The EC have published their proposal for the Environment Action Programme ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’ which is likely to be the base of calls issued under Horizon 2020. It features budget info as well as the outcome of the various consultations to shape this document. Most importantly, this paper outlines a programme of action for 2020… reading this will give you the key clues as to what will be funded under Horizon 2020.
Tag Archives: horizon 2020
UK Research Office (UKRO) visit to BU on 27th November 2012
BU welcomed Jo Frost, BU’s named contact for the UK Research Office (UKRO). Jo’s presentation was wide-ranging and hugely informative, outlining the current FP7 scheme and th
e forthcoming Horizon 2020 scheme, which is still going through the consultation process. It is expected that Horizon 2020 will focus on three priorities: ’Excellent Science’, ‘Industrial Leadership’ and ‘Societal Challenges’. Jo also introduced the new Erasmus for All scheme.
All the slides from the day are available to BU staff only. These slides include many links to useful sources of information, if you would like to take part in the Horizon 2020 consultation or are planning ahead and want to prepare a submission to the many funding streams within this framework. Jo stressed the need to build networks and many suggestions are included in her presentation. These slides also give detailed information on the proposed budget allocations and themes within the three priority areas.
If you would like to enhance your knowledge of changes to EU funding, please refer to Jo’s slides. You can also contact Corrina Dickson, Paul Lynch, Sarah Katon or Emily Cieciura, who can help you develop your EU submissions.
BU staff can view the slides at: I:\R&KEO\Public\RDU\European Related\UKRO 2012 Presentation.
Last chance to book on our UKRO visit!
Bournemouth subscribes to the information and assistance services of the UK Research Office (UKRO). For many years UKRO have been providing us with the latest EU information on funding calls, policy and providing advice on how to make a great application.
Our UKRO advisor Jo Frost is visiting on 27th November to provide you with information on how you can make the most of a bespoke, simple to create UKRO account to ensure you receive relevant and up to date information. She will also be talking through how to search for partners, what funding we can expect to see in FP7s replacement Horizon 2020 and how you can position yourself to get involved with this (networks to join etc).
This is a free to attend half day event on Lansdowne (BG14, 9:45-12:45) and refreshments will be provided; for this reason you must reserve your place by 22nd November using the Staff Development booking form. There will also be appointments available for a one to one with Jo to ask any questions about your specific area of research/ interest. These can be booked through me and are usually 30 mins (longer appointments may be organised – please request this when booking) .
How can you prepare for Horizon 2020? Book your place on our UKRO visit and find out!
Bournemouth subscribes to the information and assistance services of the UK Research Office (UKRO). For many years UKRO have been providing us with the latest EU information on funding calls, policy and providing advice on how to make a great application.
Our UKRO advisor Jo Frost is visiting on 27th November to provide you with information on how you can make the most of a bespoke, simple to create UKRO account to ensure you receive relevant and up to date information. She will also be talking through how to search for partners, what funding we can expect to see in FP7s replacement Horizon 2020 and how you can position yourself to get involved with this (networks to join etc).
This is a free to attend half day event on Lansdowne (BG14, 9:45-12:45) and refreshments will be provided; for this reason you must reserve your place by 22nd November using the Staff Development booking form. There will also be appointments available for a one to one with Jo to ask any questions about your specific area of research/ interest. These can be booked through me and are usually 30 mins (longer appointments may be organised – please request this when booking) .
UKRO visit to BU – reserve your place now!
Bournemouth subscribes to the information and assistance services of the UK Research Office (UKRO). For many years UKRO have been providing us with the latest EU information on funding calls, policy and providing advice on how to make a great application.
Our UKRO advisor Jo Frost is visiting on 27th November to provide you with information on how you can make the most of a bespoke, simple to create UKRO account to ensure you receive relevant and up to date information. She will also be talking through how to search for partners, what funding we can expect to see in FP7s replacement Horizon 2020 and how you can position yourself to get involved with this (networks to join etc).
