How Can Research and Innovation Drive a Just Green Transition? Discover Insights from the 2025 V4 R&I Conference in Brussels

On 17 June 2025, the V4 R&I Liaison Offices in Brussels, together with the National Science Centre Poland, convened key voices from across Europe to discuss how social sciences and humanities (SSH) can shape a fair, inclusive green transition. From EU policymakers to V4-region researchers, participants explored how Horizon Europe partnerships and evidence-based policymaking can ensure that no one is left behind in Europe’s climate transformation. Dive into the full event summary and find out how the upcoming European Partnership on Social Transformations and Resilience plans to bridge innovation and social impact.

The 2025 edition of the annual V4 R&I Liaison Offices conference, titled “Towards a Fair Green Transition: Harnessing Research & Innovation for Social Impact”, explored the role of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in guiding Europe’s green transition. The event reflected the ambitions of the upcoming candidate European Partnership for Social Transformations and Resilience (STR) and brought together EU officials, national policymakers, SSH researchers, and science diplomacy representatives from Central and Eastern Europe and beyond.

The conference offered an inclusive platform to debate how SSH-driven research and innovation can support the just, inclusive, and resilient transformation Europe needs in the face of climate change and societal disruption.

Summary of Study Visit on Science for Policy

On 10th and 11th December, 2024, we hosted in Brussels a group of 19 representatives of scientific and thematic committees operating in PAS for a two-day study visit devoted to Science for Policy (S4P). The visit was organized by the PolSCA Office of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Brussels and the International Cooperation Office of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.

The first institution that introduced the participants to the subject matter and at the same time showed how Science for Policy works in practice was the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), operating at the European Parliament, which prepares reports, based on scientific research, for the use of MEPs or parliamentary committees in order to support data-driven decision-making (evidence-based policy making). Some of the reports prepared by EPRS are aimed at the general public and are available on the EPTHINKTANK blog. Also within the structures of the EP, there is the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) panel, which is tasked with assessing the possible impact of new technologies in the context of EU-level activities.

No Directionality in MSCA! Research community urges the EU to preserve MSCA’s bottom-up approach.

Joint statement warns that introducing directionality in MSCA would risk undermining the programme’s success

European research organisations, led by Coimbra Group, EU-LIFE and YERUN, have issued a joint statement calling on the European Commission and Member States to preserve the bottom-up structure of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The statement responds to a proposal to introduce directionality in the 2026–2027 Work Programme by steering project calls toward predefined areas.

Transnational Science Cooperation: Fostering Collaborative Research in Europe and Poland

Set against the backdrop of strategic debates about the next European Framework Programme, the two-day event “Transnational Science Cooperation: Fostering Collaborative Research in Europe and Poland” held in Brussels on 23-24 June 2025, offers a timely opportunity to explore how countries like Poland can further integrate into and help shape the future of the European Research Area (ERA). The event aims not only to contribute to deepening R&I cooperation across Europe but also to promote Poland as a compelling partner in collaborative R&I efforts—offering both emerging research excellence and an evolving institutional ecosystem.

Conference in Brussels: Towards a Fair Green Transition – Harnessing Research & Innovation for Social Impact

As Europe advances toward climate neutrality, the green transition must be more than technological—it must be fair, inclusive, and socially resilient. This conference explores how research and innovation (R&I), especially from the social sciences and humanities, can drive societal transformation and shape policies that reduce inequalities and support long-term resilience. Through expert panels, scientific dialogue, and participatory exchange, the event will spotlight how R&I can help align environmental goals with social justice. It will take place on 17 June 2025, from 11:00 to 17:00, at the NCBR Office in Brussels, Belgium

Horizon Europe Navigators MeetUp: Financial Support on the Path to Horizon Europe

The upcoming meeting of research managers and administrators from the institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), gathered under the HE Navigators network, will focus on national mechanisms supporting applications for and participation in European projects, particularly Horizon Europe.

Register Now: Transnational Science Cooperation – Brussels, 23–24 June 2025

HE Navigators MeetUp: MSCA PF 2025

The PolSCA Office is pleased to invite you to the next meeting of the Horizon Europe Navigators network — a community of research managers, administrators, and researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), including recent participants of our study visit programme.

This edition of the MeetUp will be dedicated to the upcoming Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call under Horizon Europe, which is set to open on 8 May and close on 10 September 2025.

Why Attend?

The event offers a unique opportunity to:

• Receive first-hand updates from the European Research Executive Agency (REA) about the novelties and priorities in the 2025 MSCA PF call.
• Learn how Ghent University in Belgium promotes and supports MSCA PF applications and fellows (case study).
• Explore best practices from Polish institutions that have successfully hosted MSCA PF projects.
• Hear insights from the MSCA fellows community via the MCAA Polish Chapter.
• Engage in an internal discussion with peers on managing MSCA PF proposals and projects.

17th edition of V4 Training for Research Project Managers, Brussels, 28–30.04.2025

V4 Training for Research Project Managers the took place again in Brussels on April 28–30, 2025, bringing together experienced research managers, some directly involved in major European programmes, including Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. This opportunity for knowledge-sharing continues to shape the landscape of collaborative research across the continent.

Save-the-date: Towards a Fair Green Transition Harnessing Research & Innovation for Social Impact

Annual conference by V4 R&I Liaison Offices in Brussels

Mark your calendar today and join us on 17 June 2025 in Brussels for a high-level conference exploring how research and innovation can shape a socially just and inclusive green transition. Organised by the V4 R&I liaison offices in synergy with the candidate European Partnership for Social Transformations and Resilience (STR), the event will bring together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss how R&I can support societal resilience, reduce inequalities, and ensure that no one is left behind in the shift toward climate neutrality.