Science|Business Widening Newsletter No.42 | Sign up here
23/10/2024
“The Widening” is a product of Science|Business and is not related to EU institutions or programmes.

Focus on central and eastern Europe

Welcome to a new edition of The Widening newsletter, a roundup of news and analysis of research and innovation policy and investments in central and eastern Europe, delivered to your inbox twice a month. Sign up here.

Edited by Florin Zubașcu

This week we examine the draft work programme for the 2025 Widening calls, a short overview of what the Heitor report on Framework Programme 10 says about the Widening programme, and another leak from the European Committee of the Regions detailing its worries that the bundling most EU research programmes into a competitiveness fund will spell trouble for regional innovation. Finally, we take a look at how Lithuania is building two gigantic tech hubs.

The latest news

WORK PROGRAMMES LEAKED: The European Commission is planning to launch the first European Innovation Council (EIC) pre-accelerator calls in 2025 with €20 million for start-ups in Widening countries, according to a leaked document detailing Horizon Europe calls next year in the Widening programme. You can read it here.

ADVANCING EUROPE: The Heitor report has come up with a new plan for plugging the east-west R&D gap, saying the Widening programme supporting countries with low-performing research systems should be restructured. The focus should be on the instruments that have produced best results so far and the programme renamed Advancing Europe. The full story is here.

NEW TECH HUBS: In Lithuania, two gigantic construction projects are underway that promise to transform the country’s start-up ecosystem, Tech Zity and Bio City are claimed to be the biggest of their kind in Europe, providing much needed space and services for innovative companies setting up in the capital city of Vilnius. Sarah Drumm has details.

REGIONS ARE WORRIED: The European Committee of the Regions says the European Commission’s proposal to bundle most EU research programmes into a competitiveness fund spells trouble for regional innovation. As the political pendulum swings in favour of big, policy-driven pots of money, regions fear the shift may come at the expense of place-based innovation, deepening Europe’s innovation divide. Goda Naujokaitytė has more on this.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? We welcome opinion pieces and other contributions on R&I policy in central and eastern Europe. Send yours to news@sciencebusiness.net.

In other news

AMERICAN DREAM: The Polish agency for research and development, NCBR, is looking for “young, ambitious technology companies” seeking to start a business in the US. The NCBR – Nevada Acceleration Programme is the result of a letter of intent signed by Poland and the State of Nevada, and is intended to help Polish entrepreneurs prepare to launch their businesses in the US.

According to Agnieszka Ratajczak, director for international cooperation at NCBR, the programme “provides a strong educational and developmental element through several months of support from experienced mentors who have repeatedly gone through the path of establishing, developing and exiting businesses in the US.”

LUMP SUMS: Still confused about the Commission’s new way of disbursing research funding? It has a new video guide explaining how it works and giving tips on how to write winning proposals.

JOINING FORCES: The Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN) and the Hungarian Innovation Association (MISZ) have signed a strategic agreement to work together on boosting the competitiveness of Hungarian researchers and innovators. The two institutions will also be launching a joint incubator programme.

CZECHS IN BOSTON: The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences has opened a branch in Boston, Massachusetts. The  academy and the government hope the new office will help Czech scientists get better connected to the Boston biotech cluster. Science minister Marek Ženíše said "It's a big day for Czech science. This is the first time that a Czech scientific institution has opened a branch of such importance abroad.”

Mark your calendars 

WARSAW, 29-30 OCTOBER: The Deep Tech CEE Summit offers a chance to dive into the goings on in central and eastern Europe and connect with like minded entrepreneurs. There is also an investors’ day on 28 October. Find out more here. 

ONLINE, 5 NOVEMBER: Commercialisation Reactor invites scientists to its commercialisation programme. The Reactor is an international platform for science commercialisation, recognised by the EITs Deep Talent Initiative. The next training course will start on 5 November.

BUDAPEST, 28 NOVEMBER: The European Institute of Innovation and Technology is organising a conference next month to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its regional innovation scheme. The event brings together minds from central, eastern, and southern Europe to discuss how the region can boost capacities in research and innovation. Registration is available here.

BRNO, 10-12 JUNE 2025: The Czech city will be the host of next year’s conference on core technologies for life sciences. The event is aimed at facility administrators, managers, researchers and professionals, who will discuss cross-facility workflows, professional development of facility staff, open science in core facilities, building of a national core facility community, and engagement with industry. Registration is now open. Early bird fees are available until 28 February 2025.

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