Vienna, Austria
03 – 08 July 2016
Website: http://www.euchem2016.org/welcome/
ISOS 2016 – International Summer School on Organic Synthesis “A. Corbella”
Gargnano, Italy
12 – 17 June 2016
Website: http://www.corbellasummerschool.unimi.it/
IWSG – 8th International Workshop on Science Gateways
Rome, Italy
08 – 10 June 2016
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/nd.edu/iwsg2016/home
Bio-Based Polymers/Plastic Materials with New Functionalities for Medical, Construction, Automotive and Textile Industries
Deadline: 8 September 2016
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/research/
Valorisation of Lignin and other Side-Streams to Increase Efficiency of Biorefineries and Increase Sustainability of the Whole Value Chain
Deadline: 8 September 2016
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/research/
Improvement and Adaptation of Industrial Crop Varieties and Novel Sources of Biomass to Diversify Biomass Feedstock for Biorefineries
Deadline: 8 September 2016
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/research/
EUREKA – Spain, Turkey and The Netherlands Call for R&D Projects
Deadline: 15 June 2016
Website: http://www.eurekanetwork.org/
Capacity Building in the Field of Youth – 2016 – Round 2
Deadline: 1 July 2016
Website: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/
Revised Roadmap – Interim Evaluation of Horizon 2020
In line with the Better Regulation requirements, an online public stakeholder consultation on the Horizon 2020 interim evaluation will be launched in October 2016 and will run for three months. In addition, the European Commission will publish online stakeholder consultations on Article 185 and 187 evaluations.
The interim evaluation of Horizon 2020 will cover all the specific objectives and initiatives launched under Horizon 2020, its specific programme, including the European Research Council (ERC), and the activities of the EIT. It will cover the first half period of Horizon 2020 implementation (2014 – 2016 included). Furthermore, the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020 will provide an opportunity to report on the wider impacts of the previous EU Framework Programmes, with a longer – term perspective.
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/
Consultation on Methylmercuric Chloride
Parties concerned are invited to comment on hazard classes open for public consultation. The indicated hazard classes were assessed and concluded by the dossier submitter in their proposal for harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) of the substance, and are indicated in the Substance Details table. The CLH public consultation lasts normally for 45 days (unless specified otherwise), at the end of which the comments received are compiled into a list that will be annexed to the opinion of the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC). RAC will form an opinion only on the hazard classes that were open for public consultation.
Deadline: 13 July 2016
Website: http://echa.europa.eu/
Public Consultation on the Draft Scientific Opinion Addressing the State of the Science on Risk Assessment of Plant Protection Products for In-Soil Organisms
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on a Scientific Opinion of the EFSA Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues on addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of plant protection products for in-soil organisms. Taking into account new regulatory frameworks and scientific developments, the current risk assessment approach is reviewed. Proposals are made for specific protection goals for in-soil organisms and a new testing strategy.
Deadline: 10 June 2016
Website: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
Leading Entrepreneurs Recognised at INNOVEIT 2016
INNOVEIT 2016 is a two-day innovation forum organised by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which this year gathered more than 350 entrepreneurs and innovators from across Europe. The three EIT Awards were presented, highlighting the most successful start-ups, the most innovative projects and the best young entrepreneurial talent in Europe. The prize contemplated a company that developed a system for using waste and renewable heat for clean water production and indoor air control, a company that developed an inexpensive, accurate tool for early diagnosis of heart disease, and a company that created a system for heating houses with computer power.
Source: https://eit.europa.eu/
COSME Kicks Off in Greece: More than €125 million Available for SMEs
The fund will target companies with a strong international angle. By mobilising other investors, including funds from the private sector, this is expected to result in an overall investment of more than €125 million in Greek SMEs. The European Investment Fund investment benefits from EU support under the COSME programme, funded by the European Commission, which targets growing enterprises.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/
eLearning Tool for SMEs on Standardisation
An eLearning tool has been launched to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) learn about standardisation in a quick and easy way. The benefits of standards can be gained both from using them and from participating in the process of revising or developing them. However, SMEs often lack the human and financial resources to be fully involved in such activities. The new tool helps SMEs to better understand the standardisation process and prepares them to actively participate.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/
SMEs as Major Drivers of Pharmaceuticals
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published earlier this month a report emphasizing the importance of SMEs in pharmaceutical innovation and draws attention to the trends observed in the past ten years. “The report shows that EMA’s tools to support pharmaceutical innovation by SMEs, and in particular scientific advice, are being increasingly used,” explains Melanie Carr, Head of EMA’s Stakeholders and Communication Division. “Encouraging small enterprises to engage in dialogue with us early in the product development is a priority for EMA as the input we provide allows them to optimise their development programme and generate high quality data on a medicine’s benefits and risks.”
Source: http://www.ema.europa.eu/
Georgia Joins Horizon 2020
An agreement associating Georgia to Horizon 2020 was signed on the 29 of April. This agreement shows the commitment of the Union to develop the scientific and innovation capacity of its associated partners. It also represents another step towards reaching the EU goal of opening research and innovation to the world. Georgian research institutes, universities and individual researchers will now have access to all opportunities offered by Horizon 2020 that funds diverse scientific areas, from blue sky research to demonstration projects. Georgian SMEs and businesses will also be able to benefit from increased support to develop new ideas and bring products and services to the market.
