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Widening participation ‘needs a bigger budget’Funding too limited to have desired effect, says Polish minister T HE THREE FUNDING SCHEMES aimed at increasing the par-ticipation of the newest EU member states in Horizon2020 are not making a difference in the largest ofthose countries, a senior Polish official has said.

According to Włodzisław Duch, Poland’s undersec -retary of state for science and higher education, theresources allocated to the Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation part of Horizon 2020 are toolimited to have any impact on a country with a popula-tion of 38 million. The European Commission, he says,should have paid more attention to his country’s sizeand characteristics when designing the programme.

“We are quite happy with the introduction of this‘widening’ agenda, but one has to realise that getting

one Teaming project will not change the overall situa-tion here, as it might in a country such as Estonia,” hesays ( see Interview, page 8 ).

The schemes were introduced to boost researchquality in poorly performing countries, including13 eastern European states and Cyprus, Malta, Portugaland Luxembourg. According to the Commission, thefirst calls under the three schemes have already provedthat there is strong interest from these countries.

The Teaming initiative—which supports the creationand upgrade of centres of excellence in participatingcountries by creating partnerships with top-qualityinstitutions—has been the most competitive. TheCommission received 169 proposals during its first calland funded 31, giving a success rate of 18 per cent.

The European Research Area Chairs scheme, whichfunds professorships for top researchers at institutesin participating countries, received 88 proposals, of which 30 were selected for funding. A further 553 pro-posals are now being assessed for the third scheme,the Twinning initiative, which aims to strengthenexcellence in particular departments by creating links with at least two external partners and supportingtraining activities for researchers.

According to Duch, Poland has been granted three

ERA Chairs and three Teaming projects—but these willhave a limited impact in a country that, by his estimate,has about 100,000 full-time researchers. Negotiations

for the next Framework programme, to run from 2021,have yet to begin, but Duch is already calling for anincrease in the combined budget of these three schemesfrom their Horizon 2020 level of €722 million—or 1 percent of the programme—over seven years.

Representatives of several participating countriesdeclined to comment until the impact of the schemesbecomes clearer, but the head of Romania’s Office forScience and Technology in Brussels backed Duch’sstance. “Romania definitely supports Poland,” IuliaMihail says. “The Commission should be much morecommitted to a ‘Europe for all’ and not predominantly

for the oldest members.”But Daniel Straka, the director of the Slovak LiaisonOffice for R&D in Brussels, says he’ll be satisfied ifthe Commission continues to provide the same levelof funding for the schemes. “We felt great relief thatthere was not going to be any cut to this pillar due tothe European Fund for Strategic Investments,” he says.

Duch’s call for the schemes to be expanded is likelyto be resisted by older member states, who will arguethat it would take too much Horizon 2020 money awayfrom projects selected solely on the basis of excellenceor relevance to societal goals.

Dimitri Corpakis, the Commission official in charge of widening participation, says that its budget will prob-ably remain stable. “It is unlikely that the programme will receive a higher budget, because capacity build-ing is not a priority in the Framework programme,” hesays. Corpakis suggests that eastern European govern-ments combine the schemes with EU structural fundsto strengthen their research systems.

“It is unacceptable that 90 percent of the Horizon 2020 budget isgoing to old member states, while80 per cent of the regional fundsgo to the new ones,” says the Dutch

MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij of theEuropean People’s Party. “We needto come to a better balance.”

18 June 2015Updated daily at www.ResearchResearch.com

by Cristina Gallardo cgnews@ResearchResearch.com

Every new opportunityfor research fundingfrom every sponsor inthe EU, US & beyond

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EU anti-fraud office accusedof data manipulation – p5Poland Big ambition, big problems – p8Earma University voices in Brussels andpromoting responsible research – p6, 7

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2 editorial Research Europe, 18 June 2015

A critical functionThe EU’s fraud-busting office is having acrisis of confidence

Internal auditing for probity is a challenge for any organisation, govern-mental or otherwise. Where should the inspectors sit? Who pays them? Who can ensure their independence? And who inspects the inspectors?

The European Anti-Fraud Office, Olaf, has been wrestling with thesequestions since 1999, when it was established in the aftermath of theugly collapse of the Santer Commission amid allegations of fraud.

Olaf has had its successes, prosecuting hundreds of cases and recover -ing misappropriated money. But despite having more than 400 staff, itremains a low-profile operation—and it isn’t clear whether it enjoys theunalloyed confidence of the European public that it needs to do its job.

Last month, the five-person supervisory committee that is supposed tokeep an eye on Olaf issued a robust and critical report, concluding thatthe EU “should improve the procedures ensuring the accountability ofOlaf and its senior management in the performance of their duties”.

Earlier this month, MEPs were even more scathing, claiming that theoffice has in effect been gaming the way it records its investigations, soas to make its throughput seem more impressive ( see News, page 5 ). TheEuropean Commission has responded by setting up a task force to look at

the use of structural funds in eight countries.The politics behind some of the European Parliament’s criticism is murky.The office’s director, Giovanni Kessler, drew fire from MEPs two years agoover Olaf’s role in the downfall of John Dalli, the Maltese health commis -sioner who resigned after allegations concerning his relations with thetobacco industry. That fire has continued from across the political spec-trum in the Parliament. Only last week, the Belgian MEP Bart Staes calledfor Kessler to step down.

The real issue here is whether the office, under Kessler, enjoys suf -ficient public confidence to perform its function. An investigative officeof this type has to be above reproach if it is to operate as an effective watchdog on the malfeasance of others.

Unlike the Court of Auditors, say, the work of which is almost universal-ly respected, Olaf seems to lack that credibility. This is truly unfortunate,because the need for investigations of fraud has never been greater. Olafsays that it investigated 1,400 fraud allegations last year: up by 100 from2013, and the largest number in its history.

Structural funds, in particular, have been disbursed in ways that con-tinue to draw complaints and arouse suspicion. The Commission taskforce will look into that now, but the question of Olaf’s competenceremains open. The Parliament and the Commission have so far declinedto launch a wider inquiry into the office’s performance or governance.

What is clear is that the constant squabbling over the fraud office isdamaging and unacceptable. The unhappiness of the supervisory com-mittee and the disquiet in the Parliament cast shadows over the office,and continue to undermine public confidence in the ability of the EUto manage its funds reliably, transparently and honestly. The people ofEurope deserve better.

e l s e w h e r e“Hello Earth! Can you hear me?” The European Space Agency’s Philae probetells the world it is awake after seven monthsin hibernation on Comet 67A, having passedclose enough to the sun to recharge its solar-powered battery. Twitter, 14/6/15.

“We get it.” Matt Brittin, the vice-president of Google,says the company has finally realised thatit failed to understand European values when building its business in the EU, lead-ing to anti-trust charges from the EuropeanCommission. Politico, 5/6/15.

“Reputation matters hugely to scientists,but only with regards to the number ofpapers you publish. We don’t care whethera scientist has a reputation for being hon-est or rigorous because it gets you nowherein the current model of academia.” An academic writing anonymously says thatgroup leaders regularly being listed as authorson papers they had no involvement in is tan-tamount to fraud. The Guardian, 5/6/16.

“Merkel didn’t have to, but she went all in.” Daniel Boese, a campaigner for the pro-democracy group Avaaz, says the Germanchancellor Angela Merkel must be applaudedfor convincing G7 leaders at the SchlossElmau summit to cut carbon emissions by atleast 40 per cent by 2050. Politico, 8/6/15.

“The goal is not to revive old quarrels.” The Belgian finance minister Johan VanOvertveldt defends his country’s decision tomint a €2.50 coin to commemorate the 200thanniversary of the battle of Waterloo, despiteobjections from Paris. The Guardian, 8/6/15.

d e c a d e

“By deciding where toinvest, governments willshow what kind of Europe

they want: a Europe of thepast, redistributing thewealth we have, or a Europeof the future, thriving onknowledge and creating moreprosperity for more people.”The research commissioner Janez Potoc ̌nik says that any cut to researchspending in the 2007-13 budget wouldreflect badly on member states’ commit -ment to the Lisbon strategy, after hintsthat national ministers could slash fundsfor Framework 7 by 25 per cent.

Research Europe, 16 June 2005

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Research Europe, 18 June 2015 news 3

w h a t ’s g o i n g o n

MEPs call for 2016 budget stabilityThe European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy has published a set ofamendments to the European Commission’s 2016 budget proposals, emphasising that memberstates should maintain the agreed budget for Horizon 2020. The Itre committee says it wants toensure that no more money is taken from the programme in budget negotiations for next year,after the Parliament, the Commission and the Council of Ministers agreed to divert €2.2 billionfrom Horizon 2020 to the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

Moedas pledge on cultural heritageCarlos Moedas, the commissioner for research and innovation, has promised more than€100 million in Horizon 2020 funding for cultural heritage research in the next two years.The commitment, which will largely benefit anthropologists, archaeologists and curators, wasannounced at the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage ceremony in Oslo on 11 June.

Graphene programme admits to slow progressParticipants in the EU’s Graphene Flagship programme have said that they need more time todemonstrate impact, following criticism that the initiative has been slow to produce results. Ata meeting on 2 June, participants told MEPs that they would deliver commercial applications aspromised—but that they need at least 10 more years to do so.

