EuCheMS Brussels News Updates, July 2016
European Highlights
Chemists Urge Israel to Ban Chemical Weapons
The President of the Israeli Chemical Society, Prof. Ehud Keinan, has published an open letter urging the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by Israel. Israel, Egypt, Southern Sudan (who plan to sign) and North Korea are the only countries of the 196 recognised countries that have not signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons…
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EuCheMS and RSC on the Outcome of the British Referendum
Following the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, both EuCheMS and the UK´s Royal Society of Chemistry have reinforced their commitment to diversity, inclusivity and to the collaboration among learned societies ...
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A First Look at the Slovak Presidency Programme
Earlier this month, Slovakia started its Presidency of the Council of the EU, a role which will have until the end of the present year. According to its programme, one of the main topics of the Slovak Presidency in the field of research is support for young researchers. The Presidency aims to adopt Council conclusions on measures to support young researchers with a focus on increasing the ...
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Consequences of British Referendum to H2020
The Statement of 29 June of the Heads of State or Government of 27 Member States, as well as the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, confirms that “until the UK leaves the EU, EU law continues to apply to and within the UK, both when it comes to rights and obligations”...
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EuCheMS Response to Public Consultation on Horizon 2020 ‘Science with and for Society’
EuCheMS has recently submitted a response to the Public consultation on Horizon 2020 ‘Science with and for Society’ Work Programme 2018-2020 (SWAFS). These contributions to the present consultation will feed into preparation of the next SWAFS Work Programme 2018-2020, which will be developed by the European Commission during the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017...
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OECD Report on the Economic Consequences of Outdoor Air Pollution
The report, published in June, is part of the “Costs of Inaction and Resource scarcity: consequences for Long-term Economic growth” (CIRCLE) project, which seeks to take into account the feedbacks from environmental pressures and resource scarcity to the economy. One of the conclusions of this report, which counted with the collaboration of the Joint Research Centre (JRC)...
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Air Quality Legislation: MEPs Strike Deal with Council
Plans for more ambitious national caps on emissions of key pollutants by 2030 were informally agreed by MEPs and the Dutch Presidency of the Council last month. The proposal sets out the national emission reduction commitments for the main pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane ...
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Survey on Antimicrobial Resistance
As part of its wider strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the European Commission has published a Special Eurobarometer survey, showing a decrease of 6% in the consumption of antibiotics but at the same time a persistent lack of awareness on their effects. The survey clearly demonstrates that there exists a direct link between better information and lower consumption. The ...
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Commission Presents Scientific Criteria to Identify Endocrine Disruptors
Following consecutive delays and repeated pressure from the European Parliament, the European Commission has presented last month the criteria to identify endocrine disruptors in the field of plant protection products and biocides. The Commission proposes to the Council and the European Parliament to adopt a strong science-based approach to the identification of endocrine disruptors and to endorse the widely accepted WHO definition....
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Knowing More About Citizen Science
The survey on data management in Citizen Science projects was set up as an open call via Citizen Science associations, European Commission departments and other organisations and projects. The rich set of results gives insights into how citizen science projects currently operate, namely the fact that most of the responding projects, 84%, were mostly in the area of environmental research...
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ERC Awards 44 Proof of Concept Grants
Earlier this month, the European Research Council (ERC) announced the names of 44 of its grant holders who will receive top-up funding to explore commercial or innovation potential of the results of their ERC-funded research. These Proof of Concept grants, worth €150,000 each...
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Raising Awareness About Entrepreneurial Skills
As part of the Skills Agenda for Europe, the Commission has published an 'Entrepreneurship Competence Framework' (EntreComp) to raise consensus about what entrepreneurship skills are. This framework proposes a shared definition of entrepreneurship as a competence and aims to establish a bridge ...
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Bosnia and Herzegovina Joins COSME
SMEs and entrepreneurs from Bosnia and Herzegovina will now be able to participate in COSME, the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Programme, under the same conditions as their counterparts from EU Member States and other associated countries. COSME ...
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Aligning Chemicals´ Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation
Earlier this year, the European Commission adopted legislation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (the 'CLP Regulation'). The CLP Regulation sets rules on the hazard classification of chemicals, how these hazards are communicated through labelling and how the chemicals are packaged. CLP labels provide ...
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New Emissions Requirements for the Production of Non-Ferrous Metals
The Commission implementing decision on Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions for the non-ferrous metals industries has now been published. BAT conclusions are the technical basis for competent authorities in EU countries to set permit conditions for the installations concerned, as stipulated by ...
