Synergies between Horizon 2020 and European Structural and Investment Funds: not yet used to full potential

Synergies between Horizon 2020 and European Structural and Investment Funds: not yet used to full potential, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA). Various building blocks needed to create these synergies were not yet in place in the 2014-2020 period. The European Commission and authorities which manage funds in EU Read more about Synergies between Horizon 2020 and European Structural and Investment Funds: not yet used to full potential[…]

Unmanned Aerial Sensor Placement for Cluttered Environments

A team of researchers from Empa and Imperial College London developed drones that can attach sensors to trees to monitor environmental and ecological changes in forests. Sensors for forest monitoring are already used to track changes in temperature, humidity and light, as well as the movements of animals and insects through their habitats. They also Read more about Unmanned Aerial Sensor Placement for Cluttered Environments[…]

EU foreign investment screening mechanism becomes fully operational

The EU framework for screening of foreign direct investment (FDI) will become fully operational as of 11 October 2020. Over the last eighteen months following the adoption of the first EU investment screening regulation, the Commission and Member States have put in place an effective coordination framework. It will now become instrumental in preserving Europe’s Read more about EU foreign investment screening mechanism becomes fully operational[…]

An untethered virtual-haptic reality

Seismic waves, commonly associated with earthquakes, have been used by scientists to develop a universal scaling law for the sense of touch. A team, led by researchers at the University of Birmingham, used Rayleigh waves to create the first scaling law for touch sensitivity. The results are published in Science Advances. The researchers are part of Read more about An untethered virtual-haptic reality[…]

European Defence Industrial Development Programme: calls for 2020

With a total budget of more than €160 million, the 2020 calls for proposals cover 12 categories reflecting the critical capability needs defined in close cooperation with the Member States. The Commission is looking for project proposals including design, prototyping and testing Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBNR) medical countermeasures, such as preventive and therapeutic immunotherapy, which could Read more about European Defence Industrial Development Programme: calls for 2020[…]

New Funding Calls for Aircraft Sustainability

CALL: Sustainability of Hybrid-Electric Aircraft System Architectures Deadline Model : single-stage Planned opening date:   28 January 2020 Deadline:   28 April 2020    This topic intends to set-up a basic “LCI/LCA-hub” in the European aviation industry to ensure continuity and harmonization for the collection of Live Cycle Inventory (LCI) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) as reference related to Read more about New Funding Calls for Aircraft Sustainability[…]

Nantes is European Capital of Innovation 2019

The city of Nantes in north-west France is the European Capital of Innovation 2019, the Commission announced today at the European Research and Innovation Days. The title was awarded to Nantes in recognition for its outstanding ability to harness innovation to improve the lives of its citizens and its open and collaborative governance model. It comes with Read more about Nantes is European Capital of Innovation 2019[…]

To remain competitive, the EU needs to support industries in the digital transformation

The European Court of Auditors is conducting an audit of EU support and funding for digitising industry and boosting digital innovation in Europe. The auditors will examine whether the European Commission provides effective support to Member States for digitisation of their industries, and helps start-ups and small- and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in their efforts to Read more about To remain competitive, the EU needs to support industries in the digital transformation[…]

Grants for transportation sector

Monitoring and safety of transport infrastructures Opening:   30 April 2019 Deadline:   10 September 2019 17:00:00 Brussels time Contribution from the EU around EUR 2 million. Identification of best practices for monitoring the safety and maintenance of bridges and other relevant transport infrastructures, including outcomes of the most promising research projects which facilitate assessing and thus lowering Read more about Grants for transportation sector[…]

Record efficiency for a gas engine

At the end of May, the final meeting of the “Horizon 2020” project “GasOn” with the EU Commission took place in Brussels. The aim of this EU project was the further development of gas engines for cars and vans. Around 20 partners participated, including ETH Zurich and Empa as well as four European automobile manufacturers Read more about Record efficiency for a gas engine[…]

Solar Energy in Industrial Processes

Specific Challenge: The potential of applying solar energy for industrial purposes is still largely untapped. Using solar energy to provide the heat or cooling necessary to industrial processes that need high reliability and high quality heat and cooling and continuous operation requires innovative advances in solar energy technology. Also, industrial processes might need to be Read more about Solar Energy in Industrial Processes[…]

Developing the next generation of renewable energy technologies

Specific Challenge: The renewable energy technologies that will form the backbone of the energy system by 2030 and 2050 are still at an early stage of development today. Bringing these new energy conversion solutions, new renewable energy concepts and innovative renewable energy uses faster to commercialisation, taking into account social acceptance and secure and affordable Read more about Developing the next generation of renewable energy technologies[…]