 2007 the ERC has completed eight calls for proposals for the Starting and Advanced Grant themes. The competitions yielded a total of over 26000 proposals out of which more than 2500 have been selected for funding through a rigorous peer review.
In 2012, the Scientific Council will introduce the Synergy Grants to enable small groups of researchers to bring together complementary skills, knowledge and resources, in order to jointly address research problems at the frontier of knowledge, going beyond what the individual researchers could achieve alone. The Synergy grants are introduced on a pilot basis and with a budget of €150 million.
The year 2012 will also see the discussions at the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission's proposals for Horizon 2020. One major ambition of Horizon 2020 is to support the EU’s position as a world leader in science with a dedicated budget of €24.6 billion, including an increase in funding of 77% for ERC. Boosting the ERC budget will allow more top rate researchers and their pioneering ideas to be supported, and especially younger researchers to be provided with a long-term perspective.
The evaluation report will be transmitted to the European Parliament, the Council and the Court of Auditors.
Further information at: http://www.era.gv.at/attach/ST11750EN12.PDF

Commission Proposals are discussed at the Council and Parliament levels.  There is an informal dialogue between the two institutions but Council and EP discuss with COM separately.  The European Economic and Social Committee must give its opinion too (see below). An informal agreement of the Council and the EP is expected in mid-2013. The agreement on the MFF should follow.  The adoption of Horizon 2020 is expected by end of 2013.

Please correct me if I got it wrong

1)      H2020 AT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

a)      ITRE COMMITTEE - GENERAL

On 18 June, the ITRE Committee discussed the draft reports produced by the rapporteurs on the Commission proposal on Horizon 2020 (Madurell report on the establishment of Horizon 2020 and Carvalho report on the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020). In particular, Mrs. Carvalho called for more amendments to the Commission proposal in general and in particular with respect to the area of health research of Horizon 2020. Attached you will find the draft report by Mrs. Carvalho to which the further amendments would be introduced before being adopted as the Parliament's official position on the Horizon 2002 Specific Programme.

Attached please find a summary report from the ITRE Committee meeting

Source: Science Europe

b)      EHLER REPORT – Rules for Participation

Full support for Full Cost

On 19 June the ITRE Committee of the European Parliament discussed the draft reports of rapporteur Ehler on the Rules for Participation for Horizon 2020. To him simplification in the Rules mean three things: a single set clear rules for all participants; the acceptance of usual accounting practices of beneficiaries; a reimbursement system including an option for real indirect costs.

Arguments in favour of Full Cost option

Ehler said that he supports the EC proposal towards more simplification and that more effectiveness is needed. In addition, he stated that the new Financial Regulations are shifting more towards Member States practices. This is also an argument for the Full Cost option. Different participants have different needs. He argued that his proposal therefore is not more difficult, rather it is more effective. The world of research is divided and we do not want to force someone in one direction or the other. This is the diversification participants need. What the EC proposes is almost oversimplification. He believed that his report is a reasonable step forward. Concerning raising the industry participation he said that it is not a question of budget. Industry never complained about funding rates in FP7, only about administrative burdens and recognition of accounting principles. Concerning the time to grant reduction, he believed this still to be a modest goal of the EC. For bridging activities between Structural Funds and Horizon 2020 we need the Full Cost option as well. European Budget Council discussions are worrying. The EP needs a realistic approach.

Devil in the detail vs ‘Hero in the detail’

In reaction to Ehler’s presentation of his report, MEP Glante  stated that modalities in funding rates by Ehler make things more complicated. Further we need to balance out staff costs. The reimbursement of Coordination Activities is a lot and this could be reduced. Concerning IPR we need to find a balance between two goals: ‘open access’ and ‘supporting innovation’. MEP Johansson said that the devil is in the detail, but there might be also a “hero in the detail”. He agrees with the simplification proposed by Ehler, however Ehler’s proposal is an improvement compared to FP7, but it is more complex compared to the EC proposal. The acceptance of usual accounting practices of beneficiaries is a good thing. MEP Ford mentioned concerning the funding rates that she supports the Full Cost option, which was also supported by MEP Del Castillo, but Ford may slightly amend the percentages and that she would like to have more time for amendments and comments on the different legislative proposals for Horizon 2020. Concerning the reimbursement of coordination cost, MEP Lambert agreed on a flat rate of 7% for smaller projects however for larger projects we should have a lower percentage. There should not be an overkill in reporting and no ‘overfunding’. That is why we need a digressive fund.

MEP Carvalho stated that the reduction in time to grant should also be a reduction in time to payment, the report could be more ambitious there. MEP Prodi believed that the flat rate for indirect costs is controversial,  that it is just too simple. However he acknowledge that there are large differences in participants and that the cost reimbursement proposal by Ehler therefore is better than the EC proposal. MEP Van Nistelrooij said concerning the funding rates, that it seems reasonable to have more differentiation in participants.

Ehler: Differentiation is not the enemy of simplification

Finally, Ehler wrapped up the debate by stating that the rules for participation are not clear enough in FP7. 100/20 and Full Cost are no competing systems but it is practical solution and it does not make things more complex.

Timeline

The report of Madurell, Carvalho, Lamberts, Matias and Ehler marks a period of handing in amendments. The timeline looks as follows:

•26-28 June: deadline for amendments

•17/18 September: consideration of amendments

•8/9 October : consideration of amendments and compromise amendments

•October/November 2012 (tbc): vote ITRE

Please find attached a of the RfP discussions on the Ehler report in ITRE 19 June

Source: Neth-er

See report and note from Nether (18 June) in attachment + LERU response to report

c)       CARVALHO REPORT, SPECIFIC PROGRAMME H2020

Carvalho wants more synergies between SF and H2020

Concrete ‘bridges’ between the Structural Funds and Horizon 2020 are proposed by MEP Maria Da Graça Carvalho. She is rapporteur for the Specific Programme Implementing Horizon 2020. The question is however what EU-funds are to be used to fund the bridges. The Carvalho report can be amended until 26 June 2012.

Spreading excellence and widening participation

In line with Teresa Riera Madurell’s report on the regulation Horizon 2020, Maria Da Graça Carvalho (EPP) is in favour of more connections between Horizon 2020 and the Structural Funds which is named ‘Spreading excellence and widening participation’. In one of her amendments she states the following: “Horizon 2020, in which excellence is the main driver, should create, by means of the stairway to excellence, greater synergy, complementarity and interoperability with the structural funds, whose main driver is capacity building and smart specialisation, providing that bridges are built in both directions linking the two programmes.” Carvalho mentions a few concrete ‘bridges’ she has in mind:

•Teaming activities and twinning schemes;

•ERA-chairs;

•Seal of excellence;

•ERC return grants;

•An online marketplace for IPR.

Strategic Advisory Boards

Carvalho also wants more strategic cooperation between the three pillars of Horizon 2020: “The cross- and transdisciplinary nature of the societal challenges requires the setting up of dedicated Strategic Advisory Boards. The Boards will be composed of relevant stakeholders from academia, industry, end-users and civil society of the highest repute and appropriate expertise, ensuring a diversity of all sectors and research areas concerned. The Boards will provide input and advice to the Commission on the overall strategy for the Societal Challenge concerned, the establishment of its work programmes, and the areas and criteria for the calls for proposals, making use of input provided by relevant structures such as European Technology Platforms, European scientific organizations, Joint Programming Initiatives and the European Innovation Partnerships.”

FEST

Another proposal made by Carvalho is to change the Future Emerging Technologies (FET) into the Future Emerging Sciences and Technologies (FEST). She allocates specific tasks to the FEST Advisory Board that should have a balanced composition of excellent scientist and engineers and should have an advisory role to the European Commission.

Timeline

The report of Carvalho, together with the reports by Madurell, Ehler and Lamberts marks a period of handing in amendments until 26 June. On 18 June the ITRE Committee will discuss the six reports of the rapporteurs. Consequently, the ITRE Committee will vote on the report on 9 October 2012. Thereafter, the report needs to be voted on in plenary. Important detail is that the legislative proposal for the Specific Programme Implementing Horizon 2020 is a decision, not a regulation. This means that the European Parliament only has an advisory role in the decision making process of the Specific Programme. 

Source: Neth-er

See report and note from Nether (18 June) in attachment+ LERU response to report

d)      MADURELL REPORT, H2020

Madurell: more budget and more participants in Horizon 2020

Improving the presence of women in science, free open online access to scientific data and spreading excellence and widening participation are amongst the plans of EP Rapporteur on the regulation Horizon 2020 Teresa Riera Madurell. Her report makes some significant changes to the EC proposal on Horizon 2020 as published on 30 November last year. The report can be amended until 26 June 2012.

Madurell in general has sought to build complementarities between the three pillars of Horizon 2020 and to ensure that it is in line with for example the Commission plans on the European Research Area (ERA). More concretely, Madurell has proposed the following:

•increasing the overall budget to €100 billion;

•better synergies between Horizon 2020 and the Structural Funds;

•allocating 0.9 % of the budget of the ‘Excellent Science’ pillar (33.2%) to ‘Spreading excellence and widening participation’;

•free online open access to scientific publications and open access to scientific data produced or collected by publicly funded research, with open access to become a general rule in 2020;

•changing the 2nd challenge under the Societal Challenges to ‘Health and Well-being’;

•splitting the 6th challenge into two new challenges, namely ‘Understanding European Societies and Societal Change’ and ‘Protecting Freedom and Security in Europe’;

•changing Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) to Future Emerging Sciences and Technologies (FEST);

•more budget to Marie Curie;

•a better gender balance in both female researchers receiving grants and in evaluation committees.