Erasmus loans start in SpainStudents in Spain who wish to take masters degrees abroad, and students from elsewhere wantingto study in Spain, are to gain access to €30 million in loans from the Erasmus+ Master Loan

scheme. The initiative, agreed by the European Commission, the European Investment Fund andSpain’s MicroBank on 11 June, will offer up to €12,000 for one-year courses and €18,000 for two- year courses. The plan is to ultimately expand the scheme to all 33 Erasmus+ member countries.

Drug firms accused of exacerbating resistance problem A report on the manufacturing practices of some of the world’s biggest drug companies has saidthat many source antibiotics from Chinese factories that dump raw pharmaceutical materialsinto the environment, desensitising bacteria to common antibiotics. The report by the consumeradvocacy group Sum of Us said that Pfizer and other firms were sourcing from polluting factories.

MEPs back gender equality packageThe European Parliament has approved a proposal to take action against gender discrimination,including specific provisions to fight inequalities in academia. At a plenary session on 9 June,MEPs voted in favour of a report on the topic prepared by Maria Noichl, a social-democrat MEPfrom Germany. The report, which suggests introducing gender equality as a criterion for allEU-funded research programmes, received 341 votes in favour, 281 against and 81 abstentions.

Call for sharper public-private response to disease outbreaksMore should be done to encourage businesses—such as pharmaceutical and communicationscompanies—to work with governments and other public organisations to tackle future globaldisease outbreaks, according to a report published on 4 June by the World Economic Forumand the Boston Consulting Group. The report examines the response of businesses to the Ebolaoutbreak and suggests models for better public-private cooperation.

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Research Europe, 18 June 20154 news

Russians rally behind science foundation

classified as ‘foreign agent’Russian researchers have gathered in Moscow to protestagainst a government decision that could lead to theclosure of a charitable science foundation.

On 25 May, the Russian government announcedthat the Dynasty Foundation would be classed as a“foreign agent”. Under rules introduced in 2012, any non -governmental organisation that engages in “politicalactivity” and receives “foreign funding” must join a reg-ister and use the title of foreign agent—which carriesconnotations of spying—in all of its public activities.

About 3,000 people—including researchers, stu-dents, journalists and human rights activists—gatheredin Moscow’s Suvorovskaya Square on 6 June to protestagainst the decision, which has left the foundationthreatening to close its doors. Protesters are also unhap-py about an overhaul of the Russian Academy of Sciencesthat they feel would cause it to lose its independence.

“It’s a tragedy that a charity supporting Russianresearchers is being threatened,” says Paul Chaisty,an associate professor of Russian government at theUniversity of Oxford. “The last thing Russia needs is foranother investor to withdraw from the country.”

The foundation, which is solely funded by the 82-year-

old Russian businessman Dmitry Zimin, is said to havefallen foul of the legislation because Zimin holds all ofhis money overseas. If Zimin stops financing the founda -tion—which provides about €8.8 million a year to fund

fellowships for young Russian researchers, as well astextbooks for schools and a translation service—it wouldleave a gap in Russia’s research funding infrastructurethat would be difficult to fill, says Konstantin Severinov,a biologist at the Skolkovo Institute of Science andTechnology near Moscow.

“With funding from the Russian state agencies,including the Russian Academy of Sciences, it is closeto impossible to legally do things like invite speak-ers from abroad or support short-term research visitsfrom Russian scientists abroad,” says Severinov. “WithDynasty funds you were able to do that.”

Although the foundation is regarded as being more westward-looking than other Russian funders, Severinovsays that its funding “is designed to develop and keeplocal talent in Russia”.

Where Zimin will take his funds if he does close thefoundation is unclear. Research Europe understands thathe has held meetings with European universities to dis-cuss the creation of fellowships for Russian researchersto study in the EU.

A Moscow-based spokeswoman for the foundationsaid that a decision about its future would be made inthe next few weeks, but that funding already allocated would be spent as planned.

by Lindsay McKenzie lmnews@ResearchResearch.com

ESA shortlists major projectsfor 2025 launchThe European Space Agency hasnarrowed down the possible

research topics for a planned 2025 launch to exoplan-ets, plasma physics and X-ray emissions in space. Thethree projects, shortlisted from 27 proposals, are: the Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-Survey (Ariel), the Turbulence Heating Observer (Thor)and the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (Xipe).

Pirate MEP in copyright pushThe European Commission is being far too cautious inits proposed reforms to copyright, the German MEP JuliaReda has said. Reda, the vice-president of the Greensand European Free Alliance group and a member of theGerman Pirate Party, is pressing for a single Europeancopyright law to apply in all member states.

Patent office grants awardsThe European Patent Office has awarded innovationprizes for inventions that have helped to tackle societalchallenges such as energy efficiency and health. A life-

time achievement award was presented to Andreas Manz,a Swiss chemist, for his invention of microlab chips, andthe Popular Prize went to Ian Frazer of Australia andthe late Jian Zhou of China for their work on a vaccineagainst cervical cancer.

European research lab for FacebookFacebook has announced that it is to open a smallresearch laboratory in Paris to study artificial intelli-gence. The lab will provide a space for six researchersto develop automated language and image recogni-tion software, in collaboration with the French publicresearch institute Inria. Researchers will also work onmachine learning techniques and live translation tools.

EU backs Latin American projectsThe European Commission has unveiled a packageof projects, funded with €118 million, to supportsmall businesses in Latin America that are working onresearch, innovation and energy. The projects wereannounced during a business summit of representativesof the EU and the Community of Latin American andCaribbean States, held in Brussels on 10 June.

e u r o p e

e u r o p e i n b r i e f

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Research Europe, 18 June 2015 news 5

Parliament accuses anti-fraudoffice of manipulating dataThe European Parliament has called for a restructuring ofthe European Anti-Fraud Office, Olaf, claiming that theagency manipulated its statistics on fraud investigations.

In a resolution passed on 10 June, MEPs called onthe European Commission to deliver an action plan byDecember to address problems raised by Olaf’s super - visory committee in a report published on 4 May. Theresolution was opposed by the socialist and Euroscepticgroups in the Parliament, but backed by other parties.

In its report, the supervisory committee said thatOlaf was splitting large cases into many smaller ones. According to MEPs, this is done artificially to improvethe agency’s statistics and give the impression that itis working effectively and completing investigationsquickly. “Olaf has been manipulating the statistics tohide the fact that investigations indeed take more than12 months,” says Bart Staes, a Green MEP from Belgium.“This is a scandal. We need a reliable anti-fraud office.”

Ingeborg Gräßle, the chairwoman of the Parliament’sCommittee on Budgetary Control and a German EuropeanPeople’s Party MEP, agrees. “We are looking at dreadful

irregularities in the audits,” she said during the parlia-

mentary debate. “The whole thing stinks to high heaven.” According to the committee, nearly half of the Olaf

investigations that last more than 12 months concernthe use of structural funds—a category of fundingincreasingly used for projects related to research. At theend of 2014, Olaf was undertaking 153 investigationsinto projects involving €476.5 million from those funds.

Giovanni Kessler, the Italian magistrate who headsOlaf, told Research Europe: “Structural funds cases oftenconcern myriad authorities from several countries, sotheir duration should not come as a surprise. These accu-sations are totally groundless. The report’s messages havecome across in a hyped and politicised way.”

In response to the criticism, the Commission has prom-ised to take action on Olaf and also set up a task forceto look at how eight countries—Bulgaria, Croatia, theCzech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia andSlovenia—use their structural funds. According to Staes,however, the first step should be to replace Kessler. “We

don’t trust him any more. He should step down.”

by Cristina Gallardo cgnews@ResearchResearch.com

Innovation policy researchers told to ‘get real’ Academics studying research and innovation systemsoften fail to consider the realistic capabilities of govern-ments, a conference has heard.

At the European Forum for Studies of Policies forResearch and Innovation, Susana Borrás, an innovationand governance researcher at Copenhagen BusinessSchool, said that many researchers did not considerexisting governmental or societal contexts in their the-ory, or reflect the realistic potential for change.

“We need to bring into our analysis what policy isactually doing,” she said. Many policy researchers aretoo idealistic and treat practical recommendations as a“separate entity” added on at the end—instead of incor-porating them into the research design. This leads to agap between academics’ abstract suggestions and thereality of the problems faced by policymakers, she said.

The conference, held in Helsinki from 10 to 12 June,brought together 200 academics, government rep-resentatives and funding agencies. Borrás made fivesuggestions for a policy research agenda that could helpto bridge the divide, including an analysis of the differ-ence between what a government says and what it does.

A secondary problem identified by Borrás is thatresearchers often overestimate the ability or willingness

of policymakers to get to grips with complex academicsolutions. “Politicians are generalists,” she said. “Theylook at the work and say, ‘It’s interesting, but my real world is quite different.’”

Academics also make the mistake of treating the gov-ernment as one entity that acts with one purpose, saidBorrás, instead of appreciating the intricacies of differ-ent ministries and administrative branches.

Researchers must not only examine government poli-cies in terms of research and innovation, but also lookmore closely at the regulatory environment in areas suchas health, environmental protection and defence, Borrássaid, as these often overlap or collide.

