The Europe Office Newsletter – October 2016
 
BREXIT
LIFE Programme Included in Treasury Guarantees EU Funding for UK Researchers Beyond the Date UK Leaves the EU
Following up on last month’s news about the Treasury statement on the future of EU funding, it has now also been confirmed that UK organisations that bid directly to the European Commission on a competitive basis for EU LIFE funds will also have the payment of such awards underwritten by Treasury, even when the projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU.
This means that UK organisations can continue to bid for funding from the Commission’s LIFE programme up until the point of exit, with the guarantee that funds awarded will continue for the duration of their projects.
The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for climate action, nature conservation and the environment.
Horizon 2020 Post-Referendum Issues BEIS Email Change
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) continues to collect evidence through a new email address for any issues or concerns UK organisations may have following the EU Referendum. Future emails should be sent to Research@beis.gov.uk, though the old address (Research@bis.gis.gov.uk) will still receive emails sent to it. BEIS welcomes any examples of issues, problems or general concerns UK organisations have experienced or perceive as a result of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.
Further Information Regarding EU Funding for Structural and Investment Fund Projects Provided by UK Government
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond announced today that EU funding for structural and investment fund projects will be guaranteed by the government, for those projects signed after the Autumn Statement that continue after the UK exits the EU. This announcement builds on the previous statement on 13 August, which guaranteed funds for projects signed up until the Autumn Statement. As part of today’s announcement, it was set out that funding for projects will be honoured by the government if they meet the following conditions:
- they are good value for money;
- they are in line with domestic strategic priorities.
Elsevier Brexit Resource Centre
Elsevier have launched a Brexit Resource Centre, providing free access to data, metrics and other resources for monitoring the effects of Brexit on the global research community. The information provided includes a factsheet on UK research 2011-2015, social media monitoring, free access to the top downloaded articles related to Brexit, and other related resources. Elsevier plan to update the UK research factsheet quarterly as new data becomes available to show any effects that may be linked to the results of the EU referendum.
HORIZON 2020
‘Research and Innovation Funding: Making a Real Difference’ Brochure and Video
The European Commission has prepared a promotional brochure and video, which show how effective the first two years of Horizon 2020 have been in terms of promoting economic growth and improving the lives of EU citizens.
The brochure and video present an assessment of the programme’s management and distribution throughout 2014 and 2015, with key information on the number of proposals submitted and funded, key Horizon 2020 performance indicators, major achievements etc. It also highlights some of the positive outcomes of FP7, which had been presented in the final assessment of the programme published last year.
MSCA (Marie Skldowska Curie Actions) Deadlines for 2016/17
• MSCA IF (Individual Fellowships) 2016: Deadline: Passed
• MSCA COFUND-2016: Deadline : Passed
• MSCA RISE (Research and Innovation Staff Exchange) -2016: Call open 1/12/16; Deadline 5/4/2017
• MSCA ITN-(Innovative Training Networks) -2017: Call open 15/9/16; Deadline 10/1/17
Looking Beyond Horizon 2020
While Horizon 2020 is the main EU programme for funding research and innovation, there are also a number of other EU programmes which could be of interest to researchers looking for funding. These programmes are often characterised by lower funding levels and rates but often finance smaller scale projects which are harder to fit under the Horizon 2020 umbrella. The better known programmes include Erasmus+, COST and the Health Programme, but there might also be opportunities under Creative Europe, LIFE, in the area of Rights, Equality, Citizenship and Justice or the Research Fund for Coal and Steel. Finally, UKRO has also produced a short overview on the European Structural and Investment Fund.
Different policy Directorate Generals of the European Commission run these programmes, and while some efforts have been made to align funding rules more, there are still significant differences, for example in the application procedures or the rules for project management and reporting. Our UKRO Factsheets will provide you with the most important information on each scheme in a condensed format.
OTHER EU FUNDING
Preparing for Erasmus+ in 2017
The European Commission will soon publish the 2017 Call outlining deadlines, priorities and application information for the coming year. Please be assured following recent events, organisations should continue to apply in 2017 and deliver their projects as intended. Read our news item for more details on our preparation for 2017.
Call for Proposals: Connecting Europe Facility
The European Commission, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport and Directorate-General for Energy, is hereby launching a call for proposals in order to award grants in accordance with the priorities and objectives defined in the annual work programme for 2016 for a multi-sectoral call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility. Proposals are invited for the following call CEF-Synergy-2016-1.
The indicative amount available is EUR 40 million. The deadline for submission of proposals is 13 December 2016.
Further information of this call available at Innovation and Networks Executive Agency website.
EVENTS
Erasmus+ | Glasgow | 2 November 2016
Erasmus+ is holding a series of information sessions on the Erasmus programme in the UK. The event will provide an overview of the funding opportunities available under Erasmus+ in 2017, and is primarily aimed at organisations which have not yet applied for funding and would like to know more about the programme.
Erasmus+ – more information
Scotland Europa Workshop
On the 28th November a workshop will take place at Glasgow Caledonian University to promote the opportunities for funding in the areas of Social Inclusion, Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies’, as well as Social Sciences and Humanities. A range of opportunities will be examined in the following general areas:-
- Growth and Inclusion and Reversing Inequalities
- Global Economic Development and Social Welfare.
- Cultural Engagement
- Global Engagement
Further information on times and venue will be published shortly.
UKRO ERC Consolidator Grant Proposal Writing and Information Events
In its capacity as UK National Contact Point for the European Research Council (ERC), the UK Research Office, in partnership with the hosting institutions, is holding two events for researchers who are interested in applying for the 2017 ERC Consolidator Grants call. The events are scheduled as follows:
Further information and registration are available at the links to the events given above.
OTHER NEWS
European Parliament Approves the Ratification of the Paris Agreement
The European Parliament has approved the ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change by the European Union. The European Union played a decisive role in building the coalition for the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015. The European Commission has brought forward the legislative proposals to deliver on the EU’s commitment to reduce emissions in the European Union by at least 40% by 2030. The approval from the European Parliament concludes the political process for the European Union to ratify the Agreement and now the Council can formally adopt the Decision. In parallel the EU Member States will ratify the Paris Agreement individually, in accordance with their national parliamentary processes.
More information on the European Commission’s efforts to fight climate change at EU and international level is available Climate Action website.
ERC Signs an Implementing Arrangement with Brazil
The European Research Council has signed an Implementing Arrangement with Brazil, allowing Brazilian researchers to join ERC-funded research teams in Europe.
The newly signed agreement between the ERC and the Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP) aims to foster international collaboration between the ERC and major international partners in line with Horizon 2020’s ‘Open to the world’ strategy.
Following the signing of the agreement, ERC-funded research teams will be encouraged to host excellent researchers from Brazil, funded by CONFAP, for a limited period. These opportunities are intended for active postdoctoral grantees from the State Funding Agencies (FAPs), from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) and from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). The Implementing Arrangement will mirror the existing ones the ERC previously signed with the USA, South Korea, China, Argentina, Japan, Mexico and South Africa, and brings the total number to eight.
Contacts at GCU
Mark Anderson, Mark.Anderson@gcu.ac.uk or x8842
Pablo Lopez Alonso, Pablo.LopezAlonso@gcu.ac.uk or x8337
Rhona Blincow, r.blincow@gcu.ac.uk or x3928
Rose Cawood, rose.cawood@gcu.ac.uk or x3749 |
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