Timeline

The report of Madurell marks a period of handing in amendments until 26 June on Madurell’s report. Consequently, the ITRE Committee will vote on the report on 9 October 2012. Thereafter, the report needs to be voted on in plenary. The Council on the other hand already reached a so-called ‘partial general approach’ on the Horizon 2020 regulation on 31 May 2012

Source: Neth-er

See report and note from Nether (18 June) in attachment+ LERU response to report

e)      LAMBERTS REPORT, EIT

Le groupe « recherche » a procédé lors de sa réunion des 14 et 15 juin à Horsens (DK) à un examen général des propositions de compromis de la Pdce sur la proposition de décision concernant le programme stratégique d’innovation de l’Institut européen d’innovation et de technologie (EIT). Les propositions de Pdce ont été bien accueillies par les délégations. Le débat a en définitive de nouveau porté sur l’ouverture ou non de la liste des thèmes pour les futures communautés de la connaissance et de l’innovation, sujet à propos duquel les Etats membres sont assez partagés. Le débat est par ailleurs largement dépendant du budget qui sera alloué à l’EIT. Le groupe « recherche » a également été saisi d’une disposition standard en matière de protection des intérêts financiers de l’Union européenne. Une mesure spécifique est prévue à l’article 24 du programme-cadre Horizon 2020, stipulant que les audits entrepris par la COM ne pourront être menés qu'au plus tard 4 ans après versement du paiement final. D’aucuns ont demandé de remplacer le paiement final par la fin de projet, ce qui devrait être jugé acceptable par la COM. Sous divers, COM a apporté quelques précisions sur les positions qu’elle s’apprête à adopter lors de la conférence ministérielle du réseau Eureka le 22 juin 2012 à Budapest.

See attached doc

Source : Perm Rep

f)       ITRE sent written questions to the COM

Please see doc in attachment.  Questions dealt with ERC, FETs, Marie Curie etc….

Source : Enterprise Ireland, Iglo member

g)      ALDE holds seminar on Horizon 2020

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) recently organised a seminar in the EP entitled ‘Horizon 2020 – How can EU research and innovation respond to societal challenges?’ At the event, Jens Rhode MEP, the ALDE co-ordinator for the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE), outlined ALDE’s priorities for Horizon 2020, which centre around the belief that the path from research to innovation is not linear, and that a culture change is needed in Europe to support the commercialisation of research.

The seminar included four panels of experts discussing ‘Future challenges for research and innovation in the healthcare sector’, ‘Research and innovation for a competitive low carbon economy’, ‘Complementary financing of R & D and innovation’ and ‘Simplification, SME participation and share between fundamental and applied research.’

Overall conclusions from the discussions were: that H2020 and national funding should be complementary and synergistic; that research results

should be disseminated widely, not only in Europe but across the world; that H2020 needs to create the right conditions to encourage industrial participation; that simplification is needed to reduce time to grant and remove administrative burden; and that a highly skilled workforce is important.

Further information

A press release giving details of proceedings is available from the ALDE website at:

http://www.alde.eu/press/press-and-release-news/press-release/article/

2) H2020 AT COUNCIL LEVEL

a)      OUTCOMES OF THE COMPETITIVENESS MEETING, 31 MAY

 Research and Innovation ministers of the 27 EU Member States met on 31 May at the Competitiveness Council in Brussels to agree on a common position on the structure of Horizon 2020, the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

Under the guidance of the Danish Presidency the Council reached an initial common position only five months after starting deliberations on the proposal by the European Commission presented in December 2011.

The agreed position of the Council is based on widespread approval of the original proposal of the Commission but does include some changes. The original proposal had foreseen funding for collaborative research addressing six Societal Challenges, including a Challenge that combined the Social Sciences, the Humanities and Security research. Several national delegations and indeed parts of the research communities had expressed doubts about the usefulness of this combination and called for a separate and distinct Societal Challenge for the Social Sciences and the Humanities. The Council followed this opinion and agreed on splitting the Challenge into two. The new Societal Challenges would be called “Europe in a changing world - Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies” and “Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens”, the former with a clear focus on Social Sciences and humanities, including cultural heritage research and the latter one providing funding for security related research.

Another change to the proposal is that the Commission had original set the target of  at least 15% of the budget dedicated to Societal Challenges and Industrial Leadership should going to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME). The council has now raised that target to 20%. While this stresses the importance the Member States attach to the involvement of industry and particularly SMEs in Horizon 2020 and indicates, the ministers also made it very clear that it has to be guaranteed that this funding is used to support research activities at SME and does not end up subsidizing other economic activities of private enterprise.

Another novelty is the introduction of an article stating that Horizon 2020 shall contribute to the reinforcement of a single market for researchers and making researchers' careers more attractive in the context of the European Research Area, by taking into account the transnational character of the majority of the actions supported under it.

The Council stresses the importance of continuing to build appropriate synergies and complementarities between national and European research and innovation programmes and implement Joint Programming initiatives.

 There were several calls from Member States to bring the funding for the two large projects ITER and GMES back into the EU’s financial framework, possibly under the Horizon 2020 budget.

One issue which was strongly debated was the ethical consideration revolving around stem cells research. The majority in the Council was for maintaining the current status quo of FP7 which state that research on human stem cells, both adult and embryonic, may be financed, depending both on the contents of the scientific proposal and the legal framework of the Member States involved but that no funding shall be granted for research activities that are prohibited in all the Member States and no activity shall be funded in a Member State where such activity is forbidden.  Some Member States would prefer a complete ban on stem cells research and see no funding of the EU going that way. Malta even refused to support the common position because its final version didn’t ban funding for stem cell research.

With the agreement the Council now has one of three positions defined. The position on the Rules for Participation in Horizon 2020 and on the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020 will be tackled in the coming months. Once Council has defined all of its three positions the negotiations with the European Parliament can start, probably in early 2013.

Sources: Science Europe.  Also see website of DK Presidency: http://eu2012.dk/en/NewsList/Maj/Uge-22/Horizon-2000?utm_source=apsis-anp-3&utm_medium=email&utm_content=unspecified&utm_campaign=unspecified

b)      COMPETITIVENESS MEETING.  THE POINT OF VIEW OF IPR

Concerning the proposal for the new Rules for Participation, delegations expressed some concerns in terms of intellectual property. In fact, delegations have asked “for the insertion or clearer wording for a number of items, such as “background”, “fair and reasonable conditions” [and] “results””. Regarding the dissemination of results, Member States have asked, in particular, clarifications on the following issues:

•the joint ownership provisions;

•the “additional exploitation obligations” referred to in Article 40;

•the “rationale behind the possibility for the Commission to gain access rights to the results of a participant and the possibility that the participant can object to that”; and

•“on the use of “Europe first” provisions, in particular with respect to participation of multi-national participants.”

Source: IPR Helpdesk

c)       RESEARCH WORKING GROUP

18 June meeting

Le groupe « recherche » a passé en revue lors de sa réunion du 18 juin 2012 les articles 1 à 20 (sauf l’article 2 relatif aux définitions, qui a fait l’objet de trop d’amendements) de la proposition de compromis de la Présidence DK sur les règles de participation au programme-cadre Horizon 2020. Les articles les plus controversés (singulièrement ceux portant sur les modèles de financement) seront discutés dès le début de la Pdce CY (le thème figurant par ailleurs à l'ordre du jour de la réunion ministérielle informelle de Nicosie le 20 juillet 2012). Les amendements écrits sur ces articles sont attendus pour le 28 juin 2012.

CY a présenté en fin de réunion le programme de sa présidence du second semestre 2012 en matière de recherche et d'innovation.

A noter que BE a relayé sous  "divers" les informations critiques émanant du groupe consultatif des représentants des Etats membres (SRG) de l’initiative IMI ("innovative medicines initiative") concernant le lancement du sixième appel à propositions de l’IMI. COM réagira à ce sujet lors d'une prochaine réunion du groupe "recherche".

14-15 June 2012

Le groupe « recherche » a procédé lors de sa réunion des 14 et 15 juin à Horsens (DK) à un examen général des propositions de compromis de la Pdce sur la proposition de décision concernant le programme stratégique d’innovation de l’Institut européen d’innovation et de technologie (EIT). Les propositions de Pdce ont été bien accueillies par les délégations. Le débat a en définitive de nouveau porté sur l’ouverture ou non de la liste des thèmes pour les futures communautés de la connaissance et de l’innovation, sujet à propos duquel les Etats membres sont assez partagés. Le débat est par ailleurs très dépendant du budget qui sera alloué à l’EIT. Le groupe « recherche » a également été saisi d’une disposition standard en matière de protection des intérêts financiers de l’Union européenne. Une mesure spécifique est prévue à l’article 24 du programme-cadre Horizon 2020, stipulant que les audits entrepris par la COM ne pourront être menés qu'au plus tard 4 ans après versement du paiement final. D’aucuns ont demandé de remplacer le paiement final par la fin de projet, ce qui devrait être jugé acceptable par la COM.

Sous divers, COM a apporté quelques précisions sur les positions qu’elle s’apprête à adopter lors de la conférence ministérielle du réseau Eureka le 22 juin 2012 à Budapest.

Source : Perm Rep

d)      CYPRUS PRESIDENCY (July-December 2012) – PRIORITIES

Le paquet « Horizon 2020 » figurera bien entendu au cœur des travaux sous Présidence CY. Cette dernière espère que des orientations générales partielles pourront être dégagées sur le règlement relatif aux règles de participation et de diffusion et sur la décision portant sur le programme spécifique.

* L’accent sera placé en début de Pdce CY (réunions du mois de juillet et de septembre) sur les règles de participation. CY espère en effet aboutir sur ce dossier lors du Conseil du 10 octobre 2012. Un document révisé sera diffusé durant la dernière semaine de juin.

La problématique des modèles de financement, pierre angulaire de la simplification proposée par la COM, constituera un point central des discussions. Il en sera par ailleurs question lors de la réunion ministérielle informelle du 20 juillet 2012.

* Pour le programme spécifique, le travail consistera d’abord à assurer l’alignement de ce texte sur celui sur lequel une orientation générale partielle (programme-cadre Horizon 2020) a été dégagée le 31 mai dernier. Un examen pilier par pilier sera réalisé. Pdce CY sollicitera des commentaires écrits pour la fin juillet 2012. Il s’agit d’une décision du Conseil (pas en « codécision ») et seul un avis du Parlement européen est attendu en novembre. Pdce ambitionne d’atteindre l’orientation générale partielle sur le programme spécifique lors du Conseil du 11 décembre 2012.

