Europe must prioritise research and innovation to be competitive

This article is published in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. Jean Tirole, Nobel Prize Laureate at Toulouse School of Economics, together with ERC President Maria Leptin, explain why Europe must take urgent action to address the major economic growth gap with the US and China. Research and innovation have been identified as key areas to …

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New EU rules on Health Technology Assessment open up a new era for patient access to innovation

The Regulation on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has become applicable, bringing a significant improvement in ensuring that innovative and effective health technologies are available to patients across the EU. The new rules create an EU framework for the assessment of health technologies, such as medicines and medical devices, by fostering collaboration and coordination between EU Member States. This …

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Digital technologies and capabilities: contribute as expert to inform future EU investments for Research, Innovation and Deployment

DG CNECT is launching a call for expression of interest for individual experts on digital technologies and capabilities. Experts on critical and emerging digital technologies and their current or future use, ranging from semiconductors and photonics to artificial intelligence, data, robotics, quantum, high performance computing, but also advanced connectivity, next generation internet and virtual worlds, …

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EIC Board publishes environmental, social and governance policy recommendations to drive responsible deep tech innovation

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Board has recently published its recommendations on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) policy, outlining a strategic approach to responsible deep tech innovation. As one of the EU’s largest deep tech investors, the EIC aims to leverage its position to catalyse the integration of ESG principles within the European deep …

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Cyprus University of Technology/CONNECTING: Promoting Innovation in Cultural Heritage

The annual meeting of the CONNECTING research project took place on Thursday, 5 December 2024, at the premises of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) in Limassol. CONNECTING aims to create a pioneering knowledge centre for Engineering in Cultural Heritage, utilising interdisciplinary collaborations and modern technologies. The project is funded by the European Regional Development …

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Commission earmarks €4.6 billion to boost net-zero technologies, electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing and renewable hydrogen under the Innovation Fund

The Commission is stepping up its efforts to boost net-zero technologies that are key to ensure the competitiveness of European industry while meeting agreed climate goals. It is launching two new calls for proposals with a budget of €3.4 billion to accelerate the deployment of innovative decarbonisation technologies in Europe, including electric vehicles batteries. It …

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Applications are now open for the third cohort of the European Blockchain Sandbox

The European Blockchain Sandbox has opened its third round of calls for innovative use cases involving Distributed Ledger Technologies. Public entities and private sector companies in the European Economic Area, including start up and scale-ups, can now apply for the third cohort of the European Blockchain Sandbox with innovative use case projects. Applications for the third …

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Supporting Excellence: The Role of Frontier Research in a Dynamic Europe

Frontier Research: Driving Transformation through Curiosity and Exploration – President Maria Leptin’s keynote speech at the event ‘Boosting Frontier research’ at Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters, and Arts in Nicosia, Cyprus The European Research Council (ERC) was established to support groundbreaking research across all scientific fields, pushing beyond what we know. Unlike applied research, which …

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Report: ERC-funded researchers lead rapid use of CRISPR/Cas gene-editing

Researchers funded by European Research Council (ERC) have rapidly adopted and expanded the use of CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology across diverse scientific fields. Recognised with the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, CRISPR/Cas has become one of the most significant breakthroughs in genetic research, just nine years after its discovery. …

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Applications for ERC Synergy Grants 2025: Facts and Figures

The ERC Synergy Grants 2025 call closed for applications on 6 November 2024. These are the preliminary data on the submitted proposals: The ERC received 712 proposals, marking a 30% increase compared to last year’s call when 548 applications were submitted, and an even more significant 80% rise compared to the 2023 call when 395 proposals were received. 754 or 30% …

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