This is a free to attend half day event on Lansdowne (BG14, 9:45-12:45) and refreshments will be provided; for this reason you must reserve your place by 22nd November using the Staff Development booking form. There will also be appointments available for a one to one with Jo to ask any questions about your specific area of research/ interest. These can be booked through me and are usually 30 mins (longer appointments may be organised – please request this when booking) .
Marie Curie in Horizon 2020 – what will it look like?
As regular EU blog readers will know, I think Marie Curie Fellowships are the perfect way to start your EU career. You can bring a shining talent over from anywhere in the world, from academia or industry to undertake research and you can visit an organisation/ university anywhere in the world to undertake research. Needing only one other partner to be involved, it allows for the establishment of a great contact who can help branch out to networks and also enables you to have some research you are interested in, done.
The final calls for Marie Curie under FP7 are in January 2013 and the scheme is definitely here to stay for Horizon 2020, albeit with a slightly amended name Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
The programme will contain similar schemes, but these will be banded together and made more simple.
*Innovative Training Networks (ITN) will be aimed at training early stage researchers
*Individual Fellowships (IF) will be aimed at experienced researchers
*Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) will be aimed at the exchange of staff and knowledge transfer
*COFUND will be aimed at stimulating excellence in regional, national and international programmes.
There may also be a pilot strand under the first set of calls released in 2014 within the IF scheme; the Dual Careers Strand. This would enable an applicant with a spouse working in research to apply for funding for their spouse to hold a fellowship either in the host institution or an institution in the host country. This is still in development but is an exciting possible development.
A few places left on the UKRO info day at BU!
Bournemouth subscribes to the information and assistance services of the UK Research Office (UKRO). For many years UKRO have been providing us with the latest EU information on funding calls, policy and providing advice on how to make a great application.
Our UKRO advisor Jo Frost is visiting on 27th November to provide you with information on how you can make the most of a bespoke, simple to create UKRO account to ensure you receive relevant and up to date information. She will also be talking through how to search for partners, what funding we can expect to see in FP7s replacement Horizon 2020 and how you can position yourself to get involved with this (networks to join etc).
This is a free to attend half day event on Lansdowne (BG14, 9:45-12:45) and refreshments will be provided; for this reason you must reserve your place by 22nd November using the Staff Development booking form. There will also be appointments available for a one to one with Jo to ask any questions about your specific area of research/ interest. These can be booked through me and are usually 30 mins (longer appointments may be organised – please request this when booking) .
Are you maximising your UKRO subscription?
Bournemouth subscribes to the information and assistance services of the UK Research Office (UKRO). For many years UKRO have been providing us with the latest EU information on funding calls, policy and providing advice on how to make a great application.
Our UKRO advisor Jo Frost is visiting on 27th November to provide you with information on how you can make the most of a bespoke, simple to create UKRO account to ensure you receive relevant and up to date information. She will also be talking through how to search for partners, what funding we can expect to see in FP7s replacement Horizon 2020 and how you can position yourself to get involved with this (networks to join etc).
This is a free to attend half day event on Lansdowne (BG14, 9:45-12:45) and refreshments will be provided; for this reason you must reserve your place by 22nd November using the Staff Development booking form. There will also be appointments available for a one to one with Jo to ask any questions about your specific area of research/ interest. These can be booked through me and are usually 30 mins (longer appointments may be organised – please request this when booking) .
Have your say about funding areas in Horizon 2020
So you want a say in how Horizon 2020 will be but not sure how? Well, there are a number of consultations open for you to have your say – participate and start to shape EC funding for the future.
Opening up Education through New Technologies: The objective of the consultation is to explore the need for EU action to promote the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) and of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education. The consultation is carried out in the context of a Commission Communication on “Rethinking Skills” planned for the end of 2012 which will announce a new EU initiative on exploiting the potential contribution of ICTs and OERs to education and skills development. A further Commission Communication on this is expected in mid-2013.
Marine Knowledge 2020: From Seabed Mapping to Ocean Forecasting: The European Commission is proposing to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020 by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone. The consultation closes on 15 December 2012.
