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The prize is open to universities, higher education institutions, and other research performing organisations (public or private), established in an EU Member State or a Third Country associated to Horizon Europe. There are three categories open for submission: Sustainable, Newcomer and Inclusive. Deadline to apply is 16 October and each winner will receive a €100,000 prize. The Award was created under Horizon Europe to recognise the outstanding results achieved by academic and research organisations in the implementation of Gender Equality Plans.

Further information can be found here.

Source: EU Commission

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has published a new evaluation of lump sum funding in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. The report is based on data from Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects, as well as a survey of successful and unsuccessful applicants and evaluators.

Today, the European Commission launched a call for nominations of scientists to be shortlisted for future membership of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA). The group provides high-quality, timely and independent scientific advice to the College of European Commissioners on any subject, including on policy issues that the European Parliament and the Council consider to be of major importance.

Following the first round of the EIC Accelerator 2024 in March, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has selected 68 European companies in a highly competitive process for funding that combines grants and equity. Eight of the thirteen German companies are from Bavaria. BayFOR has successfully supported one of them.

On 8 July, the EU Commission has published the recent edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard which (based on 32 indicators) provides a comparative assessment of the innovation performance of EU Member States and selected competitors. Compared to 2023, fifteen EU Member States saw an increase of their innovation performance in 2024, while it has declined for eleven member states (one, Croatia, remained stable).
 

The European Commission has published an Indicative Audit Programme (IAP), which applies to the EU-funded programmes 2021-2027 and thus also to Horizon Europe. The document defines the general principles and standards for conducting financial project audits. It also contains details on the on-site audit process and the audit steps for the individual cost categories as well as the risk analysis prior to an audit.

Following five years of intense research, the Circular Flooring consortium has proven that it is possible to produce plasticiser-free PVC recyclates from end-of-life flexible floor coverings. The solvent-based recycling process, which is operated with CreaSolv® formulations¹ jointly developed by Fraunhofer IVV and CreaCycle, can efficiently remove critical legacy plasticisers from waste PVC flooring. BayFOR successfully supported the Circular Flooring consortium in preparing its application for EU funding. As a project partner, it also provided the consortium with guidance on project management and communication activities.
 

The new image film for the EU project Circular Flooring has just been released. It gives an insight into the project and the future of PVC recycling.

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) has published its updated organisation chart, which includes some restructuring of units. The former Directorate F for International Cooperation has been dissolved and its units restructured.

The 2025 Work Programme of the European Research Council has been adopted. The Programme sets out funding opportunities, budgets of the calls, the calendar of grant competition and conditions for ERC funding. The document had been drafted and endorsed by the ERC Scientific Council, and adopted by the European Commission. 

The Digital Europe programme aims to bring digital technology to businesses, the public and public administrations. The European Commission is seeking feedback as part of a public consultation on the interim evaluation of the EU's Digital Europe programme. The evaluation focuses on the programme's effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and EU added value. Both the activities directly managed by the European Commission and the programme components indirectly managed through other initiatives are being evaluated. The aim of the evaluation is to inform stakeholders about the progress made by the programme and to support the design of future work programmes. The deadline for feedback is 20 September 2024. The consultation can be found here.

Source: KoWi