LIGHT2015 – Photonics: Discover the Power of Light
The International Year of Light in Europe 2015 [LIGHT2015] – funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme – is a high impact EU-wide outreach and education initiative that aims to promote the importance of photonics to young people, entrepreneurs and the general public during the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies [IYL 2015]. The project, coordinated by the European Physical Society [EPS], will leverage the tremendous visibility of IYL 2015 to ensure that the public in all member states of the EU understands and appreciates the importance that photonics has for society.
Fast Track to Innovation Pilot (2015-2016)
A Free Interactive Information Event – 9 January 2015, Brussels
This is your chance to discover a new exciting opportunity for industry-driven innovation under Horizon 2020. Participants at this event will acquire insight into the objectives of this new scheme, become familiar with the modalities of the Fast Track to Innovation call, get practical tips and tricks on how to apply and how to maximise chances for success when applying…
Shaping science policy in Europe
The Lisbon Strategy was adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the European Union [EU] in 2000. By moving science into a central position for the development of a European knowledge-based economy and society, its adoption at political level seems to have been a powerful catalyst for the increased involvement of scientists in science policy in the EU.
Recognising the need for scientists to act collectively in order to contribute to shape the future of science policy in…
Ana Proykova elected to be an expert for Horizon 2020
Since January 2014, Ana Proykova, former member of the EPS Executive Committee from Bulgaria, is a member of the Horizon 2020 Future and Emerging Technologies [FET] Advisory Group.
The FET Advisory Group is part of the Advisory Groups put in place to provide advice to the Commission on the implementation for framework programme for research and innovation Horizon 2020. This particular group will be tasked with the future and emerging technologies objective within the “excellent science” priority…
Horizon 2020 starts with €15 billion
The European Commission presented in December 2013 the first calls for projects under Horizon 2020, the European Union’s [EU] research and innovation programme over the period 2014-2020.
Horizon 2020 is the EU’s biggest ever research and innovation framework programme with a seven year budget worth nearly €80 billion. With more than €15 billion over the first two years, the funding is intended to help boost Europe’s knowledge-driven economy, and tackle issues that will make a difference in people’s lives…
€70 billion for Horizon 2020
After long negotiation between European Union leaders agreeing on the next seven year budget for the Union, the final figure of €70.2 billion has been agreed upon for the research programme Horizon 2020. Although this total is 23% more than allocated for the current framework programme FP7, the first instalment planned for 2014 of €8.8 billion is actually less than the allocated funding in 2013.
p>During the negotiations a number of demands by the European Parliament were met. These included…
Editorial – Horizon 2020, opportunities for research and commitment to society
In a not so remote past, scientists were a close-knit society, spending much of their time in isolated laboratories or academic institutions, sometimes referred to as ivory towers. Now however, on a par with globalization and the emergence of the information-based society, there is a growing commitment of scientists to share knowledge and opinions with society in general. And indeed it is a duty to explain how public funds are employed in the development of basic science and technology for the advancement of society…
The second European Gender Summit 2012 – Agenda for exellence
The meeting was held in Brussels, 29-30 November 2012. It brought together top-level researchers, science leaders, and policy makers. The summit aimed at developing a systematic implementation strategy to advance the EU policy on gender equality in science, as part of the three major policy initiatives – HORIZON 2020, European Research Area, and Innovation Union.
Over 400 participants from 30 countries, representing over 200 science institutions and other organizations…
CERN has launched SCOAP3
The Sponsoring Consortium for Open Access Publishing in Particle Physics [SCOAP3] was officially at CERN on 1 October 2012.
This new publishing model, which grants free access to peer-reviewed articles in particle physics, redirects the funding traditionally spent by libraries for subscriptions to an internationally coordinated common fund.
Twelve publishers have been retained in the first call for tender…
Open Access for UK and Horizon2020 publications
In June 2012 a UK working group of scientists, funding agencies and publishers made available a report on “Accessibility, sustainability, excellence: how to expand access to research publications”.
This work, known as the Finch report after the chairwoman of the group, Janet Finch, made the recommendation for a larger implementation of open access models in the UK publishing scene. The Finch report has very rapidly triggered a decision of Research Councils UK (RCUK), the umbrella body for Britain’s seven research councils,…
Nobel Laureates warn against Horizon2020 budget
In an Open Letter to the EU Heads of States and Governments, 42 Nobel Laureates and 5 Fields Medallists have stated their grave concern that the upcoming negotations on the overall EU budget from 2014-2020 will disproportionally hit the research and innovation budget. The letter has been published on 23 October in leading newspapers across Europe:
Financial Times (UK), Le Monde (FR), Der Standard (AT), Irish Times (IE), El Páis (ES), Público (PT), Postimes (EE), Le Temps (CH), Jurnalul National (RO), Corriere della Serra (IT), Berlingske (DK), Svenska Dagbladets (SE)…