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen JTI under Horizon 2020: The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), a Public Private Partnership (PPP) set up between the European Commission and industry, was established in 2008. The research community also later joined the initiative. Its objective was to significantly accelerate the market introduction of the fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, in order to realise their potential as way to achieve a lower carbon energy system. The consultation aims at collecting the views of the wider public on the fuel cells and hydrogen sector, on research and innovation in this field in Europe, and in particular on the possible continuation of the FCH JU for the implementation of FCH research in Horizon 2020.
EC asks ICT firms why they don’t participate in funding programmes
Regular readers of the EU section of this blog will know that I harp on all the time about the importance of company engagement as partners in Horizon 2020. Well, this is becoming more and more apparent as time draws near to the first set of drafts for the new Horizon 2020 programme.
It was announced this month that the EC is funding a survey as part of a drive to increase the participation of companies from the information and communications technologies in future research programmes.
The survey aims to identify and characterise highly innovative ICT companies that do not participate in Framework projects, and assess why. The knowledge gained will be used to improve firms’ participation in Horizon 2020.
Now is the time to start making links with industry as much as you can!
Wondering how to prepare for Horizon 2020? Then book you place on our info session!
Bournemouth subscribes to the information and assistance services of the UK Research Office (UKRO). For many years UKRO have been providing us with the latest EU information on funding calls, policy and providing advice on how to make a great application.
Our UKRO advisor Jo Frost is visiting on 27th November to provide you with information on how you can make the most of a bespoke, simple to create UKRO account to ensure you receive relevant and up to date information. She will also be talking through how to search for partners, what funding we can expect to see in FP7s replacement Horizon 2020 and how you can position yourself to get involved with this (networks to join etc).
This is a free to attend half day event on Lansdowne (BG14, 9:45-12:45) and refreshments will be provided; for this reason you must reserve your place by 22nd November using the Staff Development booking form. There will also be appointments available for a one to one with Jo to ask any questions about your specific area of research/ interest. These can be booked through me and are usually 30 mins (longer appointments may be organised – please request this when booking) .
EC proposes to clamp down on funding to Brazil, China and India in Horizon 2020
The EC has proposed to restrict the number of non-EU countries which will be automatically eligible for funding under Horizon 2020. They published a strategy document yesterday, which said that like FP7, Horizon 2020 will have similar general conditions with regards to eligibility however the list of countries eligible for automatic funding will be restricted by introducing a new threshold on total GDP. This has been proposed in order to exclude large, emerging economies including, perhaps, China, India and Brazil. Funding for participants from these countries will still be possible in some cases. such as those where a reciprocal agreement is in place.
Book your place for our UKRO visit and find out how you can prepare for Horizon 2020
Bournemouth subscribes to the information and assistance services of the UK Research Office (UKRO). For many years UKRO have been providing us with the latest EU information on funding calls, policy and providing advice on how to make a great application.
Our UKRO advisor Jo Frost is visiting on 27th November to provide you with information on how you can make the most of a bespoke, simple to create UKRO account to ensure you receive relevant and up to date information. She will also be talking through how to search for partners, what funding we can expect to see in FP7s replacement Horizon 2020 and how you can position yourself to get involved with this (networks to join etc).
This is a free to attend half day event on Lansdowne (BG14, 9:45-12:45) and refreshments will be provided; for this reason you must reserve your place by 22nd November using the Staff Development booking form. There will also be appointments available for a one to one with Jo to ask any questions about your specific area of research/ interest. These can be booked through me and are usually 30 mins (longer appointments may be organised – please request this when booking) .
ICT SMEs in Horizon 2020
As many of you will know from my previous blogposts, I am always emphasising the importance of enagaging SMEs for Horizon 2020. Last week the EC has funded a survey aimed at increasing the participation of innovative companies from the information and communications technologies (ICT) in future research programmes. The survey aims to identify and characterise highly innovative ICT companies that do not participate in Framework projects, and assess their reasons for non-involvement. This is expected to feed into recommendations to improve the participation of SMEs in Horizon 2020, in a final report due in February 2013.
This is further evidence that enagaging SMEs in your Horizon 2020 proposals will be essential, so start networking now 
How does the UK influence Horizon 2020?
