EUREKA Eurostars – call for proposals

•February 25, 2013 • Leave a Comment

The Eurostars Programme

Eurostars Programme is a European Joint Programme dedicated to the R&D performing SMEs*, and co-funded by the European Communities and 33 EUREKA member countries.

Eurostars aims to stimulate these SMEs to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding. It is fine-tuned to focus on the needs of SMEs, and specifically targets the development of new products, processes and services and the access to transnational and international markets.

Through this joint Programme, based on Article 185 of the Lisbon Treaty, Eurostars aims to combine the best of two worlds with a bottom-up approach, a central submission and evaluation process, and synchronized national funding in 33 countries.

* Research-performing SMEs are SMEs that dedicate at least 10% of their turnover or full-time equivalent (FTE) to research activities.

AVERAGE PROJECT PROFILE: 3 to 4 Participants, 2 to 3 Countries involved, 29 Months, 1.4 M€

Call for proposals deadline: 4 April 2013

http://www.eurostars-eureka.eu/

Horizonte 2020: Programa-Quadro de Investigação e Inovação para 2014-2020

•February 24, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Em 2014 inicia-se um novo ciclo para o financiamento da Investigação e da Inovação na Europa: o Horizonte 2020 que sucede ao 7.º Programa-Quadro (7.ºPQ, 2007–2013).
O 7.ºPQ para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IDT) é ainda o principal instrumento da UE para financiar a investigação na Europa (orçamento de 53.3 mil milhões de euros).

O 7.ºPQ apoia a investigação em áreas temáticas prioritárias (destacam-se algumas como a Saúde, Alimentação, Agricultura, Nanotecnologia, Tecnologias de Produção, TIC, Regiões do Conhecimento, Investigação para benefício das PME).

O 7.ºPQ foi concebido com o objetivo de tornar ou manter a UE na posição de líder mundial nessas áreas. Nos últimos 5 anos, as instituições científicas portuguesas já conseguiram captar 80 milhões de euros de financiamento internacional. No atual 7.ºPQ a Universidade do Minho já teve 64 projetos de IDT financiados captando cerca de 20 milhões de euros (este apoio financeiro é sempre concedido na base de concursos altamente competitivos e mediante um processo independente de avaliação).

A aposta no investimento em I&D de cada estado é também essencial para o crescimento económico, competitividade das empresas e para o desenvolvimento regional. Portugal está em posição de destaque na Europa. Segundo os dados apresentados no Relatório de Competitividade da União de Inovação 2011, Portugal é o 1.º na UE em crescimento médio anual da despesa em I&D em 2005-2009 (18,8%) e muitíssimo superior ao da média da UE (2,8%). Note-se que a despesa em I&D na Europa é inferior a 2% do PIB, contra 2,6% nos EUA e 3,4% no Japão.

O Horizonte 2020 reúne todo o atual financiamento da União no domínio da Investigação e Inovação, incluindo o PQ de Investigação, as atividades ligadas à inovação do PQ para a Competitividade e a Inovação e o Instituto Europeu de Inovação e Tecnologia. Terá um orçamento próximo de 86 mil milhões de euros. O Horizonte 2020 concentrará os recursos em três prioridades distintas que se reforçam mutuamente: Excelência Científica, Liderança Industrial e Desafios Societais.
Apresenta caraterísticas diferenciadoras relativas ao 7.ºPQ tais como:
I) importante simplificação do programa e um conjunto único de regras (com menos burocracia);
II) integração da investigação e inovação ao disponibilizar financiamento coerente e sem descontinuidades desde a conceção das ideias até ao mercado;
III) maior apoio à inovação e a atividades próximas do mercado (resultando num estímulo económico direto).

Os planos de execução do próximo programa de financiamento Horizonte 2020 serão mais centrados e espera-se que tenham um impacto efetivo ainda maior nas práticas do dia-a-dia, ou seja, o nível local e regional deverá ser desafiado a part icipar ativamente para que sejam cumpridos os grandes objetivos da Estratégia Europa 2020. Esta estratégia visa não só a saída da crise mas também …..

continuar a ler em: http://www.correiodominho.com/cronicas.php?id=4851#

NMP – Enabling and Industrial Technologies pave the way to a sustainable future

•February 20, 2013 • Leave a Comment

The “Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production technologies” ( NMP) theme focuses on smart and sustainable growth towards a greener industry. It covers a large range of industrial research activities.

The central objective of the NMP theme is to support the transformation of European industry from a resource-intensive industry (relying on raw materials, labour, energy etc.) to a sustainable knowledge-intensive industry. For future growth and employment, industry must incorporate knowledge into products with high added value and make processes more efficient.

