SusChem News is tweeting 'live' from the stakeholder event in Amsterdam. Comments and images from the event are being posted at the SusChem twitter page. Blogs to follow later today.
SusChem twitter account can be accessed at http://twitter.com/Suschem
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Monday, 16 May 2011
Chem industry uniquely placed to deliver EIPs
In a news release today (17 May) at its Amsterdam Stakeholder event, the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) announced the next steps in its plan to play a leading role in four critical societal challenges for Europe. These steps, unveiled at the SusChem annual event in Amsterdam, aim to further demonstrate the chemical and biotechnology industry as an essential partner in the EU Innovation Union.
There is a way to bring innovative ideas to market in much shorter timescales. However, speeding up delivery depends on a radically new approach to innovation, i.e. through wide-scale collaboration that stimulates innovation simultaneously at various stages of the value chain.
The chemical industry, one of the few European industries that still retains world leadership, is acknowledged as a principle source of innovation for other sectors in Europe.
“The chemical and biotechnology industry is uniquely positioned to be an active value chain captain in Europe,” commented Peter Nagler (right), of Evonik and SusChem Board member responsible for innovation. “SusChem builds on its excellent track record of cooperation with a whole range of industry sectors across national borders – by doing so, it is already putting the Innovation Union into practice.”
SusChem has developed proposals in four areas where sustainable chemistry has a leading role to play:
• Resource efficiency - Bringing energy savings in a demonstration plant that allows reduction of CO2 emissions by 50% and increasing the use of renewable feedstocks by 20% beyond 2020 along the value chain
• Water efficient Europe - Reducing competition between the public and private sectors for scarce water resources.
• Smart cities - Improving energy storage and renovating housing
• Raw materials for a modern society - Addressing scarce resource issues through new materials initiatives and improved recycling / reuse efficiency
“Neither the public or private sector can do it alone. These partnership proposals have the potential to improve the quality of life in Europe and deliver key gains for society as a whole,” concludes Nagler. “They can also drive new markets and make a major impact on various business sectors. The time is right therefore to give our stakeholders a clear-cut proposal of what our industry can achieve in the Innovation Partnerships.”
More background on the proposed EIPs can be found on this blog posting.
SusChem is a European Technology Platform that brings together stakeholders from many different backgrounds to boost sustainable chemistry with a focus on technology, research and innovation issues. It was founded in 2004 by Cefic and EuropaBio.
Visit the SusChem website at: www.suschem.org
There is a way to bring innovative ideas to market in much shorter timescales. However, speeding up delivery depends on a radically new approach to innovation, i.e. through wide-scale collaboration that stimulates innovation simultaneously at various stages of the value chain.
The chemical industry, one of the few European industries that still retains world leadership, is acknowledged as a principle source of innovation for other sectors in Europe.
“The chemical and biotechnology industry is uniquely positioned to be an active value chain captain in Europe,” commented Peter Nagler (right), of Evonik and SusChem Board member responsible for innovation. “SusChem builds on its excellent track record of cooperation with a whole range of industry sectors across national borders – by doing so, it is already putting the Innovation Union into practice.”
SusChem has developed proposals in four areas where sustainable chemistry has a leading role to play:
• Resource efficiency - Bringing energy savings in a demonstration plant that allows reduction of CO2 emissions by 50% and increasing the use of renewable feedstocks by 20% beyond 2020 along the value chain
• Water efficient Europe - Reducing competition between the public and private sectors for scarce water resources.
• Smart cities - Improving energy storage and renovating housing
• Raw materials for a modern society - Addressing scarce resource issues through new materials initiatives and improved recycling / reuse efficiency
“Neither the public or private sector can do it alone. These partnership proposals have the potential to improve the quality of life in Europe and deliver key gains for society as a whole,” concludes Nagler. “They can also drive new markets and make a major impact on various business sectors. The time is right therefore to give our stakeholders a clear-cut proposal of what our industry can achieve in the Innovation Partnerships.”
More background on the proposed EIPs can be found on this blog posting.
SusChem is a European Technology Platform that brings together stakeholders from many different backgrounds to boost sustainable chemistry with a focus on technology, research and innovation issues. It was founded in 2004 by Cefic and EuropaBio.
Visit the SusChem website at: www.suschem.org
SusChem, innovation, EIPs
SusChem will discuss four proposals for potential European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) at its SusChem Stakeholder event in Amsterdam tomorrow (17 May). EIPs are major instruments developed under the Innovation Union and EU 2020 Agenda to accelerate innovation and promote growth in the EU.
