European research bodies welcome H2020
A growing list of research institutes are voicing their positivity towards the creation of Horizon 2020, the EU’s next Framework Programme for research and innovation.
Announced in 2011, Horizon 2020 will replace the Union’s current FP7 research funding initiative, and will run between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2020. It is hoped the estimated €80bn investment fund will increase Europe’s economic competitiveness whilst also stimulating economic growth at a time when eight member states have experienced recessions during 2012.
Writing in a blog welcoming Horizon 2020, the European Institute of Women’s Health, a research and policy NGO promoting gender equality, said: “Keeping Europe competitive and enabling healthcare and social protection systems to be sustainable and affordable, despite ageing, is a big challenge for Europe. Horizon 2020 holds great promise for making Europe into a world class science performer and [will] remove obstacles to innovation.”
A consortium has also been formed between 41 European packaging firms eager for the European Commission to grant the bioeconomy industry a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI), a form of long-term public-private partnership. The new consortium will also encourage the growth of the bio-economy sector.
Speaking to FoodProductionDaily.com, Mikael Hannus, Biorefinery vice president at Stora Enso, commented: “Horizon 2020 and especially the tighter involvement of industries via the JTI(s) is adding part of the needed support and focus to increase the speed of developing and demonstrating industrial processes for additional bio-based products.”
The Horizon 2020 programme will be split into three key parts aimed at developing the EU’s scientific knowledge base, investment in new technologies (including biotechnology), and tackling society-based challenges.
