Vassiliou set for UK launch of Horizon 2020

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, has attended the UK launch of Horizon 2020 at The Royal Society in London. The Commissioner gave an address on the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and European Institute of Innovation and Technology, sections of Horizon 2020 under her responsibility.

The one day conference, attended by Horizon 2020 Projects, saw Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, and David Willetts, UK Minister for Universities and Science, also participating. In the evening, Vassiliou addressed the European Society at King’s College London.

Vassiliou said: “I am looking forward to launching the new programme in London. With the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and EIT, the EU is significantly increasing its investment in our most talented researchers and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The UK is one of the biggest beneficiaries of EU funding for research. I encourage universities, research institutes and companies to make the most of the funding opportunities available under Horizon 2020.”

The UK is currently the second largest beneficiary of EU research funding, after Germany, receiving €6bn in grants, 16% of the total, under FP7. The UK was also the leading recipient of support from the Marie Curie Actions, receiving more than €965m since 2007 for the training and career development of researchers.

UK organisations are also very active in the EIT, a network of cross-border public private partnerships known as Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). The aim of the KICs is to bridge gaps between higher education, research and business, as well as support entrepreneurial start-ups and postgraduate training.

The EIT has already set up three KICs focused on climate change, ICT and energy, and will launch five new ones in the next seven years. Imperial College London hosts the Climate KIC and has just established a new centre for EIT ICT Labs with University College London, Intel and BT among the partners.