National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe Cluster 4 - Digital, NCP and Delegate for the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and NCP and National Representative for the Smart Networks and Services (SNS) Joint Undertaking
Enterprise Ireland
Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Work Programme (HE CL4):
The last calls for topics in the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Digital Industry and Space Work Programme 2023-2024 are approaching.
The digital topics are in the following Destinations: 3; 4 and 6, described as follows, where you can view the topics by selecting the relevant link.
Destination 3: Three topics - World Leading Data And Computing Technologies opens 15 November 2023, closes 19 March 2024.
Destination 4: Eleven topics - Digital and Emerging Technologies for competitiveness and fit for the green deal opens 15 November 2023, closes 19 March 2024.
Destination 6: Four topics - A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies opens 15 November 2023, closes 19 March 2024.
Two calls are already completed - ie the 2021-2022 call, that closed in April 2022, and the 2023 call that closed in April this year. There is a draft work programme currently available for the 2024 call, and please contact me at [email protected] to receive a copy of this.
The 2024 call will open in November 2023 and close in April 2024, exact dates to be confirmed. The structure of the topics will be the familiar Stream approach with Stream B addressing research for technology advancement towards 6G (2024 Stream B will target higher TRLs compared to 2023 Stream B TRLs); Stream C addressing experimental infrastructure; and Stream D addressing large scale trials and pilots with verticals.
For more information, please visit the SNS JU website. This is an excellent website and provides all the relevant information required for participating in this emerging field of technology research and innovation.
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
As this is a new role that I started at the start of Horizon Europe, I wish to take this opportunity to inform you briefly on the rationale and role of the JRC.
Its primary role is to provide independent, evidence-based knowledge and science, supporting EU policies to positively impact society.
The JRC is a European Commission service and a research centre under Horizon Europe and Euratom. It has a total of 2800 staff, with an annual budget of approximately €390m per year (Horizon & Euratom). Its headquarters is in Brussels and it has six sites located in five Member States: Belgium (Brussels and Geel); Germany (Karlsruhe); Italy (Ispra); The Netherlands (Petten); and Spain (Seville). It comprises fifty large scale research facilities.
The ambition of the JRC is to be a recognised strategic partner; a leading science and knowledge service; passionate about scientific excellence and integrity; focused on stakeholder value and using their convening power; a great place to work; and future-proof by finding the balance between performing and transforming.
It also has a portfolio approach towards research, making up thirty-three portfolios during 2023-2024. Three examples of these portfolios are: Trustworthy AI for a fair and democratic Europe; Enhanced situational awareness for crisis management; Sustainable, clean, innovative and competitive energy solutions. You will find all 33 research portfolios here and you will find Open access to JRC Research Infrastructures here. To keep up to date on JRC activity, sign up to our Joint Research Centre newsletter.
Please contact me further about any of the above. Also, please sign up for our Cluster 4 newsletter. Through this you will receive regular newsletters and updates on all the relevant Digital topics for Cluster 4 – Digital and the SNS JU.
Wishing you a good summer,
Gerard