Pdce veillera aussi à faire progresser l’examen des deux documents (révision du règlement et décision sur le programme stratégique d’innovation) sur l’Institut Européen d’Innovation et de Technologie, dossier étroitement lié à Horizon 2020. La révision du règlement ne devrait pas poser trop de problèmes (les références aux aspects budgétaires étant peu nombreuses, il s’agit principalement de questions de gouvernance, de rôle du conseil d’administration, …). Le groupe « recherche » examinera le projet de révision du règlement en juillet, et CY espère que le dossier passera au Conseil du mois d’octobre.

Par contre, CY est réservée sur les possibilités d’aboutir en ce qui concerne le programme stratégique d’innovation (SIA), car le contenu de ce dernier dépend en grande partie de questions budgétaires qui ne seront pas encore réglées. Le point figurera dans l’ordre du jour du Conseil du mois de décembre. Il en ira de même pour le règlement « Euratom » (2014-2018).

3)      H2020 AT THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE LEVEL

The EESC gave its opinon on the H2020 package

It is published in the OJ, 21 June, p.111-21: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2012:181:0111:0121:EN:PDF

Symposium “Ways of successful science, technology and innovation cooperation between Europe and the USA”, April 23-24, Vienna The slides are available at : http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/home/sficsymposium 
For presentation on Legal obstacles to US participation in FP7 projects, see: http://www.euussciencetechnology.eu/uploads/docs/PS_02_BAUMGARTNER.pdf

In response to the call, 71 proposals were submitted within the deadline. The distribution of those 71 proposals across the various topics of the call is given in the list attached , together with the results of the first internal eligibility check and of the evaluation procedure, coordinated by the Commission services and carried out by independent experts in accordance with the rules for participation in FP7.

The individual evaluations took place remotely during the period 26 March – 20 April 2012, followed by consensus meetings which took place in Brussels over the period 30 April – 11 May 2012.

This year’s summit is special in the sense that it is foreseen to cooperate with the European Journalism Centre who will engage 2 journalists per member state reporting on the summit event, conducting interviews and participate in press conferences with representatives from the EU institutions and innovation practitioners. Thus, messages will be spread around Europe, ultimately helping the Innovation Union to become reality.

The topics of the different agenda parts all relate somehow to policies relevant for innovation and that are currently under review by the European Parliament. Most important policy dossiers include Horizon2020, Cohesion Policy, COSME and the Multiannual Financial Framework.
Further information and registration: http://www.knowledge4innovation.eu/EIS/SitePages/eis2012_home.aspx

The European Commission is looking at whether these rules need to be improved and if so, in what way.
This exercise started in 2011 with an assessment of how these rules are implemented (Directive 2004/114/EC; Directive 2005/71/EC) and how they fulfil their potential.

The European Commission is now launching a public consultation on the revision of Students and Researchers Directives open to individuals/organisations all over the world. The corresponding on-line questionnaire is accessible via this link: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=Immigration2012

The results of the consultation – which will be open for 12 weeks - will feed into the Impact Assessment on the revision of the two Directives.
 
The deadline to respond is 23 August 2012, however, given the tight time-table for the revision process any responses received within 6-8 weeks from now would be particularly appreciated.

Further information and registration: www.soqua.net/summerschool

En effet, les Universités sont désormais autorisées à déclarer dans les conventions européennes le coût salarial des chercheurs permanents du F.R.S.-FNRS qui y participent (à concurrence de 50 % maximum du temps de travail du chercheur, soit un maximum de 16 heures par semaine).

Pour ce faire, une convention tripartite doit désormais être signée lorsqu’un de nos chercheurs permanents prend part à un programme de recherche FP.

Le principe de cette convention est que l’Union européenne reverse à l’Université le prorata du coût salarial du chercheur permanent correspondant à sa participation au programme FP. Le F.R.S.-FNRS a décidé que les sommes ainsi remboursées seraient  intégralement mises à la disposition du chercheur sous la forme d’un crédit de fonctionnement. Ce crédit est destiné à couvrir des dépenses à caractère scientifique.

Pratiquement ce crédit sera ouvert par le service compétent de votre Université et géré par lui.

Un exemple de la convention tripartite est téléchargeable sur le site du F.R.S.-FNRS. L'université devra renvoyer au service financier du F.R.S.-FNRS cette convention signée par le chercheur et le recteur, accompagnée d’un document reprenant tous les renseignements se rapportant au projet européen (nom du projet, durée du projet, % du temps consacré par le chercheur au projet,…). Le F.R.S.-FNRS déterminera sur cette base le montant du crédit qui sera alloué au chercheur.

Par ailleurs, l’exemple de convention tripartite se trouve ici : http://www2.frs-fnrs.be/uploaddocs/docs/SOUTENIR/FRS-FNRS_Convention_FP.pdf .

Further information: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/experts_en.html
Registration of experts can be found at: https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7/index.cfm

The afternoon will consist of parallel sessions with group discussions by thematic areas, in order to help bring together consortia, and pre-arranged face-to-face meetings to discuss potential partnerships for proposals. Participants can sign up for both when registering for the Information Day.
There will also be a focus on opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the 2013 FAFB call, which is foreseen to be a particular priority.

Other issues addressed include: the need for further clarification of synergies between Horizon 2020 and other funding streams, such as Structural Funds and Erasmus for All; concern about the comparative low funding proposed for Marie Curie Actions; a request for clarification of the differences between the ERC and the proposed extension of the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) scheme; and the lack of concrete measures to improve the gender balance across all aspects of Horizon 2020.

Here is some of the changes that might be of interest to you:

1)SSH and social Challenges 6 & 7
2)First Pilar (ERC, FESTs, MC, Infrastructures, excellence/participation, responsible research and innovation)
3)Other issues (gender, EIT)
4)Breakdown Budget
5)H2020 Instruments

Note that we usually refer to the amendments, not the COM text, unless otherwise stated.

Please note that at this stage the information below is indicative only. This is expected to be formally confirmed on 9 July 2012, when the European Commission is expected to adopt the ERC's next work programme. Only the information that will be published on the Participant Portal should be considered official.

The main changes include:
The introduction of the "ERC Consolidator grant": The previous ERC Starting grant scheme will be divided into two separate calls:
- Starting grant (StG): for researchers who have been awarded their first PhD at least 2 and up to 7 years prior to the publication date of the call.
- Consolidator grant (CoG): for researchers who have been awarded their first PhD over 7 and up to 12 years prior to the publication date of the call.  
A Consolidator grant is worth up to €2 million (under certain circumstances up to €2.75 million). 
One single deadline for each call, and not different deadlines for the three domains as in the past. 
The publication of the next Advanced grant (AdG) call will be on 10 July (not in the autumn as previously), with the deadline for applications in the autumn (not in spring as in the past). 
In sum, the planned publication dates and deadlines for all upcoming calls are as follows:

Starting Grant (ERC-2013-StG)
Publication date 10 July 2012
Deadline 17 October 2012

Advanced Grant (ERC-2013-AdG)
Publication date 10 July 2012
Deadline 22 November 2012

Synergy Grant (ERC-2013-SyG)
Publication date 10 October 2012
Deadline 10 January 2013

Consolidator Grant (ERC-2013-CoG)
Publication date 7 November 2012
Deadline 21 February 2013

For ERC grantees only (top-up grant):
Proof of concept (ERC-2013-PoC)
Publication date 10 January 2013
Deadline 24 April and 3 October 2013

The experts should hold a short presentation (approximately 10 minutes, depending on the number of participants) about their research institution, profile and track record, potential interest in FP7 projects and visions for the future. Hopefully the representative from the European Commission, DG RTD will be also present.
Please find the invitation and more information attached and below.
Contact : Ms Adela Vozechova (vozechova@tc.cz)

The Call for proposals on antimicrobial resistance, which will be presented during the event, has a budget of over €100 million and is part of an ambitious, large-scale programme to tackle this major challenge in health in the EU and worldwide.

The agenda includes:
•             presentations on IMI project successes
•             an overview of recently-launched IMI projects
•             an update on IMI’s efforts to simplify procedures
•             workshops on the following indicative topics from current and future IMI Calls for proposals:
•             Antimicrobial resistance
•             Vaccines
•             Research effectiveness

The event represents an excellent opportunity to learn more about all forthcoming topics and discuss them in person with the EFPIA topic coordinators.

IMI warmly encourages policy makers, small and medium-sized enterprises, patient organisations, regulatory authorities, academic teams, industry, hospitals and other organisations with an interest in IMI projects to take part in the Stakeholder Forum.

Registration is obligatory. Participation in the Stakeholder Forum is free.

Registration is now open via: http://www.imi.europa.eu/events/2012/04/24/stakeholder-forum-2012.

IMI will also hold webinars on the 6th Call for proposals on 24 and 25 May. For more information and to register, visit http://www.imi.europa.eu/events/2012/05/11/imi-6th-call-webinars

An indicative text of the antimicrobial resistance Call for proposals is now online at http://www.imi.europa.eu/content/6th-call-2012

The document was presented to the EC Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn on December 16th, 2011.

It is the product of an extensive public consultation and discussion conducted as part of the 1st European Gender Summit (http://www.gender-summit.eu), which took place on 8-9 November 2011 in Brussels, under the patronage of the Polish EU Presidency, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. 

3400 scientists from across Europe, US, and beyond have already added their names to the list of signatories since the Manifesto was launched on-line on December 19th.  I very much hope that you will consider joining them. 

The timing is important because right now  policy makers at national and EU level are debating post-FP7 research directions and R&D spending within HORIZON 2020, as well as the proposed European Research Area.   Included in the framework proposals for both are explicit requirements for addressing gender issues in research content, cultures and participation.  Through the Manifesto we can persuade policy makers that scientists support these actions.

Please also see a 2-page A-Z brief introduction into the very extensive evidence of why gender matters in research and innovation, created for non-gender experts. 

