Specific Challenge:

An integral part of the LEIT-NMP part of Horizon 2020 is to organise events of a major strategic nature. Examples are events organised together with successive EU presidencies; and also EuroNanoForum, Manufuture, NMP Conferences and World Manufacturing Forum. The proposed Support Action(s) should contribute to creating better synergy between initiatives launched by the Commission and by the Member States, to the benefit of the coherence of the overall actions within the field of research and innovation within the Industrial Leadership part. Member States which will hold a forthcoming Presidency of the European Union are Estonia and Bulgaria in 2018 and they may be particularly interested in this topic.

Scope:

In order to ensure high political and strategic relevance, the active involvement of the competent National Authority(ies) will be evaluated.

Proposals should address topics of major relevance at the time of the events. An appropriate equilibrium should be present in the proposed action(s), with balanced presentations of various research and industrial elements and points of view. The conferences organisers should use modern technologies in all phases of the event life cycle, and should include interactive sessions. Outreach activities may be included, such as a press programme or events dedicated to the wider public or schools.

The Member States holding a Presidency of the European Union in the same year are invited to liaise in order to avoid overlaps, and to ensure that each event has clearly identified objectives, messages and target groups.

The commitment of the national authorities to support the event(s) (from a political point of view, but also with resources) should be a pre-requisite to submit a proposal. The application should be supported by the competent Minister, in a letter added to the application.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 300 000 and 600 000 would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

No more than one action will be funded for each Presidency (possibly covering more than one event).

Expected Impact:

• Review of research, industrial and/or societal developments linked to the Industrial Leadership part areas, as appropriate;
• Sharing of information and comparison of points of views; and
• Networking various stakeholders and supporting their activities, e.g. natural scientists, social scientists, researchers, industrialists, SMEs investors, environmentalists, museums and schools, non-governmental organisations, …