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Consultations and Roadmaps
Public Consultation on the Active Substance Mepanipyrim
EFSA will assess and publish all comments from interested parties, which are submitted in line with the consultation criteria in the call regarding the ...
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Public Consultation on the Joint Programming on Metrology Research
The metrology initiatives, set up under Article 185 TFEU, European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) and its successor European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) target joint programming metrology research across Europe. Under these two initiatives the participating states commit to integrate ...
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REFIT Evaluation in on the Implementation of REACH
The EU Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) has been in force since June 2007. The 2017 evaluation of the operation of REACH (REACH report 2017) is part ...
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Evaluation of the Fuel Quality Directive 98/70/EC of 13 October 1998 Relating to the Quality Of Petrol and Diesel Fuels as Amended
The evaluation should help the Commission to 1) have a better understanding of why and/or how current EU legislation has worked well or not so well, identifying factors which have helped or hampered achievement of the objectives; and ...
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Call for Funding and Awards
Long-range Research Initiative (LRI) Programme
Industrial Biotransformation for the Production of Bio-Based Chemicals
Biopolymers with Advanced Functionalities for High Performance Applications
Advanced Biomaterials for Smart Food Packaging
Eureka: Austria - Spain call for R&D Projects
EuCheMS Events
NRC9 – 9th International Conference on Nuclear and Radiochemistry
9th AES 2016 - 9th Asian-European Symposium on Metal-Mediated Efficient Organic Synthesis
JCO - Journées de Chimie Organique
ECRICE - European Conference on Research in Chemical Education
16th Ružička days – International conference 16th Ružička days: “Today Science – Tomorrow Industry”
IASOC 2016 – XVII Session of Ischia Advanced School of Organic Chemistry
Other Events
The 3rd International Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering and Life Science
EuCheMS Society Business
Thank You Chemistry
It is time to say "Thank You Chemistry!"
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EuCheMS General Assembly Meetings 2016
Register until 25 July!
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EuCheMS 2015 Year Book is Now Online!
Discover all about our activities here
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6th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress
Seville, Spain 11 - 15 September 2016 http://euchems-seville2016.eu/
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EuCheMS Congress 2016 registration deadline: 12.07.2016
Detailed Program Announced
6th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress Scientific Preliminary Program and Topic Plenaries Advance has been announced. Attendants can now see all scheduled detailed sessions during the week of the congress, including types of sessions, speakers and abstract numbers.
You can also find a summary of Congress Topic Plenary Speakers interventions titles and contents.
Plan your Congress attendance now!
David Spichiger, SCS
11.07.16
Prof. Christophe Copéret wins the 2016 Max Rössler Prize
Prof. Christophe Copéret is awarded this year's Max Rössler Prize for his research on functional materials, such as solid catalysts, the derivatization of microelectronic devices, and developing new imaging techniques to visualize individual particles or track metabolites in the human body.
Photo: ETHZ / Peter Rüegg
EuCheMS Brussels News Updates, June 2016
European Highlights
EuCheMS Nominated to Open Science Policy Platform
EuCheMS was selected for the European Commission High-Level Advisory Group “Open Science Policy Platform”. The group, in which EuCheMS will be represented by Prof. Wolfram Koch, was recently announced by European Commissioner Carlos Moedas at the Competitiveness Council in Brussels. The mandate of this group, composed by 25 stakeholders, is, among other, to advise the…
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Finding Solutions for Antibiotic Resistance: STOA Workshop Outcomes
The outcomes of the STOA working breakfast Solving Antibiotic Resistance are now available online at EuCheMS website as well as on STOA´s webpage. During this event co-organised by the European Parliament´s STOA, EuCheMS, and EFMC and chaired by MEP Paul Rübig on the 28 April 2016, researchers and several Members of the European Parliament analysed…
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Meet the New Elements
Nihonium (Nh), Moscovium (Mc), Tennessine (Ts), and Oganesson (Og) are the names proposed for the four new additions to the periodic table. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Inorganic Chemistry Division has reviewed these proposals and recommends them for approval. A five-month public review is now set, expiring 8 November 2016, prior…
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MEPs Condemn Commission Delays in Hormone-Disruptors Regulation
European Commission delays in publishing the scientific criteria needed to identify and reduce exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals, which the UNEP/WHO sees as a global threat to public health, were condemned by Parliament in a resolution voted on 8 June. The text, on “endocrine disruptors”, points out that the Commission’s persistent failure to publish the criteria,…
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EU Tackling Climate Change
The European Commission presented a proposal for the European Union to ratify the Paris Agreement, a legally binding deal to tackle climate change. This proposal follows the successful conclusion of the COP21 in Paris, as well as the Commission´s full assessment of the Paris Agreement presented in March 2016. The Paris Agreement is an opportunity…
