While the New Year represents the beginning of a new decade for everyone, 2020 is a very special year for EuchemS: Chemistry in Europe is celebrating its 50 years anniversary.
Active since 1970, EuChemS evolved over time. The organisation was established on 3 July 1970 in Prague by 17 Member Societies from both East and West Europe, under the initial name of FECS (Federation of European Chemical Societies). In 2004, FECS decided to adopt EuCheMS, the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences designation, with its headquarters in Brussels. In 2018, a new name, acronym and logo was adopted: EuChemS, the European Chemical Society.
Since 1970, many events from FECS/EuChemS shaped Chemistry in Europe. Today, EuChemS represents more than 160,000 chemists from 50 Member Societies and Supporting Members.
For this anniversary, EuChemS plan a year-loncelebration. Among events and initiatives planned, the most prominent one will be the main anniversary celebration that will take place in Prague on 3 July 2020. The choice of the city and date was not trivial, as it echoes the founding of the association in 1970.
More activities and events are yet to be announced during this year-long celebration. Stay up to date and folow us on EuChemS social media not to miss out on any news.
We take this opportunity to thank our community and members for the last half century of excellent scientific cooperation and enhancement of Chemistry initiatives all over the European continent and beyond.
Graphene Flagship is one of the European Commission’s research programmes funded on public-private partnerships. Alongside with leading European industries, they announced they will co-fund 11 new projects, which represents an investment of €92 million. The ‘Spearhead Projects’ will promote commercial uses of graphene by developing prototypes for solar panels, water infiltration systems and other graphene- enabled products. Among the main objectives, Graphene Flagship initiatives ‘’include achieving good health and wellbeing, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, and sustainable cities and communities, as well as improvements to industry innovation and infrastructure in Europe’’. These graphene- enabled prototypes should by commercialised by the end of 2023.
On November 26, the EU released the final report on the Horizon Europe implementation co-design exercise with the results of the online consultation that were collected between July 31 and October 4. The report also considers the conclusions drawn from the European Research and Innovation Days.
After the release of this report, the European University Association (EUA) issued a statement on the implementation of the Model Grant Agreement in the framework of the future Horizon Europe programme. With this statement, the EUA draws attention towards cost reporting, especially the calculation of personnel cost. The Association is calling for a revision of the accounting practices by moving towards a ‘corporate Model Grant Agreement’. The new method should follow Horizon 2020 rules regarding the reporting of personnel cost but should also accept national reporting and audit regulations in order to facilitate the process and reduce the risk of errors.
Meanwhile, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) announced on December 4 that it will invest €500 million in 2020. This investment will be spread among its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) across Europe. Climate, digitisation, food, health, sustainable energy, advanced and sustainable materials, manufacturing and urban mobility are the areas concerned by the EIT Governing Board decision.
Following this announcement, EU member states have agreed on EIT regulations to improve geographical balance of funding. A regional innovation scheme will be introduced for Horizon Europe programme. A balanced geographical distribution aims to avoid concentration on funding with the same partners, therefore increasing openness and boosting the capacity of low-performing countries.
However, negotiations are continuing over the 7-year budget of Horizon Europe. As a consequence, the finalisation of the detailed plan for Horizon Europe could be delayed. The first quarter of 2020 was planned to be dedicated to the drawing up of the content of work programmes and calls for proposals concerning the first four years of Horizon Europe. If disagreements upon the budget spread overtime, it will have a serious impact on the strategic planning and partnerships of Horizon Europe.
EuChemS congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on her position as the new Commission President and wishes her all the very best in her endeavors.
Earlier this autumn, EuChemS has written an Open Letter to European Commission President von der Leyen, on the need to revise the title of the portfolio for Commissioner Mariya Gabriel to ‘’Education, Research, Innovation and Youth’’ and we are glad to have been heard.
During her first speech as the new Commission President at the global climate conference COP25 in Madrid, Spain, Ursula von der Leyen relaunched discussions on budget matters for research. To reach the goal of climate neutrality in the framework of a European Green Deal, €1 trillion of investment over the next ten years should be unleashed to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions on the continent by 2050.
The Council of the European Chemistry Thematic Network Association (ECTN) met in Rome in the first week of December. N. Hrastelj, EuChemS Secretary General, attended the meeting in her role as advisor.
EuChemS and ECTN has a successful long lasting collaboration on overlapping topics of common interest in the field of chemistry education and related topics. One such example are joint surveys on employability of chemists in Europe; two were executed by now, while the third one (ESEC3) is scheduled for spring next year. Please keep an eye on further announcements on launching the survey.
For more information about ECTN, check here. For more information about the first two European employability surveys, please check here.