Her observations were widely accepted at the con-ference, with attendees saying they could do more toimprove their impact. Charles Edquist, the founder ofthe Circle innovation centre at Lund University, saidthat policy research in risk financing had failed to getthe government’s attention in Sweden, where poli -cies have pushed public investment towards late-stagedevelopment. Researchers should focus on similar real-life policy problems to improve the relationship, he said.

by Jenny Maukola in Helsinki jemnews@ResearchResearch.com

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Research Europe, 18 June 20156 comment

Branch, bureau, club or union:how universities work in Brussels

e a r m a 2 0 1 5 h e e b ø l l & b r u u n

More and more European universities are establishingrepresentation in Brussels. They do so for many reasons:to seek intelligence on Horizon 2020 and influence inthe European Commission; to raise the profile of theirresearch agenda in the European Parliament; and to findnetworking opportunities and potential partners amongthe huge number of universities, regions, cities, organi-sations and business groups represented there.

However, when we began to investigate this highlyspecialised branch of research management and admin-istration, we could find no analyses—even though we work in Brussels for Danish universities . So we star t -ed digging. We went through about 300 webpages,conducted a dozen interviews and consulted lists of uni- versity networks to gather information about the scaleand scope of university representation in Brussels.

We found that about 100 universities, organised in46 different offices, have at least one employee in thecity or have otherwise dedicated resources to workingthere. With 31 universities, the UK has the highest num -ber; and Scandinavia is also a well-represented region,

with 26 universities present in Brussels.Interestingly, we found that universities with Brusselsrepresentation won an average of €3.6 million in signedgrant agreements in the first year of Horizon 2020. Forthose without, the average was €1.4m.

Our interviews revealed that the main reasons forbeing in Brussels were to gain intelligence, influence,contacts and funding. The specific goals varied a greatdeal between universities. Some stressed the value ofless tangible assets such as networking and early intel-ligence, whereas others set concrete funding goals.

From our interviews and mapping, four types ofrepresentation emerged, each with its particular chal-lenges, set-ups, aims and control mechanisms. We callthe most basic form of representation ‘the Branch’. Here,

the Brussels office is essentiallypart of the home university. Theseare relatively easy to set up, usually just involving the relocation of anemployee. Little effort is required tointegrate with the home university,so the office is quickly operational.The University of Wolverhamptontook this option, for example.

We call the next level of repre-sentation ‘the Bureau’. Here, theuniversity contracts an existingoffice to represent it in Brussels or

perform certain tasks. The advantages are that the exist-ing representation often has a set-up and network thatthe university can tap into. An example of this is theUniversity of Southern Denmark’s presence in the SouthDenmark European Office.

Al ternat ively, universi ties can jo in forces—anapproach we call ‘the Club’. This can be based on geog -raphy or shared goals, and usually involves a greateradministrative and financial commitment than a branchoffice or bureau. It typically increases collaborationbetween the universities involved, but laying out acommon strategic track can be challenging. Examplesof clubs include the League of European ResearchUniversities, the EuroTech alliance of technical universi-ties and the EU office of the Capital Region of Denmark.

Finally, there is ‘the Union’, bringing together a largenumber of a certain type of institution. This approachcreates a united and influential voice, albeit one thatcan usually speak only on overarching issues. Examplesinclude the European University Association and Neth-ER, which represents Dutch universities at the EU level.

Any university considering a Brussels opera tionshould consider which of these categories best suits itspurposes, and design its approach accordingly.

Making representation in Brussels work is, of course,not without its challenges. In particular, the relation-ship with the home institution kept surfacing in ourinterviews. Physical distance from the institution’sadministration can create communication difficulties,so care is needed to ensure that good links are main-tained with administrative staff and researchers.

Getting the right structure of reporting lines and man -agerial links with the home institution can be tough,and successful representation requires resources to beallocated at both ends. Added to this, universities oftenestablish a presence in Brussels without being sure whatthey want to achieve, resulting in a lack of focus.

Opening a Brussels office, then, should not be donelightly and is not a magic route to European influenceand resources. But for those universities willing to makethe effort, representation in Brussels can help themto gain intelligence and influence on Horizon 2020,increasing their chances of winning funds. More to say? Email comment@ResearchResearch.com

‘Universitiesoften establisha Brusselspresence withoutknowing whatthey want toachieve.’

Ida Heebøll is the EU adviser at the Capital RegionDenmark EU Office. Christian Walther Bruun is the EUrepresentative for the University of Southern Denmark atthe South Denmark European Office.

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Research Europe, 18 June 2015 comment 7

Making responsibility a reality

l ó p e z - v e r d e g u e r & s m a l l m a n

Responsible Research and Innovation is a cross-cuttingtheme of Horizon 2020. The European Commissiondescribes RRI as “an approach that, in regard to science,anticipates and assesses potential implications andsocietal expectations, with the aim to foster the designof inclusive and sustainable research and innovation”.The basic idea is simple and powerful: given science andinnovation’s power to transform our world, we need tomake sure that they work with and for society.

But what does this mean in practice? What does itmean for research and researchers? These are the ques-tions that we are setting out to answer in our RRI Toolsproject, and that we will be discussing at the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators’conference in Leiden, the Netherlands, later this month.

The aim of our project is to develop an RRI toolkit.This initiative, which runs from 2014 to 2016 andis funded by Framework 7, involves 26 institutionsfrom across Europe, led by the La Caixa Foundation inBarcelona. We are developing digital tools and trainingprogrammes to bring the RRI idea to life in five impor-tant areas: research, industry, policy-making, civilsociety and education.

Our first steps have been to explore perceptions of RRI

in these areas and identify emerging needs and actions.Last autumn, we ran 30 workshops in 22 countries acrossEurope, bringing together more than 400 people to dis-cuss how to make RRI happen.

These workshops yielded rich feedback. Interestingly,participants believed that RRI had as much to offer theculture of research as it did wider society. Possiblebenefits include avoiding public controversies aroundscience and technology, and recognising and potentiallytransforming the wider system of institutions, rules andincentives that shape scientists’ work.

Researchers in particular viewed RRI as an opportu-nity to increase understanding of their role in society.RRI may also lead to an increase in the number andrange of science vocations, participants pointed out,and encouraging researchers to engage with widerperspectives and different networks could increase thecreativity and quality of their work. Opportunities totransform the peer-review process in an open-accesssystem and to develop new citation practices were alsoraised as possible benefits, along with making use of alltalents—regardless of, for example, gender—and focus-ing on longer-term problems.

As well as potential benefits, our workshops identifiedsignificant obstacles to achieving RRI. Besides the chal-lenges of understanding precisely what RRI means andof changing people’s behaviour, participants describedhow the pressure to publish encouraged a view of sci-ence that cut it into disconnected projects rather thanrevealing the big picture.

Another problem raised was the way in which scienceis assessed: this may hold back RRI, as research evalua-tion tends to be rooted in productivity rather than socialrelevance. Some participants even argued that the prev-alent evaluation procedures may sometimes undermineRRI objectives.No-one sees RRI as a panacea, or is under the illu-sion that its implementation will be frictionless. Theunpredictability of science and the right to academicfreedom are just two stumbling blocks that will preventthat from being the case.

A host of questions remain unanswered: How shouldRRI change how we plan research? At what point can we judge if its outcomes will be desirable or not? Who canbe expected to take responsibility for such a networkedactivity and diverse outcomes? How do we manage col-lective responsibility? How do we get the benefits of RRI

while minimising the potential downsides?Participants’ suggestions for encouraging take-up ofRRI included finding ways to make the concept relevantfor different groups and highlighting outstanding exam-ples. They discussed the possibility of setting RRI as arequirement for research funding—and in a meaningful way, rather than as a box-ticking exercise.

Other ideas include ensuring that research fund -ing reflects society’s needs and considers sociallydesirable outcomes, and using research data to helpus understand and challenge whether these goals arebeing achieved. Participants saw that an RRI perspec-tive could provide opportunities to build relationshipsbetween the various relevant parties and the public.Developing practical training and guidance on how to‘do’ RRI was also seen as a priority forthe immediate future.

Over the next few months, thoseof us involved in the RRI Tools pro- ject wil l be working with all of theadvice we have gathered to compileand develop tools that encourageand support take-up of the conceptsand practices associated with RRI. We can’t do it alone, so please get in

touch if you wish to find out more. Something to add? Email comment@ ResearchResearch.com

Ignasi López-Verdeguer is the project director for RRITools at the La Caixa Foundation in Barcelona. Melanie Smallman is the deputy direc tor of the RRI Hub atUniversity College London. See www.rri-tools.eu.

‘How do we getthe benefits

of responsibleresearch and

innovation whileminimising the

downsides?’

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Research Europe, 18 June 20158 news

A long way to goPoland’s science and higher education minister tells Cristina Gallardo of thecountry’s recurrent research woes.Poland is the largest of the 13 newest EU member states,and also the largest single recipient of EU structuralfunds for 2014-20. Some €77.6 billion has been allocatedto the country—and the pressure is on to show that themoney is spent wisely.

Włodzisław Duch, a 51-year-old physicist who arrivedat the Polish science ministry in April 2014 after two years as vice-rector at the Nicolaus Copernicus Universityin Toruń, admits that several issues still cast shadowsover the country’s research system.

Despite heavy EU spending in the past decade, andsome positive developments such as the launch of aPolish Space Agency last month, the country is still fac-ing brain drain, a lack of innovation and collaborationbetween universities and industry, and low academicsalaries. “We are not satisfied with the state of researchat the moment,” Duch says.

