EU Science, Research and Innovation’s Post

Why investing in research and innovation matters for a competitive, green, and fair Europe? Arationale for public and private action Possible pathways to strengthen R&I efforts and impact: 🌷The rapid transition of emerging technologies from demonstration and prototype stages to widespread market adoption is essential. 🌷Rethink industrial policy to be fit for purpose for future technologies.  🌷To further boost knowledge valorisation processes, the distinctive skills and competencies of social sciences and humanities can be exploited better to reach beyond functionality. 🌷Leveraging partnerships to facilitate investments and strengthen capacities. 🌷The twin transitions, with their need for deep changes in behaviours, practices, governance modes as well as institutions, call for modern R&I policy approaches that help us transform systems 🌷R&I flourishes when Member States have the right R&I capabilities.  🌷Strengthen R&I policy coordination in the context of the European Semester can help ensuring an integrated approach. 🌷Making the innovation ecosystem more open, diverse, and attractive to talents from a variety of neglected sources. 🌷 Simplification and harmonisation of funding. 🌷 Strengthen visibility and outreach of R&I funding programmes to increase impacts and uptake of results. #ERAHubs

Why is it crucial to invest in research and innovation (R&I) for a competitive, green, and fair Europe? What is the added value of European investments in research and innovation?    We tried to answer these two fundamental questions and to identify the main elements of the present and future discussions for research and innovation in the EU in two policy briefs published today. The papers explore the potential of R&I to strengthen EU's competitiveness, support a green and sustainable future, and build a fair European society and shed light on the added value of EU long-term investments in R&I.      Find them here and read more on the past, present and future of EU research & innovation:  👉https://lnkd.in/eH8FRht9  👉https://lnkd.in/eMGTTt5h    #RIWeek2024

🌍𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐏𝐀’𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, “𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡, 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬”. The Heitor report provides a comprehensive analysis of the European Research and Development Framework Programme, effectively outlining strengths and shortcomings within its vast landscape. It offers twelve high-level recommendations aimed at enhancing the programme’s positive impact, and this is an effort that we commend and appreciate. While the report makes some proposals towards a future Framework Programme, it may need some further consideration and refinement prior to implementation. We urge caution however regarding proposed changes to Pillar 2. To share our perspective, we’ve issued an open letter, highlighting the importance of refining these recommendations and reinforcing collaboration across academia, research, and industry to drive Europe’s competitiveness and shared prosperity. Reinforcing a strategy that unites Europe’s best capabilities across academia, research, and industry is essential for the future of a Union that deploys its full potential as a driver of innovation, competitiveness, and shared prosperity. Make sure to read our open letter and share it with your network 👇

As the EU's public-private #research partnerships celebrate their 20th anniversary, change is on the horizon. At a recent European Commission conference, the call for fewer but bigger #partnerships in the next EU Framework Programme (#FP10) post-2027 took centre stage. While Horizon Europe has driven #innovation and collaboration, concerns about complexity and administrative burden remain. With a focus on streamlined portfolios, better #governance and faster pathways to market, the Commission aims to strengthen partnerships for Europe's strategic goals. But can simplification deliver without disrupting success? 📌 More: https://lnkd.in/eTSvig28

👏 Big kudos to #Austria from the European Commission at the 'European Research & Innovation Days' yesterday! Austria was hailed as a standout example of accelerated transition towards a climate-neutral and competitive #industry at the national level. This is largely attributed to the comprehensive measures the country has taken to drive the transformation forward.   Representing Austria at the event, Henriette Spyra, Director General Innovation & Technology at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation & Technology, emphasized the holistic approach Austria has undertaken:   🔍 Generating Evidence: Scientific studies were conducted to quantify #decarbonisation needs across various industrial sectors. These studies served as the basis for developing concepts and roadmaps for industrial decarbonisation. (E.g. the study on #TransformIndustry https://lnkd.in/dnrJQV7U)   🤝 Collaborative Action Plan: The Austrian Ministry for Climate Action initiated a strategic dialogue with the country's top 11 industrial companies to discuss public and private measures supporting decarbonisation. One outcome of this dialogue was a joint action plan that helped shape demand-oriented public support programs.   💰 New Funding Instrument: As part of the Climate and Transformation Offensive, the Ministry for Climate Action established a new funding instrument for industrial transformation. Funding is available for research and innovation (via the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund), pilot projects and demonstrations, as well as investments in industrial facilities until 2030. In 2023, nine major projects for industrial transformation were already funded. These projects aim to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral economy.   🌍 International Integration: Austria is actively engaged in industrial decarbonisation efforts both at the European and international levels. It leads NZIM - The Net-Zero Industries Mission and collaborates closely with other countries to promote the transition to a low-carbon industry.   💻 For more information on the European Research & Innovation Days 2024, visit: https://lnkd.in/dC7k3XWC.   💻 To learn more about joining the mission and ensuring your industry is a frontrunner in achieving industrial decarbonisation, contact us at ✉netzeroindustries@ait.ac.at or visit https://lnkd.in/gJ-69hY6.

