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1 European Highlights, BNU June 2020, Brussels News Updates

A look at the 6 months Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

On 1 January 2020, Croatia took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Finland. In January 2020, the European Chemical Society dedicated an article on Croatia’s strategic agenda (see our Brussels News Updates article here).

 ‘A strong Europe in a world of challenges’ was the motto chosen by Croatia before starting its Presidency, and what a challenge Covid-19 has been. The six-months agenda was disrupted by the pandemic and forced Croatia to adapt it to the worldwide crisis: the Council is currently analysing and assessing the Recovery plan for Europe proposal issued by the European Commission. What is more, this Presidency was the first for Croatia since the country joined the European Union in 2013.

The European Green Deal remained an important item on Croatia’s agenda. Among the many actions taken, the Council adopted the EU’s submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategy.

In the meantime, the Council also worked on EU space policy matters. On 29 May, Ministers discussed solutions to enhance space-based technologies in order to include them in the sustainable development of the European Union. It was stressed that these space applications can offer solutions to the challenges on the on-going crisis and help the EU to reach its European Green Deal ambitious objectives. You can learn more about this meeting here.

More recently, Coreper* confirmed full agreement on the draft Council conclusions on shaping Europe’s digital future, during the online event held on 5 June 2020.

Croatia will lead the Council of the European Union until 30 June 2020. On 1 July, Germany will take over the position for the fall semester of 2020.

*Coreper stands for the ‘Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union’.

Sources: here.

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1 European Highlights, BNU June 2020, Brussels News Updates

EuChemS participated in the #EUvsVirus Matchathon

Following the #EUvsVirus Hackathon, the European Commission organised the #EUvsVirus Matchathon on 22-25 May. The goal of the Matchathon was to connect the 120 winning teams from the hackathon with investors, corporates, public authorities (including hospitals), academia, and research institutions. During this event, the winning teams were able to discuss their needs and secure deals with partners, to have their innovative ideas developed and commercialised.

The closing ceremony was held online on 2 June 2020, with the presence of Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

‘We will look back with great pride at this moment. Two months ago, when Europe and the world were thrown into crisis, this was the moment we came together. When we launched #EUvsVirus, we had the bold idea to bring all Europe’s innovators together to crack the most complex challenges created by coronavirus.         […] In just two weeks, we organised the biggest hackathon Europe has ever seen.”

– Mariya Gabriel,
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
© #EUvsVirus Matchathon, closing ceremony, 2 June 2020

 

Source: here.
You can read our Brussels News Update article on the #EUvsVirus Hackathon here.

#EUvsVirus Matchathon follow-up

The European Commission, via the European Innovation Council (EIC), offered the #EUvsVirus projects to join the EIC Covid-19 Challenge Platform, a collaborative space launched as a follow-up to the Matchathon. The goal of this platform is to extend the collaborations that started during the EUvsVirus Hackathon and Matchathon, but also to enhance new ones. Private and public partners can set up a COVID-19-related challenge and innovators, companies, researchers can forward their solutions.

The European Chemical Society would like to thank the European Young Chemists’ Network (EYCN) for their active participation during the #EUvsVirus Hackathon & Matchathon.

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1 European Highlights, BNU June 2020, Brussels News Updates

Join EuChemS 50th anniversary online celebration

To mark its 50th anniversary since the foundation of the Federation of European Chemical Societies (FECS) in 1970, the European Chemical Society is pleased to organise an online birthday celebration.

The event will be held online on Friday 3 July 2020, from 10:00 to 11:30 (CEST – Brussels time). You are invited to join us, please register here.

We are happy to receive your birthday wishes by posting #50yearseuchems hashtag on your favourite social media channel.

EuChemS 50th anniversary poster  anniversary celebration poster is available for download here.

 

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

MEPs call for including climate crisis action in the EU COVID-19 recovery plan

As the European Parliament is working on a strategy for the post-COVID-19 crisis period, MEPs asked to put the Green Deal at the centre of any reconstruction package.

Their proposal is based on conclusions drawn from strict quarantine measures taken everywhere in Europe. Indeed, air pollution has declined due to reduced economic activities (decline in travel, home working, shutdown of industry, etc.). Also, this request by the MEPs goes hand in hand with the EU Climate Law, which aims to make the EU climate neutral by 2050.

Learn more about it here.

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

Have you read the most recent edition of Chemistry in Europe Newsletter?

Chemistry in Europe 2020-2 includes many interesting articles, among other the Editorial by W. Koch, EuChemS Executive Board member on the Chemistry Europe, an interview with Dr Wolfgang Fritsche, one of the founders of FECS (Federation of European Chemical Societies), a predecessor organisation of EuChemS, a look into the European Parliamentary Committees (ITRE and ENVI Committees), a report from the 15th EYCN Delegate Assembly and many more.

You are invited to read the full newsletter here.

