On 23 June, COST Director Ronald de Bruin presented the COST Programme at the “Widening implementation” workshop as part of the European Research and Innovation Days.
This year’s European Commission’s annual flagship Research and Innovation event goes fully digital, and continues its mission of bringing together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and the public to debate and shape the future of research and innovation in Europe and beyond.
As 2021 marks the start of Horizon Europe, the ambitious EU research and innovation programme aiming to build a greener, sustainable, and digitised future while nurturing cross-sectoral collaboration in research and innovation. This comes at a decisive moment to strengthen the European Research Area.
Widening implementation
As part of the two-day programme, the workshop looked at presenting the instruments under the Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area Work Programme of Horizon Europe (HE) from a more operational and practical perspective.
Speakers from the European Commission and partner organisations gathered to inform about new opportunities with renewed and innovative widening actions to be launched with the first HE work programme 2021-2022.
COST Director Dr Ronald de Bruin presented the COST Programme opportunities as well as its role in spreading excellence and widening participation.
“COST is a core instrument for widening proven by its 50% budget investment for the benefit of participants from widening countries referred to as COST Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC): during Horizon 2020 ITC participation has grown steadily from 3.3 to 16 participants per Action, ITC researchers in leadership positions doubled from 445 in 2016 to 765 in 2020, while 18% of Action Chairs are from ITCs at the moment. Additionally, the proportion of young researchers in leadership positions has grown from 16% in 2016 to 19% in 2020.
“In conclusion, COST is on the move, also in Horizon Europe, contributing to making the ERA even stronger!”
The session gathered stakeholders, intermediaries, and potential applicants especially from widening countries.
Coming-up 09 July: COST info-day on European Research Area (ERA) & Widening
The first edition of the Horizon Europe info-days will take place online from 28 June to 9 July 2021 and COST will join to the event dedicated to the Widening theme.
More information on this event here: ERA & Widening | Horizon Europe Info Days 2021 (horizon-europe-infodays2021.eu)
Further information
- Find the full programme of the R&I days here: Homepage | Horizon Europe Info Days 2021 (horizon-europe-infodays2021.eu)