Programme - Day 2

A common Policy Agenda and a Pact for R&I

Speakers: Mariya Gabriel, Simona Kustec, Maria da Graca Carvalho, Jean-Eric Paquet, Sarika Wilson, Karin Roelofs

The European Commission has created an ERA Forum for Transition, bringing together the Member States and the Commission, working regularly with stakeholders, in order to develop the new ERA’s future governance, including:

• a pact for R&I, laying down principles and priority areas for action
• a policy agenda of specific actions agreed between Member States and the Commission
• a monitoring and implementation system, helping Member States to work more closely together

How can this improve the work of the researcher, the scientist and the policy-maker? And what will the new ERA do for me?

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Joint Investments in the context of ERA

Speakers: Anna Panagopoulou, Paul Rübig, Kurt Deketelaere, Norbert Lütke-Entrup, Sergej Možina

This session provides an opportunity to set a high-level policy debate to continue boosting investments in research and innovation. The discussion will be focused on two areas:

1. the need to prioritise and ring-fence public R&D investment in view of a possible future fiscal consolidation process in the coming years and learn from the mistakes of the past (notably in the aftermath of the financial crisis)
2. and the role of pan-European R&I investments to deliver on some of the core European priorities (e.g. green hydrogen, batteries) where individual Member States' investments will not suffice to ensure Europe's technological leadership.

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Re-imagining science advice to policy after COVID-19. How to build a stronger, better-connected ecosystem in Europe?

Speakers: Patrick Child, Nicole Grobert, Tarmo Soomere, Anne-Greet Keizer, Nathalie Berger

Science played a central role during the COVID-19 crisis, but what lessons can we draw from this to build a more robust science for policy ecosystem in Europe? What changes can be implemented?

COVID-19 represented a ‘stress test’ for science in policymaking, and highlighted the need for better connections among science advice practitioners and institutions across Europe and within Member States. The Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors will discuss the challenges encountered in providing advice to the EU during the crisis. Science advice practitioners from across the EU, working with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the Science for Policy Ecosystems project, will offer a perspective from the experience in Member States. The Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support will reflect on how science advice could be mainstreamed in all policy and public administration areas across Europe, building upon the momentum of science during the pandemic.

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Working hand in hand with and for Cohesion in the new ERA

Speakers: Signe Ratso, Normunds Popens, Christophe Clergeau, Pavel Doleček, Martin Bares, Nicola De Michelis

European R&I policies aim to strengthen innovation cohesion and increase the competitiveness of the EU as a whole. This requires strong R&I capacities, addressing territorial inequalities and improving coordination at all levels. Horizon Europe and cohesion policy are key funding sources supporting R&I. Strengthening innovation cohesion requires that Horizon Europe and cohesion policy reinforce each other. In the new programming period, opportunities for synergies will be greatly enhanced.

This session brings together key R&I and cohesion policy actors from different levels to discuss and promote the new opportunities for strengthening the quantity, direction and impact of R&I-related investment, in particular with a view to a take-up in the 2021-2027 cohesion policy programming.

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Building careers and being assessed: A challenge for young researchers?

Speakers: Gareth O'Neill, Giulia Malaguarnera, Ludovic Thilly, Marc Schiltz, Muriel Attané

ERA should be the one place in the world where a researcher can have a rewarding career moving across different Member States and sectors. This implies some minimal coherence in the way that researchers – and research – are assessed. Young or early-career researchers, however, face an impossible dilemma: embrace career diversification and open science practices, thus increasing their opportunities in the labour market, or focus on getting their papers into some iconic journals that will get them an attractive research position. The definition of a modern research assessment system should be a prerequisite for an efficient research system and for Europe to be an attractive place to build a career.

In the session we will hear from different actors on how the research assessment system should be reformed to facilitate mobility between academia, industry and countries, and to make ERA the place where quality and cooperation are rewarded over quantity and individualism.

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Partnering with Member States to prioritise transformative R&I investments and reforms

Speakers: Maria da Graça Carvalho, Patrick Child, Lívia Vašáková, Céline Gauer

The session will focus on the role of R&I in advancing Europe’s post-pandemic recovery and resilience and in driving the twin transition. Emphasis will be put on reforms – as essential elements for impactful investments - andthe mobilisation of R&I towards the twin transition.

The panellists will discuss the vision and level of ambition sought via the R&I actions included in the Recovery and Resilience Plans, as well as the support available to Member States for designing and implementing R&I reforms, notably through the Horizon Policy Support Facility.