On December 6, Professor Emeritus Vincenzo Balzani has been awarded Primo Levi Award which is jointly granted by the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker (GDCh) and the Società Chimica Italiana (SCI). EuChemS President, Pilar Goya Laza, and EuChemS Secretary General Nineta Hrastelj, were invited to joint the celebration hosted by Società Chimica Italiana in Rome.
EuChemS attended the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) meeting of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in November which addressed several pressing issues. Significant topics under discussion included that of biodegrability, microplastics restrictions and its critical applications for human and environmental exposure caused by infill material for synthetic pitches.
Once again, microplastics were at the center stage. Stakeholders were invited during the meeting to better clarify the points of the proposed restriction on microplastics. No objection was made to exclude biodegradable microplastics from the restriction proposal. The issue at stake now is to implement efficient tests to give a definition of biodegradable microplastic. A series of OECD and ISO tests have been proposed. Two years would be required to obtain the results of such tests.
Further changes and decisions regarding the microplastic restrictions have been made. The three basic risk management components have been slightly modified to address the concerns raised by the placing on the market and intentional use of microplastics. They concern the following topics: complete ban, instructions for use requirements as well as reporting requirements.
The polymeric infill materials (end-of-life tires, synthetic elastomeric materials) used in sports fields are also concerned by the restriction.
You can find more details about this meeting here.
On December 5, the Official Closing Ceremony for the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT) took place in Tokyo, Japan. Professor David Cole-Hamilton, EuChemS Vice-President, attended the ceremony on behalf of EuChemS. Learn more about this event here.
150 years after the discovery of periodicity by Mendeleev, 2019 was selected to be the year-long celebration of the universally known symbol of science. The IYPT2019 permitted to put chemistry under the spotlights for a whole year, enhancing initiatives for a better communication among the different fields of the discipline. Events were organised all year-long, in Europe and beyond.
Most prominent among EuChemS actions was the creation of a Periodic Table depicting elements scarcity. By sharing it the European Chemical Society aimed to lead to reflection and action on the topic. The EuChemS Periodic Table is now available in 32 languages. Amongst other, it was unveiled and discussed at EuChemS event in the European Parliament in Brussels in January this year and included in recently published report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) ‘Paving the way for a circular economy: insights on status and potentials’.
EuChemS also released a video game, a Periodic Table Adventure ‘Elemental Escapades’. The game aims to teach about basic chemical elements in an entertaining way. ‘Elemental escapades’ has been viewed by almost 9k people within two months of its release.
Nonetheless, the year-long celebration has not end yet. You can still follow the hashtag #IYPT2019 on social media to follow all the latest news.
In the last edition of 2019, Chemistry in Europe this time round includes an Editorial by David Cole-Hamilton who reflects on his experience with EuChemS, a look into the recent EFSA Stakeholder Forum, input from our Professional Networks, the European Young Chemists’ Network, as well as our Member Societies. The newsletter moreover includes news on the EuChemS Historical Landmarks Award, and an interview with Iwona Maciejowska, Past-Chair of the EuChemS Division of Chemical Education. You can read the newsletter here.
2020 will see the European Chemical Society celebrate 50 years since its conception.
EuChemS, originally known as the Federation of European Chemical Sciences (FECS) was established on 3rd of July 1970 in Prague by the vision of 17 European national chemical societies from both eastern and western Europe. Quickly recognised for its important and unifying role, FECS was eventually consolidated and renamed EuCheMS, the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences in 2004. Official headquarters were opened in Brussels with the realisation that the umbrella organisation, representing now 48 societies, and by extension some 150,000 chemists had an important part to play in sharing knowledge and advice with the European Union institutions. In the summer of 2018, the name was changed to the European Chemical Society which better reflects what we represent and our vision.
In order to celebrate the 50 years of EuChemS, a special logo has been designed, and activities and initiatives planned for 2020. It is our hope that spotlighting our history, the shared visions that made the organisation a reality, and our actions today will enable EuChemS to be even better recognised by the vast chemistry community, and by decision-makers in Brussels and national capitals. Celebrating our 50 years also means celebrating our community which is rich in knowledge, expertise, competence and devotion but also of enthusiasm and dynamism.
In a recently published report on ‘Paving the way for a circular economy: insights on status and potentials’, the European Environment Agency (EEA) – the EU’s agency tasked with providing sound and independent information on the environment – refers to the EuChemS Periodic Table highlighting element scarcity, illustrating the impact that Chemistry has on overarching policy issues both in Europe and worldwide. It is moreover testament of the far-reaching impact of the EuChemS Periodic Table and its relevance in science-policy interactions.
