News

Meeting the key innovation challenges: report published on Euro-Mediterranean research and innovation conference

24-07-2012

The full report on the the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Research and Innovation which took place in Barcelona in April has been published this week, including working papers from nine sessions at the conference, ranging from water management to renewable energy, fighting diseases to green transport systems.
 
The aim of the conference was to map out a pathway to establishing a Common Research and Innovation Agenda aimed at addressing the grand societal challenges impacting the region, notably in the field of energy, water, food, transport and health. Some 350 top-level scientists and policy-makers from more than 30 countries around the European Union and Mediterranean region met in Barcelona, Spain, to launch the new partnership.
 
The 80-page report includes the conclusions of the conference, detail of the conference programme, and organisation and description of the parallel sessions, as well as working papers from each session:
 
  • Water availability and management
  • Renewable energy and efficiency
  • Fighting diseases and improving well-being
  • Green, efficient and integrated transport systems
  • Management of marine environment and resources
  • Strengthening innovation in the Mediterranean region
  • Changing science in a changing society
  • Coordination of research and innovation programmes and funding instruments
  • Building competence for Research and Innovation: governance, human capital and research infrastructure
 
Among the conclusions of the conference was the decision by the European Commission’s DG Research and Innovation to launch calls for proposals in July 2012 to support the new Euro-Mediterranean research and innovation partnership launched at the conference.
 
“These calls will include some dedicated actions, with a budget of around €40 million, covering areas of specific mutual interest for the EU and the Mediterranean region such as agriculture, health, renewable energy, environment, transport, technology, entrepreneurship and higher education to bridge the gap between research and innovation, and opportunities for exchanges of researchers,” said the conclusions of the conference, included in the report.
 
The Commission announced the €40 million euro budget in a press release on the web pages of its Directorate General Research and Innovation “to ensure a smooth follow-up to the recommendations of the conference”. In addition, it said it would “prepare the way for even more substantial cooperation in the future involving all EU Member States and Mediterranean countries” and that, “among other things, this will help complement the numerous bilateral approaches by a ‘region to region’ approach and as such take a more strategic perspective which will allow to build scale and scope”.
 
The conference conclusions also say that “DG Research and Innovation will also launch a specific ERA-NET/ERA-NET PLUS action, which will contribute to the preparation of a long-lasting and sustainable coordination mechanism between the EU, its member states and the Mediterranean countries, such as an Article 185 initiative for the Mediterranean”.
 
"Research and innovation are key elements of the European Union's cooperation with Mediterranean countries since we are all facing challenges such as climate change, water management and energy security. It makes perfect sense to tackle these issues jointly and to bring our scientists together so they can find the answers we need," the EU’s Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn told the conference at the time.
 
The new partnership was proposed by the European Commission as part of the EU's response to the political changes taking place in the southern Mediterranean and in view of Horizon 2020, the EU's proposed policy for funding research and innovation after 2014. Horizon 2020 stresses the importance of maintaining international cooperation in research and innovation as a key aspect of the EU’s global commitments. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
 
 
Read more
 
Outcome of the conference – report, presentations and press coverage
 
European Commission - Report on the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Research and Innovation
 
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre - Research and innovation: towards a new Euro-Mediterranean partnership for sustainable and inclusive growth (02-04-2012) 
 
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – Press pack: Euro-Mediterranean cooperation on Research and Innovation
 
Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in research and innovation – frequently asked questions
 
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – From solar cars to high-tech archaeology: new publication highlights Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in innovation and research
 
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – FP7 – a directory of all the projects involving Mediterranean partners


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