EIPs are large-scale multi-year programmes that involve the EU, Member States, industry and academia that could involve multiple funding structures from public funds to venture capital. All EIPs will aim to show proof of concept and demonstrate innovation on the large–scale and all should address one or more of the significant social challenges facing the EU today.
The SusChem approach to EIPs is based on the acknowledged leadership of chemistry and the molecular sciences in driving innovation along many value chains in Europe. SusChem believes that simultaneous innovation along defined value chains can accelerate innovation and competitiveness. SusChem knows that the close working relationship between industry and academia that it has developed and its established collaborative work with other technology platforms and other transnational organizations can stimulate and lead the successful value chain initiatives.
Resource efficiency
Improving the resource efficiency of the process industry is an EIP proposal developed ‘bottom-up’ by SusChem to address a perceived need / opportunity identified within the industry. The chemical industry has a central role along many value chains in the process industry from feedstock to finished consumer products and then in enabling and managing recycling/ reuse.
SusChem is establishing a Resource and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REP) to pursue a cross-sectorial approach that can improve the use and reuse of scarce resources and maximize resource efficiency along the value chain. The aim is to “do much more with a lot less”.
A smarter city
The Smart Cities EIP proposal from the Commission aims to support a number of larger European cities to achieve a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, a 20% increase in the use of renewable energy, and a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020. The idea is to demonstrate tangible progress towards the EU’s energy and climate objectives at a local level, to improve urban quality of life and boost local economies. Many of the concepts involved in the SusChem Smart Energy Home and related initiatives are applicable here to address urban construction and mobility needs.
Within this EIP area there is an already-existing public-private partnership – the Energy Efficient Building (EeB) initiative launched as part of the EU Recovery Plan. SusChem has a bilateral relationship with the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) on a proposed joint EC project: Building Up. And a working group on the Smart Cities proposal was formed in early 2011 with work on an initial positioning paper already completed.
Water efficient Europe
Making the best use of water resources is a significant social challenge. There is a need to reduce competition between water users, make better use of waste water and reduce leakage in supply systems amongst many other issues. A cascade usage vision is a key part of the strategy with a need for research and innovation in sustainable separation technologies, re-use processing and new materials.
There are already joint programming initiatives between Spain and the Netherlands in this area as well as the formal collaborative agreement between SusChem and the Water sanitation and supply Technology Platform (WssTP) which is working on a number of potential EC projects. An EIP working group was established in early 2011. SusChem is featuring water issues at the 17 May Amsterdam event, but will hold a second event exclusively focused on water issues in the second half of 2011 as part of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011).
Raw materials
The EIP on Raw Materials for a Modern Society has been proposed by the European Commission and supports an integrated EU strategy to ensure access to raw materials from international markets, boost resource efficiency and the rate of recycling, and set the right framework conditions within the EU. Two of the proposed work packages are of particular interest to SusChem: the development of new innovative technologies and solutions for sustainable raw materials supply and the development substitute materials to replace critical materials.
Within the scope of this EIP SusChem is already working with a number of other European Technology Platforms on a joint approach. These ETPs are Eumat, Manufuture, the Textile Technology Platform, the Sustainable Mineral Resources (SMR) platform and the European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP).
The workshops on May 17 will discuss the opportunities that these potential EIPs bring and start to make concrete plans. To find out more about getting involved email the SusChem secretariat.
EIPs are large-scale multi-year programmes that involve the EU, Member States, industry and academia that could involve multiple funding structures from public funds to venture capital. All EIPs will aim to show proof of concept and demonstrate innovation on the large–scale and all should address one or more of the significant social challenges facing the EU today.
The SusChem approach to EIPs is based on the acknowledged leadership of chemistry and the molecular sciences in driving innovation along many value chains in Europe. SusChem believes that simultaneous innovation along defined value chains can accelerate innovation and competitiveness. SusChem knows that the close working relationship between industry and academia that it has developed and its established collaborative work with other technology platforms and other transnational organizations can stimulate and lead the successful value chain initiatives.
Resource efficiency
Improving the resource efficiency of the process industry is an EIP proposal developed ‘bottom-up’ by SusChem to address a perceived need / opportunity identified within the industry. The chemical industry has a central role along many value chains in the process industry from feedstock to finished consumer products and then in enabling and managing recycling/ reuse.