Source: http://europa.eu/
ERC Announces Advanced Grants to 277 Senior Researchers
The European Research Council (ERC) announced last month the awarding of its prestigious Advanced Grants to 277 senior researchers. The funding, worth in total €647 million, will enable them to pursue their most promising ideas and carry out frontier research with potentially ground – breaking impact on science and society beyond.
Source : https://erc.europa.eu/
Report Provides Clues on How to Cut Emissions
A recent Joint Research Centre (JRC) report finds that fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol are the most promising alternatives to drive decarbonisation of the shipping sector and ultimately contribute to the fight against climate change. The report covers different alternative fuels, engine types and the introduction of alternative fuels. It reviews low sulphur grade diesel fuels, biofuels, traditional fuels, gaseous fuels and battery operated propulsion, Fischer-Tropsch (FT) or synthetic diesel, pyrolysis oil, hydrogen in combination with fuel cells, solar power and wind energy as potential alternatives.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/
Does the Dose Make the Poison?
A new European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) external scientific report contributes to the debate on non-monotonic dose response (NMDR) results from toxicity studies, according to Prof Anthony Hardy, Chair of EFSA’s Scientific Committee. The view “the dose makes the poison” used in conventional hazard assessment implies a consistent increase in effects along the dose range, i.e. a monotonic dose response. For an NMDR effect, however, the response could both increase and decrease as the dose increases, resulting in, for example, U-shaped or inverted U-shaped curves when plotted on a graph.
Source: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
European Cloud Initiative
Last month, the European Commission presented its blueprint for the new European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). By reinforcing and interconnecting existing research infrastructure, the Commission plans to create the EOSC, a tool which will make it easier for researchers and innovators to access and re-use data, and will reduce the cost of data storage and high-performance analysis. Making research data openly available can help boost Europe’s competitiveness by benefitting start-ups, SMEs and data-driven innovation, including in the field of the chemical sciences. As of 2017, the EOSC will be opening up by default all scientific data produced by projects under Horizon 2020.
Source: http://europa.eu/
European Parliament Approves New Rules to Attract Students and Researchers
The European Parliament approved new rules to attract new non-EU students and researchers to the EU, thus consolidating EU´s position as a global leader in research. After the publication of the directive, students and researchers will be able to stay at least nine months after finishing their studies or research in order to look for a job or to set up a business. Also, they will not need to file a new visa application, but only to notify the member state to which they are moving, for example to do a one-semester exchange. Researchers will also have the right to bring their family members with them and these family members are entitled to work during their stay in Europe.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
European Environment Agency Scientific Committee Call for Experts
The Scientific Committee assists the European Environmental Agency (EEA) Management Board and the Executive Director in providing scientific advice and delivering professional opinion on any scientific matter in the areas of work undertaken by the Agency.
The EEA Scientific Committee is composed of members of high scientific standing in one or more key areas of expertise relevant to the work of the EEA. Each member serves in an independent scientific capacity and do not represent countries or similar interests. There are currently 18 members of the Committee.
Deadline: 10 June 2016
Website: http://www.eea.europa.eu/
EuCheMS Provides Input to Preparation of Horizon 2020 Working Programme
EuCheMS has recently submitted its response to the stakeholder consultation on the R&I Strategy under Horizon 2020 for Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology, and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing (NMBP). EuCheMS response to the consultation can be found in the link below.
The aim of this consultation is to identify research priorities that will be taken in consideration by the European Commission when developing the strategy of the 2018-2020 Work Programme for Horizon 2020. NMBP focuses on bringing technologies closer to applications and the markets, notably by supporting pilot lines and demonstration activities. In this way, it addresses EU industrial policy goals as well as several societal challenges.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
EuCheMS at European Commission Delegation to Chile
Following an invitation from the European Commission (EC) delegation, EuCheMS took part of the EC delegation to Chile on the topic of circular economy, a delegation led by Mr Daniel Calleja, the European Commission’s Director-General for Environment. Dr. Nicola Armaroli, Chair of EuCheMS Working Party on Chemistry and Energy, was EuCheMS´ representative at this mission that took place on 25 – 26 April 2016.
The key target of the Mission was to foster cooperation between EU and Chile companies in promoting sustainability through circular approaches. Chile´s main economical assets (agriculture, with the production of a large array of high quality products; mineral resources, particularly copper and lithium; and fish resources) are at risk under a traditional linear economic system, a factor that made this country a natural partner on this topic. EuCheMS used this opportunity to make clear to both the Commission and companies from Chile and Europe that the chemistry community is essential in developing the foundations of a solid circular economy.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
Finding Solutions for Antibiotic Resistance: STOA Workshop
During this STOA Working Breakfast co-organised by the European Parliament´s STOA, EuCheMS, and EFMC on the 28 April, researchers and several Members of the European Parliament analysed the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance and weighted the pros and cons of possible solutions. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to withstand attack by antimicrobial drugs such as antibiotics, antifungal or antivirals, and is a serious issue that threatens to render many of the treatments we use today ineffective in the future – from tuberculosis to HIV, from pneumonia to other common infections. The outcomes of this event chaired by Member of the European Parliament Paul Rübig will soon be published on EuCheMS and STOA websites.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/