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reCO2ver: resilient European low-carbon industries in a new ERA

Speakers: Ulla Engelmann, Nicolas Cudre-Mauroux, Roberto Callieri, Luis Cabra

The updated Industrial strategy puts a clear focus on the need to invest in green technologies to decarbonise energy intensive industries. Achieving the EU’s target of at least 55% CO2 emission reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050 needs investments across sectors, as the current best available technologies would only reduce steel industry’s CO2 emissions by 10%. Clean European energy-intensive industries are possible, but they need R&I to make a step change towards climate neutrality, while considering a just transition for all Member States and co-creating tailored solutions.

This session looks into the role R&I must play in pathways to the decarbonisation of European energy intensive industries, bringing together policymakers, industry and innovators. The audience will be engaged in the new ERA Common Industrial Technology Roadmap on Low Carbon Industries, building on the results of Horizon 2020 partnerships and creating synergies with national R&I investment agendas.

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Mission Ocean, Seas and Waters for Recovery

Speakers: Charlina Vitcheva, Pascal Lamy, Ulrike Rabmer-Koller, Claudia Monteiro de Aguiar

The session aims at answering these questions:

• How can the candidate mission best showcase the economic, financial and business transformations needed to ensure that restored marine and freshwater ecosystems are valued as a key asset for a climate neutral, sustainable and circular blue economy?

• What should the candidate mission put in place to attract private investment to the restoration and protection of valuable marine and freshwater ecosystems?

• What should the candidate mission put in place to attract innovative start-ups, SMEs and other businesses to marine and freshwater ecosystem restoration and to develop innovations needed to restore these waters and achieve a sustainable and climate neutral blue economy?

• How can regulators and policy-makers facilitate the societal, environmental and economic transformations, remove market entry and scale up barriers, but maintain a level playing field between the different actors and leave no-one behind?

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Regions and local authorities at the forefront of the recovery process

Speakers: Mariya Gabriel, Vasco Cordeiro, Anna Panagopoulou, Tanya Hristova, Mikel Irujo, Theresia Bauer

The session will focus on the strategic role of regional and local actors in the recovery and the green and digital transition of Europe, for example by setting up policy priorities and mobilising different funds. In particular, the session will discuss the specific challenges for European regions and cities, and their role in the Recovery and Resilience Plans.

The discussion will also showcase how regions and local authorities can contribute to Europe's R&I objectives and how the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions are working together to achieve the twin transition in the recovery process.

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Post-COVID-19 recovery for cities: The New European Bauhaus Initiative

Speakers: Xavier Troussard, Michela Magas, Sylwia Kaszuba, Liis Liivand, Dimitar Shingarski

This section is at crossroads of at least three initiatives of the Commission: the New European Bauhaus (NEB), the Climate-Neutral Cities Mission and the European Green Deal. The NEB is a creative and interdisciplinary initiative, convening a space of encounter to design future ways of living, intersecting art, culture, social inclusion, science and technology. It brings the European Green Deal and the Cities Mission to our living places calling for a collective effort to imagine and build a future that is sustainable, inclusive and beautiful for our minds and for our souls. Prior to the R&I days, the Commission invited EU citizens to debate and give ideas around the question: how do we want to live together in the post-covid2019 era?

The session will discuss the ‘10 ideas for change’, with the NEB and Cities mission responsible, which will also explain how citizen engage fits the co-design and co-implementation phases of these key Commission’s priorities and policy developments.

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Pooling global efforts to jointly tackle global challenges

Speakers: Virginijus Sinkevicius, Patrick Child, Javiera Aldunate Bengolea, Ricardo Serrão Santos, Blade Nzimande

International cooperation in research and innovation is key in tackling global challenges, such as the Green Transition or Global Health. Distinguished EU and International speakers will underscore the key role played by multilateral initiatives in maximising impact, such as the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, Mission Innovation on clean energy and the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership.

Speakers will be asked to provide their insight on the benefits, attractiveness and success factors of an effective and impactful cooperation, as well as on the changes needed to improve multilateral cooperation in a post-COVID world and the main barriers, whether geo-political, economic or operational.

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Aligning EU and Member State efforts

Speakers: Koen Doens, Tomaž Boh, Nasser Ahmed Kamel, Ulrich Schuh, Maria Chiara Carrozza

Participants are invited to reflect on how to deliver the objectives set out in the communication on the Global Approach to Research & Innovation, and how best EU and Member State research and innovation efforts can be aligned to achieve maximum impact. What could be the Member States’ contribution through Team Europe Initiatives, joining forces with the European Commission and financial institutions?How best can the EU and Member States design and implement joint approaches, based on effective cross-government coordination and multi-level cooperation, to align their efforts, increase critical mass and so maximise impact? How could the Member States contribute towards monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the actions foreseen in the communication on the Global Approach to Research & Innovation?