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Modernising EU's Standardisation Policy
Earlier this month the Dutch Presidency officially launched the framework for the Joint Initiative on Standardisation (JIS). The JIS will bring together European and national standardisation organisations and bodies, industry, SMEs, consumer associations, trade unions, environmental organisations, Member States and the Commission. These partners will commit to modernising, prioritising, and speeding up the timely delivery…
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Armenia Joins Horizon 2020 to Work with EU in Research and Innovation
Researchers and innovators from Armenia will now have full access to Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation funding programme, under the same conditions as their counterparts from EU Member States and other associated countries. Thanks to this agreement, its research institutes, universities and individual researchers will now have access to all opportunities offered by…
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European Inventor Award 2016
The European Patent Office (EPO) showcased some the best and brightest in innovation at the European Inventor Award 2016 ceremony in Lisbon. Now in its 11th year, the award is presented annually by the EPO to recognise outstanding inventors from Europe and around the world, who have made an exceptional contribution to social development, technological…
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Measuring Air Quality, Weighting Policy Solutions
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) coordinated and contributed to two of the ten chapters of the 2016 Scientific Assessment Report of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which was officially launched in Brussels at the end of May. The main findings of the report show that air quality in Europe have improved significantly…
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ERC Visit to India
From 23 to 27 May, the President of European Research Council (ERC), Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, visited India to raise awareness amongst Indian top scientists about funding opportunities in Europe. He also took part in the Global Research Council meeting to be held in New Delhi. Since 2007, the ERC has awarded nearly €11 billion to…
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EFSA Scientific Cooperation Annual Report 2015
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Strategy 2020 highlights cooperation as one of the five fundamental key values that guide EFSA in its activities. While this has been so since the creation of EFSA, the nature of cooperation is progressively evolving, with Member States increasingly playing a leading role in priority setting and the steering…
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Nano-what? Nanomaterials Terminology and Safety
Consistent use of terminology is important in any field of science and technology to ensure common understanding of concepts and tools among different stakeholders, such as science experts, regulatory authorities, industry and consumers. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) report “NANoREG harmonised terminology for environmental health and safety assessment of nanomaterials” seeks to support a common…
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Responsible Research
Parallel to the large positive impact on human welfare and wellbeing, science and technology sometimes create new risks and ethical dilemmas. Over the last decades many efforts have tried to reduce the distance between science and society, leading to a European-wide approach in Horizon 2020 called Responsible Research and Innovation. The Responsible Research and Innovation…
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship
New Waste Emission Standards for The European Chemical Industry
The Official Journal of the European Union published the Best Available Techniques (BAT) conclusions for Common Waste Water and Waste Gas Treatment/Management Systems in the Chemical Sector. These BAT conclusions address a number of issues relevant for all chemical installations covered by the Industrial Emissions Directive: environmental management systems; waste water management, collection, and treatment;…
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Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation
On 2 June during the Smart Regions conference in Brussels, the European Commission launched the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation. This new initiative offers hands-on support to regions to foster interregional cooperation based on matching smart specialisation priorities related to industrial modernisation - such as Key Enabling Technologies, service innovation or resource efficiency. It…
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Eurostars Projects
If you are a small company in need of public funding for your innovative idea, participation in a Eurostars project can bring you a passport to growth, further innovation, an opening to new global markets and even greater business success. Eurostars is the only European funding programme to be specifically dedicated to support R&D-performing SMEs…
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New Version of REACH-IT
The update of the dossier submission and communication tool, REACH-IT, will be launched on 21 June. To manage the update, ECHA has closed the system one week before the launch, on 14 June at noon. The new REACH-IT will be simpler to use and more intuitive, which will particularly help small and medium-sized companies (SMEs)…
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Consultations and Roadmaps
Consultation on Glyphosate
