The Horizon 2020 work programme for 2016/17 will be published in the autumn (exact date as yet unknown). However early versions of the individual elements of the work programme have been released, giving an indication of call topics to expect in 2016 and 2017. It is important to stress that topics can change in the final versions, however here are the current drafts to consider for potential application:
1) Excellent Science
2) Industrial Leadership
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Nanotechnologies, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing and processing
3) Societal Challenges
- Personalised Medicine
- Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy
- Secure, clean and efficient energy
- Smart, green and integrated transport
- Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials
- Europe in a changing world – inclusive, innovative and reflective societies
- Secure societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens
In order to prepare for this, the EC have organised various “Information Days” for potential applicants. More dates will be released for different calls, however the currently arranged events are as follows:
— Health Challenge Day – 18th September 2015 – Brussels – Focus on ‘Health, demographic change and wellbeing’ – More Info
— Environment and Resource Efficiency – 21st September 2015 – Brussels – Focus on “Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials” as well as related call topics such as “Smart and Sustainable Cities” focus areas. – More Info
— Smart, Green and Integrated Transport – 5th November 2015 – Brussels – Focus on, as the name suggests, the “Smart, Green and Integrated Transport” topic. – More Info
Following the successful pilot in 2013, EPSRC invites proposals for Healthcare Impact Partnerships. This call is open to proposals which are within remit of the cross-cutting capability areas of Disruptive Sensing and Analysis and Medical Device Design and Innovation as defined in the new EPSRC strategy document, towards impact within a healthcare application. Proposals should build upon existing strengths and expertise and demonstrate potential to address an unmet healthcare need and/or offer significant added value over current or alternative healthcare solutions.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) have launched a policy internship scheme for PhD students to enable them to gain experience of how research can inform policy making.
Congratulations to Kasper Rasmussen who has been awarded the Royal Society University Research Fellowship for 2015. The URF’s are prestigious awards that provide the opportunity for exceptional researchers/early career academics to build an independent research career. These awards offer a minimum of 5 years of independent funding, and only around 45 exceptional candidates are awarded one each year, so a huge congratulations to him!
Wellcome Trust “Frontiers” meetings occur 2-3 times yearly with 40-50 multidisciplinary leaders attending. They are provocative meetings that challenge and consider thinking on a subject concerning the future of health, medicine, science or society that the Trust uses to inform our strategic thinking and help identify possible new directions for us to focus on to drive change.