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Association in Horizon – Building bridges for a stronger ERA

Speakers: Carla Matias dos Santos, Signe Ratso, Nili Shalev, Kristján Andri Stefánsson

Association of third countries to the R&I Framework Programme is the EU’s closest form of international cooperation in the field of R&I.Speakers will reflect on the objectives of the new ERA and the contribution of Associated Countries to the ERA goals.• R&I is a key-driver for the green and digital transitions, leading to jobs creation and sustainable growth. Some of the Associated Countries are leading innovators with key initiatives from which EU actors benefit;• Mobilising the STI capacities of the Associated Countries will contribute to improving access to excellence. There will be reciprocal advantages to the industry and society in Europe and in the Associated Countries when excellence of the European R&I is improved by the new ERA actions.

Joining forces with Associated Countries with strong R&I ecosystems will more efficiently address global challenges and further reinforce the European R&I quality, thus creating more favourable conditions for European competitiveness.

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Open strategic autonomy: how does it work?

Speakers: Jean-Eric Paquet, Roberto Viola,  Reinhard Butikofer, Kurt Deketelaere, Suzanne Burger

The EU’s R&I framework programmes have long been the most international in the world. Openness is in our DNA and this will not change. It is a key component of a vibrant innovation ecosystem and a necessity in order to jointly tackle global challenges with our partners. The openness in cooperation that defines EU action is now taking place in an environment where geopolitical tensions are rising, fundamental values are being challenged, and key emerging technologies are increasingly seen as sources of power. It is in this framework that Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) plays a key role in R&I policy. It emphasizes the EU’s ability to make its own choices and shape the world around it through leadership and engagement, reflecting its interests and values. It echoes the EU’s fundamental belief that addressing challenges requires more rather than less global cooperation. It is a way to build resilience in order to remain as open as possible while decreasing the exposure to vulnerabilities.

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Promoting the fundamental values in research and innovation globally

Speakers: Christiane Woopen, Doris Schroeder, Julian Kinderlerer, Yi Zeng

The rapid internationalisation of the research and development of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, gene editing and human enhancement, raises the question of how to preserve fundamental values such as ethics and science integrity in a global research and innovation landscape.

The challenge we are facing is how to set standards that are mutually accepted and implemented around the globe. In order to reach this goal, we must first start to understand what the baselines are for our international partners. For this reason, ethics and integrity first needs more cooperation at the international level to allow space for discussion. In this context, which strategy should the EU adopt so that can we best act to ensure that institutions and researchers around the globe adhere to these fundamental values?

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Europe’s future is the bioeconomy: How can today’s youth shape this transition?

Speakers: Mariya Gabriel, John Bell, Iris Lewandowski, Yana Voitovska

Fossil resources are finite and their use is harmful to climate and nature. In order to reach the targets set by the European Green Deal, the transition towards a green and climate-neutral bioeconomy, based on the sustainable use of biological resources, is more pertinent than ever. To be successful, this transition requires the active participation and future leadership of today’s youth. This 45-minute session will bring together youth representatives, bioeconomy educators and EU policy-makers for a discussion on bioeconomy-relevant youth engagement and education. The audience will have the chance to interact with the panelists through interactive tools.

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Biodiversity rich farming systems: let’s make it happen!

Speakers: Tassos Haniotis, Bea Maas, Rogier Schulte, Jabier Ruiz Mirazo

We are losing nature like never before because of unsustainable human activities. As 40 % of the EU and more than one-third of global land is farmed, farming activities hold enormous potential for maintaining and restoring biodiversity. One of the objectives of the future common agriculture policy is to contribute to the protection of biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and preserve habitats and landscapes. In May 2020, the European Commission also adopted a new comprehensive biodiversity strategy to bring nature back into our lives and a farm-to-fork strategy for a healthy and environmentally friendly food system. Despite these policies and mounting evidence of the social, environmental and economic benefits of biodiversity-friendly management, farmers rarely put it into practice. In this session, we will showcase innovations for biodiversity-friendly farming systems and discuss what policies and R&I activities we need in the future to support farmers in bringing them to scale.

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Leading the global clean energy race

Speakers: Wilfried Kraus, Patrick Child, Valérie Bouillon-Delporte, Nebojsa Nakicenovic

Research and innovation supports the new European strategies on hydrogen, offshore renewables and energy-system integration. The transition to a clean energy system will require a massive expansion of our capacity to harness renewable energy. This transition also has to be just and fair, reduce energy poverty and leave no one behind. Key challenges will be circularity, energy storage, pushing the boundaries of renewables, and system integration.

This session will discuss the challenges and opportunities in the transition to a clean, secure, sustainable and affordable energy system, and reflect on ways to strengthen our global approach as we recover from the Corona pandemic.