The European Commission is evaluating the creation of a European Competitiveness Fund, which would merge various research and innovation programs, including the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), as part of the upcoming multiannual budget in 2028. This restructuring aims to improve the efficiency and flexibility of EU funds, simplifying access for industry. Although this proposal is still under discussion, key research stakeholders in Brussels believe it could place science and technology at the core of Europe’s economic agenda. For development agencies, this change presents opportunities to access funding with a more strategic focus. 🌍

Publications Office of the European Union This independent expert report provides strategic recommendations on maximising the impact of EU Research and Innovation programmes in the future. This transformative agenda should be implemented in the short term, through specific actions in the last three years of Horizon Europe, 2025-2027, and embedded in future EU support to research and innovation.

😮💨A busy week is coming to the end and finally I have a minute to reflect on 3 events I attended over the past two days: 📌 “The Spanish contribution to the major European Research and #Innovation priorities over 40 years of the EU”#FrameworkProgramme and in the future FP10’ 📌 “#ERC Annual Conference 2024: Frontier Research within and beyond planetary boundaries” 📌 “Qua Vadis: European #research policy?” 🗞️Summarizing them all at once is not an easy task, but there was one unifying theme that tied them together: the #future of research and innovation policy in the EU. 🔹Each event underscored the vital role research and innovation play in ensuring Europe’s #competitiveness, societal well-being, and global leadership. As Deputy Director Joanna Drake (DG RTD) stated, “There is no alternative to #science, and no alternative for innovation if we want to have a future for Europe”. 🔹In another event Director general Marc Lemaître (DG RTD) reinforced this idea, emphasizing the need to shape a true #ResearchAndInnovationUnion 🔹While the path forward remains open to debate, a newly appointed Commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation E. Zaharieva outlined five key priorities for the future: 1️⃣ Strengthening research ecosystems 2️⃣ Taking a leap forward in innovation and removing regulatory barriers; unlocking potential by linking research and innovation 3️⃣Building capacities in key technologies 4️⃣Promoting women in RDI These ambitions are coupled with a promise of an 5️⃣ ambitious successor to #HorizonEurope. 📄On paper, the future looks bright - but as always, the devil 😈 is in the details. Open questions remain: 🔸How will these priorities be implemented? 🔸What measures will be introduced? 🔸How will influential reports (e.g., Draghi, Letta, Heitor) shape the next framework? 💡During these discussions, one takeaway resonated deeply: “Let researchers do research, innovators - innovation, and businesses - their business”. This new commissioner’s motto left the room with a sense of optimism and determination. The question now is: will the actions match the words? 🧐 Let’s wait and see… 🔮

Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as president of the European Commission on 18 July. What's her plan for science and innovation? 📃 In her political guidelines for the next European Commission, she maintains that „Europe’s competitiveness – and its position in the race to a clean and digital economy – will depend on starting a new age of invention and ingenuity. This requires putting research and innovation, science and technology, at the centre of our economy.“ She also promises to increase the EU's research budget and "to focus more on strategic priorities, on groundbreaking fundamental research and disruptive innovation, and on scientific excellence“. 👍 We couldn’t agree more! Europe – including but not limited to the EU member states – needs a strong base in fundamental and applied research to create its own technological innovations. This, in turn, is a prerequisite for Europe's prosperity and self-determination on the global stage. ❔ Interested in science and innovation in Europe? Check out the #HamburgScienceSummit (link in our comment). #science #research #europeanscience #europe #europeanunion #technologicalsovereignty #hamburgsciencesummit #gesellschaftbessermachen Photo: CC-BY-4.0: © European Union 2019 – Source: EP

🇪🇺 📣 Coming up next week, European Research and Innovation days! #RiDaysEU Join policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders on March 20-21 to shape the future of research and innovation. 💡 This year's focus: making Europe greener, fairer, and more competitive. Explore EU-funded projects, discuss key topics, and be part of the conversation. Online participation is still available, read more through the link below! 👇 #RiDaysEU #ResearchAndInnovation #EU2024