FP9: what is on the horizon?

Science|Business hosted a full day webcast of their event Research Strategies: Europe 2030 and the next Framework Programme.

There are a number of consulations forthcoming, where you will be able to contribute:

> Horizon 2020 interim evaluation (due to launch w/c 17/10/16)

> FP9 consulations (expected early 2017)

Please take a look at Policy directions – a synthesis, which drew together the discussions from the strategy and policy workshops:

> Connected health: Can big data help us live healthier, longer?

> Energy and resources: Can innovation really help us manage the planet better?

> Security and defence R&D: How can we make Europe safer?

> Connected cars: Can autos, ICT and regulation work together?

> Open Innovation: How public labs and private investment can work together

> Scaling up: How can Europe grow its companies faster?

> Enabling technologies: How can R&I re-power Europe’s industries?

Key features for possible inclusion in the next Framework Programme (FP9), the successor to Horizon 2020, include:

> A greater role for Social Sciences and Humanities much earlier in the innovation process, rather than being brought in to make new technology acceptable to the end user, late in the day

> Making innovation inclusive by engaging with all stakeholders, linked to a drive towards a shared vocabulary and cultural understanding, especially between industry and academia

> Demand-driven research

> Open data and the implications for security and privacy

> Impact, with the ability to measure, monitor, demonstrate and communicate impact being specifically mentioned – there needs to be a credible    promise of impact / added value for society and growth

> Excellence is still paramount

> FP9 activity needs to be part of society, part of the solution and perceived as such.

Further hints of what may be to come can be found in Commissioner Moedas’ speech Embracing an ERA of Change, Berlin, 10/10/16.

The inherent dilemmas presented by Kurt Vandenburghe (Director Policy Development and Coordination at European Commission’s DG Research and Innovation) are:

> Prioritisation may exclude some stakeholders

> The need for a careful balance between ensuring continuity yet embracing change, as we move from Horizon 2020 (FP8) to FP9

Want to know more? Watch out for further announcements made on this blog. As well as Science|Business being an excellent source of EU information, BU also has a subscription to UKRO, to which BU staff can subscribe with their BU email.