We would be most grateful if your could consider signing the Manifesto, and help encourage others in your networks to sign it at http://bit.ly/rLS7cn

Draft programme
The workshop programme will be published soon and will cover (amongst other presentations):
PlantPower: The Ultimate Way to go Green, Professor Birger Lindberg Møller, University of Copenhagen
Turning elite science into profitable business for SMEs, Jørgen Hansen, Evolva A/S (SME, Denmark)
The presentations will be followed by an interactive panel debate, including questions from audience. 
Marcel Wubbolts, European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (ETP SUSchem) will be a panel member.
  

What is 'Synthetic biology'?
Synthetic biology is based on the study of biological systems with the aim of constructing similar systems with desired features.
It is an emerging bio-based technology which is quickly establishing itself as a key enabling technology alongside nanotechnology, ICT and advanced materials. It offers promising approaches to realising the vision of a bio-based European economy through research and innovation as well as a deliverer of competitive and sustainable growth for Europe.

Identification Committee
To look for new members of ScC (eg Dewatripont).  New members starting to arrive in October

Draft WP
- Adoption on 9 July, call on 10 July: Call Starting and Advanced Grants
- Split Starting Grants in 2 streams: starters and consolidators, with 2 different deadlines. Starters: 17.10 (2300 proposals expected), Consol. 21.02 (2700 proposals expected
Equal success rate expected but budget higher for Consolidators (507M€) due to bigger projects.  Starters: 386M€. About 270 awards expected
- Advanced Grants: 27 Nov. Will be an overlap: some results from the 2012 will not be known when 2013 call launched. Budget: 660M€
Note more money will go to Synergy Grants (only 1-2% success rate in first call).  Remains a pilot call now.  See what happens in H2020
In the future, more money available to access RI

Starting Grants 2012
47% starters, 53% consolidators
20% resubmissions
1,2% ineligible proposals
First time notifications sent to successful/unsuccessful applicants at the same time
1083 interviewees : huge number.  2 panels will be split (PE6, SH2) because too many applicants in these domains

Advanced Grants 2012
Proposals: 772 PE, 977 LS, 555 SH
First time it is possible to reject evaluators.  Has been used extensively
Resubmission level high: 41% in PE, 24% in LS

Synergy Grants
Evaluation from June to November. Maybe 20 proposals will be funded out of 700 eligible proposals
Average budget 8.3M€ (15M€ was the limit)
Average of 3.1 PIs
Will remain a pilot scheme

Proof of Concept 2011
Applicants can have more than 1 PoC Grant (either extension of project or new idea)
62% of applicants had a StGr, 48% had an Adg Gr
Out of the 14 resubmissions at second deadline, 6 passed
PoC 2012: first deadline 3 May, second deadline: October. Results in December

General
2467 grants signed
ERCEA still has money left which must be spent
Pressure to start grant asap.  Otherwise, threat to give grant to another applicant
Synergy applicant could submit for an SSH call (cooperation programme).  Other way round not possible
Scoring: Now, use of A, B or C.  No percentage anymore + PI and Proposal scores are not sent either = Lots of complaints
ERCEA uses a software to detect plagiarism, aim not really to fight plagiarism but use it in case of scientific misconduct (eg resubmission of the same proposal without modifications) 
ERCEA will check if double funding (eg ERC and Marie Curie grants)
ERCEA plans to recruit a lot of panel members

The project lifespan accounts for a period of 12 to 24 months. For more information, please find attached the invitation for applications and see also on: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/mariecurieactions/ief_en.html

Deadline for application to the European Commission: August 16th, 2012. 

Individuals interested in applying for an IEF-fellowship hosted by the Jean-Monnet-Chair/University of Cologne are encouraged to send a CV together with a brief outline of the proposed project/activities to Cyril Gläser (cyril.glaeser@uni-koeln.de ) by June 1st, 2012.

Active Ageing – the Potential for Society, Conference and Brokerage Event, 9-11 July 2012, Dublin Castle, Ireland.
NET4SOCIETY, the network of National Contact Points, supporting and promoting Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) researchers’ engagement in FP7, will host a transnational research and brokerage event, which is an official satellite event of the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF). The event will be themed around the 2012 European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations and will focus on the human and social aspects and implications of active ageing.
The event, targeted to approximately 350 researchers, policymakers and stakeholders from the international SSH community, will showcase a positive approach to ageing and its potential for society, presenting international SSH research in this field and identifying future research needs. In addition, it will promote and encourage engagement with FP7 SSH research programmes through a brokerage event that will form part of the conference programme. The event is sponsored by the European Commission.

Key note speakers include Anne-Sophie Parent, Director of the AGE network and Lenia Samuel from the European Commission’s Year for Active Ageing initiative.

Thematic sessions will be based on the following four key topics:
• Employment
• Social participation
• Intergenerational solidarity
• Economy and innovation

The third day of the conference will be dedicated to a structured brokerage event that will provide researchers and stakeholders with the opportunity to engage with the FP7 SSH research programme with special focus on the topics of the conference, with a view to finding potential partners for research projects in the FP7 call SSH-2013.

For further information, please visit http://www.net4society-activeageing2012.eu/
For information regarding the conference content and management, please contact mobrien@irchss.ie.
For information regarding practical issues such as travel, accommodation, venue and logistics, please contact net4society2012@abbey.ie

4 May - write draft reports and dissemination
15 May - finalise draft reports
30 May - first discussion on reports in ITRE
6 June - deadline for amendments (prolonged mid-June)
Summer – translation of reports
October - vote in ITRE
November - vote in Plenary

Deadline for submission: June 1st, 2012. Notification of acceptance: July 15th, 2012.

The contributed paper should not exceed four A4 pages, structured and printed according to the IEEE format (4 pages, including a 50 words summary, figures and references; text edited in two columns, on A4 size, with 3.5cm bottom and 2.5cm top, left and right margins). A “CAS Guidelines for papers” is available on the conference site http://www.imt.ro/cas/.

The contributed and invited papers will be published in the CAS 2012 Proceedings (an IEEE publication), which will be delivered to the participants at the beginning of the conference. The authors of the accepted papers must sign (for printing the paper in the Proceedings) an IEEE Copyright Form. The papers submitted to CAS must be original and previously unpublished. By the IEEE Copyright form, the authors will transfer the copyright to IEEE.

Paper upload address: http://www.imt.ro/cas/2012/upload_papers/
First announcement (CAS 2012 Call for Papers) also on http://www.imt.ro/CAS

Programme Day One
The programme for 2012 opens with a special focus on the unique collaborative approach that is driving success in the Bioeconomy. Exciting joint ventures from DSM & Roquette, BioAmber & Lanxess and Avantium & Coca Cola will be framed in the context of the European strategy for the Bioeconomy addressed by senior policy makers. We are also proud to include a presentation from Michele Rubino, COO from Beta Renewables on one of Europe’s most high profile commercial biobased production facilities starting up this summer.
» The Policy session features case studies from around the world including new announcements from Malaysia and Russia.
» The Finance session will provide insight from banks, VC and corporate finance on funding.
» The Innovation Track is reserved exclusively for cutting edge bio-based products coming through the development pipeline.

Programme Day Two
» Advanced Biofuels continues to grow in potential and this year’s dedicated programme track will explain the key issues and anticipate the future trends.
» Marine Biotechnology will cover latest developments from start ups, end users on the vibrant range of collaborations, networks and partnerships in this fast growing sector.
Our closing plenary will be stronger than ever this year, we are delighted to include a prestigious list of the industry’s leadership for what promises to be a lively CEO debate on the globalising bio-based economy and the role Europe is playing.
The closing keynote address will be delivered by CEO of POET who will share with us his vision on the Biorefinery of the Future.

Being the largest platform for sharing resources and exploring new opportunities, UIIN is an optimal networking possibility for academics and industry active in innovation. Currently listing more than 3.500 resources in 18 categories, the network allows members and visitors to look for new partners, find new jobs and stay up-to-date on the latest developments (e.g. events, research projects, products & vendors, publications and calls).

A unique feature of the platform is that all members and visitors can upload new resources, resulting in a continuously updated and relevant information base. Members and visitors can subscribe easily and free of charge to the various resource categories so that new information are delivered in a convenient way.

Having been developed in close interaction with professionals worldwide, UIIN’s member base already spans close to a 100 members. Besides an online platform, we also offer workshops and conferences for a more personal exchange of knowledge and information.

Membership fee for Academics: 200€

The event will feature:
•             presentations on IMI project successes
•             an overview of recently-launched IMI projects
•             an update on IMI’s efforts to simplify procedures
•             a debate on IMI’s impact on the pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) landscape
•             workshops on the following indicative topics from current and future IMI Calls for proposals
•             Antimicrobial resistance
•             Vaccines
•             Research effectiveness
The event therefore represents an excellent opportunity to learn more about these topics and discuss them in person with the EFPIA topic coordinators.

IMI warmly encourages policy makers, small and medium-sized enterprises, patient organisations, regulatory authorities, academic teams, industry, hospitals and other organisations with an interest in IMI projects to take part in the Stakeholder Forum.

Registration for the IMI Stakeholder Forum will be open shortly and a link to the registration form will soon be available via the IMI website at http://www.imi.europa.eu/events/2012/04/24/stakeholder-forum-2012. Participation in the Stakeholder Forum is free.

The IMI Stakeholder Forum has been scheduled to take place after the European Commission’s FP7-Health Open Information Day to help interested parties make the most of their trip to Brussels

This will allow that an operation or project may receive support from one or more CSF fund and from other EU instruments, including from Horizon 2020, meaning that participants involved in a project funded under Horizon 2020 could, provided they are eligible for cohesion funds, apply for funding for parts of the project (for example infrastructure-related funding) from the CSF. The Commission is inviting stakeholders to send comments on the paper by email.

300 researchers and companies from Turkey and all across Europe are invited and will have the opportunity to take part in one-to-one meetings with other event participants to discuss collaboration opportunities. In addition, top level researchers will showcase their current FP7 R&D proposals at dedicated workshops.