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

The European Commission launched the European COVID-19 Data Platform

On 20 April 2020, the European Commission, together with EU Members States and research partners, launched a COVID-19 Data Platform. The platform is part of the ERAvsCorona Action Plan and aims to accelerate Coronavirus research by facilitating data sharing and analysis. This joint effort underlines the European Commission’s commitment to Open Science, by making science more accessible and efficient in order to tackle societal challenges.

The platform includes SARS-CoV-2 Data Hubs, which organise the flow of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak datasets and provide comprehensive open data sharing for research communities, as well as the COVID-19 Data portal, which brings together relevant COVID-19 datasets and tools, and facilitates access to other COVID-19 resources.

You can read the European Commission Press release here.

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

The European Commission reprioritised the budget of H2020 to fight the COVID-19 pandemic

On 4 May 2020, the European Commission announced in a press release the reprioritisation of the Horizon 2020 framework programme funding. To help reach the objectives of the Coronavirus Global Response, €1 billion will be invested to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. It will fund global research on vaccines:

  • €400 million for developing scientific solutions and health systems
  • €400 million to finance Research and Developments investments
  • €150 million for the European Innovation Council’s Accelerator

Learn more about it here.

If you are interested in funding opportunities in relation to Coronavirus, both at the European Union level and the national level, the European Research and Area and Corona Platform offers up-to-date information about Horizon 2020 calls and deadline extensions related to COVID-19 funded and ongoing projects.

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

Latest ECHA Committee for Risk Assessment meeting for harmonised classification and labelling

As reported by the EuChemS representative in the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of ECHA met in May to address several pressing issues.

During the online meeting, RAC adopted the opinion concerning the limitation of skin sensitizing substances in finished articles made of fabric, leather, hide and fur, placed on the market for the first time. Also, the harmonised classifications of some insecticides used in agriculture have been evaluated, as well as the proposal to classify this insecticide as Carcinogenic.

Read the full debrief here.

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4 Calls for Funding and Awards, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

ERC Proof of Concept Grant

The ERC Proof of Concept Grant is available only to Principal Investigators who already have an ERC award to establish proof of concept of an idea that was generated during their ERC-funded projects. All Principal Investigators are eligible to participate in an ERC frontier research project that is either ongoing, or has ended less than 12 months before 1 January 2020.

Deadline: 17 September 2020

Learn more about it here.

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

EuChemS participated in the #EUvsVirus Hackathon

On 24 – 26 April 2020, the European Commission organised an online pan-European Hackathon under the patronage of Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. In total, 21,000 participants from across Europe met virtually to find solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and its related-challenges.

Six categories of COVID-19 related issues were addressed during this 62-hour contest: health and life, business continuity, remote working and education, social and political cohesion, digital finance and ‘other’ – an open category for other challenges.

The participants had the opportunity to meet online with civil societies, universities, businesses and others to tackle these challenges. Overall, 2160 proposals were submitted and 117 of them were announced as winners during the Award Ceremony, livestreamed on 30 April. Results are available here.

The European Chemical Society is pleased to have taken part in the #EUvsVirus Hackathon and wants to thank the European Young Chemists’ Network (EYCN) for their initiative, active participation and inputs during this event. The European Chemical Society registered as a civil society and a partner to assist the teams and answer their chemistry-related questions. We will remain available in the future for all the participants wishing to connect with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn more about the #EUvsVirus Hackathon here.

And now, what is next?

Although the #EUvsVirus Hackathon has officially ended, the financing and resource needs of the winning teams to develop and scale their ideas, are currently being collated. From 22 – 25 May 2020, a Machathon event will be organised to match the needs with the available resources. Furthermore, an EIC-COVID Platform will be launched at the end of May. The aim of this European platform will be to connect the winning teams of the #EUvsVirus Hackathon – as well as partners proposing innovative solutions – with those in need of these solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them are hospitals, public authorities, etc.

The European Chemical Society, together with the EYCN, will remain active for the next step and cover the Machathon on socials. Stay tuned and follow us not to miss out on any information!

 

 

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

New President of the Board of Directors of the H.I.P.A.

The European Chemical Society congratulates the member of EuChemS Executive Board and Chair of Division of Chemistry and Environment, Professor Ioannis Katsoyiannis, for being appointed by the Greek Minister of Growth and Investments as President of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Industrial Property Academy (H.I.P.A.).

We wish Ioannis best of success in his new duties.

You can read our full debrief here.

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3 Consultations and Roadmaps, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

European Commission Public Consultations

A number of consultations put forward by the European Commission are currently open:

If you would like to contribute to a EuChemS response to any of the above consultations, please drop us a line.

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1 European Highlights, BNU May 2020, Brussels News Updates

8th EuChemS Chemistry Congress postponed to 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic that so deeply affects our lives and countries is not expected to end soon, and its consequences will be felt for a long time. We are thus forced to postpone the 8th EuChemS Chemistry Congress (ECC8) to 2022. ECC8 will still be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 28 August to 1 September 2022.

More information is available on the ECC8 website and on its official Twitter account.

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