Through creodk, I have been in contact with top researchers who have made me aware of scientific issues which should be prioritised in Horizon 2020

Transcription

1 Annual Report

2 Through creodk, I have been in contact with top researchers who have made me aware of scientific issues which should be prioritised in Horizon 2020 Britta Thomsen, Member of the European Parliament creodk delivers intelligence, network and onthe-ground services which made it possible for us to initiate a series of activities to promote the Global Microbial Identifier globally Jørgen Schlundt, Director of Institute, DTU Food, National Food Institute

3 Foreword This annual report covers our activities and results in Demand for our services has continued to grow and so has the number of initiatives we have launched. From an EU research perspective it was a significant year which included Denmark s seventh EU Presidency, final calls for the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and further development of Horizon The Danish EU Presidency gave further momentum to the creodk partnership, and we are very pleased that our large joint initiative, the Copenhagen Research Forum, has been well received in Brussels and among our European research partners. Our efforts in relation to Framework Programmes present and future ones have delivered excellent results in terms of political influence, scientific input and economic benefits for the creodk partnership, which comprises the University of Copenhagen, DTU and the Capital Region of Denmark. The creodk team creodk consists of Head of Office, Birgitte Wederking, three EU advisers and a trainee. Two of the EU advisers, Anne Petersen and Ida Heebøll, are based in Brussels while EU adviser Jonas Bak is based in Denmark. Victoria Fuglsang-Damgaard is our trainee for the first half of 2013 and Christian Orup Damgaard and Asger Rønn Jensen were trainees in In addition, Søren Siggaard Knudsen, from DTU, ended his 18-month secondment to the office in the summer of Our results demonstrate not only the partnership s continued commitment, but also the value it adds, to the European Research Area (ERA) and international research cooperation. Our goal is to prepare comprehensively for Horizon 2020 and proactively contribute to tackling current societal challenges through well-targeted science cooperation and innovative solutions in the ERA. Our main driver is stronger cooperation for further prosperity and sustainable growth. This report reflects our commitment to represent our partners in Brussels and to ensure that they benefit from our active and direct involvement at the EU level. I trust that the report will inspire further engagement and collaboration. I would like to especially thank our Steering Committee, the Contact Group and all other stakeholders who have contributed to our achievements in the past and to our ambitions for the future. Sincerely Birgitte Wederking, Head of creodk Brussels, March 2013 Asger rønn jensen Trainee Anne PeTersen EU adviser Birgitte Wederking Head of Office Ida Heebøll EU adviser Victoria Fuglsang-Damgaard Trainee Jonas Bak EU adviser

4 Research projects and funding Policy matters and the EU research agenda In 2012 we worked on 33 different projects in health, food, bioeconomy, information technology, SSH and climate and regional development. Fifteen of these projects related to input for FP7 work programmes, thus allowing us to have a significant influence on the priorities of the work programmes (e.g. health and Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy) and to provide the basis for EUR 3.7m in funding to our partners for projects on animal diseases, health, ageing and medical technologies. creodk s strategic target for is EUR 5.3m. Since its establishment in 2008, creodk has been involved in attracting EUR 7.2m in research funding. Our strategic focus comprised five thematic areas: synthetic biology, obesity, water management, medical technologies and hospitals of the future. The first four areas have shown good progress and we plan to pour significant resources into them in 2013, when a concerted effort will also be put into preparing for Horizon In addition to the thematic areas, we have supported and promoted the following projects and initiatives with significant resources: Global Microbial Identifier a DTU lead international project Cross disciplinarity in Horizon 2020 lead by the University of Copenhagen EIT s KICs on Food, Healthy Living and Active Ageing and Raw Material involves all three partners. The Danish Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2012 provided a good platform to highlight Danish competencies. We took advantage of this opportunity to initiate Copenhagen Research Forum (CRF). Conceived and financed by creodk, the CRF was launched as a new initiative that has provided significant input to the content and implementation of Horizon Together with Denmark s Permanent Representation to the EU and the Danish Local, Regional and Research Co-op Brussels (DAcoB), we co-organised three Presidency Dialogues in Brussels on research, ehealth and smart cities, thus mirroring conferences held in Denmark. The Presidency Dialogues were well attended and positively received among all stakeholders involved. Throughout the year, we have acted proactively concerning Horizon 2020 negotiations by motivating our partners to issue position papers and by providing input to the negotiating parties. Early in the process we also acted on the options available for proposing candidates for future Advisory Groups to the European Commission CASEs Obesity research advocacy Obesity research is a European societal challenge that needs attention from the EU. We aim to promote this important challenge in Horizon The University of Copenhagen, the Capital Region of Denmark and DTU have identified the main research priorities and assessed timely relevance and impact in close cooperation with the European Association of the Study of Obesity (EASO). Activities included a high-level EASO conference in Brussels followed by a report with policy recommendations. In addition, we have cooperated closely with researchers across national borders, liaised with the European Parliament and the European Commission, given scientific input to Horizon 2020 and organized a European workshop on obesity and the social sciences and humanities (SSH). Emphasis was on the importance of integrating SSH and biomedical research in order to better understand, prevent and treat obesity. Our joint effort to promote obesity research at the European level is one of the best coordinated efforts I have ever engaged in Professor Thorkild I.A. Sørensen, DanORC, Capital Region of Denmark and University of Copenhagen

