€30 billion in research and innovation funding available from Europe

Minister Halligan launches Ireland’s response to Horizon 2020 work programme 2018-2020

John Halligan T.D., Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development has called on Ireland’s researchers and companies to seize the opportunities presented in the €30 billion final work programme of Horizon 2020 at the national launch in Dublin on 18^th October, 2017.

Horizon 2020 is the EU framework programme for research and innovation. Enterprise Ireland leads the national support network for Horizon 2020, working to increase participation by Irish companies and academic institutions. With a budget of €74.5 billion, Horizon 2020 runs over seven years from 2014 to 2020

Over 700 people from Irish companies and research performing organisations packed the O’Reilly Hall, UCD in Dublin for the national launch of the Horizon 2020 work programme 2018-2020, hosted by Enterprise Ireland and co-sponsored by InterTrade Ireland.

Speaking before the event Minister Halligan said, “To date, Ireland has won €475 million in competitive funding and is now poised to capitalise on the opportunity of the Horizon 2020 work programme for 2018-2020 with its budget of €30 billion. Ireland is already a winner in Horizon 2020 but we cannot be complacent. As we enter the final work programme of Horizon 2020, I encourage all researchers – in companies, Higher Education Institutes and public bodies – to be ambitious in the next stage of Horizon 2020. These are the entities which are already competing at the highest levels of European research, I urge them to engage with the National Support Network for Horizon 2020 to seize this opportunity.”

Dr. Imelda Lambkin, National Director for Horizon 2020, added, “The launch of the final work programme also provides the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s researchers and companies. More than 1,100 applications have been successful so far, 536 to higher education researchers and 430 to companies, with Ireland’s success rate above the EU average. We now have an opportunity to make bold progress to the end of Horizon 2020. The National Support Network for Horizon 2020, led by Enterprise Ireland, offers unrivalled expertise and is a hugely beneficial resource for both new and seasoned applicants to Horizon 2020 so my advice is to engage with this network as soon as possible.”

Guest speaker Dr. Brendan Hawdon, Advisor at the Directorate General for Research & Innovation in the European Commission outlined details of the changes to the final programme including the introduction of mission-oriented activities, new ways of addressing innovation and new areas of focus which will include; Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future; Connecting economic and environmental gains – the Circular Economy; Digitising and transforming European industry and services and, Boosting the effectiveness of the Security Union.

Panellists at the event included; Professor Orla Feely, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact, University College Dublin; Prof. Mark Ferguson, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Irish Government and Director General, Science Foundation Ireland; Sean O’Reagain, Deputy Head of Unit, Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Biotechnologies, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission; Prof. Valeria Nicolosi, European Research Council Research Professor, Trinity College Dublin and Dr. Michaela Black, coordinator of the MIDAS project, University of Ulster.

The focus of the panel discussion and the afternoon workshops was Ireland’s success in Horizon 2020 to date, how to maximise participation in the final period 2018-2020 and how to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the successor programme which will commence in 2021.

To engage with the National Support Network for Horizon 2020 in Ireland visit www.horizon2020.ie

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