Please could you also circulate this information to your networks who may be interested to know that travel support is granted to selected participants. In addition, promotional text, and an event logo and banner is attached which we would be grateful if you could include in your mailings, newsletters, websites etc...

To register, please click here. Once your participation has been validated, you will be able to view the organisations that have already registered to attend and arrange face-to-face meetings with selected participants that you wish to meet up with.

The increasing political demand for useful research and the imperatives for evaluation of policy mean that research funders, both at national and European levels, are under increasing pressure to account for their impact. This is true for research funders with the remit to support, maintain and develop the science base, as well as for funding organisations and schemes focusing more on supporting technology and development. Today, most funding organisations collect, use and assess information regarding the impact that they have had, are having, or even are expected to have. This information is used in two main contexts: 1) during processes of negotiating budgets, positions and influence; and 2) by the organisations
themselves for purposes of reflexivity.

In line with this, the body of literature on the study of ‘impact’ and ‘impact assessment’ has been growing rapidly. Approaches to the study of impact vary greatly according to their assumptions, data collection, data analysis, outcomes and timing. However, most existing approaches are geared towards the study of collaboration networks, of applied research and development, and of impact on the broader society, especially the economy. Whilst there is an expectation that research and funding organisations that aim to develop the science base, and hence to change science itself, ought to account for their impact, studies of the relationship between funding/policy and the science system are still scarce.

This workshop focused on the relationship between research funding/policy and the science system. It is inspired by the methodological innovations developed and tested by the work of EURECIA: an international research project funded by the ERC as a coordination and support action1 that developed and applied a novel approach to measuring and attributing the impact of the ERC on different aspects of the science system.
The overall aim of the workshop, apart from the dissemination of EURECIA’s approach and empirical results, was to inspire a debate between academics, representatives of research funding organisations and other interested parties on the different rationales for and practices
of measuring, attributing and assessing impact. Furthermore, the workshop was meant to provide a platform for the initiation of a continued and mutually beneficial interaction between representatives of different interested parties and organisations.

ERC StG (starters) 17/10/2012
ERC AdG: 22/11/2012
ERC SyG: 10/01/2013
ERC CoS (consolidators): 21/02/2013

Indicative budget (see p.55 of draft WP and ppt presentation)
ERC-2013-StG    395 EUR million
ERC-2013-CoG  515 EUR million (Consolidator)
ERC-2013-AdG  660 EUR million
ERC-2013-SyG   150 EUR million (Pilot)
ERC-2013-PoC   10 EUR million

As announced in the 2009 KIC Call, the EIT will now make its annual financial allocation decision based on the assessment of each KIC's individual performance and competitive review between the KICs. “Rewarding excellence based upon concrete results and impact whilst encouraging and seeding sustainable growth amongst its innovation factories is at the heart of the EIT concept and I am very pleased with these developments” says Alexander von Gabain, Chairman of the EIT Governing Board on the occasion of the March EIT Governing Board meeting.

This agreement on competitive funding aims to provide a long-term framework for the allocation of EIT funding to the KICs and for introduction of the competitive review to be successful and accepted by all parties involved several elements must be taken into account by the EIT, in particular: level playing field between the KICs, timely information, consistency, KICs strategic objectives and performance indicators, appropriate reporting and monitoring mechanisms, comparability and competition.

Moreover, given the multi-annual* nature of the partnership between the EIT and the KICs, the EIT’s annual financial contribution to the KICs should be allocated in a manner that balances the requirement to support the KICs’ long-term strategy of establishment and consolidation, while rewarding on a competitive basis a KIC for its performance and ambitions in the short-term against objective criteria. The annual EIT financial contribution will therefore be defined based on the two-pronged approach: EIT Support Funding and EIT Competitive Funding.

In order to facilitate the business plan preparations, the EIT in consultation with KICs has elaborated and finalised a substantive package of planning documents. This will ensure a smooth process for the allocation of the 2013 grants and provides comprehensive ex-ante planning.

In addition to the promising developments for the EIT competitive funding, the beginning of 2012 has also seen the finalisation of the 2012 annual Grant Agreements (GA) between the EIT and the three KICs. The EIT Director, José Manuel Leceta and Climate-KIC CEO, Mary Ritter, today signed the agreement between the EIT and Climate-KIC and the GA will be signed with EIT ICT Labs and KIC InnoEnergy during the beginning of April.

The EIT and each of the KICs work together on the basis of a seven year Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA). As outlined in the FPA’s, the allocation of EIT funding is defined in a yearly grant agreement (GA’s) between the EIT and each of the KICs.

Source: EIT website

Following last year's call for proposals (EAC/19/2011) and building on its success, the European Parliament (EP) has decided to allocate also for 2012 one Million Euros to the further development of this pilot action. This action will also allow preparing the implementation of the Knowledge Alliances proposed in the upcoming Erasmus for All programme 2014-2020.
 
The Knowledge Alliances are part of the Innovation Union flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 strategy; they are structured partnerships between education institutions and innovation players, aiming at developing Europe's innovation potential.

Role of RTOs in the Innovation System - Jan Mengelers (Pdt EARTO)
Public-Public Partnerships - the Road Ahead - Jörg Niehoff (DG R&I)
Overview of AERTOs - Jens Neugebauer (AERTOs Project Coordinator)
Joint Programming in AERTOs: Pilot Programme on Value from Waste - Mats Carlin (SINTEF)
Concepts and Strategies for Waste Management  - Mats Carlin (SINTEF)
Strategic Cooperation in AERTOs: Development of Strategic Research Agendas - Freek Heidekamp (TNO)
A Member State's View on Joint Programming and Research-Performing Organisations - Dan Andree (Vinnova)
The Future of RTO Cooperation - Jens Neugebauer (AERTOs Project Coordinator)

Partnering Event, Brussels (Centre Borschette), 30 May 2012
Learn how to build a good project consortium
Present your project idea (optional 5-minute presentations)
Attend pre-arranged one-to-one meetings to find suitable project partners
Get advice from European Commission and other experts.
Further information and registration: http://www.b2match.eu/fp7health2012

Finally, a number of changes have been made compared to the earlier (January) draft which may have leaked...

Here are the main changes:
1) The 2 "SBIR-like" topics are now in a special call with specific submission dates. This is to ensure the fast-track submission and evaluation as in WP 2012 and to enable other specific conditions for those topics.

2) Two topics were added under area 4.1 'Coordination and Support Actions across the theme" as a result of discussions at the last PC meeting and other input:
   • 4.1-5: Global initiative on gene-environment interactions in diabetes/obesity in specific populations.
   • 4.1-6: Mapping chronic non-communicable diseases research activities.
3)  Modifications to the titles of some topics (new titles below).
•       2.2.1-4: Patho-physiology and therapy of epilepsy and epileptiform disorders.
•       2.2.1-5: Understanding and controlling pain
•       2.4.1-1: Investigator-driven treatment trials to combat or prevent metastases in patients with solid cancer.
•       2.4.1-3: Investigator-driven supportive and palliative care clinical trials and observational studies.
•       4.1-2: Interactions between EU legislation and health research and/or innovation and the effects of its application and implementation on health research and/or innovation.
4)  Other noteworthy changes:
           4.1-3: Support for Presidency events: Organisation of supporting actions and events associated to the Presidency of the European Union.
           In this topic we have had to limit the period covered from mid-2013 to end-2014. This is because we can probably not commit 2013 budget to actions only starting in 2015. Nevertheless, Horizon2020 should take over in time for the 2015 presidencies.

5)  There is also a reference to AMR topics in other themes on page 26.

This event is dedicated to networking , building public-private partnerships  and exchanging ideas  for collaborative R&D and innovation projects .

This annual event has become an important meeting point for companies and public research organisations from Luxembourg, the Greater Region and beyond, which showcases results, capabilities and innovative solutions  stemming from public and private research.

Business meets Research 2012 offers you:
High-level internationally renowned keynote speakers 
Thematic Workshops 
A dedicated half-day Networking Session  including the Innovation Matchmaking 
A privileged partnership with the Saarland  region

Business meets Research is aligned with the fields covered by the Luxembourg Cluster Initiative :
Luxembourg BioHealth Cluster
Luxembourg EcoInnovation Cluster
Luxembourg ICT Cluster
Luxembourg Materials Cluster
Luxembourg Space Cluster

The CY Presidency will focus on the following 4 priorities:
1. HORIZON 2020 RoP and Specific Programme
The CY Presidency will run first the discussions on the RoP in order to reach the General Approach at the Competitiveness Council on 10 October 2012. This is due to the fact that the co-decision procedure applies on the RoP and they want to have the General Approach before the EP forms its position in October.
On the Specific Programme applies the Consultation with the EP procedure and the CY Presidency’s ambition is to have the Partial General Approach in December’s Competitiveness Council.

2.            EIT
A General Approach on the EIT is probably not achievable under the Danish Presidency, and the CY Presidency’s ambition is to reach the General Approach on the EIT during the Competitiveness Council in October 2012.
The CY Presidency will hold a Conference on EIT on 8-9 November 2012 in Cyprus (for +- 150 people).

3.            ERA
The European Commission will publish the ERA Framework Communication in June 2012.
There will be a presentation of the EC proposal and an orientation debate in October’s Competitiveness Council: advancing discussions in Council (possibly via Council Conclusions for December’s Competitiveness Council).
The CY Presidency will hold a Conference on ERA Framework on 14 November 2012 in Nicosia, Cyprus (for +- 200 people).

4.            COM on enhancing and focusing international cooperation in R&I
The European Commission’s COM on enhancing and focusing international cooperation in R&I is expected to be published on September 2012 (but there is a possibility to be published later).
There will be a presentation of the EC proposal in October’s Competitiveness Council if there will be enough time under AOBs and an orientation debate in December’s Competitiveness Council.

