Hello and welcome to the August edition of Brussels News Updates, the monthly EuChemS newsletter keeping you up-to-date on the latest chemistry related science-policy issues, news and upcoming events and awards. With the summer holidays in full swing, business in Brussels has slowed down and we have taken this opportunity to recharge our batteries ahead of a busy upcoming autumn. Nevertheless, here is your monthly BNU with some light summer updates to keep you in the loop!
Enjoy your summer reading,
You can read the full newsletter online here.
European Highlights, Research, Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship
Horizon Europe: experts of the five major European research and innovation mission boards selected
End of July, the Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas, announced the names of the experts who have been selected as members of the mission boards to work on five major European research and innovation missions. The missions will be part of Horizon Europe, the next EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027). Read the full story here.
Chemical Industry is on the path to define the "European Way"
The European Chemical Industry Council’s (Cefic) President Daniele Ferrari stressed at the 100th anniversary of the International Union of Pure and Applied chemistry (IUPAC) in Paris, that the EU chemical industry needs to define “The European way”, notably the need to innovate towards circular models, leading on sustainability and being at the forefront of innovation in technologies. Full article available here.
European Research Council plans for 2020
In July, the European Research Council (ERC) announced its biggest ever annual injection of funding in blue-sky research. €2.2 billion will be made available in 2020 to support some 1100 top researchers. As in previous years, most of the funding (61%) is earmarked for early- to mid-career scientists and scholars. The funding will also support jobs for an estimated 8,000 postdoctoral researchers, PhD students and other research staff employed in ERC-funded teams. More information available here and here.
European Parliament elects European Commission President
On 16 July, Ursula von der Leyen was elected to be the next European Commission President following a series of uncertain weeks of negotiations between the various European institutions and eventually the European Parliament’s vote in favour. Read our debrief here.
Next Committee meetings of the European Parliament
The first week in September will be a week for Committee meetings of the European Parliament.
For the ITRE Committee, follow the latest news here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/itre/home.html.
For the ENVI Committee, see http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/sl/ENVI/home.html.
For European Parliament 2019 calendar indicating plenary sessions, committee meetings and other activities, visit: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/news/lookingaheadagenda/21361/Cal2019_en.pdf
Consultations & Roadmap
Take part in co-designing Horizon Europe!
Are you a scientist or interested citizen? Take part in the 20-minute survey to shape EU science! EuChemS will in turn also prepare an official response, to which you can also contribute by contacting us directly.
More information here.
EFSA Open Public Consultations
EFSA has a list of open public consultations, you can take a look at them here.
If you would like to contribute to an EuChemS response, please drop us a line.
Fundings, Nominations & Awards
European Chemistry Gold Medal
Every two years, the exceptional achievements of one scientist working in the field of chemistry in Europe are rewarded. The winner is awarded a gold medal and the opportunity to give the opening lecture at the next EuChemS Chemistry Congress (ECC).
Deadline: 30 September 2019
Website: https://www.euchems.eu/awards/european-chemistry-gold-medal/
Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) open calls
Currently, two calls are open: Individual Fellowships 2019 and Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes 2019. The deadlines are in September, check details here:
Website: https://bit.ly/2ZcSBnJ
EuChemS Events
XX Euroanalysis 2019
1 – 5 September 2019
Istanbul, Turkey
Website: https://bit.ly/2JGjUx2
Celebrating D.I. Mendeleev’s Periodic System: a Historical Perspective
10 – 13 September 2019
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Website: https://bit.ly/2Lm0PDq
GDCh-Wissenschaftsforum Chemie 2019 (WiFo 2019)
15 – 18 September2019
Aachen, Germany
Website: https://bit.ly/2Oolcgk
13th Students‘ Congress of SCTM
19 – 21 September 2019
Skopje, North Macedonia
Website: https://bit.ly/33M6x7M
4th EuChemS Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry (EUGSC-4)
22 – 25 September 2019
Tarragona, Spain
Website: https://bit.ly/31FLLES
6th MS Food Day Conference
25 – 27 September 2019
Camerino, Italy
Website: https://bit.ly/2MsrM8T
Other Events
European Research and Innovation Days
24 – 26 September 2019
Brussels, Belgium
Website: https://bit.ly/2uNYJBS
2nd European Education Summit
26 September 2019
Brussels, Belgium
Website: https://bit.ly/2K3QPNA
EuChemS aisbl - Rue du Trône 62, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; www.euchems.eu. Produced for EuChemS by Nineta Hrastelj, Alex Schiphorst and Marta Kucza. This newsletter has been carefully prepared and only contains correct information to the best of EuChemS´ knowledge, however this does not exclude the possibility of existence of incorrect information. EuChemS cannot be liable for the use or misuse of any information, whether correct or incorrect, present at this newsletter. Intellectual property belongs to its rightful owners, always explicitly traceable on each article. Compilation Copyright © 2019 EuChemS