The aim is to use the structural funds to employ theright people in teaching and research, he says, in con-

trast with the past emphasis on buildings and equipment.But other sources for research funding in Polandremain scarce, with both public and private spend-ing falling well below the thresholds desired by the

European Commission. The Polishgovernment—a coalition betweenthe Civic Platform and the PolishPeople’s Party—is theoreticallycommitted to doubling spendingon R&D from 0.9 to 1.7 per centof GDP by 2020. Duch says thisremarkable target has now beenincreased further, to 2 per cent.

An increase is needed to sat-isfy the myriad research facilitiesthat were built using structuralfunds from Framework 7, manyof which are already struggling tofund their operations. “We havereceived dozens of requests fromlaboratories asking for additionalmoney to complete some partsof the work they are undertak-ing,” Duch says. “The numberof requests is growing and thatshows that researchers are ambi-tious—but also that we don’t haveenough funding.”

The Commission has praised Poland’s efforts toincrease competitive funding, which accounts for 52 percent of publicly funded R&D. The rest is allocated tonational research institutes on the basis of evaluationscarried out by the ministry every four years, the latestof which is now under way. The previous evaluation,in 2011, led to a series of closures and mergers that,according to Duch, have helped to ensure that the sur - viving institutes are financially sound.

The work of researchers in Poland is also made moredifficult, Duch says, by a heavy teaching load at universi -ties, scant experience of knowledge transfer, and too fewinternational partners.

Several EU and Polish initiatives are aiming to attractPolish emigrants back to the country. Duch acknowl -edges, however, that most returnees are near the end oftheir careers: younger talent is still leaving in search ofbetter working conditions and higher pay.

One reason for emigration is the salary gap between

Horizon 2020 grantees working in western and easternEurope—an unresolved issue, Duch says, despite theCommission’s decision in 2012 to introduce a bonus ofup to €8,000 a year on top of basic salaries. The conse-quences of the gap are still “rather severe” in Poland, headds, which is leading a group of nine countries pressingthe Commission for more solutions.

“In Poland, the basic wage is always low, but research-ers receive lots of different motivational bonuses, foractivities such as publishing or writing reviews,” he says.“Polish researchers are starting to say that they are not willing to apply for Horizon 2020 calls because they canreceive a bigger amount from national grants.”

The official goal is for Poland to win €1.5bn fromHorizon 2020: a highly ambitious target, given thatit only won €430 million under Framework 7 and only2 per cent of Horizon 2020 proposal submissions in 2014involved Polish researchers.

Poland will hold a parliamentary election in October,at which the Eurosceptics of the Law and Justice Party, which won the presidential election in May, could wellenter government. But Duch rejects the possibility thatPoland’s commitment to European research programmescould waver. “If we leave well-thought-out plans, workedout with the scientific institutions, whoever comes afterus is likely to keep to that path. Even the Eurosceptics will need to show progress in research.” More to say? Email comment@ResearchResearch.com

i n t e r v i e w w ł o d z i s ł a w d u c h

Włodzisław Duch

* 2012-present Undersecretaryof state for science and highereducation, Poland

* 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 4 Vi c e - r e c t o r,Nicolaus Copernicus University,Poland

*2010-2012 Visiting profes-sor, Nanyang TechnologicalUniversity, Singapore

* 2000-presen t Professor,Nicolaus Copernicus University* 1998-2008 President, DuchSoftR&D company* 1996-2001 Visiting scien-tist, Max Planck Institutes for

Astrophysics and PsychologicalResearch, Germany

* 1990-1999 Associate professor,Nicolaus Copernicus University* 1980-1982 Postdoctoral fel-low, University of Southern

California

* 1980 PhD in quantum physics,Nicolaus Copernicus University

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EU environment grants

The Directorate-Generalfor Environment invitesproposals for projects onclimate change, resourceeff iciency, nature andbiodiversity, and environ-mental policy, under theLIFE programme. The totalbudget is worth approxi-mately €3.46 billion [19],[26], [28].

EU telecommunicationsEUREKA invites proposalsfor its Celtic-Plus call. Theaverage budget is worth upto €70 million [37].

EU vocational educationCedefop invites applica-tions to participate inReferNet, its Europeannetwork for vocational edu-cation and training. Grantsare worth up to €43,620 ata co-financing rate of up to70 per cent [39].

EU health programmeThe Consumers, Health,Agriculture and FoodExecutive Agency invitesproposals for its HP-PJ-2015 call within thethird health programme.Individual topic budgetsrange from €1.3 million to€2.5m at a co-financingrate of 60 per cent [42].

EU sustainable logisticsERA-Net Transportinvites proposals for itssustainable logistics andsupply chains call. Thetotal budget is worth€10 million [45].

funding oppor tuni t iesevery new opportunity every discipline

Research Europe18 June 2015

Opportunities from previous issuesof Research Europe, listed by closing

date. European Commission andassociated funders marked EU.

Each entry is followed by a Web id

June

d e a d l i n e sh i g h l i g h t s

N O T T O B EP H O T O C O P I E D

For subscriptions call +44 20 7216 6500

26 EUDirectorate-General for Employ-ment, Social Affairs & Inclusion EaSiProgress – mobility for profession-als 1184823

EUDitrectorate-General for Re-search and Innovation study on fru-gal innovation and re-engineeringof traditional techniques 1185045

EUEuropean Centre for DiseasePrevention and Control support tohealthcare-associated infections-net coordination and analysis of

HAI-Net data 1184759 DKVelux Foundation young investi-gator programme 1164089

29 EUEuropean Agency for Safety andHealth at Work foresight on newand emerging occupational safetyand health risks associated withinformation and communicationtechnologies and work location by2025 1184927

UKRoyal Photographic Societypostgraduate bursaries 1174139

UKWellcome Trust pathfinderawards 1166338

30 IE Assistive Technologies for Peoplewith Intellectual Disabilities andAutism fellowships 1181813

ESBBVA Foundation frontiers ofknowledge awards 212505

AUCreswick Foundation fellowshipsin child and adolescent develop-ment 1171922

ITCRT Foundation Lagrange-CRTFoundation prize 185105

EUDirectorate-General for Energyenvironmental baseline study forthe development of renewableenergy sources, energy storagesand a meshed electricity grid in theNorth and Irish Seas 1184726

EUEuropean Food Safety Authoritymodelling population dynamics ofaquatic and terrestrial organismsusing dynamic energy models –application to risk assessment ofchemical mixtures 1185154

EUEuropean Global NavigationSatellite System Supervisory AgencyEuropean satellite navigationcompetition 1159204

FREuropean Society for Surgeryof the Shoulder and the Elbowresearch grant 259563

EUEuropean Society of Contra-ception and Reproductive Healthcourse grants 1170016

EUEuropean Society of Contra-ception and Reproductive Healthproject grants 1170015

CHEuropean Society of RegionalAnaesthesia and Pain Therapyeducational grant 1170467

ITGino Galletti Foundation neuro-science prize 250978

AUIDP Education Australia IELTSresearch grants 1172047

ESInstitute of Photonic Sciencesinternational postdoctoral pro-gramme 1162929

NLInternational Organisation forthe Study of Inflammatory BowelDisease operating grants 1171126

HKM+/Design Trust research fel-lowship 1184798

BEMultidisciplinary European low

dose initiative award 1179628 LUNational Research Fund Luxem-

bourg INTER mobility programme 1172551

UKResearch Councils UK/Depart-ment for Business, Innovation andSkills R&D services and relatedconsultancy services 1185327

CARoyal College of Physicians andSurgeons of Canada McLaughlin-Gallie visiting professorship 1173753

NLRoyal DSM NV science and tech-nology award 1164974

UKSociety for Applied Microbiologyhardship research grant 1165464

FRUNESCO-Equatorial Guineainternational prize for research inthe life sciences 1179260

CHWorld Association of Societies ofPathology and Laboratory MedicineGordon Signy fellowships 1180063

July 1 ITCentral European Initiative know-how exchange programme 1179745 EUESF cold-water carbonate

mounds in shallow and deep time –science meetings 1165788

EUEuropean Centre for Disease Pre-vention and Control whole genomeDNA extraction and sequencingservices for salmonella, listeria,E. coli and campylobacter 1185294

DEEuropean Foundation forthe Study of Diabetes/JapaneseDiabetes Society reciprocal travelresearch fellowships 1166990

DEEuropean Foundation for theStudy of Diabetes/Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation/Lilly Euro-pean programme in type 1 diabetesresearch grants 201616

Online Funding Search

Funding searchSearch

For full details of every funding opportunity, visitwww.ResearchProfessional.com

Online subscribers can view full details of any funding opportunity bysimply searching for the Web id number as free text in a funding search.

