‘V4 Training’ spring edition 2019

Recently, the spring edition of “V4 Training” has been concluded – training for managers of European research projects organized by the Polish Science Contact Agency, Slovak Liaison Office for Research and Development (SLORD), Czech Liaison Office for R&D (CZELO) and Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU.

The training took place on 27-29 March, and its participants were employees of universities and research institutes not only from the Visegrad Group countries, but also from Slovenia, Romania, Lithuania and Cyprus. This year, we received over 40 applications from Poland, out of which we selected 7 Polish participants of the “V4 Training”.

The meeting of vice presidents of the Europa Association

On March 29, 2019, the meeting of vice presidents of the Europa Association will be held in Limoges, France. The meeting will be attended by the head of the Polish Science Contact Agency Małgorzata Molęda-Zdziech, acting as one of the vice presidents of the association. Among the matters to be discussed are: the main theme of next Colloque EUROPA conference in 2019, list of topics of the European seminar, work on the next issue of Reveu Europeene de l’Action Publique or consolidation and institutionalization of the EUROPA network.

The list of the meeting participants could be find here.

V4 Training

On March 27-29, 2019, the spring edition of the ‘V4 Training’ will be held in Brussels. The training is organized by Polish Science Contact Agency (PolSCA), Czech Liaison Office for R&D (CZELO), Slovak Liaison Office for Research and Development (SLORD) and the Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU.

It is addressed to employees of universities and research institutes who are managers of European projects, mainly Horizon 2020 projects. The language of the training is English, and the subject is focused both on the most important issues related to the 8th framework programme Horizon 2020, and the next one, Horizon Europe. Lectures and workshops are conducted by specialists from the European Commission and European institutions, dealing with research and innovation.

A final training agenda is available here.

Future of the blue planet: Parliament conference on oceans

On 19 March, 2019 the Parliament, together with the European Commission, will host a conference on the future of oceans, with panel discussions covering global ocean governance; sustainable blue economy; and healthy, clean seas and oceans.

The conference will start at 14.00 CET with doors opening at noon.

Registration form and conference programme on the event website.

Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities in EU framework programmes – Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe

What are the most important research trends in the social sciences and humanities, which can be financially supported within EU funds? How to strengthen cooperation between SSH representatives and representatives of other sciences, business organizations as well as industry? What is the level of integration of social sciences and humanities in the current framework programme Horizon 2020?

Partial answers to these and other questions were provided by two events taking place in Brussels on 27-28 February 2019. The first of them Co-creating Horizon Europe. The impact of Social Sciences and Humanities on future generations was devoted to the role that social sciences and humanities should play in the next framework programme Horizon Europe, which aims to address the current social challenges affecting Europe. What is more, attendees could familiarize themselves with the results of the ACCOMPLISSH project, which can be seen as a platform connecting the academic community, representatives of European governments, industry and citizens. The second initiative Launch event for social sciences and humanities (SSH) integration report, was related to the publication of the latest report of the European Commission, monitoring the state of integration of social sciences and humanities in the current framework program Horizon 2020. One of the editors of the report is Mr. Krzysztof Kania, working in Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.

The European Commission publishes “She Figures 2018” report

The number of women with a career in research is slowly growing in Europe. Still, they remain significantly underrepresented, and their potential not fully recognised and valued.

Equality between women and men is a core value of the European Union, actively promoted in all aspects of life by the European Commission. What is the situation in Research and Innovation? Are women participating and contributing to it to the same extent as men? Or is the so-called ‘leaky pipeline’, the phenomenon of women dropping out of research and academic careers at a faster rate than men, still prevalent?

‘Together we can do more’ – about PolSCA activities in the “Academia” (no. 3/55) 2018

We would like to recommend the issue of the PAS magazine, entitled “Academia”, which is devoted to the subject of “Community”!

In this issue, prof. Małgorzata Molęda-Zdziech, director of the Polish Science Contact Agency, writes about the value of cooperation nowadays and explains how the Scientific Station in Brussels works.

Horizon 2020 INFO DAY – Secure Societies

The event will take place on the 13 – 14 of March 2019 at the Hotel Metropole in Brussles.

It is organized by the Network of Secure Societies National Contact Points – SEREN4, in collaboration with the European Commission. This information day and brokerage event gives details on the 2019 calls for proposals to be published mid March 2019 under the Societal Challenge 7 “Secure Societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens”.

These calls offer new research funding opportunities to research institutions, universities, industries, SMEs, civil society organizations and other security stakeholders. Participation to the event is free of charge and the number of participants is limited due to the capacity of the rooms.

Main topics

• Critical Infrastructure Protection
• Disaster Resilience: Safeguarding and securing society
• Fight Against Crime and Terrorism
• Border Security and External Security
• General Matters on Security
• Digital Security

Why to participate

• Information about the calls
• Networking possibilities
• Answers to your questions linked to call areas
• Details on the legal and procedural condition

Researchers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders are invited to present their pitch presentations addressing one of the topics from the 2019 Work Programme of Societal Challenge 7. Such matchmaking event is a quick and easy way to meet potential cooperation partners.

Vice-Presidents of the Polish Academy of Sciences in the PolSCA Office

On March 5, 2019, we had the pleasure to host prof. Roman Słowiński, vice-president of the Polish Academy of Sciences and dr Anna Plater-Zyberk, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Polish Academy of Sciences in our office in Brussels. During the visit, the most important aspects of PolSCA activities were presented and issues related to its day-to-day operation were discussed.

The Ulam Programme for foreign scientists – call for applications!

Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange has announced The Ulam Programme for foreign scientists within which they have the opportunity to complete a postdoctoral fellowship, conduct didactic classes, obtain materials for research or a scientific publication or conduct research in a Polish scientific institution. The aim of the Programme is to increase the internationalization of Polish universities and scientific institutions by gradually increasing the number of foreign researchers in Poland and establishing or deepening international contacts between Polish and foreign institutions.