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Putting European Transport on track for the future

Speakers: Adina Valean, Rosalinde Van der Vlies, Anna Masutti, Rene Berkvens, Juan de Antonio

The session will start with scene setter by the moderator followed by an inspirational keynote speech from Adina Vălean, the European Commissioner for Transport who will call for action on the contribution of R&I to the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy of the EU. Then, there will be a high-level panel discussion with speakers from different transport sectors (waterborne transport, rail transport and new mobility services) who will highlight their commitment to European partnerships and on key research priorities. After Q/A with the audience, the moderator will conclude the session and outline next steps.

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Systemic approaches towards sustainability transitions: Circular Economy as a transversal need

Speakers: Eeva Primmer, Janez Potočnik, Signe Ratso, Dirk Messner, Hans Bruyninckx, Richard Filčák

The European Green Deal calls for a deep transformation of our entire society, including our consumption and production systems. This session explores how environmental expertise available across European and national institutions, including Environment Agencies, can best be integrated and fed into the science-policy interface in order to push sustainable transition. Using the circular economy as an example for a cross-cutting requirement, the high-level debate will:

• point out R&I transversal needs and opportunities - across silos - to enable the effective implementation of systemic transitions

• assess options to improve transformational R&I at EU and Member States level

• inform key stakeholders on options to participate in the science-policy dialogue needed to enable the deep transformation

• showcase how Horizon Europe is a key enabler for achieving the European Green Deal objectives - by mobilising R&I, catalysing actions, demonstrating solutions, and producing public goods.

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Transforming digital governments: Where disruptive innovation meets EU values

Speakers: Signe Ratso, David Osimo, Yannis Charalabidis, Nele Leosk

Rapid developments in technology and innovations are often the main enablers or drivers of digital transformation in governments. The goal of the session is to discuss with experts and participants the state of play with technology, research and innovations for digital governments.

Discussion will focus on what the needs and requirements are for R&I and technological trends, and what is missing in order to support a value-based European transformation where citizens and businesses are placed at the centre. The panel will also discuss how human-centric digital public services can be developed and implemented, how to encourage disruptive innovations in government, and how to exploit technology, research and innovation so as to support public administrations to achieve digital government objectives throughout the Digital Decade.

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Digital infrastructures and European Open Science Cloud

Speakers: Thomas Skordas, Bob Jones, Dirk Pleiter, Francoise Soulié

Enhancing the EU’s capabilities in digital infrastructure and knowledge is among the four cardinal points of the digital transformation of the Union. This includes data infrastructures that store and manage data, the ever more powerful but at the same time flexible computing to process the data, and the ultra-high bandwidth networks transporting the data, as well as infrastructure to access and test tools and solutions for artificial intelligence (AI), and support European leadership in AI.

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The turning point: digital innovation in education and training

Speakers: Themis Christophidou, Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Birgit Lao, Tommaso Dalla Vecchia, Florian Rampelt

The session will look at the diffusion of innovation in digital education and will bring forward ideas on how the private and public sectors, policy-makers, research, educators, learners of all ages and parents/carers can work together to mainstream innovation in education and training. The session will present the model of the Digital Education Hub as an accelerator of experimentation and excellence in digital education and explore contributions from the Ed Tech sector. It will reflect on the lessons learnt on digital education and innovative education practices in all sectors of education, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and for recovery, and discuss models and means for cross-sectoral cooperation on digital education.

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Disruptive innovators: from frontier research to conquering new markets

Speakers: Mariya Gabriel, Christian Ehler, Jean-David Malo, Ana Maiques, Martin Vechev, Spela Stres

This session will focus on the challenges and opportunities that a new generation of European disruptive start-ups, innovators and entrepreneurs are facing, and how the European Innovation Council intends to support them through a combination of funding, investments and support services. It will discuss what more can be done to bring together disruptive ideas from frontier research with entrepreneurs and innovators, as well as the resources and expertise needed to bring breakthrough research to market. It will also explore what Europe can do to join frontier research with start-ups so as to foster disruptive innovations, paying special attention to curiosity-driven research like the one funded by the European Research Council. Finally, the session will explore what Europe can do to solve the valorisation gap of turning research results into business opportunities.

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R&I for the future of work – from principles to actions

Speakers: Joost Korte, Peter Dröll, Judith Muttersbach-Dada, Gretta Corporaal, Marwan Elfitesse

The future of work, workers and workplaces are at the focal point of public and policy interest. The twin digital and green transitions, the COVID-19 pandemic with its ensuing economic crisis, social inequalities and a need for increased European global competitiveness in digital and industrial production have resulted in this interest. An economy that works for the people is one of the top priorities of the Commission. The panel will initiate dialogue and discussion about future EU R&I investments for skills, life-long learning, social dialogue, the organisation of work, digitalisation and automation, as well as about global competitiveness, global value chains and strategic autonomy of certain economic sectors.

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