161117 BrusselsNewsUpdate

European Highlights

EuCheMS at the MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme
Earlier this month at the European Parliament, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and scientists met in a series of bilateral meetings, and at the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA). EuCheMS was represented by Prof. David Cole-Hamilton, paired with MEP Catherine Stihler, and by Prof. Pavel Drašar, paired with MEP Pavel Poc. These…
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Seville International Chemistry Declaration 2016: An Invitation to Sign
In a world that is becoming increasingly populated and urbanized, and which will require 30% more water and 40% more energy by 2030, we are faced with innumerable social challenges that require a firm commitment to research and innovation for their resolution. It will be chemistry as a discipline, with the fundamental and necessary support…
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Paris Agreement Enters into Force
The Paris Agreement legally entered into force on 4 November. This historic event occurs less than a year after the landmark agreement was adopted in Paris and just days ahead of the UN climate conference in Marrakech, Morocco. The Marrakech conference aims to demonstrate that commitments made in Paris towards a low-carbon economy are being…
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Science Meets Regions
The first edition of Science Meets Regions took place at the Committee of Regions (CoR) earlier this month and discussed how findings from research can serve as a basis for better decision-making on the regional level. During the event, over 200 politicians and scientists from EU regions presented their experiences of some pilot policy-research exchanges…
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MEPs Call for EU Limit on Industrial Trans Fats in Food
The EU should place mandatory limits on industrially-produced trans-fatty acids (TFA) which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, infertility, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and obesity for consumers, says a resolution voted on Wednesday. TFA intake is mostly linked to consumption of industrially produced, partially hydrogenated oils. MEPs mention the fact that, according to the European Commission,…
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New Research Partnership in the Mediterranean on Food and Water Sustainability (PRIMA)
The European Commission has presented a proposal for a Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area - PRIMA. The first partnership of its kind in the Mediterranean basin aims to develop much-needed novel solutions for sustainable water management and food production. The Commission's proposal already includes Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France,…
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Council Conclusions on Eastern Partnership
The Council of the European Union discussed and adopted conclusions on the Eastern Partnership which encompasses Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. In its conclusions, the Council mentions that “Cooperation in education, science, research, culture, training, youth and innovation is crucial for deepening mutual understanding, strengthening institutions, and promoting modernisation and…
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Education and Training Monitor 2016 Released
This year’s Education and Training Monitor explores societal challenges in more depth and addresses migration, demography and the key competences that education should help develop. One of the highlights of the report is the increase of tertiary level completion rates across the EU in 2015. Finally, via the cross-national comparison of education systems and in…
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New International Standard for the Quality of Reference Materials
In Europe EU Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 sets out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance and demands that accreditation has to be based on harmonised International Standards. In this context, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published ISO 17034 which outlines the general requirements which producers of all types of reference materials must…
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New Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis confirmed the renewed commitment in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that is one of the biggest health threats facing humanity today.
The new Action Plan will take the form of a Commission communication to the European Parliament and the Council and builds on the previous…
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EFSA Models and other Resources at the Knowledge Junction
Scientific models used by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) over the last 15 years have been brought together in a new EFSA community: the Knowledge Junction. The models can be shared and cited and you can submit your own. A selection of these tools is also available as a web applications on the…
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Canadian Researchers to Join ERC Teams in Europe
Last month, a new agreement between Canada and the European Union was concluded to encourage talented Canadian researchers to join European Research Council (ERC) teams in Europe. Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas and President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Dr Ted Hewitt (though the agreement also applies…
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship

KETs Observatory Updated with New Interactive Tool
This web tool supports business stakeholders and policy makers at EU, national and regional level in the development of policies regarding advanced technologies in Europe. The new Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) Observatory website is now live. The improved site provides visitors with easier access to data on the deployment of KETs in Europe and worldwide…
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“Use Maps” for a Better Registration of Chemicals
These “use maps” help registrants to improve the quality of their registrations, in particular their exposure scenarios. The European downstream user industry has now started to publish sectoral use maps to help manufacturers and importers of chemicals register their substances. The first use maps for the adhesive and sealant industry; soap, detergents and maintenance products;…
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New Equity Fund Under the COSME Programme
COSME, the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) running from 2014 to 2020, has recently set up the Equity Facility for Growth (EFG). EFG is dedicated to investments in risk-capital funds that provide venture capital and mezzanine finance to expansion and growth-stage SMEs, in particular, to those…
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Consultations and Roadmaps

Public Consultation on the Active Substance Trifloxystrobin
EFSA will assess all comments from interested parties regarding the active substance trifloxystrobin. Input is requested on the following: physical/chemical properties; details of uses and further information; methods of analysis; mammalian toxicology; residues; and environmental fate and behavior. Deadline: 10 January 2017. Website: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
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Public Consultation on Policy Options to set Minimum Quality Requirements for Reused Water in the European Union
The European Commission is launching this consultation to collect the views of stakeholders and citizens on the policy options to set minimum quality requirements for reused water in the European Union. The objectives of the consultation are 1) to gather information and data that cannot be found through desk research and additional sources of evidence…
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Public Consultation in Relation to the REACH REFIT Evaluation
The objective of the public consultation is to obtain stakeholder views on the general approach to the 2017 Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) evaluation and to collect stakeholder views on the strengths and weaknesses of REACH as well as any potentially missing elements. Deadline: 28 January…
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Call for Data on Ingredients: Salts of O-Phenylphenol
In order to prepare requests for scientific opinions to the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, interested parties are invited to submit any relevant scientific information on the safety of Sodium o-Phenylphenate (CAS 132-27-4), Potassium o-Phenylphenate, (CAS 13707-65-8) and MEA o-Phenylphenate (CAS 84145-04-0) as preservative and non-preservative ingredients in cosmetic products and, in particular, data regarding all…
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Call for Funding and Awards

Development of Next Generation Biofuel Technologies

Carbon Dioxide Utilisation to Produce Added Value Chemicals

Selection of Hosting sites for EFSA’s European Food Risk Assessment Fellowship (EU-FORA) Programme

Call for Proposals for ERC Consolidator Grant

Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education 2017

Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Food Packaging

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

Joint Actions to Foster Innovative Energy Solutions in Renewable Energy Technologies

EuCheMS Events

Circular Economy in Drugs

CCE 2017 – 16th EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment

EICC-4 - 4th EuCheMS Inorganic Chemistry Conference

ISSNP 2017 – International Summer School on Natural Products

EuCOMC 2017 – 22nd European Conference on Organometallic Chemistry

Other Events

European Antibiotic Awareness Day – “The Future is Now”

4th Meeting of the EMA Network

Spreading Excellence and Crossing the Innovation Divide

ECIBC Plenary 2016: When Science and Policy Collaborate for Health

9th Roundtable on the Strategic Implementation Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials

Raw Materials Week

What Future for EU-Research Policy: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

9th Conference of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan

Latest issue of EuCheMS Newsletter

Read it here! Some of the highlights are:

  • ECC6 in Seville
  • EuCheMS General Assembly
  • EuCheMS-American Chemical Society MoU
  • Seville Declaration on Chemical Weapons

 


David Spichiger, SCS
17.11.2016