SusChem is establishing a Resource and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REP) to pursue a cross-sectorial approach that can improve the use and reuse of scarce resources and maximize resource efficiency along the value chain. The aim is to “do much more with a lot less”.
A smarter city
The Smart Cities EIP proposal from the Commission aims to support a number of larger European cities to achieve a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, a 20% increase in the use of renewable energy, and a 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020. The idea is to demonstrate tangible progress towards the EU’s energy and climate objectives at a local level, to improve urban quality of life and boost local economies. Many of the concepts involved in the SusChem Smart Energy Home and related initiatives are applicable here to address urban construction and mobility needs.
Within this EIP area there is an already-existing public-private partnership – the Energy Efficient Building (EeB) initiative launched as part of the EU Recovery Plan. SusChem has a bilateral relationship with the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) on a proposed joint EC project: Building Up. And a working group on the Smart Cities proposal was formed in early 2011 with work on an initial positioning paper already completed.
Water efficient Europe
Making the best use of water resources is a significant social challenge. There is a need to reduce competition between water users, make better use of waste water and reduce leakage in supply systems amongst many other issues. A cascade usage vision is a key part of the strategy with a need for research and innovation in sustainable separation technologies, re-use processing and new materials.There are already joint programming initiatives between Spain and the Netherlands in this area as well as the formal collaborative agreement between SusChem and the Water sanitation and supply Technology Platform (WssTP) which is working on a number of potential EC projects. An EIP working group was established in early 2011. SusChem is featuring water issues at the 17 May Amsterdam event, but will hold a second event exclusively focused on water issues in the second half of 2011 as part of the International Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011).
Raw materials
The EIP on Raw Materials for a Modern Society has been proposed by the European Commission and supports an integrated EU strategy to ensure access to raw materials from international markets, boost resource efficiency and the rate of recycling, and set the right framework conditions within the EU. Two of the proposed work packages are of particular interest to SusChem: the development of new innovative technologies and solutions for sustainable raw materials supply and the development substitute materials to replace critical materials.
Within the scope of this EIP SusChem is already working with a number of other European Technology Platforms on a joint approach. These ETPs are Eumat, Manufuture, the Textile Technology Platform, the Sustainable Mineral Resources (SMR) platform and the European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP).
The workshops on May 17 will discuss the opportunities that these potential EIPs bring and start to make concrete plans. To find out more about getting involved email the SusChem secretariat.
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
What does SusChem mean to you?
Defining sustainability is an ongoing global discussion in many sectors. In the context of chemistry, biotechnology and innovation what do we really mean by sustainability? And how can SusChem design criteria to evaluate projects and programmes that it inspires or engages with? These are fundamental questions and we would like to know what the wider SusChem community thinks. So, what does sustainable chemistry and/ or SusChem mean to you? You can tweet your view to @suschem on Twitter.
In its 2005 Vision document SusChem referenced the Brundtland Commission definition of sustainable development as one of its founding principles. That definition is:
“Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
SusChem has built its thinking on the three pillars of sustainable development : environment, society and economy – or people, planet and profit. Essentially this means that SusChem thinking should promote activities and support projects that are economically viable and environmentally sound and address societal needs.
As SusChem moves from sustainable research to encompass sustainable innovation a clear communicable definition of sustainable chemistry is needed together with a set of guiding principles.
Screening criteria
These qualitative principles need to be given a quantitative basis to develop an iterative screening process for project assessment in SusChem. Such a system must be able to be applied to the diverse portfolio of SusChem projects in different technologies and regions. A small group lead by SusChem board members Martina Bianchini (Dow) and Marcel Wubbolts (DSM) is working to develop such a process using a Life Cycle Conceptual Approach.
Some tools already exit that could be of help. For example, the iSUSTAINTM Green Chemistry Index links green chemistry and sustainability based on the 12 principles of green chemistry proposed by Paul Anasta and John Warner in their ground-breaking book ‘Green Chemistry. Theory and Practice’. While the FP7 PROSUITE project is looking to produce a standardised methodology in Europe and is employing case studies that are very relevant to SusChem.
Tweet your ideas
This is work in progress and SusChem News would like to gather a range of views on what sustainable chemistry means to the SusChem community. So why not add your vision to the debate? As mentioned above you can tweet @suschem or email SusChem News with your take on sustainable chemistry. We look forward to hearing from you.
