Horizon 2020 International cooperation
What is international cooperation? In the context of Horizon 2020, international co-operation refers to collaboration with any legal entity based in the socalled third countries that are neither EU Member States nor Associated Countries.
International cooperation in Horizon 2020 Policy background
What is international cooperation? There is no specific programme dedicated to international cooperation within Horizon 2020, unlike in FP7 with its International Co-operation theme under the Capacities Programme. Instead, collaborative projects involving international partners are encouraged across the whole of Horizon 2020. In principle, any legal entity from any country in the world can participate in Horizon 2020 actions (exceptions: SME Instrument, FTI Pilot). Approximately 21% of topics in the 2014-15 WP (SC+LEIT) specifically marked as INCO relevant. For some topics participation of third countries is essential.
2012 Commission COM on INCO in Research and Innovation Stressed that global challenges call for global responses and are drivers for international cooperation in research and innovation. Highlighted the fact that engaging in international cooperation is essential to attract talent, access knowledge and markets and thus increase the EU's competitiveness. Effect: openness of Horizon 2020 to the rest of the world and embedding international cooperation across the entire programme.
Roadmaps for INCO In September 2014, Commission published Roadmaps for some third countries and regions of the world. They define research priorities that will be pursued together by the EU and its international partners. Roadmaps exist for the following partners and regions: Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, South Africa, USA, European Neighbourhood Countries (Eastern Partnership and Southern Neighbourhood.
Roadmaps for third countries - examples South Africa Health, Environment (Global Earth Observation), Research infrastructures; Marine and maritime research; Raw materials (Mining and minerals) Southern Mediterranean Area Water availability and management and food security, Renewable energy and efficiency, Fighting diseases and improving well-being, Green, efficient and integrated transport systems, etc.
Roadmaps for third countries India - Health, Water, Bio-economy, Energy, Fusion energy; China - Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology, Sustainable Urbanisation, Aviation, Environment, ICT, Energy, Nuclear Energy, Health; Republic of Korea - Nanotechnologies, ICT, Energy; Japan - Critical raw materials, transport research, ICT, (nonnuclear) Energy, Space, Health, Security, Euratom.
New Roadmaps for third countries Update of INCO Roadmaps planned for October 2016 with the following countries/regions added: New Zealand Australia Mexico Latin America African Union ASEAN
New Associated Countries Georgia and Armenia are currently negotiating their association agreements and are expected to become associated to Horizon 2020 by mid-2016. Tunisia s association is currently delayed despite the agreement applying from 1 January 2016.
INCO in FP7 Participation of third countries in relevant parts of FP7-4.7% Most active international partners FP7: Source: European Commission
International cooperation in Horizon 2020 2016-17 Work Programmes and eligibility for EU funding
INCO in 2016-17 Work Programmes Approximately 30% of all topics in 2016-17 Work Programmes are flagged as INCO relevant. Many calls/topics are direct effects of discussions on INCO Roadmaps with third countries i.e. EU-China FAB Flagship Calls target a number of countries and regions, including Africa, Central Asia, South America, the North Atlantic Region, etc. For full list of INCO relevant topics see the Participant Portal Full list of topics by country can be found on the InContact NCP Network website
Examples of INCO topics China SFS-44-2016: A joint plant breeding programme to decrease the EU's and China's dependency on protein imports SFS-48-2017: Resource-efficient urban agriculture for multiple benefits contribution to the EU-China Urbanisation Partnership MG-3.2-2017: Protection of all road users in crashes MG-3.5-2016: Behavioural aspects for safer transport ENG-GLOBALLY-08-2016/2017: EU-China cooperation on sustainable urbanisation Japan ENG-GLOBALLY-06-2017: The Asia-Pacific as a strategic region for Europe MG-3.2-2017. Protection of all road users in crashes SC1-PM-14 2016: EU-Japan cooperation on Novel ICT Robotics based solutions for active and healthy ageing at home or in care facilities
Eligibility for funding of TCs Only less developed economies (countries mentioned in Annex A to the WP) are automatically eligible for EU funding. Developed and developing economies, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, BRIC, Mexico, etc. no longer automatically qualify for EU funding.
National funding programmes for TC that no longer qualify for EU funding Co-funding for most or all thematic areas: Republic of Korea, Mexico, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, Russia Co-funding for selected thematic areas: Australia (Societal Challenge 1), Japan (power electronics + critical raw materials) Co-funding by region: Canada (Quebec), Brazil (São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Goiás, and Amparo à Pesquisa) Countries where no jointly agreed mechanism for co-funding Horizon 2020 projects is currently in place: India (currently discussed), New Zealand, USA
Eligibility for funding of TCs Exceptionally, funding may be provided in the following cases: Under the existence of a bilateral agreement specifying such funding i.e. EU-US agreement for Societal Challenge 1 When such funding is specifically mentioned in the call text or topic When Commission deems participation of an entity essential for the success of the project because it can provide expertise that cannot be found in Europe, access to data, infrastructures, geographical area, etc.
International cooperation in Horizon 2020 INCO in 2014 calls for proposals
INCO in 2014 calls Participation of third countries dropped from approximately 5% in FP7 to 2% in Horizon 2020 Most active international partners in 2014 calls: Participations 38 32 29 28 24 19 15 10 7 7 USA South Africa Canada China Russia Australia Brazil Japan India Republic of Korea Source: ecorda/eu Open Data Portal
International cooperation in Horizon 2020 Future INCO-related initiatives
The 3 O s or what is on the Horizon? New priorities defined by the Commissioner for Research and Innovation in June 2015: Open Innovation Open Science Open to the world These include a number of initiatives and policies which with relevance to the 2015/16 Horizon 2020 Work Programme
Moedas 3 O s plans for policies and initiatives European Innovation Council? Seal of Excellence Fund of Funds Open Innovation European Research Integrity Initiative European Science Cloud Open Science PRIMA (water/ food in Mediterra nean) South Atlantic research strategy Open to the world EU-LAC Common Research Area Agri/food initiative for sub- Saharan Africa Involving more actors Creating the right innovation eco-system Improve the regulatory environment Openness is the key to excellence Open data and data management Research integrity Europe is a global leader in science More science diplomacy and global collaboration Partnerships between regions and countries
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