European Month of the Brain

1-31 May 2013, Across Europe

Understanding the human brain and its diseases is one of the greatest scientific and philosophical challenges. During the last few decades, brain research has made great progress on all fronts but much more is still to be discovered.

Advances in neuroscience are crucial to keep our ageing societies and our economy healthy. Some 165 million Europeans are likely to experience some form of brain disorder each year – from anxiety to depression to dementia – and treating these disorders now costs some €800 billion in Europe every year.

The European Month of the Brain is packed with activities to make a difference. There are more than 50 events in 19 countries:

• to increase our awareness of the importance of brain research and healthcare matters
• to showcase EU achievements
• to outline foresight research and policy
• to improve the resource allocation for brain research and healthcare within and between EU member states and associated countries
• to lift taboos around mental health

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KhAl-ERA Project: Opportunities for EU-Ukraine Cooperation in Composites Area

27-31 May 2013, Crimea, Ukraine

This session will be dedicated to the potential of Ukraine and Europe research partnership in area of composite materials in the frame of EU Programmes for Research and Technological Development (e.g. FP7, HORIZON 2020). Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about available collaboration possibilities and running international projects, and also you are welcome to present your own experience in this area.

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Third EU-US-Japan Trilateral Conference on Critical Materials

29-30 May 2013, Brussels

"Towards New Models in Efficient Management of Critical Materials"

Under the auspices of the European Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, the Third EU-US-Japan Trilateral Conference on Critical Materials will be organised in Brussels, Belgium on 29 and 30 May 2013. This year, the conference will focus on the development and implementation of new models in efficient management of critical materials.

During the first day, policy makers and executives of related industries from various world regions will present different strategies to manage critical materials in a more resource efficient way.

The targeted audience comprises officials, as well as scientists, industry, academia, research centres, analysts, economists and representatives of the civil society.

The second day will be devoted to a technical workshop to advance the trilateral cooperation. Workshop participants will be invited by the workshop organisers. The latter includes a discussion on how to involve joint cooperation in science and technology and thus accelerate the needed innovation in the field.

Additional information will become available in the upcoming weeks on this website.

For further inquiries, please contact RTD-Trilateral-Conference-2013@ec.europa.eu

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Three parallel green-energy events in South East Europe

29-31 May 2013, Sofia

SEE Solar – South-East European Solar PV & Thermal Exhibition

A new report from the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has pointed out that solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity continued its remarkable growth trend in 2011.

The solar market in South-East Europe is still small, but it is growing rapidly and has great potential to become a considerable part of the global renewables market.

The event includes an information session on the EU Project Install+RES.

Two other events are being conducted in parallel:

• 9th South-East European Congress & Exhibition on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• 4th South-East European Conference & Exhibition "Save the PLANET" - Waste Management, Recycling, Environment

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Events earlier this year

Info Day - FP7 ERA Chairs Pilot Call: Italian Convergence Regions in the Framework for R&I 2014-2020

8 April 2013, Catania, Italy

The Commission launched on 18 December 2012 the ERA Chairs pilot call under FP7. This action will support projects carried out by individual research entities established in the eligible regions (Convergence and Outermost regions)to introduce measures and activities to facilitate the structural change and put in place the conditions needed to develop excellent research. This Information Day aims at providing comprehensive information on the ERA Chairs pilot call as well as on the opportunities for Convergence Regions in Horizon 2020.
The Information Day will also look at the Smart specialization strategy as a key instrument to foster synergies between research organisations and national/regional strategies for R&I. Participants will have the opportunity to take stock and exchange ideas/views on what can be done to develop excellent research in the R&I organisations of Italian Convergence regions.

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Advanced European bioethics course 'Human Genomics and Medical Technology'

18-21 March 2013, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

During the course, the relation between technology and (medical) ethics will be studied. Focus of the course are the moral problems generated by the research and development and application of new knowledge in a range of emerging fields such as tissue engineering and genomics. The implications give rise to new images of the human being and shift common understanding of health and disease.

Topics are, amongst others, research ethics, screening and testing from clinical perspective, Health Technology Assessment and storage and analysis of (genetic) data and social aspects and effects of developments in medical technology.

Lecturers include: prof. Evert van Leeuwen, Elisa Garcia Gonzales PhD, Joris Veltman PhD, Gert Jan van der Wilt PhD (invited) Ineke van der Burgt MD, PhD, Lidewij Henneman PhD, Conor Douglas PhD, Martin Boeckhout MA, MSc, Gert Jan van Ommen PhD.

The key-note lecture will be given by Tsjalling Swierstra, Professor of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University. During the lectures participants will be introduced to basic philosophical and ethical concepts. There will be ample time for questions and debate. Small group discussions and group work on assignments are devoted to in-depth discussions and understanding of different cases and particular contemporary issues in the area of human genetics and medical technologies.

Participants are expressly invited to supply cases from their own work and experience for discussion during the course.

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Technology Assessment and Policy Areas of Great Transitions

13-15 March 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

The first PACITA Conference titled „Technology Assessment and Policy Areas of Great Transitions” will be held in Prague (National Technical Library) on 13-15 March 2013.
The conference is open for policy makers, government representatives, researchers, PhD. Students, representatives of NGOs, media, experts dealing with the method of technology assessment and also for the general public. The conference will allow discussion at the plenary session, in parallel sessions or workshops. The workshops will be deal with the following problem areas: healthcare and medicine, energy supply, climate change and mobility in addition to the use of computer technology in all areas of society.

Call for papers is already open.
Please submit your proposal by September 9, 2012 via e-mail to vancurova@tc.cz.

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Enhancing trust in the sustainability of our food chains

13 March 2013, Brussels

Sustainability with SENSE: - Building harmonised methods for environmental footprint - Validating key environmental indicators to evaluate food product sustainability

Objectives of the Open Day Seminar:

• To present the initial outcomes of the EU-financed SENSE project
• To have your feedback and inputs into our work
• To share your experiences with us for a better harmony

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