5 Information services and the integrated consultancy Visibility and alliances In 2012 creodk published 11 issues of creodk Update, a newsletter comprised of information on EU research and innovation policy and opportunities. Distributed directly to 119 recipients, creodk Update received very good or good marks from 97% of its readers in a user survey. In addition, we have provided direct information to our partners on topical issues such as the development of Horizon 2020 and comprehensive FP7 roadmaps on selected thematic areas. In 2012 creodk.eu had 3,489 unique visitors, a 16% increase compared to the previous year. Together with the EU consultants at the University of Copenhagen, DTU and the Centre for Innovation and Research in the Capital Region of Denmark, we offer researchers a comprehensive integrated consultancy service on EU matters. Our close cooperation has grown both within the partner institutions and between the partners. We have regularly met with partners and stakeholders in Denmark and welcomed researchers and administrative staff at the Brussels office. In order to create interest for specific research areas and visibility for our researchers, we arranged 8 seminars and meetings on e.g. public health and synthetic biology. We gave 14 external presentations on the partnership and the work of the office and contributed to a range of internal information activities, conferences and discussions on e.g. Smart Specialisation and Horizon Our expanding European network and alliances have played a key role in providing a stronger voice on selected issues. Our engagement in DAcoB has been beneficial for all parties involved and made a real difference for our visibility during the Danish EU Presidency. Finally, our annual survey of user satisfaction indicates an overall satisfaction rate on 98% among our peers and stakeholders. Moreover, our office and conference facilities have been used for numerous project meetings and seminars. Copenhagen Research Forum I & II supporting the voice of European scientists Described as the voice of European scientists, the Copenhagen Research Forum (CRF) provided a platform where top scientists from across Europe could discuss their visions for Horizon 2020 free of institutional or geopolitical bias. The backdrop for passionate, fruitful discussions, the CRF has resulted in two reports describing the scientists explicit visions and recommendations on Horizon Both reports have been well received by a wide range of European stakeholders, including the European Commission. CRF activities were financed with no political strings attached by the three creodk partners and creodk. The creodk partnership was also actively involved as practical facilitators of the two CRF seminars held in Copenhagen in The Copenhagen Research Forum gave high quality input on the scientific content and the future implementation of Horizon 2020, which was highly appreciated by the European Commission Commented Director-General for Research and Innovation Robert-Jan Smits of the European Commission when meeting the Copenhagen Research Forum.

6 ANNUAL REPORT 2012 // 2012 Facts & Figures creodk 2012 in brief The creodk partnership in FP7 5 focus areas 8 seminars and workshops in Brussels projects EUR 3,700,000 in project financing (DKK 27.7m) Facilitator of delegations, conferences and project meetings in Brussels creodk Update newsletters public presentations IN Brussels and Denmark grant holders in FP7 (Marie Curie & ERC) research participations in FP7 More than EUR 300,000,000 funded through FP7 Events on creodk 2012 in brief Multidisciplinarity ehealth Smart cities Synthetic biology Public health Horizon 2020 Copenhagen Research Forum I Copenhagen Research Forum II European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) 8 faculties 9 hospitals 67 departments 4,000 PhDs 10,000 research-related employees 46,000 students Looking forward preparing for a new ERA In 2013 a major task for the creodk partnership will be to prepare ourselves and our researchers for the new era of Horizon CreoDK welcomes many of the new elements introduced by the European Commission and adopted in a Partial General Approach by the Council. We look forward to engaging in a programme that has a transparent, simplistic approach with emphasis on excellence, crossdisciplinarity and impact. In 2013 we and our colleagues in the Copenhagen area will therefore do our utmost to prepare and encourage the best researchers from our three partners to get involved in what is presumably the largest public research programme ever seen. The creodk partnership will do so by joining forces in widespread communication activities and face-to-face dialogue with as many of our researchers as possible. A common Horizon 2020 action plan in the partnership for dissemination and dialogue on Horizon 2020 will be the main tool to secure the proper coordination and successful outcome of these endeavors. Whatever our field, I know that one thing unites us: we are all dedicated to ensuring that our cities, our regions, and Europe as a whole, become powerhouses of research and innovation EU Commissioner Máire Geoghegan- Quinn, December 2012

7 Our office in Brussels has played an essential role in initiating and facilitating Copenhagen Research Forum, which allowed for the voice of European scientists to be heard in the EU Professor Liselotte Højgaard, President of Copenhagen Research Forum. Through creodk we gained access to new contacts in the EU system and high-quality assistance in facilitating our project meeting in Brussels Lars Kayser, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen

8 creodk in Brussels and Denmark creodk s strategic objective is to promote the interests of our partners vis-à-vis the European Union. We work with advocacy for research projects and policy making through a wide range of services. These include consultancy, match making, network building, events and information. Close cooperation with our EU consultants at our headquarters is key to our ability to motivate, inform and cooperate with a large network of top-level researchers. Moreover, our presence in Brussels facilitates alliances and opportunities for our partnership and has resulted in increased engagement in EU-related matters. University of Copenhagen With over 37,000 students and more than 7,000 employees, the University of Copenhagen is the largest institution of research and education in Denmark. DTU The leading centre of engineering education and research in Denmark, and one of the largest technical universities in Northern Europe. The Capital Region of Denmark The Capital Region of Denmark is by far the largest clinical research environment in Denmark with 9 hospitals and more than 60% of all national activity within the area. creodk - Capital Region Denmark EU Office Rue du Luxembourg 3 B-1000 Brussels creodk@regionh.dk tel.: Design: refleksdesign.dk Photos: Vincent Lestienne and creodk