The Department of Science and Technology (DST) hosted a workshop to launch the European Union’s new Framework Programme Horizon 2020 (H2020) to the South African science and technology community. The workshop was held at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria on 27 January 2014. Eunice Ndeke attended the Forum on behalf of CSIR Strategic Alliances. The launch was well attended by delegates from academia, science councils and industry.
The launch served as an ideal opportunity for South African organisations interested in cooperating with European organisations under H2020 to learn more about the administrative requirements and the procedure to be followed when wishing to participate in H2020. The workshop was co-facilitated by the DST, the ESASTAP Plus project partners and representatives of the European Commission (EC).
Welcome remarks
Dr Phil Mjwara, Director-General, DST welcomed delegates. He noted that the Cooperation agreement on H2020 has received high political support from EU and the South Africa Government. The DST has set aside budget to co-fund approved projects in H2020 programme. He thanked the National Contact Points (NCPs) for assisting researchers in proposal submissions.
SA-EU Cooperation & DST funding instruments to support participation in Horizon 2020
Manohloding Tlhagale, DST Director for strategic partnerships presented on South Africa science and technology support instruments for EU cooperation. These are:
- Enhance knowledge generation capacity
- Support technology transfer
- Own institutional investments (seed funding co-investment and joint calls)
- Exploit competitiveness (geographical or knowledge advantage)
- Framework for SA S&T cooperation with Europe
- Emphasise joint ownership and mutual benefit
- Joint definition of priorities
- Alignment with planning phase of funding
- Advisory support, network of H2020 NCPs, awareness raising (website updates, email alerts, social networks, information sessions and training workshops)
- Financial (seed funding where applicable)
EU Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for research and innovation European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Nienke Buisman, Policy Officer for South Africa European commission research & innovation presented on H2020 Framework Programme.
The EU strongly supports social and economic growth to address societal challenges and to strengthen research innovation and technology. She noted the following:
- The 7th Framework programme was successful in promoting the Development Goals.
- The EU invested 178 million Euro in Africa to support 565 projects.
- Between 2007 and 2013, South Africa received 37.3 Euro and was the 5th most active international partner following Russia, US, China, and India.
- South Africa saw a success rate of 27%. Flagships programmes were in global health, earth observation and research infrastructure (radio astronomy square kilometre array (SKA).
- The EU has budgeted 79 billion Euro for the H2020 programme on research and innovation running from 2014 to 2020.
- There is a strong focus on SMEs
- H2020 will prioritise European needs and global challenges and is open to international cooperation
- Most of money goes to societal challenges.
- Three priorities for H2020 are excellence science, industrial leadership and societal challenges (health, food, climate, environment, energy, transport).
- There are now fewer topics and more flexible requirements
Information on current open calls
H2020 consists of two-year work programmes for the excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenges pillars. The following are specific programmes in each pillar:
- Excellent Science pillar – European research council, Marie curie actions and Future and emerging technologies
- Industrial leadership pillar – Information and communication technologies, Nanotechnology and Space
- Societal challenges pillar – Wellbeing, food security, agriculture, water, bioeconomy energy, transport, climate and environment
H2020 has allocated funds for staff exchange, doctoral and fellowship programmes.
Presentation of ESASTAP Plus ESASTAP Plus partner Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA)
Karin Dyason, Manager for capacity development at SARIMA presented on ESASTAP Plus activities. ESASTAP is a dedicated platform for the enhancement of European – South African Scientific and Technological cooperation with emphasis on innovation. ESASTAP has established advisory and financial support instruments to assist researchers with call applications and implementation of projects.
ESASTAP achievements in FP7 were:
- Creating awareness of the EU funding programmes in SA
- Establishing a good partnership with HEIs, science councils
- Increasing SA participation in FP7 – currently ranked first of 3rd country participants
- Establishing funding instrument to support SA participants in the EU funding programmes
- Establishing an effective SA National Contact Point (NCP) network for all FP7 themes including non-thematic areas
- Assisting with establishment of NCP networks in other African countries (concerted efforts of ESASTAP 2 and CAAST-Net projects)
ESASTAP objectives for H2020 programmes are:
- Enrich the science, technology and innovation policy dialogue
- Promote strategic cooperation under the Framework Programme
- Coordinate and exploit synergy between different EU and national programmes
- Expand cooperation to specifically address innovation partnerships
More information is available on the following websites:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon
www.nationalacademies.org/peerscience
Eunice Ndeke Strategic Alliances ENdeke@csir.co.za Tel:012 841 3764