Free text: 1234567 x

e u r o p eInflammatory bowel diseaseThe European Crohn's and Colitis Organi-

sation invites applications for its inflam-matory bowel diseases fellowship. Thisencourages young physicians in theircareer and promotes innovative scientificresearch in inflammatory bowel diseasesin Europe. The award is worth €60,000.Web id: 194827Email: ecco@ecco-ibd.euDeadline: 1 September 2015 [1]

EU transnational tech projectsEUREKA invites applications for its fund-ing for network projects. This encouragesthe creation of transnational, market-driven innovative research and devel-opment project consortia that aim todevelop marketable products, services or

processes in any technological area witha civilian purpose.Web id: 1185502No deadline [2]

EU fish mortality study The Executive Agency for Small andMedium-sized Enterprises invites ten-ders for the provision of a tagging studyto determine mortality sources on cod inthe Irish Sea. The tenderer will provide amethodology for and subsequently imple-ment a large-scale conventional taggingprogramme focused on the Irish Sea inorder to provide a complete picture ofmortality. The contract is worth €600,000.Web id: 1185465

Email: easme-procurement@ec.europa.euDeadline: 7 July 2015 [3]

EU genetic resourcesThe Directorate-General for the Environ-ment invites tenders for the preparationof guidance documents on the imple-mentation of the EU access and benefitsharing regulation 511/2014. The ten-derer will draft elements for guidancedocuments relating to access and benefitsharing of genetic resources and organisea process for soliciting stakeholder inputinto their finalisation. The contract isworth up to €215,000 over one year.Web id: 1185436Email: env-tenders@ec.europa.euDeadline: 13 July 2015 [4]

EU grants reviewEEA Grants and Norway Grants invite ten-ders for a mid-term review of the EEA andNorway grants. The tenderer will assessthe efficiency and effectiveness of thegrants at the current stage of implemen-tation. The maximum budget is €200,000.Web id: 1185460Email: ast@efta.int Deadline: 13 July 2015 [5]

EU forest managementThe Directorate-General for the Environ-ment invites tenders for the provision of astudy on implementing sustainable forestmanagement. The tenderer will conduct astudy to help the commission understandto what extent European-wide agreedecological principles and guidelines for

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10 funding opportunities Research Europe, 18 June 2015

Infectious diseases prizeThe National Fund for Scientific Researchinvites nominations for the InBev-Bail-let Latour health prize. This recognisesachievements in biomedical research forthe benefit of human health and encour-ages the laureate in the pursuit of his orher career. The prize is worth €250,000.Web id: 253842Email: prix@frs-fnrs.beDeadline: 30 September 2015 [25]

EU environment grants 2The Directorate-General for Environmentinvites proposals for the following callsunder the LIFE programme:

•integrated projects under both its cli -mate and environment sub-programmes.Web id: 1180297

• traditional projects on environmentand resource efficiency.Web id: 1185437Email: easme-life@ec.europe.euDeadline: 1 October 2015 [26]

EU environment grants 3The Directorate-General for the Environ-ment invites proposals for the followingcalls under the LIFE programme:

•traditional projects on environ -mental governance and information.Web id: 1185439

• traditional projects on nature andbiodiversity. Web id: 1185438Email: easme-life@ec.europe.euDeadline: 7 October 2015 [28]

Environmental footprintsThe Working Group on Environment andEconomy, under the Nordic Council ofMinisters, invites tenders for a project onenvironmental footprints. The aim is toexplore the methodological and analyti-cal basis of environmental footprintingand challenges and limitations in theuse of such estimates for policy use. Thebudget is DKK350,000 (€46,900).Web id: 1185508Email: jens.perus@ely-keskus.fiDeadline: 19 July 2015 [31]

Cancer research prizeThe Association for Cancer Researchinvites applications for the Léopold Grif-fuel prize. This recognises a major break-through in fundamental research or inapplied research in oncology. Each prizeis worth €150,000.Web id: 254982Email: prixarcleopoldgriffuel@fondation-arc.orgDeadline: 31 July 2015 [32]

EU smart electronic systemsEUREKA invites proposals for projectsunder its Euripides2 cluster. Fundingsupports the development of innovationsin the field of smart electronic systems.Funding is provided by partners' respec-tive governments.Web id: 1161501Deadline: 25 September 2015 [33]

EU radio astronomyRadioNet3 invites proposals for its trans-national access call. This enables usergroups from EU and associated statesto access RadioNet3's telescopes andarrays in Europe. The use of telescopesand arrays are provided free of charge,including technological and scientificsupport as well as training.

EU industrial legislationThe Directorate-General for Internal Mar-ket, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsinvites tenders for a study on cumulativecosts assessment of the EU ceramics andglass industries. The tenderer will analysecumulative regulatory costs of the mostrelevant EU legislation for the EU ceramicsand glass industry. The contract is worthup to €550,000 over 18 months.Web id: 1185458Email: entr-g-financial-team@ec.europa.euDeadline: 14 August 2015 [11]

EU energy efficiency The Directorate-General for Energy invitestenders for the delivery of informedinvestment decisions for energy efficiencyinvestments through accessible data,standardised procedures and benchmark-ing of performance. The tenderer willdevelop and launch an EU-wide initiativeto work out a common set of proceduresand standards for corporate energy effi-ciency and building renovation underwrit-ing for both debt and equity financingproducts. Work should be completedwithin 24 months.Web id: 1185553Email: ener-tender-2014-563@ec.europa.euDeadline: 17 August 2015 [12]

EU air transport policy The Directorate-General for Mobility andTransport invites tenders for a frameworkcontract to provide support for furtherdevelopment of EU air transport policyin relation to third countries and withinthe internal air transport market. Thetenderer will assist with the legal, tech-nical and socio-economic aspects of thiswork. The contract is worth €1.4 million.Web id: 1185366Email: move-air-annual@ec.europa.euDeadline: 21 August 2015 [13]

EU research policy The Directorate-General for Research andInnovation invites tenders for beyondthe horizon: foresight in support to thepreparation of the EU's future policy inresearch and innovation. The tendererwill provide policy recommendations forpossible new approaches, priorities andthemes to be considered in the planningof future EU R&I policy and funding, inparticular as support to the preparationof the next framework programme for R&I.The contract is worth €600,000.Web id: 1185503Deadline: 31 August 2015 [14]

EU consumer lawThe Directorate-General for Justiceinvites tenders for the provision of anevaluation study of national procedurallaws and practices in terms of their impacton the free circulation of judgements.The tenderer will examine the impactof national procedural law on the freecirculation of judgements and evaluatewhether national procedural laws andpractices ensure the procedural protec-tion of EU consumer rights and whetherthey satisfy requirements stemming fromthe rulings of the Court of Justice of theEU. The contract is worth €400,000.Web id: 1185459Email: just-a4-cft@ec.europa.euDeadline: 1 September 2015 [15]

EU raw materialsThe Directorate-General for Internal Mar-ket, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsinvites tenders for a review of the list ofcritical raw materials. The tenderer willcarry out a study in order to deliver thenext report and a list of raw materialsidentified as critical to EU. The contract isworth €400,000 over 18 months.Web id: 1185541Email: entr-g-financial-team@ec.europa.euDeadline: 4 September 2015 [16]

EU cooperative SMEsThe Directorate-General for Internal Mar-ket, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsinvites proposals for a pilot project onbusiness transfers to employees creatinga cooperative in order to ensure sustain-ability of SMEs. This aims to improve theenvironment for transferring businessesto employees and workers organised ina cooperative form and to raise aware-ness about the benefits of a cooperativemodel. Funding is worth up to €250,000per project at a co-financing rate of upto 70 per cent.Web id: 1185507Email: grow-cfp-pp15-tte@ec.europa.euDeadline: 10 September 2015 [17]

EU traffic dataThe Directorate-General for Mobility andTransport invites applications for a pro-gramme support action for the mainte-nance and further development of DATEXII. This supports the implementation ofa study addressing the coordination,harmonisation and standardisation oftraffic and travel data exchange. Fundingis worth €2 million.Web id: 1185498Email: move-c3-secretariat@ec.europa.euDeadline: 11 September 2015 [18]

EU environment grants 1The Directorate-General for the Environ-ment invites proposals for the followingcalls under the LIFE programme:

•call for technical assistance projects.Grants are worth up to €100,000 perproject. Web id: 1185443

•traditional projects on climate changeadaptation. Web id: 1185440

• traditional projects on climate gov-ernance and information.Web id: 1185441

•traditional projects on climate changemitigation. Web id: 252916

• pilot on-farm projects to test result-based remuneration schemes for theenhancement of biodiversity. The budgetis worth €500,000 to fund one or twoproposals at a maximum EU co-financingrate of 70 per cent. Web id: 1181209Email: easme-life@ec.europe.euDeadline: 15 September 2015 [19]

EU low carbon technology EUREKA invites proposals for projectsunder its Eurogia2020 cluster. Fundingsupports multidisciplinary, innovativeresearch and development projects thatwill reduce the carbon footprint of energyproduction, improve energy efficiencyand develop solar, wind, biomass or geo-thermal technologies.Web id: 1161448Email: contact@eurogia.comDeadline: 18 September 2015 [24]

sustainable forest management are beingapplied in forest planning, managementand land-use operations; identify prob-lem areas and pre-empt threats; and iden-tify practices and solutions for optimisingforest management. The contract is worthup to €120,000 over one year.Web id: 1185474Email: env-tenders@ec.europa.euDeadline: 14 July 2015 [6]

EU cross-border data flowThe Directorate-General for Communica-tions Networks, Content and Technol-ogy invites tenders for a study on datalocation restrictions – facilitating cross-border data flow in the digital singlemarket. The tenderer will analyse legaland non-legal barriers in member statepractices which hinder the free flow ofdata within the EU in order to contributeto the sustainable development of a digi-tal single market. The contract is worth upto €140,000 over 16 months.Web id: 1185368Email: cnect-r2-eoi@ec.europa.euDeadline: 17 July 2015 [7]