In its 2005 Vision document SusChem referenced the Brundtland Commission definition of sustainable development as one of its founding principles. That definition is:
“Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
SusChem has built its thinking on the three pillars of sustainable development : environment, society and economy – or people, planet and profit. Essentially this means that SusChem thinking should promote activities and support projects that are economically viable and environmentally sound and address societal needs.
As SusChem moves from sustainable research to encompass sustainable innovation a clear communicable definition of sustainable chemistry is needed together with a set of guiding principles.
Screening criteria
These qualitative principles need to be given a quantitative basis to develop an iterative screening process for project assessment in SusChem. Such a system must be able to be applied to the diverse portfolio of SusChem projects in different technologies and regions. A small group lead by SusChem board members Martina Bianchini (Dow) and Marcel Wubbolts (DSM) is working to develop such a process using a Life Cycle Conceptual Approach.
Some tools already exit that could be of help. For example, the iSUSTAINTM Green Chemistry Index links green chemistry and sustainability based on the 12 principles of green chemistry proposed by Paul Anasta and John Warner in their ground-breaking book ‘Green Chemistry. Theory and Practice’. While the FP7 PROSUITE project is looking to produce a standardised methodology in Europe and is employing case studies that are very relevant to SusChem. Tweet your ideas
This is work in progress and SusChem News would like to gather a range of views on what sustainable chemistry means to the SusChem community. So why not add your vision to the debate? As mentioned above you can tweet @suschem or email SusChem News with your take on sustainable chemistry. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Amsterdam Registrations Accelerate!
Registrations for the SusChem Amsterdam Stakeholder event have accelerated over the Easter break. But organisers are looking for as wide a participation as possible as SusChem debates major new programmes that could have a significant impact for the sustainable chemistry community in Europe.
The Amsterdam event comes at a key moment in the development of SusChem’s proposals for its involvement in European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and the next European Research and Innovation Framework programme.
“The SusChem board feel that stakeholder consultation on the SusChem proposals and recommendations is of great strategic importance,” explains Ger Spork, Innovation Manager at Cefic and SusChem coordinator. “The Amsterdam meeting is key in terms of both timing and getting stakeholder input on how the European sustainable chemistry community can make a leading contribution to addressing some of society’s major challenges.”
“Although we are always open to receive input from our stakeholders at any time, the Amsterdam event will be the main forum for debate. Participants can learn more about both the EU 2020 programme and the SusChem proposals, but also make a direct input to the planning,” continues Spork.
Our Beurs van Berlage venue is limited to 150 participants and current registration rates indicate that the event will reach the maximum capacity, so to avoid disappointment register now !
EIPs explained
One of the main aims of the event is to give an insight on the aims and objectives of EIPs. Following an outline of SusChem’s proposed role in achieving the EU2020 agenda objectives from SusChem chairman Paul-Joel Derian, delegates will get a briefing on EIPs from both the perspective of the European Commission and a Member State.
The Commission view will be given by Waldemar Kütt a senior member of Research and Innovation Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn’s cabinet. Dr. Kütt obtained his PhD from the Technical University in Aachen in solid state physics and semiconductor technology before working as a technology and innovation consultant with a focus on patent licensing deals and financing of start-ups. He joined DG Research in 1997 and is currently responsible for the co-ordination of innovation and SME policies in the life sciences area.
A Member State point of view will be described by Renée Bergkamp who is currently Director-General of Enterprise and Innovation at the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. She graduated in law at the VU University in Amsterdam and began her government career in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries with subsequent appointments including time at the Ministry of Justice and further senior roles in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and in the Ministry of Agriculture.
EIP panel
After coffee the morning session will conclude with a panel discussion on how to ensure Member State engagement, support and participation with EIPs where Waldemar Kütt will be joined by the President of Dow Benelux Gerard Van Harten and a number of Member State representatives. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Willy de Backer.
Gerard van Harten was appointed President and Chairman of the Board of Dow Benelux, responsible for all Dow locations in Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg, in March 2002. Gerard joined Dow in 1977 as a Process Engineer at the Dow Terneuzen site after graduating in Chemical Engineering from the Technical Universite Twente. His career in Dow has seen him alternating between positions of increasing responsibility in Terneuzen and Dow’s Freeport, Texas facilities.