Dans la lignée des commentaires prononcés sur le programme-cadre, il convient de signaler que les Etats membres de l'Union européenne depuis 2004 et 2007 ont soumis une série de revendications, portant notamment sur l'élargissement de la participation et la réduction du fossé de l’innovation, sur une meilleure répartition géographique des évaluateurs de projets, sur la prise en compte renforcée de projets de petite taille, …

Source : Délégation Wallonie-Bruxelles auprès de l'Union européenne

New €18.5 million HERA Joint Research  Programme “Cultural Encounters” Call for Proposals is now open
Deadline for submission of Outline Proposals: Friday 4 May, 14:00

Overall success rate 6%

SSH-2011-1 – Challenges: 13%
SSH-2011-2 - Medium size: 6%
SSH-2011-3 – CSAs : 15%

Success rate per topic is very diverse, ranging from 2.5% (anthropology of European Integration) to 50% (Forward Vision)
 

ESF Exploratory Workshops awards are intended for small, interactive and output-oriented discussion meetings of minimum 15, maximum 30 participants and up to a maximum value of 15000 EUR. Awards are for workshops to be held in the calendar year 2013 (1 February - 31 December). Deadline for receipt of proposals: 3 May 2012 (16:00 CET). Full details at http://www.esf.org/workshops.

and output-oriented discussion meetings of minimum 15, maximum 30 participants and up to a maximum value of 15000 EUR. Awards are for workshops to be held in the calendar year 2013 (1 February - 31 December). Deadline for receipt of proposals: 3 May 2012 (16:00 CET). Full details at http://www.esf.org/workshops.

Speakers include Craig Venter, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Lisa Randall, Rolf Dieter Heuer, Mary Robinson, Marcus Du Sautoy, Eric Karsenti, Helga Nowotny, Huanming Yang, Jean-Jacques Dordain, Kári Stefánsson, Marie Geoghegan Quinn,  Pearse Lyons, Peter Doherty to name a few.

Further information: http://esof2012.org/
Registration: http://esof2012.org/programme/esof-2012-registration/
Programme: http://esof2012.org/programme/
Contact : info@esof2012.org

The cultural heritage research community has initiated an online petition addressed to the European Parliament and the European Council in order to plead strongly for the inclusion of cultural heritage research in HORIZON 2020.

In signing this petition, you support that the EU fully acknowledges its responsibilities to put cultural heritage research back on its agenda and to include it in the next Framework Programme.

More than 4.000 people have already supported the petition but more signatures are needed to ensure further promotion of cultural heritage research. The call will be online until the 26th of March, therefore we kindly ask those of you who have not signed yet to do so and also alert other people by forwarding the link below to your network: 

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cultural-heritage-research_8th-framework-programme/

This questionnaire will be available until 17th of March 2012.

Among the candidates coming to Brussels, 10-12 fellows will be offered the opportunity to provide a lively presentation, in the format of TED-style conferences.

Your e-mail and the other data you provide will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) n° 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.

Further information and registration: http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/events.cfm

Timeframe ERC-2012-Adg
List of the Panel Chairs of the ERC Advanced Grant Panel 2012
Panel members Advanced Grants 2011 (final list)
Fact sheets on ERC projects of grantees attending the 5the Anniversary Event (incl. Marco Dorigo, ULB) + ESwarm Video
Speeches and videos of keynote speakers at ERC 5th anniversary (idem)

Associated Countries in FP7: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Faroe Islands, FYROM, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey.

All the other countries are Third Countries, even if they have signed a S&T Agreement with the EC.

International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) are countries that can participate in International Cooperation Specific Actions, and some of them have signed S&T Agreements with the EC, such as Brazil, China, India and  Russia, Argentina, Egypt, Morrocco, Tunisia, and are eligible to participate in the IRSES action.

High income countries, are countries such as the  US, Japan, Australia, Canada, etc., and that also have a S&T Agreement with the EC.

European Neighbour Policy countries are: Armenia, Azerbaijan,  Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian-administered areas, Syrian Arab Rep., Tunisia

The public consultation process is based on a prospective analysis that aims to identify future policy options for the SiS-Programme. This survey is open to experts and the interested public alike. We hope that both groups will participate as we want to obtain as complete a picture as possible of the interests and opinions in the various communities. The survey can be accessed through this link: http://ww4.efs-survey.com/uc/fraunhofer_isi_cc_p/1063/

We kindly ask you to pass on the link to the survey via your respective networks, newsgroups or personal contacts. Please feel free to post the link in thematically relevant social networks. We would also like you to consider distributing it via your mailing list and newsletters. It is vital that a diverse and geographically widespread audience participates in the survey to help draft the future policy options in the SiS-Programme.

The survey consists of seven thematic areas (e.g. gender, ethics, science communication), each of which contains max. 9 statements which the participants are asked to assess as an interested individual and / or based on their professional background. It is up to the respondents which topic(s) they want to select. Providing answers to each thematic area should not take more than approximately 10-15 minutes.

If you have any enquiries or comments please do not hesitate to contact us at Eval_SiS@isi.fraunhofer.de

StG    October 2012
AdG    November 2012
CoG    February 2013

The timing of the 2014 calls will depend on when the Horizon 2020 legislation is agreed.

There will be single call deadlines for all these 2013 calls (i.e. no different deadlines by domain).

To help applicants with any questions they may have about the Call, IMI is holding a webinar on Tuesday 20 March at 10:30 CET.

During the webinar, the topic coordinator will deliver the presentation given during the Open Info Day in Brussels and there will be time for questions and answers.

Participation in the webinar is free but registration is required - http://www.imi.europa.eu/events/2012/03/07/imi-topic-webinar-european-lead-factory-repeat

The varying degree of success of the partnership schemes tested in recent years demonstrate that numerous questions still need to be raised about what the right instruments for European partnerships are and whether they will facilitate the investment in research and innovation that will help Europe remain competitive.

Presentations:
Kim Brinckmann, Center for Globalisation at the DK Agency for Science, Techno and Inno
Liselotte Højgaard, Pdt of Copenhagen Research Forum
Flemming Besenbacher, Chair of the Carlsberg’s Foundation

Panel members:
Herbert von Bose, Dir, DG R&I
Nickie Spile, VP, Novozymes A/S
Britta Thomsen, MEP
Dan Andrée, ERAC/VINNOVA

Participation in the conference is free, but participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.

This is an event launching a communication campaign which aims to reduce financial errors in research expenditure.

The communication campaign reflects the Commission's efforts to share with stakeholders information and knowledge about the most common financial errors in FP7, and how to avoid making them.

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness within the research community of the importance of submitting error free cost claims as a way to speed up payments, avoid the reimbursement of ineligible amounts and liquidated damages and ultimately to achieve more reliable and error free financial reporting.
The Commission will present the ten most common financial errors in cost claims for research grants and it will outline its plans to reach out to stakeholders and assist them in their efforts to provide error free cost claims.

The Manifesto was presented to the EC Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn on December 16th.

2500 scientists and others working in R&D from across Europe and beyond have already added their names since the Manifesto was launched on-line on 19 December, and I very much hope that you will join them.  The timing is important because right now  policy makers at national and EU level are debating future research directions and the R&D spending within HORIZON 2020 and the proposed European Research Area.   Included in both framework proposals are explicit requirements for addressing gender issues in research content, cultures and participation.  Through the Manifesto we can persuade policy makers that scientists support these objectives and the necessary operational measures needed to achieve them.

The Manifesto is the product of the 1st European Gender Summit, which took place on 8-9 November 2011 in Brussels, under the patronage of the Polish EU Presidency, the EC, and the European Parliament.  The event attracted 410 participants and 70 speakers.  It distills 25 years of solid gender research evidence; extensive, recent dialogue between the scientists, gender research scholars and policy makers; and several public consultation and feedback efforts. It is envisaged as a work in progress, driven by a vision that it will be eventually made redundant through the efforts made to address each of its recommended actions.  The end goal is to stop gender being an ‘issue’ and turn it into a stimulus for scientific curiosity and new markets for scientific knowledge.

Further information on genSet: http://www.genderinscience.org
1st European Gender Summit : http://www.gender-summit.eu
Read and sign the Manifesto: http://bit.ly/rLS7cn

The final audience amounted to 90 representatives from different European Institutions and organizations

Following the words of the chair and host of the event, Mr. Malcolm Harbour MEP, please find below the links to the materials used during its second part to provide a flavor of the broad range of activities currently delivered by Climate-KIC.

·         The Mission of Climate-KIC - Prof. Jean Jouzel, Member of the Climate-KIC Governing Board, CEA.

·         Overview of Climate-KIC Activity - Prof Mary Ritter, Climate-KIC CEO, Imperial College London. Followed by examples:

§     Education –  Video & Charlotte Van De Water, President of the Climate-KIC Alumni Association.

§     Entrepreneurship –  Hero Prins, Pillar Director & Jonas Stekelenburg, Schiphol Airport

§     Innovation & Pathfinder - Aled Thomas, RIC Director

The event “5 Years of Excellent IDEAS” charted the ERC's achievements to date; it allowed participants to share their thoughts on excellence and "brain circulation" in the global scientific landscape and deemed how crucial frontier research is for Europe's growth and competitiveness.

After five years of existence, the ERC has funded more than 2,500 excellent researchers of 53 different nationalities working in some 480 different institutions across Europe. The total funding allocated to date, € 4.2 billion, has given them a chance to conduct their projects in Europe, of which many will spark new and sometimes unpredictable scientific and technological discoveries. The ERC is one of the instruments that addresses the current "brain drain": it has also allowed researchers to remain in or come to Europe, to gain scientific independence, and to hire and train a new generation of young researchers recruited as team members in their laboratories. In total, the ERC has therefore contributed to supporting over 12,000 researchers, thereby helping to fuel Europe's long-term economic prosperity.

In a video message, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso said: "The ERC has become a remarkable story for Europe in such a short time. Five years dedicated to supporting 2,500 of the very best and brilliant minds – not least the younger talents – play a key role in stimulating competitiveness and growth, in the challenging times we are going through".