EU renewable energy 1The Directorate-General for Energy invitestenders for a study on maintenance anddevelopment of an internet database withrenewable energy support schemes andrelated information. The tenderer willprovide and maintain a thorough andregularly updated web-based database ofrenewable energy measures, in particularcovering financial support and marketor grid access. The contract is worth€150,000 over 36 months.Web id: 1185539Email: ener-c1-tenders@ec.europa.euDeadline: 17 July 2015 [8]

EU renewable energy 2The Directorate-General for Energyinvites tenders for the development andmaintenance of an Internet databasewith certification schemes or equivalentqualification schemes for installers ofsmall-scale renewable energy sourcetechnologies. The tenderer will provideand maintain a thorough and regularlyupdated web-based database for install-ers of small-scale RES technologies, inparticular covering the criteria of annexIV of the directive for each member stateof the EU, EEA, EFTA and Energy Commu-nity countries. Work should be completedwithin 24 months.Web id: 1185556Email: ener-c1-tenders@ec.europa.euDeadline: 22 July 2015 [9]

EU fisheries and aquacultureThe Directorate-General for MaritimeAffairs and Fisheries invites tenders forthe provision of a study on the approachesto management for data-poor stocks inmixed fisheries. The tenderer will devel-op models and strategies for providingadvice for mixed fisheries concerningcatches compatible with: fishing mortal-ity ranges defined as compatible withthe maximum sustainable yield; all fishcaught being landed; significant compo-nents of the marine fish ecosystem lackingkey biological information. The contract isworth €1 million over two years.Web id: 1181373Email: mare-tenders@ec.europa.euDeadline: 31 July 2015 [10]

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lowing health topics: reducing availabilityof alcoholic beverages; early diagnosisand treatment of viral hepatitis; earlydiagnosis of tuberculosis; integratedcare, frailty prevention, adherence tomedical plans and age-friendly communi-ties; common assessment methodologyon quality, safety and efficacy of trans-plantation therapies. Individual topicbudgets range from €1.3 million to €2.5m

at an EU co-financing rate of 60 per cent.Web id: 1180093Email: chafea-hp-calls@ec.europa.euDeadline: 15 September 2015 [42]

Security and rule of lawThe Netherlands Organisation for Sci-entific Research's Division of Sciencefor Global Development (NWO WOTRO)invites proposals for its security and ruleof law strategic research fund: call forcomprehensive approaches to humansecurity. This supports research projectsthat contribute to new evidence-basedknowledge and insights on policiesand intervention theories and strate-gies regarding inclusive, comprehensive

approaches to human security in fragileand conflict-affected settings, in view oftransnational security threats. Funding isworth up to €443,000 per project.Web id: 1185517Email: r.zuidema@nwo.nl Deadline: 18 August 2015 [43]

EU heritage awardsEuropa Nostra, supported by the Euro-pean Commission, invites applicationsfor the Europa Nostra awards. Theserecognise best practices in the conserva-tion of tangible cultural heritage, and aimto stimulate trans-frontier exchanges ofknowledge and experience throughoutEurope. Award are worth €10,000 each.

Web id: 1173676Email: eb@europanostra.orgDeadline: 1 October 2015 [44]

EU sustainable logisticsERA-Net Transport invites proposals forits sustainable logistics and supply chainscall. This aims to connect research relatedto the formation of a freight networkof pan-European dimensions that willanswer the needs of shippers, logisticsservice providers and carriers, in the lightof the objectives of an internationallycompetitive and environmentally sustain-able transport sector. The total budget isworth €10 million.Web id: 1185012

Email: sustainablelogistics@rws.nl Deadline: 2 October 2015 [45]

Science prizesThe Royal Netherlands Academy of Artsand Sciences (KNAW) invites applicationsfor the following prizes:

•the CL de Carvalho-Heineken prizefor cognitive science, worth US$200,000(€177,600). Web id: 187344

•the Dr AH Heineken prize for envi -ronmental sciences, worth US$200,000.Web id: 187341

•the Dr AH Heineken Prize for history,worth US$200,000. Web id: 187343

• the Dr AH Heineken prize for medi-cine, worth US$200,000. Web id: 187340

• the Dr HP Heineken prize for biochem-istry and biophysics, worth US$200,000.Web id: 187339Email: dianne.van.avendonk@knaw.nl Deadline: 15 October 2015 [46]

Research Europe, 18 June 2015 funding opportunities 11

Brief therapy The European Brief Therapy Associationinvites proposals for its research grants.These support projects on solution-focused brief therapy and its applications.Grants are worth up to €3,500 each.Web id: 1170211Email: mark.beyebach@gmail.comDeadline: 30 October 2015 [52]

Clinical researchThe AO Foundation invites applicationsfor the ARI medical research fellowships.These provide motivated surgeons withon-site research training to gain experi-ence in R&D projects on relevant clinicalproblems. A living cost stipend is providedfor a period of 12 months.Web id: 1173198Email: sonia.wahl@aofoundation.orgNo deadline [54]

Cognitive neuroscienceThe Human Brain Project invites proposalsfor its flagship call. This supports researchon systems and cognitive neurosciencewhich cuts across and links existingHBP subprojects. Funding is worth up to€2 million per project.Web id: 1185379Email: s.bradler@fz-juelich.deDeadline: 3 July 2015 [55]

CERN fellowshipThe European Organisation for NuclearResearch invites applications for its postcareer break fellowship. This supportsscience and engineering graduates wish-ing to restart their careers. Fellowshipsprovide a stipend, insurance, travelexpenses and family allowances for upto three years.Web id: 1176979Deadline: 7 September 2015 [56]

Paediatric nutritionThe European Society for Paediatric Gas-troenterology, Hepatology and Nutritioninvites applications for its internationalexchange programme awards. Theseenable members to acquire clinical orresearch skills not available to themin their host country by undertakingexchange visits and gaining specific diag-nostic or therapeutic endoscopy skills,by learning a relevant technique, or bylearning how to set up or provide a spe-cific service model. Up to seven awards,worth €3,000 each, are available.Web id: 1169286Email: espghanho@mci-group.comNo deadline [59]

Portfolio evaluationThe Scottish Government's ScottishEnterprise invites tenders for the provi-sion of a property portfolio asset valua-tion service. The tenderer will undertakea revaluation of Scottish Enterprise'sinvestment property portfolio, focusingon a valuation of land and property assets.The contract is worth up to £180,000(€247,300) over three years.Web id: 1185388Email: alison.mcmillan@scotent.co.ukDeadline: 8 July 2015 [60]

Skin pharmacology The University of Leicester's depart-ment of cell physiology and pharmacol-ogy invites tenders for the provision ofservices to support the development of

Web id: 1173211Email: irottmann@mpifr.deNo deadline [35]

Industrial metallurgy EUREKA invites proposals for the 2015call under its metallurgy Europe clusterprogramme. This supports large-scale,market-driven cluster projects in a broadrange of metallurgical and manufacturingfields, in accordance with the metallurgyEurope technology roadmap 2014-2021.The budget for each of the project calls isworth up to €20 million.Web id: 1185470Email: hans.fecht@metallurgy-europe.euDeadline: 31 July 2015 [36]

EU telecommunicationsEUREKA invites proposals for its Celtic-Plus call. This supports information andcommunications technology projectsthat focus on research related to a smartconnected world. The budget is worth upto €70 million.Web id: 1158474Email: office@celticplus.euDeadline: 15 October 2015 [37]

EU vocational educationCedefop invites applications to partici-pate in ReferNet, its European networkfor vocational education and training.This enables candidates to participatein a four-year partnership frameworkagreement for reporting on national VETsystems and policy developments. Thetotal budget is €4 million, with annualgrants worth up to €43,620 at an EU co-financing rate of up to 70 per cent.Web id: 185333Deadline: 21 August 2015 [39]

EU deforestation policy The Joint Research Centre invites tendersfor a study on the impact of EU sectorialpolicies on tropical deforestation andforest degradation. The tenderer willassess the impact of sectorial policies ontropical deforestation and forest degrada-tion, taking into consideration sectorialpolicies on transportation and relatedinfrastructure, agriculture and mining.The contract is worth €120,000.Web id: 1185521Email: jrc-ies-procurement@ec.europa.euDeadline: 21 July 2015 [40]

EU women and povertyThe European Institute for Gender Equal-ity invites tenders for a study on area A ofthe Beijing platform for action – womenand poverty. The tenderer will producea report of the current stage of imple-mentation on the strategic objectivesformulated in Area A, providing a reviewof the agreed indicators and highlight-ing the situation of groups that face ahigher risk of poverty. The contract isworth €260,000.Web id: 1185394Email: procurement@eige.europa.euDeadline: 16 July 2015 [41]

EU health programmeThe Consumers, Health, Agriculture andFood Executive Agency invites proposalsfor its HP-PJ-2015 call within the thirdhealth programme. Funding supports col-laborative projects that address the fol-

topical salbutamol to prevent human skinscarring and hyperpigmentation. The ten-derer will assess safety and tolerability oftopical salbutamol when applied to linearincisions and determine the optimal topi-cal salbutamol dose for scar improvement,with a view to moving towards therapeuticimplementation.Web id: 1185544Email: acm26@le.ac.uk

Deadline: 16 July 2015 [61]

