Policy developments and
latest EU initiatives
Błażej Thomas
UK Research Office

Carlos Moedas – Commissioner for
Science, Research and Innovation.

Investment banker

Reports to VP for Jobs, growth and comp.

Responsibilities:

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (RTD) but not the JRC

The relevant parts of the European Research Council executive agency (ERCEA)

The relevant parts of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
(EASME)

The relevant parts of the Innovation and Networks executive agency (INEA)

The relevant parts of the Research Executive Agency (REA)

Following President Juncker’s
decision, the function of Chief
Scientific Adviser to the President of
the European Commission will
discontinue.

Questions remain about the network
of national CSAs initiated by Anne
Glover.
Europe 2020 Strategy midterm review in 2015
- 10 year strategy aimed at making the EU more dynamic and
competitive
- Three key drivers: Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Headline targets
75% of the population
aged 20-64 should be
employed
3% of the EU's GDP should
be invested in R&D
The share of early school
leavers should be under
10% and at least 40% of
younger generation should
have a tertiary degree
The "20/20/20"
climate/energy targets
should be met
20 million fewer people
should be at risk of
poverty
Seven flagship initiatives:
Innovation
Union
Youth on the
move
A digital agenda
for Europe
Resource
efficient Europe
An industrial
policy for the
globalisation era
An agenda for
new skills and
jobs
European
platform against
poverty

Public consultation on the future of the Europe
2020 Strategy and its priorities was open between
5 May and 31 October 2014.

Based on the outcome of the public consultation,
the Commission will make proposals for further
development of the strategy in early 2015.

Future of EU research funding will be shaped by
the outcome of this consultation.
Growing importance of ICT

“The Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) aims to
reboot Europe's economy and help Europe's
citizens and businesses to get the most out of
digital technologies. It is the first of seven
flagships initiatives under Europe 2020, the EU's
strategy to deliver smart sustainable and inclusive
growth.”
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/digital-agenda-scoreboard
Europe 2020 priorities
Shared objectives and principles
ICT
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ICT
ICT
ICT
ICT
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Tackling Societal Challenges
Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Food security, sustainable agriculture and
the bio-based economy
Secure, clean and efficient energy
Smart, green and integrated transport
Climate action, resource efficiency and raw
materials
Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies
Secure Societies

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Creating Industrial Leadership and
Competitive Frameworks
 Leadership in enabling and industrial
technologies
ICT
Nanotech., Materials, Manuf. and
Processing
Biotechnology
Space
 Access to risk finance
 Innovation in SMEs
Excellence in the Science Base
Frontier research (ERC)
Skills and career development (Marie Curie)
Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
Research infrastructures
ICT
ICT
ICT

‘Science 2.0’ describes the on-going evolution in
the modus operandi of doing research and
organising science. These changes in the
dynamics of science and research are enabled by
digital technologies and driven by the globalisation
of the scientific community, as well as the need to
address the Grand Challenges of our times. They
have an impact on the entire research cycle, from
the inception of research to its publication, as well
as on the way in which this cycle is organised.

The goal of the consultation is to better
understand the full societal potential of 'Science
2.0' as well as the desirability of any possible
policy action.

Consultation was open until 30 September 2014.

Universities were strongly encouraged to submit
contributions.

Growing importance of ICT in research and
innovation is likely to result in more ICT-related
calls in the next WPs i.e. Internet of things focus
area.

Robert Madelin (who happens to be British and is
a good friend of UKRO), currently in charge of DG
CNECT, unofficially named the next Director
General for DG RTD.
International cooperation

Stressed that global challenges call for global
responses and are drivers for international
cooperation in research and innovation.

Highlighted the fact that engaging in international
cooperation is essential to attract talent, access
knowledge and markets and thus increase the
EU's competitiveness.