I heard a very interesting presentation by Scott Hudson from the UK Representation to the EU Brussels (UKREP) last week who discussed how decisions on funding are made in Brussels. UKREP exists to present the UK government views to the EU in order to try and influence legislation to make it more beneficial to the UK. They also get involved with UK representative groups in Brussels such as UKRO and in lobbying etc.
UKREP get involved with the 80 or so Council Working Groups. These groups have representatives fro all 27 Member States and meet twice a week to discuss legislation. One of these councils is responsible for Horizon 2020 and UKREP attend these discussions to present the UK view in order to to stop/ push certain legislation. UKREP work closely with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to represent the UK view. A rather terrfiyingly complex diagran was shown demonstrating the process in creating legislation.
But back to Horizon 2020. The UK have agreed with most of the proposals for this in particular the 3 pillars and the greater initiatives to include SMEs as well as the focus on excellence. They also agree with simplification. But want to be clear on who is benefitting from this, and ensuring it’s us who is benefiting and not the European Commission.
UKREP also broadly support flat rates of reimbursement but on the back of David Willetts push, have called for a reintroduction of an option for the recovery of actual indirect costs occurred.
Finally UKREP are continuing to push for a clear role of social sciences and humanities within Horizon 2020. They call for social sciences and humanities throughout all major themes such as green cars etc and not for it to be just seen as something distinct.
Given that UKREP have such great links with BIS it’s important to ensure we have good communication with them too. A key contact within BU for liaising with BIS is Mark Painter so do get in touch with him if you want to learn more about how you can influence BIS.
Latest update on Horizon 2020
I attended a presentation last week by Brendan Hawdon from the European Commission who gave an update on the Horizon 2020 state of play. As you will know from my previous blogposts on Horizon 2020, it is massive – it has a proposed budget of 80billion Euros (without inflation) for 2014-2020. The core elements of Horizon 2020 are 1. responding to economic crisis, 2. addressing people’s concerns about their livelihoods, environment and safety and 3. strengthening the EUs global position in research, innovation and technology.
Horizon 2020 has been developed through the active involvement of stakeholders from EU parliamentary groups to a survey of institutions who have won FP7 funding which is fantastic as it has made the EC realise that participating is rather burdensome in terms of bureaucracy and they can therefore address this in Horizon 2020. This is reflected in the proposal for Horizon 2020 which has reduced it’s 3 main programmes in to one, focus on societal challenges throughout the programme and therefore no longer having key issues like green energy and quality of life in thematic areas but throughout them all and also simplifying the rules of participation, making access to funding much easier for universities and companies alike.
It has three priorities - 1. Societal Challenges 2. Excellent Science 3. Industrial Leadership. Horizon 2020 also really encourages the participation of SMEs and has targets to meet within it to encourage this; such as 15% of the total budget for the Societal Challenges theme to going to SMEs.
Although Horizon 2020 won’t release its first calls for proposal Until January 2014, you should really start to prepare for these from around September onwards of this year. We should probably get an indication of the calls next summer, which gives you a great 6-9 months to network with researchers and organisations around Europe and identifying strategically who you need to link with. Applying for EU funding is all about networking and building good working relationships, and without a strict deadline this can be done really well. Do email me if you want some help identifying potential partners you should target.
The EU Pod is launched!
In response to feedback from across schools, the R & KE Operations team has been restructured to include a dedicated EU Pod headed up by Paul Lynch.
The pod will assume the post-award management of all current EU projects together with the pre-award management of future EU applications across all schools and professional services.
So, if you’re interested in EU funding but don’t know how to get started with your application contact a member of the EU Pod:
Paul Lynch – Senior R & KE Officer (EU)
Alexandra Peirce – R & KE Officer (EU)
Social Sciences and Security in Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 will replace FP7 and is currently under development. Several stakeholder groups have been meeting with EC officials to help influence and shape the Programme.
Feedback is available on UKRO from the informal Security Theme meeting and also the Societal Challenges Theme meeting. I really urge you to read these if you have an interest in either of these areas!