JRC the in-house science service
of the European Commission
New directions for Horizon 2020
David Wilkinson
Director of Scientific Policy and Stakeholder Relations
Joint Research Centre
david.wilkinson@ec.europa.eu
SPRU Seminar, University of Sussex, 8 November 2013
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Content
Overview of the JRC
Challenges facing humanity today
Science-based regulations and standards
Key JRC priorities for Horizon 2020
JRC collaborations
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Science and the Role of the JRC
José Manuel Barroso: strong commitment to research and innovation
“… acting as a bridge between policy making, science, society and economy is an invaluable asset
of the JRC, given its outreach to so many bodies and organisation inside and outside Europe."
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn: JRC at the heart of the EU policy process
“The JRC… delivers scientific excellence, sound advice and key anticipation services, making
the JRC the real ‘brain’ of the European Commission […].”
Dominique Ristori: the European Commission's in-house
science service
"The JRC supports EU policymakers in the conception, development,
implementation and monitoring of policies."
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Overview
• Established 1957
• Only Commission Directorate
General carrying out direct
research
• 7 institutes in 5 countries
• 2,822 staff (35% short-term)
• 632 peer reviewed scientific
publications in 2012
• 1,213 policy support
deliverables in 2012
• Budget 2013: €356 million,
plus €62 million earned income
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JRC, the Commission's in-house science service:
Provides EU policies with independent, evidence-based scientific and
technical support throughout the whole policy cycle.
Works in close cooperation with other Commission services, with Member
States, industry and internationally.
Is independent of industrial and national interests, has access to
confidential information, and provides on-tap fast and flexible
response.
The JRC is initiating and strengthening its work
in a number of areas in order to address the full
policy cycle:
– Support to Innovation Union: developing the research and innovation
observatory.
– Horizon Scanning and Foresight: strengthening anticipation and horizon
scanning activities to better prepare the JRC and its customers for future policy
challenges.
– Policy Options: producing science based, integrated and multi-disciplinary policy
options.
– Economic Policy Analyses: strengthening social and economic policy analysis
competences to better address policy customers’ needs.
– Modelling: developing modelling competences and platforms in order to facilitate
policy options and prepare policy impact assessments.
– Standardisation: putting the science into the standardisation process with prenormative research, harmonised methods, certification, reference methods and
measurements.
– Social and Behavioural Analyses: providing the societal and behavioural
analyses required to successfully develop and implement policy.
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JRC priorities for
Horizon 2020
World and EU Population
Sources:
2020-2100: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2013). World
Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision, DVD Edition.
World (0-1950): United Nations, The World at Six Billion, 1999.
EU28 (1960-2010): Eurostat
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Global Energy Consumption
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Sources: Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations; IEA World Energy Outlook 2012
Notes: a) Energy given in exaJ = 1018J; b) Current Policies scenario assumes no change in polices, with demand growing by
1.5%/year; New Policies Scenario assumes demand increase 1.2%/year on average; and 450 scenario assumes strong policy
action globally to put greenhouse-gas emissions on a long-term trajectory that will ultimately limit the global average
temperature increase to 2degC.
World Merchandise Trade
Source: World Bank
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Life Expectancy & Proportion over 65
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2013). World Population Prospects: The
2012 Revision, DVD Edition. Note: No data available for the European Union. Hence, the region "Europe" was used as proxy.
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What are the challenges facing us today
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The global challenge for 2050:
• Providing sufficient food, energy and water for the
world's increasing population, whilst also mitigating and
adapting to climate change, reducing the use of fossil
fuels and managing increased urbanisation and changes
in lifestyles.
The challenge for the EU in the context of globalisation:
• To play a leading role in meeting this key challenge while,
at the same time, creating economic growth and jobs,
managing its changing demographics and providing for
stable financial management.
Need for science-based regulations and
standards
• Meeting
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these challenges, stimulating innovation,
competitiveness, growth and trade needs a regulatory
framework providing a "level-playing field."
Common standards provide industry with the framework
conditions upon which to invest, to innovate and to gain
global market share in an increasingly competitive world.
For example, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP) negotiations will consider differences
in technical regulations, standards and approval
procedures (e.g. approval procedures for cars).
Where possible, these rules and regulations should be
science- and evidence-based in order to ensure the right
balance between growth and bureaucracy.
The JRC has extensive experience, with three quarters of
its work supporting the standardisation system,
including co-operating with the US NIST.
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Key Cross-Cutting JRC priorities
Global
• Agriculture and global food security
• Low-carbon economy and resource efficiency
(environment, climate change, energy, transport)
EU
• Single internal market: growth, jobs and innovation
• Public health, safety and security
• Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
• Nuclear safety and security
These priorities were established via extensive consultation with
the policy DGs of the Commission to make more explicit the
central role of the JRC in the EU policy process. They then form
the basis of the JRC's multi-annual Work Programme.