The report looks at some of the challenges facing the implementation of a sustainable circular economy. In a departure from previous reports, it goes beyond a focus on overarching concepts of what circularity entails and specific aspects that define it. Rather, the report aims to analyse the ways forward and to provide insights into the current situation and areas of potential. It recognises that fostering circular material use requires a broad system perspective and extensive stakeholder involvement. The entire product lifecycle — including the design, production, consumption and waste phases — needs to be addressed in a coherent way. The enablers of and barriers to circular business models need to be well understood and addressed before innovation and competitiveness can be enhanced”. The EEA’s report moreover looks at the status of individual materials and the need to assess the real availability of a material by combining information on the supply risk and recycling input rates.
Angela Agostiano, President of the Italian Chemical Society, Luisa Cifarelli, President the Italian Physical Society and David Cole-Hamilton, EuChemS Vice President
Chemists and Physicists have come together for an International Symposium ‘Passion for Science 2019’ on the occasion of the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements (IYPT2019) organised by the Italian Physical Society (SIF) in collaboration with the Italian Chemical Society (SCI) in the Bologna on 6 and 7 November.
The event addresses a wide range of topics, from materials science to the link between nanotechnologies and cultural heritage, as well as a broader view of the history of the Periodic Table. EuChemS Vice-President David Cole-Hamilton discussed on the first day of the event the EuChemS Periodic Table and the issue of endangered elements and their growing scarcity. Ulrich Schubert, from Vienna University, Austria and Past-President of EuChemS, held a presentation on ‘New materials: where chemistry and materials sciences meet’ where he was joined by Petra Rudolf, President of the European Physical Society.
A special panel of advisors, the EU’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, has published a new report with recommendations for further improving the way the EU institutions in Brussels gather and use scientific advice. The report calls for strengthening the use of scientific advice in policymaking, making decisions more transparent and on setting up guidelines and a set of best practices in the use of scientific advice. The latter aims to address the issue of a fragmented landscape from which scientific knowledge is gathered. At the moment, the European Commission receives input from the Joint Research Centre (JRC), EU agencies such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), but also its Directorate-Generals, and the Scientific Advice Mechanism. Further scientific advice is also collected via open consultations and calls for feedback – all of which employ various methodologies. The report also looks at the need for the Commission to carefully deal with conflicts of interest, especially in the use of panels which usually include representatives from industry, academia or NGOs, each of whom may have specific agendas.
Some of the proposed recommendations include engaging early and regularly with stakeholders; clarifying the boundaries between science, scientific advice and politics; defining with stakeholders the questions to be addressed; refining approaches to conflicts of interest; using the most suitable uncertainty analysis approaches; better communicating uncertainties and diverging scientific views, amongst a plethora of other proposals.
Discussions over the EU’s budget for the next seven years threaten to see cuts to the budget allocation to research and innovation. With certain EU countries unwilling to pay more into the general EU budget and others unwilling to see decreases in the budgets for cohesion or agriculture, there is a growing risk that funding for EU science and innovation may be cut. Member of the European Parliament Christian Ehler, one of the rapporteurs for Horizon Europe, has warned that the framework programme could face a cut of some €12 billion. Decreases in Horizon Europe would in turn impact the budgets for the European Research Centre (ERC) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
The Initiative for Science in Europe (ISE), a platform of European Learned Societies and Research Organisations, has launched a campaign aimed to collect the signatures of scientists to demonstrate to national governments and to the EU institutions the vital role science, research and innovation can play in tackling the challenges we face today. EuChemS has given its support to the campaign and actively encourages everyone to find out more and to sign up. You can find out more about the campaign here, and sign up directly here.
On 14 October, EuChemS joined the celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)’s delegation in Brussels. The event looked back on 30 years-worth of science-policy interactions between Spain and the European Institutions, and highlighted the importance of partnership, cooperation and a strong science-based Europe.
The European Physical Society (EPS) invited EU institution representatives and stakeholders to a session on ‘The Importance of Physics to the Economies of Europe’ on 15 October 2019. Speakers, including EPS President Petra Rudolf demonstrated the vital role physics plays in scientific research, innovation, job creation and economic resilience and prosperity. A study which looked at the role of physics in the economy from 2011- 2016, showed that 3.34 jobs are supported for each job created in physics-based industries. But speakers also addressed the role of physics beyond economic considerations, highlighting the role the science can play in policymaking, education and social curiosity. The session also acted as a direct call for investment into EU science, both for fundamental and basic research, and for short-term and exploitable innovation. You can download and read the EPS report here.
The European Food Safety Agency’s (EFSA) publication of dietary reference values (DRVs) for sodium and chloride marks the end of ten years of work by nutrition scientists. The work, begun in 2009 aimed to update values for macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals that were last set in the 1990s. Read EFSA’s article including interviews with some of its scientists on what this feat means, and its expected effects both on diets, health and policy work.
The Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) met in September to address a number of pressing issues. Microplastics once again took centre stage however. Stakeholders were invited during the meeting to better clarify the points of the proposed restriction on microplastics. A heated discussion eventually arose on the definition of microplastics given by ECHA’s proposed restriction. Stakeholders notably disagreed on the elements of the microplastic definition; substances excluded from the definition; natural polymers (not chemically modified) and biodegradable polymers. In particular, the lower limit of 1nm indicated in the definition was much debated. Read the full meeting debrief here.
A report titled ‘Europe – the global centre for excellent research’, requested by the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy was recently published. The report analyses the EU’s potential role as a global centre of excellence for research and as a key player in a future of complex global interactions and competition. The EU’s longstanding position as a world-leader in research is becoming increasingly tested by the likes of China and India whose science and technology structures continue to benefit from growing investment. The report concludes that the EU, in order to be a global centre for excellent research, would need to invest into its framework programmes, support further integration of national excellent research poles, as well as open up projects to foreign talent and build a strong and active partnership across the world. You can read the full report here.
On 24 to 26 September, the European Commission launched the EU Research & Innovation Days, a three-day marathon of sessions, workshops and networking opportunities that aimed to address the key issues surrounding EU research, innovation and science. Speakers including a wide range of EU officials, stakeholders and representatives from academia and industry. The EU R&I Days were meant to showcase how co-designing processes would be implemented in the run-up to the launch of Horizon Europe, the next EU research framework programme. Carlos Moedas, current Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation explained his vision for Horizon Europe, and particularly the ‘Missions’, which he encouraged the newly selected chairs to make as open, transparent and co-creative as possible.
Prior to the event, the European Commission launched a public call for feedback on the implementation of Horizon Europe in an early exercise of co-creation. You can read EuChemS’ response here.
The two committees referred to the lack of reference to research, science, education and culture in the name of the Commissioner’s proposed title. EuChemS has equally stressed that this sends a negative message to scientists, researchers, policymakers and to the public, and that the Commissioner’s portfolio title should include the words ‘research’ and ‘education’. You can read our open letter to Dr von der Leyen here.
The committees moreover underlined the need to encourage and prepare for an ambitious budget for Horizon Europe and of including the active involvement of the Parliament in its implementation. Mariya Gabriel explained her vision of increasing synergies between programmes, and has stated her wish to tackle the gap in research performance and opportunities between eastern and western European countries.
The EuChemS video game ‘Elemental Escapades!’ has just been released in 11 different languages. You can now join Jan’s adventures in Croatian, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Serbian, Romanian, or Spanish. There is now a drop-down menu in the bottom right of the main menu which will allow you to play the game in any one of eleven languages. The translations were prepared by our own European Young Chemists’ Network delegates.
The annual gathering of the EuChemS community sees several meetings taking place: its General Assembly, Executive Board meeting and Professional Networks meetings. This year’s meetings were held in Bucharest at the Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania at the beginning of October. The meetings saw wide ranging discussions, developments, decisions and elections. In the first instance, Floris Rutjes from the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society (KNCV) was elected as EuChemS President-Elect. Eckart Rühl, of the German Bunsen Society for Physical Chemistry was re-elected as EuChemS Treasurer. Two new members of the Executive Board were also elected: Ioannis Katsoyiannis (Association of Greek Chemists) and Rinaldo Poli (French Chemical Society). The new roles will officially begin in January 2020.
EuChemS was most pleased to welcome Bonnie Charpentier, President of the American Chemical Society (ACS) to the open session of the General Assembly, where, together with Pilar Goya, EuChemS President, a ‘Chemisty Enterprise Partnership’ was signed. More information here.
EuChemS warmly thanks the Romanian Chemical Society for hosting and welcoming all the participants.
The upcoming EuChemS General Assembly and its Professional Networks meetings will be held in Bucharest, Romania in the first week of October where it will be hosted by the Romanian Chemical Society. The meetings will enable the EuChemS’ member societies from discussing future activities and initiatives, as well as the many IYPT activities and events of the year. The meetings will as always allow representatives to share ideas and of strengthening links across borders.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is urging companies to seriously prepare for a no-deal Brexit scenario, due to take place on 31 October 2019. The warning encourages downstream users especially, who may rely on supply chains originating from a UK-based REACH registration to prepare for the eventuality of a no deal, which would make the UK a ‘’third country’’ and registrations by UK manufacturers and importers in some cases become void. More information about the possible disruptions to supply chains and registered substances is available here.
50 years anniversary.
Since 1970, many events from FECS/EuChemS shaped Chemistry in Europe. Today, EuChemS represents more than 160,000 chemists from 50 Member Societies and Supporting Members.
ChemS also released a video game, a Periodic Table Adventure ‘
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