Over the course of 2011, NMP continued to support the European Economic Recovery Plan. This included calls for: “Factories of the Future”, “Energy-Efficient Buildings” and “Green Cars”. Another NMP call addressed research and innovation, with a focus on the eco-design of products and eco-efficient management of water in industrial processes. Further calls examined the efficiency of intensified process systems, the advancement of underground technologies for intelligent mining, the substitution of critical raw materials and fine chemicals from carbon dioxide. Finally, NMP devoted calls to applications of nanotechnologies in various industrial sectors, safety and worker protection, economical production of nanomaterials, and high potential materials for selected applications in healthcare, energy, transport and environment.

Each of these calls aims to improve the competitiveness of European industry – which is the overall goal of the NMP theme. Member States have funded this theme with a total of €3.5 billion over the duration of FP7.

see NMP funded projects (success stories):

http://ec.europa.eu/research/sse/2011/index_en.cfm?pg=nano&more=yes#more

Examples of success cases for FP7 projects

•February 20, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Check some success cases for FP7 projects in several themes (NMP, Energy, Health, ICT, Food, Biotechnology Environment, Research for SME’s, Science in society, Regions of knowledge, Research infrastructures, etc.)

Towards a more competitive and resilient European economy

The task of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation is to drive forward an integrated and world-class research and innovation system in Europe. Investing in research and innovation is a sure means to a more competitive and more resilient European economy.

For this reason, the EU2020 Strategy for growth and jobs gives research and innovation a prominent role. Since 2007, the main funding instrument to implement this policy has been the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

http://ec.europa.eu/research/sse/2011/index_en.cfm

NanoPT – Final Programme Available – Porto, Portugal, Feb. 13-15

•February 10, 2013 • 1 Comment

Dear all

Final Programme for nanoPT is now available on website.
nanoPT – International Conference on Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, in Porto, 13-15 February.
Over 170 delegates (mainly representing the nanotech research groups from Portugal and Spain, but also a significant participation from other countries should be emphasized):

http://www.nanopt.org/12EN/programme.php?m=c&s=pr

Thanks for all International Researchers who have registered and will share their lastest nanotech R&D work. We expect that these event will be another great opportunitty for effective interactions with different groups taking in account new projct ideas for the new fundings coming january 2014, within the framework of the new Horizon 2020 EC programme

Special congratulations for the nanoPT granted master/PhD students (the Organization will provide, after conference, a reimbursement form to each student granted).

We look forward to welcoming you to this Iberian/International Nanotech meeting.

Best regards

On behalf of the Organizing Committee,

Vasco Teixeira
Co-Organizer – nanoPT 2013

nanoPT 2013: http://www.nanopt.org

Billion-euro Brain simulation and Graphene research projects win European funds

•January 27, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Billion-euro brain simulation and graphene projects win European funds

Efforts to model the whole brain and to push graphene into the marketplace triumph in flagship contest.

The European Commission has selected the two research proposals it will fund to the tune of half-a-billion euros each after a two-year, high-profile contest.
The Human Brain Project, led by neuroscientist Henry Markram at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, plans to simulate everything known about the human brain in a supercomputer — a breathtaking ambition that has been met with some scepticism

The other project, called Graphene, is led by theoretical physicist Jari Kinaret at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. It will develop the potential of graphene — an ultrathin, flexible and conducting form of carbon — along with related materials for applications in computing, batteries and sensors.

The projects expect to receive €1 billion over ten years, half to be provided by the European Commission and half by participants. The commission will make its formal announcement on Monday, 28 January.

The Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Flagship competition was launched in 2009 as a challenge to apply information and communication technologies to social problems. The Human Brain Project claims that it will aid medical advancement in brain disorders. Graphene claims it will lead to development of new materials that will revolutionise diverse industries.

The final winners were selected from a shortlist of six projects as being the most likely to achieve the paradigm-shifting advances they claim. They will now enter the so-called ‘ramp-up’ phase, each receiving €54 million over 30 months. That represents the last cash available from the EU’s expiring 7th Framework Programme of Research.

Subsequent phases will be supported under its successor programme, Horizon 2020, though the structure of that programme is still being negotiated and some observers fear that funds may be scaled back.

EuroNanoForum 2013 – Dublin

•January 15, 2013 • Leave a Comment

EuroNanoForum was quoted as Europe’s biggest nanotechnology event. The 6th edition, EuroNanoForum 2013, will take place from 18th- 20th of June 2013 in Dublin.
The event is funded by the European Commission DG RTD and its Industrial Technologies programme and is the main event of the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Nanotechnology Innovation: Excellent Science | Competitive Industries | Better Society

The event will highlight the commercialisation of nanotechnologies, and the potential for new applications and taking them further from enabling technologies to end products.
It will also introduce the industry to new innovations for growth opportunities.

Please inform and get your (national) stakeholders involved!

By participating, your projects, clusters and companies will get the opportunity to

• See innovative demos and prototypes
• Meet high-profile speakers from industry, government & research
• Showcase at the exhibition
• Participate in calls for Poster and Best Researcher 2013 as well as the Brokerage Day
• Discuss visions for European industry and research in 2020
• Benefit from European funding instruments & meet investors

More information at http://www.enf2013.eu

 
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