The ERC funds basic research across the entire spectrum of disciplines; ranging from studying the epidemiology of diseases like malaria or the causes of Parkinson, to improving critical infrastructures such as telecoms networks or water systems, creating new prototypes of chemical robots or discovering archaeological treasures in Africa.

EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science MGQ said: "I am always impressed by the creativity and curiosity of the many ERC grantees I meet. The ERC is now recognized within and outside Europe as a model for frontier research funding. That is why the Commission has proposed a substantial increase of the ERC's budget under the EU's next research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020".

In only five years, the ERC has become a label of excellence recognised by the scientific community; its peer review evaluation system, the amount and the duration of ERC grants, but also their flexibility which includes the possibility to move host institution while keeping the grant, have become key features for individual researchers to boost their careers. To date, the ERC counts four Nobel Prize winners and three Field Medallists amongst its grantees, as well as the winners of 30 more internationally recognised prizes.

Ahead of this five year milestone, ERC President Professor Helga Nowotny commented: “The ERC's fifth anniversary is the right moment to demonstrate the experience the ERC has gained in funding frontier research. It is not too much to say that the ERC has changed the scientific landscape in Europe and induced the emergence of a genuine European culture of scientific excellence". She also declared: "With hard work, vigorous support from many sides and a bit of luck, we were able to create a well functioning, first-rate funding agency which has left its indelible mark within a very short period of time. It fills us with joy to see ERC grantees flourishing in universities and research institutions across Europe. I am convinced that they will continue to make significant contributions to frontier research, spawn further benefits and stimulate competition for excellence across Europe and worldwide".

The anniversary was also an occasion for high-level profiles to debate on "Excellence and brain circulation in the global scientific landscape", which is one of the ERC's main priorities, at a round-table with guest speakers from Brazil, India, South Africa and the US. On 29 February, five outstanding grantees presented the results of their research in a very original way and demonstrate the added value of EU funding.

One of the 5 grantees was Marco Dorigo (ULB) – Advanced Grant 2010 - who gave  a presentation of his work entitled ‘ E Swarm Engineering Swarm Intelligence Systems’ and introduced his video - that won the AAAI Best AI Video Award - "Swarmanoid, the Movie”. Last but not least, Marco is interviewed in the short film “ERC 5 years of excellent ideas”. Congrats !

On March 1, nine more grantees gave talks in three scientific sessions, one in each ERC domain (PE, LS and SSH).

The full programme is available on: http://erc.europa.eu/erc-5th-anniversary/home
http://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/press_release/files/erc_pr_5_Anniversary.pdf

ERC Press Release on results from the ERC-2011-AdG call:
http://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/press_release/files/press_release_adg2011_results.pdf

ERC Press Release on the ERC-2012-SyG call:
http://erc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/document/file/NewsUpdate_SyG_submissions.pdf

One way of getting involved is to host Brazilian undergraduates and postgraduates. There are opportunities to apply for a research grant to work in Brazil: young postdoctoral researchers can apply under the ‘Attraction of Talented Youth’ programme for a two to three year long research project in Brazil, while science leaders can apply under the ‘Special Visiting Researcher’ grants that will fund joint projects with research groups in Brazil and fund work in Brazil
for up to three months every year.

Further information is available from the ‘Science without Borders’ website at:
http://www.cienciasemfronteiras.gov.br/web/csf-eng/home

Note that the FNRS has an agreement with the CNPq in Brazil (see attachment) but there is no bilateral agreement between FNRS and Brazil.

a) EIP Raw Materials
Sectors such as construction, chemicals, automotive, aerospace, machinery and equipment sectors, which provide a total value added of €1 324 billion and employment for some 30 million people, all depend on access to raw materials

b) EIP Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability
The EIP will contribute to enhancing the position of EU agriculture as a competitive sector, able to assume its role in global food security, and as a provider of feed, biomass, and biomaterial. This development is economically significant: EU agriculture has today a share of 18% in world food exports, worth € 76 billion.

Beyond the economic interest, this EIP will provide benefits in terms of preserving soil functionality, water and ecosystem protection and resilience, carbon sequestration, reduction of GHG emissions, reducing energy needs, and preserving eco-system services. An assessment of advantages and disadvantages of an EIP option have been analyzed in the context of the CAP 2020 impact assessment.

Background on EIPs
EIPs will tackle the whole research-development-innovation chain, bringing together public and private stakeholders across borders and sectors in order to achieve real and measurable goals. EIPs are expected to make initial proposals within 1-3 years, and deliver on concrete targets within 5-8 years.

A unique strength is that they will address the weaknesses in the European research and innovation system, which hamper the discovery or exploitation of knowledge and, in many cases, ultimately prevent the entry of innovations into the market place.

In addition, the partnership will also considerably reduce time-to-market of research and innovation breakthroughs. This should be achieved by promoting better co-ordination of public and private actions, by anticipating regulatory and other needs for the different stages of the innovation cycle and by ensuring the involvement of those representing the demand side along the whole innovation chain.

It is important to understand that the Partnership is neither a new programme nor a funding scheme/instrument.

The EIP can help to focus current financial tools, stimulate the active use of innovative procurement, develop innovative incentive mechanisms at the appropriate levels, and explore venture capital support.

The Steering Group of EIPs will put forward specific Strategic Implementation Plans (SIP) and invite Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission to facilitate implementing bodies’ (including regions, private operators) access to funding instruments.

Further information :
- Raw Materials: New strategy (COM(2011)25 final.
- EIP Agricultural Sustainability
Communication : see doc attached
Roadmap : http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs/2011_agri_042_european_innovation_partnership_en.pdf
- EIP Active and Healthy Ageing:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?section=active-healthy-ageing&pg=implementation-plan

Le contexte
Le partenariat d'innovation européen est un concept nouveau qui a été présenté dans "l’Union de l’innovation" - initiative phare de la stratégie Europe 2020 qui a pour l'objectif de lever les obstacles dans la recherche et de l'innovation afin de faciliter le développement et la commercialisation de bonnes idées.

Les sources
Innovation Union website: http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?pg=home
Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn's website: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/geoghegan-quinn/index_en.htm

The conference aimed at profoundly discussing the significance of social innovation as a highly relevant topic in research and research policy contexts. Addressing a wide range of research communities as well as specialists from different social fields and from policy related institutions, researchers and experts from the social sciences and the humanities actively participated in discussing different aspects and implications of social innovation, both in the plenary and the 14 parallel sessions of the conference. At the matchmaking event, organised by NET4SOCIETY on the third day, more than 150 conference participants met through pre-arranged bilateral meetings, networking towards potential future research proposals to be funded in FP7.  

The most immediate outcome of the conference is the ʽVienna declaration: the most needed social innovations and related research topicsʼ, addressing researchers, social innovators, and key organisations involved in innovation research and policy. The declaration consists of 14 research topics or questions that were voted on by the plenary of the conference participants such as e.g. ʽLifelong learning, work and intergenerational solidarity as components of societally engaged ageingʼ. The research topics identified and prioritised, were also chosen according to their contribution to a desirable development in the globalised knowledge society, allowing for social sciences to feed strongly into the preparation of the EUʽs next framework programme for Research and Innovation, H2020.

The Vienna Declaration was formally presented to Commissioner MGQ during an academic event in London, on 10th Nov. 2011.  

This conference addressed this extremely timely question for Europe and the European Commission, especially in the current context of financial, economic and social crises. It was centered around EU-funded research projects in the field of European identity/identities and will bring together those currently active in European identity/identities research and those involved in policy-making at the European level. NGOs and citizens were also welcome to join in and to voice their opinions on the suggested topics.

The conference addressed two main issues:

¡ö Whether there is a common European identity or several diverging European identities emerging, and what shape(s) it/they take(s)?
¡ö What (policy and research) implications the development of a European identity/European identities have for the European Union?

The event was co-organised by the European Commission and Prof. Robert Miller from Queens University, Belfast.

Programme : http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/events-194_en.html
The Development of a European Identity -European Identities: Insights from European Research ¨C Working Document:
http://www.mela-project.eu/upl/cms/attach/20120202/201234644_4658.pdf

The final recommendations of these experts have just been published in the report “Visions for Horizon 2020 – from Copenhagen Research Forum” and presented at the Ministerial Conference of the Council of Ministers on 1 February 2012.

More information about the project and the conference programme can be found here.

To register please send an email to secretariat@earto.eu before March 2nd at the latest.

Cette nouvelle édition couvre les instruments de financement de l'UE suivants:
•             7e programme-cadre de recherche
•             Programme-cadre pour l'innovation et la compétitivité
•             Fonds structurels européens
•             Fonds européen agricole pour le développement rural 
•             Fonds européen pour la pêche
•             Programme pour l'éducation et la formation tout au long de la vie
•             LIFE + dans le domaine de l'environnement

En outre, le guide décrit les possibilités de financement pour la recherche et l'innovation offertes aux différents pays et territoires situés hors de l'Union européenne, dans le cadre de l'instrument d'aide de préadhésion et de l'instrument européen de voisinage et de partenariat.
Le guide pratique actualisé permet aux bénéficiaires potentiels d'identifier rapidement les moyens précis dont ils disposent pour accéder aux financements européens à n'importe quel stade d'un projet."

Deadline for submission of Outline Proposals:

Friday 4 May, 14:00 Central European Time/13:00 Greenwich Mean Time.

The HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) Network is pleased to announce a new Joint Research Programme (JRP) on Cultural Encounters. Nineteen research councils from 18 countries and the European Commission are making up to €18.5 million available. The research programme will fund new and exciting humanities-centred projects on Cultural Encounters involving researchers from three or more participating countries.
 
The researchers based in the following countries can apply:
 
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and United Kingdom.

Co-operation with ‘industrialised and emerging economies’ will aim at enhancing EU scientific,
technological and innovative (STI) performance and industrial competitiveness through co-operation
focusing on key enabling technologies and global societal challenges. Organisations from countries
in this group would not normally receive funding. Co-operation with ‘enlargement and neighbourhood
countries’ will focus on addressing regional societal and economic challenges, with Association
Agreements negotiated on a case by case basis. Organisations from countries in this group will
automatically be eligible for funding. Finally, European consortia will be encouraged to co-operate
with ‘developing countries’ where there are specific benefits and added value in order to address
specific societal challenges (e.g. poverty-related diseases, energy and food security, or biodiversity).
In addition, co-operation with these countries should be based on responding to their specific
economic and societal needs.