Parties concerned are invited to comment on several hazard classes open for public consultation on the substance Glyphosate. The indicated hazard classes were assessed and concluded by the dossier submitter in their proposal for harmonised classification and labelling (CLH) of the substance glyphosate, and are indicated in the substance details table in the link below.…
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Consultation on a Concept Paper on the Revision of the ‘Guidance On Submissions for Safety Evaluation of Sources Of Nutrients or of other Ingredients Proposed for use in the Manufacture of Foods’
European Food Safety Authority´s (EFSA) Food Ingredient and Packaging Unit (FIP) has launched an open consultation on a Concept paper on the revision of the ‘Guidance on submissions for safety evaluation of sources of nutrients or of other ingredients proposed for use in the manufacture of foods’. This document proposes to highlight those areas of…
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Consultation on the Regulation of Professions: Member States' National Action Plans and Proportionality in Regulation
Over the past two years EU countries have been undergoing a mutual evaluation to screen their regulatory arrangements for professions and ensure that they are 'proportionate' to legitimate public interest objectives, without creating unnecessary burdens. EU countries then had to produce National Action Plans outlining any changes they proposed to make so as to ensure…
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Consultation on Horizon 2020 ‘Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine and Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy’ Work Programme 2018-2020
Contributions to the present consultation will feed into preparation of the next Societal Challenge 2 Work Programme 2018-2020. The Commission expects to develop the content of Work Programme 2018-2020 during the fourth quarter of 2016 and first semester 2017, with adoption and publication of calls for proposals in the autumn of 2017. Deadline: 28 August…
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Evaluation of Regulation No 386/2012 – European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property
The purpose is to assess whether the initial objectives of Regulation 386/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 April 2012 on entrusting the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) with tasks related to the enforcement of intellectual property rights, including the assembling of public and private…
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REFIT - Fitness Check on Chemicals Legislation (Excluding REACH)
The aim of this fitness check is to assess the overall effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence, and EU added value of this legislative framework, including the procedures to implement the framework; and identify possible excessive regulatory burdens, overlaps, inconsistencies, obsolete measures and gaps in the legislative framework. The results of this Fitness Check, together with the…
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Evaluation Roadmap: Evaluation of Directive 2004/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
The initiative will assess the functioning of enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRED) and in particular the functioning of a number of its key provisions in the online environment, with a view to identify the possible need for updating such provisions and to propose corrective measures. The evaluation is part of the Commission's Regulatory Fitness…
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Call for Funding and Awards
- Research Proposals for Enlighten Your Research
- Favourite Science Moments – Photo & Video Competition
- ERC Advanced Grant
- Valorisation of the Organic Content of Municipal Solid Waste and Contributing to the Renewable Circular Economy
- Converting Bio-Based Feedstocks via Chemical Building Blocks into Advanced Materials for Market Applications
- Develop Consolidated Bioprocesses for Direct Fermentation into Bio-Compounds for Chemicals and Materials
- A Roadmap for The Chemical Industry to a Bioeconomy
- LIFE Environment & Resource Efficiency
EuCheMS Events
- 16th Conference on Molten Salts and Ionic Liquids
- ExTech’2016 / ISSS’2016
- ChemCH2016 – Chemistry for Cultural Heritage 2016
- IX International School on Organometallic Chemistry “Marcial Moreno Mañas”
- NRC9 – 9th International Conference on Nuclear and Radiochemistry
- 9th AES 2016 – 9th Asian-European Symposium on Metal-Mediated Efficient Organic Synthesis
- JCO – Journées de Chimie Organique
- ECRICE – European Conference on Research in Chemical Education
- 16th Ružička days – International conference 16th Ružička days: “Today Science – Tomorrow Industry”
- IASOC 2016 – XVII Session of Ischia Advanced School of Organic Chemistry
Other Events
- Roadmap for the first EU-wide Guarantee of Origin Scheme for Green Hydrogen
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) enforcement conference 2016
- The Synergies between European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and Research and Innovation Funding: Stairway to Excellence
- High-Level Conference on Food Authenticity and Integrity
- Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 Info Week
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Forum 2016
- Workshop on Socioeconomic Analysis in Applications for Authorisation and Restrictions Under REACH
EuCheMS aisbl - Rue du Trône 62, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; www.euchems.eu. Produced for EuCheMS by Nineta Hrastelj Majcen. This newsletter has been carefully prepared and only contains correct information to the best of EuCheMS´ knowledge, however this does not exclude the possibility of existence of incorrect information. EuCheMS cannot be liable for the use or misuse of any information, whether correct or incorrect, present at this newsletter. Intellectual property belongs to its rightful owners, always explicitly traceable on each article. Compilation Copyright © 2016 EuCheMS
David Spichiger, SCS
17.06.2016
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