The afternoon session in Amsterdam is dedicated to workshops on the proposed SusChem programme for EIPs. Details of the proposed projects and the session itself will be covered in a subsequent news blog. More programme details can be found on the SusChem website.
The Amsterdam event comes at a key moment in the development of SusChem’s proposals for its involvement in European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) and the next European Research and Innovation Framework programme.
“The SusChem board feel that stakeholder consultation on the SusChem proposals and recommendations is of great strategic importance,” explains Ger Spork, Innovation Manager at Cefic and SusChem coordinator. “The Amsterdam meeting is key in terms of both timing and getting stakeholder input on how the European sustainable chemistry community can make a leading contribution to addressing some of society’s major challenges.”
“Although we are always open to receive input from our stakeholders at any time, the Amsterdam event will be the main forum for debate. Participants can learn more about both the EU 2020 programme and the SusChem proposals, but also make a direct input to the planning,” continues Spork.
Our Beurs van Berlage venue is limited to 150 participants and current registration rates indicate that the event will reach the maximum capacity, so to avoid disappointment register now !
EIPs explained
One of the main aims of the event is to give an insight on the aims and objectives of EIPs. Following an outline of SusChem’s proposed role in achieving the EU2020 agenda objectives from SusChem chairman Paul-Joel Derian, delegates will get a briefing on EIPs from both the perspective of the European Commission and a Member State.
The Commission view will be given by Waldemar Kütt a senior member of Research and Innovation Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn’s cabinet. Dr. Kütt obtained his PhD from the Technical University in Aachen in solid state physics and semiconductor technology before working as a technology and innovation consultant with a focus on patent licensing deals and financing of start-ups. He joined DG Research in 1997 and is currently responsible for the co-ordination of innovation and SME policies in the life sciences area.
A Member State point of view will be described by Renée Bergkamp who is currently Director-General of Enterprise and Innovation at the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. She graduated in law at the VU University in Amsterdam and began her government career in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries with subsequent appointments including time at the Ministry of Justice and further senior roles in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and in the Ministry of Agriculture.EIP panel
After coffee the morning session will conclude with a panel discussion on how to ensure Member State engagement, support and participation with EIPs where Waldemar Kütt will be joined by the President of Dow Benelux Gerard Van Harten and a number of Member State representatives. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Willy de Backer.
Gerard van Harten was appointed President and Chairman of the Board of Dow Benelux, responsible for all Dow locations in Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg, in March 2002. Gerard joined Dow in 1977 as a Process Engineer at the Dow Terneuzen site after graduating in Chemical Engineering from the Technical Universite Twente. His career in Dow has seen him alternating between positions of increasing responsibility in Terneuzen and Dow’s Freeport, Texas facilities.The afternoon session in Amsterdam is dedicated to workshops on the proposed SusChem programme for EIPs. Details of the proposed projects and the session itself will be covered in a subsequent news blog. More programme details can be found on the SusChem website.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
IYC Art Exhibition at Amsterdam Meeting
SusChem stakeholders will have the opportunity to take an exclusive preview of an international art exhibition during the SusChem Annual Stakeholder event in Amsterdam on 17 May.
During the lunch interval the exhibition “Our Children on Water” will take place. Created by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) as a contribution to the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) this unique international art exhibition consists of artwork created by children from three African and six European countries depicting the role that water plays in their lives.
The three African countries involved are South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia and the photo below ((C)Zoe Heaton) shows children from Abyot Public School in Ethiopia getting involved.
The artwork has been produced under the title 'Water: Refreshment or Responsibility?' The resulting collection of artwork displays breathtaking imagination and shows children's views on water from many different, thought-provoking perspectives. The artwork in addition helps to draw attention to the role of chemists in industry and academia in providing safe and clean water around the world.
European tour
The exhibition will take place in Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam on 17 May. Following exhibition at the SusChem Amsterdam event "Children on Water" will tour major European cities including London, Frankfurt, Prague, Rome and Barcelona throughout 2011 in collaboration with a number of European and African chemical societies. The official launch for the exhibition will be held at the European Parliament in Brussels in June.
The "Our Children on Water" project is a high profile exhibition that serves to showcase the chemical community’s involvement in the pursuit of clean and safe water for everyone.
During the lunch interval the exhibition “Our Children on Water” will take place. Created by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) as a contribution to the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) this unique international art exhibition consists of artwork created by children from three African and six European countries depicting the role that water plays in their lives.