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Agriculture and Food Security
• Covers Agriculture and Fisheries
Representative Specific Priorities
• Monitoring and economic analysis of agricultural resources and
Europe's contribution to food security, including through CAP
implementation
• Modelling; collection, dissemination and analysis of fishery data as well
as scientific advice on the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks
Key Outputs
• New Plant Breeding Techniques: socio-economic assessment GM crops
• Land availability and soil quality
• Impact of climate on agriculture and vice versa
• Effect of extreme weather on cereal yields
• Better valorisation of ocean resources
• Food price trends and volatility
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Low-carbon economy and resource efficiency
• Covers Energy; Transport; Climate; and Environment
Representative Specific Priorities
• Natural resources and the protection of environmental risks, plus smooth
transition to a resource-efficient low-carbon economy
• Climate mitigation policies
• Development of smart and super power grids
• Integrated electro-mobility modelling
Key Outputs
• Biofuels and Indirect Land Use Change
• Shale Gas: potential market and environmental impact
• Best Available Techniques (BATs) – iron, steel, glass, cement
• Interoperability for electromobility and smart grids
• Standards for energy efficiency
• Blueprint to safeguard Europe's waters
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Single Internal Market: Growth, Jobs and
Innovation
• Covers Single market; Industry; Trade; Employment; Education and
Research
Representative Specific Priorities
• Horizon 2020 plus Innovation Union flagship
• Space applications and tools (Copernicus and Galileo)
• Research and Innovation strategies for Smart Specialisation
• Europe 2020 targets on education
• Impact of digital technologies on growth and job creation
Key Outputs
• Measuring investment and innovation, incl. Research and Innovation
Observatory
• Eco-industries for a sustainable future
• Standards for the construction sector
• Connecting European science and business
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Public Health, Safety and Security
• Covers Health; Consumer protection; Home affairs; Customs; and fight against
fraud
Representative Specific Priorities
• Emerging technologies and innovation in health care
• Crisis management
• Disaster detection, early warning systems and support the European Emergency
Response Centre (ERC)
• Advice to national scientific and government partners in developing countries
Key Outputs
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Cancer screening policy support
Standards for medical devices
Nanomaterials' characterisation and safety
New reference method for animal feeds
Monitoring EU coastal waters
Timely information on drought, fires and floods
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Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
• Covers
Economic Governance;
Supervision; and Taxation
Financial
Regulation
and
Representative Specific Priorities
• Evidence base to underpin the Economic and Monetary Union
• Economic and budgetary surveillance
• Banking Union and financial regulation
Key Outputs
• Financial stability: evaluation and modelling of "Bank Recovery and
Resolution" framework
• Modelling essential macro-economic variables (GAP and QUEST)
• Providing insight into the dynamics of the banking sector
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Nuclear Safety and Security
(EURATOM Programme)
NUCLEAR SAFETY
NUCLEAR SECURITY
STANDARDISATION,
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT,
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Nuclear reactor safety
Nuclear safeguards
Basic Research and standardization
Nuclear decommissioning
Nuclear non-proliferation
European Nuclear Safety and
Security School
Nuclear Emergency Preparedness
and Response (EPR). Radiation
protection. Environmental
monitoring.
Prevention and mitigation of Chemical,
Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
(CBRN) hazards with a focus on
Radiological and Nuclear security.
European Human Resources
observatory- Nuclear
Safety of nuclear fuels, fuel cycle
safety. Radioactive Waste
Management
Nuclear Forensics
Nuclear Transparency
Non-nuclear energy applications
Key Outputs
• Nuclear safeguards and forensics
• Clearing House for nuclear stress tests post-Fukushima
• Nuclear decommissioning initiative
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Exploratory Research – at the core of JRC
activities
• Objective to develop in-house new competences and
knowledge necessary for the JRC to continue to fulfil
successfully its mission
• Essential for strengthening the JRC scientific base and
capacity building in key areas
• Integrated throughout the work programme and linked to
related policy areas for identification of future policy needs
• Carried-out on JRC own initiative or upon request of a
policy DG
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A Networked Organisation
1000+ partners: Universities, industry
groups, Member State governments,
international organisations, and European
Parliament
250 major networks worldwide:
• Cooperation and partnerships with key
organisations
• Training and mobility of researchers
• Access to scientific infrastructures
• Working with EASAC/Eurocase
• Support to EU Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy
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European Forum for Science and Industry
strengthening the dialogue and cooperation with European industry in key sectors for
European competitiveness in a regular and structured way
800 members from public institutions, private companies, the scientific community,
Universities, European associations, industrial organisations…
Tools:
- Initiatives
- Roundtable
- Newsletter
- Bilateral meetings with high-level
stakeholders/technical meetings
- Cooperation on specific projects
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Serving society
Stimulating innovation
Supporting legislation
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
www.jrc.ec.europa.eu
Contact: jrc-info@ec.europa.eu
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