Health crisesThe Department for International Devel-opment and the Wellcome Trust, viaEnhancing Learning and Research forHumanitarian Assistance, invite expres-sions of interest for their call for researchfor health in humanitarian crises. Fundingsupports collaborative projects that aimto improve health outcomes by strength-ening the evidence base for public healthinterventions in humanitarian crises.Seed funding of up to £10,000 (€13,800)per project is available.Web id: 1171539Email: r2hc@elrha.org

Deadline: 20 July 2015 [62]

Scottish wave energy The Scottish Government's Highlands andIslands Enterprise invites tenders for itsstage one research and development callfor a novel wave energy convertor, underits Wave Energy Scotland programme. Thetenderer will develop novel wave energyconverter devices, specifically focusing onthe prime mover and structure. Projectsmay receive up to £300,000 (€414,400)each.Web id: 1185554Deadline: 13 August 2015 [63]

Cambridge fellowshipsTrinity College Cambridge invites appli-cations for its junior research fellow-ships. These enable applicants to pursueresearch for up to four years in Cambridge.Fellowships are worth up to £25,135(€34,500) per year.Web id: 210261Email: jrf@trin.cam.ac.ukDeadline: 28 August 2015 [64]

r e s t o f w o r l d

Visiting professorshipsThe Weizmann Institute of Science invitesapplications for its visiting professor-

ships. These enable scientists to under-take research in Israel. Funding mayinclude financial remuneration, roundtrip airfare and rent free housing for upto one year.Web id: 198003Email: visiting.proposal@weizmann.ac.il Deadline: 31 December 2015 [69]

Water researchThe King Saud University invites applica-tions for the following awards:

•the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz inter -national prize for water – creativity, worthUS$266,000 (€236,300).Web id: 1182633

•the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz inter -national prize for water – specialised,worth US$133,000 each.Web id: 1182635Email: info@psipw.orgDeadline: 31 December 2015 [70]

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12 funding opportunities Research Europe, 18 June 2015

p o l i c y d i a r y June24 Association of European

Research Libraries AnnualConference, London, UK. To 26.http://rsrch.co/1nj77SM

• University-Industry InteractionConference. Berlin, Germany.To 26. http://rsrch.co/Vjs5Dg

28 EARMA: Enabling Cultures andDiversity in Research Manage-ment. To 1 July.http://rsrch.co/1EC1PGg

29 3rd Hellenic Forum for Science,Technology and Innovation.Athens, Greece. To 3 July.http://rsrch.co/1MJexaq

30 Priorities for Science andInnovation Policy: Opportuni-ties, Structures and Invest-ment. London, UK.http://rsrch.co/1MJeOdi

July 7 Caps 2015: Networked Social

Responsibility: The SecondInternational Event on Collec-tive Awareness Platforms forSustainability and Social Inno-vation. To 8. Brussels, Belgium.http://rsrch.co/1JFWaVo

September 7 Academia Europaea 27th

Annual Conference 2015,Darmstadt, Germany. To 10.http://rsrch.co/1EOEt1C

14 International Conference onTheory and Practice of DigitalLibraries. Poznan, Poland. To18. http://rsrch.co/1AUR9UC

24 Re-work Future Health Summit,London, UK. To 25.http://rsrch.co/1zGccsh

October 14 2015 Earto Innovation Prize

Ceremony. Brussels, Belgium.http://rsrch.co/1DNp2np

20 Aeronautic Research and In-novation 2015. London, UK. To23. http://rsrch.co/1EFYHft

November

4 World Science Forum.Budapest, Hungary. To 7.http://rsrch.co/1yYYthU

17 6th European Innovation Sum-mit, Brussels, Belgium. To 20.http://rsrch.co/1Ef31jy

18 Social Innovation 2015: Path-ways to Social Change. Vienna,Austria. To 19.http://rsrch.co/1F9bmma

19 The Innovation Connection– the 2014 Science BusinessSummit. Barcelona, Spain. To20. http://rsrch.co/1EY8lZ1

• 10th European Quality Assur -ance Forum – Taking Stock andLooking Forward.London, UK. To 21.http://rsrch.co/1AwdbhS

Brain and Behaviour Research Founda-tion NARSAD distinguished investigatorgrant Web id: 184724Deadline: 6 July 2015 [78]US Department of Defense Gulf War ill-ness research programme – clinical trialawardWeb id: 1166818Deadline: 9 July 2015 [79]US Department of Defense Gulf War ill-ness research programme epidemiologyresearch awardWeb id: 1184935Deadline: 9 July 2015 [80]US Department of Defense Gulf War ill-ness research programme – innovativetreatment evaluation awardWeb id: 1166858Deadline: 9 July 2015 [81]US Department of Defense neurofi-bromatosis research programme – clini-cal trial awardWeb id: 161066

Deadline: 10 July 2015 [82]US Department of Defense neurofi-bromatosis research programme inves-tigator-initiated focused research awardWeb id: 1158325Deadline: 10 July 2015 [83]US Department of Defense tuberoussclerosis complex research programmeexploration-hypothesis developmentawardWeb id: 1158323Deadline: 10 July 2015 [84]US Department of Defense tuberoussclerosis complex research programme –idea development awardWeb id: 161004Deadline: 10 July 2015 [85]

US Department of Defense spinal cordinjury research programme clinical trialawardWeb id: 1173770Deadline: 13 July 2015 [86]US Department of Defense spinal cordinjury research programme: investiga-tor-initiated research awardWeb id: 255292Deadline: 13 July 2015 [87]National Humanities Center fellowshipsWeb id: 1160718Deadline: 15 October 2015 [88]Association for Computing Machinery/Infosys Foundation award in the Com-puting SciencesWeb id: 251822Deadline: 30 November 2015 [89]Association for Computing MachineryAM Turing awardWeb id: 202797Deadline: 30 November 2015 [90]Association for Computing MachineryPanis Kanellakis theory and practiceawardWeb id: 202803Deadline: 30 November 2015 [91]Association for Computing Machinerysoftware system awardWeb id: 202790Deadline: 30 November 2015 [92]Gruber Foundation genetics prizeWeb id: 195481Deadline: 15 December 2015 [93]Gruber Foundation neuroscience prizeWeb id: 195476Deadline: 15 December 2015 [94]

Radar calibration *ESAThe European Space Agency invites ten-ders for the provision of a biomass exter-nal calibration study. The tenderer willconduct an external calibration study ofa P-band synthetic aperture radar throughan end-to-end characterisation of the

radar measurement chain. The contractis worth up to €500,000. Ref: 15.156.05. Deadline: 5 August 2015

Electromagnetic shielding *ESAThe European Space Agency invites ten-ders for the development of electro-magnetic interference-tight rectangularconnector assemblies. The tenderer willstudy the suitability and ability of electro-magnetic interference shielding measuresfor an electrical connector assembly froma system perspective. The contract isworth up to €500,000. Ref: 15.1EE.24. Deadline: 1 September 2015

Satellite modelling *ESA

The European Space Agency invites ten-ders for the provision of high fidelitychannel modelling for global navigationsatellite system receiver performancecharacterisation. The tenderer will pro-vide the following services: analysethe impact of multi-path characterisa-tion on GNSS receivers and analyse thelimitations of current radio frequencyconstellation simulators regarding thesimulation of high fidelity channel mod-els for GNSS receivers, and develop newpotential techniques. The contract isworth up to €500,000. Ref: 15.1EE.19. Deadline: 1 September 2015

Satellite data *ESAThe European Space Agency invitestenders for the exploitation of Sen-tinel 2 land and water data productsunder its Scientific Exploitation ofOperational Missions programme. Thetenderer will develop exploitation meth-ods of data products from the Senti-nel 2 satellite. The contract is worth aminimum of €500,000. Ref: 14.155.21. Deadline: 1 September 2015

Reflect array antenna *ESAThe European Space Agency invites ten-ders for the development of a reflectarray antenna for medium-size apertures.The tenderer will study and develop areflect array antenna capable of provid-ing improved radio frequency perfor-mance, compared to complex shapedreflector antennas, while offering advan-tages in terms of cost, accommodationand versatility. The contract is worth aminimum of €500,000. Ref: 14.1TT.45. Deadline: 4 September 2015

Sparse arrays antenna *ESAThe European Space Agency invites ten-ders for the design and development ofsparse arrays with improved apertureefficiency and scanning capabilities. Thetenderer will design and develop anten-na systems, generating spot or shapedbeams in a large field of view and ensur-ing transmit or receive functions in Ku,Ka, or higher frequencies. The contractis worth up to €500,000. Ref: 15.1EE.22. Deadline: 7 September 2015

--------------------------------------------- *ESA is at: http://emits.esa.intw

u s at e n d e r s

ISSN 1366-9885Published every two weeks withbreaks at Christmas, Easter andin summer. The next issue will bepublished on 2 July.Le t t e r s toResearch EuropeUnit 111, 134-146 Curtain Road,London EC2A 3AR, Englandnews@researchresearch.comEnqui r i e s toinfo@researchresearch.comTel +44 20 7216 6500

Editor Colin MacilwainComment and Analysis Editor John WhitfieldNews EditorsLaura Greenhalgh, Research EuropeRebecca Hill,Research Fortnight Senior Reporter Adam SmithReportersJames Brooks, James Field,Cristina Gallardo, JennyMaukola, Lindsay McKenzie,Craig NicholsonChief Sub Editor Kris PedderSub Editor Martyn JonesFunding Content Manager Maya BergerDeputy Funding Content Manager Yael MoscouSenior Funding EditorMelinda SulkamaFunding EditorsRebecca Blease, Mikael JärvelinEditorial Researchers

Sofia Capel,Demeter Chanter,Charlotte van Hek,Marcia Rato,Mirella Rosenström,Tine Stausholm Christiansen,Sanja VlaisavljevicProduction ManagerKatherine LesterDeputy Production ManagerLaura Kipp Technical Director Steve PotterEditor, Research Fortnight Ehsan MasoodChairman and Founder William Cullerne BownPublisher Thérèse Claffey

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analysis 13Research Europe, 18 June 2015

A question of standardsThe Internet of Things could allow devices and appliances of all descriptions towork seamlessly together. But what approaches to regulation and standardisationmight help usher it into existence? Lindsay McKenzie reports.

