Research and innovation beyond the European horizon
The EU has over the last 25 years made a marked investment in developing its International Scientific Cooperation (INCO) programme – a major FP component that helps open up the European Research Area (ERA) to the world. Funding for international scientific research and technological development through various Horizon 2020 activities, specifically through the INCO programme, supports the participation of International Partner Countries in this latest FP. Building on the work of previous INCONTACT projects, the INCONTACT 2020 (INCONTACT: Supporting the international dimension of Horizon 2020) project planned various activities to facilitate transition from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to Horizon 2020. Project activities comprised the INCO conference series (annual conferences targeting mainly European and third-country international cooperation national contact points (NCPs) and experts), centralised trainings on Horizon 2020 for NCPs and other national experts, and INCO-Wiki (a free online encyclopaedia on international cooperation in FP7 and Horizon 2020). Regional events were held in Thailand and Uruguay, and Horizon 2020 Info Days in Bolivia, Cambodia, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, French Polynesia, Samoa and South Africa. During the 5th INCO Conference in Athens, INCONTACT 2020 shifted its focus to better supporting the new network of Horizon 2020 NCP Coordinators. In its second and last year, the project targeted its activities primarily towards International NCPs in third countries. These included the International NCP Workshop held in Brussels in 2014 and a two-day training event a year later in Praia, Cape Verde. During this period, INCONTACT 2020 also organised the 6th INCO Conference in Beijing, regional events in Armenia, Egypt, Ghana, Ethiopia and Russia, Info Days in Cape Verde and Russia, and various NCP support actions. The effort has helped to strengthen international scientific research collaboration and the position of European institutions as important global research partners. Additionally, it has supported the work of national experts as well as newly established NCPs in third countries. Researchers around the world now have a global platform through which they can address common problems facing humanity. The positive impact of INCONTACT 2020 is not limited to third countries. Europe remains an attractive place for top researchers, and EU experts and policymakers now also have greater understanding of and motivation to support international activities related to Horizon 2020.
Keywords
Research and innovation, INCO, scientific research, Horizon 2020, INCONTACT 2020, international cooperation
