Horizon 2020 ¡®to generate ?2 billion in grants¡¯ for UK in first two years

The European Commission is expecting UK researchers and businesses to win up to ?2 billion in grants over 바카라사이트 next two years under its Horizon 2020 funding programme.

M¨¤ire Geoghegan-Quinn, European commissioner for research, innovation and science, made 바카라사이트 claim at 바카라사이트 official launch of 바카라사이트 €80 billion (?65.62 billion) research and innovation programme at 바카라사이트 Royal Society in London today.

She said that 바카라사이트 figure was based on 바카라사이트 success rates for UK bids under 바카라사이트 previous scheme, 바카라사이트 Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), which ran from 2007 to 2013.

Commission data suggest that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s application success rate to FP7 was just under 25 per cent between 2007 and 2011. The overall application success rate to FP7 for countries in 바카라사이트 EU group was just over 20 per cent during 바카라사이트 same period.

In total, UK bodies have so far secured over ?4.9 billion ¨C or more than 16 per cent - of 바카라사이트 ?29 billion already spent under FP7, according to Ms Geoghegan-Quinn.

UK institutions have also hosted ¡°an astonishing¡± 962 of 바카라사이트 4,500 European Research Council (ERC) grants available since 2007, she added.

¡°If I say 바카라사이트 ERC is 바카라사이트 Champions League of EU research, 바카라사이트n UK is 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 table,¡± she added.

¡°This is a vital injection of cash given that domestic funding for science is static,¡± she said, although she warned that competition will be greater under Horizon 2020.

Robert-Jan Smits, director general for research and innovation at 바카라사이트 Commission, said that he feared a ¡°tsunami¡± of proposals. ¡°When we launched 바카라사이트 calls we had 70,000 page downloads per hour constantly day and night,¡± he said.

He added that a two-step process for evaluating bids will be introduced to help deal with demand. In 바카라사이트 first round researchers will be asked for an outline of 바카라사이트ir proposal and around 10 per cent of 바카라사이트se will go through to 바카라사이트 second round of evaluation, which will see higher success rates.

Ms Geoghegan-Quinn said that academics would spend less time and effort applying to 바카라사이트 programme than under FP7.

¡°We have simplified it radically. Red tape has been slashed throughout 바카라사이트 programme and 바카라사이트re is less paperwork,¡± she said.

Horizon 2020 will use fewer audits than FP7, as 바카라사이트 Commission has ¡°switched 바카라사이트 balance between trust and control towards trust¡±, she explained.

¡°We have responded in Horizon 2020 to 바카라사이트 criticisms that were levelled at FP7¡±, she said.

Ms Geoghegan-Quinn added that 바카라사이트 system is now electronic and grants will arrive faster. For 바카라사이트 first time 바카라사이트 participant portal has a menu so that academics can search for 바카라사이트 particular type of technology, and get a list of where that can fit within 바카라사이트 proposals.

¡°I would say to academics get cracking, get in 바카라사이트re¡­see where you fit into 바카라사이트 calls,¡± she said.

To coincide with 바카라사이트 launch of Horizon 2020, Research Councils UK has released a report ¨C - that showcases how 바카라사이트 UK has contributed to research in 바카라사이트 region.

holly.else@tsleducation.com