‘The pendingdata avalanchecarries threats

as well asopportunities.’

i n s i d e r

It’s been clear for some time now that the EuropeanCommission sees the Internet of Things—a buzz phrasefor interoperability between everything from toast-ers to televisions—as a vital element of its support forresearch and innovation. And last month, a EuropeanParliamentary Research Service report,The Internet ofThings: Opportunities and challenges , said the time wasright for the EU to take a global lead in implementing it.

The market for interacting devices is growing expo-nentially. Gartner, a market research firm in the UnitedStates, estimates that the number of connected objects inthe world will rise from 4.9 billion now to 25bn by 2020.

But commercial interest in designing and selling thesedevices is already driven by incentives that go beyondthe selling price of the devices themselves. Much of the value lies in the data that they transmit, and what thosedata say about people’s behaviour. As privacy advocateshave already pointed out, the pending avalanche of such

information carries threats as well as opportunities.Commission officials who are trying to forge an EUpolicy on the Internet of Things argue that its benefitlies not only in the potential boost to the economy butalso in the advantages that the technology can bring tosociety as a whole. It may increase efficiency in healthservices, for example, help us to waste less energy ormake agriculture and manufacturing cheaper and safer.

The Commission is therefore prepared to invest heav-ily in ensuring that Europe is ahead of the competitionin the US and China. It spent more than €100 million onrelated research in Framework 7, and has just evaluatedproposals from ICT 30, a Horizon 2020 call worth €51m.

Next year, the Commission plans to create a workprogramme with a further budget of more than €100m.The call, to be announced in September at the ICT 2015conference in Lisbon, will mainly support large pilotschemes but will also include money for “tailored, long-term research—especially on issues such as security andprivacy”, according to a Commission official.

Jan Höller, a principal Internet of Things researcherat the communications technology company Ericsson,agrees that funds should be used to research securityand privacy, but warns that the real barrier to progress isa lack of standardisation, as differing standards prohibitdata sharing and innovation.

The fear is that this lack of standardisation may leadto sets of discrete device networks that sit forever apart.

Products from different manufacturers may fail to com-municate with one another, limiting the knowledgethat can be obtained from the data. “Instead of creatingan Internet of Things, we are in danger of creating anIntranet of Things,” as one Commission official puts it.

Creating standards that work for everyone is challeng-ing, and is considered a priority by the Commission inits pursuit of a digital single market. The Commission is working with at least four industry consortia to map outhow many standards are already in place and find a wayof consolidating them. It says its approach will be to cre-ate industry-driven rather than top-down standards, sothat uptake will be as quick as possible.

European regulations may help to prevent the creationof too many isolated systems, but data protection willremain a pressing issue. “We should be worried aboutprivacy,” says Maarten Botterman, the director of GNKSConsult in Rotterdam.

“I think politicians and citizens are unaware of whatis coming,” says Botterman. He warns that devices suchas voice-activated televisions are already recording andtransmitting vast numbers of private conversations, without the speakers’ knowledge. “Take the example of voice-activated smart TVs,” he says. “The fact that youcan activate these devices by saying ‘TV on’ means thatthey are also listening when they’re turned off.”

The Commission, the Council of Ministers and theEuropean Parliament are engaged in a battle over revi-sions to the 1995 Data Protection Directive, the outcomeof which will frame the regulation of the use of such datain Europe. Originally due for completion last year, theupdated directive is expected to be the subject of fiercenegotiations later this year, with all sides hoping thatthe new rules can be implemented by 2017.

The update is expected to make the directive moreappropriate for the internet age and give citizens morecontrol over the use of their data—but a move in thatdirection will naturally make data sharingmore complex. Failure to create suitable,specific legislation for the Internet ofThings “would be a real setback for theindustry”, says Botterman. “It is reallyimportant to find a way forward that isresponsible but does not block progress.” Something to add? Email comment@ ResearchResearch.com

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u k & i r e l a n d

Research councils achieve mixed success

with invitations to peer reviewThe UK research councils are experiencing a hugely vari -able success rate with their requests for academics toreview grant applications, according to data obtainedthrough freedom of information requests.

An analysis by Research Fortnight , the sister pub-lication of Research Europe , reveals that the MedicalResearch Council had the lowest rate of acceptance ofits invitations in 2014, at 45.5 per cent. The NaturalEnvironment Research Council’s rate was the highest, at79.9 per cent. The Biotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council and the Economic and Social ResearchCouncil fell below the average rate of 54.8 per cent. Academics face growing workloads and pressure topublish, and have few incentives to undertake activi-ties such as external examination and peer review.“Universities need to make sure that they continue toallow academics time under the heading of scholarshipfor work that keeps the whole academic system tickingover,” says Adam Golberg, the research manager at theUniversity of Nottingham’s business school.

NERC and the Engineering and Physical SciencesResearch Council are investigating how they might rec-ognise and reward peer review, while the MRC and the

ESRC are planning to tell institutions the names of theirtop peer reviewers.Some councils are becoming more open with these

data in an attempt to make institutions think about

how much they put into the funding system and howmuch they take from it. Since 2014, the MRC has sentinstitutions comparative data to allow them to bench-mark, saying that this helps “to highlight the challengesfunders face in this area and to encourage institutions todo more to support and recognise peer-review participa-tion at a level in line with their MRC funding”. There isanecdotal evidence that this has changed performance,but it is too early to draw firm conclusions, the MRC says.

The chance of an academic accepting an invita-tion to review a grant does not seem to correlate at all with his or her institution’s grant income for the same year. For example, the top three institutions receivingBBSRC grants that started in 2014 were the Universitiesof Edinburgh, Cambridge and Manchester. But thesethree were far from the top of the BBSRC’s peer-reviewacceptance-rate table, coming in at 25th, 31st and 32ndrespectively. Meanwhile, the University of Hull, whichaccepted 75 per cent of its MRC invitations, the highestrate for the council, started no MRC grants that year.

The MRC says its acceptance rate may seem particularly

low because, unlike some councils, it does not approachreviewers before sending a formal invitation; other coun-cils may have achieved a higher score because negativeresponses prior to a formal invitation were not counted.

by Adam Smith asnews@ResearchResearch.com

Societies uneasy over PhD loansLoans for PhD students as pro -posed by the UK government couldpresent a sizeable debt burden to

postgraduates and reduce the chances of them pursuingtheir interests in academic research, scientific societieshave said. The Society of Biology and the Institute ofPhysics said they would prefer alternative mechanisms, with the society calculating that many researchers wouldfinish doctorates with “mortgage-sized” debt of £70,000.

Call for more R&D investment ahead of budget Overall government investment in R&D must increasein real terms if the UK is to remain at the forefront ofscience and innovation, the Campaign for Science andEngineering has told the Treasury, which is prepar-ing the budget for 8 July. CaSE said that the economicand societal benefits of research could only be realisedthrough long-term planning and increased investment.

Nobel laureate resigns over ‘girls’ commentsThe biochemist Tim Hunt has resigned from the EuropeanResearch Council’s scientific council after being criti -

cised for saying that the “trouble with girls” in the lab isthat “you fall in love with them, they fall in love with youand when you criticise them, they cry”. Hunt received theNobel prize in physiology or medicine in 2001.

Practice-based researchers aim to lift status Academics who incorporate practice into their researchmust form a movement to break down their peers’ nega -tive perceptions, a symposium has heard. Bruce Brown,the pro vice-chancellor for research at the University ofBrighton, said that practice researchers must simply “getover it and get on with it” to defy their detractors.

Universities don’t want black leaders, say academicsUK universities are still hostile to black and minorityethnic leaders despite years of equality and diversityschemes, academics have told a conference on leader-ship in higher education. The summit, held in Londonon 10 June, heard that black leadership is all too oftenblocked from universities, and that black academicsoften feel that they have to comply with forms of leader-ship developed by traditionally white institutions if they want to be seen as leaders.

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n a t i o n s

Germany fails to absorb international

talent, says education report Only 44 per cent of students with foreign roots remainin Germany after completing a degree in the country, anannual report on higher education has said.

The 2015 report, published on 3 June and compiled bythe Stifterverband, an association of research funders,and the consulting firm McKinsey, says that the numberof international students in the country is rising rap-idly: if it continues at the same rate, it will increase from102,000 today to 258,000 by 2025.

The German economy, however, is not benefiting tothe extent that it should. The report says that in 2014,41 per cent of international students interrupted ordropped out of their studies