The three African countries involved are South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia and the photo below ((C)Zoe Heaton) shows children from Abyot Public School in Ethiopia getting involved.
The artwork has been produced under the title 'Water: Refreshment or Responsibility?' The resulting collection of artwork displays breathtaking imagination and shows children's views on water from many different, thought-provoking perspectives. The artwork in addition helps to draw attention to the role of chemists in industry and academia in providing safe and clean water around the world.
European tour
The exhibition will take place in Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam on 17 May. Following exhibition at the SusChem Amsterdam event "Children on Water" will tour major European cities including London, Frankfurt, Prague, Rome and Barcelona throughout 2011 in collaboration with a number of European and African chemical societies. The official launch for the exhibition will be held at the European Parliament in Brussels in June.
The "Our Children on Water" project is a high profile exhibition that serves to showcase the chemical community’s involvement in the pursuit of clean and safe water for everyone.
Monday, 28 March 2011
What is in a name?
The competition to find a new name for the next EU Research and Innovation Programme was launched today (28 March). You have until 10 May to suggest a relevant, appealing and catchy name for the new EU research and innovation programme which will be introduced after 2013.
The competition is linked to the ongoing stakeholder consultation on the Commission's Green Paper on the programme that was launched on 9 February.
The programme currently labours under the working title of the 'Common Strategic Framework' (CSF) and aims to be at the core of the Innovation Union initiative and the Europe 2020 Strategy.
The Commission's Green Paper also provides the basis for far-reaching
simplification of procedures and rules. Stakeholders have until 20 May 2011 to respond to this main consultation.
Competition
Introducing the competition European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (below),said: "The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development have served Europe well and are still creating growth and jobs and improving quality of life. But our new programme for research and innovation will be a new departure and a new adventure, so we need a new name. We need to connect with stakeholders and the public and to raise the political and media profile of our work, which in turn can boost participation and improve results."
This new "identity" must be easily associated with research and innovation, while also being original, memorable, easy to pronounce and spell and be meaningful in a wide range of European languages.
You name it!
Your proposal for the name of the new programme should be submitted via http://ec.europa.eu/research/csfri/index_en.cfm where rules and conditions can also be found. The competition is open until 10 May to everyone except employees of the European institutions and their direct family members.
An international jury will select three proposals to be put to a public online vote in the late spring/ early summer. The jury members will include academics, entrepreneurs, and branding and communication experts.
The winning name will be announced by Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn at the conference concluding the current consultation on the CSF that is taking place on 10 June in Brussels. The winner will get an expenses paid trip to the European Innovation Convention in Brussels at the end of this year, and he or she will meet the Commissioner and other leading political, scientific and business figures.
Please feel free to share you suggestions for the new programmes name with SusChem News. We will publish our favourites before the 10 June conference!
The competition is linked to the ongoing stakeholder consultation on the Commission's Green Paper on the programme that was launched on 9 February.
The programme currently labours under the working title of the 'Common Strategic Framework' (CSF) and aims to be at the core of the Innovation Union initiative and the Europe 2020 Strategy.
The Commission's Green Paper also provides the basis for far-reaching
simplification of procedures and rules. Stakeholders have until 20 May 2011 to respond to this main consultation.
Competition
Introducing the competition European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (below),said: "The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development have served Europe well and are still creating growth and jobs and improving quality of life. But our new programme for research and innovation will be a new departure and a new adventure, so we need a new name. We need to connect with stakeholders and the public and to raise the political and media profile of our work, which in turn can boost participation and improve results."
This new "identity" must be easily associated with research and innovation, while also being original, memorable, easy to pronounce and spell and be meaningful in a wide range of European languages.You name it!
Your proposal for the name of the new programme should be submitted via http://ec.europa.eu/research/csfri/index_en.cfm where rules and conditions can also be found. The competition is open until 10 May to everyone except employees of the European institutions and their direct family members.
An international jury will select three proposals to be put to a public online vote in the late spring/ early summer. The jury members will include academics, entrepreneurs, and branding and communication experts.
The winning name will be announced by Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn at the conference concluding the current consultation on the CSF that is taking place on 10 June in Brussels. The winner will get an expenses paid trip to the European Innovation Convention in Brussels at the end of this year, and he or she will meet the Commissioner and other leading political, scientific and business figures.
Please feel free to share you suggestions for the new programmes name with SusChem News. We will publish our favourites before the 10 June conference!
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