Ensuring the openness of Horizon 2020 to the rest
of the world, and embedding international
cooperation across the entire programme was of
crucial importance to this process.
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Brazil - Marine Research and bio-economy, food
security, sustainable agriculture, Energy,
Nanotechnology, ICT;
Canada - Marine and Arctic Research, Research
infrastructure cooperation, Health Research, Bioeconomy, Transport (including Aeronautics);
India - Health, Water, Bio-economy, Energy,
Fusion energy;
China - Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology,
Sustainable Urbanisation, Aviation, Environment,
ICT, Energy, Nuclear Energy, Health;
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Republic of Korea - Nanotechnologies, ICT,
Energy;
USA - Marine and Arctic Research, Health,
Transportation, Materials research / Critical Raw
Materials / Nano safety and regulatory research /
Health and Safety research (nano-EHS), Energy,
Future and Emerging Technologies,
eInfrastructures, Euratom Fusion, EuratomFission;
Russia - Aeronautics research, ICT, Research
Infrastructures.

Stronger voices that cooperation with Russia in
the area of research, innovation and higher
education should be limited following the
invasion of Ukraine:
• Topics involving Russia disappear from WPs i.e.
transport challenge
• Events focusing on Russia under threat i.e. EU-Russia
Researchers' Mobility Forum
2016-17 Work Programmes

Past and current consultations include:
•
•
•
•
•
Societal Challenge 2: Sustainable Food Security;
Societal Challenge 5: Climate Action;
Science With and For Society;
Future and Emerging Technologies (FET);
…and many others.

Advisory Groups published reports

First versions of drafts expected in early 2015.

Now available on UKRO Portal

Scoping papers outline the expected impacts of
main priorities in each part of the Work
Programme and provide the justification for their
selection.

2014-15 Work Programme:
• 12 focus areas – research priorities closely linked to EU’s
most important policy areas.

2016-17 Work Programme:
• Plans for only 9 focus areas, with six remaining from
2014-15 WPs and with three new ones…

Sustainable food security

Blue growth

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Smart Cities and
Communities
Competitive low-carbon
energy

Digital security

Energy efficiency

Personalising health and
care
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Waste

Water innovation
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Mobility for growth
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Disaster resilience

New ideas for Europe

Sustainable food security

Blue growth
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Smart Cities and
Communities
Competitive low-carbon
energy
Digital security
Energy efficiency

Personalising health and
care

Waste

Water innovation

Mobility for growth

Disaster resilience
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New ideas for Europe
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Internet of things

Circular economy

Automated road transport
SC1
SC6
SC3
SC2
LEIT
SC 6
LEIT
ICT
SC6
Smart
Cities

Personalising health and care, Waste, Water
innovation, Mobility for growth, Disaster resilience,
New ideas for Europe reduced in importance and
funded through single calls not as overarching focus
areas, present in various WPs.

Internet of things
• “The call will allow complementing technology developments
with large-scale pilots in a number of societal challenges, thus
demonstrating actual solutions in real-life settings.”

Automated road transport
• “The call will address component development, humanmachine interactions, testing of vehicles and integration with
infrastructure, as well as transition scenarios, standards, user
behaviour and acceptance.”

Circular economy and Industry 2020
• “The call will contribute to boosting and renewing Europe's
industrial capacities, by taking a circular economy approach,
ensuring economic, environmental and social sustainability
and providing the basis to the transition towards a smart,
dynamic, competitive, resource-efficient and low-carbon
European industrial economy.”

ERC and MSCA will most likely remain unchanged, as
they are considered great success.

International cooperation of crucial importance in
2016-17 WPs.

Growing importance of Social Sciences and
Humanities
• Commission will include the disciplines as an “integral part in
the conceptual design” of calls.
Shortage of payments
problem

More than €20 billion needed to pay EU bills.

EP did not reach an agreement with the Council on
the budget this week, so Commission needs to
present another proposal.

MEPs say they will not start working on 2015 budget,
unless problems with 2014 budget are solved.

With no agreement, ‘provisional twelfths’ will be used
in early 2015.

Lack of funds seriously damages the EU’s
reputation as reliable funder of research and
innovation:
• DG CNECT not able to meet its financial obligations from
FP7!

2015 call publication dates and deadlines very
likely to be postponed, as specified in WPs:
• Call publication dates (by up to1 month)
• Call deadlines (by up to 2 months)

Organised on 18-19 June 2015 in Birmingham,
in co-operation with Aston University.
Thank you