Press Release available at : http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/106&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

ERC grant holders can apply for this additional funding to establish the innovation potential of ideas arising from their ERC-funded frontier research projects.

ERC Proof of Concept in brief
- All Principal Investigators benefitting from an ERC Advanced or Starting Grant that is either ongoing, or where the project has ended less than 12 months before the publication date of an ERC Proof of Concept call. The Principal Investigator must be able to demonstrate the link between the idea and the related ERC-funded project
- Funding per grant: up to € 150.000
- Duration: 12 months
- Calls for proposals: published once a year with two deadlines

Friday 4 May, 14:00 Central European Time/13:00 Greenwich Mean Time.

The HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) Network is pleased to announce a new Joint Research Programme (JRP) on Cultural Encounters. Nineteen research councils from 18 countries and the European Commission are making up to €18.5 million available. The research programme will fund new and exciting humanities-centred projects on Cultural Encounters involving researchers from three or more participating countries.
 
The researchers based in the following countries can apply:
 
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and United Kingdom.

The development and the implementation of the service were based mainly on the recommendations of the client forum and the needs expressed by the research DGs and Agencies. 

The main purpose of the Projects Service is to enhance the visibility of project-related information to users, and to ensure that all available information on CORDIS on a given project is tied together in a clear manner in one place.

The Projects service was given high visibility, featuring as a new ‘tab’ in the common header, and thus being directly accessible from any current CORDIS page.

The RCC Secretariat would like to let you know that as of 2 January 2012, the FP7 participants may contact the Committee and bring their requests to its attention. More precisely, any participant in the Research Framework Programmes facing a situation where there appears to be different interpretations/implementations of the FP7 Research Framework Programmes rules or procedures between the Commission services is encouraged to communicate this situation and contact the RCC Secretariat.

To this end, the 12th Entry "Research Clearing Committee: Non-coherent application of FP7 rules and procedures" is now available and can be selected from the dropdown list of subjects in the Research Enquiry Service available on Europa Research Website at the following address http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=enquiries. Also, a Frequently Asked Questions document will be uploaded shortly on the Europa website and on the Participant portal which will contain more information on the procedure to be followed.

The exact date of the changes will be communicated on the Portal a few days before the actual changes happen.

The workshop is held under the auspices of Mr François Biltgen, Minister of Higher Education and Research of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and organised in the framework of the ESF Member Organisation Forum European Alliance on Research Career Development.

Workshop goals
∙        bringing together leading experts from all over the world with a track record and long-term experience in following up the career paths of researchers
∙        featuring a mix of theory and practice through presenting career tracking initiatives, their purposes and methodologies as well as their major findings
∙        providing a forum of learning how to set up a tracking of researchers in a funding agency, institution, region or country
∙        offering the opportunity to present tracking studies not yet included in the programme via poster presentation

Register no later than 15 January 2012.  Please note that available places are limited.

Participation in the conference is free, but participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.

We hope that you will encourage others in your networks to add their name to the Manifesto as well, to help maximise its lobbying power!

Public deliverable of the ETICA and EGAIS projects:
http://ethics.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk/etica
http://www.egais-project.eu/

Vous trouverez également une présentation ppt en annexe sur le Programme de Travail de la Commission pour l’ensemble de l’année 2012 (présidence danoise et chypriote).

Enfin, Mr Iskren Kirilov (DG RTD) a présenté le PT 2012 d’un point de vue plus théorique lors du dernier Iglo Open (10 janvier).  Vous trouverez sa présentation à cette adresse : http://www.polsca.eu/ppt/120110/IK.pdf

Following the positive experiences from past events the programme offered a mix of plenary sessions, including overview presentations providing a common forum for all participants, and interactive smaller sessions with working groups around key issues related to Public Public partnerships in the context of the upcoming Horizon 2020.

The event brought more than 350 new and old stakeholders to keep them abreast of the latest policy thinking, to review progress in terms of the development of the platform, and to elicit their views on future activities.

The report on the event and its outcomes will be published in early December.

While Annex 1 notes Europe’s loss of innovation competitiveness vis-à-vis China and Brazil, the AGS 2012 main document again largely fails to address the smart growth dimension and the link of science, research, technology and innovation to the EU’s growth potential.

Une invitation à participer à l’évènement matchmaking (MME) prévu le 21 février à Berlin est lancée depuis le 21 octobre.  La date de clôture pour les inscriptions est le 30 novembre 2011.

Les inscriptions au MME se font à cette adresse: http://www.b2match.eu/hera2012

Une première étape vient d’être franchie avec la plateforme de support à l’écriture de propositions qui est maintenant disponible. Le focus actuel est le FP7 mais il est prévu d’adapter la plateforme à d’autres types de projets.

Le NCP-UWE contribue au projet avec son expertise afin d’assurer une adéquation maximale par rapport aux besoins des utilisateurs (coordinateurs principalement).

C’est pourquoi une présentation de la plateforme sera organisée ce jeudi 1er décembre à 9.30 dans les locaux du NCP UWE(http://www.ncpwallonie.be/ncp/le-ncp/plan-dacces).

La réunion aura pour objectif majeur de vous présenter le projet, de recueillir vos réactions par rapport au développement et vos attentes/besoins pour les développements futurs (amélioration de la phase d’écriture du projet, phase de négociation du contrat, gestion du projet en cours de route). Nous souhaitons pouvoir compter sur un groupe d’utilisateurs actifs pour conseiller les développeurs.

Merci de confirmer votre participation à Tina Scalisi (tina.scalisi@uwe.be).

Download of the new guidelines: http://www.kowi.de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-160/258_view-175/
More information on financial management in Marie Curie projects:
http://www.kowi.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-257/987_read-1064/
Information on project management issues in Marie Curie projects on CORDIS:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/mariecurieactions/home_en.html

Open to researchers from the Belgian academia. Jointly organized by the Flemish universities and FRS-FNRS, and supported by FWO.

Venue: Research Coordination Office, Schapenstraat 34, Leuven (parking available)

Participation is free of charge, but registration is mandatory

Programme
Welcome - prof. Peter Marynen, K.U.Leuven vice-rector for research
Modalities of the ERC Advanced & Synergy call 2012 – prof. Helga Nowotny, ERC president
Overview of support services for applicants
Reflections from participant
Prof. François Maniquet, UCLouvain, ERC Advanced Grant holder
Prof. Jan Staessen, K.U.Leuven, ERC Advanced Grant holder

Contacts of the person searching for participation in the IRSES proposal:

Prof. dr. Mimoza Ristova
Department of Physics
Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics,
University Sts Cyril and Methodiuos
1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

e-mail: mristova@pmf.ukim.mk
tel:  +389 2 3249 804
fax: +389 2 3228 141

Each Chair allows the foreign scientist to be hosted during 12 full months, possibly spread over 2 years, in one or more well-known Higher Education or Research Institutions in Paris/Ile-de-France providing suitable environment, equipment and means to carry out world class research. Each project can be given up to 200 000 € which includes among other things, salaries, social charges, taxes and accompanying expenses. The candidates are required to give about ten lectures (pedagogical programme to be joined), will have to deliver an activity report and to organise a public seminar at the end of their stay.

The 2012 call is now open with a deadline for applications on 15 December 2011. A multi-disciplinary jury will select 4 applicants based on the scientific interest of the project for Ile-de-France Region, on its interdisciplinary characteristic and the quality of the application. Selected researchers may start their project in the Paris/Ile-de-France research institution from September 2012 on.

Programme, Registration

- Recommandation de la Commission du 21 octobre 2011 concernant l’initiative de programmation conjointe en matière de recherche «Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe» (Le développement coordonné des connaissances sur le climat au bénéfice de l’Europe),  Voir OJ C310 (22 octobre 2011), p. 1-3, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2011:310:0001:0003:FR:PDF

Recommandation de la Commission du 27 octobre 2011 concernant l’initiative de programmation conjointe  «Le défi microbien -Une nouvelle menace pour la santé humaine».
Voir OJ C315 (28 octobre 2011), p. 1-3, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2011:315:0001:0003:FR:PDF

La Commission présentera les recommandations adoptées lors du prochain groupe "Recherche" (28 octobre 2011).
Un projet de conclusions (commun pour les recommandations portant sur les différentes initiatives de programmation conjointe concernées) sera présenté par la Présidence polonaise et examiné par le groupe "Recherche" au cours des réunions du mois de novembre 2011, pour adoption au Conseil de l'UE (Compétitivité, partie "Recherche") du 6 décembre 2011.

call is €150 million.
The "Synergy Grant" is intended to enable a small group of Principal Investigators and their teams to bring together complementary

skills, knowledge, and resources in new ways, in order to jointly address research problems.

Une invitation à participer à l’évènement matchmaking (MME) prévu le 21 février à Berlin est lancée depuis le 21 octobre.  La date de clôture pour les inscriptions est le 30 novembre 2011.

A more detailed timeline of the planning will be published in the ERC website

In three years of activities the EU research project INGINEUS - "Impact of Networks, Globalisation, and their Interaction with EU Strategies" has mapped the new geography of knowledge-intensive activities and has put an initiative in understanding the concept of Global Innovation Networks (GINs).

There are many references to research and innovation, low carbon technologies, raw materials, resource efficiency, renewable energies etc.
This communication is in line with the other UE initiatives and EU2020 flagships.

You may also find the FAQs on the financial guidelines for ITN and IAPP on the MCA website under How to manage my project. For example for ITNs: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/mariecurieactions/itn-manage_en.html

L’accord de collaboration conclu est basé sur des consultations des Administrations, des Universités et des Entreprises pour une meilleure répartition des tâches et des complémentarités de chacun des « National Contact Points ».